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Renewable energy helps push down electricity use; teachers endorse state government pay deal with 3% annual pay rises. Follow the day's news live

Nation follows net worth rules which count liabilities such as debt but also assets, including land, roads, hospitals and schoolsRachel Reeves will this week change the way the UK government's debt rules are calculated to unlock billions of pounds in additional headroom for spending on long-term infrastructure projects.In what could be the most radical step in Labour's first budget since 2010, the chancellor confirmed the decision while at the International Monetary Fund's annual meeting in Washington DC last week, aiming to soothe any jitters in the bond markets by announcing it in front of the global economic establishment. Continue reading...

Various measures designed to encourage people to have more children have had limited successThe number of kindergartens in China fell by more than 5% last year, the second year in a row that preschool institutions were in decline, reflecting the country's falling birthrate.In 2023, there were 274,400 kindergartens across China, down from 289,200 in 2022, according to a Ministry of Education statistical bulletin published last week. Continue reading...

Renewables advocate tells parliamentary hearing that opposition's nuclear proposal is a smokescreen' for burning coal and gas

Supporters raise half amount needed for Zoe's Place in weeks, with local celebrities including Steven Gerrard matching pledgesA city-wide fundraising drive is under way in Liverpool after a unique baby hospice which has supported thousands of families in the region was threatened with closure.Zoe's Place, a charity that cares for children with life-limiting conditions from birth to the age of five, announced that it had just weeks to raise the 5m needed to fund a new building, with the lease on its current site set to expire. Continue reading...

Union group urges chancellor to better fund health, social care and childcare to get staff back to work and boost productivityUK businesses are losing staff working time because of waits for healthcare or caring duties due to underfunded public services, according to a poll of managers before Chancellor Rachel Reeves' first budget.More than half of 500 UK business leaders polled for the TUC said workers had to take time off in the last year because of problems accessing public services. Continue reading...

Joint statement by lobby groups calls on chancellor to make Covid-era rates relief for hospitality permanent

GMB raises safety concerns amid rumours of budget cuts across sites and Nuclear Decommissioning AuthorityRachel Reeves has been urged not to carry out mooted funding cuts for nuclear sites including Sellafield amid safety concerns, as it emerged that the number of incidents where workers narrowly avoided harm had increased at the Cumbrian site.The GMB union has written to Reeves, the chancellor, before Wednesday's budget to raise safety concerns after rumours emerged that the budget for the taxpayer-owned Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) could be reduced, which could result in cuts at nuclear sites including Sellafield and Dounreay in Scotland. Continue reading...

Study examining highly contested topic of exposure' looks at when it is acceptable to share tricks of the tradeFor decades, possibly centuries, magicians have fretted and argued over if and when it is acceptable to reveal the secrets of their tricks and illusions.Now two British academics - who are magicians themselves - have written what is believed to be the first detailed study examining what is known in the trade as exposure". Continue reading...

Exclusive: Stefan Descheemaeker of Nomad Foods says mandatory rules could help kickstart nutrition arms race'Food firms should be forced to reveal how healthy or unhealthy their products are, to help people consume a better diet, an industry boss has said.Ministers should compel companies to publish an annual report so consumers can see how much of their sales is made up of dishes that contain too much fat, salt and sugar, Stefan Descheemaeker also said. Continue reading...

Exclusive: About 350 props, awards and personal items will be auctioned by his estate and his widowThe prosthetic nose that Laurence Olivier wore when portraying Richard III in his classic film is to be offered for sale as part of a vast collection of props and personal items that belonged to the actor.About 350 lots will be auctioned by his estate and his widow, Dame Joan Plowright, 94, the Golden Globe and Tony award-winning actor. Continue reading...

North-east the worst-affected region, recording 40% drop in acceptances on to pre-registration courses, union findsThe number of people studying to become nurses has fallen substantially across England, with some areas recording a 40% drop in successful applications, according to analysis by the largest nursing union.The latest regional data from Ucas, the university admissions service, shows the number of people accepted on to nursing courses fell across all parts of England between 2020 and 2023. Continue reading...

