Newspaper headlines: Brexit 'breach' begins with a letter By BBC News

Staff Published duration 30 March 2017

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Wednesday's historic events are greeted with an air of celebration on several of Thursday's front pages. The Daily Telegraph speaks of "jubilation as Article 50 is finally served".

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson writes on the front page : "The government is acting in keeping with Britain's deepest instincts and history".

"No Turning Back" says the Daily Express. It has a photo of Nigel Farage celebrating with a pint of beer . So does the Daily Mail with the headline: "Cheers for a great British future".

The Daily Mirror strikes a different tone, saying Theresa May's hopes of early trade deals have been sunk by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. The two are "trading blows", the paper says.

Pensions 'remedy'

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A flu jab blunder that contributed to the largest increase in deaths in a generation may have brought unexpected benefits for Britain's pensions black hole , according to the Daily Telegraph.

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries says the increase in the mortality rate in 2016 - when the flu jab was mismatched for the main strain of influenza - has slightly reduced overall life expectancy for the over-65s.

Experts say the shift has removed about £28bn of pension liabilities from the balance sheets of leading companies.

Three hours of news?

The paper says it could lead to a major shake-up of the music station's schedules because executives want to make sure presenter Jeremy Vine's midday current affairs show counts towards the quota. But, at the moment, it falls outside what is considered as peak time.

The BBC's Controller of Radio, Bob Shennan, is quoted as saying that he thinks his channels already carry enough news and current affairs.

Daytime drinking

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The Times reports on the difficulties facing restaurants in the City of London where many companies now ban staff from drinking during the working day.

It points out that restaurants make a higher profit margin on their wine than on their food.