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Thames Water bidder says it is offering £1bn extra cash injection
Castle Water says restructuring plans do not go far enough and extra funds will help resolve pollution crisisBusiness live – latest updatesA bidder for Thames Water has said it would inject £1bn more into the struggling utility company than rival proposals if it gained control.John Reynolds, the chief executive of...
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Japan and Switzerland’s economies contract as exports are hit by US tariffs; WPP shares jump amid ‘takeover interest’ – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsChina travel warning for Japan sends shares in tourism and retail companies plungingA flurry of takeover speculation has driven shares in advertising group WPP higher at the start of trading in London.WPP’s shares are up 4.7%, leading the risers on the FTSE...
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I have hit the barriers trying to get my accident claim settled with Autonet
My van was hurtled into motorway barriers by a driver who did not stop and the vehicle is still being held in a compound along with the tools of my tradeMy van was hit from behind on a motorway by a speeding driver who failed to stop.It spun across the...
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'We set up a breakfast club for parents at our nursery'
Club offers £1 hot meals for adults with children at adjoining nursery to help them make friends.
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Japan tourism and retail stocks slide after row with China over Taiwan
Tokyo and Beijing are in a dispute over the Japanese prime minister's remarks about Taiwan.
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Food bank 'run off feet' as donations decline
The Isle of Man Foodbank has seen a hike in demand for help amid a marked decline in donations.
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FCA’s first deputy CEO calls for stronger grip on vital tech firms
Sarah Pritchard suggests City regulator will make use of oversight powers amid growing number of outagesThe City watchdog has said the UK needs to “strengthen” its grip on foreign tech firms providing critical services to banks, amid growing concerns over outages and cyber-attacks.Sarah Pritchard, who was appointed the Financial Conduct...
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How my on-air 'brain fog' moment sparked a big debate
When the BBC's Zoe Kleinman spoke about going through perimenopause she got a huge response.
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Asking prices fall as UK housing market hit by budget speculation, Rightmove says
November drop of 1.8% is biggest for this time of year since 2012, with chancellor’s plans loomingBudget speculation has depressed the UK property market, figures from a leading property website have suggested, with asking prices slipping in the run-up to Rachel Reeves’s much anticipated fiscal set piece on 26 November.The...
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Formula 1 tech used to rev-up train wi-fi speeds in new pilot
The 60 day pilot will use signals from mobile phone masts and satellites in space to create a more reliable connection.
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Keyless car theft devices used by criminals sell for £20k online
It is not illegal currently to own the gadgets but the government has promised to ban them.
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Roman Abramovich makes claim of ‘conspiracy’ against Jersey government
Move threatens to throw open parts of secretive legal battle on Channel island about ex-Chelsea owner’s wealthThe former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is making a claim of “conspiracy” against the government of Jersey after the crown dependency launched a criminal investigation into allegations of corruption and money laundering in connection...
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Have courage to create fossil fuel phaseout roadmap at Cop30, Brazilian minister urges
Marina Silva says contentious plan would be ‘ethical answer’ to climate crisis but does not commit Brazil to itBrazil’s environment minister, Marina Silva, has urged all countries to have the courage to address the need for a fossil fuel phaseout, calling the drawing up of a roadmap for it an...
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Can Cop30 begin the process of phasing out fossil fuels?
Ending use of coal, oil and gas is essential in tackling climate crisis – but even talking about it is controversial Continue reading...
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German auction house cancels sale of Holocaust artefacts after outcry
Survivors group had called on firm Felzmann to ‘show some basic decency’ and halt ‘cynical and shameless’ eventPoland’s foreign minister said on Sunday that an “offensive” auction of Holocaust artefacts in Germany has been cancelled, relaying information from his German counterpart, after complaints from Holocaust survivors.Radosław Sikorski made the comments...
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Wasted public money and Rachel Reeves’s income tax hokey cokey | Letters
Michael Bichard, John Denham, Liam Byrne and Helen Bailey on making better use of current resources, Dan Goss on making the case for tax rises, and Jol Miskin on a U-turnIn discussion of the chancellor’s need to raise taxes and cut spending, there has been too little focus on making...
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The US has drafted a coin featuring Trump. Here’s a better way to immortalize him | Robert Reich
It is our solemn duty to ensure he is remembered for all he has done and may still do to destroy US democracyThe US treasury has drafted a design for a $1 coin featuring Donald Trump on both sides, for the purpose of “honoring America’s 250th Birthday and @POTUS”, according...
