Household energy price rise of 5% comes into force

A higher cap for the next three months adds £94 to the typical annual domestic energy bill.

US Navy helicopters destroy Houthi boats in Red Sea after attempted hijack

The US military says it was responding to a second attack on the same vessel near Yemen in 24 hours.

Venice to ban large tourist groups and loudspeakers

The new rules will come into effect in June and are part of an effort to ease the impact of tourism.

How will the UK economy compare to other countries in 2024?

After a tough 2023, will things improve for the UK and other economies in the new year?

Eurostar services to resume after major disruption

Many passengers are still stranded in London and Paris after flooding cancelled all Eurostar trains.

Tim Martin: Wetherspoon boss knighted in New Year Honours

The pub chain founder and Brexit campaigner is recognised for services to hospitality and culture.

House prices end the year 1.8% lower, says Nationwide

The housing market is set to be subdued in 2024 despite hopes of an interest rate cut.

Françoise Bettencourt Meyer: L'Oréal heiress first woman to amass $100bn fortune

The French beauty empire is on track for its best stock market performance in decades.

Boeing urges 737 Max inspections for possible loose bolt

The airplane maker is urging airlines to inspect rudder control systems on the planes.

Google settles $5bn lawsuit for 'private mode' tracking

Large technology firms have faced increased scrutiny of their practices in the US and beyond.

Tata Steel: Port Talbot staff fear year of uncertainty

Welder says Tata's Port Talbot plant is gripped by fears of job losses.

UK vinyl sales at highest level since 1990

Sales of vinyl LPs rose for a 16th consecutive year in 2023, hitting 5.9 million units.

Gaston Glock: Inventor of popular handgun dies aged 94

The Glock has been the weapon of choice for armed forces, gun owners and criminals around the world.

Architect of modern EU Jacques Delors dies aged 98

Delors helped create the single market, but his dreams of integration faced stiff UK opposition.

Wolfgang Schäuble: Merkel's no-nonsense finance minister dies aged 81

Although never chancellor, Wolfgang Schäuble was one of Germany's most influential politicians.

Firm develops jet fuel made entirely from human poo

Scientists have found a way to make jet fuel from human sewage and cut carbon emissions.

Apple seeks appeal after US allows smart watch import ban

Imports and sales of Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches in the US have halted over a patent dispute.

Daihatsu pauses production over safety scandal

The Japanese carmaker admitted it had falsified safety tests for many of its vehicles.

Maersk preparing to resume shipping through Red Sea

The announcement follows the deployment of an international military operation to prevent attacks on ships.

Tanker hit off India coast by drone from Iran, says US

Saturday's attack caused a fire on board the chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean, the US military says.

House prices to fall and rents to rise in 2024, forecasts suggest

While first-time buyers would welcome price falls, the other costs they face are likely to be higher.

Jim Ratcliffe: Who is the man buying Man Utd stake?

One of the UK's richest men, Sir Jim has built a multi-billion pound business by snapping up unloved assets.

Manchester United: Sir Jim Ratcliffe agrees deal to buy 25% stake for about £1.25bn

British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe agrees a deal to buy a 25% stake in Manchester United from the Glazer family.

High winds likely to add to Christmas Eve travel disruption

Weather warnings cover parts of the UK, with rail disruption expected from engineering works and staff shortages.

Smithfield Market pre-Christmas meat auction returns

The traditional meat market returned on Saturday for the first time since before the Covid pandemic.

UK travel: Millions take to roads and rail ahead of Christmas

The AA warns of "lengthy jams" on the roads, while many rail services are starting to wind down.

Tech Trends 2024: AI and electric vehicle deals

From an AI slowdown to humanoid robots doing real work - tech trends to watch out for in 2024.

Airbus Atlantic: 700 staff sick after Christmas dinner

It is unclear what was on the menu for the festive feast turned nightmare before Christmas.

Vet prices need to be made clearer, says Which?

The consumer body says it has found evidence of unclear fees and potential overtreatment by vets.

Rail fares in England to rise by up to 4.9% in March

The rise is below inflation but comes after a year of disruption for passengers.

