Saturday, September 30, 2023

Shoplifter: Police need to stop people like me

A persistent shoplifter says stealing is easy and that police could do more to stop people like her.

Ban on single-use plastic cutlery comes into force bin England

Polystyrene cups and balloon sticks are also banned in England as part of efforts to cut waste.

Winter warning as new energy price cap comes in

The annual energy bill for a typical household falls on Sunday but is high by historical standards.

Friday, September 29, 2023

The slow and delicate aircraft taking on spy missions

Light aircraft that can fly and loiter at very high altitudes could provide back-up for spy satellites.

Train strikes set to cause travel disruption

Aslef union members will walk out in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.

UK on track for record tax levels, IFS think tank says

A study says taxes will reach 37% of national income by next election - the highest since 1948.

Evergrande: Anxious Chinese home buyers reel from crisis

As China's housing crisis grows, so have fears that dreams of home ownership have been bulldozed.

HS2: Unions call for emergency summit on rail line's future

The TUC says stakeholders in the high-speed rail line must be brought together "urgently".

Thursday, September 28, 2023

England's single use plastics ban does not tackle takeaway boxes, warns Greenpeace

Plastic cutlery is banned under new rules but plastic containers for takeaway and shop bought meals are not.

The self-driving trucks that are deliberately crashed

A maker of autonomous lorries is using AI software to prang computerised versions of the vehicles.

UAW strike: Why are US car workers walking out?

Nearly 13,000 workers for Ford, General Motors and Stellantis have gone on a historic, co-ordinated strike.

Rishi Sunak repeatedly dodges questions over future of HS2 rail

Speculation is mounting the government could delay or scrap the second leg of the line to Manchester.

Average five-year mortgage drops below 6%

The typical rate for a five-year mortgage has fallen to 5.99% after interest rates were held.

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Evergrande: China property giant suspends shares amid reports of detained leaders

The stricken Chinese property giant suspends trading as reports emerge of its chairman being taken.

Rosebank oil field: Will it mean cheaper energy bills?

Regulators have approved the development of a controversial oil field in the North Sea.

H&M admits it needs to improve sizing consistency

The retailer admits sizing needs to be more consistent after its new returns fee sparks a backlash.

HS2 firm 'cautious' over taking future UK projects

Speculation the project could be scrapped raises doubts about future projects, says construction firm boss.

Rosebank oil field given go-ahead by regulator

Development and production consents have been given to the offshore development west of Shetland.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Hollywood writers agree to end five-month strike after studio deal

They can return to work while they vote on whether to approve a three-year deal that offers pay rises.

Trump liable for fraud, judge finds in New York civil case

Donald Trump exaggerated his net worth and asset values to get better loans, a New York judge rules.

HS2: Scrapping Manchester link would be very stupid, says ex-rail chief

Former Strategic Rail Authority boss says cancelling the leg to Manchester would hurt other projects.

Water firms forced to pay back customers for poor performance

Regulator Ofwat orders companies to return £114m to households by cutting bills after missing targets.

Monday, September 25, 2023

Evergrande shares slide as mainland unit misses debt payment

Several current and former executives have been detained says Chinese business wire Caixin.

US-China rivalry spurs investment in space tech

The race to get back to the moon is fuelling US investment in private sector space firms.

Farmers turn to tech as bees struggle to pollinate

With bee populations struggling, mechanical pollination may be increasingly needed as a back-up.

Warning sick days at highest level for decade

Workers are taking more days off due to stress, Covid and the cost-of living crisis, research suggests.

Sunday, September 24, 2023

The shadowy Chinese firm that owns chunks of Cambodia

It secured a deal to control a fifth of Cambodia's coastline - 15 years on, it has barely got started.

NME: The high-end magazines making a vinyl-style comeback

The once-mass market UK music bible NME returns as a premium product with scarcity as a selling point.

Electric car rules could cost carmakers billions

New Brexit trade rules could push up the price of electric cars, manufacturers warn.

