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Showing posts from April, 2026

Heating oil prices reached record high in NI

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Data suggests prices peaked on 8 April when 500 litres cost an average of £627.

Interest rates expected to be held as uncertainty over Iran war continues

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Future base rate changes are hard to predict as analysts judge the economic impact of the Iran war.

Why Sam Altman and his former hero Elon Musk are taking their toxic feud to court

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The battle between the AI big hitters has largely played out on social media. Now it is coming to the courtroom.

'I had £20,000 stolen and had to fight a 13-month fraud reporting rule to get it back'

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Sarah has now got her money back but there are calls to reform the deadline for reporting scams to banks.

From scientist to silk farmer: India's silk industry renewal

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Silk production is an increasingly high-tech business in India.

'There's so much I want to give my daughter - poverty means I can't'

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Around a third of Welsh children live in poverty, the highest among the four UK nations.

Which airlines are cancelling flights to the UK - and what can you do?

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Airlines are putting up prices and cancelling flights in response to higher jet fuel prices.

England shirt overpriced, says £40k kits collector

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Collector Les Motherby says classic England shirts are often better value than new ones.

Rescue centre facing eviction makes funding appeal

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Redhead Rescues Animal Sanctuary in Northamptonshire wants to buy its own land.

How a pivot to hair accessories led to business success

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Jenny Lennick's colourful hair clips are sold across the US and around the world.

Stock markets are too high and set to fall, says Bank of England deputy

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It is unusual for a senior figure at the Bank to be so forthright on market movements.

China weathered Trump's tariffs - but the Iran war is taking a toll

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The Middle East conflict is putting pressure on factory orders, costs and jobs in China's export-driven economy.

Watch: BBC goes undercover at mini-mart selling drugs

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BBC UK editor Ed Thomas confronts a shopkeeper secretly filmed selling cannabis and cocaine to one of our researchers.

The 'dumb machine' promising a clean energy breakthrough

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A stellarator is difficult to build, but could it be the best way to make fusion energy work?

Royal Mail to ask part-time posties to work more to meet letter targets

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Royal Mail has faced a chorus of criticism for failing to meet its targets on letter delivery.

Air fares soar by nearly 25% as Iran war forces flights to re-route

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Airspace restrictions caused by the conflict sent plane ticket prices higher, research shows.

Why your recycled clothes could end up in this South American desert

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Old garments from around the world are being discarded in the South American country.

Could a digital twin make you into a 'superworker'?

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Firms say digital twins make staff more productive, but are they a potential legal minefield?

'With four jobs in London I couldn't afford rent so I'm going to Manchester'

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Lauren Elcock is among the young Londoners who say rising rents are forcing them to quit the capital.

Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like

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Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?

'I'm the lucky one' - more than one in three young men now live with their parents

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Last year, the highest proportion of men aged 20-34 were still living at home since at least 2007 as the rising cost of living takes hold.

Back to books - Sweden's schools cutting back on digital learning

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Swedish classrooms swap laptops for books, pens and paper, raising concerns from the tech sector.

Horse urine perfume: why online bargains may be dangerous

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Experts warn of hidden risk of counterfeits, while the government consults on stricter product safety rules.

Rolls-Royce launches new two-seater electric car

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The company says it will create only 100 of its Project Nightingale in its Goodwood headquarters.

Help to Buy mostly helped high earners, IFS says

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People with lower incomes benefitted less from the house-buying scheme than those with high incomes, the influential think tank says.

Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers

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Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?

The Dutch village at risk of being demolished

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Moerdijk has been earmarked for removal, to make way for a vast electricity substation.

Great at gaming? US air traffic control wants you to apply

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A new government ad campaign is trying to persuade gamers to apply for air safety roles.

'Every drop of water counts': Fear for the future of Argentina's glaciers

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A controversial law to ease protections for the glaciers has passed, opening the doors for mining.

Dolce & Gabbana co-founder steps down as chair

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The bold and sensual fashion house has been struggling with debt amidst a slowdown in global luxury spending.

NI fuel protesters 'stand in solidarity' with Irish counterparts

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A convoy of vans, lorries, tractors, and even a limousine took part in a slow moving protest around the town centre on Saturday afternoon.

TV for dogs booms but are they watching?

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TV channels for dogs are multiplying but research is mixed on whether dogs are watching.

The construction boss who built a new life after three years in prison

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Traci Quinn, who was jailed for a drugs offence, has transformed herself and set up a successful firm.

Jo Malone hopes 'sense will prevail' in lawsuit over her name

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The British perfume designer and Zara are being sued by Estée Lauder over a collaboration.

Faisal Islam: Iran war pause is welcome but the economic scars will last

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Allowing all ships through the Strait of Hormuz will calm markets but the war has created new problems.

UK house prices fall as Iran war uncertainty dampens demand

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Mortgage rates have been rising and hundreds of the cheapest deals have disappeared over the last month.

'I ended up paying £500': Your subscription trap stories

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Many readers have experienced the ordeal of cancelling a subscription.

'Even if Iran war ends now, farmers' costs will have to be passed on'

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Despite a ceasefire, the Iran war will continue to affect farmers' costs and therefore food prices.

How the Iran war affects your money and bills

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The conflict in the Middle East has increased pressure on the cost of petrol, household energy bills and even food.

Businesses scramble to get noticed by AI search

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Firms are changing the way they present information on their websites, so they get noticed by AI.

Spain's huge pork industry seeks salvation from swine fever threat

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Countries around the world, including the US, have already stopped imports over the outbreak.

Benefits and pensions rise as two-child cap ends

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Families on some benefits with three or more children will get an average rise of £4,100 a year.

Keir Starmer 'concerned' over Kanye West UK festival dates

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The festival's main sponsor Pepsi has withdrawn its funding from Wireless, it announced on Sunday.

New laws to make it easier to cancel subscriptions and get refunds

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Consumers will be able to cancel unwanted subscriptions 'at the click of a button', the government said.

'Elderly couple had to find £1k for home heating oil'

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One elderly couple had to find £1,000 for an oil delivery and suppliers are not giving quotes, a councillor says.

A year on: Four ways Trump's tariffs have changed the global economy

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US tariffs stand at the highest rate in decades. But what has the impact been?

State pension age starts rising to 67 - here's how much you get and when

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The age at which people can start receiving the state pension is going up in stages over the next two years.

JLR sees sales recover after cyber attack

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Work at plants in Solihull, Halewood and outside Wolverhampton restarted in October.

Elon Musk's SpaceX set to be worth $1 trillion with planned public listing

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The company’s public stock debut is set to be one of the most valuable in history, and could make Musk the world's first trillionaire.

Sir John Curtice: Why Labour's Brexit focus has shifted from Leavers to Remainers

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Will the pursuit of a closer relationship with the EU risk courting electoral disaster by alienating Brexit-backing voters?