Business

Millions of motorists are being urged not to “panic” if they misplace one crucial item before heading out the door.The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) reminded drivers to double-check they have everything, including their driving licence, before setting off.And it adds: "Don’t panic, it’s quick and easy to order a replacement."The message comes amid ongoing efforts by the DVLA to push more motorists towards its online services, which allow drivers to replace lost, stolen or damaged licences in minutes.It costs £20 to replace your licenceDrivers who need a new card can apply online via Gov.uk. A replacement licence costs £20 and payment can be made by MasterCard, Visa, Electron or Delta debit or credit card.Motorists can replace either a full driving licence or a provisional d...

The Corcoran Group broker  Noble Black joins Varney & Co. to discuss homebuilder confidence, mortgage rates and Congress actions to address the housing crisis. Renters are expected to see some relief from rising prices this year, with the pace of rent growth expected to slow as the market stabilizes and a measure of affordability hits a four-year-high. An analysis by Zillow projects that multifamily rental prices are expected to remain relatively flat through the end of 2026, declining slightly by 0.2%. Single-family rents are expected to rise at an annual rate of 1.1% in December 2026, which the report says would represent a "sharp slowdown from the rapid increases of recent years" as higher vacancy rates and more newly-built apartments help keep rent growth subdued as renters...

Map shows where £35m Cold Weather Payments were handed out this winter (Image: Getty)Cold Weather Payments were automatically triggered in a number of UK areas when sustained freezing temperatures put pressure on households to energy bills. This payment is given to low-income pensioners or families receiving certain benefits and is automatically paid when the temperature stays below freezing for seven days in a row. The scheme cost around £35million this year, a similar figure to the winter of 2024/25. The scheme doesn't end until March 31, so it could cost the DWP more if there are further cold snaps before then. February has been notably cold across much of the country, and a number of snow and wind warnings were issued at various times throughout the month. The Met Office previously ...

Former federal prosecutor Andrew Cherkasky discusses Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's landmark social media addiction trial on 'Varney & Co.' Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand Wednesday in a landmark trial over claims his platforms harm children, a case that could cost the company billions and redefine social media accountability. The unprecedented trial, unfolding in Los Angeles Superior Court, is widely seen as a bellwether for hundreds of similar lawsuits pending nationwide. Cameras were barred from the courtroom, and Judge Carolyn Kuhl warned that anyone using AI-enabled smart glasses during the tech titan’s testimony would be held in contempt.The lawsuit, K.G.M. v. Meta Platforms, Inc., et al., was filed by a 20-year-old California woman identified by her initials. She all...

The future of the state pension triple locks remains "open for debate", according to Nigel Farage. It comes after Reform UK's new treasury spokesman, Robert Jenrick, hinted that the party would keep the triple lock if it won the next election.Under the current triple lock policy, the state pension rises every year by whichever is highest out of average earnings growth, inflation, or 2.5%. Mr Farage, the leader of Reform UK, was asked by journalists whether the policy would be included in his party's election manifesto. He said it remains "open for debate", adding that he hasn't changed his mind over the policy as "everything is open for debate".Mr Jenrick said at a press conference outlining Reform UK's fiscal vision: "I’ve always been a supporter of the triple lock. It’s incredibly imp...

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called for the state to increase taxes on corporations and the wealthy to help address city's budget deficit Tuesday, warning that the alternative option will be for the city to raise property taxes. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is calling for the Empire State to hike taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals in order to address the Big Apple's budget deficit, warning that the alternative would involve the city increasing property taxes and dipping into its reserves. Mamdani has issued a preliminary fiscal year 2027 budget that involves a property tax hike, a prospect he has described as a "last resort.""Today, I’m releasing the City’s preliminary budget. After years of fiscal mismanagement, we’re staring at a $5.4 billion budget gap — a...

Rachel Reeves stunned millions when she abolished the winter fuel payment for anybody not claiming pension credit, just weeks after the election in July 2024. It was the first major sign that Reeves hasn't got a clue. The disasters and U-turns have come thick and fast ever since.Reeves snatched the winter fuel payment from more than 10million pensioners, so that only around two million of the very poorest would qualify. The backlash was immediate and ferocious. Eventually, Sir Keir Starmer forced Reeves into a humiliating U-turn. She then unveiled a new, fiendishly complex system that operates for the first time this winter. And it's about to confuse pensioners.Instead of restricting winter fuel payments upfront, everybody will receive the cash. However, those deemed to have earned too ...

Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar explains how Americans can leverage the use of AI, how the company helps the military and the outlook for the next quarter on 'Varney & Co.' Another major technology company is making its way to the Magic City. Leading AI innovator Palantir announced in a brief post on X Tuesday that the company has moved its headquarters from Denver, Colorado, to Miami, Florida.According to Palantir’s latest SEC filings, the principal executive office is now located at 19505 Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2350 in Aventura, Florida – an affluent area just 20 miles north of downtown Miami. This marks the AI company’s second major move in six years after Palantir left Palo Alto for Denver in 2020. CEO Alex Karp previously cited a clash between Silicon Valley’s "values" and th...

Tesco, Lidl and Aldi are among the supermarkets opening new stores across the UK throughout the year. A number of UK retailers have announced ambitious expansion plans. Marks and Spencer, for example, has revealed 500 areas where it plans to open new stores over the next few years in a bid to expand its M&S Food reach. Meanwhile, Tesco recently purchased old Amazon Fresh sites, with the goal of converting them into Tesco Express stores. Aldi, Lidl and Co-op have also announced plans to open more stores across the UK, as supermarkets aim to reach more customers in areas where they don't currently have a presence. According to industry experts, supermarkets will be ramping up their own-label offering as customers become more cost-conscious, and supermarkets appear to be vying for bran...

An Amazon delivery drone hit an apartment building in Texas and fell to the ground. (Credit: Cesarina Johnson) An Amazon delivery van ended up stuck in the mud near a military firing range after its driver followed GPS directions onto a hazardous tidal path, officials said. HM Coastguard Southend said it was called out after the van drove via Wakering Stairs onto The Broomway – a roughly six-mile, 600-year-old walking route that stretches into the Thames Estuary – while attempting to reach Foulness Island.The Broomway is not intended for vehicles and should only be attempted on foot with a guide familiar with the surrounding mud flats, the coast guard said. The area is considered extremely dangerous and sits on property owned by the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense. Public access is perm...