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| Monday briefing: Houston suffers flooding 'catastrophe' | Monday briefing: Houston suffers flooding 'catastrophe' |
| (5 months later) | |
| Top story: Tropical storm Harvey batters Texas | Top story: Tropical storm Harvey batters Texas |
| Happy bank holiday morning. I’m Martin Farrer and here are the top stories today. | Happy bank holiday morning. I’m Martin Farrer and here are the top stories today. |
| Tropical storm Harvey has continued to batter Texas overnight with the oil city of Houston suffering “catastrophic flooding” amid forecasts that well over a metre of rain – or 50 inches – could fall on some areas. Thousands of residents of America’s fourth-largest city were forced to flee their homes with some rescued from rooftops as rescue helicopters and boats buzzed across the city. The coastguard said it had carried out 200 helicopter rescues. Some people took to kayaks to escape, while others swam to the safety of higher ground. Two people have been killed in the storm but authorities said the toll was expected to rise. The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, has declared 54 counties a state disaster area. | Tropical storm Harvey has continued to batter Texas overnight with the oil city of Houston suffering “catastrophic flooding” amid forecasts that well over a metre of rain – or 50 inches – could fall on some areas. Thousands of residents of America’s fourth-largest city were forced to flee their homes with some rescued from rooftops as rescue helicopters and boats buzzed across the city. The coastguard said it had carried out 200 helicopter rescues. Some people took to kayaks to escape, while others swam to the safety of higher ground. Two people have been killed in the storm but authorities said the toll was expected to rise. The Texas governor, Greg Abbott, has declared 54 counties a state disaster area. |
| The rising waters have also threatened to overwhelm the city’s flood defences and army engineers said they would make emergency releases of water from two reservoirs in the city, effectively flooding some areas in the hope of saving larger parts. Follow all the latest developments in our live blog here and get a quick update of what we know so far. The White House said Donald Trump would visit the city on Tuesday. | The rising waters have also threatened to overwhelm the city’s flood defences and army engineers said they would make emergency releases of water from two reservoirs in the city, effectively flooding some areas in the hope of saving larger parts. Follow all the latest developments in our live blog here and get a quick update of what we know so far. The White House said Donald Trump would visit the city on Tuesday. |
| ‘A disaster in the north’ – Labour MPs have warned they could face a backlash from pro-Brexit supporters after the party leadership announced a surprise shift in policy to back continued membership of the EU single market beyond March 2019. The change of tack towards a so-called “soft Brexit” means the UK would have to abide by the current open borders for much longer, a prospect that many backbenchers in pro-Brexit areas view with alarm. One said: “This is a disaster in northern towns where we got Ukip’s vote by backing Brexit [at the general election].” Another said there were not enough “metropolitan remain-type voters” to win an election. | ‘A disaster in the north’ – Labour MPs have warned they could face a backlash from pro-Brexit supporters after the party leadership announced a surprise shift in policy to back continued membership of the EU single market beyond March 2019. The change of tack towards a so-called “soft Brexit” means the UK would have to abide by the current open borders for much longer, a prospect that many backbenchers in pro-Brexit areas view with alarm. One said: “This is a disaster in northern towns where we got Ukip’s vote by backing Brexit [at the general election].” Another said there were not enough “metropolitan remain-type voters” to win an election. |
| However, the Guardian’s Zoe Williams hails the new stance from the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, as “vital” for distancing Labour from the Conservative government as it hurtles “cluelessly” towards the exit door. | However, the Guardian’s Zoe Williams hails the new stance from the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, as “vital” for distancing Labour from the Conservative government as it hurtles “cluelessly” towards the exit door. |
| Since we’ve mentioned the Tories, new research by data science company Signify reveals that Brexit campaigners are using voter hostility towards the possibility of European courts continuing to hold sway in Britain as one of the rallying points for possible hardline challenges to Theresa May’s leadership with Jacob Rees-Mogg seen as the likeliest candidate. | Since we’ve mentioned the Tories, new research by data science company Signify reveals that Brexit campaigners are using voter hostility towards the possibility of European courts continuing to hold sway in Britain as one of the rallying points for possible hardline challenges to Theresa May’s leadership with Jacob Rees-Mogg seen as the likeliest candidate. |
