Is Rachel Reeves abandoning the North?

The chancellor announces projects in England's south as infrastructure in the North East crumbles.

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Draught pints to cost 1p less after tax change

Tax on some alcohol will be reduced but pub groups warn Budget measures will end up lifting prices.

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Leaving X can be a tricky decision for brands

Many companies have left X but it's not always a simple decision.

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How much will I have to pay for my water?

Average annual water bills in England and Wales will rise by £123 in April but some will pay more.

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New oil and gas field consent was unlawful - judge

The judgement came after a case brought by environmental campaigners at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

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Meta to pay $25m to settle Trump lawsuit over ban

The president sued the firm in 2021 over the suspension of his accounts after the 6 January Capitol riots.

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Solar park will 'completely swamp' nine villages

Plans for 2,000 acres of solar panels are dividing Cotswold villagers.

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Healthy food costs more than double less healthy options

Low-income families are being priced out of being able to afford to eat healthily, a charity warns.

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Abramovich dodged millions in tax with superyachts-for-hire scheme

Shell companies were used to charter the sanctioned oligarch’s yachts to himself, evading VAT, BBC reveals.

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DeepSeek: the Chinese AI app that has the world talking

A Chinese startup has built a low-cost AI model using less technologically advanced chips.

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Scottish Water bills set to rise 9.9% in April

The firm says increases were necessary to fund infrastructure aimed at coping with climate change.

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Reeves hints at support for Heathrow expansion

An announcement is expected next week, as part of major speech on plans to boost the economy.

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'I don't want to buy a £4 coffee just so I can use the loo'

Should cafés let people who don't buy anything use their toilets?

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The French winemaker whose wines are illegal in his home country

Maxime Chapoutier makes wines that combine French and Australian grapes, a strict no-no in the EU.

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Trump urged not to put massive tariffs on UK

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says there is no need for tariffs because the US has no goods trade deficit with the UK.

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Clampdown on fake Google reviews announced

Businesses which boost their star ratings will have warnings attached to them - fake reviewers will be banned.

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Trump urges Opec countries to slash oil prices

The president says he wants Opec and Saudi Arabia to bring down the price of oil which he says is fuelling the Russia-Ukraine war.

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The French winemaker whose wines are illegal in his home country

Maxime Chapoutier makes wines that combine French and Australian grapes, a strict no-no in the EU.

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Sainsbury's to cut 3,000 jobs and shut cafés

The changes are part of a cost-cutting plan, but recent tax rises for businesses have also been a factor.

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Rolls-Royce strikes £9bn nuclear submarine deal

A deal for nuclear submarine reactors is agreed between the Ministry of Defence and Rolls-Royce.

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Campaigners dismiss loan charge review as 'sham'

The charge aimed to close a tax loophole and recover backdated taxes, but has left many facing big bills.

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HMRC denies 'deliberately poor' phone service

Thousands on hold to HMRC's helpline say they were cut off after waiting for 70 minutes.

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Trump considers 10% tariff on China from February

The new president accused Beijing of sending fentanyl to Mexico and Canada which ends up in the US.

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Tesco, Aldi and Lidl hit back at farm inheritance tax

Tesco, Aldi and Lidl call for rethink of inheritance levy announced in Budget

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Government ousts UK competition watchdog chair

Marcus Bokkerink is leaving as the government signals it is serious about growth, the BBC understands.

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What executive orders did Trump sign on day one?

The Republican quickly set about using his new powers to approve executive actions on a host of policy priorities.

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Rail nationalisation not a silver bullet, says Labour

The Transport Secretary says taking operators into public ownership doesn't guarantee good service.

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Shein backlash fails to deter shoppers: 'I spend £20 a month'

Some young shoppers will continue to buy from the fast fashion giant despite concerns over how workers are treated.

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Cidermaker wins appeal in 'lookalike' dispute with Aldi

The Somerset cider-maker wins an appeal after claiming Aldi had copied its packaging and taste.

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'I live with my mum because I can't afford to move out'

Living with your parents in your 20s and 30s has its challenges, but many can't afford to move out.

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Fears empty restaurant TikTok trend could last

There are fears that tax and wage rises mean restaurants and bars will be quieter than usual all year.

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IMF warns on Trump's plans but upgrades UK outlook

Trump's policies could benefit the US, but not the rest of the world, the IMF says

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Shock drop in shop sales adds to worries over UK economy

Sales unexpectedly fell last month, due to a poor December for food sales in supermarkets.

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Trump says he will 'most likely' give TikTok 90-day reprieve from ban

Trump says an announcement will probably come once he takes office on Monday about the app's future in the US.

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IMF warns Trump's plans could backfire on the US

Trump's policies could benefit the US, but not the rest of the world, the IMF says

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Mark Carney, the 'unreliable boyfriend' who ran UK's central bank

Carney is now running for the Liberal Party leadership in Canada. What does his time in London tell us?

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Apple suspends error-strewn AI generated news alerts

The tech giant was facing pressure to pull the feature after it made repeated mistakes summarising headlines.

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US firm that accused Adani Group of fraud shuts down

Nate Anderson, the founder of Hindenburg Research, has announced his decision to disband the company.

