Climat in Manchester city centre has become the latest eatery to close

An award-winning Manchester rooftop restaurant has announced its closure, blaming a ‘perfect storm’ of rising food inflation, an increasing tax burden and a stagnant economy.

Climat, perched on top of Blackfriars House in the city centre, has won a series of awards since its opening in November 2022, with diners attracted to its French food, selection of more than 400 wines and panoramic views of Manchester.

Critics Jay Rayner and William Sitwell raved about the restaurant which has been nominated in the Manchester Food & Drink Awards numerous times, and was included in the Michelin Inspectors Guide.

A statement on its Instagram page said: “I’m heartbroken to announce the closure of Climat with immediate effect. Sadly, we are yet another casualty of the times we’re living in.

“The reasons for closure will echo those of many of our peers. Ultimately, a stagnant economy and the persistent cost of living crisis, combined with rampant food inflation and the ever increasing tax burden for small business has created the perfect storm for hospitality – an industry so reliant on high staff numbers and costly, well-positioned locations – both of which have received significant tax increases over the last two budgets

“During Climat’s first 13 months in business, we were billed over £112,000 for electricity alone, almost 400% more than budgeted. Since opening the doors in December 2022, wages have increased by 33% alongside the more recent increases in Employers National Insurance Contributions. Our business rates payable in 2023/24 were £12,000p/a, today they sit at £38,000p/a. All these increases alongside reduced footfall are spelling disaster for so many.

“Whilst I wanted to highlight these reasons for closure, in the naive hope the Government will start to listen before it’s too late for others, I want to acknowledge the fantastic work of our team over the last 3.5 years. The closure does not do justice to their efforts and dedication. I’d also like extend a huge debt of gratitude to our guests for their support, enabling us to build a nationally recognised wine list – our raison d’être.“I wish everyone the very best of luck in these challenging times.”

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are on a four-day trip through the United States

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King Charles III was seen happily shaking hands with Zohran Mamdani, despite the New York City Mayor having previously stated that he would urge the royal to return the Koh-i-noor diamond to India if they spoke.

Mamdani spoke at a press conference hours before the 9/11 ceremony saying: “If I were to speak to the King separately from that, I’d probably encourage him to return the Kohinoor diamond.”

The diamond, originating in the Kollur mine in present-day Andhra Pradesh, India, is set into a royal crown on display in the Tower of London. Seized by the East India Company after its victory in the Second Anglo-Sikh War of 1849, the gem was given to Queen Victoria and has remained part of the Crown Jewels ever since.

But countries including India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan have all claimed ownership, The Mirror reports. The Koh-i-noor diamond wasn’t used during King Charles III’s coronation, allowing Buckingham Palace to sidestep the controversy surrounding a gem acquired during the age of Empire.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla took part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial, where they met with first responders and the families of victims of the September 11 attacks. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other dignitaries also attended the ceremony, which comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

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Mamdani and the King were captured shaking hands at the event sharing a friendly conversation. The royal couple’s swing through the city comes midway through a four-day trip marking 250 years of American independence.

It will be the first trip to New York by a reigning British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II visited in 2010. The four-day trip is Charles’ first state visit to the U.S. since he became king.

His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, made four state visits to the U.S. Monday, the king and queen joined President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for tea at the White House.

On Tuesday, Charles and Trump had a closed-door meeting in the Oval Office. The king then delivered a rare speech before Congress, the first by a British monarch since his late mother in 1991, followed by a formal state dinner at the White House.

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Summer House star West Wilson’s cousin has been accused of fatally shooting their grandmother, according to police.

Gayle Wilson, 75, was reportedly killed in her Missouri home on April 22. West Wilson’s cousin, identified as 28-year-old Dakota Sweeney, was arrested and charged the next day with first-degree murder and armed criminal action, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A witness told investigators that Sweeney, who lived with his grandmother, opened fire after they argued about him “not assisting with chores” around the house, according to an affidavit reviewed by NBC News. The pair had been in a room together for half an hour when Sweeney shot her “without warning,” the document said.

The shooting occurred just a day before the Summer House cast filmed their reunion episode, NBC News reports.

It’s unclear if Sweeney has obtained an attorney. The Independent was unable to identify Sweeney’s attorney for comment.

West Wilson stars on Bravo’s Summer House, a reality TV show that follows a group who share a summer house in the Hamptons. He first joined the show during its eighth season. Summer House’s 10th and current season premiered in February.

