Hillary 93 chance of winning

Italy's far-right, right-wing and centrist bloc is on track to win a broad majority in both houses of parliament at next month's national election, benefiting from divisions among its opponents. The conservative alliance leads opinion polls ahead of the 25 September ballot, with the far-right Fratelli d'Italia or Brothers of Italy set to be the largest single party. On the basis of its election promises of tax cuts and higher pensions, a win by the conservative alliance may strain Italy's public finances, while the bloc would also be expected to crack down on illegal immigration. A study by the Cattaneo Institute think tank, based on the latest polls, suggests the alliance could elect 245 lawmakers out of 400 at the Chamber and 127 out of 200 at the Senate. Analysis from Italy: A political crisis that nobody wanted Italy's President Mattarella dissolves parliament, new election set for 25 September The conservative bloc includes Giorgia Meloni's … [Read more...] about Right-wing coalition on course to win Italy election, says study

Published 10 June 2021 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing McDonald's has won a planning row with a local authority in Wales over English-language digital screens at one of its restaurants. Gwynedd council last year refused the fast food giant permission for larger screens at its Caernarfon drive-thru on grounds of Welsh language requirements. All public signs in the county are required to be in Welsh and English. However, the council has backed down after McDonald's argued the site already included bilingual signs. McDonald's said the restaurant also included self-service ordering facilities in Welsh. "Within the McDonald's restaurant are facilities for customers to order their meals in a number of different languages on the self order kiosk and are proud that this has allowed members of the public to order in Welsh," the company said. Park's concern over … [Read more...] about McDonald’s wins English-only sign row at Caernarfon drive-thru

By John Newton Published 29 December 2016 Share close Share page Copy link About sharing It is 30 years since McDonald's opened its first UK drive-thru - 1986 being a year of firsts for a brand that now has 1,200 restaurants across Britain. The figures show consumers really are "lovin' it", yet the concept is also ubiquitous - a familiar, disposable and repeatable experience. So how was it for customers when McDonald's was still new? Was what is now commonplace ever thought a thrill? It is 1975. UK cinemas are showing an advert for a brand whose name, at this point, is principally linked in the national consciousness to a nursery rhyme farmer. To the viewer, "golden arches" means nothing. They don't know chips by another name smell as sweetly. A Big Mac is just an oversized anorak. The ad comes a year after McDonald's opens its first UK restaurant in Woolwich, London. Few Brits, … [Read more...] about The McDonald’s drive-thru at 30: A journey back to an exotic experience

Kate Middleton is reportedly in talks with her estranged brother-in-law Prince Harry and is said to be planning a reunion between him and her husband Prince William later this year when they visit the US where Harry lives with his wife Meghan Markle. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are due to travel to the US in December for the Earthshot Prize, and while it has been reported that chances of them meeting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain low, an insider told Closer magazine the opposite. As per the source: “Kate is looking to get the two brothers together when they're all on US soil later this year, if not sooner.” The insider went on to suggest that Prince Harry has also been ‘receptive’ to the idea of meeting with his brother Prince William and Kate once they’re in the US. The source also added that the question remains whether Prince William will be willing to reunite with Harry. “Provided Harry's book isn't too hurtful towards the monarchy – and there's optimism … [Read more...] about Kate Middleton, Prince Harry in talks for secret US reunion?

Pete Davidson became really "obsessed" with Kim Kardashian  and wanted to marry her and start a family which became really annoying for the reality TV star. Kardashian, 41, was not ready to commit and therefore the couple had to end their romance and there is no chance of reconciliation, an insider spilled to OK! Magazine. “Kanye has been telling people that Kim broke up with Pete to get back with him, but this is not going to happen,” the source told the outlet. “Pete was ready to propose, get married and have a baby, but Kim wasn’t ready to that,” the insider shared. “Her family loved him and her kids liked him too, but Kim just wasn’t so sure.” “Pete is fun and kind but was way too needy. He became obsessed with her, which is flattering at first but can get annoying very quickly,” the source explained. “He also has a nasty jealous side, something Kim has no time for after dealing with Kanye. Pete would get back together with Kim today, but that is not going to happen — … [Read more...] about Pete Davidson became ‘too obsessed’ with Kim Kardashian, wanted to marry her

