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Showing posts from February, 2026

Rent tops £1,000 a month in more areas - find out where

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The cost of renting privately has surged in the last five years, but tenants may now see a slowdown.

The family-owned soda firm that still uses returnable glass bottles

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Soft drinks company Twig's Beverage has a loyal following for its old-fashioned approach.

Food banks 'essential' for new generation of students

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Queen's University Belfast says there were more than 10,500 visits by students to its food bank in the students' union.

Energy bills to fall in April after charges shake-up

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Changes announced in the Budget mean domestic energy prices should fall sharply in April.

Are you cut out for living and working in Antarctica?

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Jobs are available on the icy continent for chefs, plumbers, carpenters and even hairdressers.

MPs to discuss inquiry into trade envoy role after Andrew arrest

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A cross-party committee will also look into the appointment and accountability of UK trade envoys.

KFC, Nando's, and others ditch chicken welfare pledge

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Wingstop, Burger King, and others have walked away from an industry commitment to avoid using fast-growing chickens

Funding approved to reduce cold deaths

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Citizens Advice's Warm and Well scheme in North Yorkshire will receive the money over three years.

Bill Gates pulls out of India's AI summit over Epstein files controversy

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The Gates Foundation said the decision was made to "ensure the focus remains on the summit's key priorities".

Key social issues identified in charity report

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Each year, Citizens Advice selects social policy areas for analysis based on its clients' issues.

Lobbying firm co-founded by Mandelson goes into administration

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Global Counsel's clients cut ties with the firm over Lord Mandelson's links with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

File on 4 Investigates

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Can boxing do more to look after its fighters?

Rare-breed horse centre cuts back amid cost woes

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The stud continues but a visitor centre and cafe closes as the rare-breed centre takes stock.

Microsoft error sees confidential emails exposed to AI tool Copilot

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The company says it has addressed the issue and it "did not provide anyone access to information they weren't already authorised to see".

The two farms in Senegal that supply many of the UK's vegetables

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During winter in Britain fresh produce is sent by cargo ship from the West African nation every week.

Plan to increase youth minimum wage could be delayed

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Government sources tell BBC News they could slow down plans to make minimum wage equal across age groups.

Reddit's human content wins amid the AI flood

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Reddit says its human contributors are valued amid an internet awash with AI-generated content.

Bayer offers $7.25bn to settle weedkiller cancer claims

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The company has faced years of legal battles over Roundup, a weedkiller made by Monsanto.

Calculator: How will freeze on tax thresholds hit your take-home pay?

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Wages have been rising faster than prices but you could pay more tax because of frozen thresholds.

Bedding firm backs down on 'Swift Home' trademark after Taylor Swift appeal

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Swift’s team had flagged similarities between her trademark and the company’s contested design.

Trump eyes Venezuela visit – but obstacles to his oil plan remain

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The US president wants American energy firms to start extracting the crude but they are reluctant.

Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands

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Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.

Amazon's Ring ends deal with surveillance firm after backlash

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A Super Bowl advert had sparked new scrutiny of the smart doorbell company's privacy practices.

The £10 tricks I used to make my rented room into a home

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Talented tenants share decor hacks that won't cost you a fortune - or your deposit.

Last chance for pensioners to get free air fryers

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The council has handed out 15,000 free air fryers help people with the cost of living.

The Bottom Line

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Why do private landlords attract so much criticism – and how fair is it?

Rising vet costs leave charity with £400k bill

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The group, based in Solihull and Wolverhampton, says its vet bills are costing them more.

Is dining out dying out?

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The restaurant industry says it is facing a double whammy - rising costs and customers with less money.

Civil service pension backlog 'overwhelmed' Capita, boss says

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Thousands of retiring civil servants have been left without pension payments causing hardship for some.

Why food fraud persists, even with improving tech

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Even with sophisticated technology it is still difficult to detect fake foods.

Apple and Google agree to change app stores after 'effective duopoly' claim

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The UK's markets regulator says the proposed commitments "will boost the UK's app economy".

Plane makers chase Asia's super-rich with luxe new private jets

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Parts of the aviation industry are shifting towards wealthy customers and selling a more luxurious type of international travel.

The shadowy world of abandoned oil tankers

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A growing number of tankers and other commercial vessels are being ditched by their owners.

Can robots ever be graceful?

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Firms are working to make the motors that drive robots more efficient and cheaper.

Epstein emails: So-called 'shady financier' was Andrew's 'trusted money man'

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Andrew seemed keen for Epstein to do business with David Rowland, but Epstein was wary, emails suggest.

Average house price tops £300,000 for first time, says Halifax

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Halifax describes the figure as a "milestone", but potentially daunting for first-time buyers.

City volunteers seek drivers for meal deliveries

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Friends of Di's Kitchen provides hundreds of meals each week in Wolverhampton.

Silence and inaction - how audio helped prove captain guilty of North Sea tanker crash

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The top detective investigating the tanker collision says there were early signs of gross negligence from Vladimir Motin

Jobs set to be cut at Wedgwood

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Seventy workers at the Staffordshire site were put on temporary leave last year due to slow demand.

Pinterest sacks engineers for tracking staff job cuts

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The social media platform recently announced that it was axing around 15% of its workforce.

Bank of England expected to hold interest rates

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Interest rates were cut to 3.75% in December and analysts expect at least one further reduction this year.

EU has 'open mind' on UK customs union debate, says commissioner

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Valdis Dombrovskis says the EU is willing to engage with Britain amid mounting global uncertainty.

Starbucks bets on robots to brew a turnaround in customers

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Chief executive Brian Niccol explains why he thinks AI will help the coffee giant regain its buzz.

School pantries mean 'food on table' for families

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Food pantries are run by schools in North Yorkshire in a bid to help parents, and tackle food waste.

US Commerce Secretary Lutnick planned Epstein island visit, emails show

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The emails show Lutnick and his family planned a trip to Little Saint James, a private island Epstein purchased in 1998.

Harry Styles and Anthony Joshua among UK's top taxpayers

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The former One Direction member-turned-solo artist appears on the Sunday Times list for the first time.

Rare earths, data centres - India pushes local industry amid global headwinds

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India's budget focuses on infrastructure and defence spending and tax breaks for data-centre investments.

'We hope it's not the end': Firm behind Prince George's baby shoes warns it may close

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The Leicester-based family firm of 73 years said it has been hit by "prices going up, but demand going down".