Eight cost of living support systems have been confirmed by the Government, including a 7% energy price cap reduction and two major DWP changes affecting millions in April

The Government has confirmed eight different cost of living support systems following the Prime Minister’s announcement of a £117 reduction in the energy price cap earlier today. Families across the country who are struggling financially could be eligible for this support.

Each cost of living boost has different eligibility criteria and only certain individuals will qualify for some – but two DWP changes below are among the main things happening in April. Other reforms include frozen rail fares and prescription charges as well as increasing wages.

Energy bills

Ofgem, the energy regulator, has confirmed that the energy price cap for April will decrease by seven percent. This will apply to all households, including those on fixed tariffs, and there is no need to claim or apply for it.

The exact amount each household saves will depend on their specific circumstances and energy usage but the average savings from this reduction is expected to be around £150, reports the Mirror.

Pay increases

From April, 2.7 million workers will receive a four percent pay rise as part of the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage increase. Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will see a rise of £900 a year, whilst full-time workers on the 18-20 National Minimum Wage rate will see a £1,500 rise.

People can check the new rates that will apply to them on the GOV.UK website.

Rail fares frozen

For the first time in three decades, the government has capped rail fare increases across England and parts of Wales for 2026. This will apply to all regulated fares between major cities, saving the typical commuter hundreds in weekly work travel.

Prescription charges staying under £10

Prescription charges are also being frozen at the current cost of £9.90 per item. Prepayment Certificates and other existing exemptions and discounts will remain in place.

State Pension increase

From April, both the new and old state pension will be increased in line with the triple lock. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says this will benefit millions of pensions with above-inflation payments.

However, it will put the state pension payments within spitting distance of the personal allowance threshold. After the increase, the full new state pension will equate to around £12,547.60 a year whilst the frozen personal allowance sits at £12,570.

Removing the two-child limit

After April, families with more than two children will be able to claim Universal Credit for each child in the household. Currently, parents can only claim the benefit for two children regardless of how many may be living in the home.

The DWP claims this will lift around 450,000 children out of poverty.

Government-funded childcare

Certain parents in England could be eligible for up to 30 hours a week of government-funded childcare for children from nine months old until school age. This is designed to assist working parents by saving them thousands each year, with further guidance for working parents available on the Government’s Best Start in Life website.

Free breakfast clubs for primary school children

Every primary school in England is set to receive a free breakfast club as part of the Government rollout. These 30-minute breakfasts aim to ensure pupils have the best possible start to their learning day and is intended to help improve behaviour, attendance and attainment.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan’s military launched an attack on Pakistan Thursday to retaliate for Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas earlier in the week, claiming to have captured more than a dozen Pakistani army posts in the latest escalation of violence between the volatile neighbors.

Pakistan’s government, which had described Sunday’s airstrikes as an attack on militants harbored in the area, confirmed clashes were taking place Thursday along the border but dismissed claims that army posts had been captured. It called Afghanistan’s attack unprovoked.

“In response to the repeated rebellions and insurrections of the Pakistani military, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations along the Durand Line,” Afghan government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on X Thursday night. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said the retaliatory attacks were occurring along the border in five provinces.

The two countries’ 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) long border is known as the Durand Line, which Afghanistan has not formally recognized.

The two sides reported widely differing casualty figures.

Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat posted on X that “up to 55” Pakistani soldiers had been killed, with the bodies of 23 taken into Afghanistan, while an undisclosed number of soldiers had been captured.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar disputed the claim, saying two Pakistani soldiers had been killed and three others wounded. He said 36 Afghan fighters had been reported killed. In a post on X, he said Pakistan was giving a “strong and effective response” to what he called unprovoked firing from Afghanistan, and would continue to do so.

Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, spokesman for Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured.

Fighting also broke out in a separate part of the border, with both sides reporting exchanges of fire in the Torkham border area.