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Zelenskyy pledges to clean up Ukraine’s energy sector amid corruption scandal
President to overhaul state energy firms after $100m kickback scheme alleged by anti-corruption investigatorsVolodymyr Zelenskyy has announced a plan to clean up Ukraine’s energy sector after an $100m (£76bn) kickback scheme was alleged by anti-corruption investigators, in the worst scandal of his presidency.Over the weekend, the Ukrainian president announced an...
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Two-thirds of English councils have not prosecuted a single landlord in past three years
Exclusive: Councils prosecuted just 64 landlords despite receiving 300,000 complaints from tenants in unfit homes Two-thirds of councils in England have not prosecuted a single landlord in the past three years, despite receiving 300,000 complaints from desperate tenants living in unfit homes.From 2022 to 2024, nearly half of local authorities...
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Merchants’ ‘victory’ over credit card fees will just complicate things more for them
Do small business owners think that Visa and Mastercard won’t just recoup their fees elsewhere?Want to buy a new shirt from your friendly neighborhood small business? In some cases, be prepared to pay out 2.5% more as a “financing” fee because you’re using a credit card. Enjoying that meal at...
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Sky Sports ditches ‘unbelievably sexist’ TikTok channel Halo after three days
Female-targeted account pulled after sports fans criticise posts referencing matcha, Barbie and ‘hot girl walks’Sky Sports has been forced to ditch its female-targeted TikTok channel Halo three days after its launch, following criticism that it was patronising and “unbelievably sexist”.Halo, which was described as the “lil sis” of Sky Sports...
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Nature is not a blocker to housing growth, MPs find
The Environmental Audit Committee found the government's measures are not enough to meet targets.
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Lost in the plot: how would-be authors were fooled by AI staff and virtual offices in suspected global publishing scam
Book publishing websites in Australia, the UK and New Zealand appear to be using fake testimonials and AI staff pages to lure aspiring writers into handing over their moneyAn aspiring Australian writer met an apparent scammer face-to-face before realising she may have become a victim of a suspicious international publishing...
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Dermatologists criticise ‘dystopian’ skincare products aimed at children
Marketing or celebrity-led treatments for toddlers and upwards described as ‘ridiculous’ and lacking in skin benefitDermatologists have criticised an actor’s new skincare brand, calling it “dystopian” for creating face masks for four-year-olds, warning that the beauty industry is now expanding its reach from teenagers to toddlers.It comes as a growing...
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UK watchdogs need to step in on rip-off bills, which are bad for consumers and the economy | Heather Stewart
From mobiles to insurance and subscriptions, firms are able to exploit the fact they know more than customersEver felt swizzed by the small print in your mobile contract, bamboozled by a plethora of insurance products or locked into a subscription you signed up for by mistake?Then you are far from...
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Inside Trump’s scramble to reduce US dependence on Chinese rare-earth metals
The White House has made it a top priority to return the rare-earth industry to US shores. But is it really feasible?Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, returned from South Carolina last week brandishing a small piece of metal, proclaiming that it was the first rare-earth magnet made in the...
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It’s all gravy: Thanksgiving air traffic to be normal after US government reopens
Experts say air traffic controllers quickly returning to work, with promise of full back pay, and even $10,000 bonusFears that it would take weeks or even months for flight schedules in the US to return to normal in the wake of the US federal government shutdown do not appear to...
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‘I think the city is falling apart’: Leicester braces for a make-or-break budget
In the local authority where people have the least spare cash there are hopes the chancellor will instil changeAnika* has a full-time job, but says she never eats in local cafes or restaurants and takes her lunch to work. The cost of living is too high for her to buy...
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UK budget watchdog in danger of strangling economic growth, says TUC boss
Paul Nowak says OBR should be modernised to ditch ‘hardwired’ support for austerity economicsBritain’s budget watchdog is in danger of strangling growth and should be modernised to ditch its “hardwired” support for austerity economics, the Trades Union Congress has warned.Less than two weeks before Rachel Reeves’s autumn budget, the trade...
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Bristol to launch world-first ‘clean power hub’ for festivals and film crews
City council and regional authority collaborate to guarantee renewable mobile energy for next summer’s festival seasonArtists including Billie Eilish and Neil Young and festivals across the world have taken action to make their concerts more sustainable by harnessing green power.The concept is being taken a step further in the south-west...
