Political news

• Brexit bill vote: Article 50 legislation clears first hurdle in Commons

  01-02-2017 23:59
  
  MPs have overwhelmingly backed the bill to allow the Prime Minister to trigger Article 50 - the start of the formal process of leaving the EU. In what was politicians' first chance to vote on the Brexit legislation, the House of Commons supported it despite opposition from the SNP, Liberal Democrats, 47 Labour rebels and one Tory MP, Ken Clarke. It passed by 498 votes to 114, a majority of 384, and Britain's exit from the EU has now moved a step closer.
  
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• U.S. military posture unchanged after Iran missile test: Pentagon spokesman

  01-02-2017 23:57
  The United States military has not changed it's posture in response to Iran test-firing a ballistic missile, a Pentagon spokesman said on Wednesday. The spokesman, Christopher Sherwood, did not provide any other details. A top adviser to President Donald Trump delivered a tough warning to Iran on Wednesday for test-firing a ballistic missile and declared "we are officially putting Iran on notice" for what he called a provocation.
  
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• Trump adopts aggressive posture towards Iran after missile launch

  01-02-2017 23:53
  By Steve Holland and Roberta Rampton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump took an aggressive posture towards Iran on Wednesday for test-firing a ballistic missile, with his national security adviser declaring "we are officially putting Iran on notice" for what he called a provocation. The warning from Michael Flynn marked an abrupt change in policy and tone towards Iran from that of Trump's predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama, who had negotiated a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.
  
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• GOP pushes 2 top Cabinet picks through to full Senate

  01-02-2017 23:49
  
  Republicans jammed two of President Donald Trump's top Cabinet picks through the Senate Finance Committee with no Democrats in the room Wednesday after suspending a rule that would have otherwise barred ...
  
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• Gov. Walker: White House interested in Wisconsin union law

  01-02-2017 23:48
  
  MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday that he spoke with Vice President Mike Pence about how the White House can implement on a federal level parts of the Republican governor's contentious policy that all-but eliminated collective bargaining for public sector unions in the state.
  
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• U.S. jury issues $500 million verdict in Facebook virtual reality lawsuit

  01-02-2017 23:47
  A U.S. jury in Texas on Wednesday ordered Facebook Inc , its virtual reality unit Oculus, and other defendants to pay a combined $500 million (395.41 million pounds) to ZeniMax Media Inc, a video game publisher that says Oculus stole its technology. The jury in federal court in Dallas found Oculus, which Facebook acquired for about $2 billion in 2014, used ZeniMax’s computer code to launch the Rift virtual-reality headset. ZeniMax alleges that video game designer John Carmack dev
  
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• Facebook's quarterly profit, revenue beat estimates

  01-02-2017 23:47
  Facebook Inc shares rose more than 2 percent in after-hours trading on Wednesday as the world's largest online social network reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit and revenue, helped by continued growth in mobile advertising. The results offered some reassurance to investors who have been concerned since the company warned in November that ad growth would likely slow "meaningfully" due to limits on ad load - the total number of ads Facebook can show to each user. Facebook has faced dou
  
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• Trump makes unannounced trip to honor fallen Navy SEAL

  01-02-2017 23:43
  
  DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) — Assuming the somber duties of commander in chief, President Donald Trump made an unannounced trip Wednesday to honor the returning remains of a U.S. Navy SEAL killed in a weekend raid in Yemen.
  
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• Global stocks, dollar up after Fed, boosted by strong data

  01-02-2017 23:42
  By Dion Rabouin NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks advanced around the globe and the dollar edged higher on Wednesday as strong data suggested the global economy was picking up steam and the Federal Reserve released an upbeat statement on the health of the U.S. economy. The Fed left rates unchanged in its first meeting since President Donald Trump took office, but its relatively upbeat outlook suggested it was on track to tighten monetary policy this year. The dollar reduced its gains after the Fed's d
  
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• Senate confirms Tillerson to be Trump's secretary of state

  01-02-2017 23:41
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday confirmed Rex Tillerson to be secretary of State, a crucial member of President Donald Trump's national security team.
  
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• Report: Intelligence on fight against IS wasn't falsified

  01-02-2017 23:39
  WASHINGTON (AP) — An independent Pentagon probe concluded Wednesday that U.S. military leaders didn't falsify intelligence about progress in the fight against the Islamic State group. Still, it found many analysts strongly believed their reports were distorted to paint a more positive picture of the campaign.
  
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• Little heard in public, Bannon is quiet power in Oval Office

  01-02-2017 23:38
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — People are beginning to pay more attention to the man behind the curtain.
  
