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Members of Aslef at 16 train operating companies will refuse to work overtime from today, and begin a series of strikes tomorrow Rail passengers are being warned to expect disruption over the next week because of strikes and an overtime ban by train drivers in their long-running dispute over pay. Members of Aslef at 16 train operating companies will refuse to work overtime from Friday until December 9 and will

No areas of it's policing are currently inadequate, according to HMICFRS England’s third biggest police force has “significantly improved” its performance but still needs to do better at managing offenders, said the police inspectorate. In its report, published on Friday, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) judged that no areas of policing by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are currently inadequate. Stephen Watson replaced Ian Hopkins

They'll be in London, Swansea, Glasgow and Belfast People posting Christmas cards and letters are in for a festive surprise thanks to “singing” postboxes. Royal Mail said the special postboxes will be sited in London, Swansea, Glasgow and Belfast. The red and gold coloured postboxes, decorated with snowmen, snowflakes and gold stars, respond to post with festive tunes such as Jingle Bells, We Wish You A Merry Christmas and Deck

Former chancellor and veteran Labour politician Alistair Darling has died aged 70. The long-serving MP died after spending time in hospital being treated for cancer, a spokesman for his family said. A statement issued on behalf of his family said: “The death of Alistair Darling, a former chancellor of the Exchequer and long-serving member of the Labour cabinet, was announced in Edinburgh today. “Mr Darling, the much-loved husband of Margaret

The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan has died at the age of 65, his wife Victoria Mary Clarke announced in an Instagram post. She wrote: “I don’t know how to say this so I am just going to say it. Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful

Matt Hancock is expected to contest accusations made about his performance as health secretary during the pandemic as he appears before the UK Covid-19 Inquiry. The ex-minister’s evidence is expected to take up the whole of Thursday’s sitting hours following repeated criticism made against him by a number of other witnesses. The former Tory MP, who now sits as an independent after losing the party whip for appearing on ITV’s

Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger has been described as “one of the most dependable and distinctive voices on foreign affairs” following his death at the age of 100. Mr Kissinger, who served under former presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, died at his home in Connecticut, his consultancy firm said. The diplomat played a key role in foreign policy in the United States during the Cold War and

Visitors have one final opportunity to say goodbye to Britain’s only giant pandas before zoo keepers get them ready to make their way back to China. Yang Guang and Tian Tian have lived at Edinburgh Zoo since 2011 as part of a 10-year agreement between the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Access to the panda enclosure will be restricted from 3.30pm on Thursday

More than a quarter of UK adults say they are likely to use buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) to help ease spending over the festive period, Citizens Advice has found. The charity said it was braced to provide debt support in the New Year as some 28% of consumers – the equivalent of 15.1 million people – plan to use the unregulated credit for Christmas spending, rising to 56% of parents with primary