Zelensky reacted to the bombing raid by saying Russia’s ‘meanness’ must not go unignored.
He added: ‘My condolences to all the families and loved ones.
The family and local community in Zelensky’s hometown were devastated (Picture: REUTERS)
‘The missile hit directly on a street – surrounded by ordinary homes, a children’s playground, shops, and a restaurant.
‘There is simply no deeper cynicism, meanness, or hatred for people than what Russia embodies now.
‘It is very important that this Russian attack on people, on a city – and every such attack – does not go unanswered by the world.
‘Stopping the killing of people, saving children’s lives, and establishing lasting peace is only possible through strength and coordinated action from partners.’
9 children died in the playground strike (Picture: Polina Palamarchuk/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
There were 20 apartment buildings and more than 30 vehicles damaged in the explosions.
Kryvyi Rih sits about 40 miles from the front line in eastern Ukraine and has a 600,000-strong population.
Russia, on the other hand, claimed Friday the attack was a high-precision missile strike on a restaurant where a meeting between unit commanders and Western instructors was taking place.
Their military said 85 military personnel and foreign officers had been killed, but offered no evidence of this.
Kryvyi Rih in Ukraine (Created with Datawrapper)
Kryvyi Rih was also bombarded earlier this week when a building in the centre was struck, leaving four people dead.
Russia ramped up its barrage on Ukraine as British and French military chiefs met Zelensky in Kyiv earlier on Friday to discuss plans for foreign peacekeepers in the country.
Chief of the defence staff Sir Tony Radakin posted an image of him meeting Zelensky in the Ukrainian capital.
He said: ‘Britain and France are coming together and Europe is stepping up in a way that is real and substantial, with 200 planners from 30 nations working to strengthen Ukraine’s long term security.’
A residential room remains in ruins following the Russian missile strike (Picture Polina Palamarchuk/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC “UA:PBC”/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)
While the two countries are pushing a ‘coalition of the willing’ to keep Ukraine secure in the event of a peace deal with Russia, tensions between the warring countries escalated over claims of attacks on energy infrastructure.
Putin accused Ukraine of breaking a ceasefire agreement ending striking on energy targets.
They claimed Ukraine hit Russian energy targets 14 times in the last 24 hours, allegations the Ukrainians called ‘fake’ and ‘disinformation’.
Earlier this week Zelensky fired accusations at Putin over the ceasefire deal.
A drone struck n Kharkiv in Ukraine late on Thursday (Picture: AP)
He said a Russian drone struck an energy substation in the Sumy region and artillery fire damaged a power line elsewhere in the country.
Putin has often met peace negotiations with attacks on his adversary’s hometown.
In early March, just after the Ukrainian president agreed to a ceasefire deal, another Iskander-M missile struck central Kryvyi Rih.
This bombardment killed a 47-year-old woman and wounding at least five other people.
Over 240,000 Ukrainians fled to the US after Russia invaded their country in 2022 (Picture: Shutterstock)
Less than a month after the some 240,000 Ukrainian refugees living in America were sent a threatening email about separation, they were told it was false.
In March, the Trump administration sent an email to many Ukrainian refugees who fled the country after Vladimir Putin’s troops invaded in 2022.
It read: ‘If you do not depart the United States immediately you will be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal from the United States.
‘Again, DHS (Department of Homeland Security) is terminating your parole. Do not attempt to remain in the United States.’
But now thousands have been sent a follow-up email after the initial panic, telling them the order was an ‘error’, adding: ‘the terms of your parole as originally issued remain unchanged at this time.’
One Ukrainian woman who was sent the email told Reuters she was crying and panicking after the first email.
Rallies have been held around the country in support of Ukrainians and against Russia (Picture: Reuters)
The Trump administration’s email was a sharp turn from former President Joe Biden’s ‘Unite For Ukraine’ humanitarian program which complemented the existing legal pathways for Ukrainians to pursue immigrant visas and refugee processing.
Biden said in 2022 that the program would provide an ‘expedient channel for secure, legal migration from Europe to the United States for Ukrainians’ who have a sponsor like family members or a nonprofit organization.
Shortly after entering the Oval Office again, Trump began his crackdown on immigration, but has been sharply criticised for his targeting of some US citizens as well.
An executive order, posted to the White House website, wrote of Trump’s plan to prevent undocumented immigrants from ‘invading’ communities and costing state and local government.