In the season 10 reunion episode, cast members are reportedly expected to address a romantic scandal, dubbed “Scamanda” by fans, that involves West Wilson and his co-star, Amanda Batula. The episode is expected to air in late May.

The Independent requested comment from a spokesperson for Summer House.

Gayle Wilson’s life was “marked by creativity, kindness, and cherished moments,” according to an obituary posted by Lindley Funeral Homes. She loved to cook, travel and make art, the obituary said.

“Gayle expressed love through culinary delight, often seen bringing smiles with her heartfelt meals and baked treats. Her cooking was the essence of her love language, nourishing both the body and the spirit of those she cherished,” the obituary reads. “Gayle loved to travel, and recently completed her bucket list of traveling to all 50 states of this great nation.”

The Independent has contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office for more information.

‘Doctors and patients should be aware.’

Research suggests that people who stop taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and similar products are likely to regain the weight they lost within approximately 18 months. A study, which analysed existing research, also found that former users of the drugs put weight back on four times faster than those who had shed pounds through behavioural methods such as dieting and exercise.

Millions of people across the world use GLP-1 drugs to manage their weight. They function by reducing food cravings, slowing digestion and prolonging the feeling of fullness. However, a paper published in the British Medical Journal in January, which examined 37 previous studies involving 9,000 people, concluded that “cessation of weight management medications (WMMs) is followed by rapid weight regain and reversal of beneficial effects on cardiometabolic markers”.

It added: “Regain after [weight management medication] was faster than after [behavioural weight management programmes]. These findings suggest caution in short-term use of these drugs without a more comprehensive approach to weight management.”

GLP-1 drugs utilise active ingredients such as semaglutide, a medication originally developed to manage Type 2 diabetes that is now also prescribed to assist with weight management. Obesity is a chronic and recurring condition that affects nearly two billion adults across the globe and significantly raises the risk of illness and premature death. Researchers from the BMJ noted that weight loss “improves cardiovascular risk factors” and highlighted that a recent trial demonstrated “continuous use of semaglutide over four years reduced major cardiovascular disease events in individuals with existing cardiovascular disease”.

However, the researchers cautioned that the advantages of weight loss on diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors were diminished by weight being regained once treatment had ceased. They went on to say: “We have shown that weight regain is faster (0.8 kg/month) and a return to baseline weight projected at 1.5 years after cessation of treatment, implying that the benefits on cardiovascular health will probably also attenuate more rapidly.”

They added that because “obesity is a chronic and relapsing condition, prolonged treatment with WMM may be required to sustain the health benefits” and concluded: “WMMs are associated with a reduction in weight and improvements in cardiometabolic health that are attenuated soon after treatment ends, with no evidence of benefit 1.7 years after the cessation of treatment. This evidence cautions against short-term use of WMMs, emphasises the need for further research into cost-effective strategies for long-term weight control, and reinforces the importance of primary prevention.”

The research encompassed studies using “any drug intervention that is currently or has previously been licensed for weight loss, or where there is reason to believe that the drug studied shares a class effect with a currently or previously licensed drug”. Among the various medications examined were semaglutide (used in Ozempic, Wegovy and others), tirzepatide (used in Mounjaro and others), liraglutide (used in Saxenda) and several others, reports the Mirror.

A separate study, published last month by researchers at the University of Cambridge, similarly found that “when individuals stopped taking the medication, they underwent rapid initial weight regain” and noted: “By 52 weeks, individuals had regained 60% of their original weight loss.”

Brajan Budini, a medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, University of Cambridge, said: “Drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy act like brakes on our appetite, making us feel full sooner, which means we eat less and therefore lose weight. When people stop taking them, they are essentially taking their foot off the brake, and this can lead to rapid weight regain.”

Researchers involved in the second study suggested that the reason some patients do not return to their original weight even a year after stopping the medications is that, by curbing appetite in the first instance, the drugs “may help individuals develop healthier eating habits, such as reduced portion sizes or more nutritionally-balanced meals, and these habits may persist even after treatment is discontinued”.

Steven Luo, also a medical student at the School of Clinical Medicine and Trinity College, said: “When stopping weight loss drugs, doctors and patients should be aware of the potential for weight regain and consider ways to mitigate this risk. It’s important that people are given advice on improving their diet and exercise, rather than relying solely on the drugs, as this may help them maintain good habits when they stop taking them.”

