Political news

• Italy Elections: Anti-Establishment 5-Star Movement Poised To Be Largest Single Party

  04-03-2018 23:51
  Italy’s national elections are likely to produce a hung parliament, exit polls on Rai state television and private channel La 7 showed after voting ended on Sunday.A centre-right coalition was set to win most seats in parliament ahead of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, with the center-left third, according to the polls.However, the center-right, which includes former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia (Go Italy!), and the far-right League and Brothers of Italy, w
  
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• Theresa May Warns Developers Will Lose Planning Permission If They Fail To Build Homes

  04-03-2018 23:30
  Theresa May will warn developers they risk losing bids for planning permission if they have a record of failing to build houses.In a speech on Monday, the prime minister will say successive governments “failed to build enough of the right homes in the right places”.After a week dominated by Brexit, May will attempt to shift the focus to her domestic agenda with an attack on the “vicious circle” of rising house prices.But Labour said May should be “embarrassed”
  
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• Man Charged With Murder Of His Grandmother In Her Home In Walsall

  04-03-2018 22:49
  A 25-year-old man has been charged with murdering his grandmother after she was found stabbed to death at her home.Anne James, 74, was discovered by a neighbour at the address in the Highgate area of Walsall at around 6pm on Wednesday.West Midlands Police have now charged her grandson Greg Irvin, from Walsall Wood, with the killing following his arrest on Thursday - the day after Mrs James’ body was discovered.Unemployed Irvin is due to appear at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court on Monday.M
  
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• UK Weather: Temperatures To Hit Double Figures As UK Thaws After 'Beast From The East'

  04-03-2018 22:30
  Temperatures are set to reach double figures in the south of the UK after the ‘Beast From The East’ brought snow misery to thousands.The mercury is predicted to hit 11C in London on Monday but weather warnings for snow and ice are still in place for parts of north England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.Orange and yellow alerts for snow and ice are still in place across Ireland until midday on Monday. Trains in the UK were disrupted over the weekend and National Rail warned passe
  
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• Water Shortage Warning In London And South East As Homes Told To 'Use As Little As Possible'

  04-03-2018 21:37
  The extreme weather that has battered the UK has caused a water shortage in London and the South East with households being asked to use as little water as possible.Water companies says they are witnessing “exceptionally high levels of demand for water” as engineers attempt to fix a rash of burst pipes and leaks on the network.Thames Water confirmed up to 12,000 homes are without water, but the total is being reduced as problems are resolved.The ‘Beast From The East’
  
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• Trekking Everest In My 60th Year Taught Me What A Tough Cookie I Am

  04-03-2018 20:53
  How should I mark my 60th birthday? Maybe a spa day? Perhaps a city-break or shopping spree? Of course not - I’ll trek to Everest Base Camp!With family and work there hadn’t been the opportunity to even identify my real passions so when my last child left for university in 2015 I planned a climb to Kilimanjaro with a like-minded mad friend as a distraction from the empty nest. We started serious trek training in the beautiful UK national parks and the outdoor bug got hold of me,
  
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• Blue Badges Are A Lifeline. Having Mine Stolen Left Me Isolated

  04-03-2018 20:49
  I have grown up using a blue badge my entire life. I was born with a rare genetic condition, called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (known as brittle bones). It means I have a short stature of 3″10 and my bones are liable to break without any trauma. My parents used a blue badge for me as a child and now as driver myself.Blue badges are a lifelineI can’t use public transport, walk long distances or carry things, so having a blue badge is a real lifeline. It means I can live an independent li
  
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• Hold The Front Page – Newspapers Are A Long Way Off From Being Filed Into The Obituary Columns

  04-03-2018 20:46
  In the turbulent era of fake news, the need for accurate reporting and informed content is greater than ever.Print newspapers have traditionally done the heavy lifting, that ensures the public is kept in the picture. Yet in an ever-changing world of near-instant communication, technological tsunamis and the provision of easy and digestible online content, traditional newspapers are facing challenges at every turn.The reach for newspapers has never been higher, but most of this growth is being dr
  
