12 DEC 2017 THE GUARDIAN REDESIGN No. 42 12 DEC 2017 THE GUARDIAN REDESIGN No.

42

Theresa May Rodney Croome Abi Wilkinson George Monbiot Nancy Jo Sales Rebeca Huntley
“It’s Britain’s duty to help “The marriage equality “We know polluting cars are “Mass starvation is humanity’s “Facebook Messenger for “It's an important moment
nations hit by climate movement had people doing killing us. So why do we put fate if we keep flogging the six-year-olds: need I say why for women but will #metoo
change.” the extraordinary.” up with it?” land to death.” that's a bad idea? create lasting change?”

Ian Sample SPACE Washington AP INTERNATIONAL Sarah Boseley HEALTH

Astronomers to check interstellar
body for signs of alien technology
Green Bank telescope in West
Virginia will listen for radio
signals from ‘Oumuamua, an
object from another solar system.
Astronomers are to use one of the
world’s largest telescopes to check a
Kim Jong-un should be prose- 'Heat not burn' cigarettes still harmful to health
cuted for human rights crimes Tobacco companies hail non
burning cigarettes as the safer
immediately.” The interstellar body, the Report says the North Korean follow-up to a UN investigation in 2014
option, but a government adviso-
first to be seen in the solar system, was leader and other officials were finding reasonable grounds to conclude
ry board says although they are
initially spotted by researchers on the involved in crimes with prisoner crimes against humanity had been com-
less risky they are still not safe.
Pan-Starrs telescope, which the Univer- camps, citing evidence of system- mitted in North Korea. The three
‘Heat not burn’ cigarettes, marketed as
sity of Hawaii uses to scan the heavens atic murder and torture. judges have served on past international
a safer option by tobacco companies,
for killer asteroids. Named after the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and tribunals: Navi Pillay, a former UN high
still contain chemicals that are harmful

Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

mysterious object that is speeding Hawaiian word for “messenger”, the other officials should be prosecuted for commissioner for human rights; Mark
to health, a government advisory body
through the solar system for signs of body was picked up as it swept past crimes against humanity committed in Harmon who served on a tribunal

Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

alien technology. The Green Bank
telescope in West Virginia will listen for
radio signals being broadcast from a
cigar-shaped body which was first
spotted in the solar system in October.
The body arrived from interstellar
space and reached a peak speed of
196,000 mph as it swept past the sun.
Daniel Boffey INTERNATIONAL Scientists on the Breakthrough Listen
project, which searches for evidence of
alien civilisations, said the Green Bank
has found. The independent Committee
Earth at 85 times the distance to the the authoritarian nation’s camps for trying Khmer Rouge leaders in Cambo-
on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food,
moon. While many astronomers believe political prisoners, three renowned dia; and Thomas Buergenthal, who
Consumer Products and the Environ-
the object is an interstellar asteroid, its international jurists said Tuesday. The survived Auschwitz as a child and was a
ment (COT) has looked at the evidence
elongated shape is unlike anything seen jurists’ report is based on testimony judge on the International Court of
on the “heat not burn” products
in the asteroid belt in our own solar from defectors and experts on the Justice. Crimes continue to be commit-
currently available mainly online in the
system. Early observations of ‘Oumua- camps, believed to hold between ted in the camps, and the judges
UK. They are less risky than conven-
mua show that it is about 400m long but 80,000 and 130,000 inmates. It cites conclude Kim, members of the state
tional cigarettes, the committee has the safest thing is to quit altogether. If Phillip Morris International (PMI) and
only one tenth as wide. “It’s curious that evidence of systematic murder, includ- security department and prison guards
found, but nobody should assume they you are having trouble stopping smok- British American Tobacco. PMI has said
the first object we see from outside the ing infanticide, and torture, persecu- are culpable. Although international
are safe. Reporting its findings to the ing, he said, first try the licensed it is committed to a smoke-free future
solar system looks like that,” said Loeb. tion of Christians, rape, forced abor- pressure on North Korea over its dire
department of health in England, the nicotine replacement therapies, such as in which it will sell safer alternatives.
The body is now about twice as far from tions, starvation and overwork leading human rights record has escalated since

