General news

• Husband pays tribute to 'beautiful' balcony plunge victim Kirsty Maxwell

  04-05-2017 23:55
  Kirsty Maxwell fell from a 10th-floor apartment in an area known as 'Little England' in the Spanish resort of Benidorm on 29 April.A JustGiving page set up by her friend Carolynn Simpson originally had a £10,000 target intended to help the family to bring the 25-year-old home to Livingston, West Lothian in Scotland."The amount of support shown is a true testament to Kirsty's character and how many people's lives she touched.
  
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• Everything you need to know the health care bill that the House of Representatives just passed

  04-05-2017 23:13
  
  It’s the first real step towards repealing Obamacare.
  
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• UK must get tough on childhood obesity, says top doctors

  04-05-2017 23:01
  
  Without robust measures the NHS will come under ‘enormous and unsustainable strain’ from a condition that already costs it £5bn a year, says OHA.Britain must take much tougher action to tackle childhood obesity, including banning sponsorship of sports events by manufacturers of unhealthy food and drinks, leading doctors will warn.Without such robust measures, the NHS will come under “enormous and unsustainable strain” from a condition that already costs it £5b
  
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• Political will is needed to tackle obesity in the UK | Letters

  04-05-2017 23:00
  
  ‘Whoever forms the next government cannot afford to neglect the obesity agenda,’ say the signatories to this letter. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA
  
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• 'Challenging' night ahead for Labour as polls close in local elections

  04-05-2017 23:00
  
  Labour was bracing itself for a “challenging” night on Thursday, as polls closed in local and mayoral elections across England, Scotland and Wales, with just five weeks to go before the 8 June general election.Senior Labour sources were playing down expectations, warning that they could be set to lose council seats, particularly in Scotland and Wales, and claiming that 2013 – when these seats were last contested – saw a strong performance for the party, then led by Ed Mil
  
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• Illegal levels of arsenic in 75% of children's baby rice products

  04-05-2017 22:33
  Nearly 75% of baby rice products marketed at children in the UK contain illegal levels of inorganic arsenic, according to a study.The study's authors, from the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University Belfast warned there could be health implications for children eating baby cereals and rice cakes.Researchers say chronic exposure to inorganic arsenic can cause a range of health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes and damage to the nervous system.
  
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• Straight-talking Prince Philip in his own words

  04-05-2017 22:30
  
  The Duke of Edinburgh became famous for his unique sense of humour during public visits.
  
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• Response upgrade

  04-05-2017 22:08 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The UK is embarking on a major programme to upgrade its armed police response to terrorist attacks.
  
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• Prince Phillip's step back means other royals will step up to help Queen

  04-05-2017 21:31
  The Palace has never been keen on phrases like "slowing down" or "taking a step back" when it comes to the Queen and Prince Philip.Which is why I've been told that the Prince's plan to step away from the rigours of public duties was a very personal decision that only he could make - fully supported by his wife, of course.The Duke has carried out 22,191 solo engagements since 1952 - so this will be an enormous change for the royal family, not least for the Queen who he has supported on so many oc
  
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• Nigerian village sues Eni for damages from pipe explosion

  04-05-2017 21:22
  
  A Nigerian village has filed a lawsuit in Milan against Italian oil company Enidemanding compensation for damage caused by an oil pipeline explosion in 2010, an Italian lawyer representing the village said on Thursday.The village of Ikebiri in the Niger Delta is asking Eni for 2 million euros ($2.2 million) in damages along with a commitment to clean up the area covering more than 43 acres (17 hectares), Luca Saltalamacchia told a news conference."The explosion that happened near a river caused
  
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• Vote for Tories is vote to escalate Syria war, Labour says

  04-05-2017 20:50
  
  Theresa May is said to want Commons backing for airstrikes in the event of another chemical weapons attack.A vote for the Conservatives is a vote to escalate the war in Syria and prolong the suffering of its people, Labour has said, after it emerged that Theresa May could try to push a motion through the House of Commons on joining military action against Bashar al-Assad if she wins next month’s election.Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, said such a move would “risk ope
  
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• London anti-terror raid police criticised for not wearing body cameras

  04-05-2017 20:13
  
  Police on the street in north-west London where the raid took place.The lawyer for a woman shot during a raid by an elite counter-terrorism unit has criticised the officers for not wearing body cameras to record the operation.The 21-year-old was shot last Thursday during the storming of a house in Willesden, north-west London.
  
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• Where's the motivation?

  04-05-2017 20:09 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The England manager says it is a struggle to motivate teenage millionaires, who "lose a bit of edge".
  
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• There is a way to get Theresa May to debate on television | Letters

  04-05-2017 19:54
  
  Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. ‘Corbyn’s decision to opt out of TV debates was not driven by cowardice, but by intelligent recognition of Lynton Crosby’s plan,’ writes Tony Vinicombe.France’s remaining presidential candidates this week had a head-to-head debate on French TV.Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton met three times on TV.
  
