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Latest financial, market & economic news and analysis from The Guardian
Site URL: www.theguardian.com/uk/business
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‘They are going after everything rural’: inheritance tax U-turn does little to dampen farmers’ anger at Labour
Published: January 8, 2026 18:14
At the Oxford farming conference there were signs the government has much to do to win back farmers’ trustFew symbols were more potent than the wooden coffin bearing the inscription “RIP British agriculture, 30th October 2024” that greeted Labour’s…
‘Shadow fleet’ ships moving sanctioned oil reflagged to Russia at rising rate
Published: January 8, 2026 17:24
Lloyd’s List analysis suggests 40 suspicious vessels joined Russian registry last year, with 17 reflagged last monthForty ships accused of belonging to a large “shadow fleet” moving sanctioned oil for Venezuela and others were reflagged to Russia last year…
French farmers descend on Paris to protest against EU-Mercosur deal – video
Published: January 8, 2026 17:22
Tractors have blocked roads around the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, as farmers protest against an imminent EU trade deal with four South American countries that they say will create unfair competition Continue reading...
Software firm belonging to Tory donor Frank Hester pays out £50m dividend
Published: January 8, 2026 16:00
Sales and profits surge at TPP Group, whose software is said to be used by 7,800 NHS organisationsThe software company belonging to the Tory donor Frank Hester, a major contractor to the NHS, has paid a £50m dividend after sales and profits surged.TPP…
Tesco aiming for bumper 2026 after best Christmas market share in decade
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/08/tesco-best-christmas-market-share-in-decade
Published: January 8, 2026 14:44
Chain reports strong sales but shares drop 5% after analysts say third quarter performance was behind expectationsBusiness live – latest updatesTesco is aiming to grab an even bigger slice of the grocery market this year after winning its best share in…
Alleged scam kingpin Chen Zhi arrives in China after extradition from Cambodia
Published: January 8, 2026 14:28
Chen founded multinational conglomerate Prince Group that US says is front for multibillion-dollar fraud operationChinese television has shown footage of the US-indicted tycoon Chen Zhi being escorted by armed police after his extradition to China from…
Labour to announce pub business rates U-turn after industry outcry
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/08/labour-pub-business-rates-u-turn
Published: January 8, 2026 14:18
Change likely to be welcomed by pub trade and opposition but will represent yet another government climbdownUK politics live – latest updatesBusiness live – latest updatesMinisters are preparing to U-turn over changes to business rates for pubs after a…
CMA begins full review of Kingsmill owner’s planned takeover of bread rival Hovis
Published: January 8, 2026 13:27
Move by UK competition regulator comes as Associated British Foods, which owns Primark, issues profit warningBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK competition watchdog has ramped up its investigation into a £75m takeover deal that will result in the owner…
Revealed: the crypto entrepreneur linked to illegal weight-loss drug operation
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jan/08/alluvi-weight-loss-drug-operation-raided-northampton
Published: January 8, 2026 13:22
Exclusive: Haul of illicit products led by medicines regulator was described as world’s largest of its kind, but no arrests have yet been madeWedged between an air-compressor service and an auto repair shop on a Northampton industrial estate is an…
Greggs puts up price of sausage roll by 5p to £1.35 amid rising costs
Published: January 8, 2026 12:39
Bakery chain also adds 10p to a latte, bringing it to £2.25, as CEO warns of ‘a tough, challenging market’Greggs has added 5p to the price of a sausage roll and 10p to a latte coffee as it leans on some of its bestsellers to soak up rising wage, energy and…
Trump plans to use Venezuela’s huge crude reserves ‘to cut US oil price to $50 a barrel’
Published: January 8, 2026 12:00
President reportedly hopes falling price will cut domestic consumer energy billsBusiness live – latest updatesDonald Trump plans to use Venezuela’s vast crude reserves to establish control of most of the western hemisphere’s oil in an attempt to drive the…
Dense, sticky and heavy: why Venezuela’s oil is valuable to Trump – video explainer
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2026/jan/08/why-venezuela-oil-valuable-trump-video-explainer
Published: January 8, 2026 12:00
The Venezuelan oil industry is ‘a total bust’ according to Donald Trump, something he has promised to ‘fix’ after attacking Caracas and seizing the country’s leader. But with analysts estimating it could take up to 14 years and billions to fix, what is in…
Musk lawsuit over OpenAI for-profit conversion can go to trial, US judge says
Published: January 8, 2026 11:56
Judge says there is plenty of evidence to suggest OpenAI’s leaders made assurances nonprofit structure would be keptBusiness live – latest updatesElon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI is to go to trial after a US judge said there is plenty of evidence to…
