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Rise in VAT, inflation and people working from home has led small business owners to demand government supportBlazing Salads, Dillingers, Assassination Custard and Brasserie Sixty Six in Dublin, Church Lane and Sage in County Cork, and Barnacles in Galway.These are just some of the most recent additions to the list of more than 600 restaurants that have been forced to close in Ireland in the last year in what is being seen as a growing crisis for the country's high street and tourist offering. Continue reading...

Option among those explored, as state-owned body looks to recover 12m a year written off over Horizon scandalThe Post Office is looking into the possibility of creating a losses pool", funded by branch owner-operators, as it seeks to address the mounting financial issue of shortfalls in its network of 11,500 outlets.Following damning high court judgments in 2019, which ultimately resulted in hundreds of postmasters being exonerated over wrongful prosecutions for shortfalls linked to faulty Horizon software, the Post Office pursues losses only if there is an agreement with the branch owner-operator. Continue reading...

After Han Kang's Nobel award and South Korean cinema hits, Penguin publishes new English edition of maxims by Lee Seong-bok in wake of US successA collection of wise maxims written by a 72-year old poet, calmly setting out illuminating advice to other poets, is the latest and perhaps most unlikely book to benefit from a surge in demand for South Korean literature.Kick against words like you would kick back on a swing. You've got to feel as if the soles of your feet are touching the sky," suggests Lee Seong-bok in his hit title Indeterminate Inflorescence. Continue reading...

MPs passed legislation a year ago to ban advertising of unethical animal tourism - but it has not yet come into forceGrowing numbers of travel companies are promoting holidays involving animal attractions through adverts that should be illegal in the UK under new legislation, campaigners say.MPs passed a law more than a year ago that gave ministers the power to ban tourism adverts that offer animal attractions, including elephant rides, but it has not yet come into force. Continue reading...

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Canada's PM, Justin Trudeau, claims Indian diplomats are implicated in murders on Canadian soilA gruelling week for Indian diplomacy began with an explosive Canadian press conference on Monday. Senior Canadian police officials accused Indian diplomats of being involved in criminal" activities on Canadian soil, ranging from homicide and targeted assassinations to extortion, intimidation and coercion against members of the Canadian Sikh community.They alleged that Indian diplomats - including the high commissioner himself - were implicated not only in the high profile killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist who was gunned down outside a gurdwara in a suburb of Vancouver last June, but also linked to other murders on Canadian soil. The diplomats had even worked with a gang run by India's most notorious mob boss to get their dirty work done, they alleged. Continue reading...

Jacqui Scruby was on track to comfortably take Pittwater and said the results showed voters appreciated a different way of doing politics'

Brighton residents chant Shame, premier, shame' as they surround the pub where Jacinta Allan announces policy

Troubles at VW point to growing doubts about future of Europe-wide sector as imports of cheap EVs riseFor decades Germany has enjoyed a reputation as Europe's car capital, with slogans such as Vorsprung durch Technik emblematic of its political and industrial prowess.But troubles looming over Volkswagen, where unions are battling threats of layoffs and factory closures, have raised questions not just about its future but the wider European car industry. Continue reading...

ACT senator says opposition proposal to freeze national building codes shows climate change denial', as Labor calls policy a card trick'

David Crisafulli pledges minimum isolation periods for youths who attack staff despite evidence of dangers of solitary confinement

Shia group has not claimed responsibility for attack on PM's home but says it fired several barrages of rocketsBenjamin Netanyahu's house in the seaside town of Caesarea was hit by a drone on Saturday, causing superficial damage and no casualties, as Israel's wars in Gaza and Lebanon rage unabated after the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.The Israeli government said that one of the prime minister's three homes was targeted by three drones, two of which were intercepted, and that neither Netanyahu nor his wife, Sara, were home at the time. Continue reading...

