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Founder of London restaurants and award-winning author, who was at forefront of small plates' movement, died after short illnessRussell Norman, the award-winning restaurateur and author, has died after a short illness, aged 57.A former English teacher, Norman founded the Italian restaurant Brutto and co-founded Polpo and Spuntino in London. His first cookbook, Polpo: a Venetian Cookbook (of Sorts) won the inaugural Waterstones book of the year in 2012. Continue reading...

Amid festive Thatcher baubles, Johnson mugs and Cameron jugs there's no place for Truss among prime ministers pastFor the man or woman who has everything but an acrylic Christmas jumper bearing the knitted tree logo of the Conservative party: good news.It can now be yours - with 10% off on your first purchase! - from the Conservative party's festive online shop, along with a 2024 calendar of historic election posters and a bauble on which Margaret Thatcher festively bellows: "No, no, no." Continue reading...

Exclusive: UK's largest high-street bank preparing review of middle-management roles in response to expected income squeezeMore than 2,500 jobs are at risk at Lloyds Banking Group, which is poised to become the latest financial institution to announce cost cuts, the Guardian can reveal.Britain's largest high street lender is understood to be considering axing a series of middle-management roles including analyst and product management posts as part of a consultation that is expected to be shared with staff next week. Continue reading...

Srettha Thavisin confirms release of a dozen of at least 26 nationals being held after weeks of negotiations

Second biggest force in England and Wales accused of carrying out poor investigations and failing victims of crimeWest Midlands police said they did not deserve the humiliation of being placed into special measures, as the official watchdog declared it was failing victims and needed extensive improvement.The second biggest force in England and Wales, based in Birmingham, is accused by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) of carrying out poor investigations into crimes, leading to poor results for victims. Continue reading...

Gambling giant Entain reaches deal over past practice at company it owned in TurkeyThe owner of Ladbrokes and Coral has agreed to pay almost 600m to settle an investigation into alleged bribery at a business it owned in Turkey.Entain said it had reached an agreement with HM Revenue and Customs which will make the gambling giant pay a total of 585m in the form of a financial penalty and a disgorgement of profits". Continue reading...

Nick Merriman says inclusion of difficult stories of slavery and empire is not wokery, but simply good history'Stories about the legacy of slavery and colonialism must be central to the way museums and heritage organisations present their collections, as part of a new chapter of what heritage is about", the incoming head of English Heritage has said.Nick Merriman said that a focus on the country's often highly problematic colonial role [has] to be part of the mainstream narrative about British history", and should not be confined only to historic properties, statues or artefacts that had a direct link to slavery or imperial wealth. Continue reading...

PM under pressure from ministers and Conservative backbenchers to crack down on overseas workersRishi Sunak has refused to apologise for record net immigration that breaks a key election promise amid growing pressure for further government action from ministers and Conservative backbench MPs.After official figures showed the difference between the number of people coming to live in the UK and those leaving had peaked at 745,000, the prime minister said immigration needed to fall to more sustainable" levels. Continue reading...

Burials can go ahead of men who never returned from bombing mission over Germany in 1943Eighty years after they were shot down by the Germans over Dutch waters, British airmen Arthur Smart, Raymond Moore and Charles Sprack can be laid to rest after the Dutch defence ministry confirmed that their remains had been identified.Two silver-plated cigarette cases were found with the initials of 27-year-old flight engineer Smart and 21-year-old wireless operator Moore. Their Lancaster bomber never returned from a mission targeting Bochum in Germany on 13 June 1943. Instead the Pathfinder" was tracked on its way home and shot down into the Dutch waters of the IJsselmeer with seven men onboard. Continue reading...

Drilling machine stalls metres away from where men have been trapped for 13 days since roof collapseHopes are high that in a few hours' time the 41 workers who have been trapped in a tunnel for 13 days in north India will emerge to freedom and fresh air.The mood at the scene - where heavy machinery and a more than 200-strong rescue team have been toiling without a break - was upbeat after a monumental and torturous operation. Continue reading...