Tech titans divided over whether to pay billionaire tax or flee California
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/08/billionaire-tax-california
Published: January 8, 2026 10:00
State residents worth more than $1bn could face one-off, 5% tax to help fund education, food assistance and healthcareA battle is brewing in California over a plan to tax billionaires – with tech titans divided over whether they should pay up, or flee the…
Tunbridge Wells residents without water again as supplier blames cold weather
Published: January 8, 2026 09:16
South East Water says 6,500 households have no water due to burst mains, a month after drinking water outageResidents of Tunbridge Wells have been left without water again, just a month after a major outage.South East Water said 6,500 households have no…
Primark owner ABF’s shares slide after profit warning; UK house prices drop in December – business live
Published: January 8, 2026 08:34
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsOuch! Shares in Associated British Foods have dropped by over 10% after it startled the City with a profit warning.ABF told shareholders this morning that sales growth at its Primark chain were…
Trump says he plans crackdown on defense firms over executive pay and stock buybacks
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/07/trump-defense-companies-shareholder-payouts
Published: January 7, 2026 21:51
President says he wants to raise military budget to $1.5tn and accuses US defense companies of delivery failures Donald Trump has claimed he plans to crack down on executive compensation and shareholder payouts at military defense contractors, as his…
AI chatbot maker Anthropic plans to raise $10bn to reach $350bn valuation
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/07/ai-anthropic-funding-valuation
Published: January 7, 2026 21:50
Startup founded by former OpenAI staff is aiming to more than double its annualized revenue run rate this yearAnthropic is planning a $10bn fundraise that would value the Claude chatbot maker at $350bn, according to multiple reports published on…
The Guardian view on Britain and Europe: time to move together, faster and further | Editorial
Published: January 7, 2026 18:30
The chaos that Donald Trump is causing in the world makes the case for continental solidarity and explicit repudiation of Brexit divisions Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for 2026 was to talk more about the domestic issues that concern British voters. Donald Trump…
Starmer vows to review franchise legislation in response to Vodafone case
Published: January 7, 2026 17:32
Prime minister to ‘look closely’ at legal claims against FTSE 100 telecoms groupThe prime minister has promised to review laws governing franchising agreements, in response to the case of a former Vodafone store manager whose family alleges took his own…
Reflagged by Russia, spied on by UK, seized by US: why so much interest in a rusty tanker in the Atlantic?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/07/marinera-seized-tanker-atlantic-us-uk-russia
Published: January 7, 2026 16:56
The ship has long been part of a shadow fleet used to dodge western sanctions. It had no oil onboard – but was it carrying Russian weapons?A massive, rusty crude oil tanker floating north through the Atlantic has become the centre of global interest after…
‘How is it possible?’: Berliners demand answers after sabotage causes blackout
Published: January 7, 2026 16:20
Arson attack that left parts of German capital in darkness for days stirs outrage over infrastructure insecurityEurope live – latest updatesWhen Silke Peters bought a crank radio and a camping stove just after the start of Russia’s full invasion of…
‘We’re in limbo’: the garden centre ‘golden mile’ that may be lost to a new town
Published: January 7, 2026 15:02
Crews Hill near Enfield in north London could become a victim of Labour’s ambitious housebuilding goalUK construction hit by worst run since global financial crisisOn the fringes of north London is an area of garden centres, green spaces and winding…
US seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker in Atlantic after two-week pursuit
Published: January 7, 2026 14:40
US coastguard reportedly boards the Marinera, facing no resistance but risking confrontation with MoscowEurope live – latest updatesThe US has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean in a high-stakes operation that could risk…
‘The pressure is too much’: Lesotho’s garment workers on the frontline of Trump tariffs
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/07/lesotho-garment-workers-trump-tariffs
Published: January 7, 2026 14:25
Women gather outside factories hoping for work as the economy struggles under US export taxesEvery morning at 7am, women gather outside clothing factories in Maseru, the capital of the southern African mountain kingdom of Lesotho, hoping to be offered…
Labour workers’ rights concessions to cut cost to business by billions, analysis shows
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/07/labour-workers-rights-concessions-cut-cost-business
Published: January 7, 2026 14:00
Updated government assessment says measures will now entail ‘no more than a modest increase’ for employers Labour watering down its sweeping overhaul of workers’ rights is expected to slash the cost of the plan for UK businesses by billions of pounds, the…
