Women in UK three times more likely to die around the time of pregnancy than those in Norway Mothers in the UK are three times more likely to die around the time of pregnancy compared with those in Norway, according to an international analysis of data. Although maternal mortality is at historic lows in high-income countries, it remains an important indicator of quality of care, health system performance and, more specifically, maternal care. The comparison

BEIS has ‘national security’ concerns over China-owned Nexperia which took control of Newport Wafer Fab The British government has blocked the takeover of the UK’s largest producer of semiconductors by a Chinese-owned manufacturer, citing “a risk to national security”. The business department’s decision on Wednesday comes more than a year after semiconductor company Nexperia first announced that it had taken control of Newport Wafer Fab in south Wales in July 2021, in a £63m deal.

Jeremy Hunt expected to use autumn statement to announce rise in household energy price cap to as much as £3,100 Millions of UK households will pay more for their energy from next April under plans to cut the generosity of the government’s gas and electricity support scheme expected to be announced by Jeremy Hunt on Thursday. The chancellor is likely to use his autumn statement to say the need to save money and reduce state

Robert Jenrick says accommodation being sought in ‘much broader range of local authorities’ Rural areas will be asked to accept more people seeking asylum, a minister has suggested, as the government faced criticism from Conservative MPs for placing migrants in their constituencies. Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, said small towns and the countryside may be asked to house more people crossing the Channel in small boats “as long as numbers are so high”. Continue reading…

Shops will stay open while administrators assess options for the company The fashion firm Joules has formally fallen into administration, putting the future of the retailer’s 132 shops and 1,600 jobs at risk. The company said on Monday it had filed a notice to appoint administrators after failing to secure emergency funding. It has now hired administrators from Interpath Advisory, who said shops would stay open while they “assess options for the business”. Continue reading…

Rock that crashed into family’s driveway provides compelling evidence water arrived on asteroids Water covers three-quarters of the Earth’s surface and was crucial for the emergence of life, but its origins have remained a subject of active debate among scientists. Now, a 4.6bn-year-old rock that crashed on to a driveway in Gloucestershire last year has provided some of the most compelling evidence to date that water arrived on Earth from asteroids in the outer solar