Exclusive: State government has admitted 33,000 Covid fines were invalid but questions remain about additional 29,000 fines issued during pandemic

Commonwealth warned lack of counselling would weaken its case as advocates say those still in immigration detention cannot access similar programs

Carmaker confirms full details of 2bn investment, including battery factoriesNissan will build three new electric car models at its plant in Sunderland as part of a 2bn investment led by the Japanese manufacturer, in a move welcomed by the UK government and industry.The factory will produce three separate models, yet to be named, and the decision will require a third gigafactory" to supply batteries, to add to one in operation and another under construction near to the plant. The Chinese-owned battery company AESC is in negotiations with Nissan over building the third gigafactory nearby. Continue reading...

Jeff Zucker of Abu Dhabi-backed Redbird IMI insists editorial independence of titles would be protectedThe US boss of the Abu Dhabi-backed company that is the frontrunner to acquire the Telegraph newspapers has accused rival bidders of hypocrisy and reiterated a pledge to the UK government that he would guarantee the newspaper's editorial independence.The bid is being fronted by Jeff Zucker, a former chief executive of CNN who now runs RedBird IMI, which is mostly funded by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the vice-president of the United Arab Emirates and owner of Manchester City football club. Continue reading...

New curriculum from 2025 part of push to create sense of national identity among schoolchildrenHong Kong is to introduce patriotic" education in all primary schools by 2025, in the government's latest push to systematically cultivate" a sense of national identity among schoolchildren

Artist of the year and international artist of the year will each have 10 nominees, up from five this yearThe Brit awards will double the number of nominees for gender-neutral categories, it has been announced, after widespread criticism over a lack of diversity.Organisers of the annual music ceremony said the artist of the year and international artist of the year prizes would have 10 nominees from next year, up from five. Continue reading...

Thankfully the 12-year-old survived five nights away but there's still the gas bill to worry aboutThe child returns home today from his first ever school trip away (which is also, because we are useless, at the age of 12 his first trip abroad). He has been away for five nights, which is five times more nights than he has ever been away from us before (see uselessness above) and I have coped extremely well. Yes, I could periodically be found lying prostrate on the sofa or staring white-faced at a wall, praying to a god not to let him be kidnapped, lost or killed while my husband futilely attempted to console me with the thought that school trips are not like they were in our day. They chip them and rope them to a teacher at all times now. They probably don't even go on the trip. They're probably just in a room on a Luton industrial estate with some convincing holographics on the wall all week. He'll be fine." Continue reading...

The inquiry heard evidence of threats against scientists, and more metaphors from Jonathan Van-TamIt has been another busy and often enlightening week at the UK Covid inquiry. Here are some of the things we learned - or in some cases relearned. Continue reading...

Former first minister successfully sued over handling of original allegations against him in 2018Alex Salmond is launching a fresh 3m legal action against the Scottish government over its botched handling of sexual harassment complaints against the former first minister.The Herald reports that the former Scottish National party leader has lodged a petition at the court of session alleging misfeasance" by various past civil servants, with a hearing relating to the civil action taking place on Thursday. Continue reading...

Allegations, which rapper and mogul denies, follow another lawsuit last week from former girlfriend Cassie, which was quickly settledSean Combs, the rapper and mogul known as Diddy, has been accused of sexual assault in two new lawsuits, after another he settled last week with former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, AKA Cassie.The first, from Joi Dickerson-Neal, alleges Combs attacked her in 1991 and inflicted substantial and lifetime injuries ... as a result of being drugged, sexually assaulted and abused, and being the victim of revenge porn' that Sean Combs or P. Diddy' created and distributed". A representative for Combs has called the claims made up and not credible ... purely a money grab". Continue reading...

