Your morning briefing: What you should know for Wednesday, February 13

The top stories you're waking up to today
Jason Collie13 February 2019

New attempt by cross-party MPs to block No Deal Brexit

Theresa May is facing a fresh attempt by a cross-party group of MPs to prevent a no-deal Brexit if she cannot reach an agreement with Brussels by mid-March.

The group includes Labour MP Yvette Cooper and former Tory minister Sir Oliver Letwin and said it is ready to table an amendment enabling Parliament to force ministers to seek a delay if there is no deal in place.

There was speculation at Westminster some ministers opposed to a no-deal break could be prepared to resign to support the amendment when it comes to a vote in two weeks' time.

Meanwhile the British Chambers of Commerce has warned that firms are being "hung out to dry" because of the continued uncertainty over a no-deal Brexit.

Boffins claim video games do not cause teenagers to be aggressive

Playing violent video games does not cause teenagers to be aggressive, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Oxford said a survey of 1,000 14 and 15-year-olds and their parents or guardians pointed to other factors, including family life.

Gaga comes out in support of Cardi B

Lady Gaga has defended Cardi B amid a backlash against her Grammys triumph.

Cardi B became the first female solo artist to win best rap album at the Grammys but was targeted by trolls who said it was undeserved.

She hit back in an expletive-filled video to Instagram before deleting her account hours later.

Gaga has this morning tweeted her support for the star, calling on people to support her and that she deserved her Grammy.

Suspicious device found in Northern Ireland

What police are describing as a "crude device" has been deactivated in rural Co Down in Northern Ireland.

Several roads were closed at the scene near Newry yesterday after the suspicious object was found.

Police Service Northern Ireland announced early this morning that the object had been made safe.

Plan to keep Channel Tunnel services running post No Deal Brexit

Trains will be allowed to continue to run through the Channel Tunnel for three months in the event of a no-deal Brexit under an EU Commission proposal.

The institution said the contingency measure would give the UK and France time to negotiate bilateral acceptance of safety certificates and train driver licences.

Dumb watch but high-tech band is new smart idea

Sony has unveiled a new smartwatch which allows users to attach any of their existing watch faces to a strap that gives fitness tracking and notification information.

It has been called Wena, which stands for Wear Electronics Naturally, and the information is given on a small display of one or two lines on the strap rather than a smartwatch face.

It will also offer other features such as contactless payment and will cost at least £350.

On this day…

1542: "I die a Queen but I would rather have died the wife of Culpepper" - said to be the last words of Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, before she was beheaded on Tower Green.

1692: The Glencoe massacre took place in the Scottish Highlands, when the MacDonalds were murdered by their traditional enemies, the Campbells.

1867: Johann Strauss's waltz The Blue Danube was first performed at a ball in Vienna.

1945: Hundreds of allied planes bombed Dresden, devastating one of the world's most beautiful cities.

1958: Dame Christabel Pankhurst, British suffragette and daughter of Emmeline, died.

1987: London's property boom resulted in a 5ft 6in x 11ft broom cupboard opposite Harrods being offered for sale at £36,500 - more than £600 per square foot.

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