FCA fines two former Carillion directors for misleading investors before collapse
Published: January 7, 2026 11:37
Richard Adam and Zafar Khan knew about serious problems but failed to alert the market, UK regulator findsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s financial regulator has fined two former executives at the government contractor Carillion for misleading…
Keir Starmer has a historic opportunity to fix this awful Brexit – if he follows this plan | Naomi Smith
Published: January 7, 2026 11:00
The new bill giving ministers the power to align trade with the EU has huge practical and symbolic value. Let it herald a new and exciting ambitionGood things may come to those who wait, but when it comes to repairing the Brexit settlement Britain was left…
Oil prices fall after Trump says Venezuela will send up to 50m barrels to US
Published: January 7, 2026 10:56
Deal would give US president power to sell up to $3bn worth of crude stranded in tankers and storage facilitiesBusiness live – latest updatesGlobal oil prices have fallen by more than 1% after Donald Trump said Venezuela would hand over 30m to 50m barrels…
Revealed: how aviation emissions could be halved without cutting journeys
Published: January 7, 2026 10:00
Exclusive: Getting rid of premium seats, ensuring flights are near full and using efficient aircraft could slash CO2, analysis suggestsClimate-heating emissions from aviation could be slashed in half – without reducing passenger journeys – by getting rid…
Amsterdam airport cancels at least 700 flights because of snow and wind
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/07/amsterdam-airport-cancels-flights-amid-icy-conditions
Published: January 7, 2026 09:54
Camp beds set up as more than 1,000 travellers spend night at key flight hub during freezing European weatherEurope live – latest updatesAmsterdam Schiphol airport, one of the largest in Europe, has announced at least 700 flight cancellations because of…
Wager platform Polymarket not paying out on bets on US invasion of Venezuela
Published: January 7, 2026 08:56
Gamblers who placed bets totalling $10.5m angered after capture of Nicolás Maduro deemed not to qualifyThe online wager platform Polymarket has angered some gamblers by declaring it will not pay out yet on millions of dollars’ worth of bets on a US…
No games, no league and now no City Football Group: Indian football faces up to ‘global embarrassment’
Published: January 7, 2026 08:00
CFG have ditched Mumbai City and losing the glamour will hurt the game in the world’s most populated nationThe world’s biggest multiclub network shrank from 13 to 12 in the last week of 2025 but few blame the City Football Group for walking away from…
Oil price falls after Trump says Venezuela will send supply to US – business live
Published: January 7, 2026 07:34
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as Brent crude drops back to $60 a barrelVenezuela ‘turning over’ $2bn in oil to US, Trump says, in move that could cut supply to ChinaTrump’s move on Venezuela’s oil is attracting criticism.“This…
Is Starmer’s reluctance to criticise Trump smart tactics – or the sign of a man without a plan? | Rafael Behr
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/07/keir-starmer-donald-trump-venezuela-europe
Published: January 7, 2026 06:00
The PM won’t call out Trump over Venezuela, and won’t commit to Europe. His refusal to choose leaves vital choices for Britain to be made by others For an inveterate liar, Donald Trump is remarkably honest. The best guide to what he thinks is what he…
‘Yamagata is ramen’: Japan’s city of noodle fiends revels in ‘capital’ status
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/07/yamagata-ramen-japan-noodles
Published: January 7, 2026 05:00
Noodle dish is nation’s favourite comfort food and source of civic pride – but it has health risksThe road to ramen paradise ends in the unlikeliest of places. At Men Endo, located in a suburban street, next to a school and a low-rise apartment block,…
I'll be back! Lights back on at Lismore Cinemas, four years after devastating floods – video
Published: January 7, 2026 00:50
Almost four years after historic floods swept through northern NSW, Lismore continues to recover, with Keen Street's cinema reopening just before Christmas. The refurbished building was long awaited by locals, as residents travelled to nearby towns like…
Elon Musk’s xAI announces it has raised $20bn amid backlash over Grok deepfakes
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/06/elon-musk-xai-investment-grok-backlash
Published: January 6, 2026 22:31
AI company’s chatbot faces criticism over its generation of sexualized, nonconsensual images of women and girlsElon Musk’s artificial intelligence company has raised $20bn in its latest funding round, the startup announced Tuesday, even as its marquee…
Government signals tougher motoring rules to reduce casualties on Britain’s roads
Published: January 6, 2026 22:30
Eye-tests for older drivers, compulsory braking technology in new cars and a crackdown on drink-driving among new proposals‘Bigger than me’: Road safety campaigner whose son died in collision welcomes new UK rulesTougher rules on drink-driving, eye tests…
