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Bolton pubs to have new rates relief applied after cap

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Bolton pubs to have new rates relief applied after cap

Speaking at a special meeting of Bolton Council’s cabinet on Monday (February 9), the council’s business rates manager explained the relief pubs would receive.

He said the 40 per cent retail relief scheme for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses would be ending this year, but other support will be put in place.

These will limit increases of business rates, capping increases at either £800 per year or an applicable percentage – most likely to be 15 per cent for most businesses in Bolton.

For the following two years, business rates will “only increase by the level of inflation” which the officer said would likely be “of more value” than the additional 15 per cent relief.

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The 15 per cent added relief announced by the government last month will be applied after the cap – and will only apply to pubs and live music venues.

‘Still not good enough’

Cllr Nadim Muslim (Image: Bolton Council)

Cllr Nadim Muslim, leader of the Conservative Group, said he appreciates that “this is not anything that you can control from council”, but that the support “still isn’t good enough”.

He said hospitality businesses are struggling with not just business rates, but increases in the minimum wage and national insurance.

He said: “We should look at as many options as possible where we can be doing more to support those in the hospitality sector because, as it stands, more will continue to go out of business.”

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Cllr Nick Peel, leader of the council, said the transitional relief scheme – which does not include the added 15 per cent relief – is a £4.5bn investment and “significant amount of money”.

‘Need to ensure businesses are aware’

Cllr Nick Peel (Image: Bolton Council)

He said: “We need to ensure that businesses in Bolton who are worried about the revaluation are aware of the transitional relief scheme.

“These are significant amounts of money and that’s even before we get into the relief from the discount.

“It’s very complicated, perhaps we should do some basic online questions and answers somewhere to point people towards to get the basic stuff.

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“And if there’s anything more complex, they can move on to have a face-to-face.”

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That’s not all, folks: why Looney Tunes still matter nearly 100 years on

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That’s not all, folks: why Looney Tunes still matter nearly 100 years on

Rather than reinventing the characters, Bauza sees his role as one of guardianship. He frequently credits original voice actor Mel Blanc, who passed away in 1989 and is referred to as “the man of 1,000 voices” on his own tombstone, along with legendary animators Chuck Jones and Bob Clampett, for laying the foundations that still define Looney Tunes today.

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‘Truth is antidote to Putin’s poison’ and ‘Europe sabotage campaign’

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'Truth is antidote to Putin's poison' and 'Europe sabotage campaign'
The headline of the Metro reads: "Cooper: Truth is antidote to Putin's poison."

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calls for “tougher new sanctions” to be placed on Russia following her probe into the death of Navalny, Metro reports. Meanwhile, a “golden moment of history” at the Winter Olympics features large at the top of the paper’s front page, with snowboarders Charlotte Banks and Huw Nightingale celebrating “Britain’s first ever Winter Olympic gold on snow”

The headline of the Indepedent reads: "'It's dark, it's cold ... it's endless'."

A photograph of the “daily life in Kyiv”, depicting people lining up for food in the cold weather, takes up the entire front page of the Independent. “It’s dark, it’s cold … it’s endless”, is the paper’s headline. It says people are “battling to survive winter as Putin’s latest strategy targets power supplies”

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Bondi Beach attack suspect Naveed Akram makes first appearance in court

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Bondi Beach attack suspect Naveed Akram makes first appearance in court

A man accused of carrying out Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in three decades at Bondi Beach last year has appeared in court for the first time.

Naveed Akram, 24, faces 59 charges in relation to the attack on a Jewish event at Sydney’s Archer Park that killed at least 15 people and injured dozens on Sunday 14 December.

Mr Akram appeared via video link on Monday at the Downing Centre Local Court and spoke briefly, mostly in single-word answers.

The magistrate extended suppression orders which were made late last year to protect the identities of victims and survivors after they opted not to be publicly identified.

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Mr Akram and his father Sajid Akram are accused of targeting Jewish people celebrating Hanukkah in an anti-semitic attack that sent shockwaves around the world. It was Australia’s worst mass shooting since 1996, and the worst terror attack targeting Australians since the 2002 Bali bombings.

Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene.

People run on the beach during a shooting incident on a Jewish holiday celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney

People run on the beach during a shooting incident on a Jewish holiday celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney (Alex Larriaga via REUTERS)

Mr Akram, who was wearing a green jumper and sat with his hands on his lap, only spoke after deputy chief magistrate Sharon Freund asked if he had been listening to a discussion about an extension of suppression orders.

