Ombudsman service shake-up ‘will help fast and fair response to consumer gripes’

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The announcement was part of a response to a public consultation held last year that sought views on how to address concerns that, in significant minority of cases, the FOS has acted as a “quasi-regulator”.

Legislation will be brought forward when Parliamentary time allows to reform the legislative framework that governs the FOS.

The Government will legislate to introduce a referral mechanism between the FOS and the FCA.

This will require the ombudsman to seek a view from the FCA where the FOS considers there may be ambiguity in what FCA rules require, or where it considers an issue raised may have wider implications across the financial services industry.

It will also make structural changes to the FOS to provide more consistency in decision making by giving the chief ombudsman overall responsibility for FOS determinations.

It will also make it easier for firms and consumers to understand and learn from FOS decisions by introducing a requirement for the FOS and FCA to publish regular thematic reports which provide  information and clarification on how the FOS will consider certain types of complaint.

Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby said: “These reforms to the Financial Ombudsman Service will make redress clearer, more consistent and easier to navigate.

“By setting clearer boundaries, we are restoring confidence in the system and ensuring it works fairly and predictably for consumers and businesses alike.”

Mortgage shelf life dips amid market uncertainty

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March 16, 2026

Mortgage shelf life dips amid market uncertainty

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The average lifespan of a mortgage product on the market has plummeted to just two weeks, marking the shortest period seen in over two years, according to new data from financial information website Moneyfacts.

By the beginning of March, lenders were typically withdrawing mortgage deals after only 14 days.

This represents the most rapid turnover since August 2023, when the average ‘shelf life’ stood at 13 days.

This accelerated pace in the market comes as average mortgage rates have recently climbed above the 5 per cent threshold.

On Monday morning, the average two-year fixed-rate homeowner mortgage reached 5.20 per cent, a notable increase from 5.10 per cent recorded last Friday.

Similarly, the average five-year fixed deal rose to 5.25 per cent, up from 5.19 per cent at the end of last week, both figures representing significant highs in the current climate.

The average shelf life of a mortgage has not been this low for more than two years, Moneyfacts said (Anthony Devlin/PA Archive) (PA)

Even in the turbulent aftermath of the 2022 mini-budget under then-Prime Minister Liz Truss, which sent shockwaves through financial markets, the average mortgage shelf life was slightly longer, at 15 days.

However, mortgages have not disappeared in recent weeks as fast as they did in the aftermath of the mini-budget.

On Friday last week, Moneyfacts said at least 530 homeowner mortgage deals have vanished from the market since Monday March 9, representing about 7.5 per cent of deals.

But the biggest single day fall for residential mortgages recorded by Moneyfacts was the withdrawal of 935 products on September 27 2022, equating to a little more than 25 per cent of the deals available at the time.

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In recent days, lenders have been scrambling to increase their mortgage rates and withdraw some products amid changing expectations in the financial markets following the conflict in the Middle East. Swap rates, which are used by lenders to price mortgages, have been increasing.

Rachel Springall, a finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: “Since this data was captured, there has been a notable shift in swap rates, amid the unrest seen in the Middle East.

“It is worth noting that the average shelf life of a mortgage has not been this low for over two years.”

Average mortgage rates have recently flown past the 5 per cent mark, and Moneyfacts said the average, two-year, fixed-rate mortgage on the market on Monday morning was the highest since April 2025, while the average five-year deal was at its highest since February 2025 (Alamy/PA)

The Bank of England is due to announce its next base rate decision on Thursday, with many economists expecting the rate to remain unchanged at 3.75 per cent, rowing back from previous expectations of a cut.

Ms Springall added: “The general optimism heading into 2026 for the market might have suffered a bit of a setback, as it is looking incredibly unlikely that the Monetary Policy Committee will favour a cut to the Bank of England base rate.

“The reason rests on the uncertainty surrounding tensions in the Middle East.”

But she said that borrowers who are sitting on a standard variable rate (SVR), which may happen when an initial mortgage deal ends, could still potentially make savings by taking out a new deal.”

She said: “The outlook might look a bit bleak for borrowers right now, but as we have experienced before, a short-term spike in market volatility can heal and interest rates are still far lower than they were a couple of years ago.”