CBI: Scandal-hit organisation secures emergency funding

The business group has secured emergency funding from banks after a series of misconduct allegations.

Locally controlled buses return to Manchester after 37 years

Greater Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham hails the "coming-of-age moment" for English devolution.

HS2: 'Crazy' not to review project due to soaring costs - Shapps

Grant Shapps cites Ukraine war costs and a spike in inflation as reasons to weigh up the rail project.

Saturday, September 23, 2023

How to save money even when the budget is tight

The interest paid on savings is better than anything seen for years, so how can you save when bills are rising?

Rishi Sunak scraps home energy efficiency taskforce

The group set up to drive home insulation and boiler upgrades is a casualty of the PM's green rethink.

Friday, September 22, 2023

MPs call for energy bill help to stave off winter crisis

Urgent action is needed to help households cope with higher bills, MPs say.

HS2: Johnson warns against 'mutilated' version of HS2

The former PM airs concerns as firms seek clarity over the government's commitment to the rail link.

Net zero: Will Rishi Sunak's changes to climate policies save money?

Decarbonising will cost money but some argue in the long run it will boost the economy.

Despite risks fish farms are booming in Africa

Farming fish has seen rapid growth in Africa but it can be an expensive, high-risk operation.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Labour pledges more watchdog power after Truss mini-budget

The changes could prevent a repeat of the mistakes made in Liz Truss's mini-budget, the party says.

Warner Bros to expand Barbie movie studios in UK

The project will see capacity at the Leavesden facility near London expanding by more than 50%.

NatWest confirms cash deposit glitch as customers say cash missing

The bank confirmed issues with its deposit machines after people reported difficulty accessing funds.

JPEX: Hong Kong investigates influencer-backed crypto exchange

About 2,000 investors lost money on the JPEX platform which was advertised on Hong Kong's metro.

Warning cost-of-living payments fail to last

The UK's biggest food bank provider says the payments provide only temporary respite before demand returns.

Firms forced to sell more electric cars despite petrol ban delay

Car makers will still have to ensure 22% of cars sold are electric from 2024, industry sources say.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Bankrupted Post Office Horizon victim demands answers after 17 years

An ongoing inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal examines the case of Lee Castleton.

Less rentals homes due to energy policy uncertainty

Landlords say the uncertain directions of travel from the government is impacting investment choices

Fed holds interest rates steady - for now

The US central bank signals it could raise its key interest rate again this year

UK interest rate rise bets slashed after inflation fall

Interest rates were widely expected to rise to 5.5%, but half of investors now think they may not change.

Parents in US offered refunds for Fortnite purchases

Parents in the US whose children made unintended in-game purchases will be offered $245m (£198m) in refunds.

Warning petrol ban delay could stop people buying electric cars

Plans to push back the ban on new petrol and diesel cars could delay shift to electric, the SMMT says.

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Fukushima: China's seafood imports from Japan down 67% in August

The fall came as Japan started to release treated waste water from the damaged nuclear power plant.

Government row with Facebook over private messages

The government has launched a campaign criticising Meta for planned encryption of Facebook messages.

Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry given new contracts

The rail operators have been awarded the long-term contract renewals by the Department for Transport.

UK inflation set to be highest of advanced economies

Prices will rise faster in the UK than in any other G7 economy this year, a forecast suggests.

H&M starts charging shoppers for online returns

Customers must now pay £1.99 when they return items either in store or online, although members are exempt.

Bank accounts not being closed over views - watchdog

The City watchdog's findings follow a row over the closure of Nigel Farage's bank account.

Global oil prices surge to 10-month high

The price of a barrel of oil rose above $95 on Tuesday, stoking fears it could impact inflation.

Monday, September 18, 2023

Elon Musk: Social media platform X could go behind paywall

The billionaire suggested the social media platform, now called X, could charge for use of "the system".

New tax divides India's booming computer games sector

The Indian government's forthcoming tax on the industry doesn't apply to all types of games.