Afghan authorities were evacuating a refugee camp near the Torkham border crossing after several refugees were wounded, said Qureshi Badlon, head of Torkham’s Information and Public Awareness Board. On the Pakistani side of the border, local police said residents were also evacuating to safer areas, while some Afghan refugees who had been waiting to cross back into Afghanistan were also moved to secure locations. Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown on migrants in Oct. 2023 and has expelled hundreds of thousands of people.

Pakistani police said mortars fired from Afghanistan had landed in nearby villages, but there were no reports of civilian casualties.

“Pakistan will take all necessary measures to ensure its territorial integrity and the safety and security of its citizens,” Pakistan’s Information Ministry said in a post on X.

Afghanistan’s military released video footage of military vehicles moving at night, and the sound of heavy gunfire. The video could not be independently verified.

Tension has been high between the two neighbors for months, with deadly border clashes in October killing dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants. The violence followed explosions in Kabul that Afghan officials blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad, at the time, conducted strikes deep inside Afghanistan to target militant hideouts.

A Qatari-mediated ceasefire between the two countries has largely held, but the two sides have still occasionally traded fire across the border. Several rounds of peace talks in November failed to produce a formal agreement.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s military carried out strikes along the border with Afghanistan, saying it had killed at least 70 militants.

Afghanistan rejected the claim, saying dozens of civilians had been killed, including women and children. The Defense Ministry said “various civilian areas” in eastern Afghanistan had been hit, including a religious madrassa and several homes. The ministry said the strikes were a violation of Afghanistan’s airspace and sovereignty.

Hours before Thursday’s border clashes erupted, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi defended the military’s Sunday strikes, saying they were on training camps of the Pakistani Taliban along the Afghan border.

At a weekly news conference in Islamabad, he said those “precision strikes were carried out” in response to recent militant attacks in Pakistan. Andrabi said Pakistan “remains cognizant of the threats that emanate from Afghanistan.”

He said attacks inside Pakistan, which he blamed on the Pakistani Taliban, have increased over the past year.

“We have nothing against the people of Afghanistan,” Andrabi said.

Militant violence has surged in Pakistan in recent years, much of which Pakistan blames on the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, and outlawed Baloch separatist groups. The TTP is separate from but closely allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban. Islamabad accuses the TTP of operating from inside Afghanistan, a charge both the group and Kabul deny.

___

Ahmed contributed from Islamabad, Pakistan. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan and Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece also contributed.

Will Atherton, a canine behaviourist based in Derbyshire, has years of experience in his field

Advertisement

Should dogs be permitted to sleep on furniture? It’s an age-old question that frequently splits pet owners down the middle, but a recent perspective from one trainer could finally resolve the dispute.

Will Atherton, a canine behaviourist based in Derbyshire, has years of experience in his field, having worked with numerous dogs exhibiting various behavioural problems, including aggression. He revealed people regularly enquire whether dogs ought to be permitted on sofas, beds and other household furniture – and gave a detailed answer.

“Should your dog be allowed on the furniture?” he asked in a TikTok during 2025. “And that’s a question I get all the time. And for me, it completely is up to you. I have a few little rules about it.”

First, Will urged viewers to consider whether their canine has any persistent behavioural concerns. Whilst he didn’t specify what these might encompass, they could range from hostile to overly enthusiastic or boisterous behaviour.

When a dog proves particularly troublesome at home, Will suggested it might be wiser not to permit them on the sofa. However, if the dog demonstrates good manners generally, it should be acceptable, provided firm boundaries are set.

He said: “If you don’t have any big behaviour problems with your dog, then I think you can absolutely have them on the furniture if you want them. If you don’t want them on the furniture, that’s completely fine.

“But if they are going to go on the furniture, my thought is that they shouldn’t be allowed to have free access to jump up and off whenever they want. It should look like this.”

To illustrate his point, Will gestured towards Sully, a large dog sitting on the floor beside his sofa. Will then continued: “They should wait with good manners, sitting, looking up to you for guidance and direction, and waiting for you to say, ‘up’.”

Upon command, Sully leapt up to join Will on the settee. “And they can jump on and they can have a cuddle,” he said. “And the most important thing is that just as well-mannered as getting on the furniture with you, it should be just as easy – Sully, off.”

