Weather warning

Bookies have slashed odds on next month ending as the coldest February on record as temperatures continue to fall. Leading bookmaker Coral has cut their odds to 6-4 (from 3-1) and also goes 5-4 that this winter finishes as the coldest since records began. It comes as it was announced that another freezing week is on the cards for Brits, who may also face a "snow bomb" similar to the Beast from the East. READ MORE: Met Office issues Beast from the East prediction as maps show exact date snow 'hits UK' "It has been a chilly January for large parts of the month, and unfortunately our betting suggests things are not going to get warmer in February. We have slashed the odds on the month ending as a record-cold February," said Coral's John Hill. A rare amber weather warning for cold weather ended on Sunday (January 29), after being extended for a fourth time by the UK Health Security Agency. Weather maps from WXCharts have suggested there could be a chance of snowfall … [Read more...] about Brits brace for ‘snow bomb’ as bookies slash weather odds on ‘coldest February on record’

Bill Gates warns of risk of global pandemic SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has warned in a new report that three years after COVID-19 the world is still "dangerously unprepared" for future pandemics. They warned that the coronavirus pandemic has been the biggest disaster in living memory, by almost any measure, with over 6.5 million people confirmed to have died in less than 3 years. In its World Disasters Report published yesterday, the humanitarian organisation warned that many countries were unprepared for the coronavirus when it first broke out in December 2019, while all countries continue to remain "dangerously unprepared for future … [Read more...] about Red Cross issues warning as next Covid-like pandemic may be ‘just around the corner’

Many mortgage repayments have gone up in recent months (Image: GETTY) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The base rate was raised many times in 2022 and is currently at 3.5 percent with the bank expected to continue to increase the rate. The central bank is meeting this Thursday to discuss raising the base rate with some expecting it to rise to four percent meaning mortgage repayments could go up too. Related articles TV licence explained - Simple steps to claim refund worth £159 UK’s 'best buy savings account’ turns £10k into £12,402 Those on fixed rate mortgages are protected from the interest rate increases for the term of their mortgage. But those who are coming to the end of their term may be … [Read more...] about Warning to fixed rate mortgage holders about as interest rates continue to rise

Image from Pagasa MANILA, Philippines — The entire country is expected to have fair weather on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its latest bulletin. Luzon, including Metro Manila and the entire Visayas, is expected to have partly cloudy to cloudy skies only, with chances of light rains due to the northeast monsoon or amihan. Mindanao is also expected to have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain showers and thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms. Despite the fair weather, Pagasa raised a gale warning in Luzon and Visayas due to amihan. The following areas are expected to have rough and very rough sea conditions with 2.8 to 4.5 meters of waves: the northern and eastern coasts of Catanduanes, the northern and eastern coasts of Northern Samar, and the eastern coast of Eastern Samar. “Fishing boats and other small [seacrafts] are advised not to venture out into the sea … [Read more...] about Fair Thursday weather nationwide

UPDATE: Feb. 1, 3:30 p.m. CT More than 347,000 Texans are without power Wednesday afternoon, according to the website Poweroutage.us , as ice from the winter storm continues to take down power lines across North and Central Texas. Poweroutage.us shows that two utility providers, Austin Energy and Oncor, account for around 270,000 outages alone. Austin Energy is the City of Austin's utility provider; Oncor provides power for a wide swath of North and Northeast Texas, according to the company's service area map. --- End of Update --- A giant winter storm that has been blanketing North and Central Texas in ice and snow has knocked out power for more than 140,000 Texans as of Wednesday morning. Austin Energy, the City of Austin's utility provider, reported that 140,000-plus customers are experiencing power outages as of 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. "Ice is bringing down power lines and tree limbs. Crews are facing icy roads & frozen equipment making it difficult … [Read more...] about More than 300,000 Texans without power as ice storm wallops grid

Flight from Dubai to Auckland turns around mid journey SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The Emirates flight from Dubai to New Zealand flew 9,000 miles. However, the aircraft was forced to return to its starting point halfway on its route when Auckland Airport closed due to widespread flooding. It comes after a whole summer's worth of rain fell there in a single day, killing four people. Passengers on an aircraft endured a 13-hour ride to nowhere, landing at the same airport from which they had taken off. On Friday, an Emirates flight from Dubai headed to New Zealand and flew 9,000 miles. However, the aircraft was forced to return to Dubai halfway through its route when Auckland Airport closed after widespread flooding. … [Read more...] about Passengers on plane fly for 13 hours only to end up back where they started out

The giant winter storm blanketing North and Central Texas this week is now wreaking havoc at Houston's airports. Houston's George Bush International Airport has seen 73 flight cancellations in the past 24 hours alone and William P. Hobby Airport has seen 63 in the same time window, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware . These numbers are up from yesterday, when only 54 flights out of Bush and 48 out of Hobby were canceled due to inclement weather. The situation is far worse in North Texas, near the heart of the ongoing storm. 1,223 inbound and outbound flights have been canceled at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in the past 24 hours as of 1:41 p.m., according to FlightAware. Another 360 were canceled at Dallas' Love Field Airport in the past 24 hours. Much of Texas is under a winter storm or ice storm warning until 6 a.m. Thursday, as a massive storm stretching from Texas to Virginia is dropping freezing rain and sleet on cities from Dallas down … [Read more...] about Hundreds of Houston flights canceled, delayed by Texas ice storm

Interactive Investor expert on decision to raise interest rates SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Personal finance comparison site finder.com brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the central bank’s options over the base rate. Out of the 11 panellists, 82 percent of those surveyed believed a 0.50 hike to interest rates is likely while two experts believe a 0.25 percent rise is possible. In the last year, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has chosen to increase the country’s base rate nine consecutive times. Related articles ‘Scandal' as HMRC forces pension savers to pay tax they don't even owe Premium Bonds winners for February 2023 announced The base … [Read more...] about Bank of England ‘stuck between rock and hard place’ ahead of interest rate rise

NS&I has increased the interest rates on several of its savings products (Image: GETTY) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The growth bonds have an interest rate of four percent while the income bonds have a rate of 3.9 percent. Some 500,000 existing customers will also get better interest rates for their Guaranteed Growth Bonds, Guaranteed Income Bonds and Fixed Interest Savings Certificates. Related articles ‘Scandal' as HMRC forces pension savers to pay tax they don't even owe Premium Bonds winners for February 2023 announced The growth bonds and income bonds were last on sale in 2019. Savers can invest a minimum of £500 and a maximum of £1million in each issue. NS&I chief executive, Ian Ackerley, … [Read more...] about NS&I brings back ‘popular’ savings option and increases interest rates for 500,000 savers

Pensions: Currie analyses Sunak's decision to protect triple lock SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Pensioners are being hit with a double whammy of soaring inflation and energy bills which is placing a great strain on them financially. With many older people reliant on their state pension , the return of the triple lock will be welcome for thousands of households. Retirees will be looking to see how much they make once this payment rate increase is implemented in April. Related articles ‘Scandal' as HMRC forces pension savers to pay tax they don't even owe Premium Bonds winners for February 2023 announced What is the state pension triple lock? Since 2010, the Government has promised to … [Read more...] about State pension triple lock to return in April – how much will you get?