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Labour dominates benefits rise; Kaba inquest reopening rejected; Green leader faces scrutiny
Labour constituencies receive 72% of benefits increase. Police reject Kaba inquest reopening; Green Party leader’s ancestry claim questioned.
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Greg Freeman’s sprawling double album trades hooks for restless experimentation
Greg Freeman has released his third album, All Set the Bone, an ambitious double album that represents a significant step up in scale from his breakthrough record Burnover. The album is more expansive and imagistic than his previous work, though it proves less immediately appealing to listeners, as Freeman trades some of his earlier directness…
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House prices at their most affordable since 2015 compared to salaries
House prices have become more affordable relative to salaries for the first time since 2015, according to data from Lloyds Banking Group. The average home now costs 7.3 times annual household income, down from 7.6 a year ago, with sluggish house price growth of just 0.5 per cent offset by wage increases of 4.5 per…
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Tribunal rejects accountant’s claims after false stalking allegations at Historic England
An accountant at Historic England reported colleagues to police for stalking after being asked to attend an in-person performance meeting, an employment tribunal heard. Tanya Langston’s stalking claims were unsubstantiated; Bristol Employment Tribunal found her accusations were part of a deliberate, calculated scheme to tarnish her colleagues’ reputations and cause them distress. Miss Langston was…
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Catherine Zeta-Jones leads implausible assassin thriller about art dealer on the run
A Guardian review describes *Kill Jackie*, a Prime Video thriller starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, as an implausible action comedy that substitutes spectacle for convincing writing and character development. The critic says it appears to reach for the style of *Killing Eve* but instead leans on gunfights, chases and other exaggerated set pieces. Zeta-Jones plays Jackie Price,…
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French borrowing costs surge as investors fear worsening public finances
French government bonds are experiencing a significant sell-off amid growing investor concern over the country’s fiscal position, pushing borrowing costs to levels not seen in years. The spread between French and German 10-year bond yields reached its widest level since 2012, with French yields hitting their highest point since 2002 before easing slightly. Analysts have…
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Julien Macdonald agrees £150,000 repayment after company liquidation
Fashion designer Julien Macdonald has agreed to repay £150,000 following the liquidation of his company three years ago, which left creditors and employees collectively owed £686,000. The settlement came after Macdonald initially disputed a substantial portion of the debt and engaged solicitors to defend his position, prompting liquidators to engage their own legal representation. The…
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Charles Spencer revives unsubstantiated royal grievances on US book tour
Charles Spencer is promoting his book about his sister Diana on a US tour, using interviews to repeat criticisms of the Royal Family and King Charles. Columnist Jan Moir argues that his account presents old family grievances as fact and aligns with complaints made by Harry and Meghan, giving the book publicity while reopening disputes…
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Bryony Gordon says loved ones cannot make someone stop drinking or recognise addiction
Bryony Gordon writes that friends and relatives cannot make someone recognise an alcohol problem or stop drinking, despite their understandable wish to find a reliable solution. She says this matters because advice around Sober October often treats abstinence as a lifestyle reset, which can overlook the needs of people with alcohol dependence and those close…