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From balaclavas to burkas – Farage calls for a ban on all face coverings on Britain’s streets

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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for all face coverings to be banned following protests in Dover and Portsmouth

Nigel Farage has called for a ban on all face coverings in Britain days after hundreds of masked protestors took to the streets of Dover. 

The Reform UK leader described the coverings – whether that be a balaclava or an Antifa mask – as a ‘menace’ designed to bully and intimidate. 

He added that the sight of an ordinary citizen crossing the road to avoid a masked figure would have been ‘unimaginable’ a generation ago. 

It comes just days after a huge crowd of men donning all-black outfits and balaclavas brought Britain’s busiest ferry port to a standstill on Saturday morning. 

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Anti-migrant demonstrators were heard chanting ‘stop the boats’ and ‘enough is enough’ while blocking roads to and from the port on the east coast. 

Hard-Right organisation Patriot Platform – run by convicted attempted kidnapper Daniel Thomas – claimed responsibility for the demonstration. 

In a fiery interview on Saturday night, Farage dubbed the protest ‘disgusting’, insisting that ‘nobody in any political protest, left or right, should be appearing in balaclavas’. 

And now the 62-year-old and Reform UK are calling for all face coverings in public spaces to be banned.

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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for all face coverings to be banned following protests in Dover and Portsmouth

Hundreds of anti-migrant protestors took to the streets of Dover on Saturday

Hundreds of anti-migrant protestors took to the streets of Dover on Saturday

The demonstration, believed to have been organised by Patriot Platform, was described as 'intimidating'

The demonstration, believed to have been organised by Patriot Platform, was described as ‘intimidating’

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Farage told The Telegraph: ‘Now, I’m all for the protest – plenty to protest about – but seriously this is not the way to go about it. 

‘Let’s be clear, face coverings are a menace. Whether it is a heavy-duty balaclava worn by a gang member or the dark mask of “Antifa” extremists, their purpose is to bully and intimidate.’

He added: ‘Reform UK is calling for a ban on all full-face coverings in public spaces. No ifs, no buts. And yes, that includes religious ones too. 

‘Because a free and open society depends fundamentally on trust. That trust is built on a simple, ancient social contract: I show you my face, you show me yours. When you strip that away, the entire fabric of public safety and mutual trust begins to fray.’ 

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Only a day after hard-Right protestors caused havoc in Dover, more than 500 people took to Portsmouth in a bid to stop 140 asylum seekers being transported to an immigration centre.

The migrants had earlier arrived on a huge dinghy which set sail from Calais, with the French coastguard shadowing the vessel until British lifeboats took over. 

Protesters, some of whom had waded into the sea earlier in the day, said they were prepared to remain throughout the night to block any routes out of the city, leading to clashes with police as riot officers were deployed.  

Eastney is just four miles from the Port of Portsmouth and the HM Naval Base, home to six Royal Navy destroyers and its two flagship aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

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In protest footage shared on social media, a riot officer appeared to be pushed from his motorbike as demonstrators, many wearing caps and hoods, shouted: ‘Shame on you.’

Further clips showed officers carrying shields ordering the crowd to ‘get back’ before pushing some protesters away from a nearby police van.

The demonstrators remained in the area until almost midnight amid chaotic scenes and multiple clashes with officers near the waterfront.

The protest is thought to have been spearheaded by hard-Right influencer Daniel Thomas, the Tommy Robinson associate whose Patriot Platform group organised the mass demonstration in Dover. 

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Speaking on Monday, government minister Emma Reynolds dubbed the 500 Eastney protestors ‘thuggish and intimidating’. 

The Treasury Chief Secretary said: ‘I absolutely support people’s right to peaceful protest. But this crosses a line and I just want to take the opportunity to thank the police and other emergency services who have brought this under control.’ 

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s police and crime commissioner Donna Jones said officers from other forces had to come to help – and fears that this ‘is just the start’ of protests.

She said: ‘Last night we had mutual aid, public order police officers sent from police forces across the country including the Metropolitan Police Service.

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‘We also had a number of our own police officers, obviously, from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Constabulary trying to take back control of the roads, forming a line and holding a few hundred protesters back.

‘This is just the start, if this continues, these numbers will grow from the protesters.

‘They were making their point that they don’t want Portsmouth to become a destination’.

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Natalie Harp was by Trump’s side during weekend of AI slop at Bedminster: report

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Natalie Harp was by Trump’s side during weekend of AI slop at Bedminster: report

Natalie Harp, the White House staffer who has attracted attention for her extreme devotion to President Donald Trump, was reportedly around the Republican over the weekend at his golf club in New Jersey as he fired off countless unusual social media posts, such as an apparently AI-generated cartoon of himself attacking Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and multiple threats to rename New Mexico.

