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More than 750,000 households at risk of mortgage defaultFinancial Conduct Authority warns MPs over wave of missed paymentsMore than 750,000 households are at risk of defaulting on their mortgages over the next two years as soaring borrowing costs make payments unaffordable, Britain's financial regulator has warned. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said that over 200,000 households had already fallen behind on payments by the end of June 2022 - with bills overdue on around one in 40 home loans. The warning, issued in a letter to MPs on the Treasury Select Committee, will trigger fresh fears that a wave of forced property sales could bring down house prices in the coming months.It comes amid the biggest living standards squeeze on record after households were battered by rising interest rates and the highest inflation for 41 years.Official figures this week showed that monthly mortgage payments will triple for more than 800,000 households this year.When a customer is in default, their bank will typically offer to agree a payment plan, with homes only repossessed as a last resort.
Nasa’s James Webb Space Telescope finds its first planet – and it is very similar to EarthScientists hope new planet is just the first to be detected with breakthrough telescope The planet is almost exactly the same size as our own world, and the precision of the JWST means that scientists can be very sure about their observations, they say.Much is still unknown about the world. But early observations have confirmed some details about it: it has a diameter 99 per cent of Earth’s and is a few hundred degrees warmer than our planet.
Pensioner ‘punished’ with £100 fine for running red light to allow ambulance to passFrank Wallington, 76, says he was left ‘feeling like a criminal’ despite doing ‘nothing wrong’Frank Wallington, 76, who has had a clean licence for over 20 years, was issued with the penalty after he made way for an ambulance last March.He said he had been driving home from his cousin’s funeral when he was caught on camera inching past the lights a second after they had changed. He had been making way for an ambulance approaching with flashing blue lights on the A52 in Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire.Mr Wallington said he was left “feeling like a criminal” despite doing “nothing wrong” when he was fined £100 and given three points on his licence by Nottinghamshire Police.The grandfather of four subsequently appealed the penalty and explained what had happened but received no response for almost a year.He has now been told he must appear at Nottingham Magistrate’s Court on 14 Feb if he wishes to dispute the decision.
Jeff Beck: British guitar legend dies aged 78The British musician rose to fame as part of the Yardbirds, where he replaced Eric Clapton, before forming the Jeff Beck group with Rod Stewart.
A Fox And Cat Became Friends In Loutraki! See The PhotosA cat and a fox have become inseparable friend in Loutraki!As can be seen in the images from Tuesday night, the fox and the cat sit for a while together. According to local media, it is not the first time that the little fox has visited the beach park in Loutraki.The fox even played with the cat and did not seem afraid of the human presence.
What Used Cars Are Currently Available For Purchase Greece?The situation in the Greek used car market has changed radically due to the lack of new cars and the rise in prices throughout the market.In Greece, however, it appears that the average age of available used cars has decreased as almost half of the vehicles are between 3 and 11 years old, while last year most used vehicles were between 12 and 22 years old.This is due to the fact that used car importers have switched to newer vehicles to reduce customs clearance costs as we must not forget that imported used vehicles that meet the Euro 5 and Euro 4 emission directives are subject to an Environmental Fee of €1,000 and €3,000 euros respectively.According to News Auto, there are more than 96,000 available used cars in Greece, of which more than 62,000 units appear to have traveled more than 100,000 km. In other words, almost 7 out of 10 available used cars have more than 100,000 km on their odometres.In contrast, the available used cars that have traveled up to 30,000 km, they are minimal and concern only 14% of the available fleet, about 96,000 units.
Greece And Cyprus Are Top Destinations For British HolidaymakersAccording to a survey by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), Cyprus and Greece are among the ten most popular destinations for British holidaymakers this year.
Traffic stopped for koala crossing highway in Australia
EuroMillions' youngest UK winner says she 'wouldn't wish it on anyone'She said at one point she considered suing the National Lottery for "ruining her life".
MEP resigns after failing to declare luxury holiday paid for by QatarA Belgian socialist MEP stood down from her role as chairman of the European Parliament’s human rights committee after failing to declare a luxury trip to Qatar.Maria Arena, 56, accepted free flights and a stay in an upmarket hotel from the gulf nation, which is at the heart of a corruption and bribery scandal that has rocked the European Union.