Lego introduces ‘smart bricks’ with sound and light effects to new Star Wars sets
Published: January 6, 2026 19:59
But some argue new ‘Smart Play’ technology undermines the Danish construction toy’s gift for harnessing a child’s own imaginationIt may be time to retire that hyperspace zoom noise you perfected while playing with Lego spacecraft. No longer must you…
The Guardian view on Trump’s raid in Caracas: oil matters, but it’s not the whole story | Editorial
Published: January 6, 2026 19:25
The seizure of Venezuelan leader was induced by the prize of petroleum, but driven by spectacle, geopolitics and domestic politicsIt’s all about oil. That was the reason Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan leader illegally abducted by US forces at the weekend,…
Trump: Is Greenland next? | The Latest
https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2026/jan/06/trump-is-greenland-next-the-latest
Published: January 6, 2026 18:22
After the removal of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, there are fears Donald Trump could turn his sights to Greenland, after he renewed his calls for the US to take control of the semi-autonomous Danish territory. While European leaders convened in…
The FTSE at 10,000: a missed opportunity for some marketing razzmatazz | Nils Pratley
Published: January 6, 2026 18:09
If Rachel Reeves and the London Stock Exchange want to encourage investing, they should have milked this momentThere are three ways to view the FTSE 100 index hitting 10,000 points for the first time. One is to say round numbers are irrelevant. Since share…
Fujitsu ‘not a parasite’, boss says while refusing to give redress figure for Horizon IT scandal victims
Published: January 6, 2026 17:37
Paul Patterson questioned by MPs as firm continues to make millions from UK government contractsFujitsu’s European boss has told MPs the company is “not a parasite”, after being criticised for continuing to make hundreds of millions of pounds from UK…
The corporate greed that has ravaged the US has wrecked Britain too | Letters
Published: January 6, 2026 17:27
After Robert Reich wrote about the US going ‘off the rails’, Tony Rowlands and Kate Purcell respond from a British angleRobert Reich’s account of how the holy writ of corporate profit has bought about the near disintegration of US society will be familiar…
Wave of Grok AI fake images of women and girls appalling, says UK minister
Published: January 6, 2026 16:56
Liz Kendall calls on X to ‘deal with this urgently’ while expert criticises ‘worrying slow’ government responseThe UK technology secretary has called a wave of images of women and children with their clothes digitally removed generated by Elon Musk’s Grok…
Now Musk’s Grok chatbot is creating sexualised images of children. If the law won’t stop it, perhaps his investors will | Sophia Smith Galer
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/06/elon-musk-grok-chatbot-children-x-owner
Published: January 6, 2026 15:30
The owner of X has grown used to acting with impunity – but this may be a red line for those with ‘conservative values’ who fund his adventures in free speechIt’s a sickening law of the internet that the first thing people will try to do with a new tool is…
Kent water failure was foreseen and could have been stopped, regulator says
Published: January 6, 2026 14:48
Problem at water treatment centre left 24,000 Tunbridge Wells homes without drinking water for two weeksA failure at a water treatment centre that left tens of thousands of Kent households without water was foreseen weeks before it happened and could have…
Elon Musk is moving back into politics. Can’t he take up a new hobby instead? Arwa Mahdawi
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/06/elon-musk-back-politics-new-hobby-instead
Published: January 6, 2026 14:47
It didn’t go very well for him last time, but the tech billionaire seems to have abandoned his plans for a third party and has renewed his bromance with the president “You know, I’ve generally found that when I get involved in politics, it ends up badly,”…
‘I felt violated’: Elon Musk’s AI chatbot crosses a line
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/05/elon-musk-grok-ai-chatbot
Published: January 6, 2026 14:22
Grok still being used to digitally undress women and children, while US takes TikTok approach to dronesHello, and welcome to TechScape. Happy new year! I hope your 2026 is off to a great start. Today in tech, we are examining the output of Elon Musk’s AI…
Global buys majority stake in Gary Neville’s YouTube group The Overlap
Published: January 6, 2026 13:57
European media giant aims to emulate success of sports podcast network Goalhanger, founded by Gary Lineker The YouTube media business co-founded by Gary Neville has been bought by one of Europe’s biggest commercial radio companies, in the latest sign of…
Warning over TikTok scam using AI-generated videos of Spain’s Princess Leonor
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/06/tiktok-scam-warning-ai-videos-princess-leonor-spain
Published: January 6, 2026 12:50
Princess of Asturias Foundation says fraudsters are using fake profiles and videos purporting to show heir to Spanish throneA foundation representing Princess Leonor, the 20-year-old heir to the Spanish throne, has warned that scammers are using…
The strangest thing: is the future of cinema … not new movies?
