General news

• New Banksy mural gets 24-hour guard to protect from crowds

  22-12-2018 23:59
  A Banksy mural which appeared overnight in a Welsh steel town this week is under 24-hour guard to manage crowds flocking to see it.The secretive British artist's latest instalment appeared on a garage in Port Talbot, south Wales, on Tuesday.Since then queues have been forming as people gather to see the mural which at first looks like a boy in the snow.
  
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• Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown dies aged 77

  22-12-2018 23:59
  Tributes pour in for politician who led the party between 1988 and 1999Full obituary: Lord Ashdown, 1941-2018The political world has paid tribute to Paddy Ashdown – the irrepressible former Liberal Democrat leader and ex-marine – who died aged 77 just two months after revealing that he was being treated for bladder cancer.Lord Ashdown, who built the Lib Dems into a formidable third party at Westminster and a highly effective force in local government during his 11 years as leader bet
  
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• Labour: We need inquiry into Gatwick drone chaos

  22-12-2018 23:53
  The call comes as two people remain in police custody over the incident.
  
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• Parkland school shooting survivor David Hogg wins place at Harvard

  22-12-2018 23:47
  Previous college rejections were mocked by Fox News hostGun control activist says he will major in political scienceThe Florida school shooting survivor and gun control advocate David Hogg announced on Saturday that he has won a place at Harvard. Related: What happened next? How teenage shooting survivor David Hogg became a political leaderContinue reading...
  
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• 'Patriot, statesman and visionary' at 1992 rally

  22-12-2018 23:35
  Paddy Ashdown, who was died aged 77, is seen in this archive footage at a 1992 election campaign rally.
  
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• Ant McPartlin’s ex-wife Lisa Armstrong poised to end custody bid over their Labrador Hurley - The Sun

  22-12-2018 23:27 via thesun.co.uk
  Ant McPartlin’s ex-wife Lisa Armstrong poised to end custody bid over their Labrador Hurley  The SunTHE TV star, 42, and Lisa have taken the pet for a week at a time since splitting in January while going through bitter divorce proceedings. But handovers are ...View full coverage on Google News
  
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• British politician, soldier and diplomat: Paddy Ashdown dies

  22-12-2018 23:14
  Paddy Ashdown, the face of centrist politics in Britain for more than a decade and a one-time marine commando who sought to secure peace in the former Yugoslavia, died on Saturday after being treated for cancer.Ashdown led the Liberal Democrats for 11 years up to 1999, steering it to become a campaigning force in British politics against the Conservatives, home to Winston Churchill and Theresa May, and the Labour Party of Tony Blair and Jeremy Corbyn.The Liberal Democrats said Ashdown died on Sa
  
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• Solskjær brings back Manchester United’s swagger – and Paul Pogba | Jamie Jackson

  22-12-2018 23:07
  United played with a smile against Cardiff, and whatever happens dull football is unlikely to be the Norwegian’s undoingOle Gunnar Solskjær looked natty in club suit and tie as he posed for pre-game photographs, then he sat on the bench and had to wait precisely three minutes and three seconds to see the opening goal of his Manchester United tenure. The Norwegian pumped both fists after Cardiff’s wall could do nothing to stop Marcus Rashford’s swerving effort from flying
  
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• PM and party leaders pay tribute to Paddy Ashdown after his death aged 77

  22-12-2018 23:06
  The former Lib Dem leader, credited with making the party a significant third force in politics in the 1990s, had been suffering from bladder cancer.
  
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• US anti-Isis envoy Brett McGurk quits over Trump Syria withdrawal

  22-12-2018 22:53
  Obama appointee follows defense secretary Mattis in resigningTrump defends move, says other countries can take care of IsisThe US envoy to forces fighting to defeat Islamic State has resigned, over Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Syria. Related: Trump’s Syria move pleases dictators and hands initiative to IsisContinue reading...
  