Within moments, Sully dutifully returned to the floor as instructed. With this in mind, Will concluded: “If you can do that and you don’t have any problems with your dog elsewhere and you want them to come and have a cuddle on the sofa, then do so.”

Despite attempting to settle the dogs-on-furniture debate, Will’s video still sparked division among viewers online. Among those disagreeing, one individual commented: “I don’t have to ask anyone to have access to my sofa, why should my dog?”

At the time, another person also wrote: “I am not a control freak,” as someone else said: “My dogs are a part of my family, so they can go wherever they want to without asking to go there.”

However, others completely agreed with Will’s perspective. One user wrote: “My boys love being on the couch and I love having a snuggle with them on the couch, but they know when I say they need to get off, they do! And same for coming up!

“It’s so refreshing to hear a trainer who doesn’t want to just limit a dog’s life and surroundings and doesn’t guilt owners for wanting to share the space.” Meanwhile, another wrote: “Mine has free access to the furniture but when I tell him to get off, he does.”

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

“If you want to be a good writer, son, you must read. Read, read, read. Read everything.” 

I can still picture my grandfather imparting those words of wisdom to me from the green leather chair in my grandparents’ living room. He was not always a man to heed advice himself – he was smoking a cigar at the time – but he had plenty to offer. That nugget stuck. And lo, he was right. 

As we explore youth and education in the next issue of Positive News magazine, we thought we’d ask readers about the life lessons they received as a child that have stuck with them. 

All inherited nuggets of wisdom are welcome. It could be a fable that changed  how you see the world, a simple gardening tip or a style secret that helped you dress well. We’ll publish the best responses in an upcoming article, providing a knowledge base for other readers to dip into. 

To take part, fill out the form below.

Main image: iStock

“If this Committee is serious about learning the truth about Epstein’s trafficking crimes, it would not rely on press gaggles to get answers from our current president on his involvement; it would ask him directly under oath about the tens of thousands of times he shows up in the Epstein files,” she wrote.

During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (February 25), Mrs Badenoch told Sir Keir Starmer he should “ask why his backbenchers are saying that they’re being called the ‘paedo defenders party,’ and followed that up by saying she would “absolutely not apologise” later in the day.

Her jibe followed reporting by The Times that female Labour MPs had told Sir Keir earlier this month that voters had “screamed” the phrase at them in the street over the Peter Mandelson scandal.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Scott Heppell/PA Wire)

On Wednesday evening, the Conservative leader said she would “absolutely not apologise” for claiming Labour was being called a “paedo defenders party”.

Today, (Thursday, February 26), during a visit to Warbottle Academy near Newcastle, the Prime Minister refused to respond to Mrs Badenoch.

When asked about the term paedo defenders, he said: “I came into politics to change the lives of millions of people for the better, so I concentrate on what action the government needs to take to do that.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch (Image: James Manning/PA Wire)

“We’ve been focusing on tackling the cost-of-living crisis.

“That’s why this week we’ve been working hard to make sure that energy bills are brought down.

“Yesterday, we had the energy price cap announcement. That’s 117 pounds off energy bills, which will be for every household across the country, which is very, very important.”

The Prime Minister added: “And look, there are other measures, rail fares have been frozen, prescription charges have been frozen, wages, minimum living wages, will be going up here.

“And of course, inflation is dropping now to three per cent, and I hope it will drop even further. These are the issues that I think matter most to the country, matter most to me.

“For many people across the country, that’s what they want the government to be focused on, because that’s what their priorities are.”

Lord Peter Mandelson (Image: James Manning/PA WIRE)

Mrs Badenoch’s comments have drawn strong criticism from Labour MP Natalie Fleet, who was groomed as a teenager, and Katie Amess, the daughter of murdered Tory MP Sir David Amess.

Ms Amess said it had been “very inflammatory” and called for Mrs Badenoch to apologise, adding: “It’s not the way that our politicians should be talking, unfortunately.”