And a policy which previously restricted officer’s abilities to arrest undocumented immigrants at ‘sensitive’ locations, such as schools, churches and hospitals, has been rolled back.
The US Department of Homeland Security said: ‘Criminals will no longer be able to hide in America’s schools and churches to avoid arrest.
‘The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement, and instead trusts them to use common sense.’
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He launched ballistic missile hits on Kryvyi Rih – home city of President Volodymyr Zelensky – killing four civilians and injuring 17.
The wounded included a six-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy.
Zelensky slammed Putin’s strikes and renewed his call for the world to put pressure on the Kremlin leader to stop the slaughter.
‘Four people, unfortunately, were killed in this strike,’ he said. ‘All of the dead are civilians. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Everywhere in the world, such strikes are called the same: this is terror.
‘This can only be stopped by putting enough pressure on Moscow, on the Russian system, so that they are forced to abandon war and terror, and this depends on partners – on America, on Europe, on the rest of the world.’
The strikes hit the heart of Zelensky’s hometown (Picture: EPA)
‘The only thing that separates us from a complete and unconditional cessation of strikes is the lack of Russia’s consent to stop the war. Only world pressure can ensure such consent,’ he added.
Russia also unleashed 17 Shahed-style drones on Kharkiv within one hour, sparking fourteen explosions that thundered across the city.
Ukrainian military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko said the relentless kamikaze drone strikes on cities, which have increased during Trump’s peace moves, was Putin’s way of creating ‘the necessary effect of intimidation, fear, terror’ on Ukrainian people.
He said: ‘Russia will never stop striking the rear of Ukraine, since this is an integral part of its doctrine, and Putin’s goal is not peace, but the capture of the entire territory of our country.
Crews have been working to put out fires from the blaze (Picture: EPA)
‘If anyone thinks that all this can stop at once, then this will not happen until either we win or we are captured, after which the next stage of terror will begin – the genocide of the Ukrainian nation.’
Despite Putin redoubling his onslaught, Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg claimed a ceasefire is close.
‘We are looking for a comprehensive 30-day ceasefire. I think once that happens, it will be difficult to start a war again,’ he said.
‘That’s what I believe. And what we need is what I would call a technical task. A list of conditions. What the Russians want. What the Ukrainians want. I believe we are on the verge of a ceasefire.
‘But both sides have to make some concessions. Neither side is going to get everything they want.
Putin is seemingly ignoring Trump’s calls for peace (Picture: AP)
The White House’s so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ have gone into effect (Pictures: Rex/Getty)
In just 50 seismic minutes, Donald Trump flipped the world’s trading system on its head, branded other nations ‘foreign scavengers’ and called the EU ‘pathetic’ for ‘ripping off’ the US.
The US president had been billing his ‘liberation day’ as one of the most important days in the country’s history – and it’s certainly lived up to it.
At the ‘Make America Wealthy Again’ address on the White House’s famous Rose Garden, Trump didn’t hold back, holding up his chart of ‘reciprocal’ tariffs to show to the world.
Ahead of the announcements, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: ‘A trade war is in nobody’s interest, and the country deserves and we will take a calm, pragmatic approach.
‘Our decisions will always be guided by our national interest, and that’s why we have prepared for all eventualities and we will rule nothing out.’
Now, the UK has been hit with a 10% tariff on exports to the United States – a bit of a relief for Britain, considering talks of 20% tariffs on UK goods were mentioned initially.
However, UK residents will still be impacted, and the price of certain goods will increase, economists said.
After the announcement, business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: ‘The US is our closest ally, so our approach is to remain calm and committed to doing this deal, which we hope will mitigate the impact of what has been announced today.’
Here’s a list of products and goods which could see price increases after Trump’s announcement.
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Cars and the automotive industry
Jaguar Land Rovers are a major export to the US from the UK (Picture: Getty)
The UK car industry could take a hit after tariffs were introduced.
Some UK car brands which are sold in the US include: Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, and Lotus.
Cars could soon increase in price for UK buyers as well after the European car market was slammed with tariffs from the US.
Many European car brands, such as BMW and Mercedes, rely on sales in the United States – so with these new tariffs, UK prices could increase as well.
It’s feared the 25% tariffs could put 25,000 jobs in the UK at risk, while Range Rovers could be almost $30,000 more expensive in the US.
Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders statement Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: ‘ Our cars were already set to attract a punitive 25% tariff overnight and other automotive products are now set to be impacted immediately. While we hope a deal between the UK and US can still be negotiated, this is yet another challenge to a sector already facing multiple headwinds.
‘These tariff costs cannot be absorbed by manufacturers, thus hitting US consumers who may face additional costs and a reduced choice of iconic British brands, whilst UK producers may have to review output in the face of constrained demand.
‘Trade discussions must continue at pace, therefore, and we urge all parties to continue to negotiate and deliver solutions which support jobs, consumer demand and economic growth across both sides of the Atlantic.’
Cans and kitchen foil
Aluminium prices could be impacted – ranging from kitchenware to drinks and even kitchen foil.
Trump previously said he would place tariffs on aluminium imports to the United States.
But the impact aluminium tariffs could be felt hard in the hospitality industry on both sides of the Atlantic, analysists have warned.
Trump introduced a 25% levy on all beer imports and added beer cans to existing aluminium tariffs.
Micaela Pallini, president of Italian trade association Federvini, said in a statement: ‘Many labels, which cannot be replaced by local production, will disappear from the tables of US consumers, while a serious production and employment crisis is looming in Italy and Europe,.’
Mortgages
Believe it or not, tariffs on goods can actually affect your mortgage.
Inflation caused by the turmoil in the global economy (ie, tariffs), could affect interest rates in the UK.
Currently, the Bank of England’s base rate of a mortgage is currently 4.5%. That could be subject to change, depending on how bad inflation is.
Could any prices come down?
China has been given the largest ‘reciprocal’ tariff (Picture: Getty)
Thomas Sampson, Associate Professor in Economics at the London School of Economics, told Metro: ‘Many countries – particularly big exporting Asian countries – are now facing high tariffs on exports to the US, so it’s likely that some of that trade will be diverted elsewhere and could reduce prices in other countries.
‘We might see some of that trade being diverted to the UK, which could bring some downward pressure on UK prices.
‘But my guess is that will be a relatively small effect – because you know the countries that are facing the highest tariff they’re mostly countries that are a long way away from the UK that we don’t trade a huge amount.’
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How else could the tariffs affect your money?
The main way is interest rates.
These range from loans to credit cards and mortgages, as mentioned above. The rates could remain higher for longer, experts said.
But Mr Sampson points out: ‘The UK is such a service is lead economy because over half export is service-led. So we are less directly exposed to these tariffs than many other countries.
‘But this is why I think that the main effect is not going to come directly through the tariffs themselves, but the broad economic slowdown I’m expecting to come from them.’
What other countries are set to a 10% tariff?
Quite a few.
Brazil, Singapore, Chile, Australia, Turkey, Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago and Morroco have all been slapped with 10% tariffs.
Others got it worse. Now facing 54% tariffs on exports to the US, the world’s number two economy China vowed countermeasures, as did the European Union.
Both allies and foes united in criticism of measures they believe will deal a devastating blow to global trade.
‘The consequences will be dire for millions of people around the globe,’ EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement, adding the 27-member bloc was preparing to hit back if talks with Washington failed.
Royal Marine Commandos take up position on a beach in Harvstad, Norway, after swimming ashore during a training exercise (Picture: PA)
Europe is rearming at a pace not seen in decades.
More than £22 billion have been poured into military defence contracts so far this year – an urgent response to Russia’s preparations to wage a ‘large-scale war’ on the continent within five years.
Budgets appear to have swollen as governments are rushing to boost their borders, something resembling a real-world battlefield from Call of Duty.
Metro has been tracking military contracts issued to private manufacturers since January 1, including by the UK.
The findings show that billions of pounds are flowing into the production of weapons, high-tech surveillance systems and maintenance of the already existing arsenal.
Why this matters
The timing and scale of the new contracts coincide with warnings from a number of security officials that the Kremlin is laying the groundwork for a potential large-scale conventional war with Nato.
Germany’s government has warned that Russia’s economy is generating more output than is required solely for its invasion of Ukraine.
Military spending has risen to an estimated £100 billion – the equivalent to over 6% of GDP – nearly quadrupling its 2021 defence budget.
Behind the scenes
After taking office in January, Donald Trump has avoided a confrontational stance toward Russia and has went even further, praising Vladimir Putin as a leader and re-establishing diplomatic relations.
The US president has been working to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, ending the full-scale invasion.
While for the US, the conflict may seem like a lucrative business deal, for Europe it is a matter of survival.
