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Wednesday briefing: Happy women's day – and, Phil pays the bills Wednesday briefing: Happy women's day – and, Phil pays the bills
(about 5 hours later)
Top story: Budget day arrives with heat on HammondTop story: Budget day arrives with heat on Hammond
Hello and happy International Women’s Day. It’s Warren Murray bringing you this morning’s need-to-know news.Hello and happy International Women’s Day. It’s Warren Murray bringing you this morning’s need-to-know news.
The chancellor may be intent on pouring any spare change into the deficit and building a Brexit war chest, but others within his party are warning that struggling public services must not be ignored. Philip Hammond should be prepared to raise taxes if need be to shore up social care and the NHS, say some backbench Conservative MPs, while Nicky Morgan asks how £320m is being found for new free-schools-cum-grammars when existing schools face uncertainty over funding. Labour says inheritance tax is being cut at the same time as welfare recipients are hit.The chancellor may be intent on pouring any spare change into the deficit and building a Brexit war chest, but others within his party are warning that struggling public services must not be ignored. Philip Hammond should be prepared to raise taxes if need be to shore up social care and the NHS, say some backbench Conservative MPs, while Nicky Morgan asks how £320m is being found for new free-schools-cum-grammars when existing schools face uncertainty over funding. Labour says inheritance tax is being cut at the same time as welfare recipients are hit.
Political editor Heather Stewart stakes out the danger areas for the chancellor, while Phillip Inman predicts a budget of no big surprises.Political editor Heather Stewart stakes out the danger areas for the chancellor, while Phillip Inman predicts a budget of no big surprises.
International Women’s Day – We are covering it all live as events are held around the world, including women in around 50 countries going on strike for equality of rights and opportunity.International Women’s Day – We are covering it all live as events are held around the world, including women in around 50 countries going on strike for equality of rights and opportunity.
It hardly needs saying that even in 2017 there is still much to be done – from China, the prominent women’s activist Li Tingting tells how the simple act of handing out feminist stickers landed her in jail.It hardly needs saying that even in 2017 there is still much to be done – from China, the prominent women’s activist Li Tingting tells how the simple act of handing out feminist stickers landed her in jail.
In other coverage today, 10 successful women share the secrets of their success; and Shami Chakrabarti explains why austerity is a feminist issue. Rebecca Solnit has one piece of over-arching advice: refuse to be silenced.In other coverage today, 10 successful women share the secrets of their success; and Shami Chakrabarti explains why austerity is a feminist issue. Rebecca Solnit has one piece of over-arching advice: refuse to be silenced.
Watching the watchers – Government spies could be bugging your smart TV according to a WikiLeaks cache of purported CIA/MI5 files on hacking methods. They include the “Weeping Angel” exploit (a reference to a Doctor Who character) that turns a Samsung television into an eavesdropping device. Edward Snowden thinks the files, dubbed Vault 7, look authentic. Trevor Timms says there is some hope for our privacy – encryption still seems to offer reasonable protection.Watching the watchers – Government spies could be bugging your smart TV according to a WikiLeaks cache of purported CIA/MI5 files on hacking methods. They include the “Weeping Angel” exploit (a reference to a Doctor Who character) that turns a Samsung television into an eavesdropping device. Edward Snowden thinks the files, dubbed Vault 7, look authentic. Trevor Timms says there is some hope for our privacy – encryption still seems to offer reasonable protection.
No home here – Charities founded on aiding homeless people have instead been helping the Home Office round them up for deportation. St Mungo’s, Thames Reach and CGL are among groups that pass details of rough sleepers on to immigration authorities, arguing it is more dangerous for foreigners to be left on the streets than sent back to their country of origin. Liberty has called it a new low in the government’s “border on every street” approach.No home here – Charities founded on aiding homeless people have instead been helping the Home Office round them up for deportation. St Mungo’s, Thames Reach and CGL are among groups that pass details of rough sleepers on to immigration authorities, arguing it is more dangerous for foreigners to be left on the streets than sent back to their country of origin. Liberty has called it a new low in the government’s “border on every street” approach.
Out on a wire – Senior Republicans are refusing to back up Donald Trump’s claim he was wiretapped by Barack Obama. Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, said bluntly: “We don’t have any evidence of that.” Nunes even admonished reporters for taking what Trump said literally – demonstrating how Republicans are struggling to make sense in public when pressed to comment on the president’s wild claims and outbursts.Out on a wire – Senior Republicans are refusing to back up Donald Trump’s claim he was wiretapped by Barack Obama. Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, said bluntly: “We don’t have any evidence of that.” Nunes even admonished reporters for taking what Trump said literally – demonstrating how Republicans are struggling to make sense in public when pressed to comment on the president’s wild claims and outbursts.
