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BBC stories as at 19:15 31 Jan 2026
. West Midlands Railway joins publicly owned network
[37 hours old]: The transport secretary says thousands of rail passengers will be using public services from Sunday.
. Driverless taxis set to launch in UK as soon as September
[68 hours old]: Waymo has laid out plans for a robotaxi service in London with a pilot scheme due to begin in April.
. How the new road safety measures could affect you
[579 hours old]: The government is proposing lowering alcohol limits for drivers and regular eye tests for older motorists.
. The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
[497 hours old]: There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
. Watch: Why Trump is hitting the road to rally Americans
[92 hours old]: The BBC's White House reporter Bernd Debusmann explains why the president is refocusing his attention on the US economy.
and in other news ...
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Latest Epstein revelations dig even deeper hole for Andrew [4 hours old]: More unedifying pictures and words mean it doesn't get any better for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
* Israeli air strikes kill at least 32 Palestinians in Gaza, rescue officials say [1 hours old]: Israel's military confirmed the strikes, which come during a ceasefire that Israel and Hamas accuse each other of breaking.
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Zack Polanski is having fun. But can the Green leader become a serious player? [5 hours old]: The Greens' new leader has generated a lot of excitement. Can he translate the buzz into electoral success?
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Pedro Pascal and Meryl Streep lead tributes to Catherine O'Hara [1 hours old]: The Canadian comedic actress died in Los Angeles on Friday at the age of 71 following a brief illness.
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Ukrainians brace for -20C despite energy truce: 'It will be a catastrophe' [7 hours old]: Already facing electricity cuts, civilians are struggling to keep warm in their own homes as temperatures are set to plummet.
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Israel eyes regime change in Iran - and is counting on Trump to make it happen [6 hours old]: Analysts believe PM Netanyahu is urging the US towards maximalist strikes.
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Takeaways from the millions of newly released Epstein files [1 hours old]: Three million new documents include hundreds of mentions of Trump and emails between Epstein and a person called "The Duke".
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King surprises Parkrun joggers for second year in a row [4 hours old]: This is the second time the monarch has surprised joggers at a Parkrun on the royal estate.
* Labour pick Angeliki Stogia for Gorton by-election [0 hours old]: The councillor was chosen after Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was blocked from standing.
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Musk's SpaceX applies to launch 1m satellites into orbit [3 hours old]: The firm wants to create a network of "orbital data centres" to power artificial intelligence.
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Starmer invites Japan PM to UK after Tokyo talks [3 hours old]: Sir Keir and Sanae Takaichi discussed ways to strengthen ties between their two nations during the meeting, at the end of the UK prime minister's trip to East Asia.
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Israel split over plans to bring back death penalty for deadly attacks [13 hours old]: In a highly controversial move, some Israeli MPs are trying to introduce the death penalty for Palestinian attackers.
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Student loan system 'fair and reasonable', says Reeves [3 hours old]: The chancellor's defence comes after Martin Lewis called her freeze on student loans "not a moral thing".
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Watch: Frozen river hosts dance party in Kyiv [4 hours old]: Residents in the Ukrainian capital are finding joy in unusual places, despite power cuts caused by Russian attacks and freezing winter temperatures.
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More than 200 killed in mine collapse in DR Congo [6 hours old]: The mine gave way after heavy rains on Wednesday, a local rebel spokesman says.
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A Slam four years in the making - Rybakina's return to top [3 hours old]: Why 'unstoppable' Elena Rybakina will believe her Australian Open triumph can begin a period of sustained success after ending a four-year wait for her second major title.
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Ice hockey venue unfinished days before Winter Olympics [1 hours old]: Olympic organisers face a race against time to finish the new ice hockey arena in Milan - five days before the venue is due to host its first match.
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'She basically capitulated' - is Sabalenka underachieving at Slams? [5 hours old]: After losing another Grand Slam final - this time to Elena Rybakina at the Australian Open - BBC Sport asks if Aryna Sabalenka is underachieving at the majors.
and in other older news ...
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What we learned - and didn't - from the Melania documentary [16 hours old]: Melania, directed by Brett Ratner, provides a fleeting glimpse into the life of the enigmatic first lady.
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Parents want to ban smartphones in schools, but there's one reason they're worried [17 hours old]: The House of Lords is soon due to debate whether to introduce a legal ban on smartphones in schools.
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Has Harry Styles killed the world tour? [18 hours old]: Artists including Ariana Grande are opting for longer residencies in key cities rather than touring more locations.
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One wrong move and it could all go wrong - the men clearing deadly undersea Russian mines [19 hours old]: A team of divers are tasked with de-mining parts of the Black Sea still under Ukraine's control.
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This tiny town is up for sale - but the locals don't want to leave [24 hours old]: Residents say the sale of Licola - population, five - jeopardises its future.