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/06/non-traditional-cinema-releases
Published: January 6, 2026 12:04
Netflix’s big-screen release of the Stranger Things finale is estimated to have made over $25m at the US box office, the latest example of event cinema proving popularIt was a lucrative holiday period at the North American box office these past two weeks,…
Deep in the vaults: the Bank of England’s £1.4bn Venezuelan gold conundrum
Published: January 6, 2026 11:57
Nicolás Maduro’s seizure by US reopens question of who controls country’s reserves held in the UKTrump suggests US taxpayers could reimburse oil firmsBusiness live – latest updatesVenezuela live – latest updatesDeep under London’s streets, thousands of…
Next expects profits to top £1.1bn after bumper festive sales
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/06/next-profits-festive-sales-uk-employment
Published: January 6, 2026 10:57
Retailer warns that growth this year will be slower amid continuing pressures on UK employmentBusiness live – latest updatesThe high street retailer Next expects its annual profits to top £1.1bn after it rang up much stronger sales than expected over…
Trump suggests US taxpayers could reimburse oil firms for Venezuela investment
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/06/trump-us-taxpayers-oil-firms-venezuela-investment
Published: January 6, 2026 10:45
President says a ‘tremendous amount of money’ will need to be spent repairing country’s infrastructureWhy Venezuelan crude appeals to US refineriesBusiness live – latest updatesVenezuela live – latest updatesDonald Trump has suggested US taxpayers could…
Aldi and Lidl grab record Christmas sales share as Asda and Co-op slide
Published: January 6, 2026 09:43
Shoppers hit by rising bills switch to discount chains, supermarket own-label products and buying fewer items Business live – latest updatesThe discounters Aldi and Lidl grabbed their biggest share of Britain’s Christmas grocery market to date, while Asda…
JLR sales hit by cyber attack disruption and tariffs; FTSE 100 hits record high after Next beats Christmas expectations – business live
Published: January 6, 2026 08:44
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as shares in London hit new peak in early tradingUK grocery inflation eased slightly last month, new data shows.Worldpanel by Numerator have reported that grocery inflation fell to 4.3% in…
I can’t access my father’s legacy after solicitors closed down
Published: January 6, 2026 07:00
The firm that is holding the files has gone out of business, and complaining may take monthsMy dad died in July in harrowing circumstances. Our probate application was close to being finalised by our solicitor.Then this month we received an email from the…
How long will it take you to reach your savings goals for the new year? – calculator
Published: January 6, 2026 07:00
See how quickly giving up treats will help you hit a target – and a trick that can speed it upNew year money: 26 tools and apps to help you sort your finances in 2026As Tuesday marks the official end of the Christmas season, it is time to start thinking…
Taxpayers miss out on millions after ‘phoenixism’ at UK recruitment firms
Published: January 6, 2026 06:00
Practice where companies are liquidated and reacquired, free of debts, thought to cost taxpayers about £800m a yearInsolvent recruitment businesses shorn of their debts then reacquired from administration by the directors or shareholders that presided over…
‘Mad fishing’: the super-size fleet of squid catchers plundering the high seas
Published: January 6, 2026 05:00
Every year a Chinese-dominated flotilla big enough to be seen from space pillages the rich marine life on Mile 201, a largely ungoverned part of the South Atlantic off ArgentinaIn a monitoring room in Buenos Aires, a dozen members of the Argentinian coast…
FTSE 100 CEOs earn more than average worker’s yearly pay by noon on 6 January
Published: January 6, 2026 05:00
High Pay Centre calculates bosses will pass milestone on third working day of 2026 with median pay of £1,353 an hourThe bosses of FTSE 100 companies will have made more money in 2026 before midday on Tuesday than the average worker will all year, according…
US will be exempt from global tax deal targeting profits of large multinationals
Published: January 6, 2026 03:00
Agreement finalised by the OECD waters down a landmark 2021 deal that set a minimum global corporate tax of 15%Nearly 150 countries have agreed on a landmark plan to stop large global companies shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions, but the US will be…
Trump officials sue California cities over laws to restrict fossil fuels
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/05/trump-officials-sue-california-cities
Published: January 6, 2026 02:35
Suit against San Francisco-area cities Petaluma and Morgan Hill latest attack on policies that seek to rein in oil and gasThe Trump administration sued two California cities on Monday, seeking to block local laws that restrict natural gas infrastructure…
'Tuna King' pays record £2.4m for 243kg giant bluefin at Tokyo auction – video