| Heart breakthrough – Using anti-inflammatory injections to treat heart attack victims could be the biggest breakthrough in cardiology since the discovery of statins, according to the US authors of a new study. Researchers in Boston tested patients with the injections and found a 15% reduction in the risk of a heart attack. It also slowed the progression of cancer. Lead researcher Paul Ridker said the “very exciting” findings could usher in a “new era of therapeutics”. | Heart breakthrough – Using anti-inflammatory injections to treat heart attack victims could be the biggest breakthrough in cardiology since the discovery of statins, according to the US authors of a new study. Researchers in Boston tested patients with the injections and found a 15% reduction in the risk of a heart attack. It also slowed the progression of cancer. Lead researcher Paul Ridker said the “very exciting” findings could usher in a “new era of therapeutics”. |
| Mystery chemical haze – People have been warned to keep away from beaches on the East Sussex coast and keep doors and windows closed after a mysterious chemical “haze” drifted in off the Channel on Sunday. Birling Gap, near the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, was evacuated by emergency services after people complained of irritation to their eyes and throats. Police said the cause of the haze was unknown but had left 133 people needing assistance. Guardian reporter Ian Cobain was walking along the cliffs with his wife when their eyes began stinging and streaming. Even after driving away from the area “my wife’s eyes were still hurting ... and mine had become sensitive to light”. | Mystery chemical haze – People have been warned to keep away from beaches on the East Sussex coast and keep doors and windows closed after a mysterious chemical “haze” drifted in off the Channel on Sunday. Birling Gap, near the Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, was evacuated by emergency services after people complained of irritation to their eyes and throats. Police said the cause of the haze was unknown but had left 133 people needing assistance. Guardian reporter Ian Cobain was walking along the cliffs with his wife when their eyes began stinging and streaming. Even after driving away from the area “my wife’s eyes were still hurting ... and mine had become sensitive to light”. |
| Uber booking – Uber has found a new chief executive, ending a contentious search that has been marred by boardroom spats and leaks. Dara Khosrowshahi, the chief executive of travel company Expedia, will succeed the ride-sharing company’s co-founder Travis Kalanick who was forced to quit amid allegations of sexism and racism. Khosrowshahi, a 48-year-old Iranian American, was a surprise appointment who beat Meg Whitman, the chief executive of HP Enterprise, and Jeff Immelt, the former CEO of General Electric, for the job. | Uber booking – Uber has found a new chief executive, ending a contentious search that has been marred by boardroom spats and leaks. Dara Khosrowshahi, the chief executive of travel company Expedia, will succeed the ride-sharing company’s co-founder Travis Kalanick who was forced to quit amid allegations of sexism and racism. Khosrowshahi, a 48-year-old Iranian American, was a surprise appointment who beat Meg Whitman, the chief executive of HP Enterprise, and Jeff Immelt, the former CEO of General Electric, for the job. |
| Bull blow – An anti-bullfighting protester was “very lucky” after he jumped into a bullring in Carcassone, southern France, and was promptly attacked by one of the animals he wanted to protect. Police said the 30-year-old was charged by a bull and received “a long but not deep” injury from its horns. | Bull blow – An anti-bullfighting protester was “very lucky” after he jumped into a bullring in Carcassone, southern France, and was promptly attacked by one of the animals he wanted to protect. Police said the 30-year-old was charged by a bull and received “a long but not deep” injury from its horns. |
| Lunchtime read: Dénouement nears in French murder mystery | Lunchtime read: Dénouement nears in French murder mystery |
| It’s a tale of twisted family jealousies and festering village feuds, of poison-pen letters, judicial incompetence, false accusations and a revenge killing. But answers could be about to emerge in the search for the killers of four-year-old Grégory Villemin, whose murder remains the most notorious unsolved case in France 30 years since his body was found in a river in the eastern Vosges region. His father shot and killed a cousin suspected of the crime, and his mother went on hunger strike after being arrested. But, writes Jon Henley, the arrest in June of the boy’s great aunt and uncle after “monumental, high quality” detective work promises closure at last. | It’s a tale of twisted family jealousies and festering village feuds, of poison-pen letters, judicial incompetence, false accusations and a revenge killing. But answers could be about to emerge in the search for the killers of four-year-old Grégory Villemin, whose murder remains the most notorious unsolved case in France 30 years since his body was found in a river in the eastern Vosges region. His father shot and killed a cousin suspected of the crime, and his mother went on hunger strike after being arrested. But, writes Jon Henley, the arrest in June of the boy’s great aunt and uncle after “monumental, high quality” detective work promises closure at last. |
