1. IRAN TALKS: RUSSIA HAILS ‘NEAR’ ACCORD
Russia has said that an agreement has nearly been reached in talks between six nations and Iran over the latter’s nuclear ambitions. Negotiators in Switzerland worked through a self-imposed deadline last night and resumed again this morning. US diplomats insist that there are still issues to be resolved.
2. BUSINESS LEADERS SUPPORT THE TORIES
Around 100 influential UK businesspeople have signed a letter of support for a Tory-led government, published in today’s Daily Telegraph. Signatories include Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne. A poll by YouGov on Sunday put Labour 4% ahead but another conducted yesterday showed them level with the Tories.
3. NIGERIAN ELECTION: FIRST OPPOSITION WIN
For the first time in the country’s post-colonial history, the Nigerian opposition has won a presidential election. Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari will replace Goodluck Jonathan, who has conceded. Final results show the opposition won by more than 2.5 million votes. Observers said it was a fair vote.
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Nigeria: can Muhammadu Buhari really defeat Boko Haram?
4. OLDEST PERSON IN WORLD DIES IN JAPAN
The world’s oldest person, Misao Okawa of Japan, has died at the age of 117. She suffered heart failure in a nursing home in the city of Osaka, where she was born on 5 March 1898 and is survived by three children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She had said eating sushi had kept her healthy.
5. JONI MITCHELL IN INTENSIVE CARE
Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, who has won eight Grammy awards, was rushed to hospital yesterday afternoon when she was found unconscious in her Los Angeles home. Despite undergoing tests in intensive care, she was said to be “awake and in good spirits” in a statement released to fans on her website.
6. ‘DUPED’ PALESTINIAN SOLD BANKSY FOR $175
A Palestinian man has said he was tricked into selling an artwork by Banksy for just £118 - a tiny fraction of its potential value. The graffiti artist painted the image of a weeping Greek goddess on the only remaining door of Rabie Darduna’s shelled house in Gaza when he visited the area in February.
7. TREVOR NOAH: FANS RALLY AFTER BACKLASH
Fans of South African comic Trevor Noah have come to his defence. The 31-year-old, little-known outside his own country, was named this week as the new host of Comedy Central’s world-syndicated Daily Show. Within hours, old Tweets he had sent with jokes that pick on fat women and Jews caused uproar.
8. CHARLES NAMES PUB AFTER CAMILLA
Prince Charles has asked that a pub under construction in his model village, Poundbury on the outskirts of Dorchester, be named after his wife. The Duchess of Cornwall Inn will be a joint venture between the Duchy of Cornwall and brewers Hall & Woodhouse. Opened in 1993, Poundbury is now home to 2,500.
9. CLARKSON SEES GREEN - OR DOES HE?
The Guardian reports Jeremy Clarkson has suffered a Damascene conversion and joined its campaign to end reliance on fossil fuels. The paper says the petrol-head former Top Gear presenter found being sacked by the BBC a “wake-up call”. Sadly for green-minded readers, however, the story appears on 1 April.
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10. BRIEFING: NEW MUSIC SERVICE TIDAL
Jay Z has launched a new music-streaming service called Tidal, backed by some of the world's biggest artists and performers. Madonna, Beyonce, Rihanna and Kanye West were among the "co-owners" pledging to join the "movement to change the status quo".
What is Tidal? Jay Z's new streaming service scorned
