UK News: 75% of new sickness benefit claims fail

THREE-QUARTERS of claimants who apply for sickness benefit are found fit to work or drop their claims before they are completed.

Over a 22-month period, 887,300 of the 1,175,700 applicants for employment and support allowance - the successor to incapacity benefit - failed to qualify for assistance.

Royals get set for big day

LAST-MINUTE preparations were under way today for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

A final private wedding rehearsal was held for the couple at Westminster Abbey last night, along with Prince Harry and the Middleton family.

Energy firms ordered to give bill hike warnings

GAS and electricity suppliers will have to give customers 30 days' notice before hiking up prices after a new rule was initiated as part of a crackdown to make providers "play it straight with consumers".

Previous rules allowed energy companies to write to customers up to 65 days after increasing prices, but energy watchdog Ofgem decided to bring in the new regulations to give households more time to switch their provider before bill hikes.

Car recall system 'flawed'

THE UK's car safety recall system needs a complete overhaul, Which? Car magazine said today.

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) which administers the system is "a toothless organisation", Which? Car said. While VOSA's American equivalent the National Highway Traffic System Administrations had instigated 118 recalls in 2010, VOSA had instigated none.

Bellamy to wed his Muse

BRITISH rock star Matt Bellamy and Hollywood actress Kate Hudson are engaged.

Hudson, 32, who is expecting the Muse frontman's baby, revealed the news on a TV show in the US.

"It just happened a week ago," she said.

Belfast: Several homes were evacuated early today after two suspicious devices were found in Northern Ireland, police said. Officers were called to the Ross Road area after being alerted to the devices at around 2am. An army technical officer was also sent to the scene.

Wigan: Hundreds of mourners were expected to pay their last respects today at the funeral of a Royal Navy officer shot dead on a nuclear submarine. Lieutenant Commander Ian Molyneux, from Standish, Wigan, a father-of-four, died during an incident on board HMS Astute on April 8.