Harp was photographed by journalists on Friday boarding the presidential helicopter around the same time as Trump as it headed to Bedminster National Golf Club. She later appeared in a photo shared on Sunday from pro-Trump media personality Michael Solakiewicz. In the image, she appears to be typing on a tablet behing the president as he dines at Bedminster.

The Independent has contacted the White House for confirmation on Harp’s whereabouts and whether she was involved in the posts.

Harp, a former anchor on the right-wing One America News Network, has been dubbed the “human printer” because she frequently prints out hard copies of various messages and social media posts for the president.

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The president is also known to dictate posts out loud to Harp, who often manages his day-to-day social media output,The Independent has previously reported.

Natalie Harp, a much-scrutinized White House staffer known as the ‘human printer,’ who is often involved in managing the president’s social media posts, was reportedly with President Donald Trump over the weekend as he fired off a series of messages on Truth Social containing provocative AI images and threats to rename New Mexico
Natalie Harp, a much-scrutinized White House staffer known as the ‘human printer,’ who is often involved in managing the president’s social media posts, was reportedly with President Donald Trump over the weekend as he fired off a series of messages on Truth Social containing provocative AI images and threats to rename New Mexico (Getty)

That said, the president’s signature late-night posting sprees areoften his own doing, a former White House and campaign staffer from Trump’s first term once told The Independent.

Others have described using Harp, who is known to work just outside the Oval Office, as a conduit to get messages onto the president’s social media feed and in front of the American people.

Homeland security adviser Stephen Miller, the architect of much of the president’s hard-line immigration policies, is reportedly among them.

Miller has used Harp’s closeness with the president “at least a couple” of times to get ideas before Trump, a source told Zeteo.

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Harp reportedly often manages the president’s social media output and takes dictation for future posts from President Trump
Harp reportedly often manages the president’s social media output and takes dictation for future posts from President Trump (AFP/Getty)

After Miller reportedly showed videos to Harp, they soon appeared on the president’s Truth Social page, the source said.

“I wanted the president to post something about crypto, so I [asked Natalie], and it worked,” another unnamed source told the outlet.

The president’s golf weekend may be over, but his eye-catching posts have continued.

On Monday, he fired off a post showing a map where the United States covered all of continental North America and Greenland.

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Flights to and from Indonesia’s capital resume after volcanic eruption forced a 2-day closure

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Flights to and from Indonesia’s capital resume after volcanic eruption forced a 2-day closure

Flights to and from Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta resumed early Tuesday after ash from a volcanic eruption forced a two-day closure that halted nearly 3,000 flights.

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma Airport serving Jakarta, Husein Sastranegara Airport in West Java’s Bandung city and two smaller airports in Banten province reopened just after midnight, Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi said.

Three other airports remained closed until 10 a.m., including Radin Inten II Airport in Lampung on the southern tip of Sumatra island, despite improving conditions at some facilities. Atung Bungsu Airport in Pagar Alam in South Sumatra province had resumed normal operations Monday morning.

“We are taking a conservative approach because wind direction is highly dynamic,” Purwagandhi said in a statement. “We want to ensure that volcanic ash has moved away from airports around Anak Krakatau.”

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Although tests at several airports showed no traces of volcanic ash, the extended closures would allow time for inspecting and cleaning surfaces and equipment like runways, taxiways and aircraft that may have been exposed to volcanic ash, Purwagandhi said.

The continuous eruption of Anak Krakatau with lava fountains and loud booms ended Sunday but the volcanic island remained active Tuesday morning.

The airport closures Sunday and Monday disrupted nearly 2,961 flights, including 622 international services, and affected about 341,000 passengers.

The government also authorized schools in areas affected by volcanic ash to shift temporarily to online learning to reduce students’ exposure to ash.

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Anak Krakatau is a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Indonesia’s main islands of Java and Sumatra. Its name means “child of Krakatau,” and the volcano is the offspring of the infamous Krakatau, whose monumental 1883 eruption triggered a period of global cooling.

An eruption of Anak Krakatau in 2018 caused a tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Sumatra and Java. Researchers believe volcanic activity triggered an underwater landslide and caused a large chunk of Anak Krakatau’s southwest slope to collapse and displace a large volume of water.

The volcano remained at Indonesia’s second-highest alert level since July, and authorities advised residents, tourists and fishermen to stay at least 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from the active crater.

