Political news

• 'Star Wars' Newcomer Kelly Marie Tran Claims 'Last Jedi' Role May Not Change Her Life

  12-12-2017 22:53
  You may not know who Kelly Marie Tran is yet, but you’re about to hear a lot more of her thanks to her breakthrough role in ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’. However, despite now being part of one of the biggest franchises in cinema history, the actress has claimed she doesn’t see her life changing to become a huge name like Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. The pair became overnight stars when they landed roles in 2015′s ’The Force Awakens, and when asked for
  
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• 'Star Wars' Premiere Sees Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill And Co Joined By Royalty On The Red Carpet

  12-12-2017 22:07
  The Stars were out in Force (geddit?) as the red carpet rolled out for the premiere of ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ on Tuesday (12 Decemeber).The film’s lead actors Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Gwendoline Christie, Anthony Daniels and Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis and Domhnall Gleeson braved the cold to greet fans as Episode VIII got its first European screening.The were joined by new additions to the franchise Kelly Marie Tran and Benicio del Toro ou
  
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• Birmingham's Homeless Trying To Survive In -13C And Several Inches Of Snow

  12-12-2017 20:50
  Monday night was the coldest night of the year, with temperatures plummeting to -13C in the West Midlands. Birmingham’s streets have been blanketed in several inches of snow this week, with schools closed and commuters battling travel chaos.But for dozens of rough sleepers living on Birmingham’s streets, there is no relief of a central heated office, or a hot bath at home to help regain the feeling in their numb hands and freezing cold feet.This is their life.Every day.Last
  
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• Allies urge reshuffle as May looks to exploit Brussels bounce

  12-12-2017 20:42 via ft.com
  Prime minister considers promotion of younger talent after ‘Brussels bounce’
  
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• 9 Star Wars: The Last Jedi Reviews Round Up From 'Disappointment' To 'Stupendous'

  12-12-2017 20:31
  Here in Blighty us poor souls have to wait a few more days for the latest Star Wars instalment but those lucky Americans are at the premiere right now.Just look how much fun they’re having - sickening.Anyway, we can at least get a good impression of how Star Wars: The Last Jedi has gone down with the critics.
  
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• UK inflation breaches target as it climbs to 3.1%

  12-12-2017 20:23 via ft.com
  Bank of England governor forced to write letter to chancellor after prices surge
  
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• Empty Euston Station To Serve Dinner To 200 Homeless People On Christmas Day

  12-12-2017 20:11
  London’s Euston station has invited 200 homeless guests to have Christmas Day dinner at what is usually one of the UK’s busiest terminals when it is empty on December 25.Network Rail, which runs the rail network and operates the station, has joined forces with charities Streets Kitchen and St Mungo’s to host the dinner, which will see the main concourse filled with decorations and tables laid for dinner.Around 30 volunteers from Network Rail will give up their Christmas Day to
  
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• UK telecoms chiefs summoned for crunch talks on broadband

  12-12-2017 19:50 via ft.com
  Executives asked to explain lack of investment in full-fibre networks
  
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• Britain confronts limits of its military power

  12-12-2017 19:49 via ft.com
  The UK’s capabilities in defence do not match its global ambitions
  
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• UK banks forced to publish complaints and security breach data

  12-12-2017 19:05 via ft.com
  Regulators want to make it easier for customers to compare services
  
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• Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Here's Where We Are Now After Two Days Of Procedural Hearings

  12-12-2017 19:02
  The first hearings of the long-awaited inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire have wrapped up after two days of trying to address questions of how survivors and relatives of those who died will be heard.The procedural sessions focussed on issues including how documents should be disclosed to “core participants”, including residents, survivors and relatives of those who died in the blaze on June 14 that killed 71 people.But the most emotive issue was whether the inquiry chair should be
  
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• Ceasefire

  12-12-2017 19:01 via bbc.co.uk
  Could bringing together young and old bridge the generation gap exposed by the Brexit vote?
  
