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Oil price hits highest since 2022 after report Trump to be briefed on new Iran options
Axios reported that US Central Command has prepared a plan for a wave of "short and powerful" strikes on Iran.
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Oil prices at four-year high; Bank of England expected to hold interest rates at noon – business live
Brent crude falls 1.2% after rising to $126.41 a barrel, highest since March 2022 on report US is considering military options against IranThe eurozone grew by 0.1% in the first quarter, while inflation jumped to 3% in April driven by a near-11% surge in energy prices.The EU also expanded by...
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Last Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants to close, with loss of 3,800 jobs, Premier Inn owner says
Whitbread to call time on restaurants in UK and Ireland blaming higher costs and taxes for latest strategic resetPremier Inn owner Whitbread is to cut about 3,800 jobs in the UK and Ireland and shut its remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants as it resets its five-year business strategy, amid...
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Premier Inn owner to cut 3,800 jobs in savings plan
Whitbread says it will also remodel its 197 hotel restaurants as part of a five-year savings plan.
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‘Nightmare’ queues and missed flights: a turbulent start to EU entry-exit system
Some travellers spent hours in lines at airport, with kiosks not working, little seating and few staff on hand to helpSome travellers passing through the new EU entry-exit system (EES) have faced huge delays at border checks, with some waiting for up to three hours, airports say.The new rules have...
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The $13bn World Cup: how the numbers stack up on Fifa’s 2026 balance sheet
The earnings from the tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada will make it the most lucrative competition in the history of sport, even if some of the 48 competing countries say they are struggling to make ends meetA World Cup that Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, billed at the draw...
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Saudi Arabia to stop funding LIV Golf next season
Saudi Arabia will withdraw its multi-billion dollar backing of LIV Golf at the end of the season, plunging the future of the series into doubt.
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In plane sight: how the gilded elite live – in pictures
From golf tournaments to shooting parties, these images of photographer Will Vogt’s social circle offer us an intimate glimpse of a world that feels out of reach Continue reading...
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Revealed: British ad firm’s billion-dollar greenwash of US oil industry
WPP accused of breaching its climate policy after report reveals firm linked to twice as much oil advertising as US rivalsA British advertising conglomerate has helped the oil companies ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell and BP spend an estimated $1.5bn (£1.1bn) on adverts in the US since the 2015 Paris agreement to...
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Galaxy S26 review: Samsung’s still-compact flagship Android
Small top-tier Android is great to use, being fast, AI-loaded and with reasonable battery life, but falls short of rivals on cameraSamsung’s compact flagship phone hasn’t changed much in a year, but the S26 is still one of the best smaller handsets available as rivals grow larger and larger.The S26...
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Taiwan accuses China of vegetable laundering via Vietnam
Taiwanese officials have accused firms in China of attempting to evade import restrictions by rerouting vegetables through neighbouring VietnamTaipei has accused China of smuggling vegetables into Taiwan via Vietnam in a bid to evade import restrictions, with officials vowing to crack down on a practice they say amounts to “origin...
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Food bank stocks 'low as client numbers increase'
Guernsey Welfare Service says demand has grown and it could increase further.
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Homeowners turn to solar panels as oil prices rise
Yorkshire installers report up to a tenfold increase in interest since the start of the Iran war.
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Rising costs forcing 3m UK households to skip meals, Which? report finds
Consumer insight tracker shows 85% are worried about food prices and a majority think the economy will deteriorateThree million UK households are being forced to skip meals as consumers resort to drastic measures to deal with rising costs, according to a Which? report published on Thursday.The conflict in the Middle...
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Labour is facing wipeout in its final stronghold. Why? It’s housing, housing, housing | Aditya Chakrabortty
In the 1980s, Labour-controlled London built 52,000 council homes. During the Tony Blair decade, just 280. It’s brought this local-election catastrophe on itselfOver the week to come, journalists will repeat three things until they, and you, are sick: that local elections fall next Thursday; that the results will decide the...
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'We will kill you and burn your house': Council staff under attack from High Street gangs
Dozens of Trading Standards officers describe intimidation from criminals running mini-marts and vape shops.