EU leaders complicit in
telescope would monitor the object,
named ‘Oumuamua, from Wednesday.
The first phase of observations is
expected to last 10 hours and will tune
committee said people who use the two patches and gum. “Then think about But it still markets cigarettes heavily
Earth as the sun, but from that distance to “countless deaths”. The report, draft- the issuance of the UN report in 2014,
products sold in the UK are exposed to e-cigarettes. If that really doesn’t work, around the world, especially in the
the Green Bank telescope can still ed with the International Bar Associa- there remains little chance of a referral
about 50% less or 90% less of the there are the ‘heat not burn’ devices,” developing world where fewer restric-
detect transmissions as weak as those tion’s support, is billed as an unofficial to the ICC, and the innocent is dying.
“harmful and potentially harmful” com- he said. “But at the same time, we have tions are in place. “Heat not burn”
produced by a mobile phone. Loeb said

torture of refugees and

in to four different radio transmission
bands. “Most likely it is of natural
origin, but because it is so peculiar, we
would like to check if it has any sign of
pounds. The variation is mostly to do to be very much on our guard that these cigarettes produce a vapour either from
that while he did not expect Green Peter Beaumont SOCIAL with the temperature to which the are not seen as recreational devices.” directly heating tobacco or from
Bank to detect an alien transmission, it
tobacco is heated; one product reaches The committee found there was a risk, heating other substances which are then
was worth checking. Previous work on
the body found it to be extremely dark Rabbi dies at age 104, tens 350C and the other 50C. In a conven- though, reduced, to bystanders who passed over tobacco to flavour it. The

migrants, Amnesty says

European leaders stand accused by
Amnesty International of being know-
ingly complicit in the torture and
exploitation of thousands of migrants
and refugees by the EU-financed Libyan
coastguard and officials running the
country’s detention camps. In an
attempt to stem the flow of people
across the Mediterranean to Europe,
the EU is financing a system that
routinely acts in collusion with militia
groups and people traffickers to “make
money from human suffering”, a report
tional cigarette, tobacco is burned at might inhale the fumes. It also advised higher temperatures are reached where
artificial origin, such as radio emis- red, absorbing about 96% of light that
sions,” said Avi Loeb, professor of
astronomy at Harvard University and
falls on it. The colour is associated with
carbon-based molecules on comets and
of thousands of orthodox 800C. Professor Alan Boobis, chair of
the COT, said there is likely to be a risk
that they could not be considered safe
for pregnant women. The ‘heat not
tobacco is heated directly, as in the PMI
iQOS product. The committee is also
burn’ cigarettes in the UK market have looking at the safety of e-cigarettes, but
Jews attend his funeral
to health with “heat not burn” products,
an adviser to the Breakthrough Listen asteroids. “If it’s of natural origin, there
although it would be a reduced risk, but been developed by the tobacco giants quitting tobaco is still the safest choice.
those to whom they hand over refugees, se me,” he said. “They call the family project. “If we do detect a signal that should be many more of these objects in
migrants and asylum seekers, are often while beating [you] so the family send appears artificial in origin, we’ll know the asteroid belts.” Loeb said.
Aharon Yehudah Leib Shteinman, articles about him. “Ten people at my
acting in cahoots with criminal gangs money.” After interviews with refugees,
a key religious figure and politi- funeral would be enough,” he wrote in Sabrina Siddiqi POLITICS
and militia. Agreements between the asylum seekers and migrants and meet- Julia Carrie Wong TECHNOLOGY
coastguard and smugglers are signalled ings with Libyan officials and others
cal kingmaker, has died aged 104.
Aharon Yehudah Leib Shteinman said he
his will, which was read by a student at
the funeral. Shteinman, widely regard- Trump says the sexual harass-
by markings on boats that allow specific
vessels to pass through Libyan waters
with knowledge of the abuses, Amnesty
claims it now has sufficient evidence to
Former Facebook executive: social would be content if 10 people came to ed as “Gadol Hador” or “leader of the
ment claims are nothing more
without interception, it is claimed. The take leaders of EU states to internation- media is ripping our society apart his funeral. On Tuesday, tens of thou- generation”, was known for his rabbinic
coastguard has also been known to al courts over alleged abuses of human
sands attended the commemorations
for the leader of the Lithuanian
scholarship, his relatively pragmatic
rulings and his extremely modest
than a Democratic conspiracy
escort boats out to international right obligations. “You will see us in Chamath Palihapitiya, former growth at Facebook before he left the
ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, one lifestyle. He was seen as one of the key Donald Trump claimed on Tues- on him to step down: Vermont senator
waters. Those are who are intercepted court,” said John Dalhuisen. “Hundreds vice-president of user growth at company in 2011, said: “The short
of Israel’s most influential rabbis, who figures in the Haredi world and credited day that the harassment accusa- Bernie Sanders, New Jersey senator
on their way to Europe are sent to of thousands of refugees and migrants Facebook, expressed regret for term, dopamine-driven feedback loops
has died aged 104. Images from the with guiding the ultra-Orthodox tions against him were a Demo- Cory Booker and Oregon senator Jeff
camps run by the Libyan general direc- trapped in Libya are at the mercy of the his part in building the tools that that we have created are destroying how

Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

from the human rights group claims.
Following the provision of ships, train-
ing and funding from the EU and Italy
to the Libyan coastguard, the number of
arrivals to Italy fell by 67% between
July and November compared with the
same period in 2016. Deaths at sea have
been reduced commensurately. Yet
Amnesty claims the coastguard and
Philip Oltermann EUROPE
Italy declares state of emergency Man dies in explosion at Birmingham metal factory
after deadly gas explosion in Austria Police say the incident happened man was killed in an explosion at a West Midlands police have launched a
One dead and 18 injured after
blaze tears through Baumgarten
gas hub, plunging Europe into
energy crisis.
Snow-hit southern Europe could face
energy shortages after authorities
warned that Austrian pipelines were
likely to be out of action for days
following an explosion and fire that
ripped through a main gas hub near
Vienna. Baumgarten, where the explo-
funeral procession in Bnei Brak showed through the challenges of modernity in cratic conspiracy as he lashed out Merkley. The White House would not
torate for combating illegal migration Libyan authorities, militias, armed destroy ‘the social fabric of how society works. No civil discourse, no
packed streets filled largely with men Israel. The Israeli president, Reuven at a female Democratic senator comment when asked what Trump was
(DCIM), where torture for the purpos- groups and smugglers often working modern-day society works’ cooperation, misinformation. This is
dressed in the typical black and white Rivlin, praised Shteinman as a leader with what she quickly dubbed a referring to when he suggested Gilli-
es of extracting money is almost seamlessly together for financial gain. A former Facebook executive has said not about Russian ads,” he added. “This
clothing of the ultra-Orthodox. There who “carried on his shoulders the “sexist smear”. brand “would do anything” for
routine, Amnesty reports. One man Tens of thousands are kept indefinitely he feels “tremendous guilt” over his is a global problem ... It is eroding the
were no eulogies, as Shteinman existential weight of the Jewish people. “Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gilli- campaign donations. But the tweet
from Gambia, who was detained for in overcrowded detention centres work on “tools that are ripping apart core foundations of how people behave
requested in a will that also included His legacy is greatness of scholar- brand, a total flunky for Chuck Schum- drew swift condemnation from Demo-
three months, told Amnesty how he where they are subjected to systematic the social fabric of how society works”, by and between each other.” He also
the plea that his followers neither name ship,but at the same time a very er and someone who would come to my crats for its provocative innuendo,
was starved and beaten in a detention abuse. Brussels stands accused of failing joining a growing chorus of critics of called on his audience to “soul search”
their children after him nor write press nuanced leadership.” office ‘begging’ for campaign contribu- particularly against the backdrop of a
centre. “They beat me with a rubber to install the necessary rights protection the social media giant. Chamath Paliha- about their own relationship to social
tions not so long ago (and would do national dialogue around sexual harass-
hose because they want money to relea- mechanisms. pitiya, who was vice-president for user media.
Michael Safi INTERNATIONAL anything for them), is now in the ring ment against women. Elizabeth Warren,
fighting against Trump,” the president a Democratic senator from Massachu-
Frances Perraudin ENGLAND
India bans condom adverts during primetime TV tweeted. Gillibrand – who along with setts, accused Trump of trying to
The move is aimed at protecting show them begging or in an undignified many Indians and even kissing scenes
three male senators has called on
Trump to resign over the numerous
“slut-shame” Gillibrand. Eric Swalwell,
a Democratic congressman from
children but campaigner warns it or indecent manner”. Regulations also are sometimes cut from popular films. sexual misconduct accusations against California, said Trump’s comments
at around 2.45 in the morning at metal factory in Birmingham. Police full inquiry. A police spokesman said: “A could undo decades of progress prohibit “indecent, vulgar, suggestive, The country’s notoriously prudish him – responded on Twitter minutes about Gillibrand were “ugly and sugges-
state of emergency due to a lack of gas Timet UK metal smelting plant in said the incident happened at around man has died following an industrial on sexual health. repulsive or offensive themes” in adver- censors have also previously ordered later. “You cannot silence me or the tive”. “We all know what he was trying
supplies. One person was killed and 18 Witton area of city. The explosion 2.45am at the Timet UK metal smelting accident at a metal smelting plant in India has banned television adverts for tisements, it said. Family planning advo- the word condom to be bleeped out in millions of women who have gotten off to say there,” Swalwell told CNN.
injured in the blast on Tuesday. One of occurred at the Timet UK metal plant in Holford Road, Witton. West Birmingham this morning (Tuesday 12 condoms during primetime hours, cates said they were disappointed by the movies. Muttreja said restricting TV the sidelines to speak out about the Trump’s comments came a day after
the casualties was airlifted to Vienna’s smelting plant in Holford Road. Midlands fire service confirmed the December). “Police and other emer- citing rules against content that “endan- order in a country where awareness of adverts was the wrong approach in the unfitness and shame you have brought three women who previously accused
general hospital with serious injuries An inquiry has been launched after a death in a statement and the victim’s gency services were called to the gers the safety of children” and condoms’ benefits is high but their use digital age. “Children today have access to the Oval Office,” the New York Trump of sexual harassment shared
but was later confirmed to be in a relatives have been informed. Group incident at Timet UK, on Witton indus- promotes “unhealthy practices”. The remains stubbornly low – limited to to various channels of media and infor- senator wrote. Hours later, Gillibrand their stories in an interview on NBC
non-critical condition. A police spokes- commander Steve Harris said: “Our trial estate in Holford Road, Birming- information and broadcasting ministry about 5% of men. “[It is] poised to undo mation with a lot of content that we told reporters on Capitol Hill that the and at a press conference in New York.
man said: “There was an explosion thoughts are with the victim’s family, ham, just before 3am this morning. ordered the country’s estimated 900 decades of progress on sexual and have no control over,” she said in a state- post was “a sexist smear attempting to While the White House has expressed a
around 8.45am and a fire. A wide area his friends and colleagues following this Officers attended the incident follow- television channels to restrict condom reproductive health,” said Poonam ment. “What we need is a more sensi- silence my voice. It’s part of the presi- desire not to relitigate the accusations,
has been sealed off and there are tragic incident. “It would appear that ing reports a cooling pipe had burst. commercials to between 10pm and Muttreja, executive director of the tive approach without compromising dent’s effort at name-calling.” She the president’s outburst placed the
expected to be several injured.” In the incident involved the fracture of “No further details are available at this 6am to avoid children seeing them. It Population Foundation of India. Sterili- on information and advocating for added: “I will not be silenced on this conversation squarely back on his treat-
Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