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• Pharma warning of Brexit impact to public-health emergencies

  12-12-2017 18:51 via ft.com
  Report flags potential delays in action between Europe and UK
  
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• The Trouble With The Naughty List...

  12-12-2017 18:45
  It’s the most wonderful time of the year, that’s what they say. This may be true, but let’s not forget that Christmas can also be the most confusing time of the year, especially for a child.Think of a word, any word. Now say it over to yourself 50 times. Fun eh? Probably not. After a while you stop hearing the word… rather you notice the sounds that make it up. Soon you’ve lost any sense of meaning and you’re left with syllables devoid of any connotation.So i
  
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• The Government Must Wake-Up: A Canada-Style Deal Does Not Fit The UK

  12-12-2017 18:43
  Phase one of negotiations are over. That is, the first phase of the Conservatives backing down on every red line they set has come to an end.The rights of EU citizens, the UK’s so-called divorce bill and the border on Northern Ireland. In all cases, the Conservative party has come round to both Labour’s position and the demands of the EU.Evidently, the series of red lines laid down by Mrs. May in the first round were unproductive, unhelpful and ineffective. In the second round, there
  
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• Demand Is The Key To Britain's Housing Crisis

  12-12-2017 18:42
  Housing was the cornerstone of last month’s Budget and the issue Theresa May has decided to dedicate her premiership to. Over the course of my lifetime, I’ve seen housing policy has changed over successive governments. While the policies have evolved, many people would argue that the problem is worse than ever. Over that time, we’ve witnessed a decline in the availability of council houses, the growth of the rental market and a steep decline in homeownership. Not only
  
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• Labour's Jess Phillips Makes Emotional Plea To Government Over Domestic Violence Refuges

  12-12-2017 18:37
  Labour MP Jess Phillips has made an emotional plea to the government to make sure no domestic violence victims are turned away from refuges under its new funding plans.The Birmingham Yardley MP recounted a story about a family whose lives she saw transformed by a refuge, while claiming the government’s proposals on reforming funding for supported housing will not help bolster provision for people fleeing abusive situations.She told a debate in Parliament on Tuesday that the onus for p
  
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• Objective reality exists, says UK minister Matt Hancock

  12-12-2017 18:22 via bbc.co.uk
  Matt Hancock calls it "something of a disappointment" that he has to state it publicly.
  
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• Tories restore whip to MP suspended for using racist language

  12-12-2017 18:18 via theguardian.com
  Anne Marie Morris is brought back into party fold, five months after apologising for using N-word in discussion about BrexitTheresa May has restored the Conservative whip to Anne Marie Morris after the MP apologised again for using the N-word at an event earlier this year.The MP was suspended in July after the prime minister said the remarks were shocking and unacceptable. Continue reading...
  
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• Tory MP Anne Marie Morris Has Whip Restored After Saying Brexit No Deal Is A ‘N***** In A Woodpile'

  12-12-2017 18:05
  Conservative Anne Marie Morris has had the party whip restored after she was suspended for using the N-word in a discussion about Brexit.Morris, the MP for Newton Abbot, was recorded by HuffPost UK in July describing the UK leaving the EU without a deal as a “real n*****r in the woodpile” at a meeting of eurosceptics.She was suspended from the Conservative Party amid outrage over the comment.Morris said on Tuesday after having the Conservative Whip restored: “I would like to ta
  
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• May Facing Brexit Defeat On 'Meaningful Vote' Plan, Lead Tory Rebel Dominic Grieve Warns

  12-12-2017 18:05
  Theresa May has been warned she faces a Commons defeat unless she gives MPs a ‘meaningful’ vote that could delay a bad deal on Brexit.A day before an expected Commons showdown, leading Tory rebel Dominic Grieve stepped up his demand that Parliament should get a binding vote on the terms and timing of the UK’s exit from the EU.And with Grieve and fellow Tory rebels threatening to stand firm, No10 hinted for the first time that there could be a U-turn to give MPs “clarity&r
  
