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    Intelligence services are understood to have investigated increased and unusual activity at the Russian embassy in London in the days before and after the Novichok poisoning. MI5, MI6 and GCHQ looked into frantic comings and goings at the building in Kensington in the days leading up to the moment former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia came into contact with the nerve agent and after they were found unconscious, according to a source. In the wake of the attack, which took place in Salisbury a year ago on Monday, the observations were deemed to be significant and of interest, it is understood. A security source told the Press Association: The intelligence agencies have been investigating unusual and increased activity at the Russian embassy in Kens...

    Theresa May is being accused of bribing MPs in a desperate measure to buy votes as she launches a £1.6bn fund for pro-Brexit towns. The new Stronger Towns Fund, with cash handouts for constituencies that voted Leave, is being unveiled just days before MPs are due to vote again on the prime minister's deal. The government claims it will boost growth and give communities a greater say in their future after Brexit and will be targeted at less prosperous parts of the country. But opponents claim the handouts are aimed at persuading Labour MPs representing constituencies that voted Leave in the EU referendum to vote for the PM's deal next week. According to ministers, the fund will be used to create new jobs, help train local people and boost economic activity - with c...

    Kensington Palace has dismissed reports that the Duchess of Sussex wants to raise her child gender fluid, branding them totally false. Vanity Fair reported that Meghan told friends that she wants to her baby, who is due next month, to be raised in a gender neutral way. The magazine quoted a source as saying: Meghan has been talking to some of her friends about the birth and how she and Harry plan to raise their baby. Her exact word was fluid. The source added: She said they plan to raise their child with a fluid approach to gender and they won’t be imposing any stereotypes. But the claims have been rubbished by Kensington Palace, which said in a statement: This story is totally false. Meghan is a regular campaigner on social issues, including gender. On her rece...

    A state school in Greater Manchester is to close early on Fridays from September and charge parents who cannot pick their children up at lunchtime, in what teaching unions said was a sign that schools are at absolute breaking point. Vale View primary in Reddish, Stockport, is believed to be one of at least 25 schools in England to take the drastic measure of shortening the school week in order to cut costs. The chair of governors raised hackles among parents by trying to sell the half-day as a boon for families. With such busy lives, we are sure many families will want to take advantage of their children finishing earlier one day a week; a great opportunity to catch up, tackle homework or just have some quality family time, wrote Dr Ricky van Deursen in a letter to...