| Sport | Sport |
| Arsenal were left humiliated by a scintillating Liverpool display at Anfield, which manager Arsène Wenger said was a “disastrous” performance. Joe Root and Mark Stoneman led the fightback to give England hope against the West Indies after a compelling third day in the second Test. Many were enthralled by the spectacle, but Kevin Mitchell says Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather are the only ones enriched by their fight. In the US Open tennis, Garbiñe Muguruza is the favourite but English woman Johanna Konta remains a “contender”. And Emily Scarratt, the England women’s rugby team’s heroic full-back, is leading calls for free-to-air broadcasters to demonstrate their long-term commitment to the sport after 2.6m people watched their World Cup final against New Zealand (the Black Ferns winning 41-31). | Arsenal were left humiliated by a scintillating Liverpool display at Anfield, which manager Arsène Wenger said was a “disastrous” performance. Joe Root and Mark Stoneman led the fightback to give England hope against the West Indies after a compelling third day in the second Test. Many were enthralled by the spectacle, but Kevin Mitchell says Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather are the only ones enriched by their fight. In the US Open tennis, Garbiñe Muguruza is the favourite but English woman Johanna Konta remains a “contender”. And Emily Scarratt, the England women’s rugby team’s heroic full-back, is leading calls for free-to-air broadcasters to demonstrate their long-term commitment to the sport after 2.6m people watched their World Cup final against New Zealand (the Black Ferns winning 41-31). |
| Business | Business |
| Tropical Storm Harvey caused a 7% jump in US gasoline spot prices to their highest level since late July 2015 thanks to the shutdown of Gulf Coast refineries. Crude oil prices in the US weren’t affected by the disaster but the prospect of large claims hurt insurance firms in Japan and dragged the Nikkei lower. | Tropical Storm Harvey caused a 7% jump in US gasoline spot prices to their highest level since late July 2015 thanks to the shutdown of Gulf Coast refineries. Crude oil prices in the US weren’t affected by the disaster but the prospect of large claims hurt insurance firms in Japan and dragged the Nikkei lower. |
| The pound was flat at $1.288 and €1.08. | The pound was flat at $1.288 and €1.08. |
| The papers | The papers |
| The Mirror splashes on the story of two sisters aged 10 and six who were apparently been diagnosed with dementia. One has since died. | The Mirror splashes on the story of two sisters aged 10 and six who were apparently been diagnosed with dementia. One has since died. |
| The Mail heralds “The best heart drug since statins” and says a one-every-three-month injection of the drug reduces the risk of heart attacks by a quarter. The Sun also splashes on the same story with the headline “Superdrug” although seems to say the drug cuts the risk of heart attacks and cancer by a half. | The Mail heralds “The best heart drug since statins” and says a one-every-three-month injection of the drug reduces the risk of heart attacks by a quarter. The Sun also splashes on the same story with the headline “Superdrug” although seems to say the drug cuts the risk of heart attacks and cancer by a half. |
| The Times headline is “Christian child forced into Muslim foster care”. It says a five-year-old girl has been placed into care with a Muslim family in Tower Hamlets who allegedly removed her crucifix and asked her to learn Arabic. | The Times headline is “Christian child forced into Muslim foster care”. It says a five-year-old girl has been placed into care with a Muslim family in Tower Hamlets who allegedly removed her crucifix and asked her to learn Arabic. |
| The Guardian leads with “Backlash over Labour’s shift to soft Brexit” and says MPs in the party’s heartlands are worried at a move to back continued membership of the EU’s single market after 2019. Lastly the FT says that the move by Labour has now put pressure on Theresa May who is facing renewed pressure from Pro-EU Tories to come into line with Labour. | The Guardian leads with “Backlash over Labour’s shift to soft Brexit” and says MPs in the party’s heartlands are worried at a move to back continued membership of the EU’s single market after 2019. Lastly the FT says that the move by Labour has now put pressure on Theresa May who is facing renewed pressure from Pro-EU Tories to come into line with Labour. |
| www.theguardian.com- | www.theguardian.com- |
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