IMF pledges to stay in 'our lane' on climate

The US, a major backer of the IMF, has been pushing to refine the mission of the global lender.

Post Office: Horizon scandal victims offered £600,000 compensation

The sum is for postmasters whose wrongful convictions for theft and false accounting have now been overturned.

Disability benefits cost could rocket, report says

The study says action needs to be taken to improve the health of people who are about to retire.

Two pubs a day disappearing in England and Wales

Some 383 pubs were demolished or converted for other uses between January and June, government figures show.

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Pace of rising rental costs at nine-year high, figures show

Estate agent Hamptons says the cost has risen more in the last year than it did in the four years to 2019.

Ryanair and family locked in £165 check-in row

Damian Lloyd says his family had checked in for a flight in advance but Ryanair says they had "unchecked" themselves.

No final HS2 decision until revised costs known, say Labour

Shadow minister Pat McFadden says its policy on high speed rail will be set out in the party's manifesto.

Shein in talks to buy Missguided from Mike Ashley's Frasers Group

Retail group Frasers is looking to sell the online clothing brand to the global fast fashion giant.

Port Talbot: Tata Steel would have left UK without aid - Welsh secretary

A £500m UK government pledge saved Port Talbot's steelworks from closure, Welsh secretary says.

UAW strike: Biden says striking car workers deserve 'fair share'

The president urges Ford, General Motors and Stellantis to "go further" to meet the union demands.

Saturday, September 16, 2023

First grain ships arrive in Ukraine using new route

Officials say the vessels will deliver 200,000 tonnes of wheat to world markets.

Friday, September 15, 2023

Marks & Spencer scraps plastic for paper bags

Marks & Spencer said the move should cut plastics use.

Everton takeover news: Farhad Moshiri agrees to sell club to American investment fund

Premier League Everton are set to have new owners after Farhad Moshiri agrees to sell his 94% stake in the club to 777 Partners.

Gatwick flights cancelled after air traffic control staff shortages

Some 22 flights from the airport were cancelled and more delayed due to an air control staff shortage.

Taiwan tells Elon Musk it is 'not for sale'

Mr Musk draws anger from Taipei again for his comments saying the island belongs to China.

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Port Talbot: Steelworkers frightened by Tata job loss reports

Steelworkers say they have been kept in the dark amid reports of 3,000 job losses.

AI and sound - helping firms build their own 'sonic identity'

Artificial intelligence is assisting companies in developing their own signature sounds.

Chick-fil-A to try again in UK four years after LGBT backlash

The US fast food chain closed its initial store in 2019 following protests by campaigners.

Deloitte: Belfast jobs at risk as firm to make redundancies

Jobs will be lost in Belfast as the firm plans to cut 3% of its 27,000-person UK workforce.

France's Carrefour puts up 'shrinkflation' warning signs

Carrefour is telling its customers which products are smaller than they used to be.

Eurozone interest rates raised to all-time high

The European Central Bank increases rates for the 10th time in a row to a record high.

French iPhone 12 warning: European regulators examine alert on radiation levels

European regulators assess possible health risks after France's decision to temporarily halt sales.

'I wasn't heard at meetings, so did something about it'

Pamela Maynard, CEO of Avanade, shares her advice to get ahead at work.

John Lewis recovery plan to take two years longer

The retailer says inflation and investments mean its plan to return to profit will be pushed back to 2028.

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Tim Gurner: Australian tycoon calls for layoffs to fix worker attitudes

Tim Gurner says "we need to see pain in the economy" to remind people they are lucky to have jobs.

Arm share sale values UK chip designer at more than $54bn

The shares were priced at the top of the range that had been indicated to prospective investors.

Cash payments rise for first time in 10 years

Payments made with notes and coins rose as the cost of living started to bite, but debit card use was higher.

Major jobs announcement kicks off Belfast investment summit

The 1,000 new jobs at professional services firm EY will be based in Belfast and in the north west.