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• Twelve months of Brexit chaos and fewer than 100 days to go

  22-12-2018 22:29
  Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have repeatedly clashed this year.Just over a year ago, in her new year message, Theresa May promised to use 2018 to maintain what she said had been the steady progress towards Brexit achieved during the previous 12 months.“Whichever way you voted in the referendum, most people just want us to get on and deliver a good Brexit, and that is exactly what we will be doing,” she said from the cabinet room inside 10 Downing Street.
  
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• Corbyn faces furious Labour backlash over backing Brexit

  22-12-2018 22:00
  Jeremy Corbyn is being accused of betraying party members by supporting Brexit.Jeremy Corbyn is facing a storm of criticism from Labour activists and MPs after suggesting he would press ahead with Brexit if the party won a snap general election.In a sign that he is losing backing among overwhelmingly pro-Remain Labour supporters, Corbyn was also accused of betraying the party membership by appearing reluctant to back the idea of supporting Remain in a second referendum.
  
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• Brexit backer Arron Banks faces questions over uncut diamond

  22-12-2018 22:00
  Controversial businessman Arron Banks is facing questions from anti-corruption campaigners over a valuable uncut diamond from South Africa that he may have smuggled out of the country, evading thousands of pounds in taxes and flouting controls on the international movement of diamonds set up to prevent the sale of “conflict gems”.The allegations, made by Forensics for Justice, are based on an email from Banks to a business partner, which the organisation says it collected from the re
  
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• Former Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown dies aged 77

  22-12-2018 21:57
  Former Liberal Democrats leader Paddy Ashdown has died at the age of 77, the party has said.Lord Ashdown's death comes a month after he revealed that he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer.Speaking to the Somerset Live website at the time, Lord Ashdown said: "We must see about the outcome, which as always with things like this, is unpredictable.
  
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• Ashdown shakes hands at 1992 rally

  22-12-2018 21:55
  Paddy Ashdown, who was died aged 77, is seen in this archive footage at a 1992 election campaign rally.
  
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• Job uncertainty for hundreds of staff as computer firm goes into administration

  22-12-2018 21:50
  A meeting is to be held with employees on Monday to discuss the future.
  
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• Gatwick: man and woman questioned over 'criminal use of drones'

  22-12-2018 21:50
  Police continue to interview local man, 47, and woman, 54, as airport’s operations return to normalA man and woman were being questioned by police over the “criminal use of drones” as Gatwick airport slowly returned to normal after days of Christmas travel chaos.Following the most disruptive incident ever caused by a drone at a major international airport, detectives continued to interview a 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman from Crawley as forensic officers searched a ho
  
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• Gatwick: man and woman questioned over 'criminal use of drones'

  22-12-2018 21:50
  A plane takes off from Gatwick after the airport reopened on Friday.A man and woman were being questioned by police last night over the “criminal use of drones” as Gatwick airport slowly returned to normal after days of Christmas travel chaos.Following the most disruptive incident ever caused by a drone at a major international airport, detectives continued to interview a 47-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman from Crawley as forensic officers searched a house in the West Sussex tow
  
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• Tributes paid to ex-Lib Dem leader Paddy Ashdown after his death aged 77

  22-12-2018 21:41
  The former Royal Marine died on Saturday after a short illness
  
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• Ashdown, former leader of Britain's Liberal Democrats, dies

  22-12-2018 21:34
  Paddy Ashdown, a former British politician, soldier and diplomat, has died after a short illness, his Liberal Democrat party said on Saturday.Ashdown led the Liberals for 11 years from 1988, steering it to become a force in British politics to challenge the duopoly of the Conservatives, home to Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, and the Labour Party of Tony Blair and Jeremy Corbyn.A former Special Boat Service commando, he entered parliament in 1983 and was elected leader of the Liberal De
  
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• Former Liberal Democrat Leader Paddy Ashdown Dies

  22-12-2018 21:02
  Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has died aged 77, the party has
  
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• Manchester United thrash Cardiff in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first game - SkySports

  22-12-2018 21:01 via skysports.com
  Manchester United thrash Cardiff in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first game  SkySportsMan Utd star reveals TRUTH behind dressing room celebrations when Jose Mourinho was sacked  ExpressCardiff City 1-5 Manchester United: Premier League – as it happened  The GuardianDANNY MURPHY: Phelan crucial for Solskjaer... and Giggs should get job  Daily MailPaul Pogba sends message to Jose Mourinho after Man Utd win vs Cardiff  Manchester Evening NewsView fu
  
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• House searched as man and woman held in Gatwick Airport drone probe

  22-12-2018 20:26
  Around 140,000 passengers were affected by cancellations at the airport.
  
