General news

• Music prodigy to premiere first opera, aged 11

  18-11-2016 23:26
  An English music prodigy is to premiere her first opera next month, despite being just 11 years old. Alma Deutscher is a composer, pianist and violinist from Dorking. In her version of the fairytale, Cinderella is a composer, her step-mother is an opera director and the two step-sisters are nasty divas.
  
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• West End actor, Joanna Reyes, killed in London car collision

  18-11-2016 23:15
  
  Police are still appealing for further information.
  
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• 'Life changing'

  18-11-2016 23:11 via bbc.co.uk
  
  An experiment is about to launch in the East End of London, which will link rises in house prices to local wages.
  
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• Three phone scam data breach hit 133,000 customers

  18-11-2016 23:02 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Three says 133,000 customer accounts were accessed by fraudsters in a bid to upgrade and steal phones.
  
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• Nigel Farage rules out peerage 'at the moment'

  18-11-2016 22:33 via bbc.co.uk
  
  UKIP leader Nigel Farage says he does not want a peerage "at this moment" but jokes "he might think about it".
  
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• Climate protesters rally outside US embassy against Donald Trump's election win

  18-11-2016 22:21
  
  The demonstration coincided with the last day of a UN climate summit meeting in Morocco.
  
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• Children in Need opens with Sir Terry Wogan tribute

  18-11-2016 22:15 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The BBC's Children in Need fundraiser gets under way, with a tribute to Sir Terry Wogan forming part of the show.
  
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• Children in Need hosts pay tribute to Sir Terry Wogan

  18-11-2016 22:05 via bbc.co.uk
  
  This year's Children in Need opens with an emotional tribute to the late Sir Terry Wogan from hosts Tess Daly and Greg James.
  
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• How will the £369 million renovation of Buckingham Palace take place?

  18-11-2016 21:42
  
  How many miles of skirting board will be replaced? All the big questions answered.
  
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• Zika virus is no longer a global health emergency, UN health agency says

  18-11-2016 21:35 via theguardian.com
  
  Move does not mean the agency is downgrading threat of the mosquito-borne virus that can result in severe neurological defects in newborns, officials saidThe United Nations health agency has declared that the Zika virus and related neurological complications no longer constitute an international emergency and said it is preparing a longer-term response to the mosquito-borne virus that can result in severe neurological defects in newborns whose mothers were infected. World Health Organization off
  
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• Shelling of market in Yemeni city kills more than 20 civilians, MSF says

  18-11-2016 21:29 via theguardian.com
  
  Aid group says one of its own was among those killed in Taiz as 75 people were wounded, although it is not clear who fired at the marketMore than 20 civilians were killed in the shelling of a busy market in the war-torn Yemeni city of Taiz, including a member of an international aid group, the group and medical officials said on Friday.Doctors Without Borders, known by the French acronym MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières), said that its hospitals received a total of 21 victims on Frida
  
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• Turkish bill to clear men of child sex assault if they marry their victims

  18-11-2016 21:24 via theguardian.com
  
  Government says legislation is aimed at custom of child marriagesA bill in Turkey that would overturn men’s convictions for child sex assault if they married their victim has provoked fury, with critics accusing the government of encouraging rape of minors with the proposals.The opposition, celebrities, and even an association whose deputy chairman is the daughter of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed alarm over the move.Continue reading...
  
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• Far-right group attacks refugee camp on Greek island of Chios

  18-11-2016 21:20 via theguardian.com
  
  Dozens of people flee Souda camp with at least two wounded after molotov cocktails and rocks thrown at tents and occupants Dozens of people have been driven out of a refugee camp on the Greek island of Chios after two successive nights of attacks by a far-right group.At least two people were wounded after attackers threw Molotov cocktails and rocks as big as boulders from elevated areas surrounding the Souda camp, activists said. Continue reading...
  
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• Princess Beatrice bikini photos 'breach of privacy'

  18-11-2016 21:16 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Photographs of Princess Beatrice in a bikini published by Mail Online breached her privacy, the press regulator rules.
  
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• Disruption to Scotland-England traffic due

  18-11-2016 21:13 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A busy section of the M74 motorway is closed with "significant" disruption expected over the weekend.
  