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Egg prices surge as US inflation picks up

Overall prices in the US rose 2.9% compared with a year earlier, official figures show.

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Reeves vows action on growth amid rising debt costs

The chancellor says she is "under no illusion" about the challenge facing UK public finances.

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GPs turn to AI to help with patient workload

Should more AI be used to help GPs with consultations and administrative work?

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Miners 'thrown to the wolves' over pensions

Miners feel they have been "thrown on the scrapheap" as money from their pension scheme stays frozen.

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TikTok users flock to Chinese app RedNote as US ban looms

A swarm of "TikTok refugees" has made RedNote the most downloaded app on Apple's US App Store.

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Online safety laws unsatisfactory, minister says

Peter Kyle responds as internet safety campaigner Ian Russell says laws to protect children need fixing.

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Reeves defends China visit and hails £600m boost to UK

The chancellor has been criticised for making the trip while the government is under pressure from rising borrowing costs.

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UK has enough gas, says network after storage warning

Experts say the UK has enough gas after Centrica said storage levels were "concerningly low".

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Online safety laws unsatisfactory, minister says

Peter Kyle responds as internet safety campaigner Ian Russell says laws to protect children need fixing.

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Landlords ripping off LA fire victims, says Selling Sunset star

Real estate mogul Jason Oppenheim says renters are being asked for thousands over previous prices.

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Boeing and Google each give $1m for Trump inauguration

The US companies join other major firms donating funds for the ceremony on 20 January.

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TikTok to make final Supreme Court plea on US ban

TikTok is challenging a law that would see it banned in the US in a matter of days.

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Why are UK borrowing costs rising and what does it mean for me?

Government borrowing costs have hit their highest level for several years - what does it mean for you?

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Mick Lynch announces retirement as head of RMT

Mr Lynch steered the union through fierce pay strikes in 2022 and 2023 before securing a new deal.

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Rolls-Royce to build bespoke cars for super-rich

The luxury carmaker will almost double the size of its factory to build more one-offs.

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'Huge problems' with Instagram and Facebook changes, says oversight board

The body's co-chair says moving to community notes could have a big impact on gender rights and minority groups.

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Pound falls as borrowing costs rise to highest since 2008

Economists have warned the rise could ultimately mean further tax rises or cuts to spending plans.

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Facebook and Instagram get rid of fact checkers

Meta says its platforms will instead rely on "community notes" from its users, an approach pioneered by X.

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Huge problems with axing fact-checkers, Meta oversight board says

The body's co-chair says moving to community notes could have a big impact on gender rights and minority groups.

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Shein lawyer refuses to say if it uses Chinese cotton

Yinan Zhu declined to say whether it retailer's suppliers used Chinese cotton amid concerns over forced labour.

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Stamp duty changes 'will motivate first-time buyers'

The UK's biggest mortgage lender says house prices rose 3.3% during the course of 2024.

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Meta platforms ditching third party fact-checking in US

Facebook and Instagram will instead rely on "community notes" from its users, an approached pioneered by X.

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December sales provide little cheer for retailers

Black Friday boosted monthly sales, but overall 2024 was a lacklustre year for retail, figures show.

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Trump's eyeing Greenland - but other Arctic investment is frozen

While Trump eyes Greenland, Norway and Russia have put the brakes on their polar region investments.

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Biden blocks Japan's Nippon Steel from buying US Steel

Biden decided to scrap the deal despite concerns that it could damage Washington's relations with Tokyo.

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Biden bans offshore drilling across vast area of US

President Biden has announced a ban on offshore oil and gas drilling along most of America's coastline.

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Flights and trains cancelled as snow hits UK

An amber warning for snow and ice remains in place for parts of the UK until midnight.

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Nick Clegg leaves Meta ahead of Trump's return as US president

He will be replaced by Republican Joel Kaplan, a former White House deputy chief of staff under President Bush.

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Apple to pay $95m to settle Siri 'listening' lawsuit

The tech giant denies wrongdoing after being accused of eavesdropping on customers.

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'Ripped off' caravan owners start compensation bid

Parks involved in the legal action have defended their sales practices and pitch fee rises.

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Shops offer grottos and wine to combat 'drab' December

Small businesses are offering incentives to entice customers as consumer confidence remains low.

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Pigs in blankets and fizz help boost Lidl Christmas sales

The supermarket chain said it achieved its best Christmas on record in 2024, although growth has slowed.

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House prices rose by 4.7% in 2024, says Nationwide

Housing market activity remained "remarkably resilient" despite affordability challenges, the lender says.

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Bus passengers in England face £1 fare cap rise

One leading lobby group said it would result in a "costly start" to 2025 for many bus passengers.

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Era of cheap Russian gas to EU ends as transit across Ukraine stops

The EU says most states will not be affected but other European countries, including Moldova, are facing shortages.

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How much are energy bills going up?

Typical gas and electricity prices are rising again on 1 January 2025.

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Women working at home could risk missing out, says Nationwide boss

The boss of the world's biggest building society told the BBC that more needs to be done to support women at work.

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Era of cheap Russian gas to EU ends as transit across Ukraine stops

The EU says most states will not be affected but other European countries, including Moldova, are facing shortages.

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