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• You Can Now Follow Hashtags On Instagram

  12-12-2017 17:57
  Instagram has rolled out what might be one of its simplest, and yet most important changes to its app since it was first unveiled in 2010.You can now follow hashtags as well as human beings.Now, rather than finding someone that takes pictures of a subject you’re interested in you can simply pick the appropriate hashtag (#onthetable, #architecture or #floralnails) and then see all the images related to that hashtag in your main feed.So how does it work? Well it’s just like findin
  
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• Explained: Where Does Labour Stand On Brexit Now?

  12-12-2017 17:53
  Labour’s position on Brexit since the referendum has arguably been ambiguous at best - but there are signs this week that Jeremy Corbyn is shifting the party towards a softer deal.So where does the Labour stand now on Brexit?DEADLINEThe Labour leader yesterday said he believed the hard March 2019 deadline for Brexit should be allowed to slide as it was “unnecessary”.“I’m sure, the whole House and probably the whole country would rather get the best possible deal a l
  
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• Anne Marie Morris: Tory MP has whip restored after racist remark

  12-12-2017 17:49 via bbc.co.uk
  Anne Marie Morris apologises for using a racist remark and says she has learnt from the experience.
  
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• Talking About Mental Health Saves Lives

  12-12-2017 17:30
  I think I was always an independent child, it’s hard to know because my memory’s bad and often our perceptions of self are a little skewed especially under the influence of childish naivety. But I think I was definitely headstrong and absolutely stubborn. I’ve always wanted to solve problems first myself, even if I can’t open a stiff jar of Marmite by myself I’ll have several attempts before reluctantly handing it over to a stronger friend.I’m no different wit
  
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• Striking Photos Demonstrate The Unrestrained Beauty Of Natural Hair

  12-12-2017 17:28
  In a world where afro hair is still often considered unprofessional, one photographer has chosen to highlight its beauty in the most charming way.Jessica Madavo’s photo series features young black women in various scenarios, all proudly wearing their natural hair.Her work has been shortlisted in Dazed magazine’s third photography initiative, which aims to support young talent and shine a spotlight on the many issues that impact British youths today.Madavo, a London-based So
  
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• Chelsea Need to Focus On January Transfers And Barcelona

  12-12-2017 17:25
  Before their stumble in the away London derby game against West Ham, Chelsea had won six and drawn one of their previous seven matches, including the Alvaro Morata header-inspired 1-0 home victory over Manchester United.And yet, the chances of retaining the League looked all but improbable even before the defeat to The Hammers because of Manchester City’s imperious form and its formidable fourteen-point lead over third-placed Chelsea. As things (read current form and points tally) stand, C
  
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• NASA Animation Flies Down Into Jupiter's Great Red Spot

  12-12-2017 17:16
  NASA’s scientists have finally got a rare glimpse under the surface of one of the most powerful phenomenon in our solar system.Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is without doubt one of the great wonders of space and yet we still know very little about it.Twice the width of Earth, this gargantuan cyclone is over 10,000km wide and has been raging for over 350 years.In the past we’ve only been able to appreciate this vast phenomenon from the surface,However using data collected from the Ju
  
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• UK Tourists Should Not Visit Indonesia Unless The Issue of Disability is Addressed

  12-12-2017 17:11
  This piece is co-authored with Dikanaya Tarahita. She is a freelance writer on social issues in Indonesia and a graduate from the University of Manchester. The number of tourists travelling from the UK to Indonesia has increased exponentially in recent years. The data compiled by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism reveals that the UK has become one of the countries from where tourists have increased most notably in 2017. Arguably, the driving factors behind this rise include the visa-free pol
  