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“Did you just hear what I just said?” Ms Freund asked. Mr Akram replied: “Yeah.”

His Legal Aid solicitor, Ben Archbold, later asked the magistrate for time to speak with his client.

“Mr Akram, your solicitor is going to give you a call after,” the magistrate said. “Yep,” the accused replied.

Mr Archbold said it was too early to confirm what plea his client would enter and he was yet to receive the brief of evidence.

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Belongings of members of the Jewish community are seen at the scene of a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney

Belongings of members of the Jewish community are seen at the scene of a shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney (AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to reporters outside the court, he said his client was “as well as can be expected” as he remains in the Goulburn supermax prison in New South Wales.

“Everyone knows it’s supermax … very onerous conditions,” Mr Archbold said.

Asked if Mr Akram had given an interview to the police, he said: “All we’ve done is start the process. We’re waiting for the brief to be served. There’s nothing more I can say.”

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Mr Archbold also said he went to the High Risk Management Correctional Centre (HRMCC) to visit Mr Akram.

When asked about his visit and Mr Akram’s conditions, he said: “He’s just a client and he’s a client that needs to be represented, and we don’t let our personal view get in the way of our professional obligations.”

Ben Archbold, legal aid solicitor for Naveed Akram, speaks to media outside the Downing Centre Local and District Court in Sydney

Ben Archbold, legal aid solicitor for Naveed Akram, speaks to media outside the Downing Centre Local and District Court in Sydney (via REUTERS)

Police allege that the Bondi Beach attackers parked their vehicle near a footbridge overlooking Archer Park at Bondi at about 6.50pm on 14 December.

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It is alleged that a “tennis ball bomb” and three pipe bombs were thrown into the crowd before the pair opened fire.

None of the bombs detonated, but were deemed viable during preliminary police analysis.

In December, court documents made public police allegations that Sajid and Naveed Akram visited the area for “reconnaissance and planning” in the days before the attack.

Police have further accused the pair of conducting firearms training in the Australian countryside.

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Mr Akram will return to court in April.

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Yvette Cooper defends Palestine Action ban after court rules it was unlawful

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Yvette Cooper defends Palestine Action ban after court rules it was unlawful

Asked on the Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme on Sky News to explain her decision-making, Ms Cooper said: “I followed the clear advice and recommendations, going through a serious process that the Home Office goes through, involving different agencies and police advice as well, which was very clear about the recommendation for proscription of this group.

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Scots woman shocked after breasts started growing again after reduction surgery

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Daily Record

Hally Galletta underwent a breast reduction and uplift last April, hoping to finally feel comfortable in her body.

A woman was left shocked after noticing her breasts growing back just weeks after she splashed out the cash for reduction surgery.

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Hally Galletta was left “a bit scared” after noticing how her chest was changing. As she doesn’t qualify for the surgery on the NHS, Hally, from Perth, is paying for a second op.

She said: “Literally within a month-and-a-half after it was done, I looked down and I was like, ‘These things have just appeared again – they’re back,’ I’m getting another breast reduction next month.

“I’m a bit scared because it’s the second time in eight months but I’m literally going to say, ‘I want to be a size A’. I’m just going to say [to the doctors to] ‘Take them all off’ at this point’.”

Despite being told by her surgeon that 200g – roughly the weight of an adult hamster – were removed from each breast, Hally felt the results were barely noticeable.

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She said: “It’s really annoying after paying so much money and some people get them through the NHS. But I know I wouldn’t qualify and I feel like it’s a long wait. [On the upside], it was a really fast process.

“I had my consultation a couple of weeks after I contacted the hospital and then I got to pick the surgery date, which was really good.

“After the surgery, they were very tight and it looked like there was a difference. The surgeon said he took 200g out of each, but my friends say they look the same size as before.”

Hally’s first op was in and her second will be next month. She added: “I’ve not put any weight on to make them grow back, I’m literally the same weight I was before the surgery.

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“We’ll see how that [the surgery] goes and if they appear back again because I’m not going for a third. I feel like that’s a sign I’ve got to keep them.”

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Starmer pledges crackdown on ‘addictive elements’ of social media

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Starmer pledges crackdown on 'addictive elements' of social media

The prime minister added that the government will “bring new powers that will give us the ability to crack down on the addictive elements of social media, stop the auto-play, the never-ending scrolling, that keeps are children hooked on their screens for hours, and stop kids getting around age limits”.