Published: January 6, 2026 02:29
The head of the sushi restaurant chain Sushizanmai bid 510.3m yen (£2.4m) for a single bluefin tuna, the highest price ever paid at the annual New Year auction at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market. 'I hope the economy will get better this year. The Takaichi…
Nvidia announces new, more powerful Vera Rubin chip made for AI
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/05/nvidia-chips-jensen-huang
Published: January 6, 2026 02:17
Next generation of chips in ‘full production’ and will arrive later this year, Jensen Huang says at CES in Las VegasNvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on Monday that the company’s next generation of chips is in “full production” saying they can deliver five…
UK car sales top 2m in 2025 as Chinese brands boom
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/06/uk-car-sales-2025-chinese-brands-electric-car-smmt
Published: January 6, 2026 00:01
Electric car sales rose by nearly a quarter to a record 473,000, or 23.4% of the overall market, says SMMTA rise in the popularity of Chinese brands pushed total car sales in the UK above the 2m mark last year for the first time since 2019, figures…
The Guardian view on the junk food advertising ban: shaping tastes is a job for government | Editorial
Published: January 5, 2026 19:04
Weight-loss drugs cannot solve the problem of poor diet. Ministers are right to demand healthier food and promotionsAfter years of wrangling, from this week new rules shield children in the UK from junk food advertisements. Those featuring processed food…
Elon Musk’s Grok AI is used to digitally undress images of women and children
Published: January 5, 2026 18:45
The degrading pictures are being posted to X despite the platform pledging to suspend people who generate themDegrading images of children and women with their clothes digitally removed by Grok AI continue to be shared on Elon Musk’s X, despite the…
Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop near collapse, putting 2,550 jobs at risk
Published: January 5, 2026 18:18
Owner Modella starts insolvency proceedings for both chains, saying trading is ‘extremely challenging’The retailers Claire’s and The Original Factory Shop are on the brink of administration, putting 2,550 jobs at risk.Both chains are owned by Modella…
Crude appeal: why Trump wants Venezuela’s oil – podcast
Published: January 5, 2026 17:57
The US capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on Saturday left many people wondering why? Donald Trump hinted at an answer when he claimed the Venezuelan regime had stolen US oil rights and that American oil companies would help to run…
US traders make big profits betting on Maduro’s capture in January
Published: January 5, 2026 16:44
Arrest of Venezuelan president appears to have been anticipated on ‘prediction markets’ where people bet on future events Gamblers appear to have made large profits after successfully betting on the capture of Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro.Ahead of…
Novo Nordisk launches Wegovy weight-loss pill in US, triggering price war
Published: January 5, 2026 16:33
First and only GLP-1 pill on the market costs significantly less than injectable versionsThe first pill version of the blockbuster GLP-1 weight loss drugs has been launched in the US by Novo Nordisk at a lower cost than jab varieties, accelerating a price…
Dense, sticky and heavy: why Venezuelan crude oil appeals to US refineries
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/05/venezuelan-crude-oil-appeals-to-us-refineries
Published: January 5, 2026 16:27
South American nation’s tar-like oil is what many Gulf coast facilities were built for but ramping up production to 3m barrels a day will be a long gameClustered along the US Gulf coast are some of the largest and most complex heavy-oil refineries in the…
UK credit card borrowing rises at fastest annual rate in almost two years
Published: January 5, 2026 15:01
Bank of England says individuals borrowed extra £2.1bn in consumer credit in NovemberBusiness live – latest updatesCredit card borrowing rose at the fastest annual rate for almost two years in November, according to the Bank of England, as households took…
Prax Lindsey oil refinery bought out of administration by US rival
Published: January 5, 2026 13:54
Insolvency Service says 250 staff remaining at Lincolnshire site will be guaranteed jobs until the end of MarchBusiness live – latest updatesThe Prax Lindsey oil refinery in north Lincolnshire is to merge with a neighbouring former rival after the US…
Aldi reports record Christmas sales after shoppers moved to cut festive grocery bills
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/05/aldi-record-christmas-sales
Published: January 5, 2026 10:16
UK’s fourth-largest supermarket’s sales rose 3% with 5.5m bottles of fizz and 500,000 turkeys soldBusiness live – latest updatesAldi has reported record Christmas sales as cost-conscious shoppers aimed to cut their festive grocery spending.The UK arm of…
Are UK buy-to-let landlords dying out – and should we care?
