About 1.5 million UK households use heating oil, typically in rural areas. This includes more than 40% of homes in some parts of Lincolnshire, including Wainfleet All Saints, Wragby, Roughton and Ludford, according to Census data.

Unlike gas and electricity customers, they are not covered by the energy price cap, leaving them more exposed to sudden increases. They also have to pay a lump sum in advance for their fuel, with domestic tanks typically holding between 1,000 and 2,000 litres.

On Wednesday, the average price was 97.05p per litre, according to the comparison website boilerjuice.com, external, which measures the cost for purchases of 1,000 litres.

That figure is up by 85% since 9 September 2025, when it stood at 52.8p, and while it has dropped significantly from a high of 134p in March, prices have been climbing again in recent weeks after renewed fighting between the US and Iran.

It means a household wanting to fill a 1,000-litre tank could be facing a bill of more than £970.

In March, the government announced a support package worth £53m, external for low-income families who use heating oil after prices surged due to the conflict in the Middle East.

The funding is distributed by local authorities, which set their own criteria for eligibility.

John Craggs says he inquired about help, but found he did not qualify.

The question of which smartphone Elon Musk actually carries has become a recurring subject of online speculation, and the honest answer, based on available public sightings and reporting, is that there is no single confirmed device. Musk appears to have been photographed using both iPhones and Samsung Galaxy devices at various points, and he has never publicly confirmed a single primary phone.

Unlike Apple CEO Tim Cook, whose device is effectively part of the job given Apple’s own product lineup, Musk has kept his personal technology choices largely private and has not endorsed any specific smartphone brand. That lack of official confirmation has left much of the public discussion around his phone use dependent on photographs captured by paparazzi and news photographers at public events, combined with occasional comments Musk himself has made on social media.

One of the more recent and verifiable sightings came earlier this year, when Musk was photographed entering a federal courthouse in California ahead of a hearing tied to his ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI. According to reporting on the image, Musk was seen holding a dark blue phone that appeared to be a model from Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

That sighting is consistent with Musk’s history of publicly praising Apple’s camera technology, even amid his well-documented criticism of other aspects of Apple’s business practices. In an earlier exchange on X, after Apple CEO Tim Cook shared photographs taken by professional photographers using an iPhone 15 Pro Max, Musk responded by describing the resulting images and video as “stunning,” a comment often cited as evidence of at least some genuine appreciation for Apple’s hardware capabilities.

At the same time, Musk has also been photographed carrying Samsung devices on separate occasions. According to reporting from Efani, a security-focused technology publication, Musk has spoken positively about Samsung devices in the past and has been seen using Galaxy Ultra phones in public settings, including at high-visibility product demonstrations. That same reporting suggested Musk’s likely daily driver leans toward the latest generation iPhone Pro model, while noting his continued rhetorical openness to Android as a platform, given his stated concerns about maintaining independence from any single technology gatekeeper.

Musk has previously discussed a philosophical preference for the openness and customizability associated with Android as an operating system, even while frequently being photographed using Apple hardware in more recent public appearances. According to one analysis comparing the phone habits of major technology executives, Musk has “floated the idea that if Apple or Google ever made it impossible to operate freely on their platforms, he would consider building an alternative phone,” a comment that reflects his broader wariness of being dependent on any single company’s ecosystem rather than a firm current device preference.

At a notable 2025 public event, Musk was photographed alongside Google CEO Sundar Pichai during Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, with Musk seen carrying an iPhone while Pichai was seen with a Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. Separate reporting has also placed Musk carrying a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra during earlier public appearances, suggesting his device choice may vary depending on the specific context or occasion rather than reflecting strict brand loyalty to either ecosystem.

It’s worth noting that some online sources make far more specific and less verifiable claims about Musk’s phone use, including assertions about a heavily customized Samsung device tied to his companies’ technology, such as SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service or his Neuralink brain-computer interface venture. These particular claims appear in lower-quality, speculative online content and lack credible sourcing or photographic evidence, and should be treated with significant skepticism rather than as established fact.

Musk’s apparent use of multiple devices across different contexts is not unusual among high-profile technology executives. According to Efani’s broader survey of billionaire phone habits, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has consistently been associated with Samsung and Android devices for years, reportedly favoring the platform’s flexibility for testing software builds relevant to his own company’s products. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has separately confirmed, during a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session, that he uses a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, explaining that the device’s larger folding screen allows him to review documents, presentations and emails without relying as heavily on a separate tablet or laptop.

Given the absence of any direct, on-the-record statement from Musk definitively confirming a single primary smartphone, most credible reporting on the subject has settled on describing his habits as split between the two major platforms, likely using an iPhone as his primary device in many public and professional contexts while maintaining familiarity with, and periodic use of, Samsung’s Android-based Galaxy lineup as well. That dual-platform pattern aligns with reporting suggesting some technology executives maintain separate devices for personal communication, software testing and cross-platform compatibility checks tied to their own companies’ products, including Musk’s ownership of X, which requires ensuring the platform functions properly across both iOS and Android.