‘Very dangerous man’ – A “Walter Mitty” fantasist from Shropshire poisoned his wife with laxatives while pretending to be an ex-SAS trooper and top-secret defence contractor. David Smith, 62, has been given 42 months in prison for the scam, in which he kept the woman ill while draining her bank account and feeding her lies about having lived a life of heroism and personal tragedy. The judge called it a “prolonged and evil course of criminal conduct”.‘Very dangerous man’ – A “Walter Mitty” fantasist from Shropshire poisoned his wife with laxatives while pretending to be an ex-SAS trooper and top-secret defence contractor. David Smith, 62, has been given 42 months in prison for the scam, in which he kept the woman ill while draining her bank account and feeding her lies about having lived a life of heroism and personal tragedy. The judge called it a “prolonged and evil course of criminal conduct”.
Lunchtime read: First, catch your moleLunchtime read: First, catch your mole
They churn up turf from race-courses to football pitches and can spread disease to livestock. One of their molehills killed King William III, and they are notoriously tricky to eradicate. Since the EU outlawed one favoured method – worms dipped in strychnine poison – there has been a return to traditional mole traps, but are they too cruel even for this most determined and destructive pest?They churn up turf from race-courses to football pitches and can spread disease to livestock. One of their molehills killed King William III, and they are notoriously tricky to eradicate. Since the EU outlawed one favoured method – worms dipped in strychnine poison – there has been a return to traditional mole traps, but are they too cruel even for this most determined and destructive pest?
SportSport
The relentless humiliation inflicted on Arsenal and Arsene Wenger by Bayern Munich grabs the headlines – especially with a video of Wenger saying his side were hard done by. He really said that. In the other Champions League game Sergio Ramos rescued Real Madrid from a nascent Napoli comeback.The relentless humiliation inflicted on Arsenal and Arsene Wenger by Bayern Munich grabs the headlines – especially with a video of Wenger saying his side were hard done by. He really said that. In the other Champions League game Sergio Ramos rescued Real Madrid from a nascent Napoli comeback.
The row over India’s cricket captain Virat Kohli accusing his Australian counterpart Steve Smith of systematic cheating after the tense second Test has not subsided.The row over India’s cricket captain Virat Kohli accusing his Australian counterpart Steve Smith of systematic cheating after the tense second Test has not subsided.
And a timely story on International Women’s Day: a group called Women in Sport says the FA, RFU and ECB risk cuts over lack of boardroom diversity.And a timely story on International Women’s Day: a group called Women in Sport says the FA, RFU and ECB risk cuts over lack of boardroom diversity.
BusinessBusiness
Asian markets look like they are following a US and European sell-off after Donald Trump’s comments on wanting to boost price competition in the pharmaceutical sector (ie: reduce prices).Asian markets look like they are following a US and European sell-off after Donald Trump’s comments on wanting to boost price competition in the pharmaceutical sector (ie: reduce prices).
The pound was buying US$1.22 and €1.15 overnight.The pound was buying US$1.22 and €1.15 overnight.
The papersThe papers
The front page theme is spying and the WikiLeaks documents that appear to show the CIA and MI5 colluding over how to get information, even using your Samsung TV.The front page theme is spying and the WikiLeaks documents that appear to show the CIA and MI5 colluding over how to get information, even using your Samsung TV.
The Times and Guardian both splash the story, the former with the headline: “Thousands of CIA spy files posted on internet”. Meanwhile the tabloids are a bit more lively: the Sun warns about the ‘Spy in your TV’ and the Mirror goes with ‘MI5 bugging smart TVs’.The Times and Guardian both splash the story, the former with the headline: “Thousands of CIA spy files posted on internet”. Meanwhile the tabloids are a bit more lively: the Sun warns about the ‘Spy in your TV’ and the Mirror goes with ‘MI5 bugging smart TVs’.
The Telegraph decides to pass on WikiLeaks and splash on the warning of tax rises in today’s budget. National Insurance rates for the self-employed are expected to rise. The FT meanwhile mentions WikiLeaks but also splashes on the budget, saying Hammond is looking to build up economic defences in advance of Brexit.The Telegraph decides to pass on WikiLeaks and splash on the warning of tax rises in today’s budget. National Insurance rates for the self-employed are expected to rise. The FT meanwhile mentions WikiLeaks but also splashes on the budget, saying Hammond is looking to build up economic defences in advance of Brexit.
The Mail leads with ‘Prostate therapy without surgery’ highlighting a new non-invasive technique. The Express beats a familiar tune on Brexit.The Mail leads with ‘Prostate therapy without surgery’ highlighting a new non-invasive technique. The Express beats a familiar tune on Brexit.
Special mention for the back pages which are all but unanimous in their condemnation of Arsenal’s performance against Bayern Munich (1-5). Wenger’s out is a common headline theme.Special mention for the back pages which are all but unanimous in their condemnation of Arsenal’s performance against Bayern Munich (1-5). Wenger’s out is a common headline theme.
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