The Daily: October 15

We scour the news so you don't have to.

Fearless Felix
Felix Baumgartner completed an astounding drop from the top of the stratosphere, breaking the speed of sound travelling from 24.5 miles above the earth and reaching 834mph. The Austrian had been planning the feat for over five years but previous launches had been delayed due to the wind. One small error could have resulted in his blood boiling and/or his brain exploding.

Choir against cancer
A choir made up entirely of people fighting cancer will, like last year's the Military Wives, humble and inspire the British public as they take a musical journey to the Royal Albert Hall, which will appear on Channel 4 in the programme Sing for Your Life. Members range from 10 to 80-years-old with some in remission and others facing uncertain outcomes. A handful has been told their illness is terminal and they joined the choir in the knowledge that they may not be present for the final performance. The group includes a midwife, recruitment consultant, a TV weather girl and professional footballer Chris Todd.

Marilyn's dress on show
Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Seven Year Itch’ dress is to go on show at the V&A musuem. It is the costume that secured Monroe’s status as the ultimate Hollywood pin-up, valued at almost £3 million. The dress will be the highlight of the V&A museum’s new exhibition, Hollywood Costume. The ivory halter-neck dress with a plunging neckline was designed by William Travilla, the Hollywood costume designer and a long-term collaborator of Marilyn’s who dressed her for eight of her films. Hollywood Costume will feature more than 100 of the most memorable costumes from film history.

Women feel misrepresented
The majority of British women say the Government doesn’t represent them. 60 per cent of women in the UK believe that the Government are not representative of who they are and find it difficult to relate to politicians. The study, conducted by global research group Kantar, discovered that nearly half of British women feel that they are under-represented in politics and this alienation may be reducing women’s political participation. The study, polling 2,408 women online, discovered that 30 per cent said that they take an interest in politics, compared with around half of men (47 per cent). Dr Pankhurst, the granddaughter of suffragette leader Sylvia Pankhurst, called for all male politicians to spend more time with “real women” to enable the Coalition to think more laterally and realistically about women’s issues, citing the recent row over abortion time limits. Mr Cameron’s ‘women’s problem’ has not been helped by gaffes such as telling Angela Eagle to ‘calm down dear’ during a Commons debate last year. He has also faced criticism over the disproportionately negative effect the Coalition’s cuts have had on women.

Reverend leads by example
Reverend Paul Peverell gave 10 pounds to each parishioner at four Harvest Festival services in Christ Church, in Great Ayton yesterday. The vicar hopes receivers of the money will use the £1,500 to do a good deed for another person with the money coming from parish funds. Mr Peverell said the idea was inspired by the community spirit of the Queen’s jubilee and the London Olympics.