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• What All Parents Of Children With Disabilities Need To Know

  04-03-2018 20:43
  When my daughter Claire was born, I became not just a mother, but a disability advocate.  Although prenatal tests had indicated that Claire would be perfect in every way, she was instead born with a “constellation of symptoms” indicating that she would face significant challenges throughout her lifetime, although the severity of her disability was not immediately apparent.So, instead of marveling over her newness at home, I met with a geneticist at the hospital and learned what
  
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• Housing Minster Heather Wheeler Promises To Resign If Rough Sleeping Crisis Gets Worse

  04-03-2018 20:41
  A Conservative government housing minster has promised to resign if the rough sleeping crisis gets worse while she is in charge as homelessness reaches record levels.Heather Wheeler insisted there would be improvements after the plight of England’s estimated 4,700 rough sleepers was starkly highlighted by the “Beast from the East” storm which plunged the country into sub-zero temperatures over the last week.A record number of rough sleepers were referred to a specialist helplin
  
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• Stephen Fry's Message About Prostate Cancer Spurred Me On To Get Checked

  04-03-2018 20:40
  I went to the Royal Free Hospital in London’s Hampstead this morning because of Stephen Fry.No, he didn’t accidentally send me flying in the icy conditions - he tripped me up in quite another way.Last week, as a follower of the great man on Twitter, I watched the video message he’d Tweeted about being diagnosed with prostate cancer. As anyone who has spared the 13 illuminating minutes to listen to his story will attest, it is a remarkable public information film.So wh
  
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• The Virginity Games Muslim Women Play

  04-03-2018 20:37
  If you imagine The Hunger Games to be hard, I can assure you that trying to lose your virginity as a Muslim woman is harder. The same sense of fear hangs in the air and you’re constantly looking around corners for your enemy. It just so happens that the enemy could be any member of the Muslim community that may report back to your parents that you were seen with a boy. Should that happen, you’re dead and the game is over. Not literally, but metaphorically. Your mother will cry, she&r
  
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• Solving The Plastic Crisis Won't Be As Simple As Trading Plastic For Existing Alternatives

  04-03-2018 20:33
  As a society, we are addicted to plastic. It’s in our appliances, protecting our food, and packaging our purchases. Most of us even have a plastic bag full of nothing but other plastics bags somewhere in our home. Plastic is so utterly embedded in our lives that each year the UK alone throws away 2.5 billion coffee cups, each with its own plastic lid and lining. Every minute, over a million plastic bottles are purchased globally and every year almost 8 million metric tons of plastic, enoug
  
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• Leicester Explosion: Sixth Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Manslaughter

  04-03-2018 19:04
  A sixth man has been arrested in connection with the explosion in Leicester that killed five people.Detectives investigating the blast in Hinckley Road on February 25 said they have arrested a man in his 40s from East Anglia on suspicion of manslaughter.Three men are due in court on Monday charged with manslaughter and arson with intent to endanger life.Two other men from East Anglia were arrested on Friday in connection with the incident but have since been released under investigation. In
  
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• UK energy grid warns that political risks threaten investment

  04-03-2018 18:57 via ft.com
  Brexit, regulation and renationalisation threat drives National Grid’s concerns
  
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• Labour's John McDonnell Urges Tom Watson To 'Consider Seriously' Links To Max Mosley After Racism Furore

  04-03-2018 18:20
  Labour’s John McDonnell has suggested his Shadow Cabinet colleague Tom Watson should hand back half-a-million pounds in donations from Max Mosley.Mosley, the ex-Formula One boss, has faced condemnation in the last week after the Daily Mail and Channel 4 News found a 1961 election leaflet that suggested immigrants were bringing disease to the UK and threatening jobs.The pamphlet said it was “published by” Mosley, the agent in the Manchester Moss Side by-election for th
  
