1. TSUNAMI ALERT AFTER CHILE QUAKE DEATHS
Coastal regions of Chile were evacuated last night after an 8.2 magnitude earthquake killed at least five. There are fears of aftershocks, possibly of greater magnitude. Six-metre waves hit the coast 45 minutes after the tremor, but a tsunami warning was lifted this morning. The epicentre was northwest of the mining area Iquique.
Five killed as Chile struck by 8.2 magnitude earthquake
2. SAHARA DUST LEADS TO HIGH AIR POLLUTION
High levels of air pollution are spreading across southern England, the Midlands and Wales, Defra has warned, caused by a mix of dust picked up from the Sahara desert and local and European emissions. People with lung or heart disease have been warned not to take exercise outdoors until Friday, and school pupils have been told to stay inside.
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Air pollution: Saharan dust brings dangerous smog to UK
3. MYSTERY OF MH370 ‘MAY NEVER BE SOLVED’
Malaysia has warned the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which left Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board on 8 March, may never be explained. A UK sub has now joined the ten planes (including film director Peter Jackson’s private jet) and nine ships scouring the southern Indian Ocean for debris.
MH370: mysterious 89kg load ‘added to cargo flight list after take-off’
4. HOLLANDE'S EX JOINS FRENCH CABINET
Segolene Royal, the former partner of French president Francouis Hollande, and the mother of his four children, has been appointed environment minister in the cabinet of France's new prime minister Manuel Valls. Hollande's Socialist party still has a majority in the National Assembly despite the president's unpopularity and bad results in recent elections.
Segolene Royal is back in wake of hateful Trierweiler's demise
5. HOUSE PRICE GROWTH ‘IS MODERATING’
Nationwide says the growth in house prices across the UK shows “tentative signs of moderation” after 15 straight months of increase. Prices rose by 0.4% in March, less than in previous months, but were still 9.5% ahead of March 2013. Average prices in London are now twice the rest of the UK, a record disparity.
6. CAMERON AND MILIBAND TRADE INSULTS
"Punch and Judy" politics returned to Parliament today as David Cameron and labour leader Ed Miliband traded insults during Prime Minister's Questions. Miliband branded Cameron the "dunce of Downing Street" while the Tory leader described Miliband and shadow chancellor Ed Balls as "Muppets" during a heated exchange about the Royal Mail privatisation.
Royal Mail shares rebound after strong Christmas
7. YANUKOVYCH WANTS CRIMEA BACK
Viktor Yanukovych, the deposed president of Ukraine, has described the loss of Crimea to Russia as "a tragedy" and said he would try to persuade Russian leader Vladimir Putin to return the region. Yanukovych fled to Russia in February. Meanwhile, Nato has warned that Russian troops could enter Ukraine within 12 hours of an order to invade.
8. EBOLA EPIDEMIC CROSSES BORDERS
Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres has said that an outbreak of the Ebola virus in Guinea has become an “unprecedented epidemic … of a magnitude never seen before” in its geographical spread. There are 122 suspected cases, with at least 78 deaths. Neighbouring Sierra Leone and Liberia are also affected.
Ebola: US suit stockpile causes shortage in Africa
9. CLEGG AND FARAGE IN TV RE-MATCH
Nick Clegg and Ukip leader Nigel Farage were this evening due to resume their debate over the UK’s membership of the EU, this time on BBC2. A poll after their encounter last week gave Farage a clear victory. Hosted by David Dimbleby, their second encounter was to take place in front of an audience selected to be representative of the UK population.
10. HOT TICKET: PHYLLIDA BARLOW'S TATE SHOW
Tate Britain has unveiled its new sculptural installation for 2014, designed by Phyllida Barlow. Dock 2014 is a collection of Barlow's large-scale three-dimensional collages using everyday materials such as wood and cardboard to reimagine the gallery's riverfront location. "Exhilarating," says The Guardian. On show until 19 October.
Phyllida Barlow – reviews of 'mad' Tate Britain Commission
