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The UK economy has returned to the weak growth that has characterised the past 15 years, as the mini-recession in the second half of 2023, and subsequent recovery in early 2024, has petered out, the Resolution Foundation said on Thursday 26 January 2025. The economy grew by 0.1 per cent in November - with service sectors such as hotels, retail, ICT and food all growing, while production shrank for a third consecutive month.

Funding will boost growth and create jobs throughout the UK, as well as move towards an era of zero-emission shipping. New government funding will decarbonise sea travel and cement the UK's status as a clean energy superpower.

The value of goods imports decreased by £0.3 billion (0.6%) in November 2024, because imports from the EU fell while imports from non-EU countries remained stable. The value of goods exports rose by £0.2 billion (0.8%) in November 2024, with a rise in exports to non-EU countries partially offset by a fall in exports to the EU.

Right to Buy has been a cornerstone of housing policy in England since its introduction in 1980, and has enabled over two million council tenants to purchase their homes at a substantial discount. The scheme has boosted home ownership and democratised wealth, especially for early buyers, but the long-term failure to replace the homes sold has significantly depleted the social housing stock, driving up the housing benefit bill as a result.

Monthly real gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown by 0.1% in November 2024 largely because of a growth in services, following an unrevised fall of 0.1% in October 2024. Real GDP is estimated to have shown no growth in the three months to November 2024, compared with the three months to August 2024.

New research from the British Nutrition Foundation finds that 57 percent of parents surveyed rely on visual estimations to decide portion sizes for themselves. Nearly a third (32 percent) of parents only sometimes or rarely feel confident about choosing the right portion size for their child Nearly half (48 percent) of all parents say that their children have second helpings at least once a week.

Survey launches to seek views of cultural sector. Dame Sue Bruce will chair the review of Creative Scotland, Culture Secretary Angus Robertson has announced.

Do you need a grant to help with education, trips or other things. Highland council is responsible for several trust that make grants for range of purposes.

UKHSA urges parents and carers to take these simple steps to ensure children make the healthiest start to the New Year. The UK Health Security Agency is reminding parents and carers of the simple steps they can take to ensure their children make the healthiest start to the new school term.

The Highland Council has released a short in-house video to highlight how it is delivering on its Net Zero ambitions. It also reaffirms the Council's vision as a centre for global renewable energy, by capitalising on natural resources to deliver alternative energy solutions, including developing solar, wind and wave solutions.

Be More Cat This Year - Caturday Film Club. Many more sill on Youtube..

In terms of energy efficiency and garment care, heated clothes dryers (often called heated airers) are generally considered better than tumble dryers, as they use significantly less energy, cause less damage to clothes. They can produce less wrinkles, making them a more gentle drying option; however, tumble dryers are typically faster at drying clothes, so the best choice depends on your priorities regarding drying time and garment care.

The original manuscript of a Gaelic love song written during the Battle of the Somme is to be housed at a new cultural centre. North Uist Historical Society will receive £165,000 of Scottish Government funding to convert Carinish Old School and showcase items from its collection, many of which are currently kept in storage.

The free running app has been downloaded over 7 million times since it launched in 2016, with 9.3 million NHS Couch to 5k runs started this year. Record numbers of people put on their running shoes and got fit-for-free this year with 8.7 million NHS Couch to 5k runs completed in 2024, new data revealed today (31 December 2024).

Two influential tech CEOs have sparked a debate about AI's effect on jobs. Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski announced the buy-now, pay-later firm stopped hiring a year ago, claiming that AI can do most of the jobs that humans do.

With Something Good, the arts and culture newsletter from The Conversation UK, we aim to cut through the noise and recommend the very best in new releases every fortnight. In 2024, we've been spoiled for choice when it comes to recommending fiction.