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• U.S. jury issues $500 mln verdict in Facebook virtual reality lawsuit

  01-02-2017 23:37
  A U.S. jury in Texas on Wednesday ordered Facebook Inc , its virtual reality unit Oculus, and other defendants to pay a combined $500 million to ZeniMax Media Inc, a video game publisher that says Oculus stole its technology. The jury in federal court in Dallas found Oculus, which Facebook acquired for about $2 billion in 2014, used ZeniMax’s computer code to launch the Rift virtual-reality headset. ZeniMax alleges that video game designer John Carmack developed core parts of the
  
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• German foreign minister says to meet with Tillerson in Washington

  01-02-2017 23:37
  German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Wednesday said he would travel to the United States to meet with the newly confirmed U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, underscoring the importance of maintaining trusted relations with Germany's closest ally outside Europe. Gabriel said he looked forward to meeting with Tillerson, who is to be sworn in his post later on Wednesday, adding that he would be seeking answers about the new U.S. administration's foreign policies, its relationship to the NA
  
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• Javid homes plan risks ire of Tory grassroots

  01-02-2017 23:36
  White paper next week to accelerate building threatens backbench revolt
  
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• Florida nightclub gunman's widow knew of his plan - U.S. prosecutors

  01-02-2017 23:35
  
  By Curtis Skinner OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - The widow of the gunman behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history knew he was planning an attack and concocted a cover story for him, federal prosecutors said in a California court on Wednesday. Prosecutors revealed new details about their case against Noor Salman, 30, as they argued she should remain jailed on charges stemming from the June 2016 shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Ryu did not
  
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• Romanians rally in biggest anti-corruption protest in decades

  01-02-2017 23:32
  By Radu-Sorin Marinas and Luiza Ilie BUCHAREST (Reuters) - More than 250,000 Romanians demonstrated on Wednesday against a government decree decriminalising some graft offences, seen as the biggest retreat on reforms since the country joined the European Union in 2007. Romania's top judicial watchdog, the Superior Magistrates' Council (CSM), earlier in the day filed a constitutional court challenge to the decree unveiled by the new Social Democrat government of Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu. Th
  
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• Trump's Supreme Court unveiling draws 32 million viewers

  01-02-2017 23:30
  
  LOS ANGELES (AP) — More than 32 million viewers watched President Donald Trump reveal his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.
  
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• Trump urges Republicans to 'go nuclear' to defend high court pick

  01-02-2017 23:30
  By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Senate Republicans to "go nuclear" and impose a rule change to force a simple majority vote on confirmation if Democrats block his U.S. Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, as Democrats manoeuvred for a hard fight. Gorsuch, a federal appeals court judge from Colorado seen as a conservative intellectual, began holding private meetings with senators, starting with top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, to drum up sup
  
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• Trump to Senate: Scrap rules if needed to confirm Gorsuch

  01-02-2017 23:30
  
  President Donald Trump urged the Senate's Republican leader on Wednesday to resort to the "nuclear option" of scrapping longstanding chamber rules if needed to confirm Supreme Court nominee Neil ...
  
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• Trump pushes Supreme Court pick with traditional game plan

  01-02-2017 23:24
  WASHINGTON (AP) — For once, President Donald Trump is following the playbook.
  
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• Suspect in Canada mosque shooting sought money, scouted site

  01-02-2017 23:23
  By Allison Lampert QUEBEC CITY (Reuters) - The suspect in the shooting rampage at a Canadian mosque visited the site before Sunday's massacre, asking for money and scouting the scene before returning with guns and killing six men as they prayed, a member of the mosque said. Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, was charged in court on Monday with six counts of premeditated murder and five counts of attempted murder with a restricted weapon after Sunday evening's massacre at the Centre Culturel Islamique de
  
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• Clinton will return to Wellesley to give commencement speech

  01-02-2017 23:22
  WELLESLEY, Mass. (AP) — Hillary Clinton has been chosen to give the 2017 commencement speech at her alma mater, Wellesley College.
  
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• The Latest: Shulkin: VA employees 'the best in health care'

  01-02-2017 23:21
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Senate confirmation hearing for David Shulkin, the nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs (all times EST):
  
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• Sen. Schumer battered by both the right and left in new role

  01-02-2017 23:19
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of angry liberals packed the icy sidewalk outside Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer's Brooklyn apartment. They mocked him with signs like "Grow a spine, Chuck!" and "Chuck's a chicken." And they chanted, "Filibuster everything!"
  
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• UK lawmakers back bill to trigger EU exit talks

  01-02-2017 23:12
  
  Britain moved closer to leaving the European Union Wednesday as lawmakers backed a bill authorizing divorce proceedings and kept alive the government's plan to trigger Brexit talks within weeks. The House ...
  