France halts iPhone 12 sales over radiation levels

Apple has been told it must recall every iPhone 12 sold in the country if it cannot fix the problem.

Strikes and wet weather cause UK economy to shrink

Official figures show the UK economy contracted by 0.5% in July, more than economists predicted.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

Google antitrust trial: Tech giant denies abusing power to gain monopoly

In a landmark trial brought by the US government, the tech giant denies using illegal practices to gain a monopoly.

BP boss resigns amid review of 'personal relationships'

The oil giant said Bernard Looney had not been "fully transparent" in disclosures about past relationships with colleagues.

Value of UK mortgage arrears jumps by a third

The value of mortgage arrears jumped by almost 30% as interest rates increase.

Pensions: Women get 35% less than men due to care responsibilities

Taking time off or working part-time means less money can be saved in pensions for retirement.

Triple lock means state pension set to rise by 8.5% in April

It will be the second significant rise in the state pension in two years, but could pull more into paying tax.

Pay growth catches up with price rises

Regular pay rose by 7.8% in May to July compared with the same period last year, official figures show.

Monday, September 11, 2023

Can new Apple iPhone 15 thunder without lightning?

Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 15 later on today without its traditional lightning cable charger.

Spotify denies 30-second trick could make you rich

The streaming giant quashes a theory that listening to a song on repeat will rake in the royalties.

What went wrong at Wilko?

The beloved discount retailer was founded in 1930 but now all 400 stores are set to close within weeks.

Wilko rescue deal fails sparking huge job loss fears

Canadian billionaire Doug Putman's rescue efforts were dashed by rising costs and a complicated deal.

Farmers 'struggling' to recruit harvest workers

Tessa Elliot says "potatoes aren't going to be on the table" if seasonal workers are not found.

Sunday, September 10, 2023

BMW investment secures future of Mini factories

BMW expected to invest £600m in preparing its Oxfordshire plant to build the next generation of electric cars.

UK government to be reported to UN over strike law by TUC

The Trade Union Congress says it will make the report because the law does not meet global standards.

Urban oases combine roof gardens and solar panels

Combining solar panels and a roof garden is a tricky and costly engineering task.

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Stopping the scammers who target online jobseekers

Fraudsters are using fake job ads to try to get people to give them money or their personal data.

Friday, September 8, 2023

Heathrow and Gatwick airports have Raac on sites

Heathrow has means to keep it safe, while Gatwick has found no cause for concern.

State pension and triple lock: What is it worth and when do you get it?

Figures being published will be critical to setting the annual increase in the state pension.

Thodex cryptocurrency boss jailed for 11,196 years in Turkey for fraud

Faruk Fatih Ozer was found guilty of defrauding millions of dollars from investors in his collapsed Thodex platform.

One Chip Challenge: Amazon and eBay pull spicy tortilla from UK shop

The novelty spicy tortilla has been recalled in the US after it was linked to the death of a teenager.

Offshore wind auction fails to attract any bids

There will be no new offshore wind projects after firms said the price for electricity was too low.

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Apple shares slide after China government iPhone ban reports

The technology giant's stock market valuation has fallen by almost $200bn in the last two days.

Fourth FTX executive Ryan Salame pleads guilty

The pleading comes ahead of the October trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.

How AI may be a powerful tool in treating male infertility

Fertility experts are now using artificial intelligence to help find sperm in medical samples.

Vet prices: 'I spent £12,000 on my pug'

Pet owners reveal how much their vet bills set them back, as a review of the industry is launched.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary hit with cream pies by climate protesters

Michael O'Leary declared the cream pies delicious after wiping himself down in Brussels.

Price of average home falls by £14,000 in a year

House prices fell at their fastest annual rate in 14 years in August, according to the Halifax building society.

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Electric vehicle production begins at unique plant

The Stellantis factory in Cheshire is the UK's only factory dedicated to only electric vehicles.

