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Reflecting on the case, Mr Ovenden told Radio 4's Today programme: "We'd be having long meetings on the priorities of the government and they would be railroaded by any other business into discussions about this gentleman. Asked why politicians could not ignore these subjects, Mr Ovenden said they had "effectively handed away power". "What they're really trying to do is hand away risk but they've handed away power to arm's length bodies, to quangos, to activists, to lawyers, to regulatory framework, to well-networked organisations... who are able to basically stop the machinery of government doing things." He said examples of subjects he considered to be distractions included paying colonial reparations or banning vaping in pub gardens. He argued that the government should start by scaling back some of the government's legal obligations such as environmental obligations for building and the right to launch legal challenges against government policies through judicial reviews.

LUKE AT THATLUKE AT THAT World Darts Championship LIVE RESULTS: Luke Littler vs Gian van Veen in £1m final tonight, match start time – updatesLUKE LITTLER meets Gian van Veen in TONIGHT’s World Championship final. The Nuke is out to win back-to-back world titles and thrashed Ryan Searle 6-1 last night to book his spot in a third straight final at Ally Pally. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. And it is Van Veen who will be out to stop Littler after the Dutchman dispatched former two-time champion Gary Anderson in their thrilling semi-final. Start time : 20:15 GMT: 20:15 GMT TV channel/live stream: Sky Sports Main Event/NOWPDC WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP BETTING TIPS: ODDS, PREDICTIONS AND TOURNAMENT GUIDEFollow ALL the latest from Ally Pally with our live blog below…

This weekend has darts action, plus the return of the Ashes and the Old Firm derby (right). 3pmWolves v West HamPremier LeagueIt’s January and Wolverhampton Wanderers are still without a win in the league. 8.15pmPDC World Championship finalDartsThe 20th and last day of the world championship is finally upon us, with £1m in prize money to the victor. 11.30pmThe Ashes, fifth Test, day oneCricketThere is no such thing as a dead rubber in the Ashes. 11.30pmThe Ashes, fifth Test, day twoCricketHere’s hoping that the final Test of the Ashes series lasts longer than two days, but you never know.

Mamdani Is the Mayor: On New Year's Day, Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City, the first Muslim and South Asian person to do so and the youngest in a century. Katie Wilson Is the Mayor: It's the new year and we are all getting new mayors! Katie Wilson will officially be sworn in as Seattle's mayor in the City Hall lobby at 10 a.m today. Swiss Fire Kills 40: A fire ripped through a bar at the Crans-Montana, a Switzerland ski resort, less than two hours after midnight. Pour One Out for the Space Library: NASA's biggest library and central research hub since 1959 is closing today.

Finally, our Voucher competition gives subscribers the chance to win a £150 National Trust eGift Voucher. However you choose to start 2026, our January subscriber competitions are here to add a little extra excitement to the beginning of the year. Good luck to all our subscribers as we start the new year together. The competitions are open exclusively to subscribers. To be in with a chance, visit the competitions page and submit your entry.

Dubai Invitational 2026 LIVE: Dates, UK times, field, leaderboard, prize money and how to follow as McIlroy and Fleetwood face offThe 2026 Dubai Invitational will kick off another big year of golf on the DP World Tour. 3 Fleetwood won the Dubai Invitational in 2024 Credit: GettyIt was not held last season but now the Dubai Creek Resort tournament has returned to the schedule. Fleetwood and McIlroy will be in action again alongside a host of other top names with the DP World Tour having a successful history of starting the calendar year in the UAE. Dubai Invitational 2026: Date and how to followThis event is taking place from Thursday, January 15 to Sunday, January 18. “I’m delighted to be defending my Dubai Invitational title in front of family and friends here in Dubai,” he added.

It’s the “between time” and the fact that we’re all stuffing ourselves with chocolate during it is merely incidental. I make them for the rest of the world instead. This year, I want sunken living rooms (“conversation pits” in the parlance of the 1970s, the last time they were fashionable) to make a comeback. “They walked on each side of the road” – one walked on one side, another walked on the other. FridayAnd now the best day of the year: World Introvert Day!

