Business

Industry leaders say the price of cod has nearly doubled in the past year, and many fish and chip shops are diversifying menus as the number of outlets has fallen to about 11,000.

The Civil Aviation Authority forecasts about 200,000 more package holiday bookings in January compared with last year, and travel firms expect roughly a 5% rise in demand around the industry's 'Sunshine Saturday' booking peak.

A closed section of the M27 between junctions 11 and 9 reopened at 04:00 GMT after an 8,500-tonne underpass structure was slid into place as part of a £100m scheme; the work finished 24 hours ahead of schedule.

Ofgem has raised the energy price cap by 0.2% for 1 January–31 March 2026, setting it at £1,758 per year for a typical household that pays by direct debit.

Housing analyst Nick Gerli reports Florida condo values fell 9.9% in the 12 months of 2025, the steepest one-year drop since 2009, with some cities such as Punta Gorda down about 18.6%.

Many Canadian owners of Florida properties are considering or listing seasonal homes, and surveys and industry data link that shift to heightened political tensions and recent tariff actions; real estate sources report higher inventory and falling prices in parts of Southwest Florida.

Prosecutors say the blaze at Le Constellation likely began when sparkler candles touched the ceiling, and investigators are examining safety measures and possible criminal liability.

Saks Global said CEO Marc Metrick has stepped down and executive chair Richard Baker will take over; reports say the Neiman Marcus parent missed an interest payment exceeding $100 million and was preparing for bankruptcy.

A warehouse fire on Meadowhall Road near Meadowhall shopping centre produced a large plume of smoke and led to road closures, and authorities reported no injuries.

LK Bennett, a high-street label favoured by the Princess of Wales, has applied to the high court to appoint an administrator. Its shops and website are open for now.

Signalling cable theft at Conisbrough disrupts Sheffield–Doncaster services on New Year's Eve, causing delays and cancellations across CrossCountry, Northern and TransPennine Express.

An office clerk placed a hidden phone in a staff toilet and recorded colleagues. He pleaded guilty to voyeurism and possession of extreme pornography and was given a 15-week suspended sentence.

The South African rand finished 2025 about 13% stronger versus the U.S. dollar. The rise was supported by improved fiscal performance, lower inflation and higher gold and platinum prices.

Many people list unwanted presents on Vinted after Christmas. The app is widely used in the UK and charges a small fee on sales.

Iran appointed Abdolnasser Hemmati as central bank governor after Mohammad Reza Farzin resigned following a record fall in the rial that sparked large protests.

The Great British Rail Sale runs Jan 6–12 and will offer reduced advance and off-peak fares that can be used on many routes between Jan 13 and Mar 25, 2026; some fares fall to around £10.

Reports say ministers are considering a roughly £30 annual levy on gas bills to help subsidise heat pump users as part of a near-£15 billion Warm Homes plan, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero described the levy reports as "speculation."

Analysis shows 366 pubs were demolished or converted in England and Wales during 2025, and a revaluation of business rates that affects pubs is scheduled for April 2026.

Kenny Wallace suggested engine trouble after a Cessna C550 carrying seven people, including Greg Biffle and members of his family, crashed in North Carolina; an official investigation is under way.

China will impose a 55% tariff on beef imports that exceed quota levels for covered supplier countries, with a total 2026 quota of about 2.7 million tonnes; the measure takes effect on Jan. 1 and runs for three years.

Karen Marks, 34, died after her Fiat collided with a bus on the A10 near Ely on 28 December; a fellow passenger was taken to hospital and no one on the bus was injured. Cambridgeshire Police asked witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact the force under Operation Bayswater.

India has granted Vodafone Idea a five-year moratorium on adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, a government source told Reuters. The move follows a Supreme Court statement that the government can consider the company's relief request for AGR dues.

Travel + Leisure reports that some Disney World highlights — including nightly fireworks visible from nearby resort areas and character appearances at hotel restaurants — can be experienced without buying a theme-park ticket.

Hong Kong will not hold its traditional Victoria Harbor fireworks for New Year 2026 after a November apartment fire that officials say killed at least 161 people; the tourism board plans a music concert and a three‑minute landmark light countdown instead.

Waitrose has recalled certain 750ml No.1 Deeside still and sparkling mineral water bottles after a Food Standards Agency notice said they may contain glass fragments; affected best-before dates and batch codes in November–December 2027 were listed.

A power-supply incident in part of the Channel Tunnel halted some Eurostar and LeShuttle services overnight, leaving some passengers stuck on trains for hours; operators say services have resumed but delays and cancellations may continue.

Reuters reports Chinese technology companies have ordered more than 2 million H200 chips for 2026 while Nvidia holds about 700,000 in stock, and Nvidia has approached TSMC to discuss additional production with work reported to start in the second quarter of 2026.