sion occurred, is a key distribution and
reception hub for gas exports and
imports, including from Russia,
Europe’s biggest gas supplier. In Italy,
where rain, snow and extreme cold
weather have disrupted traffic in the
north-east over the last few days, the
country’s industry minister declared a
Britain, Europe’s biggest gas market, coolant pipes. The nature of the materi- stage and the matter is being investigat- said the order was prompted by com- sation is by far the most popular sexual and reproductive choice. “If issue. Neither will the women who ment of women. The women who
gas for immediate delivery rose 35% to al involved meant we had to tackle the ed by the Health and Safety Executive. plaints that “some channels carry adver- method of contraception in India, espe- advertisements are a way to create the stood up to the president yesterday, and retold their stories on Monday – Jessica
92p per therm, its highest level for four fire in specialist suits, using dry powder A cordon has been put in place around tisements of condoms repeatedly which cially in rural areas, but the procedure demand for safe sex and family neither will the millions of women who Leeds, Samantha Holvey and Rachel
years. Natural gas is transported to rather than water. He said there had the site. No other premises were evacu- are alleged to be indecent, especially for is almost always carried out on women planning, then we need to ensure that it have been marching since the women’s Crooks – urged Congress to investigate
Baumgarten through Slovakia and been up to 30 firefighters at the scene, ated.” A spokesperson for HSE said: children”. The ministry cited 1994 rules and often in dangerous conditions. is not stifled by restrictions.” India’s march [in January] to stand up against Trump’s behavior. A fourth accuser,
Germany along several pipelines, then but that resources had now been scaled “HSE is aware of this incident and is banning commercials that “endanger Though big cities such as Mumbai are largest trade body was among the policies they do not agree with.” Trump Melinda McGillivray, appeared on NBC
delivered throughout Europe via down. “We expect to be at the premises supporting West Midlands police with the safety of children or create in them dotted with advertisements for groups objecting to the advert, which it singled out Gillibrand while ignoring to speak about her own sexual miscon-
Austria’s transmission network. at least into this afternoon,” he said. its enquiries.” any interest in unhealthy practices or condoms, sex is still a taboo subject for said put “India’s cultural value at stake”. the male senators who have also called duct allegation against Trump.

6 7
12 DEC 2017 THE GUARDIAN REDESIGN No. 42

Theresa May Rodney Croome Abi Wilkinson

“It’s Britain’s duty to help “The marriage equality “We know polluting cars are
nations hit by climate movement had people doing killing us. So why do we put
change.” the extraordinary.” up with it?”