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• Northern Ireland court refers Brexit challenge to UK Supreme Court

  18-11-2016 21:06
  An attempt by a Northern Ireland activist to block Britain's exit from the European Union was referred to the Supreme Court on Friday after the case was rejected by Belfast's High Court. Belfast's Court of Appeal on Friday ruled that the contention by rights activist Raymond McCord that the people of Northern Ireland should have sole sovereignty on deciding their future within the EU should be decided by the Supreme Court. The court heard that a parallel case against Brexit by several members of
  
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• Buckingham Palace to be refurbished – video report

  18-11-2016 21:04 via theguardian.com
  
  Buckingham Palace is to undergo a 10-year refit at a cost of £370m. The Queen has been awarded a 66% raise to fund the refurbishment in her annual grant. It was agreed by Theresa May and Philip Hammond that it was necessary to grant the funding to avoid the ‘catastrophic building failure’ palace officials warned could happen. The Queen will remain in residence as the work is done Buckingham Palace to undergo ‘essential’ £370m refurbishment
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• Maltesers shrink by 15% as prices rise, declares Mars

  18-11-2016 20:50
  Mars has blamed rising costs for its decision to shrink the size of Maltesers packets. The decrease was spotted by food retail expert Steve Dresser, who also noticed that packets of Mars' Galaxy Counters have been dropped from 126g to 112g in weight. In a statement, Mars said rising costs forced it to decide between increasing the price of Maltesers pouches or reducing the size of the product.
  
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• Amazon v Donald Trump? Jeff Bezos may soon face his biggest challenge yet

  18-11-2016 20:13 via theguardian.com
  
  The president-elect has been verbally sparring with Bezos for months. Now things could get a lot tougher for AmazonAmazon will almost certainly enjoy its biggest ever day on Black Friday next week.The discount shopping event will help the American online retailer to continue its run of 22 years of unbroken and dramatic sales growth since it was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos. It is now valued at more than $375bn (£304bn), making it one of the biggest companies in the world. Continue reading
  
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• Actor Joanna Reyes dies after being hit by car in east London

  18-11-2016 20:04 via theguardian.com
  
  Singer who was tipped for West End stardom was leaving rehearsal in Shoreditch when she was struck by vehicleAn actor and singer tipped for success on the West End stage has died after she was hit by a car in London.Joanna Reyes, 37, was leaving a rehearsal at Shoreditch’s City Academy when she was struck by a white Range Rover Sport as she stood on a traffic island in the middle of the road. Continue reading...
  
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• Wickerman Festival will not return say organisers

  18-11-2016 19:56 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Organisers of the Wickerman Festival, staged near Dundrennan in Dumfries and Galloway, say the event will not be held again.
  
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• Death of soldier Joe Spencer was 'live fire accident', says MoJ

  18-11-2016 19:47
  A soldier who died in a training exercise in Scotland was involved in a "live fire accident", a Ministry of Justice report has said. Lance Corporal Joe Spencer, of 3rd Battalion The Rifles, died at RAF Tain in the Scottish Highlands on 1 November. L/Cpl Spencer, from Hampshire, joined the Army in 2011 and had completed a tour of Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick 16.
  
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• Aleppo's children's hospital bombed as it treats chlorine gas victims

  18-11-2016 19:45 via theguardian.com
  
  Medics forced to take babies in incubators to building’s basement after hospital was hit by bomb in latest attack on Syria’s largest cityThe only children’s hospital in besieged Aleppo is out of action after being bombed as it treated victims of a chlorine gas attack, forcing staff to evacuate babies in incubators and other patients injured over days of fierce bombardment.There are currently only four functioning hospitals left to serve around 250,000 civilians living in opposi
  
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• Christmas tree faces more ridicule

  18-11-2016 19:19 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A city's second attempt to decorate its Christmas tree is facing ridicule, with people calling it "a disgrace" and an "absolute joke".
  
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• Buckingham Palace: How much work goes into a Royal refurbishment?

  18-11-2016 19:05
  Buckingham Palace is having a multimillion-pound refit - its first in more than 60 years - to 'future-proof' the iconic building.
  