Indonesia has more than 120 active volcanoes and frequently experiences eruptions due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the ring of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most global seismic activity occurs.

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3 much-loved chain restaurants set to close in Cambridgeshire

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Cambridgeshire Live

It is part of the owner’s plan to save £250 million

Three popular Cambridgeshire restaurants are set to close for good this week. Cambridgeshire ’s Brewers Fayre and Beefeater locations are soon set to shut their doors.

The news comes after the chain’s announcement that all of its sites across the country will close for good. Brewers Fayre restaurants across the country will shut on September 7, followed by 106 Beefeater sites on September 10.

The company confirmed that both its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre portfolios would be wound down entirely, placing 3,800 jobs at risk, reports MyLondon. The closures are part of owner Whitbread’s major restructuring plan to save £250 million – which involves closing down its remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites.

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Three Cambridgeshire Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants are set to close. These are:

  • The Brampton Hut Brewers Fayre;
  • The Hampton Brewers Fayre;
  • The Granary Beefeater.

Brewers Fayre is known for its affordable meals, casual, family dining and traditional pub classics. These include food like burgers, Sunday roasts, fish and chips, and breakfast.

Beefeater is known for serving classic pub grub such as grilled steaks, fish and chips and burgers. It has been serving up family favourites since 1974.

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Trump video portrays Charles as uncaring in edited clip of fainting Asda worker

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Trump video portrays Charles as uncaring in edited clip of fainting Asda worker

The viral clip from 2020 featured in a montage of other world leaders seeming to ignore people in distress or being disrespectful, while the American leader is depicted as “the people’s president”, greeting troops and police officers, honouring the war dead, hugging elderly veterans and being a doting husband.

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Vinted users warned to check their accounts before October

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Vinted users warned to check their accounts before October

The second-hand marketplace is updating its Terms and Conditions (T&Cs), with the new rules applying from October 8, 2026.

Users will need to review and accept the updated terms if they want to continue using Vinted.

One of the changes could affect users who have money sitting in their Vinted Balance.

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If Vinted’s Balance Provider cannot verify that the user’s bank account details match their Vinted Balance details, they may be asked to update their information before they can use their balance or receive a payout.

There is also a change for people who decide to delete their Vinted account.

Vinted says its Balance Provider may also be asked to close the user’s Vinted Balance.

The platform has also updated and clarified Section 7, which covers how Vinted deals with community concerns and moderation.

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Buyer Protection fee renamed

One change likely to catch the attention of shoppers is the renaming of the Buyer Protection fee.

It will now be called the Vinted fee.

However, Vinted stresses that this does not mean a new or additional charge is being introduced.

The fee will still be calculated in the same way and will remain visible during the checkout process.

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Vinted says its existing support and protections will continue to apply when people buy or sell through the platform.

There is also an update to the way items proven to be counterfeit during the Electronics Verification Service may be handled.

The full details of this change can be found in Section 17 of the updated terms.

Vinted users can review and accept the new T&Cs ahead of the changes taking effect.

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When do the rules change for Vinted users?

Until October 8, the current Terms and Conditions will continue to apply.

The new rules mean users may want to check their account and balance details before the changes come into force, particularly if they regularly sell items and withdraw money from Vinted.

Vinted has also provided a PDF copy of the updated terms for users who want to keep a record.

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Two people still in hospital days after serious Whittlesey crash

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Cambridgeshire Live

One person was taken by air ambulance

A woman suffered life-threatening injuries and a man sustained serious injuries after a crash in Whittlesey. The incident happened at about 1pm on Friday (September 4) on the A605.

A silver Hyundai i20 was being driven eastbound on the A605 Eastrea Road, when it was involved in a collision with a white Hyundai Santa Fe, heading in the opposite direction.

A passenger, a 67-year-old woman from Whittlesey, was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge with life-threatening injuries. The force has confirmed she remains in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

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The driver of the silver Hyundai, a 68-year-old man from Whittlesey, was taken to Peterborough City Hospital with serious injuries, where he remains. The driver of the white Hyundai, a 47-year-old woman from Whittlesey, received minor injuries.

Police have asked anyone with information regarding the incident to report it. A spokesperson for the force said: “An investigation has been launched and anyone with any information, including dash cam footage, is urged to report this online or by calling 101, quoting incident 324 of 4 September.”

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External partner sought for Scarborough regeneration ‘masterplan’

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External partner sought for Scarborough regeneration 'masterplan'

​Council bosses are set to consider finding an external partner to help bring forward regeneration proposals for several council-owned sites in Scarborough town centre.