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• Baby seal takes wrong turn and ends up in back garden four miles from sea

  22-12-2018 19:36
  A feisty young seal pup is recovering after his sense of adventure got the better of him.The pup, believed to be about three weeks old, was found four miles from sea after apparently taking a wrong turn."We think that possibly he may have travelled up a drainage system and that's how he ended up where he was, but the water system only literally had two inches of water in it, so this poor pup must have just kept trying to travel further and further down in the hope of finding water or food," she
  
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• Trump has discussed firing Fed Chairman Powell: sources - Reuters UK

  22-12-2018 19:24 via uk.reuters.com
  Trump has discussed firing Fed Chairman Powell: sources  Reuters UKTrump has discussed firing Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell  The GuardianTreasury secretary: Trump denied suggesting firing Fed chair  Daily MailFed Chairman Powell deserves our pity, not Trump's scorn | TheHill  The HillTrump has discussed firing Fed Chairman Powell: sources  Reuters UKView full coverage on Google News
  
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• Retailers pin hopes on Christmas shoppers out for Super Saturday

  22-12-2018 19:18
  Beleaguered British retailers are pinning their hopes on "Super Saturday" after a dismal year for the high street.About 10.1m last-minute Christmas shoppers were expected to spend £1.38bn today in what has been dubbed "Super Saturday", the Centre for Retail Research predicts.The Saturday before Christmas is meant to be the most lucrative day of the year and normally means a 20% increase in footfall as shoppers move away from online purchasing and on to the high street.
  
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• Did Sony Just Tease the PlayStation 5 for a 2019 Release? - Bleeding Cool News

  22-12-2018 19:17 via bleedingcool.com
  Did Sony Just Tease the PlayStation 5 for a 2019 Release?  Bleeding Cool NewsPS Plus January 2019 FREE PS4 games reveal: Release, leaks, PlayStation Plus predictions | PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch News, Reviews and Features - Daily Star  Daily StarPlayStation Plus Gave Out More Than $1,500 in Free Games in 2018  Comicbook.comPlayStation Europe’s Massive January Sale Is Already Live With a Number of Hit Titles Discounted  PlayStation LifeStylePS5 Releas
  
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• Why wonky spuds will be back for Christmas

  22-12-2018 19:00
  Tesco accepts ‘reject’ potatoes after worst growing conditions in 40 yearsThe worst growing conditions in more than 40 years have brought misery for Britain’s potato farmers this year. Freezing spring temperatures in parts of the country, followed by the summer drought – the worst since 1976 – have hit growers across the country and threatened to put some out of business altogether.Now, however, comes a rare piece of good news for the industry. Tesco is relaxing its
  
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• Police trace ‘extremely vulnerable’ teenager

  22-12-2018 18:36
  Jack Martin, 18, has been found safe and well.
  
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• Gatwick drone disruption: Police search home after two arrested

  22-12-2018 18:35
  Police are searching a home in Crawley after two people werearrested over drone disruption which grounded flights at Gatwick Airport, Sky sources say.The disruption began at around 9pm on Wednesday and flight schedules were only just returning to normal earlier today.Crawley is around five miles from the airport, which is Britain's second busiest and serves more than 43 million passengers a year.
  