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• Princess Beatrice wins bikini photo privacy battle against Daily Mail website MailOnline

  18-11-2016 19:04
  Princess Beatrice has won a fight with MailOnline regarding photos published of her on a yacht wearing a bikini. The headline was "Beatrice makes a splash on yet ANOTHER day off! Princess dives into the sea in a very skimpy bikini as she enjoys a sunshine break on a yacht in Monaco". The report said that the princess was "spotted" on a "luxury yacht" with her boyfriend, and was accompanied by what IPSO described as "grainy" photos of her on the yacht and swimming alongside it.
  
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• Court convicts Malawi 'hyena' who had sex with over 100 women

  18-11-2016 19:04 via theguardian.com
  
  Eric Aniva, 45, who says he is HIV-positive, was paid to sleep with widows and girls as part of traditional cleansing ritualsA Malawian man accused of having sex with more than 100 girls and women in a series of traditional cleansing rituals has been convicted by a court of “engaging in harmful practices”.Eric Aniva, who has said he is infected with the HIV virus, was prosecuted after publicly speaking about his role as a “hyena” in a BBC documentary. Continue reading...
  
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• Beyond the exit

  18-11-2016 18:18 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Is the German finance minister right that the UK could continue having to contribute to the EU until 2030?
  
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• Hot rat is so hot right now: Moscow falls for the rodent burger

  18-11-2016 18:10 via theguardian.com
  
  The nutria, or river rat, is the victim of the Russian capital’s most challenging current food crazeForget kale, forget quinoa. This season’s foodie craze in Moscow is homegrown, affordable and full of nutrients. It’s rat.Well, not quite rat, but nutria, a giant orange-toothed rodent also known as coypu or river rat, and found in southern Russia. The furry, whiskered beast is finding its way on to plates at several Moscow restaurants this autumn. Continue reading...
  
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• Senior panel member defends head of child abuse inquiry

  18-11-2016 18:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  A panel member of the inquiry into historic child abuse defends chairwoman Prof Alexis Jay as "qualified for the job."
  
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• The British National Dance Championships – in pictures

  18-11-2016 18:05 via theguardian.com
  
  Couples compete in ballroom and Latin dance in the Empress ballroom of Blackpool’s Winter Gardens Continue reading...
  
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• Rugby player who lost his life in the Somme

  18-11-2016 18:03 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Watch the story of Northampton Saints' player William West, who died days after sustaining injuries on the last day of the Battle of the Somme.
  
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• Scots and Welsh can have say in Brexit court case

  18-11-2016 17:57 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Scotland and Wales are to intervene in the Brexit court case, as the PM says plans are "on track".
  
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• 'Polar air mass' brings snow and freezing storm force winds to Britain

  18-11-2016 17:47
  A “polar air mass” has spread across the UK, bringing with it the threat of freezing temperatures, storm force winds and snow this weekend. Severe weather warnings are in place across a swathe of the country with wintry showers threatening ice overnight and snow falling on higher ground in western and northwestern areas. The wintry weather is being brought in by a cold northwesterly "polar air mass" from the Arctic Sea, with clear spells allowing temperatures to plunge below freezing
  
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• The young boy who wrote a letter to Obama offering to rehome a Syrian refugee got an invite to the White House

  18-11-2016 17:40
  
  Little Alex bought a new suit for the occasion as he travelled from New York to meet the president.
  
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• Anna Soubry: ‘What’s happened to our country? We’ve lost the plot’

  18-11-2016 17:40 via theguardian.com
  
  The Tory MP was one of David Cameron’s modernisers, and campaigned to remain in the EU. Now she is angry at everyone – at Labour, her own party, the Daily Mail, even herself – but feels she must vote for article 50 regardless“I think,” Anna Soubry begins with an extravagant sigh, “we have to take a big chill pill in all of this, as my daughter would say.” The Conservative MP flops into a chair in her Portcullis House office, which looks out over the Tham
  
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• Does it matter if movie romances are real? – catch-up on our live look at the week

  18-11-2016 17:32 via theguardian.com
  
  Look back at this week’s Guardian Social, your space to discuss the week’s news in real time4.45pm GMTWe’ve discussed everything from cryonics to cats on the internet today, so very much appreciate you getting involved and sharing your thoughts with us. You can continue the conversation in the comments and we’ll be back with another Guardian Social next week – in the meantime you can email [email protected] or [email protected] with any feedba
  
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• Buckingham Palace's £369 million renovation was announced on the day of Children in Need, and everyone was flabbergasted

  18-11-2016 17:26
  
  The timing could have been better.
  