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• Women Shaming Women

  12-12-2017 17:08
  I do get curious when women are so often seen belittling or mocking other women displaying characteristics that are usually applauded in men. Characteristics that are instead seen as a negative and undesirable in women, especially in the workplace and media. These two articles by Stylist Magazine highlight this perfectly.It discusses female talent on TV displaying self-assurance and confidence being vilified on social media and in the press, which is in stark contrast to their male peers.Ra
  
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• Six Steps To Take The Chaos Out Of Christmas

  12-12-2017 17:04
  Although many people look forward to Christmas and enjoy parts of it, there are many people who find it so busy and stressful that it feels chaotic. This can be especially true for busy parents who might be juggling jobs and the numerous demands of family life, having a Christmas they enjoy as well can feel a stretch too far. So here are some simple ways you can make sure Christmas really is time of peace and good will not chaos and stress.A Little Planning Goes a Long WayEveryone approaches Chr
  
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• Government to update the 2004 Gender Recognition Act

  12-12-2017 16:37 via bbc.co.uk
  The Gender Recognition Act allowed transgender people to apply for legal recognition of the gender in which they have lived without medical treatment.
  
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• On One Of Their Busiest Days Of The Year, Think Of Britain's Postal Workers

  12-12-2017 16:29
  Today is one of the busiest days of the year for our postal workers who collect, sort and deliver letters and parcels to millions of homes across the UK.Last Christmas, our postal workers delivered a staggering 138 million packages. This is a testament to their hard work in serving the public, not only throughout the year but at Christmas when the rest of us are winding down for the holidays.But the only present the Tories are offering them is worse pay and conditions.Back in 2013, the Tory-led
  
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• Bregrets? Why Britain has had few over Europe

  12-12-2017 16:21 via ft.com
  Remainers and Leavers are entrenched in their views about leaving the EU
  
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• Katie Price Escorted Off ‘Loose Women’ After Breaking Down In Tears During Chat About Mum's Terminal Illness

  12-12-2017 16:16
  Katie Price was escorted off Tuesday’s ‘Loose Women’ after breaking down during a chat about her mum’s terminal illness.The former glamour model was a guest on the ITV daytime show to talk about Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), which her mother Amy is suffering from, and which claimed the life of TV presenter Keith Chegwin on Monday.Katie revealed that Keith had recently contacted her family when he heard Amy had been diagnosed with the incurable disease.Looking visib
  
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• These Christmas Cracker Jokes Will Make You Laugh - Or Roll Your Eyes

  12-12-2017 16:11
  Depending on your sense of humour, Christmas cracker jokes will either be a highlight or lowlight of Christmas dinner.For the comedy connoisseurs among us, however, it’s good to stock up on festive jokes so you can be the life of the party over the festive period.TV channel Gold has done some of the hard work for you, by compiling a top 20 of the best puns and jokes with a topical theme. The public then voted to produced a ranking.Gerald Casey, the channel’s director, said: “Th
  
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• Marcus Wareing: Let's be 'positive' about Brexit

  12-12-2017 16:09 via bbc.co.uk
  Marcus Wareing voted Remain but is now excited by Brexit and says "it'll make us better employers".
  
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• Postage stamp to mark UK leaving EU: Whittle and Todd

  12-12-2017 16:08 via bbc.co.uk
  The Royal Mail is not producing a stamp to mark Brexit, despite issuing one for the UK joining the EEC in 1973.
  
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• Brexit: Right-to-stay forms 'will only take minutes'

  12-12-2017 15:54 via bbc.co.uk
  And a UK minister says decisions on EU nationals' applications shouldn't take more than two weeks.
  
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• Curbing university bosses' pay 'won't solve funding crisis'

  12-12-2017 15:28 via bbc.co.uk
  Some university bosses' pay is hard to stomach - but cash crisis goes wider, says NUS.
  
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• David Davis comments risk undermining Brexit talks - Guy Verhofstadt

  12-12-2017 15:14 via bbc.co.uk
  The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator is unhappy with the UK Brexit secretary's words.
  
