The News Matrix: Monday 14 July 2014

Complaints to power firms have doubled

Complaints to energy companies have more than doubled in the last six months, to a new record high of 22,671. Research from the Energy Ombudsman also shows that three-quarters of bill-payers in rented accommodation have never switched supplier.

Costa Concordia will soon be refloated

Engineers are entering the final phase of removing the stricken cruise liner Costa Concordia from where she sank in 2012. Thirty-two people died when the vessel crashed into the rocks on the island of Giglio. The 290m ship will be towed to Genoa to be broken up for scrap. MORE

£1.1bn set aside for ‘vital’ programmes

A £1.1bn package of investment in military capabilities such as drones will be unveiled by David Cameron today. Cash for the “vital” MoD programmes has been found as a result of austerity measures and prudent financial management, the Prime Minister will say.

Eye tests can spot Alzheimer’s disease

Scientists believe they have found a way to identify the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease using a simple eye test. Early trials have suggested that an indicator of the disease can be identified in the retina and lens of the eye, distinguishing sufferers from those without it. MORE

Activist vows to help abducted schoolgirls

Malala Yousafzai, 16, who survived being shot by the Taliban, pledged to help free 200 abducted schoolgirls: “I see those girls as my sisters. I’m going to speak up for them until they are released.”

Drop in support for Scottish Yes vote

The Scottish Independence campaign has suffered a significant drop in support, with the promise of increased devolution of powers to Scotland winning over voters to the No camp. With fewer than 70 days to go until the referendum on independence, the poll from ICM suggested that just 34 per cent of voters would vote Yes – a fall of 2 per cent since last month.

Students struggle to find summer work

Students hoping to secure a summer job this year are struggling, with just a fifth succeeding, a study has found. The survey for The Student Room website found that 86 per cent of students wanted to work, but only 19 per cent said that they had found a job easily.

Tensions rise after Russia border death

Moscow threatened “irreversible consequences” yesterday after a man was killed by a shell fired from Ukraine into Russia. Kiev said the accusation was “total nonsense” and suggested the attack was the work of rebels trying to provoke Moscow to intervene on their behalf.