Trump warns NATO of ‘very bad’ future if allies don’t help secure Strait of Hormuz

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March 16, 2026

US SIGNALS READINESS TO ESCORT TANKERS THROUGH HORMUZ AS TRAFFIC THINS BUT NO MISSION LAUNCHED

Trump warns NATO of ‘very bad’ future if allies don’t help secure Strait of Hormuz

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President Donald Trump sent his clearest warning yet to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Sunday: Stand with the U.S. for defense of the Strait of Hormuz or face a “very bad” future.

“It’s only appropriate that people who are the beneficiaries of the strait will help to make sure that nothing bad happens there,” Trump told The Financial Times in an interview Sunday. “If there’s no response, or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”

Trump echoed those remarks in press gaggle aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, returning to Washington, D.C., from a weekend atMar-a-Lago, saying it would “be nice to have other countries police that with us and we’ll help – we’ll work militarily.”

“Remember, like as an example of many cases that NATO countries, we’re always there for NATO,” Trump told reporters, pointing to “helping them with Ukraine” even though “between us, it doesn’t affect us.”

President Donald Trump issued some stern warnings for NATO to come to the world’s defense or face ‘very bad’ future. (SAUL LOEB / AFP)

“But we’ve helped them,” he added, repeating his comments to the United Nations General Assembly last fall, questioning whether NATO will “always be there for us.”

Trump is looking for NATO allies’ assistance in securing the oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz for the rest of the world. Trump administration officials have been repeating throughout the choking of the strait that the U.S. under Trump is a net exporter of oil and gets only a fraction of its oil from the Middle East – unlike the rest of the world, including NATO allies.

“It’d be interesting to see what country wouldn’t help us with a very small endeavor, which is just keeping the Strait open, and that, by comparison is a small [ask],” Trump added to reporters on Air Force One. “It’s small because Iran has very little firepower.”

A timelapse video shows marine traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz. (Kpler/Marine Traffic)

TRUMP SAYS HE MIGHT HAVE ‘FORCED ISRAEL’S HAND’ IN IRAN STRIKE DECISION AS CRITICS QUESTION WAR POWERS

Trump remained optimist that NATO allies will ultimately get on board

“We are talking to other countries about working with us, but the policing of the strait, and I think we’re getting a good response,” Trump told reporters on AF1. “If we do that’s great – and if we don’t, that’s great.”

President Donald Trump in front of sea mines.

The Iranian regime is using sea mines, which it has stockpiled in the thousands, to make traversing the Strait of Hormuz difficult and deadly. (Win McNamee/Getty Images; Eranicle/iStock)

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NATO has long been a point of contention for Trump, who had to repeatedly call on member organizations to reach even the 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spending threshold during his first administration. Current Trump U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker has hailed this second administration in getting NATO to commit 5% of GDP in defense spending.

Eric Mack is a writer for Fox News Digital covering breaking news.

Crude oil stocks adequate, refineries running at full capacity & petrol pumps operating normally: Govt – The Times of India

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March 16, 2026

The government on Monday said India’s fuel supply situation remains stable, with adequate crude oil availability and refineries operating at peak capacity even as geopolitical tensions in Middle East continue to disrupt regional energy flows.Addressing concerns over possible shortages, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery) in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the domestic petroleum supply chain is functioning smoothly and retail fuel outlets are operating without disruption.“Crude is available in sufficient quantity. All refineries are operating at the highest capacity. Our petrol pumps are operating normally. No dry out has been reported anywhere,” Sharma said, ANI quoted.Officials noted that oil marketing companies are closely monitoring stock levels and logistics to ensure uninterrupted distribution of petrol and diesel across the country.The assurance comes as Indian-flagged vessels carrying energy cargo continue to transit the conflict-affected Strait of Hormuz. Shipping Ministry Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said an LPG carrier is set to dock at Mundra port shortly, with priority arrangements made to facilitate swift unloading.“Shivalik LPG carrier, which sailed from the Persian Gulf, crossed the Strait of Hormuz and headed towards India, will be reaching today around 5 pm, maybe after an hour or so. And before its arrival, documentation, priority berthing, and everything have been arranged at the port so that there is no delay in the discharge of cargo by this vessel. All Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf area are safe.” He said. “No incident has been reported in the last 24 hours, and we are keeping a continuous watch on the situation. We are in touch with each vessel and its crew. 22 vessels, as was reported on Saturday, also. 22 Indian flag vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the west of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf…” Sinha added.He added that another Indian vessel carrying crude oil from the UAE is also safely headed to India.“Indian-flag vessel ‘Jag Laadki’, which sailed from the UAE on 14th of March, is carrying about 81,000 tonnes of Murban crude oil, is safely en route to India. The vessel and all Indian seafarers on board are safe. They’ll be reaching tomorrow at Mundra Port,” Sinha said.External affairs minister S Jaishankar earlier indicated that India is engaging with Iran to facilitate the reopening of the key maritime route. In an interview with the Financial Times, he said diplomatic coordination was beginning to yield results.“Certainly, from India’s perspective, it is better that we reason and we coordinate and we get a solution than we don’t. While this is a welcome development, there is continuing conversation because there is continued work on that,” Jaishankar said.He noted that while recent vessel movements demonstrate progress, passage for Indian ships is currently being managed on a “case-by-case basis.”

