1. Del Toro, McDormand and Oldman win Oscars
Guillermo del Toro’s movie The Shape Of Water was the big winner at the 90th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood last night, claiming the Best Film and Best Director gongs. Best Actress went to Frances McDormand, for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missour, while Gary Oldman won Best Actor for his performance as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour.
2. Italy faces hung parliament as populists surge
The Italian national election yesterday looks set to end in a hung parliament, after a surge in support for populist and far-right parties split the vote. Silvio Berlusconi’s right-wing coalition looks likely to have the most votes, but no majority. There may now be a second ballot, or weeks of coalition building.
3. Government ‘missed chance to salvage Carillion’
Ministers missed an opportunity to prevent the full collapse of contractor Carillion by forcing the firm to sell off profitable parts in December and thereby saving millions of pounds of public money, The Guardian reports. A scheme to save the firm was devised by accounting firm EY, but the Government would not enforce it, according to the newspaper.
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4. Water supply problems hit London homes
Homes, businesses and schools across the UK have no water supply today, because of damage caused by last week’s big freeze. More than 20,000 homes in London had no water yesterday, and bottled water stations were set up in the capital, Sussex and Kent. The problems extend to parts of Scotland, the Midlands and Wales.
5. Isis releases video of killing of US soldiers in Niger
Islamic State has released a video purportedly showing the ambush and killing of four US soldiers in Niger last October. The alleged incident has raised questions about the role of US troops in Western Africa, where several terror networks roam freely. Isis was not reported as being behind the killings at the time, but the new video shows the alleged attackers pledging allegiance to the jihadist militant group.
6. May call to developers to stop sitting on land
Theresa May will say today that she wants to use the planning system to penalise developers who buy land and refuse to build on it, instead leaving it empty while its value increases. The Prime Minister will warn that developers who do this will find it harder to get planning permission for future projects.
7. Energy watchdog bans ‘catch-up’ energy bills
Ofgem has banned utility firms from charging customers for extra power used more than 12 months earlier. The firms issue so-called ‘catch-up’ bills to customers who have been charged a lower rate based on an estimate. The energy watchdog says some customers have faced bills in excess of £10,000.
8. US aircraft carrier makes first visit to Vietnam
In a powerful diplomatic gesture, the US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson is visiting the Vietnamese port city of Danang - the first time a US ship of its size has visited the Southeast Asian nation since the end of Vietnam War. Analysts say the visit, intended to reinforce ties between the US and Vietnam, is likely to be regarded as threatening by China.
9. Wiggins and Team Sky ‘crossed ethical line’
A select committee of MPs has found that cycling champion Sir Bradley Wiggins and the Team Sky crossed an “ethical line” set out by their founder, Sir Dave Brailsford, in using allowed drugs to enhance performance – rather than for genuine medical need. Wiggins denied the claim, saying it was “so sad that accusations can be made, where people can be accused of things they have never done which are then regarded as facts”.
10. Briefing: what are the five types of diabetes?
There are five distinct types of diabetes, rather than the two currently observed, a new study has found.
The researchers say the revised classification for diabetes - a metabolic disease that results in high blood glucose - could “lead to better treatments and help doctors more accurately predict life-threatening complications”, The Daily Telegraph reports.
What are the five types of diabetes?