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• Donald Trump's US Envoy To Anti-IS Group Quits Over Syria Withdrawal

  22-12-2018 18:28
  The US envoy to the global coalition fighting Islamic State has resigned in
  
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• David Luiz Chelsea's most creative player and that says it all - ESPN.co.uk

  22-12-2018 18:17 via espn.co.uk
  David Luiz Chelsea's most creative player and that says it all  ESPN.co.ukLiverpool targeting £50m striker swoop  Bristol PostChelsea vs Leicester: Maurizio Sarri says Blues were ‘a team in mental confusion’ after Jamie Vardy’s goal  The IndependentSarri’s Chelsea show possession means little without penetration in Leicester defeat  iNewsFootball news - Paper Round: Arsenal to propose Mesut Ozil swap for Isco with Real Madrid&
  
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• A perspex screen has been put up around Banksy's artwork in Port Talbot - ITV News

  22-12-2018 18:08 via itv.com
  A perspex screen has been put up around Banksy's artwork in Port Talbot  ITV NewsNew Banksy mural gets 24-hour guard to protect from crowds  Sky NewsBanksy's 'Season's Greetings' protected with plastic  BBC NewsMichael Sheen pays thousands of pounds to help protect Banksy artwork in his hometown  Daily MailBanksy gifts Welsh steel town a white Christmas attraction  Reuters UKView full coverage on Google News
  
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• Back to the crib: north-west England's nativities – in pictures

  22-12-2018 18:00
  Stephen McCoy has been photographing the urban environments and landscapes of the north-west of England for 40 years. He began taking pictures of local Christmas mangers in 1985, but for this series, he photographed new nativity scenes and returned to others he’d shot before. “The passage of time is important to my work,” he says. “I rephotographed cribs in the exact same position, almost unchanged in 30 years, but the terrain had altered.” He incorporates quirky hu
  
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• Andros Townsend wonder goal helps Crystal Palace stun Manchester City

  22-12-2018 17:58
  Liverpool have the Christmas present they were looking for after Manchester City surprisingly fell to their second league defeat in three games. Jürgen Klopp and his players can now enter the festive period four points clear of the defending champions at the top of the Premier League. While one point separated the frontrunners City could look forward to rectifying the situation when Liverpool come here in the new year; now there might be little they can do if their unbeaten rivals maintain
  
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• Labour: Chaos of the last few days 'gross incompetence'

  22-12-2018 17:50
  Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald MP hits out at Chris Grayling calling the chaos of the last few days 'gross incompetence'.
  
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• Al-Shabaab car bomb kills at least 16 in Mogadishu

  22-12-2018 17:49
  Police in Somalia say suicide bomber blew themselves up near presidential palace A vehicle packed with explosives has been detonated at a military checkpoint near Somalia’s presidential palace, killing at least 16 people and wounding more than 20 others, police said.The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab, which often targets Mogadishu, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Continue reading...
  
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• Thousands descend on Britain's ancient Stonehenge for winter solstice

  22-12-2018 17:41
  STONEHENGE, England (Reuters) - Wrapped in warm and brightly coloured clothes, thousands of revellers gathered at Britain's Stonehenge to watch the first sunrise after winter solstice on Saturday.
  
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• Abraham Lincoln library and museum may sell artefacts to pay loan debt

  22-12-2018 17:40
  Museum owes $9.2m due in October 2019 but scholar Harold Holzer says sale would ‘exponentially cripple the institution’The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, may be forced to sell part of its rich collection, due to debt on a loan taken for a major purchase more than a decade ago. Related: The American civil war didn't end. And Trump is a Confederate president | Rebecca SolnitContinue reading...
  
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• Police search home after Gatwick drone arrests

  22-12-2018 17:30
  Police are searching a home in Crawley after the arrest of two people in connection with drone-related disruption at Gatwick Airport, Sky sources say.Crawley is around five miles from the airport, which is Britain's second busiest and serves more than 43 million passengers a year.The disruption began at around 9pm on Wednesday and flight schedules were only just returning to normal on Saturday.
  
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• Man deliberately run over after helping people involved in car chase – police

  22-12-2018 17:24
  Two vehicles had been involved in a pursuit through Glasgow before what was described as an attempted murder.
  