Ian Sample SPACE

Astronomers to check interstellar

body for signs of alien technology
Green Bank telescope in West
Virginia will listen for radio
signals from ‘Oumuamua, an
object from another solar system.
Astronomers are to use one of the
world’s largest telescopes to check a
mysterious object that is speeding
through the solar system for signs of
immediately.” The interstellar body, the
first to be seen in the solar system, was
initially spotted by researchers on the
Pan-Starrs telescope, which the Univer-
sity of Hawaii uses to scan the heavens
for killer asteroids. Named after the
Hawaiian word for “messenger”, the
body was picked up as it swept past

Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

alien technology. The Green Bank
telescope in West Virginia will listen for
radio signals being broadcast from a
cigar-shaped body which was first
spotted in the solar system in October.
The body arrived from interstellar
space and reached a peak speed of
196,000 mph as it swept past the sun.
Daniel Boffey INTERNATIONAL Scientists on the Breakthrough Listen
project, which searches for evidence of
alien civilisations, said the Green Bank
Earth at 85 times the distance to the
moon. While many astronomers believe
the object is an interstellar asteroid, its
elongated shape is unlike anything seen
in the asteroid belt in our own solar
system. Early observations of ‘Oumua-
mua show that it is about 400m long but
only one tenth as wide. “It’s curious that
the first object we see from outside the
solar system looks like that,” said Loeb.
The body is now about twice as far from

EU leaders complicit in
telescope would monitor the object,
named ‘Oumuamua, from Wednesday.
The first phase of observations is
expected to last 10 hours and will tune
Earth as the sun, but from that distance
the Green Bank telescope can still
detect transmissions as weak as those
produced by a mobile phone. Loeb said

torture of refugees and

in to four different radio transmission that while he did not expect Green
bands. “Most likely it is of natural Bank to detect an alien transmission, it
origin, but because it is so peculiar, we was worth checking. Previous work on
would like to check if it has any sign of the body found it to be extremely dark

migrants, Amnesty says artificial origin, such as radio emis-

European leaders stand accused by
Amnesty International of being know-
ingly complicit in the torture and
exploitation of thousands of migrants
and refugees by the EU-financed Libyan
coastguard and officials running the
country’s detention camps. In an
attempt to stem the flow of people
across the Mediterranean to Europe,
the EU is financing a system that
routinely acts in collusion with militia
groups and people traffickers to “make
money from human suffering”, a report
from the human rights group claims.
Following the provision of ships, train-
ing and funding from the EU and Italy
to the Libyan coastguard, the number of
arrivals to Italy fell by 67% between
July and November compared with the
same period in 2016. Deaths at sea have
been reduced commensurately. Yet
Amnesty claims the coastguard and
sions,” said Avi Loeb, professor of
astronomy at Harvard University and
an adviser to the Breakthrough Listen
red, absorbing about 96% of light that
falls on it. The colour is associated with
carbon-based molecules on comets and
asteroids. “If it’s of natural origin, there
those to whom they hand over refugees, se me,” he said. “They call the family project. “If we do detect a signal that should be many more of these objects in
migrants and asylum seekers, are often while beating [you] so the family send appears artificial in origin, we’ll know the asteroid belts.” Loeb said.
acting in cahoots with criminal gangs money.” After interviews with refugees,
and militia. Agreements between the asylum seekers and migrants and meet- Julia Carrie Wong TECHNOLOGY
coastguard and smugglers are signalled ings with Libyan officials and others
by markings on boats that allow specific
vessels to pass through Libyan waters
with knowledge of the abuses, Amnesty
claims it now has sufficient evidence to
Former Facebook executive: social
without interception, it is claimed. The take leaders of EU states to internation- media is ripping our society apart
coastguard has also been known to al courts over alleged abuses of human
escort boats out to international right obligations. “You will see us in Chamath Palihapitiya, former growth at Facebook before he left the
waters. Those are who are intercepted court,” said John Dalhuisen. “Hundreds vice-president of user growth at company in 2011, said: “The short
on their way to Europe are sent to of thousands of refugees and migrants Facebook, expressed regret for term, dopamine-driven feedback loops
camps run by the Libyan general direc- trapped in Libya are at the mercy of the his part in building the tools that that we have created are destroying how
torate for combating illegal migration Libyan authorities, militias, armed destroy ‘the social fabric of how society works. No civil discourse, no
(DCIM), where torture for the purpos- groups and smugglers often working modern-day society works’ cooperation, misinformation. This is
es of extracting money is almost seamlessly together for financial gain. A former Facebook executive has said not about Russian ads,” he added. “This
routine, Amnesty reports. One man Tens of thousands are kept indefinitely he feels “tremendous guilt” over his is a global problem ... It is eroding the
from Gambia, who was detained for in overcrowded detention centres work on “tools that are ripping apart core foundations of how people behave
three months, told Amnesty how he where they are subjected to systematic the social fabric of how society works”, by and between each other.” He also
was starved and beaten in a detention abuse. Brussels stands accused of failing joining a growing chorus of critics of called on his audience to “soul search”
centre. “They beat me with a rubber to install the necessary rights protection the social media giant. Chamath Paliha- about their own relationship to social
hose because they want money to relea- mechanisms. pitiya, who was vice-president for user media.