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• Two jailed for Ali Qasemi pizza delivery killing

  18-11-2016 17:20 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Two men are jailed for killing a takeaway delivery driver in a "snatch-and-grab" robbery for three pizzas worth £50.
  
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• ‘I was never a big oat eater’: Jeremy Young poses with a bowl of Porage Oats, 1967

  18-11-2016 17:00 via theguardian.com
  
  There wasn’t actually porridge in the bowl – they used some kind of cigarette. It has become family legend that it was a jointThis photograph was taken when I was about seven years old. I did a bit of modelling for a few years back then. My parents were fairly skint: we were two adults and five children living on a sailing barge in Kent. My father sold office equipment and my mum homeschooled us. They had some friends who were photographers and they suggested we could make some
  
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• Jo Cox tried to shield face during shooting, jury hears

  18-11-2016 16:49 via bbc.co.uk
  
  MP Jo Cox tried to shield her face with her hands as her killer shot her in the head, a jury hears.
  
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• Theresa May assures Angela Merkel Brexit remains 'on track'

  18-11-2016 16:48
  
  The Prime Minister has moved to reassure her German counterpart that preparations for Brexit remain "on track". Theresa May told Angela Merkel work to sever ties with Brussels was proceeding as planned and "we stand ready to trigger Article 50 before the end of March, or by the end of March 2017".
  
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• The Grand Tour: Jeremy Clarkson's first show since Top Gear praised

  18-11-2016 16:46 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The first episode of Jeremy Clarkson's new TV series The Grand Tour receives rave reviews from critics.
  
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• Buckingham Palace to get £369m refurbishment

  18-11-2016 16:40 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Buckingham Palace is to undergo a 10-year refurbishment costing the taxpayer £369m, the Treasury announces.
  
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• Higher values

  18-11-2016 16:31 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Hundreds of thousands of families will be struggling with university application forms. But does it matter where you end up studying?
  
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• Two-hour daily commute 'on rise among UK workers'

  18-11-2016 16:19 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Commuting for two hours is a daily reality for millions of UK workers, figures show.
  
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• France set to vote for rightwing presidential candidate to face Le Pen

  18-11-2016 16:16 via theguardian.com
  
  After Donald Trump’s win in the US, could France’s presidential election herald a shakeup of the political system?France votes this weekend to choose the rightwing candidate likely to face the far-right Marine Le Pen in next spring’s presidential election – just as Donald Trump’s US win has thrown the spotlight on France as the scene of the next possible shakeup of the political system.Polls have consistently shown that Le Pen, head of the far-right Front National,
  
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• Will Brexit restore the fishing industry to its former glory?

  18-11-2016 16:13
  
  As part of Sky's ongoing Brexit coverage, I'm on a white fish trawler in the North Sea talking to fishermen about the EU.
  
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• ‘None of the old rules apply’: Dave Eggers travels through post-election America

  18-11-2016 16:00 via theguardian.com
  
  From dazed election night revellers in Washington DC to a gay Trump voter in Detroit to kids in Kentucky ... The US writer gauges the mood of a divided nationThe word surreal is overused and often wrongly used, but in the case of the Washington Post Election Night Live party, the word was apt. First of all, it was a disco. There was a DJ playing a frenetic mix of contemporary Top 40 and pointedly apropos songs such as Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” (“You&rsquo
  
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• My husband never wants sex and doesn’t even cuddle me. I yearn for love or affection

  18-11-2016 16:00 via theguardian.com
  
  We are in our mid-50s and our children will soon have left home. For financial reasons, I don’t see how I can leave, but I’m so lonely. Annalisa Barbieri advises a readerMy husband and I are in our mid-50s and have been together for 30 years. I cannot remember the last time we had sex – it was at least four years ago. The last few times, he found it difficult and lost his erection. I don’t know why, and I think I felt that maybe it was me somehow. The problem is that
  
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