Department of Defence considering international commitments on exports amid ongoing war in Middle East

Planning overhaul will clear way for buildings of up to 20 storeys near stations including Brighton and Toorak in a move likely to draw strong opposition

The trade is flourishing online, experts say, as bone collectors exploit legal loopholes to buy and sell human remains

Rachel de Souza makes strongest intervention yet as three relatives go on trial for murder of Sara Sharif, the 10-year-old who allegedly suffered two years of abuse by her fatherMinisters must ban smacking now, the children's commissioner for England has said, in her strongest intervention yet on child safety.Rachel de Souza said that banning smacking was a necessary step" to keep children safe, and that bans in Scotland and Wales had taught us we need to take that step in England too", adding now is the time to go further". Continue reading...

Jean-Noel Barrot says Russian victory would push the international order toward chaos' as he backs negotiationsFrance's foreign minister pledged his support for Ukraine's plan for ending the war with Russia, telling reporters in Kyiv on Saturday that he would work with Ukrainian officials to secure other nations' backing for the proposal.Presented by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this week, Kyiv's victory plan" hopes to compel Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine through negotiations. Continue reading...

Film festival organisers make heartbreaking' decision not to show Undercover: Exposing the Far Right amid concerns over staff welfareA documentary that lifts the lid on a race science" network of far-right activists in Britain and its links to a rich American funder of eugenics research has been pulled from the London Film Festival (LFF) at the last minute due to safety concerns.The organisers have taken the heartbreaking decision" to cancel the planned screening of the exceptional" Undercover: Exposing the Far Right this weekend due to fears about the welfare of audiences, staff and security working in the festival venues. Continue reading...

Retired US marine, sentenced to 16 years in prison, says hoops star made sure he wasn't forgotten after her releaseRetired US marine Paul Whelan says basketball champion Brittney Griner provided great help" to him by advocating for his freedom from Russian captivity after she was released before he was.Within days of her getting home, she was talking to people about how they could support me, and she had people making monetary donations, sending cards, sending letters, offering all sorts of support," Whelan said in an interview being aired on CBS's Face the Nation at 10.30am ET on Sunday. Continue reading...

Supporters offer advice to get the favourite over the line, gambling she can unite the party and restore Tory fortunesSupporters of Kemi Badenoch have urged her to rein in her confrontational style to clinch the Tory leadership, with some Conservative MPs concluding they need to take a big gamble" to restore their party's fortunes as they replace Rishi Sunak.The shadow communities secretary emerged from the only scheduled televised debate on GB News last week with most MPs believing she is still the favourite in what remains a close contest with Robert Jenrick. Party members have until the end of the month to cast their vote. Continue reading...

The Democrat says she will end cannabis prohibition and seek to help Black men profit from the industry if electedKamala Harris announced on Monday that if elected president, she would fully legalize adult recreational cannabis on the federal level - the first time a presidential nominee has taken such an unambiguous stance on ending cannabis prohibition.As part of her pledge, she said she would take steps to ensure that Black men, disproportionately incarcerated and disenfranchised by the war on drugs, would stand to profit from the industry. Continue reading...

Richard Baxter was key figure in gang smuggling hundreds of kilos of drugs and laundering proceeds, say policeA man with a 1.5m property empire has pleaded guilty to supplying drugs and money laundering, the Metropolitan police said.Richard Baxter, 50, of no fixed address, admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to transfer criminal property at Kingston crown court on Friday. Continue reading...

ABC election pundit Antony Green calls win for Labor-Greens coalition on Saturday nightAustralia's for ever government" has lived up to its name, with Labor retaining power to extend its record reign in the ACT beyond a quarter of a century.The ACT Labor leader, Andrew Barr, already the longest-serving political leader in the country, fended off a negative swing and an independent surge to win his third election as chief minister. Continue reading...

Lawyer Elvino Dias and official Paulo Guambe shot as their party plans a national strike over disputed electionAttackers killed a Mozambique opposition lawyer and a party official after firing rounds at a car in which they were travelling on Saturday, ratcheting up tensions before protests against a disputed election result, rights groups said.Mozambique's new opposition Podemos party and its presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane have rejected provisional results showing a probable win for Frelimo, the party that has ruled Mozambique for half a century. They have called for a nationwide strike on Monday. Continue reading...

