Business

Venezuelan authorities said 379 people who applied under a newly signed amnesty law are expected to be released this weekend; the law excludes convictions for homicide, drug trafficking, serious human rights violations and military rebellion.

A Utah mother who self-published a children's book is standing trial accused of killing her husband; the trial begins on Monday and is expected to last about a month.

Ramadan in Libya has proceeded with family gatherings and fireworks, but many households are facing soaring prices, a recent devaluation of the dinar and shortages of goods including fuel.

The article notes that Farage is a strong communicator but is not presented as having deep economic expertise, and that the former Conservative minister Jenrick, now the party's Treasury spokesman, made a first attempt to outline an economic programme.

Hong Kong proposes about HK$4 billion to buy out owners of homes at the Wang Fuk Court complex, damaged in a November fire that killed more than 160, and has offered an apartment exchange programme for affected tenants.

Ofgem will require suppliers including British Gas, Octopus, EDF and Ovo to pay customers an automatic £40 if they wait more than six weeks for a smart meter appointment, if an installation fails due to a supplier fault, or if a reported smart meter problem is not met with a resolution plan within five working days.

From March 20, more than five million Australians — including over 2.5 million pensioners — will receive a provisional indexation increase to several social security payments, and new deeming rates will take effect pending formal confirmation in the coming weeks.

Nearly seven million households are expected to save about £200 on energy bills from April after a government energy bill discount and an anticipated fall in the Ofgem price cap; analysts warn the relief could be reduced over time as costs rise and support ends in April 2029.

Ofgem is expected to lower the energy price cap by about £120 for April–June following a government discount; the Resolution Foundation says the support is due to end in April 2029 and could reduce long-term savings.

UK midcap stocks gained on Tuesday, led by travel shares after reports of easing tensions in the Middle East and an upbeat forecast from Carnival.

The US Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and business owners expressed cautious relief while noting uncertainty about refunds and other tariff powers the administration may use.

In January the UK posted a record £30.4bn government borrowing surplus—about £6bn above forecasts—and official data showed retail sales rose 1.8% month‑on‑month; commentators note monthly receipts are volatile and may include one‑off timing effects.

EDF reported a 19% drop in 2025 core profit to €29.3 billion as lower power prices reduced income, and the group took a €2.5 billion impairment on the Hinkley Point C project.

An anonymous donor gave Osaka 21kg of gold bars, estimated at about ¥560 million ($3.6m), which city officials said will be used to address ageing water pipes. The donor had previously given a smaller cash gift for municipal waterworks.

AT&T plans to return to One Powell Street and the RealReal will reopen a flagship at 253 Post Street on February 26; both locations had been vacant since they closed in 2023.

Prince Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations he sent confidential UK government documents to Jeffrey Epstein; he was released the same day and has not been charged.

Nippon Steel's CFO said the company does not plan capacity cuts at U.S. Steel and expects the U.S. business to contribute to earnings in fiscal 2026, helped by stronger steel prices and technology transfers.

A UN-mandated fact-finding mission reports the RSF seizure of El Fasher last October showed characteristics the mission described as 'hallmarks of genocide' and calls for thorough investigations; the US has imposed sanctions on three RSF commanders.

A 77-year-old widow who won a £4.5 million Cornish mansion in an Omaze draw spent a family summer at the property and then sold it, using the proceeds to help her three children and six grandchildren with mortgages, property and business starts.

The State Pension will rise by 4.8% for 2026/27 under the government's triple lock, and that increase could push some pensioners above the frozen Personal Allowance so they start paying income tax.

eBay is buying second-hand fashion app Depop for $1.2bn, five years after Etsy purchased the UK-founded business for $1.62bn.

A Barry nurse was refunded nearly £3,000 after HM Revenue and Customs corrected an incorrect tax code; she says the error took about three months to resolve and affected her health.

Two prime ministerial hopefuls, former PM KP Sharma Oli and ex-Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, are competing in Jhapa-5 ahead of the March 5 national elections, the first vote since September's anti-corruption protests that toppled the government. The seat is seen as a test of public trust after youth-led unrest and widespread anger over corruption.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand held its cash rate at 2.25% and said it expects inflation to return to the 1–3% target band this quarter; it also said it would tighten policy sooner if stronger growth or broader price-setting pushed inflation higher.

Glynn Purnell announced that his 200-year-old pub, The Mount in Henley, will close after rising costs made the business no longer viable, and he described the hospitality sector as facing very tough conditions.

Transport for London will introduce licences, safety checks and a capped fare structure for pedicabs, due to take effect on October 30, to address complaints about high charges and loud music.

Two Greater Manchester bookshops — House of Books & Friends in Manchester and Simply Books in Stockport — have been shortlisted in the Northern category of the 2026 British Book Awards, part of a record 76 regional and county finalists.

Lidl will open five new supermarket stores within 24 hours and plans 14 more in the coming weeks, a roll-out the article says could create up to 640 jobs.

New CEO John Furner will speak for the first time this quarter as Walmart, which recently passed $1 trillion in market value, is widely expected to give cautious guidance amid a fragile consumer backdrop.

The DWP pays £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather when the local average temperature is zero °C or below; the scheme has reached nearly 1.5 million households across England and Wales this winter.