Month: October 2024

Funeral directors could work at home and keep bodies of dead people in their garages, an inquiry chairman has warned as he called for a regulator to police the sector. Sir Jonathan Michael, who is investigating how people who have died are looked after around the country in the wake of necrophiliac killer David Fuller’s mortuary abuse, said people are “shocked” to find that funeral services are unchecked and that […]

The Prime Minister has declined to rule out increasing employers’ national insurance contributions at the Budget but insisted Labour would keep its promise not to raise taxes on “working people”. In an interview with the BBC, Sir Keir Starmer warned again that October 30 would bring a “tough” Budget amid speculation that Chancellor Rachel Reeves could announce more tax rises than those included in Labour’s manifesto. That manifesto included a […]

The King’s long-standing youth charity in the UK will formally operate under its new name from Tuesday. Charles set up the Prince’s Trust nearly 50 years ago when he was Prince of Wales, but it will now be known as The King’s Trust in the UK, after other entities across the world transitioned to the name in April. The King’s Trust Group of charities has also unveiled its new branding, […]

The birth of a rare calf said to be the smallest species of wild cattle was captured on video at Chester Zoo. A female anoa, named Kasimbar, was delivered by her mother Darcy following a 10-month pregnancy and the birth was recorded on hidden cameras located in their den. The video is believed to be the first recorded footage of an anoa birth, according to the conservation zoo. Moments after […]

There is an “urgent need for a rapid turnaround” of England’s health watchdog owing to “significant failings” in how it works, according to a damning review. The final report of senior NHS leader Dr Penny Dash into the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found changes were needed to “restore credibility” within health and social care. Dr Dash interviewed more than 100 staff at the regulator, received some 125 emails and also […]

UK earnings growth has fallen to its lowest level for more than two years amid further signs of a weakening jobs market, according to official figures. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said average regular earnings growth eased back to 4.9% in the three months to July, down from 5.1% in the previous three months. This marked the lowest level since the three months to June 2022. But earnings growth […]

New weight loss jabs could be given to unemployed people to help them get back into work, Wes Streeting has suggested. The Health Secretary said “widening waistbands” were placing a burden on the NHS. The latest generation of weight loss medicine, like Ozempic or Mounjaro, could be administered to people in order to get them back into employment, and to ease costs to the health service, he added. Mr Streeting’s […]

The UK is “critically vulnerable” to another energy crisis that would see price spikes, the Energy Crisis Commission has warned. The high-level group of experts, including representatives from Energy UK, Citizens Advice and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said the 2021-2022 crisis exposed various weaknesses in Britain’s energy system across three areas – supply, demand and targeted support for the poorest households. The commission was launched earlier this year […]

Michael Jackson’s jacket and John Lennon’s first vox amp, which he used with the Beatles, are expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of pounds when they go under the hammer. More than 350 rare and unique items of music memorabilia will go on sale at the Propstore auction on Friday November 15, including instruments, handwritten lyrics and autographs. Pieces worn and used by late music stars including George Michael, Prince […]