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• Help to Buy homeowners prepare for double whammy

  04-03-2018 17:23 via ft.com
  First tranche of borrowers face first fees alongside potential interest rate rise
  
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• Help to Buy homeowners gear up to start paying loan fees

  04-03-2018 17:23 via ft.com
  First tranche of housing scheme borrowers reach the end of interest free period
  
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• Theresa May Tells Donald Trump She Has 'Deep Concern' About Tariffs Threat

  04-03-2018 17:05
  Theresa May has told Donald Trump she has “deep concern” about his plan to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to the United States.In a phone call with the US President on Sunday afternoon, the prime minister reacted to a series of tweets sent by Trump attacking “very stupid” trade deals.Trump has said he plans to slap a 25% tariff on steel imports and 10% on aluminium next week. “trade wars are good, and easy to win,” he said in one tweet.He h
  
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• March4Women Through London Sees Sadiq Khan Join Demonstrators For Gender Equality

  04-03-2018 17:04
  Sadiq Khan and Helen Pankhurst were among those marching through London for Sunday’s March 4 Women.The demonstration, which began at Millbank, culminated in a rally at Trafalgar Square.The march marks both International Women’s Day and the 100 year anniversary of women’s right to vote in the UK.However, demonstrators are also drawing attention to the continuing threats to women’s rights both in the UK and around the world.A range of high profile figures including Sue Perk
  
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• How To Watch The Oscars 2018 On UK TV Or Live Stream Online

  04-03-2018 16:47
  We can’t quite believe it’s been a whole year since ‘Moonlight’-gate but this evening (Sunday 4 March), Hollywood’s finest will return to Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre for the 2018 Oscars. For the stars and film fans in the States, the red carpet action kicks off at the respectable time of 5pm but for those planning to tune in here in the UK, an all-nighter is the only option. And while we can’t help with your snack plans or coffee-making, we do h
  
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• How To Watch The Oscars 2018 On UK TV Or Live Stream

  04-03-2018 16:47
  We can’t quite believe it’s been a whole year since ‘Moonlight’-gate but this evening (Sunday 4 March), Hollywood’s finest will return to Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre for the 2018 Oscars. For the stars and film fans in the States, the red carpet action kicks off at the respectable time of 5pm but for those planning to tune in here in the UK, an all-nighter is the only option. And while we can’t help with your snack plans or coffee-making, we do h
  
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• Five out of six UK companies fail to submit gender pay gap data

  04-03-2018 16:28 via ft.com
  With just a month to go before deadline, few employers have provided figures to the government
  
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• Explosion Reports In Harold Hill, North London, Investigated By Police

  04-03-2018 15:31
  Police have now been stood down after investigating reports of an explosion in north-east London.Police, ambulance and fire crews all attended the scene in Harold Hill on Sunday afternoon.The cause of the explosion has been confirmed as gas-related.pic.twitter.com/cWOAgasFKR— Clive Searle (@Cortez22222) March 4, 2018There were no reports of injuries.Locals evacuated from their properties have since been able to return.
  
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• Oscars 2018:Jane Fonda And Elizabeth Moss Accessorised With Time's Up Pins

  04-03-2018 15:22
  Awards season closed on a notably brighter note (colour-wise at least) than it started on. The all-black dress code that dominated the Golden Globes was replaced by a kaleidoscope of colours on the red carpet at the Oscars.Time’s Up organisers, including TV creator Shonda Rhimes and actor Laura Dern, confirmed the lack of an Oscars dress code at a press conference on Thursday 1 March, when Rhimes said the effort “was launched on the red carpet, but was never
  
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• Oscars 2018:Jane Fonda And Elizabeth Moss Accessorised With A Time's Up Pin