Thales will supply over 5,000 lightweight multirole missiles (LMM) to Ukraine
The UK alone has awarded more than £12 billion of contracts since the start of the year.
Aerospace company Thales has won a £1.6 billion-deal to supply 5,000 lightweight multirole missiles (LMM) to Ukraine.
Defence provider Babcock International Group has also won a contract of the same amount to provide the British Army with equipment, including tanks and armoured vehicles.
And Rolls-Royce Holdings are being given £9 billion by the UK to design and manufacture nuclear reactors to power submarines.
Emmanuel Macron announced £1.2 billion in March to modernise one of France’s main air bases with the latest nuclear missile technology.
Denmark has ordered 30 Patria Armored Modular Vehicles (AMVs), with the first batch to be delivered this year
As part of the contract, he ordered the expansion of the French fleet of the Dassault Rafale fighter jets.
‘The world we live in is increasingly dangerous, and increasingly uncertain,’ said Macron, referring to the shifting global alliances.
‘Our country and our continent must continue to defend, equip, and prepare itself if we want to avoid war.’
Meanwhile, the Netherlands announced plans to enhance its air defence capabilities by purchasing 22 Skyranger systems, whichwill be mounted on ACSV Gen 5 tracked armored vehicles
The total procurement cost? £1.1 billion.
France is investing £1.25 billion in Rafale fighter jets and in an air base
Poland just signed a £1.5 contract with the US to supply logistical support for Patriot missile-defence systems.
Defence minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said in Krakow: ‘This is the protection of the Polish sky, this is within Polish airspace.
‘So it is an absolute priority for us and it is very good that there is a Polish-American cooperation in this area.’
A whooping £2.5 billion contract with Rheinmetall automotive and arms supplier was also unveiled by Germany in February to procure up to 368 IdZ-ES platoon systems for the Army.
What is next
Greece has today will announced it will spend £21 billion through to 2036 in the ‘most drastic’ defence overhaul in its modern history.
Prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told Parliament: ‘Τhe plan involves the most drastic transformation of the armed forces in the country’s modern history.
‘The world is changing at an unforeseeable pace.’
The money will be spent on a new anti-missile, anti-aircraft and anti-drone defensive dome called ‘Achilles’s Shield’ – similar to Israel’s famed Iron Dome.
The new initiative is also designed to make Greece ‘a key branch’ of the European Union’s defence mechanism.
Away from defence contracts, Germany is taking an unprecedented step by deploying a 5,000-strong armored brigade in Lithuania to boost Nato’s eastern flank.
It is the first time since World War II that the country has officially launched a permanent foreign troop deployment.
Brigadier general Christoph Huber told dpa, the German press agency: ‘We have a clear mission: to ensure the protection, freedom and security of our Lithuanian allies on Nato’s eastern flank.
‘In doing so, we also protect Nato territory and Germany itself.’
Military contracts per European nation
Britain
£165 million – Leonardo awarded extension for maintenance of the Royal Navy’s 54 Merlin helicopters.
£1.6 billion – Thales to supply over 5,000 lightweight multirole missiles (LMM) to Ukraine, creating 200 jobs in Northern Ireland.
£1.6 billion – Babcock awarded equipment contract to support British Army capabilities and defence sector jobs.
£285 million – BAE Systems to support Royal Navy’s shared infrastructure, combat management systems, and vessel networks.
£9 billion – Rolls-Royce to design and manufacture nuclear reactors for submarines.
France
£1.25 billion – Dassault Aviation orders Rafale fighter jets and invests in an air base as part of nuclear deterrence.
£400 million – Airbus and Naval Group to upgrade the IP Network of the Naval Force, enhancing connectivity and cybersecurity.
Denmark
£208 million – Patria to deliver 130 Armored Modular Vehicles (AMVs) starting in 2025.
£148 million – Kongsberg to provide NSM anti-ship missiles, replacing US Harpoon missiles on Danish frigates.
Netherlands
£1.1 billion – Acquisition of Skyranger 30 air defence system for Armored Combat Support Vehicles (ACSV).
£83 million – Thales to supply sonar suite for Royal Netherlands Navy Orka-class submarines.
Bulgaria
£64 million – Purchase of Javelin anti-tank guided missiles from the US to modernise the army.
Latvia
£162 million – Saab to supply RBS 70 NG MANPADS air defence system.
Poland
£1.55 billion – US to supply logistical support for Patriot air defence systems.