News that no symbolic apology or reparations are planned could put Starmer on collision course with other nationsThe UK government will not apologise over Britain's role in the transatlantic slave trade at next week's Commonwealth heads of government (Chogm) summit in Samoa, Downing Street has said.Downing Street said on Monday that the government would not be paying reparations for slavery. News that neither an apology nor reparations are on the agenda could put Keir Starmer, who will attend the gathering, on a collision course with other nations. Continue reading...

As well as threats of violence or death, one in 10 said someone had come to their home inappropriatelyMore than a fifth of councillors have received death threats or threats of violence, a survey has found.The survey has been released by the Local Government Association (LGA) before its annual conference next week. It is calling for more to be done to improve councillors' safety.One in 10 councillors had someone come to their home in a way that they considered intimidating or inappropriate, and 43% had requested to withhold their home address from the public because of safety concerns.Ten per cent had received a threat of damage to their property, and 5% had experienced damage to property. Eleven per cent said they had considered modifications to their home security but had been unable to make them for financial or personal reasons.Nineteen per cent of respondents had experienced abuse or intimidation relating to a protected characteristic. Sex was the most commonly cited characteristic for which respondents had suffered abuse or intimidation.Fifty-seven per cent of respondents reported that their authority's arrangements for protecting councillors were very or fairly effective. Continue reading...

Former partner of One Direction star spoke out as Payne's father travelled to Buenos Aires to repatriate his bodyLiam Payne's former partner Cheryl Tweedy has described media coverage of his death abhorrent".It came as the singer's father, Geoff Payne, travelled to Buenos Aires in Argentina to organise the repatriation of his 31-year-old son's body. He was seen exiting the CasaSur Palermo hotel, where the singer died after falling from a third-floor balcony on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Airstrikes Israel says are targeting Hezbollah have killed the city's mayor as well as civil defence workers

Ministers heralded record-breaking' 63bn total at London event but 16.5bn appears to have preceded July electionAbout a quarter of the investment announced by the government at its summit this week appears to have been secured or initiated before Labour came to power.Ministers touted 63bn of investment at the summit on Monday, where they hosted hundreds of company bosses in a showcase of the UK's pro-growth policies. Continue reading...

Emergency services recover bodies of children, aged five and seven, at Floyd Bay in Lansvale

Sydney and Canberra are on the royal couple's itinerary, with opportunities for the public to see them between official functions

Storms and showers predicted to linger around Australia's east coast over the weekend

Detective says he grabbed 23-year-old Daniel Khalife as he cycled on canal towpath in west LondonA former soldier congratulated" the police officer who captured him three days after he was accused of escaping from prison, a jury has heard.Woolwich crown court on Friday heard evidence from the Metropolitan police officer, who said he grabbed hold of Daniel Khalife on a canal towpath in west London. Continue reading...

Andrew Talbot took drugs from a Greater Manchester police evidence store and supplied them to criminalsA cocaine-addicted detective who stole drugs with a retail value of almost 400,000 from a police evidence store and supplied them to criminals has been jailed for 19 years.Andrew Talbot, formerly a Greater Manchester police (GMP) detective constable, conspired with convicted drug dealer Keith Bretherton, 50, to sell the stolen cocaine, Liverpool crown court heard. Continue reading...

Canada expelled six Indian diplomats as fallout continues from 2023 killing of Canadian Sikh Hardeep Singh NijjarCanada's foreign minister has warned India's remaining diplomats in the country that they are clearly on notice" not to endanger Canadian lives after New Delhi's top envoy in Canada was named a person of interest in the assassination of a Sikh activist.India's high commissioner was expelled on Monday along with five other diplomats, prompting the Canadian foreign minister, Melanie Joly, to compare India to Russia, saying Canada's national police force has linked Indian diplomats to homicides, death threats and intimidation in Canada. Continue reading...

Law firm advises company to review use of non-disclosure agreements after allegations about their use

Nine deaths in a week, including soldier's killing of 59-year-old woman as she farmed, brings charges of war-like' tacticsPalestinians in the occupied West Bank are facing an increase in Israeli settler attacks and Israeli army violence at the start of the important olive harvest season, the UN has said.The international body's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) accused Israel on Friday of using war-like" tactics in the West Bank amid a rise in killings and settler attacks since the olive harvest got under way last week. Nine people were killed by Israeli forces between 8-14 October, OCHA said. Continue reading...