  04-03-2018 15:22
  Awards season closed on a notably brighter note (colour-wise at least) than it started on. The all-black dress code that dominated the Golden Globes was replaced by a kaleidoscope of colours on the red carpet at the Oscars.Time’s Up organisers, including TV creator Shonda Rhimes and actor Laura Dern, confirmed the lack of an Oscars dress code at a press conference on Thursday 1 March, when Rhimes said the effort “was launched on the red carpet, but was never
  
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• Oscars 2018:

  04-03-2018 15:22
  at the the Oscars.on the red carpet at the 90th Academy Awards on Sunday 4 March.SEE ALSOThe 20 Most Memorable Oscars Dresses Of All TimeWhy There Won't Be A #TimesUp Dress Code At The OscarsThe Most Beautiful Oscars Dresses That Gave Us All The Feels
  
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• Tory MPs Should Not Get Free Vote On Brexit Deal, Says David Lidington

  04-03-2018 14:40
  Theresa May should not give MPs a free vote on her Brexit deal, one of her most senior ministers has said.Sir John Major has demanded Tory MPs be allowed to vote how they like when May returns from Brussels with an agreement.But Cabinet Office minister David Lidington, May’s de facto deputy prime minister, today rejected the former Tory prime minister’s call.Lidington said May could be expcted to whip her MPs to back her in the planned Commons “meaningful vote”.“She
  
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• Sunday Show Round Up: Irish Warn Theresa May EU Could Reject Her Northern Ireland Border Plan

  04-03-2018 14:02
  Theresa May used her interview on the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme this morning to defend her “ambitious” and “credible” plan for Brexit.The interview, recorded on Friday afternoon and broadcast today, did not add too much to her big speech, but it did highlight she does not want the City of London to have EU “passporting” rights.Also this morning, Simon Coveney, the Irish deputy prime minister, said the EU could reject May’s Northern Irel
  
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• Theresa May to change planning rules to boost housebuilding

  04-03-2018 13:25 via ft.com
  PM expected to outline reforms that will release more land for development
  
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• UK Weather: Country Begins To Thaw - But Ice Remains Hazardous

  04-03-2018 13:20
  Ice is continuing to cover parts of the UK, thought temperatures have at last continued to rise.Yellow weather warnings remain in place for in Northern Ireland until 11am on Monday and in Scotland until the end of Monday.Yellow warnings for snow are also in place in Scotland until the end of Monday.A yellow severe weather warning for #snow&ice has been updated: https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs Stay #[email protected]/UVecF8i9l9— Met Office (@metoffice) March 4, 2018The pas
  
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• Roger Bannister, First Runner To Break The Four Minute Mile, Dies At 88

  04-03-2018 12:29
  Sir Roger Bannister, the first athlete to run a sub-four minute mile, has died aged 88.The record-breaking runner died in Oxford, his family confirmed on Sunday.Bannister achieved the feat in three minutes and 59.4 seconds at Oxford’s Iffley Road sports ground on 6 May 1954.The 25-year-old was studying medicine at the University of Oxford at the time.Bannister’s record stood for just 46 days, beaten by Australian John Landy, but it nevertheless marked a milestone in athletics.Bannist
  
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• Roger Bannister Dies At 88

  04-03-2018 12:29
  Sir Roger Bannister, the first athlete to run a sub-four minute mile, has died aged 88.The record-breaking runner died in Oxford, his family confirmed on Sunday.Bannister achieved the feat in three minutes and 59.4 seconds at Oxford’s Iffley Road sports ground on 6 May 1954.The 25-year-old was studying medicine at the University of Oxford at the time.Bannister’s record stood for just 46 days, beaten by Australian John Landy, but it nevertheless marked a milestone in athletics.More fo
  
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• Theresa May Rejects 'Passporting' For City Of London After Brexit

  04-03-2018 11:58
  Theresa May has made clear the UK will not seek “passporting” rights for the City of London after Brexit.The prime minister said instead she would try to secure access to the EU’s market for financial services in a new free trade deal.The passporting system currently allows British financial firms to sell their services right across the EU.In an interview with the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme conducted on Friday and broadcast on Sunday morning, May said: “If we
  
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• Brexit: Theresa May urges EU to buy into 'ambitious' vision

  04-03-2018 11:49 via bbc.co.uk
  The PM tells the BBC her vision for trade relations after the UK leaves is "practical and credible".
  