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One of Britain’s biggest housebuilders urges government to support first-time buyers
Taylor Wimpey chief Jennie Daly calls for revival of help-to-buy equity loan scheme to revive property marketThe boss of one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders has urged the government to announce more support for first-time buyers to revive a property market that has cooled in the “very long shadow” of the...
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‘Ghost broking’: cut-price car insurance isn’t all it seems
Scammers promise cheaper policies via ads on social media and AI-generated websites but the fake certificate leaves motorists uninsuredAfter shelling out on driving lessons, waiting months for your test and taking out a loan to buy a first car, the dream of having your own transport is finally near. But...
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Winter money and wellbeing roadshows for residents
A series of roadshows will bring agencies together to support residents through winter challenges.
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Data centre in the shed reduces energy bills to £40
"It's fantastic because it's eco-friendly...We're not burning any gases," says Terrence Bridges.
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Life as a food delivery worker: ‘Sometimes men open the door naked’
To earn a living as a delivery rider, some work 10-12 hour days, contending with low pay, exhaustion, accidents, injuries and harassment. Is this a new form of modern slavery?“I earn more cleaning toilets than I do from being a Deliveroo rider,” says Marina, a Brazilian woman who juggles two...
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AI, Covid and taxes: what is behind steep rise in youth unemployment?
Last year’s employer NICs increase and a weak economy are adding to tricky conditions for young people‘It’s so demoralising’: UK graduates exasperated by high unemploymentYouth unemployment is at the highest level since the Covid pandemic, as younger people bear the brunt of a worsening slowdown in the UK jobs market.Excluding...
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‘It’s so demoralising’: UK graduates exasperated by high unemployment
Many question value of their degrees and hard work when confronted with a brutally competitive jobs marketAI, Covid and taxes: what is behind steep rise in youth unemployment?It has been more than six months since Leah Savage, 24, started job hunting and despite applying for almost 100 jobs, she has...
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Have Reeves and Starmer missed the chance to ditch stealth taxes? | Phillip Inman
Retreat from plans to increase income tax means Labour is unlikely to make system fairer and more coherentFor decades now, whenever the British public has faced the prospect of tax rises, large sections of the electorate – so large they sway most politicians – have made it quite clear, let...
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‘I have saved exactly £0’: how soaring costs have hit Britons’ nest eggs and pensions
Tales of dwindling savings, frozen retirement pots and stringent frugality to put something aside for the futureAndrew, a writer in his mid-30s from Essex, would be considered middle class by most, but his financial setup is precarious.“I have £4k in my savings account, and around £4k in stocks and shares....
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Turmoil and tensions at FDA after dramatic exit of top drug regulator
Scramble to find replacement for George Tidmarsh shines light on dysfunction at US regulatory agency After the dramatic ousting of the top drug regulator at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) two weeks ago, officials have scrambled to find a replacement in a process that has revealed the agency’s...
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Zip wires, darts, wild swimming: why shopping centres are trying new ways to bring in customers
Developers are turning to health-related activities as traditional stores hit by online retail continue to closeThere was a time when the most active thing to do at a shopping centre was jostle to the front of the queue at Primark. These days, however, developers are bringing in sport and health-related...
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What pension changes is Rachel Reeves considering in the budget?
One possible alteration was thought to be tax-free cash drawdowns, but the chancellor may have turned to salary sacrifice schemesRumours about what Rachel Reeves may, or may not, do to pensions in the budget continue to swirl.One much-debated possible change – cutting the amount of tax-free cash that people can...
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‘Be bold but calculated’: how to get a low offer on buying a home accepted
In a buyer’s market, sellers are being more realistic on prices – we look at how to get your strategy rightWhen Alan Murphy* and his wife spotted their semi-detached house in Brighton, they immediately saw it as a candidate to become their “forever home”. The three-bedroom property, with a garage,...
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‘Bereavement penalty’: people who lost partners hit by insurance premium rises
Campaigners claim AI algorithms are behind hefty increases in renewal quotes for home and car coverShortly after her husband died, Kay Lawley* received renewal quotes from the couple’s home and car insurance provider, Ageas. She told the company of his death and was stunned that the quotes then increased by...
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What is the two-child benefit cap and how could it change?