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Meta shares slide as plan to spend billions more on AI spooks investors
Other tech giants Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon also reported quarterly earnings on Wednesday.
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A son overlooked and a jailed tycoon: Inside Samsung's succession drama
The family dynasty behind Samsung is so complicated it regularly makes headline news in South Korea.
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Musk accuses OpenAI lawyer of trying to 'trick' him in combative testimony
Elon Musk was cross-examined on the third day of the trial over his lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI.
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The kelp producer who wants to get Americans eating seaweed
Marine farmer Suzie Flores also hopes the crop can revitalise the US's small fishing towns.
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Interest rates expected to be held as uncertainty over Iran war continues
Future base rate changes are hard to predict as analysts judge the economic impact of the Iran war.
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Interest rates expected to be held as uncertainty over Iran war continues
Future base rate changes are hard to predict as analysts judge the economic impact of the Iran war.
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Oil price rises above $120 after reports of 'extended' Iran blockade
The price of crude oil has swung sharply as uncertainty over the war in the Middle East continues.
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Tech giants’ results show rosy outlook for AI boom and US stock market
Google, Microsoft and Amazon report gains in cloud-computing businesses while Meta spending draws concern Unusual simultaneous reports of financial results by several of the US’s largest tech companies gave positive indications for the stock market despite widespread fears of an AI bubble on Wednesday.Four of the so-called Magnificent Seven tech...
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Four key takeaways from Jerome Powell's final rate decision as Fed chair
Powell's news conference after holding rates covered the US-Israel war with Iran, inflation, legal attacks, and the Fed's independence.
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Senior UK ministers deride Rachel Reeves’s reported plan of year-long rent freeze
Housing secretary and housing minister latest to criticise idea, which has also been ruled out by No 10Senior ministers have poured scorn on the idea of freezing private sector rents for a year, less than 48 hours after the Guardian revealed Rachel Reeves was considering it.Steve Reed, the housing secretary,...
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The Guardian view on the UAE quitting Opec: whatever importers pay, the price of fossil fuels is too high | Editorial
The world must accelerate the shift to renewables, regardless of the economic effects of Abu Dhabi’s decisionOpec appears to be the latest casualty of the Iran war. On Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates announced that it was leaving the oil cartel after 60 years. The loss of a critical member...
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Rachel Reeves’s plan to mandate how pension funds invest was always a mistake | Nils Pratley
You can understand the motivation – more UK investment by UK funds means faster UK growth – but fiduciary duty trumps allA simple principle lies at the heart of pension investment: the pension manager must invest in the best interest of the client. UK ministers have often wished UK funds...
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Nigel Farage referred to standards watchdog over undisclosed £5m gift
Rival parties demand investigation as Tory party chair refers Reform UK leader to commissioner over gift from crypto tycoonExclusive: Farage given undisclosed £5m by crypto tycoonAnalysis: Farage’s attempt to get ahead of story raises more questionsNigel Farage has been referred to parliament’s standards watchdog after the Guardian revealed he received...
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In five charts - How UAE's exit could affect Opec's influence over the oil price
The BBC takes a look in charts at what the UAE's departure could mean for the oil cartel and more widely.
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'Shock' for paper firm staff amid closure proposal
Paper and packaging firm DS Smith says it is consulting with staff.
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Co-op marking commonly stolen items with forensic spray to track reselling
Wave of measures has helped cut offending in stores last year by a fifth as new retail crime law comes into forceCo-op is secretly marking commonly stolen items including alcohol and laundry detergents with invisible “forensic spray” to track them, in the latest crackdown on shoplifting as a new law...
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'Numbskull, moron and too stupid': Trump and Powell's biggest clashes
How the US President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell came to blows.
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Farage’s attempt to get ahead of £5m gift story only raises more questions
Reform leader went public after approach from Guardian, but does his claim stack up that money was for his security?Nigel Farage was given undisclosed £5m by crypto billionaire in 2024Farage referred to standards watchdog over undisclosed £5m giftNigel Farage has admitted he received a personal gift of £5m from the...
