Politics
Water companies in England and Wales explore ‘surge pricing’ during drought
Suppliers could factor water scarcity into charges as part of Ofwat proposal to reduce consumption
Politics
Politics
Turbocharge special needs internships to help tackle UK youth jobs crisis, says Milburn
Specialist internships designed to secure work for young people with special educational needs should be put on “turbocharge” to help tackle the growing youth jobs crisis, a government review is to propose.
Politics
University spinout to launch water quality app for UK and US waters
A UK university spinout behind a rapid bacterial water testing kit is planning to launch live water quality maps, as scores of beachgoers report falling ill after swimming.
Politics
Burnham urged to crack down on gig economy firms to protect 4m workers
Andy Burnham is being urged to protect 4 million gig economy workers by prosecuting companies that use widespread “bogus” self-employment practices to deny people their rights.
Politics
Angela Rayner moves to protect pubs from being turned into houses or offices
All pubs will get protection from being turned into housing or offices under a shake-up of planning laws in England to be presented by Angela Rayner this week.
Politics
From tourism to power generation and productivity, Europe feels economic cost of heatwaves
Across Europe this scorching summer, workers have struggled in the heat as wildfires raged and critical infrastructure was shut down.
Politics
New UK cost of living crisis looms with soaring energy bills forecast to lift inflation
British households are facing a renewed cost of living squeeze, with official figures expected to show this week that soaring energy bills drove up inflation in July to close to 3%.
Politics
Missed out on tickets to see the Bayeux tapestry in London? A £1,000 hotel stay will get you in
British Museum’s £33 tickets sold out in a day but some slots have been reserved for guests at five-star One Aldwych
Politics
Royal estates rent out homes that fail to meet legal energy efficiency standards
Exclusive: More than 100 homes on King Charles and Prince William’s inherited estates have EPC ratings of F or G
Politics
Heathrow passengers face disruption after flood restricts access
Airport advises passengers travelling from terminals 2 and 3 to use rail and tube as pipe leak closes road
Politics
Met apologises for exposing 143 email addresses of Mohamed Al Fayed victims
The Metropolitan police have apologised for accidentally exposing the email addresses of more than 140 victims of Mohamed Al Fayed.
Politics
Ukraine strikes Russian space centre linked to Rassvet satellite network
Unable to match Western and Chinese spacepower, Russia is pursuing a path of asymmetric orbital deterrence.
Politics
US presses Apple to avoid Chinese memory chips amid shortage - WSJ reports
Apple is reportedly evaluating memory chips produced by Chinese manufacturer CXMT for potential use in its devices, including iPhones and MacBooks, according to reports covered by Fox Business. The move comes as the com…
Politics
UK’s biggest EV battery gigafactory shelves expansion as Jaguar Land Rover talks stall
The UK’s biggest gigafactory has shelved plans to expand production in Sunderland because of stalled talks on a deal to supply electric car batteries to Jaguar Land Rover.
Politics
‘I don’t even drink whisky’: Scotland reels in visitors as much of Europe swelters
For the tourist industry, 2026 has been a rocky year, with war, EU border delays, climate and economic woes gnawing away at holiday plans. But while much of Britain is feeling the loss of visitors from the Middle East a…
Politics
Secondhand booksellers in UK and Ireland suspect AI firms behind ‘strange’ bulk orders
Secondhand booksellers in the UK and Ireland are reporting a flurry of bulk orders from mystery buyers, amid speculation AI companies are acquiring the tomes for their data.
Politics
‘A tax on being thin’: only high earners make overall savings on food bills from weight-loss drugs
The high cost of weight-loss medication is a “regressive tax on being thin” because the outlay outweighs any saving on food costs for all but the highest earners.
Politics
Burnham announces £65m for drought-hit farmers after Labour pressure
Farmers must not carry the risks of the climate crisis alone, Andy Burnham has said, as he announced £65m of funding to help them manage the devastating drought.
Politics
SEC Charges Boiler Room Operator and Three Entities with Defrauding Retail Investors in $74 Million Pre-IPO Investment Scam
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged New York resident Andrew Spaventa and three entities he owned and controlled with fraud and other violations in connection with unregistered securities offerings of p…
Politics
Train derails near Essex town of Wickford
A train has derailed in Essex, less than 24 hours after two people were seriously injured in a similar incident in East Sussex.
Politics
Thames Water plans to restart desalination plant – after drought has ended
Thames Water is preparing the UK’s only desalination plant to restart operations later this year – but it will not be ready until the winter, long after the current drought is likely to have passed.
Politics
Andy Burnham moves to cut new EV sales targets
Andy Burnham’s government has said it will look at cutting electric vehicle sales targets, in proposals that could add millions of tonnes a year to the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions.
Politics
CEO banned for false and misleading statements made in attempt to buy bank and football club
Paul Taylor, former CEO of Blue Horizon Asset Management (BHAM) has been fined £489,000 and banned from working in financial services by the FCA.
Politics
Milk, wine, salad: how your food will be affected by the summer of heat
As parts of the UK swelter through a fifth successive climate crisis-driven heatwave and nearly three-quarters of England remains in drought, how are six homegrown products faring?