The Competition and Markets Authority has announced new rules forcing vets to be clearer about what they charge and who owns them.Under the reforms, written prescription fees will be limited to £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for each additional item.Practices will also need to publish clear price lists for common services such as consultations, routine procedures and cremation. A...

Slovenia has moved to limit how much fuel each motorist can buy, becoming the first EU member state to introduce nationwide rationing as regional tensions push up prices.The government says the measure responds to market disruptions driven by recent strikes in the Middle East that have shaken global energy supplies and sent pump prices higher.Under the new rules, private drivers may purchase up...

The Irish government has announced a temporary cut to fuel excise duties to ease pressure from a recent spike in pump prices linked to conflict in the Middle East.From midnight on Wednesday until the end of May, excise on diesel will be lowered by 20 cent per litre and petrol by 15 cent per litre.Cabinet will consider the measures on Tuesday after they were agreed at a leaders' meeting earlier...

A major trade agreement signed this week will send more Australian beef to Europe by removing most export tariffs and easing market access.The pact, negotiated over about eight years, is valued at roughly A$10 billion and was finalised on Tuesday.Nearly all EU duties on a range of Australian farm products will be eliminated, covering wine, fruit and vegetables, olive oil, seafood, most dairy, and...

Slovenia has announced daily limits on fuel purchases, becoming the first European Union member to introduce rationing amid regional supply worries and rising prices.The government says the move is aimed at preventing shortages and stopping motorists from filling up in Slovenia and returning home with cheaper fuel.Private drivers are now limited to 50 litres per day, while businesses and farmers...

Many families who once treated days out as a routine are tightening their belts as everyday leisure costs climb.Parents across the UK say meals, attractions and activities have become harder to justify on a middle-income budget, even when both adults are in work.Bianca and Paul Osborne, who live in Stockport and earn close to the national average household income, found a typical family outing...

Another surge in energy prices has jolted Europe, reviving memories of the 2022 shock that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.This time the trigger is instability in the Middle East, which has disrupted key shipping routes and sent markets into a fresh tailspin.The EU had vowed to end its heavy dependence on Russian fuels after 2022 and moved quickly: Russia now supplies almost none of the...

A fresh shock from the Middle East has sent energy markets reeling and reopened a debate Europe hoped it had settled.Months after stepping away from Russian fuels, EU capitals now face sharp price jumps and renewed political pressure as supplies tighten.After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the EU moved quickly to cut dependence on Moscow. Oil flows from Russia have almost disappeared for...

A recent Oscar-winning documentary has exposed how Russia’s wartime messaging has seeped into primary schools, placing children at the center of an expanding state-led patriotic program.Footage from a provincial town in the Urals, filmed by school events organiser Pavel Talankin, shows pupils taking part in flag ceremonies, scripted lessons and other activities that promote a...

Households face a sharp rise in energy costs from July, with consultancy Cornwall Insight projecting an increase of roughly £332 a year for a typical dual-fuel home.The firm estimates the annual bill under Ofgem's price cap for July to September would reach about £1,973, up from the current level of £1,641.Cornwall Insight is updating its outlook weekly because of large swings in wholesale...