Since 2017, some benefits have been limited when parents have a third child or more, so how does it work?
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What is the two-child benefit cap and how could it change?
Since 2017, some benefits have been limited when parents have a third child or more, so how does it work?
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Trump rolls back tariffs on dozens of food products
The executive order allowing products like coffee and bananas to escape tariffs comes as the Trump administration faces mounting pressure over rising prices.
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From florist to drone maker: How the weapon became so mainstream
With drones centre stage in Ukraine, military firms around the globe are ramping up their production.
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What's behind Rachel Reeves's 'hokey cokey' on income tax rises?
The bond markets selling UK debt, which the chancellor had spent months courting, reacted badly to her change of heart on income tax rises
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Government borrowing costs jump after Reeves decides against income tax rise
The 10-year gilt yield rises sharply in reaction to reports that an expected Budget income tax rise will not happen.
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US agrees deal to slash Swiss tariffs to 15% after golden charm offensive
Under the deal, Donald Trump's 39% tariffs will be cut and Switzerland will invest $200bn (£150bn) in the US.
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Walmart boss retiring after more than a decade
Doug McMillon is handing over the reins of America's largest retailer to John Furner.
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What taxes could go up in Budget if income tax rates are not rising?
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering both tax rises and spending cuts in the 26 November Budget.
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Sale of Daily Telegraph collapses after US firm pulls out
US investment group RedBird Capital has abandoned its attempt to buy the UK newspaper.
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Indigenous protesters block entrance to Cop30 summit venue – video
Dozens of Indigenous activists blocked the entrance of the Cop30 summit venue on Friday, demanding that the Brazilian government halt all development projects in the Amazon, including mining, logging, oil drilling and the building of a new railway for transporting mining and agricultural products. The protesters staged a sit-in creating...
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Jaguar Land Rover posts heavy loss after cyber-attack
The cyber-attack pushed the carmaker into the red after it was forced to shut down its production lines.
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Why credit cards might not be as bad as you think
Are credit cards 'bad' and debit cards 'good'? Martin Lewis explains why it's not that simple.
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People in the UK: tell us if you’ve borrowed money from friends or family
We’d like to hear from people in Britain who have turned to family or friends to borrow money instead of to banks, and how this has affected themBritons often turn to family and friends to borrow money now, a new survey has suggested.The survey of more than 4,000 adults commissioned...
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An historic moment - the arrival of the first £10 pint: Stephen Collins cartoon
Continue reading...
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Watch Jeff Bezos's successful Blue Origin rocket launch – video
Blue Origin successfully launches its huge New Glenn rocket on Thursday with a pair of Nasa spacecraft destined for Mars. It is only the second flight of the rocket that Jeff Bezos's company and Nasa are counting on to ferry people and supplies to the moon. The 321ft (98-meter) New...
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Will AI mean better adverts or 'creepy slop'?
Advertisers are using AI to personalise adverts but not everyone agrees that's a good idea.
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Trump to ease coffee and banana tariffs in Latin America trade deals
The Trump administration on Thursday announced frameworks for trade deals with four Latin American countries, which senior officials said will include tariff relief on coffee and bananas.
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Guests ejected mid-stay from bankrupt hotel chain Sonder
Sonder guests have complained that they had to leave their accommodation as the firm files for a sudden bankruptcy.
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'Failings at every level' resulted in botched insulation scheme, MPs told
Wall insulation installed under two separate schemes was supposed to keep residents warm and dry, but instead left some homes damp and mouldy
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UK's first small nuclear power station to be built in north Wales
Three small modular reactors are confirmed for the site, with the potential for up to eight.
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The Briefing Room
What are the consequences of the UK's low productivity growth?
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British Gas boss voices concerns over Scotland's energy jobs
Chris O'Shea, the boss of Centrica, which owns British Gas, says the energy transition is correct, but worries over the impact on jobs.
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Faisal Islam: Slow growth raises stakes even higher for the Budget
The Budget somehow has to provide certainty, boost consumer and business confidence, and fill a large fiscal gap.
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Scottish government aiming to issue first bonds in 2026-27
Scottish ministers wants to use bonds to raise money from investors to fund infrastructure projects.
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PC gaming giant Valve unveils new console to rival Xbox and PlayStation
The Steam Machine is a console designed to allow gamers to play PC games on their TV.