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• Here’s a bombshell for Philip Hammond | Brief letters

  04-05-2017 19:54
  
  Someone should ask Philip Hammond, a former secretary of state for defence, exactly which bombs Jeremy Corbyn wouldn’t supply to the army (Report, 4 May).It’s the RAF that uses bombs (in the absence of naval aircraft capable of this, due to the Tories scrapping them).• Viv Groskop comments wittily on the absence of a word for “privacy”, in the sense of “personal space”, in Russian (G2, 3 May), though it’s worth mentioning it’s well equipp
  
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• EU's Donald Tusk says May needs to show moderation and respect

  04-05-2017 19:46
  
  The European council president, Donald Tusk, has called on Theresa May to show “moderation and respect” in the increasingly heated Brexit negotiations, a day after the prime minister launched an extraordinary broadside accusing Brussels of trying to meddle in the UK election.Tusk warned that talks over the terms of Britain’s exit would fail before they even began if emotions continued to run wild.
  
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• A drumbeat on Syria: what's behind Tory solidarity move with US?

  04-05-2017 19:21
  
  Such is the reputation of the ebullient and politically crafty British defence secretary, Michael Fallon, it might be assumed that a report saying the UK will join a US-led bombing campaign against Bashar al-Assad is a piece of electioneering by a man who relishes a scrap.It is not unknown for Fallon to “hurl a dead cat on to the table” in the middle of an election (spin-doctor parlance for an outrageous move that shifts media attention away from the fact that you are losing an argum
  
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• 'This changed my life'

  04-05-2017 19:17 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Jon Watts finished all three awards while in prison, laying the foundations of his career as a chef.
  
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• Archbishop of Canterbury makes surprise visit to Gaza

  04-05-2017 18:57
  
  The archbishop of Canterbury has made a surprise visit to Gaza during his 12-day tour of the Holy Land.Justin Welby spent three and a half hours in the Gaza Strip, which has been the scene of repeated conflicts over the past decade and is governed by the militant group Hamas.The archbishop, who was accompanied by the Anglican bishop of Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, and two aides, was granted Israeli permits and given security clearance at the last minute.
  
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• Prince Philip to retire from public duties at age of 96

  04-05-2017 18:55
  
  The Duke of Edinburgh will retire from public engagements in the summer at the age of 96, a decision that Buckingham Palace said had the full support of the Queen.Shortly after the news was announced, Prince Philip was on duty, and on customary form , joining the Queen at St James’s Palace for a service and lunch for the Order of Merit.Tributes to the longest-serving royal consort in British history, who will turn 96 on 10 June, followed the announcement, first made to royal staff in the b
  
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• Racism scars European soccer with sanctions still often weak

  04-05-2017 18:47
  
  As monkey chants boomed around the Italian soccer stadium, Sulley Muntari became more incensed.
  
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• Hammond warns moving clearing out of UK carries risks

  04-05-2017 18:43
  
  Chancellor Philip Hammond warned on Thursday of potential risks if the European Union moves the clearing of euro-denominated securities like derivatives and bonds to within the euro zone after Brexit."But we should be careful of any proposals which might disrupt growth, raise the cost of investment in Europe and the UK or weaken financial stability."The London Stock Exchange'sLCH clearing house clears most euro-denominated trades, but this activity will be outside the bloc's legal framework afte
  
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• City of London's Brexit job losses limited to 'low thousands' - new policy chief

  04-05-2017 18:39
  
  By Huw Jones and Andrew MacAskillLONDON (Reuters) - A shift in banking jobs from Britain to continental Europe because of Brexit is likely be in the "low thousands", the City of London's new policy chief said on Thursday - and warned that a "turbulent" few months lay ahead.Catherine McGuinness, 58, was elected on Thursday as the chairman of the City of London's policy and resources committee, making her the political face of the ancient "Square Mile" financial district.A trained financial lawyer
  
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• U.S. labour market tightening; productivity drops in first-quarter

  04-05-2017 18:37
  
  By Lucia MutikaniWASHINGTON (Reuters) - New applications for U.S. jobless benefits fell sharply last week and the number of Americans on unemployment rolls hit a 17-year low, pointing to a tightening labour market that could allow the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates next month.Diminishing job market slack has left companies scrambling for workers as they seek to shore up weak productivity, leading to a rise in labour costs.Other data on Thursday showed worker productivity falling in the
  
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• Luxembourg says no sweetheart deals for financial firms fleeing Brexit

  04-05-2017 18:21
  
  By Jamie McGeeverLUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Luxembourg is in talks with a wide range of financial firms looking to relocate out of London as Britain leaves the European Union, but it will not offer sweeteners to undercut rival centres, Finance Minister Pierre Gramegna said on Thursday.The firms include banks, asset managers, insurance companies and fintech companies, all of them keen to set up shop in the EU to maintain access to its single market and continue serving their European clients with as
  