In response to the release of the BMJ report in January, pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy and Ozempic, told the BBC: “These findings highlight the chronic nature of obesity and suggest that ongoing treatment is necessary to maintain improvements in weight and overall health for patients, similar to the management of other chronic conditions such as diabetes or hypertension.”

The filing states prosecutors tracked purchases he’d made online using a fake name in the days after, including two chainsaws, an inflatable blue pool, a body bag and a shovel. They allege he also purchased a “burn cage” and made plans to incinerate evidence, the filing states.

The 136 local authorities holding elections in England comprise all 32 London boroughs; 48 district councils; 18 unitary authorities, including Hull, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth and Southampton; 32 Metropolitan boroughs, including Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle; and six county councils: East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and West Sussex.

A lot of people remain unclear about what their home insurance really covers.

And if this applies to you, you might want to pay attention.

From sheds and plants to outdoor furniture, many assume these items are automatically protected, but coverage can actually vary significantly depending on the policy.

With that in mind, experts at Tesco Insurance have highlighted what is and isn’t covered by home insurance, and where homeowners could get caught out.

Alex Cross, Chief Customer Officer, said: “Gardens are often the heart of the home, especially during warmer months when people are spending more time and money on their outdoor spaces.

“Despite this, many people only check what their insurance covers after something has gone wrong. 

“That’s why it’s important to understand what your home insurance policy covers upfront, to avoid unexpected costs later on.”

What home insurance may cover in my garden?

What is often covered in your garden with home insurance?

Fixed outdoor structures such as sheds and greenhouses, along with boundary walls, are usually covered by building insurance.

They are typically protected from damage caused by risks such as fire, flooding, or vandalism, although cover can vary between providers.

What is classed as ‘contents’ in your garden, and which items are covered?

Powered tools, including leaf blowers, trimmers and lawnmowers, as well as other tools and equipment stored in sheds or outbuildings, BBQs, bicycles and outdoor furniture, are often included under contents insurance. 

These items may be covered against theft, fire, and damage, subject to policy limits. It’s important to check these limits before taking out a policy, as payouts can be capped.

Are plants in my garden covered? 

Trees, shrubs, plants and lawns that you own and are within the boundary of your home may be covered under contents insurance, depending on the policy.

Cover may apply to loss or damage caused by specific risks, such as storm or flood, but is often limited. 

Other damage caused by disease, theft or lack of maintenance is commonly excluded. Each provider will be different, so it’s important to check your policy details.

With car & home insurance timing matters far more than you’d think.

This is just a snippet, and one of scores of tricks from last night’s Martin Lewis Money Show Live Car & Home Insurance, watch the full show on https://t.co/f1Jz6pVj7E pic.twitter.com/yhxsFi98pa

— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) January 28, 2026

Where do gaps commonly occur in your garden with home insurance?

Although many risks can be covered if they occur, understanding gaps can help homeowners avoid unexpected costs and determine whether additional cover is needed. 

Common exclusions can include theft of items left unsecured outside and damage caused by weather that doesn’t meet the insurer’s definition of a storm.

Fences are also commonly excluded from cover for storm or flood damage, while wear and tear or poor maintenance affecting outdoor structures and hedges may also not be covered.

Do you find home insurance useful? Let us know in the comments

The horror film is set to be removed from Netflix in a matter of days

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A divisive horror film that continues to split opinion among fans is set to disappear from a streaming platform within days. Netflix subscribers have just over one week to catch Night Swim before it is permanently removed from the service.

The horror, starring Wyatt Russell and Kerry Condon, centres on a family as they renovate their swimming pool, which unbeknownst to them is haunted and possessed by a sinister force. An official Netflix synopsis teases: “Terror hides beneath the deceptively calm surface of a family’s swimming pool in this supernatural thriller from James Wan and Jason Blum (Insidious).”

Viewers may also recognise Amélie Hoeferle, Gavin Warren, Jodi Long, Nancy Lenehan, Eddie Martinez as well as Ben Sinclair. Night Swim is scheduled to be removed from the platform on Thursday, May 7. Having originally been released in 2024 on the big screen, it quickly made its way to streaming as audiences remain at odds over its content, reports the Mirror.