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• Wu Yongning's Death Livestreamed To Fans After Stunt Goes Wrong

  12-12-2017 15:07
  A 26-year-old climbing enthusiast has achieved a posthumous fame after unwittingly filming himself plunging 62 floors to his death.Wu Yongnin, who had more than 60,000 followers on his Weibo account, was hoping to win a prize of £11,000 while filming a stunt atop Huayuan Hua Centre in Changsa, central China.Footage revealed Wu, who had martial arts training, doing pull-ups when he seemed to lose his strength, then his grip before falling on 8 November. (The video above does not show his fa
  
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• Welsh Assembly: Report backs more members and votes at 16

  12-12-2017 15:06 via bbc.co.uk
  An expert panel backs calls for an expanded Welsh Assembly and giving the vote to 16-year-olds.
  
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• A Peaceful Noise

  12-12-2017 15:06
  It’s very easy to get swept up in the current climate of fear, suspicion and depression. The news is filled with horrors, the worst of humanity and warnings of impending doom. Our innate fight or flight instincts makes us insular and sceptical about anything and everyone. Those that choose to feed off that, and cultivate it know that personal attacks will only allow this fog to permeate our lives more.The attacks on the Bataclan and Manchester have been direct assaults on our souls. Attack
  
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• Why Writing A Letter To Santa Will Bring Your Child More Than Just Gifts

  12-12-2017 15:05
  Parents should encourage kids to put pen to paper and actually write letters to Santa, rather than speeding up the process by sending an email.The Children’s Literacy Charity said physically writing a letter to Father Christmas is “what this time of year is all about”, despite ‘Email Santa’ sites being created.It gives children the opportunity to practise writing as a skill, seeing as much of their time may be spent on computers, phones and iPads.“Childre
  
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• ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Final Will See All Four Finalists Dance Until The End Of The Show After Traditional Mid-Show Exit Is Axed

  12-12-2017 15:04
  This year’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ final will feature all four celebrity contestants dancing until the end of the show for the first time ever, it has been revealed.In previous series, one of the four finalists was always voted off within the first hour of the show.But this year show bosses have decided that all of the celebrities will dance three dances, with the public deciding who is crowned the winner at the end of Saturday night’s show.The show confirmed the twist o
  
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• Why Church Attendance Is An Unfair Indicator For School Entry

  12-12-2017 14:59
  In the next academic year, like many parents around the country, I will be forced to think about the school my baby will be attending.It’s an anxious and exciting time, and I’m all too aware of the responsibility that lies on our shoulders.The stress-free way is to throw money at it and send him to a private school. For me this isn’t an option since the local schools are great, plus I couldn’t really afford it. Also, there’s something to be said about mingling with
  
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• Tories Accused Of 'Great Train Robbery' As Taxpayer Faces £2bn Bill Over Botched Rail Re-Privatisation

  12-12-2017 14:51
  Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has been accused of overseeing a “great train robbery” amid claims that taxpayers will be left with a £2bn bill from a botched rail re-privatisation.Labour stepped up its attack as MPs threatened a new inquiry into revelations that Stagecoach and Virgin Trains will be allowed to cut short their East Coast franchise without paying money promised.The Public Accounts Committee and Transport Select Committee are both poised to act as the row grows
  
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• Every Day Wonder Women

  12-12-2017 14:43
  Unless you’ve been hibernating, you’ll be very aware that 2017 has been a turbulent year for women. Between the entertainment industry’s sexual abuse scandal, the BBC’s pay gap scandal and women’s rights coming into the spotlight (again), it sometimes feels like we’re further than ever from the gender-equal utopia we’ve all been working so hard towards.However, under the mountainous negativity, it also feels like something is happening that means we&rsqu
  
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• Insurance groups hedge on Brexit future

  12-12-2017 14:41 via ft.com
  Extent of moves to Brussels, Dublin and Luxembourg is uncertain  
  
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