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A bathroom for every passenger! Welcome to future of air travel – if you’ve got £13,000 to spare
You already get extra legroom and all sorts of goodies if you travel first class. Soon you won’t even have to queue for the toiletName: The aeroplane en suiteAge: Coming soon. Continue reading...
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EU farmers and hauliers to get up to €50,000 to cover extra costs of Iran war
Fishing companies can also access subsidies in loosening of state aid rules to cover fuel and fertiliser price risesThe EU is to subsidise up to 70% of the extra cost of fuel and fertilisers caused by the Iran war for farmers, fishing businesses and road hauliers as part of a...
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Reliance on Chinese green tech poses ‘serious’ risk for Europe, experts say
Continent ‘sleepwalking’ into series of economic and national security problems due to over-dependenceEurope is “sleepwalking” into a series of economic and national security problems because of an over-reliance on Chinese green technology, according to experts.A report co-authored by Michael Collins, a former deputy head of national security strategy at the...
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What is expected to happen to UK interest rates?
The interest rate set by the Bank of England affects mortgage, loan and savings rates for millions.
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Purdue Pharma to be dissolved as judge approves criminal sentence in opioid case
OxyContin maker to be replaced by new company aiming to combat opioid crisis as legal settlement takes effectPurdue Pharma, which makes OxyContin, is set to be dissolved and replaced by a company focused on the public good by the week’s end, as a sweeping legal settlement resolving thousands of lawsuits...
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UK firms in ‘critical financial stress’ jump by a third as costs rise, report finds
Insolvency firm points to tax rises, staff costs and shaky consumer confidence after number increases to 62,193The number of UK businesses in “critical financial distress” has risen by more than a third over the past year, as companies contend with a “slew of increased taxes” and the impact of the...
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‘There’s no streetlights’: North Yorkshire restaurant told to stop driving diners home
Award-winning chef and husband ordered to stop offering lifts home from rurally located HansomIt was when people were bringing a change of shoes to walk home that a couple running an acclaimed restaurant in North Yorkshire thought: “Actually, why don’t we give you a lift?”But the arrangement, loved by customers,...
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The bridesmaid ban: how the Home Office tarnished a British citizen’s big day – and cost them £2,000
Everything was in place for Andrea’s dream celebration in Barbados. Then her close friend was denied the right to walk across a British airport to board a connecting flightWeddings can be complicated to organise, especially when the venue is more than 4,000 miles from home. But Andrea, a Londoner, was...
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Exclusive: Nigel Farage was given undisclosed £5m by crypto billionaire in 2024
Reform leader changed his mind about standing as MP after gift from Thai-based crypto tycoon Christopher HarborneAnalysis: Farage’s bid to get ahead of story only raises more questionsFarage referred to standards watchdog over undisclosed £5m giftNigel Farage was given £5m by the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne shortly before announcing he...
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Why has the UAE left Opec - and why does this matter?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is quitting oil cartel Opec after nearly 60 years of membership.
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Why has the UAE left Opec - and why does this matter?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is quitting oil cartel Opec after nearly 60 years of membership.
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Musk accuses Altman of stealing a charity as courtroom battle begins
The case over OpenAI's history and public commitments could have major implications for the future of AI.
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Lloyds takes £151m hit from Iran war as it forecasts rise in UK unemployment
Bank expects its base case for GDP growth to be 0.5% this year, lower than IMF’s 0.8% prediction for BritainBusiness live – latest updatesLloyds has said that the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict could cost it £151m amid rising unemployment and inflation and a slowdown in the housing...
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What do shoppers think about the future of their high street?
Freshney Place is being renovated to include a new food hall and five-screen cinema.
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Meet the AI jailbreakers: ‘I see the worst things humanity has produced’
To test the safety and security of AI, hackers have to trick large language models into breaking their own rules. It requires ingenuity and manipulation – and can come at a deep emotional costA few months ago, Valen Tagliabue sat in his hotel room watching his chatbot, and felt euphoric....