Xiaozheng Lin faces court after striking deal to plead guilty to manslaughter of Yuqi Luo and Hyun Sook Jeon in 2022

Shigeru Ishiba and his Liberal Democratic party must try to find a third coalition partner after bruising election result creates political turmoilJapan's political future was shrouded in uncertainty on Monday after voters punished the ruling coalition over rising prices and a funding scandal, paving the way for days of wrangling as party leaders try to form a government.The Liberal Democratic party (LDP) and its longtime junior coalition partner Komeito failed to secure a majority in the lower house on a bruising night in which the main opposition Constitutional Democratic party (CDP) made significant gains. Continue reading...

Ebony Bell appears in Melbourne court charged with alleged assault of the independent senator outside the MCG

Treasurer indicates Labor may be prepared to stop poker machine and betting companies from accessing tax concessions for R&D

One killed and at least 29 injured after truck hits bus stop in Israel; protesters shout shame on you' as Israeli PM speaks at memorial ceremony for victims of Hamas attack

PM will defend Labour plans in speech and insist working people need better public services more than lower taxesKeir Starmer will promise to embrace the harsh light of fiscal reality" on Monday as his chancellor prepares to unveil a budget that includes billions of pounds' worth of tax rises and spending cuts.The prime minister will give a speech in the West Midlands defending Labour's approach to the economy, as Rachel Reeves prepares to announce what she promises will be as momentous a budget as any in the party's history. Continue reading...

In his new memoir The Voice Inside, the Australian singer says Darryl Sambell drugged him, controlled what he ate and punished him for rejecting his advances

Ex-leader implicates former ally Luis Arce after his vehicle hit by gunfire amid rising unrest in countryBolivia's former leader Evo Morales has accused the government of his one-time ally Luis Arce of trying to kill him after his car was struck by bullets in an early-morning ambush on Sunday, threatening to ignite a political crisis in the Andean nation.Morales, whose supporters have been organising road blockades for weeks to support the legally embattled former president, posted a video on Facebook that showed him in the front passenger seat and bullet holes in the car's windshield. Continue reading...

Actor shows up at event of Willy Wonka and Paul Atreides costumes, where police broke up crowd and made an arrestTimothee Chalamet made a surprise appearance at his own lookalike contest in lower Manhattan on Sunday, a crowded event that drew an order to disperse from police and at least one arrest.Flanked by bodyguards, the actor posed for photos with his high-cheeked, curly haired doppelgangers, some of whom had dressed as Willy Wonka and Paul Atreides - characters that Chalamet has played in Wonka and the Dune movies. At times, adoring fans heaped their attention on the lookalikes, apparently thinking they were face-to-face with the real Chalamet. Continue reading...

One person killed as truck rams into bus stop in Israel, and Benjamin Netanyahu heckled at memorial eventApproximately 70 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past day, health officials in Gaza said, as Israel's renewed campaign in the north of the strip shows no sign of slowing despite the revival of ceasefire talks after a three-month-long hiatus.Separately, one person was killed when a truck rammed into a bus stop in Ramat Hasharon, north of Tel Aviv, on Sunday, in what Israeli police are treating as a suspected terrorist attack. About 40 people were injured to varying degrees, some seriously, and were taken to nearby hospitals, police said. Continue reading...

Footage appears to show MP for Runcorn and Helsby knocking man to ground before aiming six more blows at his headLabour has suspended the whip from the MP Mike Amesbury after footage appeared to show him punching a man to the ground, the party said.A video published by the Mail appeared to show Amesbury, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, hitting the man in the face and knocking him to the floor, before standing over him and aiming six more blows at his head. Continue reading...

Pro-western president Salome Zourabichvili claims country has fallen victim to Russian special operation'Georgia's pro-western opposition has called on the country to protest on Monday against the disputed parliamentary victory of the ruling, Russia-aligned Georgian Dream (GD) party.GD retained power in Saturday's pivotal election that dealt a significant blow to the country's long-held aspirations for EU membership, amid allegations of voter intimidation and coercion. Continue reading...

Claire Reynolds, the director of Labour Women's Network, will take on task of liaison between No 10, party and MPsKeir Starmer has appointed a former aide to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown as his new political director in Downing Street.The prime minister has given the senior role to Claire Reynolds, the director of Labour Women's Network, who was credited with helping get 100 new female MPs elected this summer. Continue reading...

Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt says decision to publish findings of review on Wednesday is significant concern'Britain's fiscal watchdog is to publish a detailed breakdown of the 22bn black hole" that Labour says it inherited after Rachel Reeves presents the budget on Wednesday.The Office for Budget Responsibility will release the conclusion of its review of how the forecast for departmental spending for its last economic and fiscal outlook, published for the March budget, was prepared. Continue reading...