£1.3 billion – Procurement of 111 Borsuk infantry fighting vehicles for Polish Armed Forces.
Finland
£183 million – Nammo secures ammunition order from Finnish Defence Ministry (2025-2029).
Germany
£131 million – Saab to upgrade and maintain TAURUS KEPD 350 air-launched cruise missiles for German Air Force.
£2.5 billion – Rheinmetall to procure up to 368 IdZ-ES platoon systems for the German Army.
£44 million – Elbit Systems to supply PULS Rocket Launcher Artillery Systems.
Romania
£730 million – Raytheon to supply additional Patriot air and missile defence systems.
Unnamed Nato nation
£46 million – Elbit Systems to provide multi-layered Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Posters showing a smiling young woman waving a Russian passport have been popping up on social media in Lithuania
Ads for a Russian nationality on Facebook could in fact be a recruitment campaign for Kremlin spies, officials have warned.
Posters showing a smiling young woman waving a Russian passport have been popping up on social media in Lithuania.
‘Russian passport – support at every step. Russian citizenship for Russian-speaking Lithuanians. Without the need to renounce Lithuanian citizenship. Repatriation within three to six months’ the ad reads.
It promotes Russian nationality without the need to renounce Lithuanian citizenship -even though dual citizenship is generally not permitted in the country.
These ads may also be used as a recruitment tool for the Russian secret services, Lithuanian institutions have warned.
‘Russia is seeking to identify certain individuals who may be sympathetic to or have some sentiments towards that country to possibly exploit them in the future,’ Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the Crisis Management Centre in Lithuania, told broadcaster LRT.
According to the centre, the ads are published by a private Russian firm, the Central Migration Agency.
It issues Russian international passports and runs a so-called repatriation programme approved by the Kremlin.
The ad falsely promotes Russian nationality without the need to renounce Lithuanian citizenship
Lithuanian political analyst Gabriele Burbulyte-Tsiskarishvili said the ad is looking to ‘mislead’ citizens to renounce their nationality.
She said: ‘When accepting citizenship of another country, a citizen of Lithuania must renounce their Lithuanian citizenship (unless there are exceptional circumstances).
‘This has nothing to do with the information in the advertisement because the decision is made by the Lithuanian side; therefore, a person who has become a participant of the repatriate programme and has not renounced citizenship of Lithuania immediately violates the law and it is only a matter of time when it will happen set.’
The analyst added that the ad has been ‘circling’ on social media in Lithuania for awhile.
Officials in Vilnius have urged Lithuanians not to engage or respond to the ads and to report any suspicious activity.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement it was illegal for the country’s nationals to hold multiple passports, without first securing an exemption.
The decision to take a Russian passport would also ‘expose men to the possibility of being drafted to participate in Russian aggression in Ukraine’, the ministry said.
Lithuania, which was the first Soviet republic to proclaim independence in 1990, has cut ties with Russia – not only diplomatically – since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
It is one of the Baltic states to have disconnected their electricity systems from Russia’s power grid in February, part of a plan to integrate with the EU and boost security.
The nation is also doing everything to prepare for an invasion by Russia amid stalling talks about a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Lithuania’s government had already reinstated conscription in 2015, but in January, it committed to spending between 5% and 6% of its GDP on defence annually until at least 2030.
Bills are set to rise from April – Metro’s money expert explains what action you can take to beat the hikes (Picture: Getty/Metro)
Brits are being urged to check the terms of their phone and broadband contracts and ensure they’re not overpaying council tax with bills rising from April 1.
This year ‘Awful April’ looks likely to be particularly painful, with nine in 10 councils taking the opportunity to raise taxes by the maximum allowed amount, and water bills rising by as much as 47%.
Although you can’t escape all hikes, with the right know-how, you can potentially save hundreds of pounds.
Below, we talk you through how to hack household bills as businesses and councils put up their prices to compensate for inflation and rising costs.
1. Council tax
Have you been overpaying for council tax? (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Most of us will pay 5% more on our council tax from April – that’s an average of about an extra £109 a year for a Band D household – but a few unlucky folk will find the bill is much higher.
That’s because their council has been given permission to raise even more from customers because they are in dire financial straits.
Councils that can do this include Bradford, which will put up council tax by 10%, and the London borough of Newham, whose residents will pay 9% more.
Is there anything I can do about it?
