Business

At Davos, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney warned that the post‑war rules‑based international order is eroding and urged middle powers to form flexible, issue‑based coalitions; he said 'compliance will not buy safety.'

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said North Korea produces enough nuclear material each year for 10 to 20 weapons and is improving long-range missile capabilities; he suggested a 'Trump-style approach' could help reopen talks.

A woman trapped in an SUV that entered the water near Bubba's Restaurant in Virginia Beach was pulled free by bystanders before the vehicle submerged; police are investigating and the cause remains undetermined.

A senior barrister was arrested on return to Sydney after authorities say they found alleged sexualised messages and an image linked to minors; he was released on bail with strict conditions and will next appear in court in March.

U.S. President Donald Trump is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos and is expected to meet global business leaders after his special address; several senior U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are accompanying him.

A commuter train derailed near Gelida outside Barcelona after a containment wall fell on the track during heavy rain, officials said; the driver was killed and about 20 people were reported injured.

A £15 billion Warm Homes Plan will fund solar panels, heat pumps and batteries with free upgrades for the poorest households and measures intended to cut bills for five million homes by 2030.

Canada will cut a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles to 6.1 per cent and replace it with an annual import quota starting at 49,000 vehicles in 2026; China will lower canola tariffs to 15 per cent in return.

Thousands of savers could face a two-year delay to pension access after giving up a protected pension age without realising it, pensions experts reported.

Voters will decide a referendum on Sapelo Island to overturn a 2023 McIntosh County zoning change that doubled the maximum home size in Hogg Hummock; residents say the change could lead to higher property tax assessments.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce at the World Economic Forum in Davos that some global firms will be offered refunded visa fees and faster sponsor qualification to encourage highly skilled staff to the UK. Details of the measures and any wider support packages have not yet been published.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce at Davos that the UK will reimburse visa fees and offer fast-track sponsor licences for selected international firms in AI, life sciences and sustainable energy.

Valentino Garavani has died at 93, his foundation said; he will lie in state at Piazza Mignanelli on Wednesday and Thursday and a funeral service is scheduled for Friday at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs.

Authorities say roughly 327,000 people are sheltering after widespread flooding in Gaza province, where about 40% is reported submerged; rescue operations and evacuations are ongoing.

Spain declared three days of mourning after a collision between two trains near Adamuz that left at least 40 people dead and dozens injured; officials say a full, transparent investigation will follow.

Several lenders are offering two-year fixed mortgages for first-time buyers below 4%, with the cheapest reported at 3.96% on a 10% deposit; fees and account or postcode restrictions apply.

Monzo will offer a free, HMRC-recognised tax tool powered by Sage to its business customers ahead of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax starting in April; Monzo’s research estimates UK small businesses spend about £4.8bn a year on tax and accounting software.

Rescuers recovered 23 bodies after a fire at the Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi, and authorities say they are still searching for dozens more people while an inquiry and investigation are under way.

Vendors at Suzhou's Huqiu Bridal City are hopeful after marriage rates rose 8.5% in the first nine months of 2025, amid a record low birth rate and a fourth straight annual population decline.

Britain's Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regime came into force, replacing the EU‑inherited prospectus regime; it raises the prospectus threshold from 20% to 75% of existing capital and aims to reduce costs and paperwork for fundraising.

Local farming representatives say an oversupply of milk has pushed farm-gate prices down to roughly the mid-30p per litre range from about 46p a year earlier, and UK production is expected to exceed 13 billion litres this year.

Yemeni politicians held their first public meeting in Riyadh since the Southern Transitional Council was dissolved; they discussed the future of southern Yemen ahead of a Saudi-sponsored conference with dates not yet announced.

Emma Joyce tried to avoid ultra-processed foods for a week, consulted experts who flagged long ingredient lists as a clue to UPFs, and found the effort time-consuming, costly and socially awkward, so she moved toward limiting rather than fully excluding them.

A year after the Eaton fire, Altadena residents report pressure to sell land to investors while many homes remain unrebuilt; experts and a UCLA analysis link the pattern to what they call 'climate gentrification'.

Jen Carr, who runs The Travel Mum and is a former NHS doctor, says she has booked more than 50 budget family holidays and recommends DIY bookings and flight flexibility to keep costs down.

Syria's army seized several northern towns and dams, including Tabqa, displacing Kurdish forces after a stalled March 2025 integration deal; the Kurdish-led SDF said Damascus violated agreements and clashes followed.

A fire at a shopping centre in Karachi killed at least six people and injured others. Officials say the blaze began in ground-floor shops and that a police investigation will be opened once the fire is extinguished.

Ten fish and chip shops around Britain have been shortlisted for the National Fish and Chip Awards, where the Restaurant of the Year will be announced; last year's winner was Bells Fish and Chips in Framwellgate Moor.

A tube driver who performed as a Will Smith lookalike met the actor on set during filming, and the two shared a private conversation on the last day of shooting in Papua New Guinea.

A Port Talbot pub owner asked his children to work because he could not afford staff; trade groups have urged the Welsh government to review business rates while ministers say they have provided targeted relief.