Danes are voting in a general election called early by the country’s prime minister, in apparent hopes of exploiting public support for her firm stance on Greenland.

Mette Frederiksen, 48, is hoping to secure a third term in office for her centre-left Social Democrat party in Tuesday’s poll, which she called several months before she had to.

Her popularity, which has faded during her second term, has been boosted by her refusal to bow to US President Donald Trump’s pressure over the ownership of the kingdom’s semi-autonomous territory.

Hoping to unseat her are two opponents from the centre-right, one of whom, Liberal Party candidate Troels Lund Poulsen, is defence minister in Ms Frederiksen’s coalition government.

The other, Alex Vanopslagh, of the Liberal Alliance, recently admitted he took cocaine earlier in his time as party leader, which may have dented his chances.

The anti-immigration Danish People’s Party looks well-placed to bounce back from a very weak showing at the last election in 2022.

No single party is expected to win a majority under Denmark’s system of proportional representation, meaning another coalition from either the leftist “red bloc” or right-wing “blue bloc” is the likeliest outcome, possibly after lengthy negotiations.

Ms Frederiksen’s outgoing three-party administration was the first in decades to straddle the political divide.

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From January: Why Trump backed down on Greenland

Greenland, which took up much of the government’s energy in recent months, hasn’t been prominent in the campaign because there is broad agreement on its place in the kingdom.

Ms Frederiksen warned in January that an American takeover of the vast Arctic island, a proposal heavily criticised by Denmark’s European allies, would mean the end of NATO.

The crisis has since receded, as Washington joined talks with Denmark and Greenland over an Arctic security deal.

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More than 4.3 million people are eligible to vote for the new Folketing, or parliament, in Copenhagen, which is elected for a four-year term.

The single-chamber body has 179 seats, with two each representing Greenland and Denmark’s other semi-autonomous territory, the Faroe Islands.

Petrol and diesel have risen in cost again, new figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero show.

On 16 March, the average price of unleaded petrol at pumps in the UK was 140.28p per litre. For diesel, the average price stood at 158.78p per litre.

Today, the department announced the average price on 23 March was 144.16p for unleaded and 166.88p for diesel.

That is a weekly rise of 3.9p for unleaded and 8.1p for diesel.

The rise in fuel prices comes amid the continued energy crisis sparked by the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Tehran is blockading the Strait of Hormuz, stopping the flow of oil through a vital shipping route leaving the Middle East.

However, motorists should not drive slower nor buy fuel differently because of the oil crisis, an energy minister has said.

Michael Shanks said British drivers did not need to change their habits, despite suggestions from the International Energy Agency (IEA) aimed at conserving fuel.

The IEA has advised motorists across the world to reduce their speed on highways, share rides and work from home when possible to reduce how much petrol or diesel they use.

Asked by Times Radio if British drivers should change their habits, Mr Shanks was a told the broadcaster: “They should do everything as absolutely normal because there is no shortage of fuel anywhere in the country at the moment.

“We monitor this every single day, I look at the numbers personally. There’s no issue at all with that.”

The minister added: “People should go about their business as normal. That’s what the RAC and the AA have said. It’s really important people do that.

“There’s no shortage of fuel and everything is working as normal.”

Jane Ashton, head of music and entertainment at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “This is such a special fundraiser for us as Oasis have been huge supporters of the charity for almost 25 years, and we’re so very grateful to them for choosing us to receive the proceeds from the first edition, as well as be associated with such an iconic tour and product.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Danish voters went to the polls Tuesday in a general election, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen seeking a third term at the helm of the Scandinavian country after a standoff with U.S. President Donald Trump over the future of the kingdom’s semiautonomous territory of Greenland.

More than 4.3 million people are eligible to have their say in the vote for the new Folketing, or parliament, in Copenhagen, which is elected for a four-year term.

Frederiksen called the election in February, several months before she had to in apparent hopes that her resolute image in the crisis over Greenland would help her with voters in the European Union and NATO member country.

In her second term, her support had waned as the cost of living rose — something that, along with pensions and a potential wealth tax, has been a prominent campaign issue.

The 48-year-old center-left Social Democrat is known for strong support of Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion and for a restrictive approach to migration — continuing a tradition in Danish politics that now goes back two decades.

Seeking to counter pressure from the right and pointing to a possible surge in migration because of the Iran war, Frederiksen announced proposals this month that include a potential “emergency brake” on asylum and tighter controls on criminals who lack legal residence. Her government had already unveiled a plan to allow the deportation of foreigners who have been sentenced to at least one year in prison for serious crimes.

Two center-right challengers hope to oust Frederiksen as prime minister. One is in her current government — Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen of the Liberal, or Venstre, party, which headed several recent administrations.

The other is Alex Vanopslagh, 34, of the opposition Liberal Alliance, which calls for lower taxes and less bureaucracy, and for Denmark to abandon its refusal to use nuclear power. But a recent admission from Vanopslagh to taking cocaine earlier in his time as party leader may have dented his chances.

