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Wildfires have also broken out on the Greek islands of Corfu and Evia as thousands are evacuated.

BEIJING China will step up macroeconomic policy adjustments and focus on expanding domestic demand, the Politburo, a top

Tourists slept on airport floors as they waited for flights out of Rhodes, the Greek island ravaged by wildfires on Sunday, 23 July. Holidaymakers have reported walking for miles in scorching heat to reach safety, with some families separated at least temporarily. TUI have said its teams were doing everything they could to support customers and had sent in additional staff to manage “a difficult and evolving situation.” Wildfires have been burning on the island since last Tuesday; around 19,000 people have been evacuated.

U.S. trucking firm Yellow averted a threatened strike by 22,000 Teamsters-represented workers on Sunday, saying the company will

Provides an overview of Lesotho, including key facts about this small country in southern Africa.

LONDON Britain's private sector is growing at its weakest pace in six months in July as orders for

An overview of the media in Lesotho, as well as links to broadcasters and newspapers.

A restaurant in London has sparked criticism over its decision to introduce a minimum spend next month that will see solo diners charged double for their meals. In August, Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal, which boasts two Michelin stars, will increase the prices of its tasting menus. Currently, a five-course tasting menu costs £125 per person, while it’s £175 for seven courses. However, from 17 August, the restaurant will increase its prices by 11 per cent, bringing five courses to £165 and seven courses to £195. This is due to an increase in supplier costs and rising staff shortages in London, due to Brexit, that has put pressure on the business. For those dining alone, though, the new minimum spend means solo visitors could be charged a minimum of £330 to visit the restaurant due to the volume of requests they receive. However, the restaurant confirmed that they keep one to two tables for solo diners for every service without the minimum spend. So solo diners who book within 24 to 48 hours of their required booking time could be able to swerve the minimum spend depending on whether those tables are available at the time. Nonetheless, the initiative sparked outrage on Twitter, with commenters quick to point out the joys of dining alone, and how solo diners are often stigmatised. “F*** the Hotel Café Royal then… Solo dining is one of life’s great pleasures,” tweeted one person. “Oh great news. Yet another penalty for being single,” another added. Hugh Smithson-Write, who works in restaurant PR, tweeted: “A classic example of making the customer the problem, rather than finding a solution. “If you get ‘many solo diner requests’ how about you reconfigure your dining room to accommodate that and maximise the revenue? This is the very opposite of hospitality!” Victoria Sheppard, chief executive at Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal, told The Independent: “Since achieving our two Michelin stars the demand for solo dining has increased dramatically and whilst we make every effort to accommodate solo diners, we also have to be considerate to the running costs of our business. “That said, we are increasing our opening hours from 17 August and will be able to accommodate more solo diners (without any discretionary minimum spend). 95 per cent of our solo diners requesting tables since we implemented a discretionary minimum spend when we are at capacity for solo diners have been more that happy to proceed with their booking, enjoying wine pairings or champagne of wine alongside their meal. “Nightclubs in our local vicinity have minimum spends for tables or hotels you pay the same price whether one guest or two which is never under dispute.” Read More Michelin star chef Marcus Wareing gives controversial answer to the best pizza in London Tom Kerridge addresses backlash to his £35 fish and chips at Harrods: ‘They shout at me’ Chef defends viral chicken recipe after TikTok backlash: ‘PSA to the seasoning police’ Restaurant with ‘tips are a privilege’ policy sparks intense backlash on social media Cher is launching a gelato brand called ‘Cherlato’ Popeyes widely mocked for attempt to join ‘girl dinner’ trend

LONDON A downturn in euro zone business activity deepened much more than expected in July as demand in

(This July 24 story has been refiled to fix a link in paragraph 9) By Emma Farge and Brenna Hughes

Iranian authorities have shut down one of the offices of the country’s biggest e-commerce company and launched judicial procedures over the publication of photos showing female employees not wearing the Islamic headscarf

LONDON British radical Islamist preacher Anjem Choudary has been charged with three terrorism offences after being arrested in