Top story: Trump and Clinton’s Super Tuesday
Super Tuesday ended with triumph for Donald Trump and a creeping sense of despair for the Republic party establishment. Predictions that Cruz and Rubio’s fightback had come too late proved to be accurate with Trump winning in seven states and he now looks likely to be the party’s presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, Hilary Clinton also took seven victories, sweeping the southern states. A Clinton-Trump race for the White House seems to be on the cards - we check the data to see whether the numbers match the pundits’ forecast.
Clinton will have no shortage of ammunition if she does end up battling Trump but she’s not the only one spoiling for a fight. John Oliver has launched anti-Trump campaign, #MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain, spending 22 minutes of his weekly HBO show, Last Week Tonight, discussing Trump’s unsuitability to be president. Over the border, Mexico has unveiled a strategy to counter Trump’s slurs and plans to highlight the benefits of US-Mexican relations to the American people.
News wrap: today’s headlines digested
Greece’s call for help in dealing with the migrant crisis has finally been heard. The EU is formulating plans to release millions of euros for humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, the EU’s Schengen members are being urged to lift border checks to save passport-free zone. Since September 2015, eight countries in the 26-nation Schengen zone have re-instated border checks in an attempt to deal with the influx of refugees.
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Britain’s developers have been accused of increasing their profits from the UK’s housing crisis by restricting the supply of new houses to keep prices artificially high. Latest figures reveal the length of time it takes to complete a house has jumped from 24 months to 32, reigniting the row between policymakers and the housebuilding sector over who is to blame for the current housing shortage.
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French prosecutors investigating corruption in world athletics have expanded their remit to include the bidding and voting processes for the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee has regularly insisted it is fully reformed following measures taken in the wake of the Salt Lake City bribery scandal.
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A TV ad aired by the Church of Scientology has been banned by the advertising watchdog for misleading viewers with a claim it gives aid to tens of millions of people. The advertisement stated that the church works with “volunteers from many faiths” to help people, including “giving aid to 24 million in times of need”. The ASA raised concerns over how figures were calculated, what counted as “giving aid” and the use of anecdotal evidence.
The thing you’ll be talking about today
More than 70 doctors and health experts have called for a ban on tackling in school rugby games. In an open letter that warns of the high risk of serious injury, such as concussion and fractures, they urge schools to move to touch and non-contact versions of the game.
Your lunchtime read
Goodbye to curtains and clutter: how we learned to buy less stuff
From books and DVDs to furniture and food, Britons are buying fewer material goods. Overall, consumption has fallen dramatically in the UK and even Ikea thinks we’ve probably got enough home furnishings. But will freeing ourselves from consumerism make us happier?
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What do you think of the morning briefing?
We are trying out this new style of email briefing for two weeks only and we’d love to know whether you liked it and hear your suggestions. Share your thoughts, anytime, here.
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