Philip Oltermann EUROPE Frances Perraudin ENGLAND

Italy declares state of emergency Man dies in explosion at Birmingham metal factory
after deadly gas explosion in Austria Police say the incident happened man was killed in an explosion at a West Midlands police have launched a
at around 2.45 in the morning at metal factory in Birmingham. Police full inquiry. A police spokesman said: “A
One dead and 18 injured after state of emergency due to a lack of gas Timet UK metal smelting plant in said the incident happened at around man has died following an industrial
blaze tears through Baumgarten supplies. One person was killed and 18 Witton area of city. The explosion 2.45am at the Timet UK metal smelting accident at a metal smelting plant in
gas hub, plunging Europe into injured in the blast on Tuesday. One of occurred at the Timet UK metal plant in Holford Road, Witton. West Birmingham this morning (Tuesday 12
energy crisis. the casualties was airlifted to Vienna’s smelting plant in Holford Road. Midlands fire service confirmed the December). “Police and other emer-
Snow-hit southern Europe could face general hospital with serious injuries An inquiry has been launched after a death in a statement and the victim’s gency services were called to the
energy shortages after authorities but was later confirmed to be in a relatives have been informed. Group incident at Timet UK, on Witton indus-
warned that Austrian pipelines were non-critical condition. A police spokes- commander Steve Harris said: “Our trial estate in Holford Road, Birming-
likely to be out of action for days man said: “There was an explosion thoughts are with the victim’s family, ham, just before 3am this morning.
following an explosion and fire that around 8.45am and a fire. A wide area his friends and colleagues following this Officers attended the incident follow-
ripped through a main gas hub near has been sealed off and there are tragic incident. “It would appear that ing reports a cooling pipe had burst.
Vienna. Baumgarten, where the explo- expected to be several injured.” In the incident involved the fracture of “No further details are available at this
Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

sion occurred, is a key distribution and
reception hub for gas exports and
imports, including from Russia,
Europe’s biggest gas supplier. In Italy,
where rain, snow and extreme cold
weather have disrupted traffic in the
north-east over the last few days, the
country’s industry minister declared a
Britain, Europe’s biggest gas market, coolant pipes. The nature of the materi- stage and the matter is being investigat-
gas for immediate delivery rose 35% to al involved meant we had to tackle the ed by the Health and Safety Executive.
92p per therm, its highest level for four fire in specialist suits, using dry powder A cordon has been put in place around
years. Natural gas is transported to rather than water. He said there had the site. No other premises were evacu-
Baumgarten through Slovakia and been up to 30 firefighters at the scene, ated.” A spokesperson for HSE said:
Germany along several pipelines, then but that resources had now been scaled “HSE is aware of this incident and is
delivered throughout Europe via down. “We expect to be at the premises supporting West Midlands police with
Austria’s transmission network. at least into this afternoon,” he said. its enquiries.”