Further to the right, the anti-immigration Danish People’s Party looks well-placed to bounce back from a very weak showing at the last election in 2022.

No single party is expected to come anywhere near winning a majority. Denmark’s system of proportional representation typically produces coalition governments, traditionally made up of several parties from either the “red bloc” on the left or the “blue bloc” on the right, after weeks of negotiations.

Frederiksen’s outgoing three-party administration was the first in decades to straddle the political divide. It remains to be seen whether this election will result in a repeat, with the centrist Moderate party of Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen possibly acting as the kingmaker.

Greenland, which took up much of the government’s energy in recent months, hasn’t been a significant issue in the campaign because there is broad agreement on its place in the kingdom.

Frederiksen warned in January that an American takeover of Greenland would amount to the end of NATO. But the crisis has simmered down, at least for now.

After Trump backed down on threats to impose tariffs on Denmark and other European countries that opposed the U.S. taking control of the vast Arctic island, the U.S., Denmark and Greenland started technical talks on an Arctic security deal.

Denmark’s single-chamber parliament has 179 seats. Of those, 175 go to lawmakers from Denmark itself and two each for representatives from thinly populated Greenland and the kingdom’s other semiautonomous territory, the Faroe Islands.

___

Moulson reported from Berlin.

Madonna has recreated an iconic scene from the “Like A Virgin” music video with the help of Hollywood actor Julia Garner.

The pair sat in a Gondola as they lip-synced the words to the pop star’s 1984 hit, which features the singer riding down a canal in Venice on one the iconic boats.

“Like A Virgin……again and again,” the 67-year-old wrote as she shared the clip on Instagram on Monday (23 March).

Madonna and Garner are both in the city to film for season two of the AppleTV+ series The Studio. Garner is also set to play the pop princess in a potential biopic, though in September 2025, the actor confirmed the film remains a “work in progress”.

Andy Murray retired from tennis in 2024 and has been spending more time on the fairways instead of at home

Andy Murray was spotted on the golf course with wife Kim Sears at the weekend, breaking a rule that he believes she set for their relationship.

The former tennis great previously said he believes his wife prefers him to be out of the house and on the fairways himself. Sears’ appearance on the course alongside their dog Bonnie therefore goes against the rule he claimed on the Romesh Ranganathan Show.

Discussing how his wife feels about his consistent appearances on the golf course, Murray said: “I don’t think she wants me in the house all day bothering her, to be honest. So, yeah, she’s fine with it, so long as I help drop-off and pick-up [the kids to and from school].

“I don’t think she massively wants to see me during the day. [At least] That’s what I think.”

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It seems that the pair were enjoying a child-free date at the weekend as Murray posted a photo to his Instagram story of Kim sitting on the fairways grinning. The ex-tennis star’s partner posed for the camera alongside Bonnie with some casual wear on, including a hooded sweatshirt, jeans and a pair of sunglasses.

Murray put one red love heart emoji above the picture, showcasing his love for his partner and his pet. The pair share four children together – Sophia, ten, Edie, seven, Teddie, five, and Lola, four.

However, the couple look to have sent their kids elsewhere as they enjoyed a quiet weekend together. Murray has been enjoying sharpening his golf game since retiring from tennis and admits he has considered a career switch.

He said: “I’m considering becoming a golf caddie, hopefully for a professional golfer at some stage. I love golf and if you love that sport, it would be a great job.

“If you are working with a top golfer and being there when they have a great moment on the course, and feeling like you can help a little bit with decisions and things like that, I think it would be a brilliant job.”

In fact, Murray also seems to want to test himself on the greens as well. He added: “I want to try and play in the regional qualifying [of The Open] at some stage.

“A couple of my friends have done it, and it would just be a fun thing to do if you got to the level where you’re able to do that, I would do it, but I certainly don’t think I would have any chance of qualifying for The Open.

“I’m fully aware of how good the players that play in those events are and how good the pros are in comparison to amateurs. Even guys that play off +2, 3 [handicap] are miles off what these guys are.”

It seems that wife Kim would support her husband in pursuing a golf career, especially if his words are anything to go by in terms of getting peace and quiet at home.

Experts at TotallyMoney are urging everyone with a mobile phone to text ‘INFO’ to 85075 ahead of potential price rises in April.

The text is free and it allows you to find out if you are out of contract and free to leave.

James McCaffrey, from TotallyMoney, explained: “With April just around the corner, there’s a lot of talk about mobile contract price hikes – and with mentions of inflation-linked rises, percentage increases, and new Ofcom rules, it all sounds more complicated than it should be. 

Why Martin Lewis wants everyone to know this phone number

“The simple way to find out if you can switch providers and start saving money is to text ‘INFO’ to 85075. Shortly after, you’ll receive a message from your provider to let you know if you’re still in contract, or if you’re free to leave. 

“Switching is easier than you might think, with the process usually completed within one working day. Shop around by going direct to providers and using comparison sites, and once you’ve found a better offer, sign up and your new provider will take care of things – including transferring your number. 

