National News

University applicants’ personal statements are read for just two minutes on average, a report has suggested. The majority of higher education admissions professionals said decisions about which applicants should be offered a university or college place are primarily made on the basis of grades, a survey found. Nearly two in five (39%) said the personal statements written by university applicants were read for just one minute or less, according to

Better anti-racism policies could boost the NHS workforce, an independent body focused on tackling ethnic inequalities has said. The NHS Race and Health Observatory was formed in 2021 to examine disparities in health and social care based on race. The organisation is calling for “better care, training and anti-racist policies” to enhance staff numbers in the NHS, and said this would “improve patient experience and save millions of pounds spent

Leeds have been charged with misconduct over their fans’ behaviour during their Premier League home game against Brighton in March. The Football Association has alleged home fans in the Elland Road crowd used words that were “improper, offensive, abusive, indecent or insulting with reference to sexual orientation” during the first half. An FA spokesperson said: “Leeds have been charged with misconduct for a crowd-control incident that happened in their game with Brighton

The film wizard who was instrumental in bringing the Harry Potter movies to life turned down the chance to be at a new tour opening of the series in order to become an OBE. Dan Dark, 59, the Warner Bros executive vice president of worldwide studio operations, said deciding to make the trip from his home in Los Angeles for an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle rather than for a

Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was honoured with a state funeral in Milan on Wednesday, a day of national mourning, as his legacy – positive or negative – was being hotly debated among the people. A crowd of tens of thousands of people erupted in applause as his flower-draped coffin was taken out of the hearse and carried into the city’s Duomo cathedral. His children and companion wept as

Shell has been accused of making a “climate-wrecking” and “utterly destructive” U-turn on plans to cut oil production by 1-2% per year until the end of this decade. The oil major said it planned to keep the amount of oil that it extracts from wells around the world at the same level as today and announced bumper new payouts for shareholders. The announcement on Wednesday has sparked an outcry from

European Union regulators have ordered technology giant Google to sell off some of its lucrative digital advertising business in order to address competition concerns. The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch and top competition enforcer, said its preliminary view after an investigation is that “only the mandatory divestment by Google of part of its services” will satisfy its concerns. The 27-nation EU has led the global movement to crack down

ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall said the broadcaster does not recognise allegations of a toxic culture at This Morning, saying “it deeply disappoints me”. The chief executive faced questions from MPs alongside ITV managing director Kevin Lygo and general counsel and company secretary Kyla Mullins about former host Phillip Schofield’s exit during Wednesday morning’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee session in Parliament. Since the 61-year-old’s resignation, This Morning has been

A “beloved and respected” academy site manager has been named as the third victim of a deadly rampage in Nottingham as tributes also continue to flood in for two students fatally knifed in the street. Ian Coates, who worked as part of L.E.A.D Academy Trust, was described by Huntingdon Academy and Warren Academy’s executive headteacher as “a much-loved colleague who always went the extra mile for the benefit of our