Passports will cost more from next monthOnline applications for British passports will increase from February The government said it will introduce new passport fees for all applications on February 2, which will affect those newly applying or renewing their passport.The fee for a standard online application made from within the UK will rise from £75.50 to £82.50 for adults and £49 to £53.50 for children.Postal applications will increase from £85 to £93 for adults and £58.50 to £64 for children.
Exodus of millionaires as Britain ‘loses its shine’The ultra-wealthy are deserting the UK, piling extra pressure on public financesBritain was once a world leader in attracting the super-rich to its shores. Millionaire entrepreneurs and wealthy families flocked to the UK, buoyed by generous tax breaks, a simple visa system and strong economic prospects.But a series of punishing tax changes, political uncertainty and more difficult migration rules have caused the ultra-wealthy to shun Britain – and take their money elsewhere.Experts warned this had reduced the nation’s tax intake and resulted in higher taxes on ordinary households to fill the gap.
2022: sixth warmest year on record globallyGlobally 2022 was the sixth warmest year in a series stretching back to 1850, according to figures released today by the Met Office.2022 is the ninth year in succession that has equalled or exceeded 1.0 °C above the pre-industrial period (1850-1900).
‘Kraken’ Covid subvariant detected in GreeceXBB.1.5, the latest Omicron Covid subvariant that has been nicknamed “Kraken”, has arrived in Greece, with six cases being detected last week, the National Organization for Public Health’s (EODY) weekly epidemiological report for respiratory infections has said.All six samples were detected in Attica, specifically in the western and northern areas of Athens.
Partygate: The Inside Story - new revelations and our whistleblowers in their own wordsWhat did Boris Johnson really know about Downing Street’s notorious parties? With fresh blockbuster revelations from our sources, who you'll hear in their own words for the first time, Partygate: The Inside Story can lift the lid even further in the definitive behind-closed-doors story of one of the biggest scandals of our era.From the start, ITV News’s UK Editor Paul Brand delivered exclusive after exclusive - from a shocking leaked video and damning emails to shaming photographic evidence - which rocked Boris Johnson’s government, shattered its repeated denials, humbled the Metropolitan Police and ultimately led to the then-PM being ousted from office.Now in this seven-episode podcast series our multiple-award-winning journalist can finally take you inside Number 10 to reveal the full story. Along with exclusive interviews and never-before-aired details of our investigation, you’ll hear directly from several of our whistleblowers and sources, who were instrumental in helping us expose the truth.And, of course, the story’s still not over. Even now, out of power, questions remain for Boris Johnson. Did he knowingly mislead MPs over Downing Street's illegal parties?While he awaits his fate, judge for yourself as we bring you the inside story.Below is your guide to the explosive seven-episode series:
Boris Johnson staff ‘had sex at No 10 lockdown party’Some of Boris Johnson’s staff are said to have had sex at a Downing Street party on the eve of Prince Philip’s funeral while strict Covid restrictions were still in place.Two couples were seen getting “intimate” by several witnesses at a raucous party which continued past 4am, according to The Times – with one couple seen going into an office “with the lights off”.Another couple was seen “feeling each other up” in a No 10 kitchen before retreating into an office room, the newspaper said. They came out of the dark room “flustered”.The latest claims emerged as the former prime minister came under pressure over a joke he allegedly made about a 13 November 2020 leaving do being “the most unsocially distanced party” in the UK.
Dog attack: One woman dead and another injured in SurreyOfficers were called to Caterham, Surrey at about 14:25 GMT to a dog attacking members of the public.One woman, aged in her 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene while a second woman suffered dog bites and was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.Surrey Police said armed officers attended and seized seven dogs in total.
Woman fined £400 for fly-tipping after picking up rubbish strewn on streetOlivia Post had gathered up waste scattered outside her West Sussex flat last month after foxes tore open several adjacent bin bagsOlivia Post had painstakingly gathered up food waste and mess scattered outside her flat in Battle, West Sussex, last month after foxes tore open several adjacent bin bags.The entertainer had dutifully deposited the rubbish in a nearby council-bin using one of her household bin bags.Shortly afterwards, an official from Rother District Council approached Ms Post at her home and issued an on the spot fixed penalty notice, claiming she had broken environmental laws.