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• The Latest: House voids Obama rule on mining debris

  01-02-2017 23:06
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on congressional efforts to reverse President Barack Obama's rules on the environment (all times local):
  
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• Trump travel curbs pose revenue challenges for U.S. colleges

  01-02-2017 23:03
  By Megan Davies and Robin Respaut NEW YORK/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's travel restrictions on people from seven countries could dampen international enrolment at U.S. colleges, at a time they have become increasingly reliant on tuition revenue from overseas students. "International student growth is important for many institutions," said Roy Eappen, municipal research analyst at Wells Fargo. "Many international students come to the U.S. to study and are willing to pay full
  
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• Rampant Man City batter West Ham

  01-02-2017 23:02
  Reuters - Manchester City revived their faint title hopes with an attacking masterclass against West Ham United, inflicting a bruising 4-0 defeat on their beleaguered opponents at the London Stadium on Wednesday. City were rampant in a one-sided first half as Kevin De Bruyne finished off a swift counter-attack to put them ahead after 17 minutes and David Silva doubled the lead from close range after good work from Leroy Sane. ...
  
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• Article 50 bill approved by majority of MPs – video

  01-02-2017 22:54
  
  MPs approve the bill which will allow the prime minister to trigger article 50, by a majority of 384 votes in the House of Commons on Wednesday. The bill will now be debated for a further three days in the Commons before going to the House of LordsMPs vote to give May power to start Brexit by triggering article 50 by majority of 384 - Politics liveThe Guardian view on Brexit: more haste, less speedContinue reading...
  
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• UK WILL Quit EU Customs Union After 'No Cherry Picking' Warnings, Trade Minister Suggests

  01-02-2017 22:25
  
  The UK has accepted it will have to quit the EU customs union, a Government trade minister has suggested.
  Lord Price, a minister at the Department for International Trade, has told a German newspaper that Britain understands the EU will not allow any “cherry picking” of the current tariff-free system for goods.
  He signalled that customs would instead have to be covered by a comprehensive free-trade deal with the remaining 27 European states.
  In her Brexit speech earlier this month,
  
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• US flirts with softer stance on Russia's conduct in Ukraine

  01-02-2017 22:21
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Wednesday maintained a low-key approach to the latest flare-up of violence in eastern Ukraine, where the government accuses Russian-backed forces of stepping up attacks. The restrained tone may reflect the start of a new U.S. approach to dealing with Russia's cross-border activity, even as top U.S. officials are pledging to support Ukraine's sovereignty.
  
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• Oil rallies to settle up $1 a barrel

  01-02-2017 22:21
  By Jessica Resnick-Ault NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crude oil futures rallied late on Wednesday, jumping more than $1 (0.7908 pounds) a barrel on geopolitical concerns after Iran confirmed a ballistic missile test and bulls found support in reports on production cuts. Oil futures pared gains immediately after weekly U.S. supply data showed a much bigger build than expected, but prices rebounded. Additionally, prices were buoyed by reports that Russia and Iraq were complying with output cut agreements.
  
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• MPs vote to give May power to trigger article 50 – as it happened

  01-02-2017 22:21
  
  Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs and MPs debating and voting on the the Brexit bill allowing the government to trigger article 50Full list of 114 MPs voting against article 50 billFull list of 498 MPs who voted for article 50 billFull details of Labour rebellionSummary 9.16pm GMT 9.00pm GMTA Conservative party spokesman said this about the vote.Forty seven Labour MPs voting against the article 50 Bill shows
  
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• The Latest: Shulkin says he'll disagree with Trump if needed

  01-02-2017 22:20
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the Senate confirmation hearing for David Shulkin, the nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs (all times EST):
  
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• 'He's lying' sign held behind Nigel Farage

  01-02-2017 22:20 via bbc.co.uk
  
  The former UKIP leader praised President Trump and criticised the EU's system of government.
  
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• Fed leaves interest rates unchanged, remains upbeat on economy

  01-02-2017 22:20
  By Lindsay Dunsmuir and Jason Lange WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday in its first meeting since President Donald Trump took office, but painted a relatively upbeat picture of the U.S. economy that suggested it was on track to tighten monetary policy this year. Fed policymakers are still awaiting clarity on the possible impact of Trump's economic policies. "Measures of consumer and business sentiment have improved of late," the Fed said in a unani
  
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• Trump praises Douglass, other famous African Americans

  01-02-2017 22:19
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump kicked off Black History Month on Wednesday by gathering some of his black aides and supporters at the White House for a "listening" session in which he praised the contributions of slave-turned-abolitionist Frederick Douglass and other African-American icons.
  