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March 16, 2026

Apollo Tyres introduces UHP all-season Quatrac Pro 2 Tire Technology International

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What are the symptoms of meningitis and is there a vaccine?

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March 16, 2026

What are the symptoms of meningitis and is there a vaccine?

Two people have died following an outbreak of meningitis, including one student at the University of Kent.

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Patient in Canada waits over 12 hours in hospital emergency room: ‘I’d rather pay’

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March 16, 2026

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Patient in Canada waits over 12 hours in hospital emergency room: ‘I’d rather pay’

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A woman seeking emergency care for severe abdominal pain recently shared her frustration on social media with the long wait times at a Canadian hospital.

Amanda Gushue, 37, first visited her primary care physician — who sent her to the emergency department (ED) with a swollen appendix.

After waiting for two hours in triage, she was sent to the waiting room — where she was shocked to see that it could be anywhere from five to 15 hours before she could see a doctor or nurse.

She ultimately waited another 10 to 12 hours before she was seen.

“There were probably about 150 seats, and they were all full,” Gushue, a resident of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, told Fox News Digital. “This is what we deal with when we go to the hospital on a regular basis — you’re looking at spending a full day there.”

Amanda Gushue, 37, sought emergency care for severe abdominal pain and shared her frustration with the long wait times at a Canadian hospital. (Amanda Gushue)

Gushue shared that one elderly woman came in with a head wound, “bleeding profusely,” and had to wait for two hours before she was seen.

Gushue said she attributes the long wait times to a scarcity of doctors. “We have tons of nurses, but no doctors.”

Even after she was admitted, Gushue said she received sub-par care and was not given sufficient privacy.

DANGEROUS TIKTOK TREND LEAVES BOY BADLY BURNED AS DOCTORS ISSUE WARNING

Canada has a universal healthcare system that is funded through taxes, according to the government’s website.

Eligible residents of a province or territory can apply for public health insurance to access free healthcare services, the website states.

“I would rather pay for my healthcare at this point and get treated fairly,” Gushe said.

After waiting two hours in triage, a patient in her late 30s was sent to the waiting room — where she was shocked to see a 15-hour wait time displayed. (iStock)

Part of the problem is that Canada is “overpopulated,” she said, expressing her point of view.

“The healthcare system is overworked right now, and these doctors are probably exhausted,” she said. “They’re working around the clock, and then after a 16- or 17-hour shift, you get a cranky doctor.”

Gushe was ultimately admitted. She had her appendix removed last week.

She is now recovering and said she “feels great.”

“I would rather pay for my healthcare at this point and get treated fairly.”

In 2024-2025, there were more than 16.1 million unscheduled emergency department visits in Canada’s hospitals, an increase from about 15.5 million the year before, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

Among those patients who were admitted into the hospital from the emergency department, nine out of 10 of the ED visits were completed within 48.5 hours, the above source stated. For those who were not admitted, nine out of 10 were completed within around eight hours.

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Median wait times vary widely by province, CIHI stated.

Some of the main factors contributing to the extended wait times include staff and bed shortages, hospital flow issues (due to lack of primary care access), and overcrowding that leads to system stress, according to the Canadian Medical Association.