One viewer wrote on IMDb: “The reviews make this movie look like a disappointment, however, it’s par for the course for a horror movie. The acting is pretty good, the plot is very intriguing, and the only failure is the effects.

“The monster is not consistent, it looks different literally every time we see it, and the effects are Ghostbusters level, or maybe worse actually. Like, clearly animated. But otherwise it’s a pretty good movie and actually gave me the heebie jeebies once or twice.”

Another described it as “unfairly rated”, adding: “Not sure why many low ratings on this one. I am a horror movie critic and to me, this movie fit every requirements for it to be a good horror / supernatural movie.” They went on to say: “Without revealing spoilers, I’d say this movie is on par with Sinister.”

A third wrote: “I thoroughly enjoyed going to the theater for this movie. It’s an original premise. I’ve never heard of a scary movie about a pool before! This movie evokes all the childhood fearful feelings of swimming in a pool at night.”

However, one viewer countered: “This film was weird. It wasn’t good but not bad. The good thing is effort is definitely put into this film, but the output just isn’t there.”

Another remarked: “The film is terribly clichéd. Take any other horror film and compare it with this one and you won’t see any difference. Quite a good story with water, but when you see the monster you start laughing.”

A third observed: “This movie is 90min but like a never-ending 3-hour ordeal. It’s more of a family drama than a horror movie.”

With a 19% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, opinions remained split as one person wrote: “One of the most anticipated horrors of 2024 but failed big time. It didn’t even tackle how the pool become evil.”

Another concluded: “Everything I could have possibly wanted from a movie about a haunted pool. 5/5 stars. No notes.”

Night Swim is currently available to stream on Netflix

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have broken their silence on the I’m A Celebrity South Africa finale chaos, promising to reveal full details about the walkouts, Adam Thomas’s win and the tensions with Jimmy Bullard in their upcoming podcast

Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have addressed the chaotic I’m a Celeb South Africa live final that descended into mayhem last Friday night.

In the teaser for their podcast Hanging Out with Ant and Dec, the pair made light of the pandemonium from the broadcast, with Ant quipping: “If you didn’t see it, I bet you read about it!

“It was quite the night!” Dec remarked, vowing to reveal the “ins and outs” of what unfolded. Ant responded: “It was a weird night of TV,” noting there were “walk-outs” during the show. Previewing the key talking points of their forthcoming podcast episode, the duo pledged to discuss Jimmy Bullard, with Dec saying: “The first question was to Jimmy about why did you call I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.”

Ant interjected: “On the night I said I disagreed with him,” seemingly referring to Jimmy Bullard, with whom Ant publicly clashed when Jimmy pressed him to confirm that Adam had been aggressive during the programme.

Dec then suggested that somebody had a “bee in his bonnet” they were eager to air, though the clip didn’t make it entirely clear whom he meant, reports the Mirror.

Dec also disclosed that two of the All Stars had departed the group WhatsApp – Gemma Collins and Adam Thomas. Meanwhile, Ant teased he’d share an anecdote about bumping into Adam Thomas and Jimmy Bullard following the recording. While this trailer merely hinted at what’s in store, the full episode drops on Thursday – meaning fans won’t need to hang around long to catch all the latest behind-the-scenes gossip from the hosts who witnessed the drama unfold first-hand.

Fans were thrilled with the snippets of information shared by the hosts, with some claiming it was shaping up to be their “best podcast ever” and expressing eagerness for this “juicy watch”.

The final episode saw Adam Thomas crowned King of the Jungle, but witness clashes with David Haye and Jimmy throughout the concluding instalment, prompting both Sinitta and Gemma to storm out of the live recording.

Following the show’s conclusion, the actor has admitted he feels ‘dead inside and numb’ about the experience and insisted he won’t return to the programme even if offered ‘£10million’, claiming it’s ‘eaten away at his soul.’ Adam revealed he felt the colour ‘drain from his face’ when Ant and Dec declared him the winner, as his worst nightmare became reality.

Speaking on The Thomas Bro’s podcast with brothers Scott and Ryan Thomas, Adam said: “The most disturbing is that I look at David and even after the show and after everything he did, you know he sent me a voice note and was like ‘oh mate, what a great show that was. I’m so happy you won. Congratulations.’”

And he disclosed the blunt response he fired back to his former campmate. “I just sent him a message back just saying, you know, ‘I think this is where we draw the line and I hope that you find happiness, bro, but I’m done.’”