News 19/08/26

The rate of UK inflation rose to 2.9% in July, official figures show, marking the fastest pace of price increases in four months.

Data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that overall prices have not risen this rapidly since March. The recent acceleration follows a period where prices were growing at a slower rate, with last month’s jump driven primarily by a 13% increase in household energy bills following the raising of the price cap.

London’s ultra-low emission zone has been linked to an improvement in children’s lung growth, according to a new study.

The ULEZ scheme charges drivers twelve pounds fifty a day for entering capital boroughs in older, more polluting vehicles. Measurements taken before its introduction showed children in London had significantly smaller lung size compared with those in Luton, but researchers found their lung health improved to comparable levels over five years.

Donald Trump has paused plans to impose fifty per cent tariffs on twenty billion dollars worth of Canadian goods, including vehicles, dairy and alcohol.

The US president announced on social media that a deal is close, putting the levies on hold for three days subject to finalising documents. The announcement came less than two hours before the tariffs were due to take effect, following talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Three members of the same family have died after getting into difficulty in the sea off Shoreham-by-Sea.

Sussex Police confirmed a man, a woman and a teenage girl died following the incident near Shoreham Port on Tuesday afternoon, while a younger girl remains in hospital in a critical condition. Emergency services, including lifeboats, air ambulances and coastguard crews, responded to the scene.

A man who failed to check if a waste collector was registered has been fined after his rubbish was found at a massive fly-tip in Denham.

Forty-three-year-old Naim Jashari was convicted at Aylesbury Crown Court of failing in his duty of care. Buckinghamshire Council officers traced waste back to him following an investigation at the site.

Former Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for wartime elections in a video message on YouTube.

The thirty-five-year-old, who was fired from his cabinet role in July, said democracy cannot be held hostage by Russia. Elections are currently suspended in Ukraine under martial law, which was introduced following Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

A deaf patient was given a Covid jab instead of a flu vaccine because her doctor’s surgery failed to provide a sign language interpreter, a report by the health ombudsman reveals.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman warned disabled people are being let down by inaccessible communications. The Department of Health said such experiences were completely unacceptable.