Business

The amount you get may vary (Image: Getty)The State Pension is a regular government payment available to people once they reach State Pension age, though both the amount received and the date it can be claimed vary. Eligibility depends on meeting specific criteria. GOV.UK explains that most people build up their entitlement by paying National Insurance contributions or receiving National Insurance credits over their working life.Those who do not have enough qualifying years to receive the full State Pension may still be able to boost their entitlement by filling gaps in their National Insurance record through voluntary contributions. Currently, the State Pension age is 66 years old for both men and women. However, this is set to rise to age 67 between 2026 and 2028, and to age 68 betwee...

Gatestone Institute senior fellow Gordon Chang breaks down Taiwan's $40B defense push and China's talks with Russia and the U.S.-Japan relationship on 'Mornings with Maria.' The United States and Taiwan on Thursday reached a new trade agreement aimed at reshoring semiconductor manufacturing and strengthening U.S. supply chains, according to the Department of Commerce. The deal commits Taiwanese semiconductor and technology companies to at least $250 billion in direct U.S. investment to advance "America First trade and investment" with an additional $250 billion in credit guarantees to support expansion across the industry's supply chain in the U.S.American and Taiwanese officials say the agreement is designed to reverse decades of offshoring that cut America’s share of global semic...

Millions of households are being warned they have just two weeks left to avoid a minimum £100 HMRC fine. The tax office asks many people to file a self-assessment tax return at the end of January, and contrary to popular belief, it’s not just for the self-employed.People who earned more than £1,000 from side hustles, those who claimed Child Benefit and earned more than £60,000, and those who sold a second property or who received rental income are just a few groups who are liable to file a self-assessment tax return and pay extra tax to HMRC.Mike Ambery, Retirement Savings Director at Standard Life, issued a warning to households to act now to avoid a £100 fine.He said: “The deadline for filing online self-assessment tax returns is just two weeks away, and many self-employed and higher ...

Dezer Developments President Gil Dezer joins 'Varney & Co.' to discuss pouring Florida’s largest concrete mat for new luxury condos as Miami’s real estate market surges after Zohran Mamdani’s New York City mayoral win. Hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin appears to be expanding his business presence in Miami, adding to his already sizable real estate portfolio. The Citadel founder partnered with Goldman Properties to purchase the 545Wyn office building for $180 million from Chicago-based developer Sterling Bay, according to the South Florida Business Journal.Anonymous sources close to the deal told the outlet that Griffin is a partner in the purchase, though the listed buyer is Goldman Properties CEO Scott Srebnick. Neither Citadel nor Goldman Properties immediately responded to...

Government official Emran Mian answered questions about data systems (Image: Parliament TV)Government officials have issued an update about changes to the system for booking your driving test online. Under the current rules, you can book your practical test through the Government website.Guidance on the webpage explains: "You’ll be put in a queue when you start booking your driving test - you’ll be told how long you’ll need to wait once you begin. This is faster than booking by phone because the phone lines are very busy at the moment."You can request to book your test online from 6am to 11.40pm. Learners can book their test up to 24 weeks in advance of the test date. There is no waiting list or cancellation list.To book your test, you have to provide details of your type of vehicle, yo...

FOX Business' Grady Trimble has the details on 'Varney & Co.' American workers are seeing modest gains in purchasing power and increased housing activity as the Trump White House sharpens its economic message ahead of the midterm elections, FOX Business reporter Grady Trimble reported Thursday. In a speech in Detroit, President Trump highlighted recent growth and easing inflation as reasons the U.S. economy is positioned for 2026. He cited stronger-than-expected GDP growth in parts of 2025 and relatively stable inflation as evidence the economy could improve further — a case the administration believes may benefit Republicans in November.AFTER 80-MINUTE TRUMP ADDRESS, GOP LAWMAKERS SAY MOMENTUM IS BACK AS HEALTHCARE FIGHT LOOMS Real wages adjusted for inflation increased modest...

A UK company that sells to huge brands including Harrods and M&S has plunged into administration. It comes after a "period of trading losses" with the majority of staff losing their jobs.Planova Leeds, formerly known as Bartuf, is a designer, manufacturer and supplier of retail displays. As of 2025, the company, which is based on Carr Crofts Drive in Leeds, had around 50 employees but entered administration at the start of this year. According to its website, Planova Leeds has a range of big-name customers, including Harrods, M&S, Co-op, Lidl, Aldi, Sainsbury's and WH Smith.As reported by Insider Media, Gordon Thomson and Gareth Harris of RSM UK Restructuring Advisory LLP were appointed as joint administrators of Planova Leeds on Monday (January 12).RSM said in a statement: "The...

FOX Business' Max Gorden joins 'Varney & Co.' to break down President Donald Trump’s push for tiny Kei cars to be built in America and whether U.S. drivers are ready to downsize. More than 80,000 Chevy vehicles are being recalled because their pedestrian alert sound system is defective, federal regulators said.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warned owners in a December notice that certain 2025 to 2026 model year Chevrolet Equinox EV vehicles fail to meet federal traffic safety laws because they do not comply with minimum sound requirements for hybrid and electric vehicles.General Motors made this determination after discovering that the pedestrian alert sound system in these vehicles may have an incorrect software calibration, meaning they won't be ...

Reeves slammed as GDP growth is 'economic version of treading water' (Image: Getty)The UK economy grew by just 0.1% in the three months to November 2025, with construction experiencing its largest decline in three years. Experts have warned that the figures are "the economic version of treading water".The Office for National Statistics said UK gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.3% for the month, following a 0.1% decline in October. The increase was sharper than expected, with economists having predicted a 0.2% rise for the month. Official figures also showed the UK economy grew in September, with a 0.1% rise, after previous estimates of a 0.1% fall were revised on the back of more data, particularly from the pharmaceutical sector.November's economic growth was supported by a 25...

American Real Estate Association co-founder Jason Haber unpacks the state of the housing market and assesses Redfin’s announcement of a ‘great housing reset’ coming in 2026 on ‘The Claman Countdown.’ Many of the most affordable metros, with the lowest income requirements, are located in the Midwest and parts of the South, with the cheapest city sitting in Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh, according to a report from Realtor.com, is considered the most affordable metro in the nation with a median listing price of $245,000. To afford a home in the area, residents will need an annual salary of $65,000, making it one of the lowest income requirements. As affordability pressures persist, Realtor.com identified the 10 least expensive cities that require household incomes below $85,000 to purchase...