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Inside Anty Johns the remote location of Our Yorkshire Farm

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Inside Anty Johns the remote location of Our Yorkshire Farm

Both series are filmed in one of the most isolated corners of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, at Ravenseat Farm in Upper Swaledale, North Yorkshire.

Ravenseat Farm sits at the head of Whitsun Dale, high above Swaledale in rugged upland countryside.

Anty John’s (Image: CHANNEL4)

The hill farm spans around 2,000 acres and operates primarily as a sheep farm.

It has been associated with Amanda Owen, widely known as the Yorkshire Shepherdess, and her family for decades.

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The landscape that viewers see on screen, sweeping moorland, dry stone walls, steep valleys and unpredictable weather, is entirely authentic.

The farm’s exposed position means harsh winters, heavy rainfall and strong winds are part of everyday life.

Amanda, Clive and Kids altogether outside Anty John’s (Image: CHANNEL4)

Its nearest settlement is Keld, approximately three and a half miles away.

Even that is a tiny hamlet with fewer than 100 residents and limited amenities.

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There is no shop, and facilities largely cater to walkers passing through on the famous Coast-to-Coast route.

Further east lies Muker, one of the larger villages in Swaledale, known for its traditional stone buildings and village pub.

The More4 series Our Farm Next Door is filmed nearby at Anty John’s, a historic, long-derelict farmhouse close to Ravenseat.

The programme follows Amanda and Clive Owen as they work to restore the building while continuing to run Ravenseat with the help of their nine children

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The renovation project has become central to the spin-off series, with filming documenting the transformation from structural repairs to interior restoration.

Amanda carrying wood to chop with Clive at Ravenseat (Image: CHANNEL4)

Ravenseat is widely regarded as one of the most remote farms regularly featured on British television.

The surrounding Upper Dales are sparsely populated, with long distances between services, limited mobile signal and few petrol stations or shops.

Although Ravenseat previously welcomed visitors for cream teas and overnight stays, public access was closed in 2022. It now operates solely as a private working farm.

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Speaking about the challenges of filming before the third series aired on TV, Amanda said: “Oh, there’s always a challenge.



“For a start, the weather is always the big challenge, but I mean, if you just literally think of the number of variables we’ve got going on, there literally isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done.

“So, I also feel that as time goes on and the children are growing up and becoming more independent, there’s less likelihood of me actually knowing where everybody is!

“So, getting them rounded up to lend a hand is always a big deal.”

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Thieves raid German bank just months after huge raid in nearby city | World News

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The Volksbank branch in Stuhr, Germany. Pic: Google Maps

Police in Germany are appealing for witnesses after thieves broke into the basement of a bank and stole from customer safety deposit boxes.

Three individuals, who are thought to be men, were seen wearing blue overalls and walking from a Volksbank branch in Stuhr, northwestern Germany, at around 1.20pm on Friday (13 February), authorities said.

They added that the trio were walking towards a dark car, but witnesses have so far said they aren’t sure whether they got in and drove away or walked past.

The break-in comes just months after a huge heist in the city of Gelsenkirchen, a two-and-a-half-hour train journey from Stuhr.

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A gang of thieves took advantage of the Christmas holidays and drilled into a vault to steal millions of pounds worth of valuables.

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Millions were stolen in the December 2025 heist

Witnesses saw several men carrying large bags into the stairwell of a garage next to the bank overnight on Saturday 27 December.

CCTV footage then captured a black Audi leaving early in the morning on Monday 29 December.

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The men broke into thousands of deposit boxes, with initial estimates placing the value of the raid between €10m to €90m (£8.6m to £78m), according to a police spokesperson.

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Why this school in Derby will ditch a shirt, tie and blazer from its uniform

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Why this school in Derby will ditch a shirt, tie and blazer from its uniform

However, the Schoolwear Association – which represents the uniform industry – said new legislation had caused confusion in both retailers and schools, adding government plans could mean parents spend more on replacing lower-quality generic garments, which might not last as long as branded items.

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Operation Mincemeat is back at Lowry where it all began

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Operation Mincemeat is back at Lowry where it all began

And what a journey the show has been on since those fledgling days when the Lowry supported the team from SplitLip to develop an idea for a musical based on a scarcely believable moment which was pivotal to the Allies’ success in the Second World War.

When the show opens next week it will mark the beginning of a world tour; the production has also enjoyed extended runs on both Broadway and in the West End picking up a host of awards along the way.

For Holly Sumpton and Charlotte Hanna-Williams, the opportunity to take the musical unlike any other around the country was simply one they could not resist.