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Trump in tough spot as he tries to avoid deal that highlights US failures in Iran
Washington facing long economic war or risky military action to reopen strait of Hormuz – which may now be more valuable to Iran than a nuclear weaponPete Hegseth denies Iran war is a ‘quagmire’ as estimated US cost so far hits $25bnDonald Trump is learning first-hand about the perils of...
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United Arab Emirates to quit oil cartel Opec
The UAE's decision, after nearly 60 years of membership, is seen as a potential death knell for the oil cartel.
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Advert for £49 serum banned over 'five years younger' claim
Eucerin asked 160 people to use the serum for four weeks then say how much younger they thought they looked.
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Rachel Reeves’s tax shake-up: time to plan ahead, from Isas to self-assessment
The chancellor’s changes will come into force in April 2027, affecting everyone from savers to landlords and sole traders. Experts say to act nowMillions of people will be affected by a range of savings, investment and tax changes that take effect in just under a year’s time.“April 2027 may feel...
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Classic Football Shirts: inside the vault home to their most valuable vintage gear – video
Classic Football Shirts have been in business for 20 years, selling over one million shirts (so far) and keeping the most iconic match-worn pieces in their temperature-controlled vault. Michael Butler travelled to Manchester to meet the CFS founders Continue reading...
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In the coming AI future, Britain must not end up at the mercy of US tech giants | Rafael Behr
Trump is volatile, capricious and unreasonable – but he belongs to the old world of analogue power. What comes next will be harder to manageDonald Trump is not impressed by soft power. He respects hard men with military muscle. But he can be moved by pageantry, which is the purpose...
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Siri, where does Apple go next? – podcast
Guardian US tech editor Blake Montgomery talks about the future of Apple after the resignation of its longtime CEO Tim CookWhere does Apple – perhaps the most iconic tech company on Earth – go next?Last week its CEO, Tim Cook, stood down after 15 years. As US Guardian tech editor...
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A fresh financial crisis may be coming - it won't play out like the last one
Several warning lights are flashing that have some wondering whether we are in the foothills of another financial crisis.
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Flying cars and 5-minute charges: China's EV industry sees opportunity in Iran crisis
As the US-Iran has sent the world scrambling for fuel, China is positioned to benefit from its rapid shift into electric vehicles.
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Another shadow banking hit – but otherwise, Barclays looks fine
The bank should not sound the all-clear but twin embarrassments do not mean the current credit cycle will end in tearsBarclays cuts back risky lending after £228m hit from UK mortgage firm MFSThe Barclays boss CS Venkatakrishnan, having seen the bank hit in the space of six months by two...
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Ben Jennings on BP’s Iran war profits – cartoon
Continue reading...
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Address checks are lacking at the DVLA | Brief letters
Another fine mess | The rise of ‘ghost owners’ | NHS cancer screening | Full ‘wazzock’ insult | Cloning monarch butterfliesThe Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not appear to check addresses of car owners even when it has them on record (Rise of the ‘ghost owner’: 18,000 UK vehicles...
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Faisal Islam: Why the UAE's exit from Opec is a big deal
It will have little effect on the current oil blockades, but it could change everything afterwards.
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Why Sam Altman and his former hero Elon Musk are taking their toxic feud to court
The battle between the AI big hitters has largely played out on social media. Now it is coming to the courtroom.
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Nostalgia wasn't enough: What went wrong at Claire's
Experts says Claire's suffered from a perfect storm of issues which has spelled the end for the accessories chain.
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Tell us: how are you adjusting your household finances as the Iran war pushes up costs?
We’d like to hear how you’re adapting your expenditure as the cost of living rises amid the conflict in the Middle EastRising prices and economic uncertainty linked to the conflict in the Middle East are putting pressure on household budgets across the world.The International Monetary Fund has warned the conflict...
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BP profits more than double as Iran war sends oil prices higher
The energy giant said it had seen an "exceptional" performance at its oil trading business.
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Super fly: can an electric aircraft spark a quiet revolution in New York travel?