Check you are not overpaying. There are a few reasons why council tax might be reduced. Full-time students, single people, carers and those with certain diagnoses are entitled to a discount, as are some people on low incomes, so check your council website to see if you are eligible.
You may also be able to apply to reduce your council tax band. The amount you pay in tax depends on the valuation of your house in 1991, and many properties have changed since then. There are more details on how to challenge the banding at gov.uk, though be aware that it comes with the risk you’ll go up a band, too!
2. Energy bills
Appliances left on standby are unnecessarily adding to your bills (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The government cap on energy prices rises from April 1 to 6.4%, so if you’re on a capped energy tariff, the gas and electricity you are using will cost more. Energy regulator Ofgem says this will cost the average household £111 a year if prices remain at the new level. The cap itself only runs for three months, after which prices may rise or fall again.
Is there anything I can do about it?
If you are on a fixed-rate tariff, you won’t pay any more for your energy until that rate comes to an end.
If you aren’t, and your energy is on a capped tariff, now might be a good time to see if you can save by switching. Use comparison sites such as Uswitch, Moneysupermarket or Comparethe market to find cheaper deals.
Taking steps to reduce your energy bills will also pay dividends, although the good news is that the latest hike is coming in as the weather gets warmer and energy demand reduces.
Fiona Peake, consumer finance expert at Ocean Finance, suggests the following tweaks to bring bills down further. ‘Leaving appliances on standby overnight can add up to £100 a year to your bills. Switching everything off at the socket (except essentials like your fridge) can be an easy way to save,’ she says. ‘Another simple fix is lowering your boiler’s flow temperature to 60C. It won’t impact the warmth of your home but it could save you another £100 a year.’
3. Water bills
If you’re struggling to pay your water bill you may be eligible for a ‘social tarriff’ (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Water bills alone are set to increase by an average of £123 a year from April 1, a 26% increase, according to the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), which represents householders. Depending on where you live, some people will face even bigger rises, as water companies are raising their bills by different amounts.
Some of the highest rises include Southern Water, which is increasing bills by 47%, South West Water (32%), Thames Water (31%) and Yorkshire Water (29%).
Is there anything I can do about it?
Andy White, from the CCW, says that customers who are finding water bills difficult to pay should check whether they are eligible for a ‘social tariff’.
If you are eligible because you have a low income, you could save an average of £160 a year, while those with medical conditions that mean they use a lot of water could be eligible for WaterSure tariffs, with an average saving of £286 a year. Two in five households in the UK don’t have a meter and some would be better off if they switched.
You can try the CCW water meter calculator at ccw.org.uk to see if that could be you. You can also, unless you live in an area where water meters are compulsory, switch back again after two years if you are unhappy with it.
‘I saved £175 by switching to a water meter’
Sylvia couldn’t believe her savings (Credits: REBECCA DOUGLAS)
Sylvia Tillmann, from Ramsgate in Kent, is saving over £175 a year now she’s switched her water to a meter. Her bill used to be £300 a year, and now it is just under £125.
The 58-year-old lives in a one-bedroom flat, but still saved on her Southern Water bill by switching to a meter.
‘I’m not wasteful, very environmentally conscious, and take short showers rather than long ones,’ she says. ‘I only use the washing machine and dishwasher when it’s really full, so the meter hasn’t changed my behaviour at all, just saved me money.’
Sylvia says that she was prompted to get a meter by a friend who had also saved money, and although she had to wait a while for an engineer to come and fit it, the process was otherwise straightforward.
‘To start with, I was checking the meter all the time to see if it moved, and it only moved a little bit with each shower or use of the dishwasher,’ she says. ‘I couldn’t believe my savings, and I’d advise anyone who is careful with water like me to do this.’
4. Broadband and mobile bills
If you’re out of contract you can wrangle yourself a better deal (Credits: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Broadband and mobile phone companies are allowed to put up your bills by an amount linked to inflation if this was in your contract when you signed up. Fiona, at Ocean Finance, says this could push bills up by six to 7.5%, adding £3-£5 per month to household expenses.
Is there anything I can do about it?
If you are out of contract, you can leave and get a better deal, or haggle with your current provider for a cheaper price by threatening to leave. Check out comparison sites such as Uswitch or Moneysupermarket for deals that might work for you.
If you’re in contract, chances are you’ll have to pay to leave, but do check whether they will waive exit penalties when prices rise. If the penalties are steep, make a calendar note of when the contract ends and switch as quickly as you can.
