Author: LoveWorld UK

FOOD PRICES FALL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS Food inflation is at 6.2% for September Food prices have fallen for the first time in more than two years after “fierce” competition between supermarkets to bring down shopping bills, according to an industry lobby group.  The British Retail Consortium says food inflation is at 6.2% for September, down from 6.9% in August.  This is below the three-month average rate of 6.8%.  One thing to bear in mind here is that these figures come to us from an industry lobby group – an organisation that is paid for by its…

EXTREME DISRUPTION AS NHS STRIKE ENTERS THE SECOND DAY NHS England says non-emergency care to a near standstill The NHS has warned it is facing “extreme” disruption as junior doctors and consultants walk out on the second of a three-day strike that brings staffing levels to “Christmas Day levels”.  The strikers insist staffing is at a safe level to provide care, while NHS England says non-emergency care to a “near standstill”. We’re expecting to see a big rally outside the Tory party conference in Manchester today and other picket lines across the country, and we’ll bring you any updates we…

The effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as lockdown and social distancing was “weak,” according to an official report. Last Wednesday, the UK Health Security Agency released a report which said that the evidence base for the effectiveness of NPIs, such as lockdown, social distancing, test and isolation, masks, the “rule of 6,” travel and border restrictions and more, was “weak.” NPI, also known as “public health and social measures,” is any public health intervention not primarily based on medication. Lack of Strong Evidence The report looked at a total of 151 studies reporting on the effectiveness of NPIs implemented in the community…

HOUSE PRICES UNCHANGED IN SEPTEMBER, SAYS NATIONWIDE After interest rate pause and summer slowdown The sharp decline in house prices took a pause for breath last month, according to a closely-watched report. Nationwide said prices were unchanged in September compared to the previous month. The lender had reported a 0.8% fall in August. It meant that prices were still 5.3% lower than a year earlier, equalling the biggest annual drop since 2009. Nationwide’s monthly index reflected the conclusion of the typical summer holiday slump in housing market activity and was the first reading of conditions since the Bank of England’s…

NATIONAL LIVING WAGE SET TO INCREASE – Wage to rise  to at least £11 an hour The national living wage is set to increase to at least £11 an hour from next April, the chancellor is to confirm. In a speech to the Conservative Party conference, Jeremy Hunt is expected to say the move will benefit two million of the lowest-paid workers. He will also say he intends to toughen sanctions for people on benefits who do not take steps to find work. It comes as the government is under pressure from some Tories to cut taxes. The national living…

Liverpool have released a scathing statement calling for a wide‑ranging review into how an error by the video assistant referee prevented them from scoring in their 2-1 defeat at Tottenham on Saturday. The Anfield club also warned they would “explore the range of options available” following the VAR controversy and made it clear that “sporting integrity” had been undermined. The referees’ body, Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) admitted VAR officials Darren England and Dan Cook failed to act after Luis Díaz’s 34th-minute strike at Tottenham was wrongly ruled out for offside. Still images of the incident showed Cristian Romero playing Díaz onside.…

The Supreme Court may spend much of its upcoming term, which begins next week, scaling back the power of the government, panelists said at a think tank chat on Sept. 28. Along the way, the nation’s highest court may get pulled into the various criminal prosecutions of former President Donald Trump and may also have to rule on whether he is eligible to seek a new term of office despite the controversial allegation that he participated in an insurrection against the government. The panel discussion was hosted by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a conservative think tank, and the C.…

More than 277,000 COVID-19 cases among people who received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2021 but not disclosed to the public, newly obtained files show. Some 144,349 cases among partially vaccinated people were reported by 32 jurisdictions to the CDC across three months in 2021, according to some of the files, which were acquired by The Epoch Times through the Freedom of Information Act. Partially vaccinated has been defined by the CDC as having received at least one dose of a vaccine. People were described…

HOUSEHOLDS SET TO STRUGGLE WITH ENERGY COSTS – Prime Minister urged to give support to millions this winter As winter approaches, energy bills are set to rise and turn out to be more costly than last year. In an open letter, a coalition of groups have called for “targeted support” to protect the most vulnerable households “in and on the edge of fuel poverty”. Rishi Sunak is under growing pressure to provide support for millions of households expected to struggle with energy costs this winter. More than 140 charities and organisations are urging the prime minister to avoid a “costly…

BARCELONA UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SUSPECTED BRIBERY IN REFEREEING CASE – Alleged payments made to referees for over 17 years Spanish football club Barcelona are under investigation for alleged “active bribery” as part of a probe into suspected corruption spanning two decades at the refereeing committee, according to a court document. Police also searched the offices of the football federation RFEF in Madrid on Thursday, the Barcelona court said, as part of the ongoing inquiry into “possible systemic corruption” within the Spanish refereeing committee. The refereeing investigation has now been widened to include Barcelona as a suspect. Investigating judge Joaquin Aguirre…