Shake-up expected to affect mainly back office roles in departments such as compliance, HR and legalBarclays is reportedly working on plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs in a 1bn cost-cutting drive, weeks after the bank's bosses warned of the need to restructure to boost profits and dividend payments to shareholders.The shake-up is expected to affect mainly back office jobs in departments such as compliance, human resources and legal, according to a source cited by Reuters. Continue reading...

Greater Manchester mayor is calling on government to launch consultation on Duchy of Lancaster's use of bona vacantia

European Environment Agency says half of deaths could have been avoided by cutting pollution to recommended limitsDirty air killed more than half a million people in the EU in 2021, estimates show, and about half of the deaths could have been avoided by cutting pollution to the limits recommended by doctors.The researchers from the European Environment Agency attributed 253,000 early deaths to concentrations of fine particulates known as PM2.5 that breached the World Health Organization's maximum guideline limits of 5g/m3. A further 52,000 deaths came from excessive levels of nitrogen dioxide and 22,000 deaths from short-term exposure to excessive levels of ozone. Continue reading...

Reduced kangaroo populations and urban sprawl prompt proposal to end commercial culling in 10 council areas

Authorities say it will take at least another three to four days to bring blaze in city's north-east under control

Retailers say online sales on Friday were 10-25% up on last year, with the shopping event becoming bigger than Boxing Day

At defamation trial against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, Lehrmann says two later emails he sent Higgins failed to mention evening because it was uneventful'

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Peak body for family violence says commission would fix highly complex and wicked problem' and give victim-survivors a voice

One of the investors bidding for the paper is the vice-president of the UAE, which is ranked far down the press freedom indexThe United Arab Emirates has a mixed record on free speech. Detention of journalists is not uncommon and the nation ranked 145th out of 180 countries included in a press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.Now a member of the ruling elite has set his sights on a UK newspaper whose roots can be traced back more than 100 years before the official creation of the Gulf state. Continue reading...

State government says revamped stadium will be able to hold 80,000 people for concerts as part of $2.7bn Olympic project

A surgeon at one of the territory's last functioning hospitals tells of desperate conditions amid an acute lack of medicine

Dutch general election results show how populist and far-right parties are advancing into political mainstream

Former PM seen quoting from Chinese-funded study in support of Sri Lankan developmentDavid Cameron is facing further questions about whether he was paid by Chinese interests to promote a port development in Sri Lanka, as footage emerged of him extolling its benefits.In the video from two months ago, the former prime minister can be seen telling investors in Dubai that he wanted to correct misapprehensions" about the project and quoting from a Chinese-funded study in support of the development. Continue reading...

Court in defamation trial shown CCTV footage of Higgins consuming six spirit-based drinks, two of which were bought for her by Lehrmann

Incident comes after maritime altercation between Toowoomba and Chinese warship last week off Japan's coast that injured navy divers

Man's bid for $13,444 in compensation from dog-sitter unable to convince sick labrador to eat medicine hidden in food fails

This blog has closed. You can follow our live coverage of the Israel-Hamas war here on our new blogThe German interior ministry says it is conducting searches in four federal states in relation to formerly announced bans of activities of Hamas, already a designated terrorist organisation in the country, as well as pro-Palestinian group Samidoun, Reuters reports.We continue our consistent action against radical Islamists," German interior minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement. Continue reading...

Restraints weren't up to standard at time Eugene Mahauariki, 6, fell from ride at the 2017 Rye Easter Carnival

Consumer groups have long lobbied for institutions to crack down on scams by rejecting transfers if name and bank details of recipient don't match

In effort to attract customers amid falling sales, retailer joins forces with Covid testing firm to offer full-body health checksJohn Lewis is to team up with Covid testing firm Randox Health to open clinics within its shops in the latest effort to draw in customers amid tough trading conditions.The clinics, which will be run by Randox staff, will offer full-body health checks including tests for vitamin deficiencies, hormone imbalances and key health concerns, among other services. Continue reading...