How to haggle your phone or broadband bill
Metro’s money expert Andy Webb, who runs financial blog Be Clever With Your Cash, shares his top tips to haggle down your phone or broadband bill.
‘If you’re out of contract, or soon will be, then this is the time to either find a new provider that charges less or haggle a better deal,’ he says.
Andy advises playing hardball with your phone provider.
‘Just tell the person you want to leave, and make sure you’re put through to the disconnection team as they have the most power when cutting prices,’ he explains. ‘You can even call their bluff and trigger the cancellation. Often they’ll call back with an even better deal. If they don’t you can always say you’ve changed your mind and accept the previous offer.’
When it comes to broadband, if you’re in contract, there’s not much you can do but wait to find out the increase, says Andy – with a few exceptions.
‘First, if you’re a Sky broadband or O2 mobile customer, these two companies will be charging more from April 1, but there are loopholes that mean you can cancel your contract. With Sky phone and broadband, though sadly not TV, it’s because Sky doesn’t have this increase baked into the contracts, so it’s a change in the terms you agreed to,’ he explains.
‘The opportunity to end an O2 contract early hasn’t been widely publicised, though the email I received also talked about other contract changes, such as fair usage on worldwide roaming. Whatever the reason, it still offers the opportunity to quit.
‘But you need to act fast. You’ve got 30 days from them telling you of the changes to tell them you want to leave (or use it as a bargaining chip). Since you might have had the communication in early February, the clock could already be ticking.
‘Another option worth exploring to beat the increases is if your internet speed hasn’t been what’s promised, and they’ve not been able to fix it in 30 days, then you can also cancel your contracts early.’
5. Car tax
Electric vehicle owners will no longer be exempt from car tax (Credits: Getty Images)
How much more will I pay?
For most of us, the increase in car tax will be a relatively manageable £5 a year, to £195. For those with electric vehicles though, the increase will be high. These vehicles have been exempt from the tax but now will pay £10 for the first year before moving to the standard car tax rate.
Is there anything I can do about it?
Expensive vehicles attract more car tax, so ensuring you don’t have a vehicle with a ‘list price’ of over £40,000 will save you money. Otherwise you only get out of paying car tax if your car is off-road and declared as such, or is over 40 years old.
6. TV Licence
You can opt out of TV Licence if you don’t watch live TV or BBC iPlayer (Credits: Getty Images)
How much more will I pay?
The price for a standard colour TV licence is rising by £5 to £174.50.
Is there anything I can do about it?
If you want to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer then you will need a licence. If you watch only other catch-up services, you won’t, and can save the full amount. You can apply to cancel your licence online if this is the case at tvlicensing.co.uk. You can also fill out a declaration on the same site saying you don’t need a licence, to prevent TV Licensing pursuing you for the cash.
Beware, though, if you don’t pay and are discovered to be watching live TV or iPlayer, you could face a £1,000 fine. Otherwise if you’re over 75 and receive the pension credit benefit you’ll get a free TV licence, while those who are blind or significantly sight-impaired will receive a 50% discount.
He threatened the Kremlin with his weapon of choice – secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on all Russian oil if his efforts to negotiate a ceasefire deal are thwarted.
Putin rejected a US-Ukrainian plan for a 30-day ceasefire, and suggested that Volodymyr Zelensky be removed from office as part of the process.
In response, Trump told NBC News: ‘If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia.
‘That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the US.
‘There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.’
The US president said the tariffs would come within a month if a deal is not reached.
He also stressed that he is ‘very angry’ and ‘pissed off’ over Putin’s recent attack on his Ukrainian counterpart, suggesting that Ukraine should implement a transitional government as any part of a deal, effectively pushing the war leader out of power.
Trump said that such comments were ‘not going in the right location’ for peace talks.
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He further announced plans to speak with Putin this week and stressed their ‘very good relationship’, quickly adding that ‘anger dissipates quickly … if he does the right thing.’
There are fears the Russian president is ‘dragging out’ the invasion after Zelensky told European leaders at a summit in Paris that Russia ‘doesn’t want any kind of peace”
Since entering the White House, Trump has been pushing for a speedy end to the more than three-year war and holding meetings with both Russian and Ukrainian officials to facilitate it.
After all, the politician repeatedly touted that he would achieve a ceasefire on his first day in office during his campaign trail.
Ofgem proposes suppliers compensate households for issues (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
While smart meters are a handy way to save money on your energy bills, it turns out millions across Great Britain may not actually work.