​The proposed masterplan would consider the future of several high-profile council-owned buildings and sites that require significant investment, including Scarborough Town Hall, where about 80 per cent of the available floor space is currently unused due to its deteriorating condition.

​North Yorkshire Council said it wants a development partner to prepare a masterplan to help identify future uses for underutilised and vacant sites, assess regeneration opportunities, attract investment into some of the town centre’s much-loved buildings and bring forward deliverable proposals for key locations across the town centre.

​The authority recently purchased Resolution House as a new out-of-town office in Scarborough for £3 million, as the first staff members moved into the building last month.

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​However, concerns have been raised by local councillors about the future of the Town Hall, which currently serves as a civic centre and hosts many public and council meetings, including those of Scarborough Town Council.

Resolution House. NYC

​Town Mayor, Thomas Murray, said: “Scarborough’s historic Town Hall is not just another office block to be quietly written off from Northallerton.

​“It has stood at the heart of Scarborough’s civic life for generations and remains the home of Scarborough Town Council, our council meetings, mayoralty and civic functions. It is an important part of our town’s heritage and civic identity, and I sincerely hope North Yorkshire Council will work constructively with the Town Council to secure its long-term future.”

​North Yorkshire Council wants to appoint a development partner to prepare a masterplan that will identify future uses for “underutilised and vacant sites, assess regeneration opportunities, attract investment into some of its much-loved buildings and bring forward deliverable proposals for key locations”.

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​Scarborough is one of the council’s “highest development priority locations” and is also recognised as a key place for growth and investment by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Scarborough South Bay. Courtesy NYC

​The proposed approach – set to be considered at a meeting on Tuesday, September 15 – would help the council take a coordinated view on a number of sites, identify funding opportunities and attract investment into regeneration projects.

​North Yorkshire Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include regeneration and economic development, said: “We have a number of prominent sites that are currently underused or vacant.

​“By undertaking market engagement to identify a potential development partner, we can take a coordinated approach to understanding how those sites can contribute to the town centre and bring forward practical regeneration proposals.

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​“This will help us assess future options for these sites, identify opportunities for investment, and ensure any proposals are deliverable.”

​Following local government reorganisation in 2023, which saw the former county council and seven previous district and borough authorities merge, North Yorkshire Council inherited a large estate of buildings and land.

​This included a number of sites in Scarborough facing significant challenges, alongside annual running costs of up to £1 million.

​As some council staff begin to transition into Resolution House by the A64 – which was bought from Anglo American – the council will retain a town centre presence in Scarborough, including customer services and a base for those who need to work in and around the town centre. Council staff currently work at both the Town Hall and Castle House.

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​If the market engagement exercise is successful and the appointment of a development partner is approved, the masterplan would sit alongside a number of regeneration projects already underway in Scarborough, including the Station Gateway public realm scheme and plans to revitalise West Pier.

​Together, they would support a coordinated approach to investment and development across the town.

​North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for finance and property, Cllr Peter Wilkinson, said: “It’s important that we carefully consider how these sites can contribute to Scarborough’s future, identify regeneration opportunities and reduce the costs associated with buildings that are underused and require significant investment.

​“This work will help us assess what options are available and consider proposals that are practical and financially viable.”

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Screams heard as gunman opens fire on busy Merseyside street

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Manchester Evening News

Police rushed to the streets after shots were fired from a handgun in broad daylight

Panicked pedestrians ran into a busy street in screams after a gunman opened fire in Merseyside. Police descended on Stanley Road just before 5pm following reports of a man riding an e-bike had let off shots from a handgun on Monday (September 7).

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There have been no reports of any injuries, while a damaged was caused to a property. Huge cordon is in place around Stanley Street, with further blockades at its junctions with Merton Road and Balliol Road.

A forensics team arrived at the scene which has been secured by several police vehicles and officers throughout the evening.

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CSI officers were seen working around the area of a bus stop on the busy street.

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One witness who was driving along Stanley Road at the time told the ECHO they heard what sounded like two gunshots. They said they noticed a car around 20 metres ahead suddenly stop before reversing back towards them.

The witness said: “At that point, I didn’t know what was going on so I just waited behind for a second. What sounded like two gunshots were then fired. It was really loud; two bangs.

“Two people, I don’t know whether they were male or female, on big black bikes like e-bikes, whizzed off around the corner.

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“About 20 seconds later, a guy came out of Swift’s pub holding a brick, with two other girls. He looked like he was looking for somebody.

“He and the girls were shouting. By this point, everyone had come out of the shops.