Policy known as fiscal drag' could bring in as much as 7bn a year after 2028, while dragging workers into paying more taxRachel Reeves is expected to extend a stealth" freeze on income tax thresholds beyond the 2028 deadline set by the previous Conservative government to raise billions of pounds in the budget.The chancellor is contemplating the move, first reported by the Financial Times, as she seeks tax-raising measures to plug a 40bn shortfall in the public finances that Labour claims was left by the Conservatives. Continue reading...

More than 60 deaths recorded in territory in past day as Israel launches more airstrikes and sends in more troops

Russian navy ships reportedly transferred 1,500 forces to Vladivostok, where they are being trainedSouth Korea's intelligence agency said on Friday that North Korea had dispatched troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine, a development that could intensify the standoff between North Korea and the west.In a statement on its website, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Russian navy ships transferred 1,500 North Korean special operation forces to the port city of Vladivostok between 8 and 13 October who were now undergoing training. Continue reading...

Motorist accused of deliberately targeting 27-year-old Paul Varry in road rage incidentA motorist accused of deliberately running over a cyclist in a Paris road rage incident has been formally put under investigation for murder and remanded in custody.The 52-year-old SUV driver, named only as Ariel M, is accused of deliberately targeting the cyclist, who was named by the Paris public prosecutor's office as Paul Varry, 27. Continue reading...

Exclusive: More than 100 nurses write to Wes Streeting after being accused of cheating in tests to practise in UK

Nurse says she has lost my name, my integrity, my dreams' after being accused of using proxy to sit tests to work in Britain

Scientists say using the drugs to get people back into work could carry logistical and ethical problemsWeight loss jabs are not a quick fix" and the health secretary's plan to use them to help people get back to work could backfire, experts have warned.Wes Streeting announced a real-world trial of the medication's impact on worklessness this week, saying that widening waistbands" were placing a burden on the NHS. He suggested that as well as bringing benefits to the health service, the jabs could help people get back into employment. Continue reading...

Medications like Ozempic transformed' diabetes care because they improved health outcomes, say expertsObesity rates have decreased slightly in the US and while it's too early to say whether the trend will hold and what's causing the change, experts believe weight-loss drugs could be playing a role in continuing to lower obesity and reduce related health risks.These medications - Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and others - are called GLP-1 agonists, and they were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes. But they also show great promise for treating obesity and other health conditions, like heart disease, kidney and liver issues, sleep apnea, asthma, Covid complications and cancer, among others. Continue reading...

Michigan event will be Michelle Obama's first appearance campaigning for Democratic presidential nominee

Deborah Cullingford argued yorkshire terrier helped her deal with strain of her Leeds job and aftermath of cancerA bailiff who took her miniature yorkshire terrier on debt collection jobs has lost her case for discrimination after being told she was not entitled to have an emotional support dog at work.Bella would accompany Deborah Cullingford, a county court bailiff operating in the Leeds area, to help with the stress of the job and the aftermath of three bouts of cancer. When colleagues spotted Bella in Cullingford's car, she was told by management that as Bella was not a guide dog, she could not continue to take her on jobs. Continue reading...

Pop legend calls for more kindness and empathy from public, and discusses his history of addictionRobbie Williams has shared an impassioned tribute to the One Direction singer Liam Payne, who died this week after falling from a balcony in a Buenos Aires hotel.Williams acted as a mentor to One Direction when the band competed on The X Factor in 2010, and continued a friendship with Payne and the group. Continue reading...

People could face fines of up to 400,000 rubles, as data suggests birthrate has slid to lowest level in quarter of a centuryA law that would ban propaganda" seeking to champion a childfree lifestyle has cleared its first hurdle in Russia's lower house of parliament, gaining unanimous approval among lawmakers for a bill promoted as a means to increase the country's birthrate.The new legislation sets out fines for those deemed to be discouraging people from having children, as official data released last month suggested Russia's birthrate had slid to its lowest level in a quarter of a century, a slump exacerbated by the country's ageing population and Moscow's war in Ukraine. Continue reading...

Sales volumes unexpectedly rise in September but are held back by drop in supermarket shopping