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UK growth slows after big fall in car production
The cyber-attack on Jaguar Land Rover hit manufacturing and weighed on growth in the economy, figures show.
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Kim Kardashian's shapewear brand Skims hits $5bn valuation
The company says it plans to open more physical shops and expand the business around the world.
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Heineken UK cuts Foster's alcohol strength to 3.4%
The brewer said the change could lead to cheaper pints.
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SSE to invest £33bn in upgrading Scotland's electricity grid
The company plans to spend two-thirds of that to upgrade wiring and increase high-voltage grid capacity to get power from the north to customers in the south.
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£220 'for a cut-up sock' - Apple's new iPhone Pocket ridiculed online
Many took aim at the high price online, while others made fun of its striking likeness to a piece of footwear.
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Moment newly opened bridge in China partly collapses – video
Part of a recently opened bridge collapsed in China's south-western province of Sichuan on Tuesday, authorities said, with no casualties reported. It formed part of a national highway linking the country's heartland with Tibet Continue reading...
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Hundreds Arrested In High Street Crime Crackdown
Targeted raids on high street shops have seen more than 920 people arrested
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Rise in 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Schemes for Household Essentials
There's been a rise in people using 'buy now, pay later' schemes for household essentials
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The Kenyan start-up aiming to electrify African transport
From fleets of e-bikes to individual riders, eWaka aims to sell across Africa's delivery market.
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The Kenyan start-up aiming to electrify African transport
From fleets of e-bikes to individual riders, eWaka aims to sell across Africa's delivery market.
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Fire-blocking chemicals promise safer buildings
New treatments promise to make buildings fire-resistant without using older, toxic chemicals.
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Will quantum be bigger than AI?
The highly complex technology is increasingly being tipped to transform computing.
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The start-up creating science kits for young Africans
Stemaide's goal is to bring tech skills to young Africans and prepare them for future jobs.
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Businesses are running out of pennies in the US
Find a penny, pick it up, then what? Now the US has stopped making pennies, a shortage has emerged and created confusion.
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'This is the big one' - tech firms bet on electrifying rail
Railway operators have new options for electric trains including getting rid of locomotives altogether.
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The US bet big with Argentina bailout - is it paying off?
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called the Argentine peso "undervalued". But not many people agree.
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Should K-beauty products have to come from South Korea?
Sales of Korean skincare treatments continue to soar, but some are now made by overseas companies.
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Why the 5G symbol on your phone doesn't mean you have 5G
New research shows that 40% of the time a phone displays the 5G symbol, it is actually using a 4G connection.
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The South African start-up bringing tech to townships
Entrepreneur Talifhani Banks has bought a modern delivery system to smaller firms in South Africa.
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These robots can clean, exercise - and care for you in old age. Would you trust them to?
It sounds like something from a sci-fi film - but some scientists believe this clever new tech could help alleviate strains on the UK care system
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The striking Swedish workers taking on carmaker Tesla
The industrial action against the company's operation in Sweden has reached its second anniversary.
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Can the plastic recycling industry be saved?
Plastic recycling plants in Europe are being shut as they struggle to find a business model
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How the outsourcing sector became South Africa's newest goldmine
South African firms that do remote work for North American and European businesses growing strongly.
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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
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Protests and food poisonings test Indonesian president's first year in office
Prabowo Subianto's promises of dynamic economic growth and social change have faced major challenges.
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How good is the battery in a used electric vehicle?
Companies are offering tech they say can accurately test the health of batteries in used EVs.
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Netherlands' renewables drive putting pressure on its power grid
Homes asked to use less electricity as network is overloaded by the rush to wind and solar power.
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How Milei's 'Thatcherite' economics divided his nation - but won over Trump
Ahead of Milei's visit to the White House - amid protests and anger on the streets back at home - Ione Wells unravels the paradox that Argentina's president has created
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Trump's state visit is mired with potential pitfalls despite careful planning
Months of preparations have gone into this state visit - but the Lord Mandelson question is not the only concern troubling insiders.
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The UK car industry is at a tipping point - can it be saved?
Tariffs, Brexit, pandemic havoc... All of this caused short-term disruption - but the impact concealed a deeper problem for the UK automotive industry
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Trump's global tariffs 'victory' may well come at a high price
The US president considers it a win - but if this all triggers a foundational realignment, the results may not break in his favour