6
 12 DEC 2017
George Monbiot
“Mass starvation is humanity’s
fate if we keep flogging the
land to death.”
Washington AP INTERNATIONAL
Kim Jong-un should be prose- 'Heat not burn' cigarettes still harmful to health
cuted for human rights crimes Tobacco companies hail non
burning cigarettes as the safer
Report says the North Korean
leader and other officials were
involved in crimes with prisoner
camps, citing evidence of system-
atic murder and torture.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and
other officials should be prosecuted for
crimes against humanity committed in
the authoritarian nation’s camps for
political prisoners, three renowned
international jurists said Tuesday. The
jurists’ report is based on testimony
from defectors and experts on the
camps, believed to hold between
80,000 and 130,000 inmates. It cites
evidence of systematic murder, includ-
ing infanticide, and torture, persecu-
tion of Christians, rape, forced abor-
tions, starvation and overwork leading
to “countless deaths”. The report, draft-
ed with the International Bar Associa-
tion’s support, is billed as an unofficial
Peter Beaumont SOCIAL
Rabbi dies at age 104, tens
of thousands of orthodox
Jews attend his funeral
Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters
Michael Safi INTERNATIONAL
India bans condom adverts during primetime TV
The move is aimed at protecting
children but campaigner warns it
could undo decades of progress
on sexual health.
India has banned television adverts for
condoms during primetime hours,
citing rules against content that “endan-
gers the safety of children” and
promotes “unhealthy practices”. The
information and broadcasting ministry
ordered the country’s estimated 900
television channels to restrict condom
commercials to between 10pm and
6am to avoid children seeing them. It
said the order was prompted by com-
plaints that “some channels carry adver-
tisements of condoms repeatedly which
are alleged to be indecent, especially for
children”. The ministry cited 1994 rules
banning commercials that “endanger
the safety of children or create in them
any interest in unhealthy practices or
THE GUARDIAN REDESIGN
follow-up to a UN investigation in 2014
finding reasonable grounds to conclude
crimes against humanity had been com-
mitted in North Korea. The three
judges have served on past international
tribunals: Navi Pillay, a former UN high
commissioner for human rights; Mark
Harmon who served on a tribunal
trying Khmer Rouge leaders in Cambo-
dia; and Thomas Buergenthal, who
survived Auschwitz as a child and was a
judge on the International Court of
Justice. Crimes continue to be commit-
ted in the camps, and the judges
conclude Kim, members of the state
security department and prison guards
are culpable. Although international
pressure on North Korea over its dire
human rights record has escalated since
the issuance of the UN report in 2014,
there remains little chance of a referral
to the ICC, and the innocent is dying.
Aharon Yehudah Leib Shteinman,
a key religious figure and politi-
cal kingmaker, has died aged 104.
Aharon Yehudah Leib Shteinman said he
would be content if 10 people came to
his funeral. On Tuesday, tens of thou-
sands attended the commemorations
for the leader of the Lithuanian
ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, one
of Israel’s most influential rabbis, who
has died aged 104. Images from the
funeral procession in Bnei Brak showed
packed streets filled largely with men
dressed in the typical black and white
clothing of the ultra-Orthodox. There
were no eulogies, as Shteinman
requested in a will that also included
the plea that his followers neither name
their children after him nor write press
show them begging or in an undignified
or indecent manner”. Regulations also
prohibit “indecent, vulgar, suggestive,
repulsive or offensive themes” in adver-
tisements, it said. Family planning advo-
cates said they were disappointed by the
order in a country where awareness of
condoms’ benefits is high but their use
remains stubbornly low – limited to
about 5% of men. “[It is] poised to undo
decades of progress on sexual and
reproductive health,” said Poonam
Muttreja, executive director of the
Population Foundation of India. Sterili-
sation is by far the most popular
method of contraception in India, espe-
cially in rural areas, but the procedure
is almost always carried out on women
and often in dangerous conditions.
Though big cities such as Mumbai are
dotted with advertisements for
condoms, sex is still a taboo subject for
Nancy Jo Sales
“Facebook Messenger for
six-year-olds: need I say why
that's a bad idea?
Sarah Boseley HEALTH
option, but a government adviso-
ry board says although they are
less risky they are still not safe.
‘Heat not burn’ cigarettes, marketed as
a safer option by tobacco companies,
still contain chemicals that are harmful
to health, a government advisory body
has found. The independent Committee
on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food,
Consumer Products and the Environ-
ment (COT) has looked at the evidence
on the “heat not burn” products
currently available mainly online in the
UK. They are less risky than conven-
tional cigarettes, the committee has
found, but nobody should assume they
are safe. Reporting its findings to the
department of health in England, the
committee said people who use the two
products sold in the UK are exposed to
about 50% less or 90% less of the
“harmful and potentially harmful” com-
pounds. The variation is mostly to do
with the temperature to which the
tobacco is heated; one product reaches
350C and the other 50C. In a conven-
tional cigarette, tobacco is burned at
800C. Professor Alan Boobis, chair of
the COT, said there is likely to be a risk
to health with “heat not burn” products,
although it would be a reduced risk, but