But appearing on a phone-in on LBC on Wednesday evening, Mrs Badenoch stood by her comments.

She said: “I will absolutely not apologise.

“I remember when Keir Starmer and the Labour Party were putting out posters saying Rishi Sunak was supporting paedophiles so that they wouldn’t go to prison.

“These people know how to dish it, but they don’t want to take it.”

Mrs Badenoch declined to say whether she thought Labour was a party of “paedo defenders”, saying: “It wasn’t my words, a female Labour MP used that language.”

She added: “Nobody would be calling them that if they held themselves to higher standards.”

Sainsbury’s, which has its main York store in Monks Cross Shopping Park and around 10 ‘local’ stores throughout the city, has said more than 300 jobs are at risk across the country.  

The company said most of the cuts are going to impact its technology and data divisions, as it restructures into one team for Argos and two for Sainsbury’s. 

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “By maximising the power of our data and technology, we’re freeing up our teams to concentrate on what matters most – delivering great food, brilliant service and fantastic value for our customers.”

According to the company, delivery driving jobs are not at risk. 

    Recommended reading:

The firm is also rolling out changes across its store leadership, creating four new regional store director roles dedicated to convenience shops, as well as overhauling its Argos delivery model and creating a separate leadership board for the Argos business.

Sainsbury’s said the overhaul comes as it enters the third year of its so-called Next Level strategy. 

The announcement comes after a recent spate in the supermarket sector, with Tesco on Wednesday (February 25) unveiling plans to cut 180 roles amid a head office shake-up that will also see some created, while retail tech.

It also follows Sainsbury’s, which employs around 140,000 staff overall, announcing last January it would cut more than 3,000 jobs, including 20 percent of management roles. It also closed its remaining 61 cafes, including at the Monks Cross store.

Canine behaviourist Will Atherton shared his verdict on whether dogs should be allowed on furniture

Should you allow your dog to sleep on the furniture? It’s a long-running debate that often divides pet owners, but a recent perspective from one trainer could finally resolve it.

Will Atherton, a canine behaviourist from Derbyshire, has years of experience in his field, having worked with numerous dogs displaying various behavioural problems, including biting. He revealed that people regularly ask him whether dogs should be permitted on sofas, beds, and other furniture – and provided a thorough response.

“Should your dog be allowed on the furniture?” he asked in a TikTok during 2025. “And that’s a question I get all the time. And for me, it completely is up to you. I have a few little rules about it.”

First and foremost, Will urged viewers to consider whether their pet has any ongoing attitude problems. While he didn’t specify what these might entail, they could range from aggressive behaviour to overly excitable jumping.

When a dog is causing significant disruption at home, Will suggested that it might be advisable not to allow them on the sofa. However, if the dog is generally well-behaved, it should be acceptable as long as clear boundaries are set.

He said: “If you don’t have any big behaviour problems with your dog, then I think you can absolutely have them on the furniture if you want them. If you don’t want them on the furniture, that’s completely fine.

“But if they are going to go on the furniture, my thought is that they shouldn’t be allowed to have free access to jump up and off whenever they want. It should look like this.”

To demonstrate his point, Will gestured to Sully, a large dog perched on the floor beside his sofa. Will then continued: “They should wait with good manners, sitting, looking up to you for guidance and direction, and waiting for you to say, ‘up’.”

Upon command, Sully leapt up to join Will on the settee. “And they can jump on and they can have a cuddle,” he said. “And the most important thing is that just as well-mannered as getting on the furniture with you, it should be just as easy – Sully, off.”

In no time at all, Sully was back on the floor, following instructions. With this in mind, Will concluded: “If you can do that and you don’t have any problems with your dog elsewhere and you want them to come and have a cuddle on the sofa, then do so.”

Despite attempting to settle the dogs-on-furniture debate, Will’s video still sparked division among viewers online. Among those disagreeing, one individual commented: “I don’t have to ask anyone to have access to my sofa, why should my dog?”