Two years on, families and refugee charities seek explanation and call for more help for refugees wishing to come to UKThe relatives of 27 people who died in the worst mass drowning in the Channel for decades have marked two years since the disaster by issuing an open letter demanding answers over what happened.Signed together with dozens of refugee NGOs, the letter states that the families still have no explanation as to why French and British authorities failed the people onboard a sinking dinghy who repeatedly called for help. Continue reading...

Lisa McManus says it is ignorant' to think all those affected by drug are included in 146 people registered to closed scheme

Cruise firms could dismiss crew unless they accept salary cuts and flexible working arrangementsP&O Cruises and fellow cruise firm Cunard have made provision to fire and rehire more than 900 UK-based crew unless they accept salary cuts and more flexible working arrangements.The affected crew include officers on the British flagship, the luxury ocean liner Queen Mary 2, and nine other ships operated under Carnival UK, which is part of the $18bn-listed Carnival group. Continue reading...

Lawsuit alleges the Hollywood star assaulted a woman while at Catch NYC & Roof, a restaurant and rooftop bar, in summer 2015Hollywood star Jamie Foxx has denied accusations that he sexually assaulted a woman while at a New York rooftop bar eight years ago.The lawsuit alleges in summer 2015, Foxx made comments such as, Wow, you have that supermodel body," while at Catch NYC & Roof, a restaurant and rooftop bar, before grabbing the woman by the arm and pulling her to the secluded" back of the rooftop. Continue reading...

Crowd chanting anti-immigrant slogans clashes with police hours after stabbing incident outside schoolViolent protests have flared in Dublin after a stabbing attack outside a school left three children injured.A crowd chanting anti-immigrant slogans set a police car on fire and attacked several officers on Thursday night hours after a man stabbed a woman and three young children, leaving one in a critical condition. Continue reading...

Education experts agree with Ofsted chief that many parents now disregard rules previously taken for grantedLockdown broke the spell" that bound parents and schools together, according to school leaders and experts who have endorsed the Ofsted chief's view that many parents now disregard rules on behaviour and attendance they once took for granted.Delivering her last annual report as chief inspector of schools in England, Amanda Spielman said: The social contract between parents and schools has been fractured by lockdowns and closures." And she warned: That social contract took years to build and consolidate and it will take time to restore." Continue reading...

Home secretary under pressure over abusive comments in Commons, with Tory mayor among those condemning themJames Cleverly is coming under pressure over abusive comments he made in the Commons after his explanation that he was insulting the local MP, not calling a Labour-held constituency a shit-hole", was met with scepticism.After Ben Houchen, the Conservative mayor for Tees Valley, condemned what he called Cleverly's childish and unprofessional language", the Labour MP concerned, Alex Cunningham, said he simply did not believe the home secretary. Continue reading...

Threefold increase since 2019 means focusing on immigration may be a risky move for the PM at next electionOf Boris Johnson's many broken promises, his failure to bring back control" of post-Brexit immigration is the one that Tory MPs believe matters most to their voters.Johnson has long fled the scene - Rishi Sunak is instead getting the blame from his new Conservative" backbenchers who predict they will be punished at the ballot box in the red wall" of the north and Midlands. Continue reading...

Trio of newcomers are joined by veterans Liam Gallagher, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Blink-182Reading and Leeds festivals have announced their headline acts for 2024, with Fred Again, Lana Del Rey and Gerry Cinnamon all headlining for the first time.Fred Again's booking continues his journey from backroom pop producer to underground dance star to bona fide mainstream name, having headlined Parklife festival this summer and secured one of the biggest crowds of Glastonbury 2023 for his performance on the Other stage. He - alongside sparring partners Four Tet and Skrillex - was also last-minute replacement for Frank Ocean to headline Coachella earlier in the year. He has said Reading and Leeds will be his only UK festival performances in 2024. Continue reading...