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Public sector pay increases likely to be bigger than in private firms

Pay awards for public sector workers in Britain are expected to overtake the private sector for the first time in four years, according to a report, amid growing business alarm at the government's tax plans.

Respiratory problems 'threatening to overwhelm hospitals'

Serious breathing problems lead to more emergency admissions to hospital in England than any other medical condition, NHS data reveals.

Financial boost on way for hospices

The government is likely to offer a financial boost to the hospice sector amid fears many are at risk of closure because of the double blow of the employers' national insurance rise and higher wage bills, the Guardian understands.

Analysis Advisers note lessons to be learned from Harris's defeat

There is a tough lesson that senior Labour advisers want some of their internal party critics to learn from the Democrats' disastrous defeat.

Ukrainian politicians hopeful that Trump victory is not 'catastrophe' for peace deal

Ukrainian politicians are expressing tentative hopes that the return of Donald Trump to the White House will not necessarily lead to a rapid and humiliating forced peace.

Budget prompts estate agent to cut forecast for house price rises

Expectations that UK interest rates may stay higher for longer, as well as revenue-raising measures in the budget, have prompted a leading estate agent to cut its longer-term forecast for house price growth.

Two men dead in separate gun and knife attacks in London

A man died and two people were injured after a shooting in a residential area of south-east London yesterday, while another man died in a separate knife attack a few miles away.

Role as abuse survivor caused me panic attacks - James Norton

The actor James Norton has revealed that his role in a London play about trauma and sexual abuse led to him having panic attacks.

Mishal Husain left 'shaken' by increased racism in UK this year

The BBC journalist Mishal Husain has said her experience of racism in Britain over the past year has been more pronounced than at any other time in her career.

National insurance rise will lead to job losses, pubs say

Hospitality businesses will be forced to close while others will have to slash jobs and investment as a result of changes to national insurance announced in the budget, according to a letter to the chancellor signed by the bosses of more than 200 of the UK's largest restaurant, pub and hotel companies.

Neo-Nazis see hope in Trump's Victory while Islamic State backers shrug it off

Online chat groups suggest that neo-Nazi extremists believe Donald Trump's attempts to slash the federal workforce may help them escape detection, while Islamic State supporters fear his policy towards the Ukraine war may benefit another of their enemies, Russia.

'I'll let no man touch me' Korean movement against misogyny sparks US interest

McKenna, who is 24 and lives in a rural, conservative state, recently got back on dating apps after a year of finding herself. She had two first dates planned for this weekend, but after Donald Trump won the election, she cancelled both.

India's ban on Rushdie's Satanic Verses to end as order can't be found

Writing to the then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in October 1988, Salman Rushdie lamented that Indian democracy had become \"a laughing stock\" after a ban was placed on importing his contentious novel The Satanic Verses.

Ofsted chief warns schools not to shun 'difficult' pupils

Schools should not turn away \"difficult\" pupils over fears they will harm their results, and face being evaluated on how inclusive they are towards local children, says Ofsted's chief inspector of schools.

The big names Who's who at this year's gathering

Ilham Aliyev Azerbaijan president The autocratic leader has used Azerbaijan's oil wealth to gain global influence for his country and enrich his family.

'Reproductive apocalypse' Women now stockpiling abortion medication

When the election results were announced on Wednesday, Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of Aid Access, the No. 1 supplier of abortion pills by mail in the United States, was huddled in a Paris flat with her team of eight American doctors and 15 support staff. The group—which usually operates remotely, shipping out more than 9,000 abortion pills a month—had convened in person before the election, knowing they might have to spring into action.

'There is no price tag' on plans to deport millions of migrants, says Trump

Donald Trump's vow to deport millions of undocumented migrants has no \"price tag,\" the president-elect has said, setting the scene for a confrontation between his incoming administration and Democratic officials across the US.

NHS-brand baby formula could tackle price rise, watchdog says

The government could offer its own low-cost baby formula under a brand such as the NHS to combat the high prices and lack of choice in the market, the UK competition watchdog has suggested.

Farage is a threat to Labour in Wales - and the party has no strategy for dealing with him

Within hours of their landslide victory this summer, Labour MPs had already begun discussing how to counter the threat from Reform UK.

The Cure top album charts for first time in 32 years

The Cure have scored their first UK No 1 album in 32 years, with Songs of a Lost World.

Cloudy spell due to 'anticyclonic gloom' over UK

An \"anticyclonic gloom\" has been blamed for cloudy weather across parts of England, with one village receiving absolutely no sunshine since October.

MPs say regulation of all psychotherapists and counsellors more important than ever

MPs with expertise in mental health have urged the government to introduce statutory regulation for all psychotherapists and counsellors, warning that the current system is leaving people vulnerable to harm.

Former Blair chief of staff appointed as PM's national security adviser

Jonathan Powell, the former chief of staff to Tony Blair, has been appointed as Keir Starmer's new national security adviser in a further sign that important figures from the New Labour era are returning to the government.

China offers £646bn to local government but balks at big stimulus

China has announced 10tn yuan in debt support for local governments and other economic measures, but stopped short of a \"bazooka\" stimulus package many analysts expected.

Shares plunge for housebuilder Vistry after new profit warning

Shares in the FTSE 100 housebuilder Vistry have plunged after it issued a second profit warning in as many months and said cost overruns on building projects were worse than previously thought.

Calls for earlier work experience to tackle pupil 'absence epidemic'

Companies should be made to give work experience to children as young as primary school age to help tackle the \"absence epidemic\" in schools, the boss of the UK's biggest airport group has said.

Report says NHS weight-loss drug contributed to nurse's death

A weight-loss drug recently approved for use on the NHS contributed to the death of a 58-year-old nurse from North Lanarkshire, according to a report.

How old is your hot water bottle? Tips for staying warm safely

More than 1.7 million households say they won't turn on their heating this winter, according to research by the comparison site Uswitch.

Organised crime gangs target independent food producers

Small food producers are increasingly being targeted by organised crime gangs and rogue insiders looking to exploit national and global supply chain crises, according to experts.

Asda chair says £100m hit from budget will be 'big burden' for wages

Asda has warned that measures in the government's budget will be a \"big burden\" for the supermarket chain, costing it £100m, and could prevent it from raising wages or hiring as many staff as it struggles to turn around falling sales.