A study by the Rural Services Network has revealed that the cost-of-living crisis is hitting rural areas harder.
People in rural areas earn less money than those in towns and cities and the study shows that those in rural areas face higher costs and are spending more on essentials like heating, transport and housing.
Low-income rural households spend about half of their earnings on rent, around 5 per cent more than low-income urban households.
Rural houses also cost more to heat, with many not connected to the gas grid and they are generally less well-insulated.

Homes England has launched a long-term development finance lending fund, alongside Newstead Capital to support SME housebuilders.
It is intended for the fund to grow to £300 million in subsequent capital raised and deliver £1 billion of funding over the fund's lifetime.
The fund will be managed by Newstead Capital.
The fund aims to help Homes England's mission to accelerate change in the housing market, by introducing new source of institutional capital and diversifying lending channels.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has published the outcome of its consultation on tenant satisfaction measures (TSM).

Prime minister, Liz Truss is to address the UN Assembly today.
During the address, she will call on democracies to harness the power of cooperation which has been seen since the invasion of Ukraine. She will warn other leaders against complacency in regards to defending values and preserving a world order that rewards freedom. She will also highlight the threat from authoritarian states working to undermine security and stability around the world.

The government has announced plans to help households, businesses and public sector organisations with energy costs.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme aims to reduce wholesale energy costs by working with suppliers.
Through the scheme, the government will provide a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for all non-domestic customers. This includes all UK businesses, charities and the public sector, including schools and hospitals.

Prime Minister Liz Truss held a number of meetings with world leaders over the weekend.
She met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand, Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and President Andrzej Duda of Poland. She also spoke to Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates on the phone.
The meetings were used to reaffirm the strength of diplomatic relationships and reflect on the life of the Queen.
 

A bill to ban single-use plastics in Wales is set to be laid before the Senedd today.
The bill is set to contribute on the journey towards net zero and help reduce carbon footprints.
As one of the first countries in the world to charge for single-use carrier bags, Wales is currently ranked as the the world's third-best domestic recycler. Wales is now set to become the first part of the UK to legislate against such a list of single-use plastics.

New Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng is set to deliver a mini budget next Friday. It is expected to contain details of help for households and businesses dealing with the cost of living crisis.
MPs are expected to sit in the Commons on Thursday and then a day longer before going on their conference break to allow for the mini budget to be delivered.
MPs could also return from conference recess early, due to the cost-of-living crisis and parliament being suspended for the period of national mourning.

Zac Goldsmith has lost his role as environment minister.
The change means he will no longer attend cabinet.
He is expected to keep his role at the Foreign Office as minister of state for the Pacific and international environment.
Downing Street had said the reshuffle was on pause during the period of national mourning.
Goldsmith is a close friend of Boris Johnson.