Both have been in the show before – Holly having been part of the West End cast for an extended run and Charlotte as an understudy for a limited time.

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Holly said: “I’m so fortunate to have been part of the show’s journey from when it started in the West End. I was able to witness the elation of the team when they saw the set and the fact that their dream was actually happening.

“It’s a real privilege to be part of that next chapter.”

Charlotte added that the fact the tour begins at the Lowry makes it extra special.

Holly Sumpton as Ewen Montagu in Operation Mincemeat (Picture: Matt Crockett)

“It just feels as though Operation Mincemeat has become this sort of super power which is why it’s so wonderful for us to go back to where it all started; it’s such a full circle moment, it’s just fab.

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“It’s also testament to investing in small shows and small theatre companies – just look where it can lead.”

Operation Mincemeat is based on the true story of a top secret mission to fool the Germans into thinking the Allies were about to invade Greece when in reality Sicily was the target.

To achieve this, they used the body of a homeless man, dressed him in military uniform, stuffed fake invasion plans in his pockets and left him for the Germans to discover.

The show sees a cast of just five performers play countless characters.

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Holly said: “Looking at how far the production has come, what is so amazing and so charming is that it has grown in scale in terms of the size of theatres and number of venues but it has never lost its charm which allows five people to put on, it has never lost the essence.”

Charlotte added: “You could have a cast of 30 doing what we do and it would all be delightfully easy but then it would totally lose its charm. The challenge for us going into these bigger venues on tour is to retain that lovely fringe feel which is integral to the show.”

With lightning fast costume changes, actors playing multiple roles and, not forgetting that Operation is also a musical, the production can border on the chaotic but it never gets out of control.

“We always say there’s a second show going on backstage,” said Charlotte. “There’s so much running around, changing costumes but it becomes like clockwork. It is chaos backstage but that’s what makes it so exciting for us. You can never relax in this show but that keeps it exciting.

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“And you know what, sometimes things do go wrong but that’s quite fun as well. Of course we try and rein he chaos in as much as we can.”

“I think you have to treat a show like this as a team sport,” said Holly. “You can’t be out there on your own just doing your thing; you have to put total trust in each other.”

At face value, the success of Operation Mincemeat is not something that could ever have been predicted.

“It’s testament to the audiences in some ways,” said Charlotte. “We purposely keep a lot of the details about the show under wraps because we don’t want to spoil it. So often audiences will come not really knowing a lot about the show – they know it’s a musical, about the war and they’ve just decided to give it a go.

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“We are so privileged that so many come back again and again they love it so much. Audiences take a chance on not knowing what’s going to happen or what’s coming next and they love it.”

Being part of a show which has almost achieved legendary status – it has currently received 88 five-star reviews around the world and counting – does that put extra pressure on the cast?

“I suppose there is a lot of pressure,” said Holly, “and that pressure comes in different ways. We are telling this really important story which really happened involving real people so there’s a pressure there too. But it’s told in such a refreshing new way it makes whole thing very exciting.

“There are certain lines I’ll say which feel so topical. The piece itself is fun and irreverent and silly yet it is able to touch on very important things happening which don’t just feel like they have been shoehorned in.

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“The show comes from a place of humanity which I think is what makes it so effective.”

Charlotte added: “One of the unique things is that many of characters are deeply flawed; they may have views or carry out actions that maybe are not great and yet you are rooting for every single one of them. It’s not a question of them being a good guy or a bad guy. As an audience member you know they may have flaws but you still want them to succeed, you want the characters to win.”

Having been part of the show in the West End, both Holly and Charlotte didn’t think twice about the opportunity to take Operation Mincemeat on tour in the UK for the first time.

“I was only in the show for three months so I felt as though I was just finding my feet when the run ended,” said Charlotte, “so I am so excited to come back.”

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Holly added: “Just coming into rehearsals and hearing the music has been magical. It’s not something I’ve ever experienced before with any show.”

For the tour, the production will be using the set originally designed for Broadway.

“That’s made rehearsals even more exciting,” said Charlotte. “It’s the same story, that will never change, but we’ve now the set for larger spaces which takes technical elements that don’t fit into lovely Fortune Theatre in the West End.

“At its heart you have you have the story you would have seen all those years ago when it started out, just scaled up. That’s so exciting.”

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Operation Mincemeat is at the Lowry, Salford from Monday, February 16 to Saturday, February 28. Details from www.thelowry.com

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