Heating on prescription trial suggests fewer NHS visits

A trial by a UK university suggests patients prescribed free heating were hospitalised less often.

Deezer and Universal to launch 'artist-centric' streaming model

The new streaming model will generate bigger royalties for artists that people choose to listen to.

Students cut back on food as cost of living soars

Some had to skip meals, take on debt or dip into savings last year as costs soared, research shows.

Wilko shops set to close next week named

Staff being made redundant were told of the news this morning, with shops closing next week.

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Disability and illness benefit changes proposed

The government says it hopes new work capability assessments reforms will come into force by 2025.

Chevron and unions in talks to avert Australia LNG strike

Workers are scheduled to begin a series of stoppages from Thursday in the dispute over pay and conditions.

Long wave radio fans mourn fading frequencies

Now disappearing, long wave radio broadcasts once gave a taste of far flung countries and cultures.

Champneys founder Dorothy Purdew dies aged 91

Born to a working class family, Ms Purdew launched one of the UK's most successful spa chains.

TikTok opens Dublin data centre to ease China spying fears

There is concern over the video-sharing app's links with China and who accesses its users' data.

Schools struggle over RAAC crumbling concrete measures

A governor tells the BBC her school is struggling to find engineers to provide remedial work.

Wilko rival B&M saves up to 51 stores from closure

B&M has struck a deal to take on up to 51 of Wilko's 400 shops after it collapsed into administration.

Monday, September 4, 2023

Port of Dover plans to reclaim land to prevent queues

The Port of Dover is planning to reclaim land from the sea to avoid long delays when new EU biometric checks come in.

Health and beauty spending boosts August shop sales

Retail sales increased by 4.1% last month, according to the British Retail Consortium and KPMG.

New tech boosts Dutch drive for sustainable farming

In the Netherlands, experiments are underway to ensure future food supply and cut carbon emissions.

Fuel price rises push up cost of full tank by around £4

The rises in August were among the steepest in 20 years but retailers did not bump up profits, says RAC.

Are spending cuts to blame for the schools concrete crisis?

Capital spending on education has been squeezed since 2010 as money has been redirected to healthcare.

New iPhone, new charger: Apple bends to EU rules

A European Union law will require portable devices to have a common charger by 2024.

Barbie overtakes Super Mario Bros to be 2023's biggest box office hit

Margot Robbie's hit movie becomes the year's most successful film at box offices around the world.

Airlines could face crackdown on hidden fees

Consumers should have accurate information upfront before making a purchase, the government says.

Asda owners probed over action to curb price rises

MPs ask Asda's co-owner, Mohsin Issa, whether issues over its finances are preventing more being done.

Country Garden: Property shares jump on debt reprieve

The Chinese developer reportedly secured an extension to a key debt payment deadline at the weekend.

Sunday, September 3, 2023

Rail disruption: Train cancellations as high as 13% in 2023

One station, managed by TransPennine Express, has had 13% of its trains cancelled.

Five ways to save money on your packed lunch

The lunchbox is back after the summer holidays so here are some top tips on making savings at lunchtime.

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Tesco staff offered body cameras over crime fears

It follows similar moves by other retailers and daily incidents rising from 450 a day, up to 850.

Friday, September 1, 2023

Will post-Brexit food checks ever happen?

The UK government this week delayed changes to arrangements for EU food imports for the fifth time.

Mohamed Al Fayed: Former Harrods owner dies at 94

The high-profile Egyptian businessman lost his son Dodi in the car crash that killed Princess Diana.

UK economy makes stronger recovery during Covid

Revised official figures reveal that the UK grew at the end of 2021 rather than shrinking.

Octopus to buy Shell's household energy firm

About 1.4 million households will see their accounts switched to a new provider.

X, formerly Twitter, to collect biometric and employment data

The social media firm, formerly Twitter, will gather facial information if premium users give consent.

House prices see biggest yearly decline since 2009

Nationwide says higher borrowing costs have led to a slowdown in activity in the housing market.