UK economy at risk of recession after growth slows

Revised figures show the economy shrank between July and September this year.

US Steel sale to Nippon must be probed on 'national security' grounds - Biden

Japanese steel giant Nippon this week announced plans to buy US Steel in a deal worth nearly $15bn.

Temu shoppers risk buying items made by forced labour, MP warns

The Chinese online retailer with the slogan 'shop like a billionaire' faces questions over its ultra low prices.

Starbucks blames 'misrepresentation' after Israel Gaza protests

Facing global boycott calls, boss Laxman Narasimhan says: "I pray for peace - immediately'.

Public pay must reflect rises, ministers say

Government letters to pay review bodies say pay rises should be reflected when setting pay in 2024

Energy bills predicted to fall in April to £1,660

Analysts at Cornwall Insight say lower wholesale energy prices will reduce bills by £268.

Inflation down more than expected as fuel prices drop

Latest figures show the prices rose 3.9% in the year to November, down from 4.6% the month before.

End of an era for electronics giant Toshiba

Scandal, near-bankruptcy and uncertainty have plagued the 148-year-old company for almost a decade.

Christmas dinner: How much will it cost this year?

The rising price of turkey has slowed, while the cost of mince pies are up by 25%.

Wasted wind power adds £40 to household energy bills, says think tank

When it is very windy the grid cannot handle the extra power generated, says Carbon Tracker.

Amazon to make Warhammer 40,000 shows and movies

The streaming platform will have exclusive rights to make content based on Game Workshop's popular brand.

Green shipping corridors gaining momentum

Ports around the world are investing in green fuels to allow cargo ships to sail carbon-free.

Apple halts some Watch sales in the US

The move comes after the US found it violated patent rights of a smaller firm.

Sellafield boss hits back at safety failure claims

Speaking to the BBC, the nuclear site's boss rejects hacking claims and accusations of safety failings.

Nasdaq on the hunt for more UK firms to list in US

The US stock exchange wants to lure more companies from London to raise investor cash in New York instead.

The secret sauce for Taiwan's chip superstardom

How an island that exported t-shirts and sugar turned into the world's largest silicon chip factory.

Network Rail manager for stranded passenger line quits

Passengers were stuck in cold and dark carriages for hours recently after overhead electric cables were damaged.

Netflix: What the viewing figures actually tell us about viewing habits

The Night Agent and The Mother were among the streamer's biggest hits in the first half of 2023.

More big shipping firms stop Red Sea routes after attacks

MSC, the world's largest shipping group, becomes the fourth company to divert ships following attacks.

Petrol prices fall to lowest level in two years

The RAC motoring group says its data shows the average price of a litre of unleaded is £1.43.

Tata Steel: Unions infighting grows ahead of jobs meeting

Community and the GMB are at loggerheads with Unite over a battle to save up to 3,000 jobs at Tata.

Name that whale! How AI aces animal spotting

Artificial intelligence helps people identify what animals they are looking at and aids conservation.

Driverless car firm Cruise to cut 900 jobs

The move comes as the company faces an investigation by regulators into the safety of its cars.

Etsy: Online marketplace lays off 11% of staff to cut costs

CEO Josh Silverman tells staff the cuts are needed as sales have been "essentially flat" for two years.

Energy firms must help struggling customers under new rules

New Ofgem rules mean affordable payment plans and even repayment holidays will now be available.

Federal Reserve signals interest rate cuts next year

The US central bank hints of lower rates in the future as it kept its key interest rate unchanged.

Could there be a gold rush for buried hydrogen?

Many see hydrogen as the green fuel of the future so underground deposits of the gas could be valuable.

Thames Water says it can't pay back £190m loan

Thames Water boss tells MPs it doesn't have enough money to pay back a loan due in April next year.

Fortnite maker Epic Games wins case against Google Play Store

The ruling on anti-competitive practices deals a blow to a key part of Google's technology empire.

The pro gamer who has to rely upon sound alone

How video games are continuing to become more accessible for people with impaired vision.