Published: January 5, 2026 10:00
Higher taxes and tougher regulations have led to the disappearance of tens of thousands of rental propertiesAs a buy-to-let landlord of 15 years, Neil France had a feeling things were about to get worse for him and his sector.“You’ll never lose votes for…
‘Our minerals could be used to annex us’: why Canada doesn’t want US mining
Published: January 5, 2026 10:00
Opposition to a controversial graphite mine in Quebec strengthened once the Pentagon became involvedThe Outaouais region on the western edge of Quebec is home to thousands of lakes, vast forests and extensive wetlands. It is also the setting of a swathe of…
Gold price and defence company shares rise after US captures Venezuela’s Maduro, but oil drops – business live
Published: January 5, 2026 07:29
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsBitcoin has risen by almost 1.5% this morning, amid growing geopolitical tensions.The world’s largest cryptocurrency has climbed to $92,495, adding to gains over the weekend. Continue reading...
HMRC insists I am dead. How do I convince it I’m not?
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jan/05/hmrc-dead-ni-number-pension
Published: January 5, 2026 07:00
It allocated my NI number to a stranger who has died, and will not process my pension top-up request as a resultHM Revenue and Customs allocated my national insurance (NI) number to a stranger who has since died. It therefore now insists that I am dead and…
Ban on TV junk food advertising before 9pm comes into force in UK
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/jan/05/ban-tv-junk-food-advertising-9pm-online-obesity
Published: January 5, 2026 05:00
Watchdog will also monitor online ban for high fat and sugar products as part of wider effort to tackle childhood obesityA ban on junk food advertising on TV before 9pm and a total ban online has come into force as the government attempts to tackle the…
Collapse of ‘zombie’ UK firms forecast to fuel unemployment in 2026
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jan/05/collapse-zombie-companies-uk-rise-unemployment
Published: January 5, 2026 00:01
Businesses being hit by rising cost of interest rates, energy costs and wages, says Resolution FoundationThe UK is poised for a rise in unemployment in 2026 fuelled by the collapse of “zombie” companies that have struggled to adapt to a rise in business…
Leftwing militants claim responsibility for arson attack on Berlin power grid
Published: January 4, 2026 16:34
Protest over climate crisis and AI has cut power to tens of thousands of homes which may take days to fully restoreGerman leftwing militants protesting over the climate crisis and AI have claimed responsibility for an arson attack that cut power to tens of…
HSBC becomes first big UK lender to cut its mortgage rates in 2026
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/04/hsbc-first-big-uk-lender-cut-mortgage-rates-2026
Published: January 4, 2026 15:54
Reduction follows Bank of England’s base cut in December, with further cuts expected this yearHSBC has become the first major lender to cut mortgage rates this year, a move that could spark a price war over the coming months.The banking group, which is one…
Battery electric cars will overtake diesels in Great Britain by 2030, analysis suggests
Published: January 4, 2026 15:00
London predicted to be the first UK city to go diesel-free, largely because of the ultra-low emission zoneBattery electric cars are poised to overtake diesels on Great Britain’s roads by 2030, according to analysis that suggests London will be the first UK…
World ‘may not have time’ to prepare for AI safety risks, says leading researcher
Published: January 4, 2026 14:00
AI safety expert David Dalrymple said rapid advances could outpace efforts to control powerful systemsThe world “may not have time” to prepare for the safety risks posed by cutting-edge AI systems, according to a leading figure at the UK government’s…
Starmer says closer ties with EU single market preferable to a customs union
Published: January 4, 2026 12:48
Prime minister gives clearest sign yet that government is seeking to further deepen Britain’s links with BrusselsCloser ties with the EU single market are preferable to a customs union, Keir Starmer has said, in his clearest sign yet that the government is…
AI’s reckoning with reality represents a growing economic risk for 2026
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/04/ai-reality-growing-economic-risk-2026
Published: January 4, 2026 12:18