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• 'Please live forever': Ruth Bader Ginsburg fans wish her speedy recovery

  22-12-2018 17:08
  Health of 85-year-old supreme court justice, now recovering from lung surgery, has been closely watched since Trump took officeAs Ruth Bader Ginsburg continues to recover from surgery in a New York hospital, her many supporters have rushed to wish her good health.On Friday it was announced that the 85-year-old, who is a leading liberal light of the US supreme court, had two malignant growths removed from her left lung, in her second hospital stay in two months. It was her third cancer treatment.
  
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• Manchester bombing victim's family donates Christmas gifts to disadvantaged children

  22-12-2018 17:02
  The family of a Manchester Arena terror attack victim have given hundreds of Christmas presents to disadvantaged children in the city in memory of their daughter.Nell Jones was 14 when she was killed in the bombing in May 2017.From September onwards it was Christmas all the way.
  
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• Black journalists call on editors to improve diversity in newsrooms

  22-12-2018 17:02
  Black Journalists Collective UK demands journalism that better serves all communitiesMore than 100 black and minority ethnic journalists have written to UK editors to denounce a lack of diversity that has led to “a long litany of inadequacies in newsroom coverage of race and how stories about non-white people are covered”.The journalists, assembled under the auspices of a new group, Black Journalists Collective UK (BJCUK), call on editors to improve diversity among their staff in ord
  
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• Think twice before you share our faces online, say children

  22-12-2018 17:00
  Advice is to check privacy settings before ‘sharenting’ pictures.It’s become an accepted part of keeping up to date with extended family and friends, but if schoolchildren were in their parents’ shoes, the majority wouldn’t share posts of their sons and daughters online.Over 55% said they would not upload news about, or images of, their children to their social media feeds, according to survey of over 16,000 pupils by VotesforSchools.
  
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• Olivia Colman, 2019’s queen of the screen

  22-12-2018 17:00
  Stealing the show in BBC1’s Les Misérables, ascending to the throne in The Crown and maybe bagging an Oscar for The Favourite… next year could be the versatile actor’s best yetThere is a moment in Yorgos Lanthimos’s bawdy historical romp The Favourite when Olivia Colman’s frumpy Queen Anne, confined to a wheelchair with gout, watches Rachel Weisz’s Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, dancing with the rest of the court.While the elegant favourite struts her
  
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• Snapchat changes specs to look past the iPhone generation - The Guardian

  22-12-2018 16:59 via theguardian.com
  Snapchat changes specs to look past the iPhone generation  The GuardianThe app wants to distance itself from its rivals' troubles, but needs more of their revenues.
  
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• Isil launches fierce counterattack in Deir Ezzor after Trump's withdrawal announcement - The Telegraph

  22-12-2018 16:50 via telegraph.co.uk
  Isil launches fierce counterattack in Deir Ezzor after Trump's withdrawal announcement  The TelegraphUS envoy Brett McGurk quits over Trump Syria pullout  BBC NewsThousands of ISIS fanatics including ‘Beatles’ killers ‘could be FREED from prison’ if Donald Trump pulls US t  The SunTrump’s Syria withdrawal has handed a huge gift to Islamic State  The GuardianTrump is right to withdraw from Syria – He should replace US tro
  
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• Man seriously injured in large-scale brawl outside pub

  22-12-2018 16:31
  The incident was sparked by an altercation in the Wetherspoon’s bar.
  
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• Brussels takes a festive break, but the EU27 are busy planning a no-deal new year

  22-12-2018 16:22
  Shipping containers at the port of Hamburg, which has a large volume of trade with the UK, and is preparing for a no-deal Brexit.Don’t let the festive lull fool you: behind-the-scenes, no-deal Brexit contingency planning is accelerating around the EU.With not even 100 days before Britain leaves, and Downing Street ramping up its no-deal planning, the European commission last week unveiled bare-bones plans to keep flights in the air and money flowing should the UK crash out, warning that it
  
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