Hamish Falconer says legislation under consideration by Knesset is neither in Israel's interest nor realistic'

Dancer's spokesperson tells BBC an ambulance was called as a precaution' and she is feeling betterThe professional dancer Amy Dowden was taken to hospital during Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing live show after collapsing backstage.Dowden returned to the BBC talent show this year, having missed the previous series after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Continue reading...

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Diane Abbott and Clive Lewis criticise PM over reluctance to discuss reparations for slave tradeThree prominent Labour backbenchers have accused Keir Starmer of an insulting" and colonial mindset" over his reluctance to discuss reparations for the transatlantic slave trade.Ahead of a summit of the Commonwealth heads of government in Samoa last week, the prime minister rejected calls to discuss reparations with Caribbean and African nations, with No 10 insisting it was not on the agenda". Continue reading...

Researchers say skeleton retrieved from well is likely to be that of man cast headfirst' into it by besiegers of castleIn 1197, an ancient saga records that a body was flung into a well by the besiegers of Sverresborg castle outside Nidaros, now the central Norwegian city of Trondheim. More than 800 years later, scientists think they may have found him.While we cannot prove that the remains are those of the individual mentioned in the saga, the circumstantial evidence is consistent with this conclusion," the researchers said in a study published in the journal iScience. Continue reading...

PM Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic party faces losses amid voter anger over funding scandal and cost of livingJapan's ruling coalition is certain to lose its majority in parliament in Sunday's general election, according to the national broadcaster, after taking losses amid voter anger over a funding scandal and a cost of living crisis in the world's fourth-biggest economy.The outcome may force the Liberal Democratic party (LDP), which has ruled Japan almost without interruption since the mid-1950s, or the main opposition Constitutional Democratic party (CDP) into power-sharing agreements with other parties to form a government. The official result is not expected until Monday morning. Continue reading...

Readers say newspaper is failing to abide by its principles as some cancel subscriptions in disgust and disappointment'Furious Washington Post readers have accused the news organisation of caving in" to Donald Trump and failing to abide by its principles, while staff begged supporters not to cancel their subscriptions, as the media outlet struggles to cope with the fallout of its decision not to endorse Kamala Harris in the US presidential election.For the first time in more than 30 years, the Washington Post announced on Friday its editorial board would not be endorsing a candidate. Continue reading...

Andy Haldane said funding social infrastructure' and cultural institutions was crucial for communitiesNow is the time to invest, and invest big" in radical millennium-style arts and culture projects across the UK, a top economist has urged ahead of the Labour government's first budget on Wednesday.The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, needs to urgently fund projects that make lives livable" to help rebuild deprived parts of the country, said Andy Haldane, the chief executive of the Royal Society for Arts and former chief economist at the Bank of England. Continue reading...

Katie Amess criticises Home Office failures that meant the murdered MP's killer went unmonitored for yearsThe daughter of the murdered MP David Amess has criticised Home Office failures that meant her father's killer was unmonitored for years before the attack, saying the Prevent programme isn't fit for purpose".Speaking to the Sunday Times, Katie Amess condemned the fact her father's killer was known to authorities but his case was closed due to an admin error". Continue reading...

OSCE observers say election bore evidence of democratic backsliding' with reports of intimidation and coercionGeorgia's ruling party has retained power in a contested parliamentary election, in a blow to the country's long-held aspiration for EU membership and amid accusations of intimidation and coercion of voters.Georgia's pro-western opposition refused to concede defeat, accusing the ruling party of a constitutional coup" and promising to announce protests, setting the stage for a potential political crisis that could further polarise the Caucasus country. Continue reading...

Charity says findings on evaluations of children and adults suggest different approaches and are deeply worrying'Children and adults seeking an autism diagnosis in England are up to almost seven times more likely to receive one in some NHS foundation trusts than others, according to research.Freedom of information requests by the charity Autistica revealed that positive assessments in children ranged from 100% of those evaluated by one trust to just 18% in another. In adults the figures ranged from 97% to 14%. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Greens housing spokesman argues lesson for federal Labor is if PM spends next six months fighting Greens he's going to hand the keys to Peter Dutton'

Collision occurred when a container filled with corn fell off truck, causing bus carrying 25 people to overturnA cargo truck collided with a passenger bus in northern Mexico on Saturday, leaving at least 19 people dead and six injured, authorities said.Officials adjusted the death toll after initially reporting 24 deaths, citing information from first responders. Continue reading...