Revenues may be rising rapidly, but not by nearly enough to cover the wild levels of investment under wayThe US dictionary Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2025 was “slop”, which it defines as “digital content of low quality that is produced, usually…
From the AI bubble to Fed fears: the global economic outlook for 2026
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/04/global-economic-outlook-2026
Published: January 4, 2026 12:00
Analysts and investors voice caution about tech valuations and Trump’s influence on the US central bankInvestors expect global stock markets to keep rising in 2026, despite fears that the AI bubble could burst, and anxiety about chaos engulfing the US…
The electric vehicle revolution is still on course – don’t let your loathing of Elon Musk stop you joining up | Zoe Williams
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/04/electric-vehicle-elon-musk-tesla-sales
Published: January 4, 2026 10:00
Other firms are taking advantage of Tesla’s sales slump, while technological advances mean that glitches are being left in the rear-view mirrorIn another era, before Elon Musk bought Twitter, changed its name to X to mark the spot of its descent into…
Digital wallet fraud: how your bank card can be stolen without it leaving your wallet
Published: January 4, 2026 07:00
Fraudsters use phishing to steal card details, which fund a spending spree using Apple Pay or Google PayYou get a call from your bank and the informed voice asks to you to confirm the personal details they have on file, which you do. You are then asked…
‘This is business as usual’: boss of bombed Ukrainian vodka maker seeks to expand exports
Published: January 4, 2026 05:00
Nemiroff says products still reaching UK chains such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco despite production difficultiesBusinesses in Ukraine are “not sitting and waiting for the war to end” and are working to expand despite bombs hitting shipments out of the…
US oil giants silent on Trump claim they will spend billions on Venezuelan oil industry
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/03/us-oil-trump-venezuela
Published: January 3, 2026 22:30
US president says oil majors primed to invest in rebuilding infrastructure following Maduro ousterUS oil giants have so far remained silent on Donald Trump’s claim that they are primed to spend “billions and billions of dollars” rebuilding the Venezuelan…
Trump captures Maduro and vows to ‘run’ Venezuela – podcast
Published: January 3, 2026 19:38
Early on Saturday morning, Donald Trump announced that US forces had captured the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores. Hours later, they were indicted on drug and weapons offences in New York. Later on Saturday, he suggested…
Swiss prosecutors place bar managers under investigation after deadly fire
Published: January 3, 2026 16:43
Suspected offences include homicide by negligence, causing bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligenceThe two managers of a bar where a blaze on New Year’s Day killed at least 40 people have been placed under criminal investigation, Swiss prosecutors…
Berlin power outage hits 45,000 homes after suspected arson attack
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/03/berlin-power-outage-hits-homes-suspected-arson-attack
Published: January 3, 2026 16:31
Damage to cables means tens of thousands will be without electricity until Thursday amid freezing temperaturesTens of thousands of homes in Berlin will be without electricity until Thursday as authorities struggle to repair power cables seriously damaged…
Trump says US will be ‘very strongly involved’ in Venezuela’s oil industry after military attack
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/03/trump-venezuela-oil-industry
Published: January 3, 2026 16:27
US president made comments after US military special forces captured Venezuelan president and wifeDonald Trump has said the US will be “very strongly involved” in Venezuela’s oil industry after launching a military attack that swept the country’s…
What happened after Tesla opened a diner in Los Angeles?
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jan/03/tesla-diner-elon-musk-los-angeles
Published: January 3, 2026 15:00
The novelty of eating at a diner owned by the richest person in the world seems to have worn off in just a few monthsLess than six months since it opened, Elon Musk’s Tesla Diner has the feel of a ghost town. Gone is the Optimus robot serving popcorn, gone…
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