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Government to give cash payouts to people in financial crisis

The replacement to the Household Support Fund aims to help people facing sudden difficulties.

Star Wars boss Kathleen Kennedy departs after 14 years in the role

She oversaw the expansion of the franchise, including its five feature films and new TV shows

Leon will focus on stations and airports to revive fortunes, boss says

The fast food chain is closing its stores outside London as part of a restructuring plan.

Serial rail fare evader faces jail over 112 unpaid tickets

Charles Brohiri pleaded guilty to travelling without buying a ticket a total of 112 times.

US to cut tariffs on Taiwanese goods after investment pledge

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the deal would help boost semiconductor production in the US.

'They are essential': How smoke detectors are evolving

AI trained to recognise fire is among the latest developments in fire alarm tech.

How realistic is India's quest for magnets made of rare earths

India has a $800m plan to make rare earth magnets, aiming to reduce dependence on Chinese imports - but can it work?

UK economy grew by 0.3% in November, beating forecasts

The economy was boosted by a rebound in car production and from the services sector.

X to stop Grok AI from undressing images of real people after backlash

Grok will no longer allow users to remove clothing from images of real people in jurisdictions where it is illegal.

Ofwat launches investigation into South East Water

Anger is high after thousands of customers in Kent and Sussex have experienced days of water chaos.

'My home was uninhabitable' - residents reveal 'botched' work after energy firm folds

A woman whose home flooded during works carried out by a now-folded company says she is trying to rebuild her life.

Boeing knew of flaw in part linked to UPS plane crash, US safety board report says

An aircraft that crashed in November had a structural flaw that had been identified by Boeing 15 years ago, investigators say.

Labubu toy manufacturer exploited workers, labour group claims

Investigators allege that a factory making Pop Mart products neglected staff safety and welfare.

'We don't need a sticking plaster', say pub owners

More than 40 hospitality firms have come together to campaign against tax increases.

Reeves doesn't rule out wider business rates support across hospitality

Chancellor says support for pubs is on its way and leaves the door open for further tweaks to business rates changes

Why the Northern Powerhouse Rail plan will really go ahead this time

Faisal Islam says the Labour argues the difference in its plans this time is that the planning has come first.

TGI Fridays closes 16 UK stores, with 456 job losses

The UK restaurant chain's remaining 33 restaurants will stay open after a rescue deal was reached.

California investigates Grok over AI deepfakes

The state attorney general urges xAI to take action over the "shocking" material as Musk denies the allegations.

No 10 welcomes reports X is addressing Grok deepfakes

The use of the AI tool to digitally undress women has sparked a backlash as well as intervention from the government and regulator.

Reeves vows rail plan will go ahead, despite cynicism

The scheme will be delivered in phases, starting with upgrades to lines between Leeds, York, Bradford and Sheffield.

China announces record $1tn trade surplus despite Trump tariffs

Beijing reported the largest-ever trade surplus at $1.19tn as China diversified its trade.

Honey, I shrunk the data centres: Is small the new big?

Huge data centres are being built to handle AI computing but some experts say they aren't necessary.

Why are more bosses sharing the top job?

More bosses are sharing the top job giving them more time for family and breaks.

Why luxury carmakers are now building glitzy skyscrapers

Bugatti is the latest auto firm to construct an opulent apartment building for the super rich.

'I had no electricity for six months': US families struggle with soaring energy prices

Rising electricity costs have emerged as a key cost-of-living concern, pushing families further into debt.

Excel: The software that's hard to quit

Companies are trying to wean staff off Excel spreadsheets to centralise control of their data.

How tariff disruption will continue reshaping the global economy in 2026

Trump's import levies are still changing the patterns of international trade.

How the new road safety measures could affect you

The government is proposing lowering alcohol limits for drivers and regular eye tests for older motorists.

How the defence sector is battling a skills crisis

Attracting younger workers into the defence industry can be challenging.

Swedish workers trial 'friendship hour' to combat loneliness

The pilot project is even giving staff free money to help pay to do activities with their friends.

The showers and baths keeping data centre tech cool

Finding greener ways to keep giant new data centres cool is a challenge.

Why Croatia's capital wants to hold Europe's best Christmas market

The festive events help to put cities on the map and attract millions of tourists.

Will tech trump tradition at bakers and biscuit makers?

Introducing robots and automation to the food industry involves extra hurdles.

Should more be done to tackle 'ghost jobs', vacancies that don't exist?

Companies are advertising vacancies that have already been filled or might not have ever existed.

Why this month's inflation figure may be good news for you

The rate of inflation, which charts the rising cost of living, has slowed - driven partly by essentials.

Government to give cash payouts to people in financial crisis

The replacement to the Household Support Fund aims to help people facing sudden difficulties.

Food bank relaunches expanded service after flood

Kinson and West Howe Foodbank in Bournemouth now has a larger, free community service.

Patients 'skipping GP appointments over fees'

Families increasingly cannot afford to see the GP, Guernsey Community Foundation warns.

Shop for small businesses shuts after low sales

The businesses' co-owner says it is because of a lack of sales and high overheads.

Charity shortlisted after helping keep homes warm

Severn Wye has been shortlisted for the Health Service Journal Partnership Award.

The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse

There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?

Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?

Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.

Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?

Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"

The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis

Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?

The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high

Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why

Martin Lewis on 'the most dangerous form of mainstream debt in the UK'

Martin Lewis explains how building up overdraft debt compares to credit card debt.

The Inquiry

Can Kenya’s plan for digital outsourcing solve its jobs crisis?

The Inquiry

How did live music evolve into a billion-dollar business for global stars?

What does TikTok's deal mean for America's users?

The BBC's Asia business correspondent says it is still unclear what sort of experience TikTok users in the US will get.

Source: BBC News

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