Abu Khaled al-Zoubi, 67, walks slowly through his orchard in Irbid, northern Jordan, his footsteps kicking up dust from the parched earth beneath centuries-old olive trees. The country is facing its weakest olive oil season in four decades, with production down as much as 70% compared with last year. With an estimated 12 million productive olive trees concentrated in the northern regions of Irbid, Ajloun, Jerash and Mafraq, olive cultivation has been the backbone of rural life for generations. Jordan has long achieved near-total self-sufficiency in olive oil production, covering 98% of domestic needs and generating export revenue. “Olive trees here depend on rain to grow, not chemical fertilisers,” Auran explains.

Railway leaders should “think afresh” about outsourcing contracts and try to run services better, the rail minister has said, as union research indicated six major private suppliers made £150m in profits last year. Rail unions are campaigning to end the widespread outsourcing of jobs such as cleaning, security and catering, arguing that staff employed by third-party companies have worse conditions and that profits could be reinvested in the railway. One of the companies, Carlisle Support Services, is ultimately owned by the former peer, Tory donor and tax exile Michael Ashcroft. Labour promised to bring in “the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation” before the 2024 election. Eddie Dempsey, general secretary, said: “Outsourcing on the railway is a racket that needs to be brought to an end by a comprehensive programme of insourcing.

Only two lucky winners claimed the top £1 million prize this month, with the first being claimed by a winner from Suffolk with the bond number 570QM451332. The second Premium Bonds winner to claim £1 million is from Berkshire, with the bond number 377PG290829. To find out if you have ever won a Premium Bonds prize, you will need to dig out your holder's information and head over to the prize checker. You can also use your NS&I number, which you should be able to find on any communication about your bonds. Premium Bonds are the UK's biggest savings product, with more than 24 million people saving over £122 billion in them, according to Money Saving Expert.

Chelsea have delivered two rather remarkable swipes at former head coach Enzo Maresca following the announcement of his departure on Thursday. Within 48 hours, official confirmation of his exit materialised, leaving Chelsea scrambling to identify a replacement for the vacant role. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTHe subsequently replaced Mauricio Pochettino in the Stamford Bridge hot seat that summer, ultimately guiding the club to Club World Cup triumph in 2025. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT In a concise 99-word announcement issued on Thursday, the club declared: "Chelsea Football Club and Head Coach Enzo Maresca have parted company. During his time at the Club, Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Victoria Jones, the 34-year-old daughter of Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, has been found dead in a San Francisco hotel, according to a theguardian.com report. Emergency crews were called to the five-star Fairmont San Francisco at 02:52 on New Year’s Day after a guest was discovered unresponsive. The San Francisco Fire Department confirmed the response but did not name the deceased. Reporters are said to have contacted representatives for Tommy Lee Jones and the San Francisco Police Department for comment. •Featured image: Victoria and Tommy Lee Jones at the premiere of “Just Getting Started” in Hollywood in 2017/Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Film Magic

Ministers are poised to allow homes in England to be built without carbon-cutting technology in what experts have said is a climbdown after pressure from housebuilders. Battery storage would cost an estimated £2,000 to £5,000 for each new home but result in longterm savings on energy bills. View image in fullscreen Heat pumps are still expected to be mandatory in all new-build homes in England as part of the future homes standard. Photograph: JulPo/GettyBuilding the 1.5m new homes Labour has promised without batteries will also cut off potential advantages to the UK’s electricity grid. Ministers are expected to announce the “warm homes plan” at the same time as the future homes standard, setting out how to insulate England’s draughty housing.

The North Korean leader visits Kumsusan to honour his grandfather, state founder Kim Il-sung, and his father, Kim Jong-il, on key dates and anniversaries. View image in fullscreen The North Korean ruler, Kim Jong-un, his daughter Kim Ju-ae and wife, Ri Sol-ju, during a performance celebrating the new year. Photograph: KCNA/EPAHong Min, an expert on North Korea at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said North Korea had been portraying an image of Kim’s “stable family” by showing his wife and daughter with him at major events. Kim Ju-ae, who is believed to have been born in the early 2010s, attended this year’s New Year celebrations, according to state media. North Korea has never confirmed her age.