“Before you commit, check the network coverage in your area and where you work, and don’t forget to check roaming charges if you travel abroad. And remember, if you switch and you’re not happy, you’ll have at least two weeks to cancel without paying a penalty.” 

Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has also previously encouraged viewers to text ‘INFO’ to 85075.

Mr Lewis also advised everyone to switch to cheap Sim-only deals, which can be found on price comparison websites, while finding a low-price network that uses the same signal as your current network.

02, EE, Vodafone and Three are the main signal providers, with cheaper mobile providers, such as Tesco and GiffGaff, using their signal.

If you text ‘PAC’ to 65075 you can get your PAC code and give that to your new network, requesting that your mobile number be moved across to your new company.

The Money Saving Expert added: “You send the text and you may well get a message back that says ‘we are very sorry to hear that you want to leave so here is your PAC code but, by the way, we can offer this deal if you are willing to stay’. I have heard it could be way less than half price.”

Jade McLellann first reported problems last year – but says her landlord Larkfield Housing Association has allowed the problem to get worse.

A mum-of-two is battling her housing association after drainage issues turned her dream garden into a “hazardous swamp”.

Jade McLellann first reported problems last year – but says her landlord Larkfield Housing Association has allowed the problem to get worse. She says her children, one and four, are unable to play outside – and the flooding has even destroyed some of their toys.

Jade says the garden looks like a ‘swamp’ and the home is also plastered with mud inside. She says she eventually gave up battling the brown sludge after spending countless hours cleaning because she says she’s ‘just wasting’ her time.

Jade, of Greenock, said: “Before I moved here I was in a flat, so I thought, ‘this is great, my wee boys are going to have a place to play.

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“My oldest was just turning a year, and it was a great garden. But now all his toys are in the bin because they all got ruined.

“It’s heart-breaking watching the place where my kids should be able to play turn into a swamp because basic repairs haven’t been done.”

Her sons are confined to the house while at home because of the potential health risk Jade feels the garden poses. She said: “My youngest wee boy was in and out of hospital at birth. I’ve always got the fear ‘what if he puts something in his mouth? I don’t know what’s in that’.

“He’s restricted to the living room, and that’s not fair – in his own home. My kids should have access to my full house, but they don’t, because it’s not safe.”

She said access is also an issue because when it rains flood water can form at the back steps. Jade said: “Obviously my youngest would be in my arms, but I can’t take my four-year-old through that to get out. It wouldn’t be safe at all.

“I’ve had to constantly paint, and all my flooring needs replaced. Everything’s minging.”

The problem dates back to last May but Jade says that at the time it ‘wasn’t anything crazy’. Nonetheless, she reported it to Larkfield Housing Association, but says she wasn’t seen until October.

Eventually the garden was assessed, and an attempt was made to drain the pipes underneath it using a jet wash – but that flooded the garden so badly that water got into the house.

Jade added: “They said that the garden needed to be ripped out and replaced because the pipes underneath were broken. I didn’t hear anything from October until January, and someone came out pm January 15. I was under the impression at that point they were coming to replace the garden, because that’s what I was told in October.

“As soon as he stood on the garden, he said that the ground has collapsed and there’s no way to fix it. I’ve then been fighting since January until now to get them to sign off on the works.”

Another jet wash was attempted – but again it made things worse, with Jade describing it as ‘a very silly choice’.

She said: “When I wasn’t in, they let themselves in and did it anyway, which then caused my kitchen to be flooded, as well as creating a big puddle on the path. The path was completely gone because of how much water there was left.

“I was told that they would attempt to drain the water when they did the works. I was told that they plan to do it four more times before the repairs are done. And I’m thinking ‘absolutely not, because you’re making it more of a hazard’.”

A spokesperson for Larkfield Housing Association said: “We are sorry a quick resolution for this surface water drainage system issue has not been possible.

“This is a complex repair involving a number of contractors and agencies – including the local authority, who are carrying out their own investigations alongside ours.

“We have been working closely with our tenant to ensure they receive all available support while this repair work is ongoing, and have been taking necessary measures to ensure safe access to their home, such as jet washing steps and pathways to keep them clear.

“Civil works are arranged to take place in early April to repair the damaged pipework, and we will continue to provide all support while we work with our partners to get this resolved as soon as possible.”

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When charged particles from the Sun are guided by Earth’s magnetic field towards the poles, they collide with gases high in the atmosphere.

Each colour tells its own story, and on a clear night, the sky above becomes a window into the science of our atmosphere.

As they do, they release energy as light. The colour that appears depends on two things: which gas is hit and how high up the collision happens.

From the familiar greens of oxygen collisions to the exceptionally rare blues of nitrogen far below, every aurora is a unique display shaped by the Sun, Earth’s magnetic field and the gases that surround our planet.

There is currently no service on the Mildmay line between Willesden Junction and Clapham Junction due to a faulty train at Shepherd’s Bush. The rest of the line is running normally, and tickets are being accepted on London Underground and bus services via reasonable alternative routes.