Country's wealthiest and most influential figure has guided shift away from the west while cultivating an air of mysteryIn the winding streets of ancient Tbilisi, one is ever under his watchful gaze. From a hilltop glass mansion, likened by critics to a Bond villain's lair, Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia's wealthiest and most influential figure, has guided the country's shift away from the west over more than a decade.With his party's latest victory in the pivotal parliamentary elections on Saturday, that trajectory appears set to continue for years to come, sparking warnings from opponents that Ivanishvili plans to dismantle Georgia's fragile three-decade experiment with democracy while blocking any viable path to EU integration. Continue reading...

The disgraced hip-hop mogul is facing scores of lawsuits, adding to his legal jeopardy as he remains in jailIn September 2000, a 13-year-old girl who hoped to attend the Video Music Awards - or at least an afterparty - started asking limousine drivers outside the event in New York City for help getting into the festivities.A driver allegedly told her that because of her age, she fit what Diddy was looking for" and as such, he could take her to a party, according to court documents. Continue reading...

Bridget Phillipson says employees will not see higher taxes as Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver first Labour budgetLabour's tax rises will not hit workers' payslips, the education secretary has promised, as the government prepares to announce one of the most significant budgets in recent history next week.Bridget Phillipson said on Sunday morning that the tax rises being planned by Rachel Reeves would not affect employees' take-home pay, as ministers struggle to explain what was meant by their manifesto pledge not to increase taxes on working people". Continue reading...

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says evil committed by Zionist regime' should not be downplayed nor exaggeratedIranian military officials should decide how to respond to Friday night's Israeli attack on Iran, but the event should neither be minimised nor exaggerated, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Sunday in his first response to the attack.A debate has been set off inside Iran on whether the Israeli attack, more limited than some had predicted, warrants a military response and if the country will be seen as weak if it does nothing. Continue reading...

Forty-year-old suffers cardiac arrest after boat carrying 50 people deflates shortly after leaving FranceA 40-year-old man died on Sunday trying to cross the Channel from northern France to the UK.According to the prefecture in Calais the man was of Indian heritage and suffered a cardiac arrest after the boat he was in with about 50 other men, women and children deflated minutes after leaving the French shore. Continue reading...

Cornwall club attracts players from across UK and may be promoted but needs to fix road to campsite that funds itPerched on a hill overlooking the tip of Cornwall with the Atlantic stretching far beyond, Mousehole AFC is a world away from top-flight football.The most westerly club in the English leagues is staffed mainly by volunteers, is financed by a campsite in a field next door and serves only locally made pasties in the tea hut - although it did once host a friendly against Manchester United in 1987. Continue reading...

Experts call for consumption rooms and wider testing of substances, as number of people dying hits new highExperts in drug addiction have warned the government must take a different approach towards illegal substance use, or risk an increasing number of deaths from drug poisonings.Data published by the Office for National Statistics last week showed that the number of people dying as a result of drug poisoning had reached the highest level on record. Continue reading...

Waits of more than a year for hearings into councils' failure to meet growing needs of Send childrenParents are having to wait more than a year for tribunal hearings into inadequate provision for children with special educational needs after new cases surged by more than 50% in ayear.The National Audit Office last week highlighted the worsening crisis in the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system, with cash-strapped councils unable to meet rising need amid a lack of suitable school and college places. Continue reading...

LNP leader plans to get cracking' in majority government but critics have said locking up more children isn't the answer

Nationals MP Keith Pitt claims Coalition would have mandate if it won federal election despite opposition to nuclear power from state's incoming LNP government

The LNP leader again thanked unsuccessful candidates from both sides before declaring he would get to work quickly. This blog has now closedA look at incredibly expressive and very flirtatious' Maratus spidersAustralian Maratus spiders, which measure 3-5mm, are known as peacock spiders" because of the extravagant colourings they display during courtship rituals and combat.They're incredibly expressive and very flirtatious. The male wants to get all the attention of the female, like birds of paradise.That's not talking about net zero. That's talking about actual emissions reductions as a total.So what's the proposal? Are you intending to wipe out the cattle herd, are you going to reduce traffic by 75%? Continue reading...

The party won decisively in the regions but was rejected by the city, which was scared off by the hard-right social views of some candidates