For now, without an official statement from Musk himself definitively naming a single device as his primary phone, the most accurate answer to the question of whether he uses an iPhone or a Galaxy device remains that available evidence points to both, with recent photographic sightings, including the courthouse appearance earlier this year, leaning toward the iPhone as his more commonly observed device in professional public settings, even as his own past comments and additional sightings suggest he has not entirely abandoned Samsung’s Android ecosystem either.

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — The California legislature has passed Assembly Bill 2244 that would establish a non-ultra-processed certified seal that food manufacturers could place on their products that meet standards for not being ultra-processed.

“While Washington, DC, is paralyzed by inaction, Republicans and Democrats in California are joining forces to empower consumers to avoid harmful ultra-processed foods,” said Jesse Gabriel, the assembly member who authored the bill. “Like the USDA Organic label, this new seal will provide consumers with clear, trustworthy information and make it easier for them to locate healthier foods that are free from harmful additives. Parents shouldn’t need a PhD in chemistry to understand what they’re feeding their kids.”

The bill passed by a vote of 32-0 in the state Senate and by a vote of 72-0 in the state Assembly. California Governor Gavin Newsom has until Sept.30 to decide whether to veto the bill or sign it into law.

No federal law defines ultra-processed food, but the US Department of Health and the US Department of Agriculture have submitted for final review a proposed definition.

The bill in California would establish a process overseen by the California Department of Health where food manufacturers could apply to accredited certification agents to use the non-ultra-processed certified label on their packaging.

A state law in California regarding certain school-related purposes defines ultra-processed food as any food or beverage that contains a specific substance and either high amounts of saturated fat, sodium, or added sugar or a non-nutritive sweetener or other substance. The law requires the California Department of Health to define ultra-processed foods of concern and restricted school foods by June 1, 2028.

Not long ago, hand-drafted drawings, paper schedules, verbal progress reports, and manual budget tracking methods were the accepted modes of operation in the construction industry.

Of course, these manual processes also created lags in data transfer and communication that could render blueprints, reports, and other information sources obsolete upon arrival.

Thankfully, the complexity of today’s construction industry has been accompanied by advanced construction software tools capable of harnessing the wealth of available cost, schedule, safety, and quality data each project reveals. The value of this data depends not only on its breadth and accuracy, but on whether teams receive it while they can still act upon it.

Construction Doesn’t Have a Data Shortage

As anyone who has visited a modern construction site can tell you, there is no shortage of data to be collected and reviewed. Technologies like IoT sensors, mobile software apps, and cloud-based BIM platforms make data on task completion, schedule adherence, safety incidents, and countless other metrics available to us.

Unfortunately, the collection of data doesn’t guarantee it will reach the right audience at the right time. Key decisions related to construction budget management, procurement, and resource allocation rely on data that is both accurate and timely. The best software tools connect the dots between data sources and stakeholders, ensuring financial, quality, safety, or logistical issues are prioritized and addressed proactively.

The Difference Between Reporting a Problem and Preventing One

In data-rich cloud computing and network security realms, visibility is assessed based on recognition time. In other words, no amount of data can keep powerful applications running smoothly and securely unless it is interpreted and acted upon quickly. This highlights the difference between reporting vs preventing problems that is fundamental in construction.

For example, subfloor changes to address safety concerns mid-project can be integrated seamlessly when information flows quickly. However, even a modest delay between project phases can cause a chain reaction, with wasted materials, schedule conflicts between impacted trades, and expedite fees creating an expensive and time-consuming mess.

Data Silos Can Hide the Real Project Story

Construction data silos were once the result of physical distances. Today, they are frequently caused by differing priorities and perspectives: While a project manager sees a task conforming to schedule, a procurement specialist only sees the markups, return fees, and delivery premiums required to keep pace. Additional sources of data silos in construction include:

• Disconnected software platforms
• Localized spreadsheets and trackers
• Confidentiality concerns between stakeholders

Eliminating these silos helps to enhance the flow and value of construction data, with connected information helping teams understand how changes or problems in one area can directly impact others.

Useful Data Should Trigger Decisions

Establishing robust links between construction data and the experts who need it is just the first step. Project managers, quantity surveyors, and cost accountants can become overwhelmed by growing lists of metrics and KPIs, regardless of their importance. The best construction budget management tools transform timely data into real-time highlights that identify exceptions and emerging problems. This allows decision-makers to narrow their focus and concentrate on key risks and opportunities, taking action before financial, schedule, or safety issues multiply.

