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Local authorities to be given powers to suspend rule-breaking officials and to withhold allowancesMayors and councillors in England face suspensions of up to six months for serious misconduct and repeated rule breaches as the government seeks to overhaul standards in local government.Under plans unveiled on Tuesday, local authorities will be handed powers to suspend rule-breaking councillors and mayors, including those found guilty of bullying and assault, and to withhold their […]

Industry body says shoppers are waiting for discount day, as Barclays reports falling consumer confidenceRetailers suffered the slowest sales growth since May last month as shoppers were cautious in the run-up to expected budget tax rises and held out for Black Friday discounts.Sales rose 1.6% in October, a step down from 2.3% the month before, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) trade body and the […]

Black and Asian staff left feeling ‘deliberately intimidated’, according to chief executive of one NHS trustNHS staff who care for patients in their own homes fear some areas have become “no-go zones” for them because of the presence of St George’s flags, health leaders have said.Black and Asian staff have been left feeling “deliberately intimidated” as a result of the flags that were put up in many parts of England […]

Dame Rachel de Souza says hundreds of children are being locked up unnecessarily due to failing servicesCustody is being used as a “waiting room” for hundreds of children who are being unnecessarily locked up while awaiting trial or sentencing due to failing services, the children’s commissioner for England has warned.Dame Rachel de Souza said many children were being placed in custody not because they posed the greatest risk, but because […]

Products that fail fire safety checks, are counterfeit and breach laws protecting children targeted in raids in LondonA rainbow of vapes and Apple-branded products light up the window of a south London shop as a small army of police prepare to march through the door.Officers have been watching the shop for months and have already carried out tests in independent labs on products bought there. Most have come back with […]

Ahmed al-Sharaa and Donald Trump hold first White House summit between a US and Syrian leader since 1946The US has announced a partial suspension of sanctions on Syria after a historic meeting in Washington DC between its new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and Donald Trump.Monday’s meeting was the first summit between a US and Syrian leader at the White House since 1946. The meeting is part of a remarkable turnaround in […]

Sam Mostyn voices concern about a ‘collision of apathy and disinformation’. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJohn Howard says the Whitlam episode empowered Australians to better decide the country’s futureRN’s Sally Sara spoke to former prime minister John Howard this morning about his own reflection on Gough Whitlam’s removal. Howard called Whitlam an “outstanding parliamentarian”, and one of the best he ever […]

World’s biggest polluter on track to hit peak emissions target early but miss goal for cutting carbon intensityChina’s carbon dioxide emissions have been flat or falling for 18 months, analysis reveals, adding evidence to the hope that the world’s biggest polluter has managed to hit its target of peak CO2 emissions well ahead of schedule.Rapid increases in the deployment of solar and wind power generation – which grew by 46% […]