articles about him. “Ten people at my
funeral would be enough,” he wrote in
his will, which was read by a student at
the funeral. Shteinman, widely regard-
ed as “Gadol Hador” or “leader of the
generation”, was known for his rabbinic
scholarship, his relatively pragmatic
rulings and his extremely modest
lifestyle. He was seen as one of the key
figures in the Haredi world and credited
with guiding the ultra-Orthodox
through the challenges of modernity in
Israel. The Israeli president, Reuven
Rivlin, praised Shteinman as a leader
who “carried on his shoulders the
existential weight of the Jewish people.
His legacy is greatness of scholar-
ship,but at the same time a very
nuanced leadership.”
many Indians and even kissing scenes
are sometimes cut from popular films.
The country’s notoriously prudish
censors have also previously ordered
the word condom to be bleeped out in
movies. Muttreja said restricting TV
adverts was the wrong approach in the
digital age. “Children today have access
to various channels of media and infor-
mation with a lot of content that we
have no control over,” she said in a state-
ment. “What we need is a more sensi-
tive approach without compromising
on information and advocating for
sexual and reproductive choice. “If
advertisements are a way to create the
demand for safe sex and family
planning, then we need to ensure that it
is not stifled by restrictions.” India’s
largest trade body was among the
groups objecting to the advert, which it
said put “India’s cultural value at stake”.
the safest thing is to quit altogether. If
you are having trouble stopping smok-
ing, he said, first try the licensed
nicotine replacement therapies, such as
patches and gum. “Then think about
e-cigarettes. If that really doesn’t work,
there are the ‘heat not burn’ devices,”
he said. “But at the same time, we have
to be very much on our guard that these
are not seen as recreational devices.”
The committee found there was a risk,
though, reduced, to bystanders who
might inhale the fumes. It also advised
that they could not be considered safe
for pregnant women. The ‘heat not
burn’ cigarettes in the UK market have
been developed by the tobacco giants
Sabrina Siddiqi POLITICS
Trump says the sexual harass-
ment claims are nothing more
than a Democratic conspiracy
Donald Trump claimed on Tues-
day that the harassment accusa-
tions against him were a Demo-
cratic conspiracy as he lashed out
at a female Democratic senator
with what she quickly dubbed a
“sexist smear”.
“Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gilli-
brand, a total flunky for Chuck Schum-
er and someone who would come to my
office ‘begging’ for campaign contribu-
tions not so long ago (and would do
anything for them), is now in the ring
fighting against Trump,” the president
tweeted. Gillibrand – who along with
three male senators has called on
Trump to resign over the numerous
sexual misconduct accusations against
him – responded on Twitter minutes
later. “You cannot silence me or the
millions of women who have gotten off
the sidelines to speak out about the
unfitness and shame you have brought
to the Oval Office,” the New York
senator wrote. Hours later, Gillibrand
told reporters on Capitol Hill that the
post was “a sexist smear attempting to
silence my voice. It’s part of the presi-
dent’s effort at name-calling.” She
added: “I will not be silenced on this
issue. Neither will the women who
stood up to the president yesterday, and
neither will the millions of women who
have been marching since the women’s
march [in January] to stand up against
policies they do not agree with.” Trump
singled out Gillibrand while ignoring
the male senators who have also called
No. 42
Rebeca Huntley
“It's an important moment
for women but will #metoo
create lasting change?”
Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters
Phillip Morris International (PMI) and
British American Tobacco. PMI has said
it is committed to a smoke-free future
in which it will sell safer alternatives.
But it still markets cigarettes heavily
around the world, especially in the
developing world where fewer restric-
tions are in place. “Heat not burn”
cigarettes produce a vapour either from
directly heating tobacco or from
heating other substances which are then
passed over tobacco to flavour it. The
higher temperatures are reached where
tobacco is heated directly, as in the PMI
iQOS product. The committee is also
looking at the safety of e-cigarettes, but
quitting tobaco is still the safest choice.
on him to step down: Vermont senator
Bernie Sanders, New Jersey senator
Cory Booker and Oregon senator Jeff
Merkley. The White House would not
comment when asked what Trump was
referring to when he suggested Gilli-
brand “would do anything” for
campaign donations. But the tweet
drew swift condemnation from Demo-
crats for its provocative innuendo,
particularly against the backdrop of a
national dialogue around sexual harass-
ment against women. Elizabeth Warren,
a Democratic senator from Massachu-
setts, accused Trump of trying to
“slut-shame” Gillibrand. Eric Swalwell,
a Democratic congressman from
California, said Trump’s comments
about Gillibrand were “ugly and sugges-
tive”. “We all know what he was trying
to say there,” Swalwell told CNN.
Trump’s comments came a day after
three women who previously accused
Trump of sexual harassment shared
their stories in an interview on NBC
and at a press conference in New York.
While the White House has expressed a
desire not to relitigate the accusations,
the president’s outburst placed the
conversation squarely back on his treat-
ment of women. The women who
retold their stories on Monday – Jessica
Leeds, Samantha Holvey and Rachel
Crooks – urged Congress to investigate
Trump’s behavior. A fourth accuser,
Melinda McGillivray, appeared on NBC
to speak about her own sexual miscon-
duct allegation against Trump.