Renting: Pace of rising costs has peaked, says Zoopla

Rents on new lets in UK are up nearly 10% a year, but the pace of the increase is slowing, it says.

Heather Mills' vegan food company goes into administration

The vegan food company founded by Sir Paul McCartney's ex-wife struggled with rising costs.

Alex Jones: Conspiracy theorist returns to X with Andrew Tate repost

The conspiracy theorist was banned from Twitter - now X - but its owner has now reinstated him.

Javier Milei: New president tells Argentina 'shock treatment' looms

The country's new far-right president vows to launch a radical economic programme as he is sworn in.

Smile Direct Club dentistry aligners firm shuts down

Best known for selling clear aligners remotely, it has shut down months after filing for bankruptcy.

Gap between haves and have-nots widening, report warns

Report mentions stagnant wages and mental health issues, and says the gap widened in the pandemic.

How Shohei Ohtani became Japan's biggest baseball export

His impact in the US surpasses that of all Japanese stars before him - and he now has a record $700m contract.

CosMc's: Curious customers flock to McDonald's new retro drinks brand

CosMc's, named after an obscure company mascot, is a bid for the speciality drinks market.

Elon Musk calls for firing of Disney chief Bob Iger in ad spat

It comes a week after the multi-billionaire launched a profane attack on advertisers that left X.

The people creating digital clones of themselves

Business leaders and experts are making online copies of themselves to answer the questions they get.

Oxfam shop and office workers strike for first time in 81 years

The walkout is over pay with some staff at the anti-poverty charity reporting having to use foodbanks, a union says.

Mobile firms face £3bn claim for overcharging

Lawsuit alleges Vodafone, EE, Three and O2 overcharged existing customers for their mobiles.

ChatGPT builder helps create scam and hack campaigns

A cutting-edge tool from Open AI appears to be poorly moderated, allowing it to be abused by cyber-criminals.

Tobacco giant sees sunset for US cigarette business

British American Tobacco said it could no longer value the business as if it had an infinite life.

Meta is child abuse 'breeding ground', lawsuit claims

Facebook and Instagram are rife with child abuse, the New Mexico attorney general alleges.

Investors cheer as Blackpink renew group contract

The K-pop girl band have been negotiating terms with YG Entertainment for months.

What do employers expect staff to know about AI?

More and more jobs require employees to work with generative AI - but what does that mean?

Abercrombie & Fitch sued by ex-CEO facing sex trafficking claims

Mike Jeffries has taken legal action against the US retailer for refusing to cover his legal costs to defend the allegations.

Grand Theft Auto VI trailer finally revealed

Rockstar Games releases the trailer 15 hours earlier than expected after it is leaked online.

Tesla whistleblower casts doubt on car safety

A former Tesla worker turned whistleblower has spoken to the BBC's technology editor Zoe Kleinman.

Young-looking porn users may face extra age-checks

New draft guidance sets out how porn websites and apps should stop children viewing their content.

Renting: Can bidding wars be stopped?

Intense competition for places to live is driving rents up and up, but is there hope for change?

Spotify to axe 17% of staff to save costs

The music-streaming company says it is cutting its workforce to "rightsize" the firm.

Smart meters: Almost three million still not working

Customers face incorrect bills as 2.7 million smart meters fail to send automatic readings.

Water firm wrongly downgraded pollution events, documents suggest

Leaked papers suggest United Utilities logged dozens of incidents as less serious than they had been.

'Labour won't turn on spending taps' says Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer will say in a speech there will be "huge constraints" if Labour win power.

Bankruptcy 'opportunity' after student loan crisis

Changes in the US are enticing more people to file bankruptcy to clear their student loans.

Baby formula soaring costs: 'I struggle, but I won’t buy a cheaper brand'

Why struggling parents aren't choosing cheaper brands when it comes to infant formula milk.

The job-sharing apps that feel like online dating

New website platforms are working like matchmakers to connect potential job sharers.

Slick videos or more 'authentic' content? The Israel-Gaza battles raging on TikTok and X

Pro-Palestinian TikTok posts gain traction with Gen Z, while slicker Israeli content is popular on X.