“The healthcare system is overworked right now, and these doctors are probably exhausted,” Gushue said. (iStock)

Dr. Warren Thirsk, an emergency room doctor in Edmonton, recently shared with the Calgary Journal that he sometimes sees more than 100 people in the waiting room of his hospital, which only has 30 chairs.

“People who can stand, stand. Some are on the ground, and we’re hoping they’re alive,” he said. “And you walk by this carnage, and then you start your day.”

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The doctor added that some patients wait all night to receive care. “What used to be a mass casualty event is now the new norm,” he said, per the report.

Another ED physician, Dr. Michael Howlett, who is president of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, also shared his concerns about the situation.

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“I’ve worked in emergency departments since 1987, and it’s by far the worst it’s ever been. It’s not even close,” he told CityNews, a Canadian news outlet.

“We’ve got people dying in waiting rooms because we don’t have a place to put them,” he went on. “People being resuscitated on an ambulance stretcher or a floor. Those things have happened.”

Canada has a universal healthcare system that is funded through taxes, according to the government’s website. (iStock)

In January, Alberta’s minister of hospitals announced an investigation into the death of a 44-year-old man who died after waiting nearly eight hours in an Edmonton emergency department with chest pain, according to local reports.

A system review has since been completed by Acute Care Alberta, identifying emergency department overcrowding and triage challenges. The review issued multiple recommendations to prevent similar incidents, though a formal investigation into the death remains ongoing.

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The government also announced new triage liaison physician roles in major hospitals, as physicians report continued overcrowding and capacity issues.

Fox News Digital reached out to Nova Scotia Health and Canada Health requesting comment.

Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

Transfer rumors, news: Real Madrid plot move for Bayern’s Olise

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March 16, 2026

Transfer rumors, news: Real Madrid plot move for Bayern’s Olise

Mar 16, 2026, 04:26 AM ET

Real Madrid are plotting a deal for Bayern Munich star Michael Olise, while Chelsea want to sign Messi… just not the Inter Miami one.

Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is planning a major move to sign Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise in the summer, but Bundesliga leaders do not plan on letting him leave, according to Sport Bild. The 24-year-old’s contract runs until 2029 and doesn’t include a release clause, so Bayern feel no obligation to offload him. Liverpool also want Olise as they look for a possible successor to Mohamed Salah, who could soon leave Anfield.

– Arsenal have little intention of letting Riccardo Calafiori leave in the summer despite the defender being the topic of interest from Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus and Napoli, according to TEAMtalk. The Gunners are fully committed to keeping the 23-year-old, who is settled in north London and not actively looking to leave the Emirates. Interest from Chelsea has also been reported but Calafiori joining the club is seen as highly unlikely.

– Chelsea are lining up a move to sign Rayane Messi from Strasbourg, with the winger on loan at Saudi Pro League club Neom, reports TEAMtalk. Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have also enquired about the 18-year-old but Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo, don’t want to see him leave their multi-club network. The plan had originally been for Messi to be integrated into Strasbourg’s first-team next season before heading to Stamford Bridge, but that plan is now being reviewed.

– AC Milan and Inter are among the clubs who will try to compete with Arsenal to sign Leon Goretzka as a free agent when the midfielder’s Bayern Munich contract expires in the summer, as reported by Calciomercato. Milan have already initiated contact with the 31-year-old’s entourage, while Inter are hoping to complete a move that would be similar to the ones they have previously completed for Hakan Çalhanoglu and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Even so, Arsenal are the frontrunners to complete a deal.

– Marseille want to sign Jonathan David in the summer if they qualify for the Champions League but face competition from the Premier League, as reported by Tuttosport. While David would reject any offer from Olympique Lyonnais due to Paulo Fonseca being in charge of Les Gones, the 26-year-old has always been fascinated by the idea of playing in the Premier League. Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United all made attempts to sign him in January.

EXPERT TAKE

OTHER RUMORS

Nicol: Max Dowman is just not normal!

Steve Nicol reacts to Max Dowman becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.

– Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and several LaLiga clubs have been closely monitoring Newcastle United left back Lewis Hall. (Caught Offside)

– Crystal Palace and Leeds United both want Derby County and USMNT striker Patrick Agyemang. (Football Insider)

– Manchester City could sign Tottenham right back Pedro Porro for significantly less than his £70 million valuation. (Football Insider)

– Inter and AC Milan are both seriously considering a move for Manchester City defender Nathan Ake. (Caught Offside)

– Newcastle United could accelerate their plans to renew Kieran Trippier‘s contract amid fears that Tino Livramento could move to Manchester City. (Football Insider)

– Various clubs from England and Europe have contacted Liverpool about signing goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili permanently or on loan. (TEAMtalk)

– Rocco Reitz will join RB Leipzig from Borussia Monchengladbach for €20 million plus another potential €3 million in bonuses. (Florian Plettenberg)

– Juventus and Dusan Vlahovic are rapidly moving towards agreeing a new contract, with the striker’s current deal set to expire at the end of the season. (Tuttosport)

– Feyenoord and Wolves will speak to Bournemouth about signing Max Aarons at the end of the season, while Porto are also interested in the right back on loan with Rangers. (Ekrem Konur)

Alcohol-free beer and pet grooming used to measure inflation

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March 16, 2026

Alcohol-free beer and pet grooming used to measure inflation

Houmous and motorhomes are also added to the basket of goods and services used to chart the rising cost of living.

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‘Another internet is possible’: Norway rails against ‘enshittification’

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March 16, 2026

‘Another internet is possible’: Norway rails against ‘enshittification’

The video’s opening shot shows a man hiding under a bed snipping in a hole in someone’s sock. Seconds later, the same man uses a saw to shorten a table leg so that it wobbles during breakfast. “My job is to make things shitty,” the man explains. “The official title is enshittificator. What I do is I take things that are perfectly fine and I make them worse.”

The video, released recently by the Norwegian Consumer Council, is an absurdist take on a serious issue; it is part of a wider, global campaign aimed at fighting back against the “enshittification”, or gradual deterioration, of digital products and services.

“We wanted to show that you wouldn’t accept this in the analogue world,” said Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad, the council’s director of digital policy. “But this is happening every day in our digital products and services, and we really think it doesn’t need to be that way.”

Coined by author Cory Doctorow, the term enshittification refers to the deliberate degradation of a service or product, particularly in the digital sphere. Examples abound, from social media feeds that have gradually become littered with adverts and scams to software updates that leave phones lagging and chatbots that supplant customer service agents.

In late February, in a campaign that is believed to be the first of its kind, the publicly funded Norwegian council joined forces with more than 70 groups and individuals across Europe and the US, including trade unions and human rights organisations.

Together they urged policymakers in 14 countries that straddle the Atlantic to take action against enshittification, arguing that it was not an inevitable process but rather the result of policy decisions. “Another internet is possible,” said Lützow-Holm Myrstad. “The status quo is not acceptable for anyone.”

In Norway, more than 20 organisations pressed officials to take action, in a push echoed by consumer councils in 12 other countries. A letter was also sent to EU institutions, while four civil society organisations in the US contacted several policymakers.

The letters called on policymakers to give consumers more power to control, adapt, repair and alter the products they already own as well as to allow people to move more easily between different services.

Policymakers were urged to double down on the enforcement of existing laws, such as those designed to protect consumers and their data, as well as work to foster greater competition in digital markets, for example through the use of public procurement processes to favour alternatives to big tech.

The Norwegian Consumer Council, which made the video, wants greater competition to be fostered in digital markets. Photograph: Forbrukerrådet/YouTube

“It’s not too late to turn the tide,” said Lützow-Holm Myrstad. “Services don’t need to be enshittified if we have real competition, if you can choose as a consumer which services you use, and if the market will better regulate all these practices.”

The global campaign is backed by an 80-page report by the council, delving into how enshittification steadily became the norm.

While the council has a long history of taking on big tech companies – in 2018 it was among the first to accuse them of deceiving users into giving up their data – Lützow-Holm Myrstad acknowledged that its efforts were akin to pitting David against Goliath.

“But in the story of David and Goliath, David won in the end, right?” Lützow-Holm Myrstad said. “This is also why this international action is so important. Groups, transatlantically, are all speaking with a common voice: it doesn’t need to be this way. We don’t want it to be this way.”

Their hopes for the campaign have swelled as they watched the video rack up millions of views across multiple platforms, with more than 9,000 comments pouring in on YouTube alone, while the report was downloaded more than 6,000 times.

“We’ve never experienced anything like it, it really strikes a nerve with people,” he said. “There seems to be an incredible amount of support to do something about this.”