According to official figures, there have been a number of issues with the nationwide smart meter rollout, with as many as 3.5 million currently operating in ‘dumb’ mode, unable to send energy usage information.
As such, Ofgem has called on providers to urgently fix broken devices, proposing they issue £40 automatic compensation to those who have to wait longer than 90 days.
Under the regulator’s plans, customers will also receive a payout if a smart meter installation fails due to a fault within their provider’s control.
Amid government targets for three-quarters of all homes to use one by the end of this year, Uswitch research shows up to 1.4 million households in England, Wales and Scotland have waited six months or longer for their broken meter to be fixed.
However, the new proposals mean anyone who requests a new meter from their supplier will have to be offered one within six weeks, while suppliers will be required to provide a resolution plan to those who report problems with their device within five working days.
Roughly 3.5 million meters may be in ‘dumb mode’ (Picture: Getty Images)
Tim Jarvis, director general for markets at Ofgem, said: ‘We’re drawing the line on excuses – suppliers will need to follow our new rules or compensate their customers.
We know that many customers are still waiting too long to get a smart meter installed or facing lengthy delays on repairs when it stops working.
‘That’s why we’re stepping in to make the process quicker and easier for consumers and to make sure they’re fairly compensated if things do go wrong.’
What is smart meter 'dumb mode'
According to Smart Energy GB: ‘‘Dumb mode’ is sometimes used to describe when smart meters are not automatically sending meter readings…
‘If your smart meter is in “dumb mode” or isn’t sending regular meter readings, it will still be measuring your energy use, but it won’t send that information automatically to your energy supplier.
‘To get accurate bills, you will need to take manual readings and share them with your supplier. You will need to take regular readings until the issue is solved, and your smart meter can send readings automatically again.’
Martin Lewis discussed the topic on a recent episode of his podcast with Octopus Energy boss Greg Jackson, who claimed repairs were often not prioritised because fixing existing smart meters doesn’t count towards the targets.
The Money Saving Expert (MSE) founder previously warned ministers that up to 20% of home smart meters are not working properly, urging them to change the current rules.
In a letter to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, he wrote: ‘Repairs are slow, if they happen at all, as resources are focused on installs, leaving consumers frustrated and at risk of mis-billing and further problems.’
Comment nowDo you think a £40 compensation is sufficient for the ‘dumb’ smart meters?Comment Now
Ofgem’s proposals are due to be consulted on until May, after which further details on the compensation scheme will likely be released.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the UK Minister for Energy Consumers, commented: ‘We want to make sure more consumers feel the benefits of having one installed.
‘A crucial part of that will be improving the smart meter customer experience, so we welcome Ofgem’s proposals to introduce guaranteed standards of performance for smart meters.
‘This will help to ensure people who want to upgrade their meters are better supported through the process, and can make the most of their new smart meter.’
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said any deal to end the war should include Russia’s return of the kidnapped children (Picture: Getty Images)
Yale’s initiative, called the Conflict Observatory, sees experts use open-source information and commercial satellite imagery to find the children.
Exactly how many children have been taken is unclear, but campaigners say Russia may have carried out the largest state-sponsored kidnapping of children in modern history.
At least 314 youngsters have become trapped in Russia’s adoption and foster system and made Russian citizens, a move that Ukraine says is erasing their Ukrainian identities and indoctrinating them with Moscow’s agenda.
A Russian parliamentarian claimed last July ‘700,000 children had found refuge’ in Russia.
This information is shared with Europol and the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is trying to bring war crime charges against Russian officials.
In 2023, the court issued arrest warrants for Putin of Russia and the Kremlin’s children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, for deporting children from Ukraine.
Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has been tasked with cutting government spending costs (Picture: Reuters)
But the Yale researchers have struggled to work since January after Trump signed an executive order freezing all foreign aid.
The news was criticised on both sides of the political aisle, with Democrats and Republicans in Congress and Christian groups urging Trump to spare the observatory.
Greg Landsman, a Democratic Representative in Ohio, said in a letter to the White House: ‘The termination of this contract never should have happened, but I’m grateful to see State change its mind.
‘This shows that bipartisan, bicameral pressure got the administration to change course, but this still isn’t good enough.’
With funding now resorted, for now at least, Yale researchers will continue sending their data to EU police officials, the State Department said.
What will happen once the provisional funding ends is unknown.
