Households and businesses to receive stronger protection against energy firms Households and businesses are to receive stronger protection against energy firms under plans to strengthen the industry ombudsman. Customers will be given better and faster help with resolving disputes with their supplier, alongside a crackdown on energy brokers to stamp out exploitation, and protections for
Victims who quit grooming gang inquiry panel ‘may return if Phillips resigns’ The four women who resigned from the national grooming gangs inquiry victims liaison panel have said they would be prepared to return if safeguarding minister Jess Phillips resigns. In a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, they said that Ms Phillips had labelled some of
US announces sanctions against Russian oil companies US treasury secretary Scott Bessent has announced new sanctions against Russia’s two biggest oil companies and condemned Moscow’s refusal to end its “senseless war” on Ukraine. The sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, as well as dozens of subsidiaries, come after months of bipartisan pressure on President Donald Trump
Man deported to France under returns deal re-enters UK on small boat A migrant who was deported to France under the “one-in, one-out” deal has re-entered the UK on a small boat. The man has been detained and the Home Office intends to send him back to France again, it is understood. He told the
Boy who murdered Harvey Willgoose at school can be named, judge rules A 15-year-old boy who stabbed fellow pupil Harvey Willgoose to death during a school lunch break can be named, a judge has ruled. Harvey, 15, was stabbed in the heart by Mohammed Umar Khan, who took a hunting knife to school and attacked
Families of anaphylaxis victims demand changes to inquest system Grieving families who have lost loved ones as a result of severe allergic reactions are calling for urgent changes to the inquest system, warning that the current set-up has failed to learn from past tragedies. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation said investigations into deaths caused by
Charities facing ‘unprecedented’ volunteer shortfall – report Charities are predicting a shortfall of three million volunteers over the next year, warning it will jeopardise essential services from hospices, conservation, animal welfare, and local community support. A study by Nottingham Trent University for the Royal Voluntary Service found that more than two-in-five charities report rising requests
Women walking 4,000 steps once or twice a week ‘cuts risk of early death by 26%’ Older women who clock up 4,000 steps a day just once or twice a week cut their chance of early death by 26%, research suggests. It is also the amount people walk, rather than the number of days on
Inflation unexpectedly remains at 3.8% as food prices ease Inflation unexpectedly remained steady last month as upward pressure from petrol prices was offset by easing food costs, according to official figures. The rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) was 3.8% in September, remaining at the same level as both July and August, the Office for
First NHS patient outside of clinical trials has new treatment for liver cancer The first NHS patient has received a pioneering new treatment for liver cancer, which uses focused ultrasound waves to destroy the disease. Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge is the first in Europe to offer the procedure, known as a histotripsy, outside of clinical