At the time, another person also wrote: “I am not a control freak,” as someone else said: “My dogs are a part of my family, so they can go wherever they want to without asking to go there.”

However, others completely agreed with Will’s perspective. One user wrote: “My boys love being on the couch and I love having a snuggle with them on the couch, but they know when I say they need to get off, they do! And same for coming up!

“It’s so refreshing to hear a trainer who doesn’t want to just limit a dog’s life and surroundings and doesn’t guilt owners for wanting to share the space.” Meanwhile, another wrote: “Mine has free access to the furniture but when I tell him to get off, he does.”

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

ABU’S will be opening at 19 Cheltenham Crescent, next to the Cattlemens Grill, where the Kinara Tandoori restaurant and take-away used to be, in a part of the town that is dominated by food and drink outlets.

It follows Abu Raihan and his father Chef Abdul Mannan running Abu’s in Duke Street, Darlington, since 2019.

The family-run restaurant is the home of “Apna” Indian Cuisine, where “Apna” means ours, reflecting the family’ dedication to bringing diners “the most delicious Indian food that celebrates our heritage and culture.”

The menu will feature the regular Indian favourites including tikka, baltis, kormas, tandoori, karahi, plus a wide range of signature dishes.

Abu told the Press: “We are a family run restaurant. My father is the chef. I ( Abu) run the front of the house.

“The restaurant we are taking over first opened in 1987 called AliShaan and my father was the head chef who opened it.”

Abu’s father also had businesses in Harrogate during the early 1980s.

Abu continued: “Both my younger brothers also work with us in the family business. My sisters also help out on weekends. We will be serving Indian Food. My father has 53 year’s experience as a chef.”

Abu says the family are coming to Harrogate as this is where he was born. There is no confirmed opening date yet for the new restaurant, which will undergo a makeover before it opens, likely to be in around six weeks, once the renovations are completed.

If the Harrogate restaurant is as good as the Darlington original, diners look set for a treat. Darlington diners will also be relieved to know their own restaurant will remain open.

Tripadvisor awards Abu’s 4.8 stars out of five, based on 569 reviews, ranking it third out of 239 restaurants in Darlington.

One recent comment said: “My family went to Abu’s for the first time. The food was absolutely amazing and very good portions. Very friendly staff, and we will definitely be returning in the future. Also the toilets were sooo posh and clean, so clean I wouldn’t have minded eating my curry on the bog.”

Another said: “Went early doors on a Saturday and was fairly busy for the time of day. Welcoming and friendly staff, food was tasty with good size portions. Pretty impressive toilets as well.”

Google awards Abu’s 4.5 stars out of five based on 246 reviews.

The retailer opened its latest location at The Bridges shopping centre in Sunderland today (Thursday, February 26), offering visitors a fresh shopping experience after relocating from its previous site nearby.

The new store, spanning 16,200 sq ft, promises the same mix of discounted designer labels and high-street finds, with stock updated weekly in typical TK Maxx treasure-hunt style.

The store had their grand opening today (Thursday, February 26). (Image: Run Free PR)

A spokesperson for TK Maxx said: “We’re thrilled to relocate our Sunderland TK Maxx store to this prime location in The Bridges Shopping Centre.

“This exciting move gives customers a fresh, modern space to explore our fantastic brands for less, making every visit even more enjoyable than ever. At TK Maxx, we’re committed to delivering the very best for our customers and can’t wait for everyone to discover the treasures our new store has to offer”

The opening day kicked off with a bit of fun, as TK Maxx hosted a treasure hunt for shoppers with the chance to win gift cards valued at £50, £20, £10, and £5.

Shoppers were eager to explore the new store. (Image: Run Free PR)

Karen Eve, centre director at The Bridges, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome TK Maxx to their fantastic new store at the Bridges. As a valued anchor retailer for many years, their move into this brand-new space marks an exciting new chapter.

“It not only enhances the shopping experience for our visitors but also reflects both their continued success and our ongoing commitment to investing in and evolving the centre.”

The store features fashion for the entire family, accessories, and homeware for visitors to explore.