Will Smith’s ex-wife Sheree Zampino recalled the shocking moment when her former husband smacked Chris Rock during the Oscars 2022 over a joke he cracked on Jada Pinkett Smith. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 54, told Us Weekly that she “couldn’t make sense” of the King Richard actor’s headline making move. “It was one of those moments where I froze,” Zampino told the outlet. “The first thing you do is you try to make sense of it in the [moment].” “And when it doesn’t make sense in the moment … we didn’t even really have time. I didn’t even deal with it,” she added. Zampino, who was married to Smith, 53, for three years from 1992 to 1995, went on to say that even though she “couldn’t make sense of it” later on, she thinks the reunion of Smith and Rock would be a “powerful” moment. “When Chris and Will can come together and heal in a public way and extend forgiveness to one another?” Zampino said. “Do you know how many people that’s gonna help and set free? … [Read more...] about Will Smith’s ex Sheree Zampino recalls the moment he slapped Chris Rock: ‘I froze’

A beluga whale stranded in France's River Seine has died after a failed rescue mission. The 800-kilogram cetacean was found stuck in shallow waters northwest of Paris, around 100km inland last Tuesday. Today, officials confirmed the white whale was euthanised after around 80 rescuers launched a bid to remove it from the river and transfer it back to the coast. The Préfet du Calvados wrote on Twitter today: "Despite an unprecedented rescue operation of #beluga, we are sad to announce the death of the cetacean." The closest beluga whale colony is in Svalbard, an archipelago located in northern Norway 3,000km (1,860 miles) from the River Seine. Vets successfully lifted the mammal, which measured four metres long, from the French waterway this morning using a hammock. It was then placed into a refrigerated truck ahead of a 160-kilometre (99-mile) trip to a saltwater basin in Normandy in the north of France. Authorities had planned to keep the whale in the pool for … [Read more...] about Beluga whale stranded in French river dies after failed rescue mission

A landlord of a "haunted" pub has been left feeling unsettled after he watched a pint glass get pushed off a table and smash without anyone touching it - which paranormal investigators believe is the work of a teenage ghost . Scott Dawson caught the "creepy" footage on his CCTV camera at the Ring O Bells pub in Kendal, Cumbria, just before 8:30 pm on June 29, and claimed it isn't the first spooky incident to have taken place in the pub. The bizarre footage shows a punter ordering two pints at the bar and placing one on a table while he takes his dog outside. Once no one is looking, the pint glass seems to move towards the edge on its own , before startling customers as it smashes on a chair. The pub seems innocent from the outside ( Image: Kennedy News and Media) Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here. Scott, who became landlord of the pub in December 2021, insisted the weird scenes aren't the only … [Read more...] about Landlord of haunted pub creeped out as ‘ghost of drowned teen’ pushes pint off table

Published 2 hours ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing The Scottish Parliament "plainly" does not have the power to set up an independence referendum, UK government law officers have argued. The Supreme Court is to look at whether MSPs can legislate for a vote without Westminster's backing in October. The Scottish government has argued that any vote would be "advisory" and would not directly break up the union. But UK law officers said there was "no secret" that Scottish ministers would want the vote to lead to independence. Papers published on Wednesday said a referendum was "not designed to be an exercise in mere abstract opinion polling at considerable public expense", and it would clearly be used to push for "the secession of Scotland" from the UK. Judges will hear arguments at the court in London on 11 and 12 October. The SNP has also applied to … [Read more...] about UK government argues MSPs do not have power to set up indyref2

Published 1 day ago Share close Share page Copy link About sharing Olivia Newton-John, who has died aged 73, began her career as the sweetheart of country-flavoured pop. It all changed when she donned black spandex for Grease, one of the most successful film musicals of all time. Her new raunchy image found its peak in her 1981 album, Physical. But a diagnosis of breast cancer saw her move to an introspective style and she devoted more time to humanitarian causes. Actress and singer Olivia Newton-John dies aged 73 Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge on 26 September 1948. Her Welsh father had been an MI5 agent during World War II attached to the Enigma project at Bletchley Park. Her mother was the daughter of the German Nobel laureate, Max Born, and had fled with her family when the Nazis came to power in 1933. In 1954 her father took up a post as a … [Read more...] about Obituary: Olivia Newton-John