Fujitsu chair resigns after ‘woman-related inappropriate conduct’
The chair of Fujitsu, the Japanese technology firm at the centre of the Post Office IT scandal, has resigned after its board became aware of his “woman-related inappropriate conduct”.
Crime & Courts
Retail giants join UK government drive to boost ‘plug-in’ balcony solar panels
Bosses of some of Britain’s biggest retailers are discussing plans with the government to start selling plug-in solar panels as part of a drive to encourage more UK homes to generate their own electricity.
How the Iran war affects your money and bills
From petrol prices to mortgage rates, the US-Israel war with Iran has already had an impact on people's finances in the UK.
SpaceX to buy AI coding firm Anysphere for $60bn and passes Amazon valuation
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is buying the startup behind the AI-powered coding app Cursor for $60bn (£44bn) and has moved ahead of Amazon in valuation days after its stock market debut.
Struggling Pizza Hut restaurant chain to be sold in two deals worth $2.7bn
The struggling Pizza Hut restaurant chain will be sold for $2.7bn by parent company Yum Brands.
EV prices in UK and EU not likely to dive due to Chinese rivalry, says Xpeng boss
Brian Gu says he sees Chinese car firms competing on quality rather than launching price war as at home
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax isn’t far off Labour’s housing policy. Not that you’ll ever hear Starmer say it | Anna Minton
In April, to mark the day on which Americans are expected to file their taxes, the New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, filmed himself on Billionaires’ Row , an enclave of super-tall apartment buildings just south of Central…
Japan hikes interest rates to highest since 1995 to fight inflation from Iran war; Thames Water rescue in doubt – business live
Thames Water has moved a step closer to nationalisation after government ministers reportedly formally objected to the £10bn rescue deal proposed by its creditors.
The old ‘warfare v welfare’ arguments are back – but it’s Britain’s real duty to spend on both | Frances Ryan
While we need protecting from foreign enemies, slashing benefits in favour of defence will make millions less, not more, safe
Starmer vows new sanctions on Russia and nuclear energy support for Ukraine
G7 told ‘we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes’, with Russia’s finance networks and shadow fleet targeted
UK ministers lobby Trump to avert backlash against social media ban
Ministers have embarked on a concerted lobbying operation to prevent a backlash from the Trump administration to the under-16s social media ban announced by Keir Starmer.
An absurd illustration of Britain’s housing problem | Letters
Grand properties lying empty when we’re in the midst of a housing crisis is ludicrous. Sam Wollaston’s article about a homeless person sleeping in the portico of a £200m palace, which used to be terrace houses, is the m…
If the right wants money for defence, it can start with MoD wastefulness – or even the pensioner triple lock | Polly Toynbee
What’s it to be, warfare or welfare, social or military spending, guns or butter? Hermann Göring coined that phrase calling for re-armament, “Guns will make us powerful, butter will only make us fat.” In her “ Britain a…
The Guardian view on regulating big tech: the UK’s new, tougher approach to child safety is overdue
There is a long way to go before children under 16 in the UK are blocked from the main social media platforms – as Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday that they will be. He proposed a date of next spring, although whet…
Trump wants to put a $75m coal terminal in this liberal California city. Residents aren’t having it
Residents of West Oakland, which suffers from toxic waste and high pollution rates, rally against a coal export facility
If the UK wants to rejoin the European Union, it first needs to understand it | Timothy Garton Ash
As Britain approaches the 10th anniversary of its vote to leave the EU, the British are beginning to debate rejoining what they call Europe. But, as in most previous British debates about “Europe”, this is Europe with t…
City & Guilds bosses awarded themselves millions in bonuses, investigation finds
The two most senior executives at City & Guilds awarded themselves millions of pounds of bonuses “without authorisation from, or knowledge of” their superiors, an internal investigation into last year’s £166m sale of th…
EU trade deficit with China reaches record €1bn a day, data shows
The EU’s trade deficit with China has reached a record €1bn (£0.8bn) a day, according to official trade data, fuelling concerns over the future of Europe’s “industrial backbone”.
UK’s oldest Indian restaurant takes crown estate to court over theatened eviction
The UK’s oldest Indian restaurant will be taking the crown estate to court this month as it faces eviction.
‘It’s more exciting than ketchup!’ How chilli crisp became the hottest condiment – and how to make your own
Walk down the specialist aisle in most British supermarkets and you will find a red jar with the kindly face of a middle-aged Chinese woman staring back at you. Branded Lao Gan Ma, meaning “old godmother”, these jars co…
Fox strikes $22bn deal for Roku to fuel streaming push
Deal gives network access to more than 100m households using Roku streaming platform
How will the under-16s social media ban work? – podcast
Keir Starmer has announced his social media ban for under-16s. The proposals are tougher than expected, and include a ban on major apps such as TikTok, Instagram, X, Snapchat, YouTube and Facebook.
BBC News braces for major round of job cuts in broadcaster’s £500m cost-saving drive
BBC News is braced for a major round of job cuts to be revealed within days, in an announcement that will kick off a brutal cost-saving drive designed to save £500m across the corporation.
Banknote imagery advisory group minutes – 15 December 2025
Time: 9am to 10am | Location: Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH and MS teams