“People were everywhere, screaming on the street. I didn’t really know what was going on.”

Armed officers remain in the area and detectives are carrying out CCTV and witness enquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Saidi-Bidokhti said: “We are in the very early stages of an investigation and I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed what happened or has any information which could help us with our enquiries to come forward.

“I would also like to appeal to anyone who lives in the area, who has CCTV footage or Ring doorbell, that may have captured the incident to get in touch.

“We are relentless in our pursuit of such offenders who carry dangerous weapons in our community and urge anyone who has any information to contact us so we can find those responsible.”

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If you have any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage or information about this incident, please contact Merseyside Police social media desk via X @MerPolCC or on Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’.

You can also report information via the force’s website: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or call with log number 745 of 7 September.

Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their website here: https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously In an emergency always call 999.

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Brewers Fayre restaurants closing today as final orders called

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Brewers Fayre restaurants closing today as final orders called

All 89 remaining restaurants will serve their last customers on Monday, September 7, as owner Whitbread brings the Brewers Fayre brand to an end.

For diners across the area, one of the nearest restaurants affected is Wheatlea Park on Warrington Road in Wigan.

The restaurant, next to the Premier Inn Wigan West, will close after its final dinner service tonight.

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Other North West Brewers Fayre restaurants shutting for good include Stable Gate on Alphagate Drive in Denton and Oakenhurst Farm, off Eccleshill Road in Lower Darwen.

Cottams Field on Caton Road in Lancaster is also closing.

Brewers Fayre has been a familiar name across the UK for decades, with its restaurants known for family dining and often found alongside Premier Inn hotels.

But Whitbread announced earlier this year that it would get rid of all its separately branded restaurants in a major overhaul of the business.

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The move affects around 200 restaurants and is expected to result in approximately 3,800 job losses across the UK and Ireland.

Brewers Fayre is not the only well-known restaurant name disappearing as a result.

Bar + Block, Table Table and Cookhouse + Pub sites had their final trading day on September 3.

Beefeater will be next, with 106 restaurants due to close after service on Thursday, September 10.

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Whitbread instead plans to operate restaurants within its Premier Inn hotels, a model it says is more efficient and “highly popular with hotel guests”.

The changes form part of a five-year strategy aimed at making £250 million in cost savings.

The company still plans to grow its Premier Inn business, increasing its number of hotel rooms from around 86,600 to 96,000 by the 2031 financial year.

Chief executive Dominic Paul said when the overhaul was announced: “We always challenge ourselves to improve and, in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and national insurance, as well as the implied market discount to our inherent value, we’ve looked hard at the options open to us to maximise value creation over the medium and long-term.

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He added: “This plan will transform Whitbread into a higher-margin, higher-returning pure-play hotel business.”

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Hurricane Lowell expected to pass near one Hawaiian island and cause major rains statewide

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Hurricane Lowell expected to pass near one Hawaiian island and cause major rains statewide

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green closed schools and government offices on the westernmost islands of Kauai and Niihau for Tuesday as Hurricane Lowell was expected to pass nearby, bringing damaging winds, mudslides, possible tornadoes, dangerous rip currents and as much as 16 inches (about 40 centimeters) of rain to some areas.

The closures, which include community colleges and state and county offices, were put into effect for Kauai County, which was under a hurricane warning issued by the National Hurricane Center. The county includes the major islands of Kauai, which has a population of over 73,000, and Niihau, where there are fewer than 100 residents.

A portion of the vast Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument was also included in the warning.

Monday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said the core of the storm was expected to pass over or just west of Niihau late Monday and early Tuesday. While the winds — which were strong enough to make Lowell a Category 2 hurricane as of Monday afternoon — were expected to weaken, the storm was expected to remain a hurricane at its closest approach to the islands

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“Closing offices, schools and courts will help keep people off the roads during dangerous conditions and allow emergency crews to focus on protecting our communities,” Green said in a news release. “I urge everyone in Kaua’i County to remain indoors, avoid unnecessary travel and follow all official emergency instructions.”

He also urged residents to stay away from shorelines, avoid driving through floodwaters, prepare for power outages and monitor for updates.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for Oahu, which has close to 1 million residents.

Isolated rainfall totals of up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) were expected in Oahu and Maui, and 12 inches (30 centimeters) was expected in portions of the Big Island of Hawaii, the farthest east of the state’s major islands.

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Last month, the state had a brush with Tropical Storm Lala. While it did not make landfall, it hit Hawaii — and especially the Big Island — hard, leaving behind landslides, washing away about 100 homes and causing widespread power outages.

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