A bill in the Commons could criminalise rough sleepers if they cause a nuisance, including "excessive" smells. More than 10 Conservative MPs are backing changes to ensure action is only taken against people who are begging and not just sleeping rough.

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The cross of St George should not be messed with, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says, weighing in on a row over the colours of England's football team kit.

Earlier, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer joined the chorus of prominent voices taking issue with Nike's design for the new kit.

The design takes creative licence with the cross by adding navy, light blue and purple to the traditional red.

But there are no plans to change or recall the shirt.



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In this episode, we delve into the growing concern of too many lawsuits inundating our legal system. We explore the complexities and consequences of the litigious culturea and shed light on the strain of these lawsuits. 

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Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.This was a Budget where the chancellor attempted to portray himself as a careful, cautious custodian of the economy.

The National Insurance fall, alongside the same cut a few months back, amounts to a big tax cut.

But there was nothing wildly surprising in what Jeremy Hunt had to say, no fireworks that are likely to instantly transform the Conservatives' prospects.

A couple unable to stream films or video call in their small village say they have been quoted more than £100,000 to upgrade their broadband.

Kevin and Lynda Mortimer said their current 1Mb/s connection was "rubbish".

It also falls well below the 10Mb/s set out in legislation, which everyone in the UK has the right to request.Is there such a thing as a human right to internet? Currently, the answer to both of these questions is 'no'. Recently introduced laws, however, mean that homeowners and tenants in the UK do now have greater rights in relation to internet access. How is Britain doing?
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Lee Anderson has been suspended from the Conservative party following comments he made about Sadiq Khan. The former deputy party chairman used an appearance on GB News on Friday to claim the London mayor had ‘given our capital away’ to Islamists, who he referred to as Khan’s ‘mates’. What do we make of all this?

People spending less, doctors' strikes and a fall in school attendance dragged the UK into recession at the end of last year, official figures show.

The economy shrank by a larger than expected 0.3% between October and December, after it had already contracted between July and September.

The UK is in recession if it fails to grow for two successive quarters.

The figures raise questions over whether Rishi Sunak has met his pledge made last January to grow the economy.
What is happening, what's to be done, and what of the future?





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Facebook's 20th anniversary: ​​3 billion people connected around the world. A lot has changed since Facebook emerged 20 years ago, in 2004. From a modest social network created by students in a Harvard dorm, it has transformed into a gigantic platform for global connection between billions of people. We celebrate and analyse how it has changed the world.

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On social media this week, Elmo – yes, the red fuzzy Sesame Street character – posed a question to his followers, with nothing but good intent. "Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?" the X page for Elmo posted. A barrage of responses – tens of thousands of them – were brutally honest and downright cynical about the dread people are feeling. What does this say about politics and society today? Mark and Pete have the answers.

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The “Doomsday Clock” of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was kept at 90 seconds to midnight this week—the closest to midnight that the clock has been set since it was created in 1947. Midnight is defined by The Bulletin as “nuclear annihilation.” Is this the right approach? Mark and Pete have the answers.

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