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National News

Lack of friend or family visits linked to increased death risk

People should try to visit friends and family at least once a month to stop them feeling lonely and reduce their risk of premature death, a new study suggests. It comes as researchers found that people who never or rarely have the company of their nearest and dearest are more likely to die. Even those who live with someone else can be at risk if they are visited infrequently, academics said. Loneliness has been linked to an increased risk ofRead More

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National News

UK economy stagnates after no growth in latest quarter

The UK economy stagnated over the latest quarter but surpassed the expectations of economists, according to official figures. Gross domestic product (GDP) – which measures the value of goods and services produced – showed no growth in the three months from July to September, the Office for National Statistics said. It came as the statistics body also reported 0.2% growth in the economy for the month of September, amid a boost from the film production, health and education industries. AnalystsRead More

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National News

Vulnerable people increasingly left with poor quality supported housing

That's according to a report by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee Vulnerable people are increasingly being placed in poor-quality supported housing in a system left open to “unscrupulous landlords” and in need of reform, MPs have warned. Fraud is also still going largely unaddressed in the sector and gaps in regulation mean some providers face less scrutiny, a report by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found. The public spending watchdog said Government action to improve matters in supported housing, which isRead More

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National News

Pothole breakdowns hit record high

That's according to the RAC Vehicle breakdowns caused by potholes have reached a record high due to the “substandard state” of local roads, figures suggest. The RAC said it received 5,978 call-outs to breakdowns due to poor road surfaces in the UK between July and September. That was the most for that quarter since the RAC began recording the data in 2006. It represents a 46% increase from the 4,085 incidents in the same period last year. Common vehicle problemsRead More

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National News

Crypto investment fraud warning issued by major bank

A major bank has issued a warning about crypto investment scams, with victims standing to lose more than £10,000 on average and young adults often being particularly at risk. Lloyds Bank has recorded a 23% rise in reports of cryptocurrency investment scams by customers in its banking group (including Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland) between January and September 2023, compared with the equivalent period last year. Victims are losing £10,741 on average, up from £7,010 last year, theRead More

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Local News

Councillor urges Government to reject incinerator amid health concerns for deprived areas

A Lynn councillor has written to the Government calling for it to reject an incinerator which she believes will affect deprived areas the hardest.MMV Medworth has gone through various planning stages in its bid to build the waste plant on the outskirts of nearby Wisbech, and the Department of Energy and Climate Change is believed to be weighing up whether to approve the proposals this month.West Norfolk borough councillor Alex Kemp, who represents South and West Lynn, is worried thatRead More

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National News

Ed Sheeran praises creative college he studied at as new London campus unveiled

Ed Sheeran has praised a college he attended as a student which has unveiled a new state-of-the-art campus in east London. Access Creative College (ACC) officially opened its new centre on Thursday night in a launch event which featured a speech from the 32-year-old singer songwriter. Other speakers at the launch included British pop outfit Let’s Eat Grandma, ACC directors and guest of honour, deputy leader of the Labour Party Angela Rayner. The new Whitechapel-based campus, which has technically beenRead More

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National News

Police working to understand how machine guns are entering country

Work to understand how Skorpion machine guns are coming into the country is ongoing as police believe fatal shootings in Merseyside last year followed the arrival of a consignment, the force’s chief constable has said. Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy spoke as the force, which saw five people including nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel killed in shootings last year, was ranked outstanding in tackling serious and organised crime by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). MsRead More

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National News

Charles keeps his major charities close with King name rebranding

The King’s long-standing charities have been rebranded in recognition of his accession to the throne, Buckingham Palace has announced. As the Prince of Wales, Charles set up the youth charity the Prince’s Trust; the Prince’s Foundation, which promotes the built environment, heritage, culture and education projects; and the grant-giving Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund (PWCF). But 14 months after he became monarch and a week ahead of his 75th birthday, the palace announced the organisations’ names have been updated toRead More

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