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• Councils warned to meet homes targets or lose planning powers

  04-03-2018 11:48 via bbc.co.uk
  Local authorities could lose planning powers if house-building targets are not being met, Sajid Javid says.
  
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• David Ogden Stiers Dead: ‘MASH’ Star And Voice Of Beauty And The Beast’s Cogsworth Dies, Aged 75

  04-03-2018 11:19
  Actor David Ogden Stiers, best known for his role in the classic US comedy ‘M*A*S*H’, has died at the age of 75.The American star, who played Major Charles Emerson Winchester in the war-based comedy, lost his battle with bladder cancer on Saturday night.His agent Mitchell Stubbs confirmed the sad news via Twitter saying that the star passed away at his home in Newport, Oregon. A message from the MKS Talent Agency said: “I am very sad to report that David died this morning March
  
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• How To Improve The Battery Life On Your iPhone

  04-03-2018 11:13
  Smartphones are a wonderful piece of technology, however they do have one rather unfortunate achilles heel: battery life.While most Android phones are now claiming to have two-day battery lives the iPhone has historically struggled to make it through to the evening.Things have got better of course, as we noted in our review of the iPhone X and 8 Plus, but for the vast majority of us who are still using our iPhone 6 and 7s it might seem like all hope is lost.Fear not, here are some simple tips an
  
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• Donald Trump Threatens To Tax EU Car Imports

  04-03-2018 11:02
  Donald Trump has threatened to “apply a tax” on cars imported from the EU.The US president cited a “big trade imbalance!” and said the EU made it “impossible of our cars (and more) to sell there”.He tweeted:The United States has an $800 Billion Dollar Yearly Trade Deficit because of our “very stupid” trade deals and policies. Our jobs and wealth are being given to other countries that have taken advantage of us for years. They laugh at what fools o
  
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• Elton John Speaks Out Over ‘Rude, Disruptive’ Fan Who Caused Singer To Storm Off Stage In Las Vegas

  04-03-2018 10:42
  Elton John has called out the “rude” fan who disrupted his live show in Las Vegas that led to the ‘Rocket Man’ singer storming off stage.On Saturday, video footage emerged of the 70-year-old star telling the overzealous fan to “f*** off*  during a performance in Sin City, where he currently has a residency.Now Elton has issued a statement explaining that the man in question had been trying to put his hands on the singer’s piano and take pictures.A po
  
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• Mini power plants smooth out UK’s energy landscape

  04-03-2018 10:00 via ft.com
  Cheap-to-build and quick to fire up plants fill in for renewables
  
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• Meghan Markle's Megaformer Workout: 'It Worked Me To The Core!' - HuffPost Verdict

  04-03-2018 10:00
  K E Y   P O I N T S A Megaformer is basically a more advanced version of a Pilates reformer machine, which adds resistance to traditional mat-based Pilates. It allows for more intensity than traditional reformer machines because the spring resistance is higher, there are more pulley systems for additional exercises, and extra handles and holes for different positions. Since Meghan Markle recommended it late last year, fitness fiends have been keen to learn more. &nb
  
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• Now It's Revealed Sajid Javid Failed To Spend Affordable Housing Cash Two Years Running

  04-03-2018 09:10
  Housing Secretary Sajid Javid is facing fresh questions about his leadership after it emerged he failed to spend huge sums of affordable housing cash for two years running.The Tory minister surrendered a total of £292m allocated for desperately-needed affordable homes over the course of two years, despite the country being in the grip of a housing crisis. HuffPost UK revealed this week that Javid sent £72m back to the Treasury which was allocated for affordable housing this year
  
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