Joby Aviation says its futuristic aircraft reaches Manhattan from JFK in 10 minutes at a ‘premium car service’ priceIt’s neither a bird nor a plane, and it is vehemently not a helicopter, but instead this week some New Yorkers witnessed an “electric vertical takeoff and landing” aircraft buzzing around the...
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‘It’s a gamechanger’: Lewis Hamilton’s groundbreaking Mission 44 recruits working in F1
Foundation set up by F1 great is beginning to address the lack of representation of black people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds in motorsportSports people can be more than the sum of their athletic achievements. Lewis Hamilton stands unquestionably as one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula...
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Airlines cutting fares to lure hesitant customers, says Wizz Air
Boss József Váradi says European firms want to boost flyers put off by fares inflated by jet fuel costs.
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'Emergency handbrake' needed on sickness benefits, Blair think tank says
The Tony Blair Institute says people with conditions like anxiety should get employment support instead of cash benefits.
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EE couldn’t change pricey broadband and TV deal after my husband died
It cheerily addressed letters to my late spouse, and threatened penalties if he terminated his contractAfter my husband died suddenly, I discovered he had been paying £171 a month for our EE broadband and TV contract. EE initially offered me a monthly deal at £44.99 on the phone.There followed two...
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Humanoid robots to become baggage handlers in Japan airport experiment
Japan Airlines will introduce the robots for trial run at a Tokyo airport amid country’s surge in inbound tourism and worsening labour shortagesJapan’s famously conscientious but overburdened baggage handlers will soon be joined by extra staff at Tokyo’s Haneda airport – although their new colleagues will need to take regular...
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My tenant owes £15,000 in rent, but I can't get them out of the property
Landlords tell BBC News why they fear new laws could make it harder to remove problematic tenants.
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I had £20,000 stolen and had to fight a 13-month fraud reporting rule to get it back
Sarah has now got her money back but there are calls to reform the deadline for reporting scams to banks.
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Why Spotify has no button to filter out AI music
Music streamer Deezer allows users to filter out AI music, so why does Spotify not offer the same?
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Why Elon Musk and Sam Altman are fighting over OpenAI
Musk, who co-founded the company that created ChatGPT with Altman, wants more than $130bn in damages.
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How climate change threatens the economic backbone of the Pacific
Tuna populations around the Pacific Islands could move away as ocean temperatures increase.
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From scientist to silk farmer: India's silk industry renewal
Silk production is an increasingly high-tech business in India.
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High street drug dealer sells cannabis to undercover reporter
Across the UK, shopfronts are being exploited by criminal gangs pushing illegal drugs, experts say.
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What the Warner Bros deal could mean for streaming, cinemas and news
If Paramount's takeover of Warner Bros goes ahead it could significantly reshape Hollywood.
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Watch: BBC goes undercover at mini-mart selling drugs
BBC UK editor Ed Thomas confronts a shopkeeper secretly filmed selling cannabis and cocaine to one of our researchers.
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How a pivot to hair accessories led to business success
Jenny Lennick's colourful hair clips are sold across the US and around the world.
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The 'dumb machine' promising a clean energy breakthrough
A stellarator is difficult to build, but could it be the best way to make fusion energy work?
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Why your recycled clothes could end up in this South American desert
Old garments from around the world are being discarded in the South American country.
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Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like
Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?
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Could a digital twin make you into a 'superworker'?
Firms say digital twins make staff more productive, but are they a potential legal minefield?
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Back to books - Sweden's schools cutting back on digital learning
Swedish classrooms swap laptops for books, pens and paper, raising concerns from the tech sector.
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Quantum computing: A tech race Europe could win?
With some promising computing companies in the field, could Europe be a leader in quantum tech?
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The Dutch village at risk of being demolished
Moerdijk has been earmarked for removal, to make way for a vast electricity substation.
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'Every drop of water counts': Fear for the future of Argentina's glaciers
A controversial law to ease protections for the glaciers has passed, opening the doors for mining.
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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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Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly
The Gulf's hub airports made long-distance travel cheaper - but now their future looks unclear.
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Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers
Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?
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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?