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• EU doesn't want to punish UK but has its own interests, Schaeuble says

  04-05-2017 18:17
  DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters) - The European Union does not want to punish Britain for leaving the bloc but it cannot enjoy EU rights outside the union, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Thursday. "There will be tough negotiations," he said in Durban, South Africa, adding that the EU had a strong interest in a strong Britain but had to look out for its own interests too. (Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Andrea Shalal)
  
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• Prince Philip stepping down from public duties in the autumn

  04-05-2017 18:03
  
  The Duke of Edinburgh is giving up his public duties from the autumn, Buckingham Palace has announced.The palace said Prince Philip, who turns 96 next month, had taken the decision with the "full support" of the Queen.
  
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• EU's Tusk says Brexit talks will be 'impossible' if emotions unchecked

  04-05-2017 17:53
  
  Britain's looming negotiations with the European Union on exiting the bloc are already very tough and will become "impossible" if emotions are allowed to run unchecked, the chairman of EU summits said on Thursday.Donald Tusk's warning followed comments by Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday that some European politicians and officials were seeking to affect the outcome of Britain's election on June 8."These (Brexit) negotiations are difficult enough as they are.
  
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• Valve overhauls Steam gifting policies to curtail code resellers

  04-05-2017 17:42
  
  In an effort to stop resellers from exploiting variations between Steam pricing in different regions, Valve has announced a new gifting system that's set to take effect on Thursday.
  
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• British accounting watchdog investigates KPMG over Rolls-Royce audits

  04-05-2017 17:37
  By Kirstin Ridley and Huw JonesLONDON (Reuters) - Britain's accounting watchdog has opened an investigation into how KPMG checked the books of Rolls-Royce, the aero-engine group that agreed in January to pay 671 million pounds to settle a transatlantic bribery probe.The Financial Reporting Council, which regulates auditing in Britain, said on Thursday it was looking into KPMG's audit of Rolls-Royce Group's financial statements for the year to Dec. 31, 2010 and those of Rolls-Royce Holdings for t
  
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• EU chief Donald Tusk: May needs to show moderation and respect

  04-05-2017 17:27
  
  The European council president, Donald Tusk, has called on Theresa May to show “moderation and respect” for the sake of the millions of people whose lives are being affected by Brexit, in an extraordinary slapdown for the British prime minister.“These negotiations are difficult enough as they are,” a sombre Tusk said at a press conference in Brussels.
  
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• Alexa - where is Amazon opening a new R&D centre? Cambridge, England

  04-05-2017 17:22
  
  Amazon plans to open a new centre in the university city of Cambridge for scientists developing technologies including the Alexa digital assistant used in its Echo speakers.Able to house more than 400 scientists and engineers when it opens in the autumn, the building underscores the U.S group's commitment to Britain, where Amazon said it has invested 6.4 billion pounds since 2010.Amazon's existing centre in the city in the east of England, which sits at the heart of a regional technology hub kno
  
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• Hammond warns of risks from moving clearing away from UK

  04-05-2017 16:37
  
  Chancellor Philip Hammond warned on Thursday of potential risks if the European Union moves the clearing of euro-denominated securities like derivatives and bonds to within the euro zone after Brexit."But we should be careful of any proposals which might disrupt growth, raise the cost of investment in Europe and the UK or weaken financial stability."The London Stock Exchange'sLCH clearing house clears most euro-denominated trades, but this activity will be outside the bloc's legal framework afte
  
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• Retiring Duke of Edinburgh: 'I can't stand up much!'

  04-05-2017 16:27
  
  The Duke of Edinburgh has been quick to joke about news of his retirement.
  
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• Pfizer to give out breast cancer drug free while awaiting NHS decision

  04-05-2017 16:25
  
  A drug described as one of the most important advances in treating breast cancer in the past 20 years is to be given to women in the UK for free while the medicines regulator decides whether it should be available on the NHS.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s provisional decision in February that palbociclib should not be routinely funded on the NHS in England was decried by patients but its final appraisal has been paused for the drug manufacturer Pfizer to present fu
  
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• What did Duke have to say about standing down?

  04-05-2017 16:10
  
  Prince Philip was ready with one of his famous quips when a guest at a lunch asked him about his retirement.
  
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• Let dogs at polling stations soothe your midweek blues

  04-05-2017 16:10
  
  Just some cute pooches contributing to democracy, or something like that.
  