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• Protest? 161,000 Florida voters failed to vote for president

  01-02-2017 22:10
  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The number of Florida voters who failed to cast a valid ballot for president spiked during the 2016 election, in what appears to have been a significant protest over their choices.
  
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• 2 Republican senators won't support DeVos nomination

  01-02-2017 22:09
  
  WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump's nomination of Betsy DeVos as education secretary appears to be in trouble.
  
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• Bland 'historic event' soundtrack spiced up by remainer power ballads | John Crace

  01-02-2017 22:06
  
  Article 50 karaoke only took off when MPs actually believed what they were singing: ‘Nothing compares to EU!’With the raucous triumphalism of the previous day’s many Rule Britannia contributions still ringing in the ears, the house was in a more chilled-out mood for the second day of the article 50 debate. Time for some Mellow Magic FM. Those old hits that you couldn’t stand at the time but that now you haven’t heard them for a while suddenly begin to feel like old
  
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• Syrian opposition figure to deploy all-Arab force in Raqqa offensive

  01-02-2017 22:04
  By Mahmoud Mourad CAIRO (Reuters) - A Syrian opposition figure who says he controls 3,000 Arab fighters has told Reuters they are training with U.S.-led coalition forces in preparation to help drive Islamic State from its de facto capital in the city of Raqqa. Ahmad Jarba commands the Syrian Elite Forces, described by the U.S. military as a significant component of the coalition assembled against Islamic State. Its involvement in the battle for Raqqa, alongside the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democ
  
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• Prosecutors investigate Deutsche Boerse CEO's 2015 share purchase

  01-02-2017 22:04
  By Andreas Kröner and Maria Sheahan FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Deutsche Boerse said on Wednesday that German prosecutors were investigating a share purchase by its chief executive in December 2015, which was just over two months before the exchange operator announced merger talks. Deutsche Boerse said the purchase of around 4.5 million euros (3.80 million pounds) of its shares by Chief Executive Carsten Kengeter at that time was related to the management board's remuneration programme. The compa
  
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• Baby in House of Commons during Article 50 vote

  01-02-2017 21:59 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Chloe Smith MP brought her young baby to work with her so she take part in the Article 50 vote.
  
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• After backing Brexit, MPs must have the real debate

  01-02-2017 21:55
  The Article 50 bill has passed its first legislative hurdle, writes Sebastian Payne
  
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• Steve Bell on the vote to trigger article 50 – cartoon

  01-02-2017 21:52
  
  Continue reading...
  
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• The Guardian view on basic income: a worthwhile debate, not yet a policy | Editorial

  01-02-2017 21:21
  
  A regular sum paid to all citizens or residents, whether or not they are in work, will not solve the problems of earnings inequality and stagnant wage growthFor centuries, the idea of a universal basic income – a regular sum paid to all citizens or residents whether or not they are in work – has lit up the eyes of political philosophers. It has long been favoured on the political fringes, appealing to the radical left for its supposed compatibility with a zero-growth world and its re
  
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• The Guardian view on Brexit: more haste, less speed | Editorial

  01-02-2017 21:20
  
  This is going to be long and hard, but the country’s future is at stake. Go carefullyIn the end, 47 Labour MPs decided to vote against the bill triggering article 50. Two more frontbenchers, Dawn Butler and Rachel Maskell, resigned in order to vote against Jeremy Corbyn’s ill-advised three-line whip. Many MPs, in two days of often deeply felt debate, said they felt bound to honour their voters’ wishes despite their belief that leaving the EU will be a disaster for the economy,
  
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• Brexit Bill: Full List Of 47 Labour MPs Who Voted Against Brexit

  01-02-2017 21:20
  
  MPs tonight voted in favour of triggering Article 50, a significant step towards Brexit. While more votes in the House of Commons will follow, the division set out where MPs stand. Brexit vote by way of a pie chart: 81.4% for, 18.6% against pic.twitter.com/gUf1r60k1N— Graeme Demianyk (@GraemeDemianyk) February 1, 2017
  But arguably the most significant aspect of the voting lists was 47 Labour MPs rebelling against leader Jeremy Corbyn, who insisted they back the Government’s posi
  
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• Public figures call for biggest ever UK protest to oppose Trump visit

  01-02-2017 21:16
  
  Famous names from arts and politics sign letter to Guardian from newly formed Stop Trump Coalition in bid to mobilise support Musicians, MPs, activists and comedians have pledged to stage the biggest demonstration in British history in protest against Donald Trump’s visit to the UK. A letter sent to the Guardian by the newly formed Stop Trump Coalition, and signed by 90 figures from across arts and politics, damningly referred to the US president’s actions as “dangerous and div
  
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