From Data Collection to Project Visibility

The road to optimized visibility begins with commitments to collect available data in real-time, break down siloes that impede the flow of information, and develop tools and systems that convert raw data into timely alerts and updates. While technology is a common (and necessary) ingredient, additional steps that help to complete this transformation include:

• Reducing reliance on traditional, retrospective reporting processes
• Establishing clear ownership for data collection, review, and sharing activities
• Focused training to improve data literacy project-wide

Conclusion

The construction industry has never been short on data, but establishing the systems and protocols to ensure useful data is available when needed is a next-level challenge. These advanced capabilities drive design, procurement, and financial decisions that define project success, along with the safety, sustainability, and logistical features of an evolved jobsite.

As construction software tools improve to expand data collection, the dissemination of information to decision-makers is equally important. The best project data does more than explain what went wrong. It gives teams enough time to keep it from going wrong in the first place.

Price cuts

Margin boosts

Wall Street and Main Street

Melissa Alcruz now works in marketing for a US real estate business based in New York City, but in the past she did the same job for TV channel MTV.

While at MTV she competed in an internal competition for a promotion that she says was referred to as a “bake-off”. Candidates had to come up with sponsorship and marketing campaigns, and then pitch to a room of seven people.

“This is intimidating, even for a seasoned professional. I ultimately got the job, but even though I won I disliked the process,” says Alcruz.

She points out that she already had a demanding full-time role at the company, and was then “expected to complete several substantial projects” for the competition in her spare time.

MTV’s current parent company, Paramount Skydance Corporation, has been asked for a comment.

Former recruitment consultant Katrina Collier, now an author, speaker and recruiter trainer, is concerned that competition-based recruitment processes that potentially require candidates to give up lots of their time for free can create “economic discrimination”.

“Not everyone can take time, possibly months, to participate in the challenges for the chance to secure one of a limited number of roles,” she says. “Does that mean only people from financially strong backgrounds proceed?

“Is that leaving talented applicants who don’t have the bank of mum or dad, for example, unable to take part?”

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The Treasury Department slammed Iran Tuesday by sanctioning 36 targets linked to its aviation sector, which officials said the regime uses to “move weapons, personnel, and illicit cargo.” 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration is taking action under Operation Economic Outcast, where the Treasury “promised severe consequences for those providing financial lifelines to the Iranian regime.” 

“Today, we followed through on that promise with sanctions on companies that continue to support Mahan Air,” Bessent said, naming one of the country’s largest airlines. “Let this be a warning to anyone doing business with Iran’s remaining airlines, all of which we sanctioned today: You are at risk of being cut off from the global financial system.” 

The Treasury Department said Iran’s commercial airlines have “long supported the Iranian regime’s destabilizing activities, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps using ostensibly private airlines, such as Mahan Air, for the procurement and transport of weapons and the ferrying of personnel.” 

TREASURY’S ‘ECONOMIC D-DAY’ AGAINST IRAN COULD FORCE REGIME INTO SITUATION IT ‘FEARS THE MOST,’ EXPERTS SAY 

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration is taking action under Operation Economic Outcast. (Mehmet Eser/Anadolu via Getty Images; Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

“Today’s action also targeted covert front companies, foreign intermediaries, and deceptive transshipment routes that Iran relies on to obtain U.S.-origin aircraft and sensitive technology,” it added. 

The 27 Iranian airlines sanctioned under Tuesday’s actions are: Air Shiraz, Asa Jet Airline, Ata Airlines Company, Atlas Aviation Group, Ava Airlines, Chabahar Airlines Company, Erwan Airline Company, Fly Kish Airlines, Fly Persia Airlines, Iran Air Tour, Iran Aseman Airlines, Jsky Airlines, Kish Airlines, Karun Airlines Company, Lad Airways, Mehr Airways, Nasim Air, Pars Oghyanous Kish Company, Qeshm Air, Raimon Airways, Saha Airlines, Sepehran Airlines, Soroush Air, Taban Airlines, Toos Airlines, Varesh Airlines and Zagros Airlines. 

BESSENT VOWS TO ‘ASPHYXIATE’ IRAN ECONOMICALLY, WARNS REGIME’S OFFSHORE ASSETS WILL BE FROZEN 

U.S. Central Command released new images showing Marines conducting live-fire training onboard the USS Boxer. (CENTCOM)

The other sanctions included targeting United Arab Emirates-based ECT Aviation Support LLC (ECT Aviation Support UAE) and Turkey-based Sky Phoenix Hava Yollari Tasimaciligi Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Sky Phoenix), which the Treasury said “served as intermediaries in the scheme to transfer U.S.‑origin aircraft to Mahan Air.”  

“Lastly, [the] Office of Foreign Assets Control is taking action against cargo service providers and general sales agents that have serviced Mahan Air’s international flights,” according to the Treasury.  

Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He is now the new leader of Iran. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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“Turkey-based S Sistem Lojistik Hizmetler Anonim Sirketi (S Sistem) has coordinated shipments, including unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) components and industrial equipment destined for Iran, on behalf of Mahan Air,” it said in naming one of the sanctioned entities.