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• 'I can't stand up much' Prince Philip quips as he retires from royal duties

  04-05-2017 15:31
  
  By Michael HoldenLONDON (Reuters) - Prince Philip, the 95-year-old husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, joked on Thursday about no longer being able to "stand up much" as Buckingham Palace announced he would retire later this year from active public life.Philip, who is also known as the Duke of Edinburgh and has sometimes drawn attention with headline-grabbing gaffes, has been by the queen's side throughout her 65 years on the throne and she has described him as "my strength and stay"."Prince P
  
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• Quiz: Can you remember Prince Philip's finest gaffes?

  04-05-2017 15:23
  
  Are you a royal genius or court fool? Find out with this quiz.
  
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• European shares hit 20-month high, Brent buckles below $50

  04-05-2017 15:15
  
  By Marc JonesLONDON (Reuters) - Signs that centrist Emmanuel Macron was heading for victory in France's presidential election and buoyant business confidence helped European shares to a near two-year high on Thursday, despite some wary signals from China and commodity markets.U.S. President Donald Trump is also set to make another attempt to get Barack Obama's signature healthcare law scrapped by Washington.A poll showing Macron had outperformed far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in a televised d
  
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• Old five pound note deadline nears: Spend your fiver this week!

  04-05-2017 15:06
  
  Old paper five pound notes will no longer be legal tender after Friday and people will have until the end of the day to spend them.Around 150 million of the Bank of England (BoE) notes are still in circulation but 5 May will be the last day they can be spent.The BoE said some banks and building societies may continue to accept the old fiver, which features prison reformer Elizabeth Fry, but this is at their discretion and people should check what their bank's policy is.
  
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• Austen-tatious fiver is worth a small fortune

  04-05-2017 15:00
  
  Only four have been put into circulation by the renowned artist and engraver Graham Short.
  
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• Coal India considering listing on London's LSE - sources

  04-05-2017 14:58
  By Neha Dasgupta and Sudarshan VaradhanNEW DELHI (Reuters) - Coal India Ltd , the world's largest coal miner, is considering a listing on the London Stock Exchangeand has had early discussions with the LSE, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Thursday.A listing by the state-controlled miner would be a boost for the LSE as it looks to attract companies following Britain's vote to leave the European Union.Coal India and LSE officials met in London in December to discuss the m
  
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• South Africa close to launch of challenger to 'big four' banks

  04-05-2017 14:44
  By Mfuneko ToyanaDURBAN, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa is close to spinning a state-owned bank out of its postal service that will lend to the country's poor and distribute welfare grants, in a bid to loosen the grip of private sector banks.Financial services, the largest sector of the South African economy at 20 percent of nominal GDP, have long been perceived as being dominated by the country's big four banks.It’s going to be a developmental bank to deal with the market that is n
  
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• Economy picks up steam as services sector growth recovers: survey

  04-05-2017 14:32
  The UK economy appeared to have picked up steam in April after closely-watched business survey data showed a better-than-expected performance from the dominant services sector.Economists suggested the latest figures might provide ammunition for Bank of England hawks favouring an interest rate rise when the Bank's rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee meets next week.The Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data showed a reading of 55.8 for the services sector, a four-month high - where
  
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• UK to streamline payments to boost bank competition

  04-05-2017 14:07
  
  By Huw JonesLONDON (Reuters) - Britain's multi-trillion pound system for shuffling payments and cheques will be streamlined under plans announced on Thursday to help newcomers compete more easily with long established banks and improve services to customers.Britain is keen to increase competition in banking, a sector dominated by the "Big Four" lenders - Lloyds, HSBC, Barclays and RBS.Any new banks have to use existing payments systems, largely set up by the big lenders, for a fee.
  
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• Prince Philip stepping down from public duties

  04-05-2017 13:55
  
  The Duke of Edinburgh is giving up his public duties from the autumn, Buckingham Palace has announced.The palace said Prince Philip, who turns 96 next month, had taken the decision with the "full support" of the Queen.It appears he believes the time has come to take a step back from royal duties that can often involve extensive travel.
  
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• EU mulls relocation of UK clearing after Brexit, but no decision yet

  04-05-2017 13:47
  
  BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission is considering as a possible option the relocation of a big chunk of derivative clearing from London to the European Union after Britain leaves the bloc, but no decision has been taken yet, a top official said on Thursday. "At this stage we are not jumping to conclusions," Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference. ...
  
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• Hunt announces plans for inquiry into rogue surgeon Ian Paterson

  04-05-2017 13:45
  
  Ian Paterson was convicted of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three counts of unlawful wounding.Jeremy Hunt has announced plans to hold an inquiry into rogue surgeon Ian Paterson, who was last week convicted of carrying out “completely unnecessary” operations on patients.The breast cancer surgeon was found guilty of 17 counts of wounding with intent and three of unlawful wounding against 10 patients after a seven-week trial at Nottingham crown court.
  
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• Taking the lead

  04-05-2017 13:42 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Britain takes to the polls, and the dogs go too, in the 2017 local and mayoral elections
  
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