Water bills in England and Wales will increase by an average of £33 a year from April, about 5.4%, while industry groups say the funds will support a £104 billion investment programme and expanded social tariff support for around 2.5 million households.
Waymo has been manually driving a fleet of about 24 cars around London to learn local features such as zebra crossings while awaiting secondary UK legislation; the Department for Transport intends a passenger piloting scheme this spring, subject to safety rules and local consent.
The Care Quality Commission rated Castle Lodge Independent Hospital in Bransholme, Hull, outstanding for being caring and well‑led after a September inspection; the 15‑person facility was rated good in the safe, effective and responsive categories.
Staff and patients on West Raynham stroke ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital are taking part in a virtual Land's End to John O'Groats cycling challenge, aiming to complete 979 miles and raise £10,000 to fund an aphasia library; they have completed 110 miles so far.
A Derby family has taken over Little Used, a pre-loved community shop in Mickleover that has been part of the area for four decades. The store continues to operate a donor-share model and remains open under the new owners.
A Cambridge-led study of nearly 125,000 women, including about 11,000 MRIs, found reduced grey matter in brain regions tied to memory after menopause; the authors report HRT did not prevent this loss and experts say the evidence on dementia risk remains mixed.
Researchers say human-caused climate change increased the intensity of recent torrential rains across parts of South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, which led to more than 100 deaths and displaced over 300,000 people.
A severe flood warning described as 'danger to life' was issued at Iford Bridge Home Park near Christchurch after River Stour levels rose during Storm Chandra, and residents were told to evacuate while emergency teams assisted.
U.S. life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024, the CDC reported as the highest on record. Preliminary counts for 2025 suggest a slight further improvement.
A US think tank study says combined Russian and Ukrainian military casualties may be nearly two million; officials also reported a Russian drone strike on a Kharkiv passenger train that killed five.