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I mocked the Saudi leader on YouTube - then my phone was hacked and I was beaten up in London [18 hours old]: Satirist Ghanem al-Masarir has been awarded £3m in damages, but it's unclear if Saudi Arabia will pay.
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Phone lines stay open as tax return deadline looms [17 hours old]: More than one million people missed the deadline a year ago, according to HM Revenue and Customs.
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The friends who are boosting women's DIY skills [133 hours old]: Sarah Bolger and Justine Wortsman say they did not realise "how much of a gap in the market there was".
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Man visits Disney World 80 times - and he's not done yet [61 hours old]: Phil Taylor has visited Walt Disney World in Florida 80 times and does not plan to stop.
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How these former Ibiza DJs are nurturing a new generation [61 hours old]: Sally Rodgers and Steve Jones toured Ibiza in the 80s and 90s before returning to Teesside.
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Pokémon cards help boy through cancer treatment [76 hours old]: The trading cards helped Dylan cope with leukaemia treatment and recovery.
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BBC News app [6629 hours old]: Top stories, breaking news, live reporting, and follow news topics that match your interests
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The Week: Starmer Meets Xi, Trump Threatens Iran and More Defection Drama [30 hours old]: Adam and Alex wrap up the week with James Landale and Sarah Montague.
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Can Trump 'de-escalate' Minneapolis tensions after Alex Pretti killing? [88 hours old]: And the president blames Democrat Ihan Omar after she was attacked
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Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood lead in this classic war film [505 hours old]: Seven paratroopers are sent on a seemingly impossible mission
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Plan ahead and dress wisely: How to minimise add-on costs when you fly [16 hours old]: Don't get swept into paying for extras you don't need.
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Trump picks Kevin Warsh to lead the US Federal Reserve [27 hours old]: The 55-year-old economist had been considered for Fed chair during Trump's first term.
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Three reasons for the record rise in gold prices, and one why they are falling [24 hours old]: Gold has fallen from recent highs but there are several reasons investors are still finding refuge in the precious metal.
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Seven UK Labubu shops to open, after PM's China visit [20 hours old]: The furry dolls have a signature spiky-toothed grin and became a viral purchase last summer.
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Visit the North Sea oil field used to store greenhouse gas [43 hours old]: Hundreds of miles from Denmark's coast a project is underway to inject CO2 into an old oil field.
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'We hope it's not the end': Firm behind Prince George's baby shoes warns it may close [29 hours old]: The Leicester-based family firm of 73 years said it has been hit by "prices going up, but demand going down".
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Millions to get £150 off energy bills for further five years [32 hours old]: The government has confirmed the discount for six million low-income households will continue for the rest of the decade.
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Healthcare, visas and whisky: What did UK and China get from Starmer's visit? [35 hours old]: Sir Keir Starmer's visit to China brought agreements on visas, services, healthcare, green tech and finance.
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Trump says 'very dangerous' for UK to do business with China as Starmer lands in Shanghai [34 hours old]: The US president's comments come as Sir Keir Starmer arrives in Shanghai on the third day of his visit to China.
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Is your boss toxic? This is how to handle them [41 hours old]: Workers share how toxic managers have affected them and their lives. Here's what to do if you have one.
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Why the US dollar hit a four-year low and could fall further [43 hours old]: The falls have sparked questions about whether the world's go-to currency is losing its lustre.
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Apple reports best-ever iPhone sales as Mac dips [36 hours old]: The company's revenue was boosted by iPhone sales, but sales of its wearable tech and Mac computers dipped.
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Trump threatens tariffs on Canada planes and nations selling oil to Cuba [37 hours old]: Since returning to the White House last year, the US president has used tariffs as a key policy tool.
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Planning bids for new homes rise in England but building remains low, data suggests [49 hours old]: While planning applications have risen, home building has lowered, new data suggests.
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Boss of Post Office IT scandal firm Fujitsu to step down [54 hours old]: Paul Patterson will become the chair of Fujitsu's UK business responsible for its inquiry response.
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Venezuelan MPs approve bill to open up oil sector to private firms [42 hours old]: The change could pave the way for more foreign investment in the country's oil industry.
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Ministers reject Waspi calls for compensation after rethink [51 hours old]: Women hit by changes to the state pension age say the decision shows "utter contempt" for their situation.
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Emergency loans offered to civil servants waiting on pensions [54 hours old]: Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds says the waits faced by retired civil servants are unacceptable.
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Santander to close 44 branches and put 291 jobs at risk [58 hours old]: The high-street lender is the latest to announce a swathe of branch closures.
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Water bills to rise again: Use our tool to find out by how much [67 hours old]: The average annual household bill in England and Wales will increase by £33 from April.
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Tesla cuts car models in shift to robots and AI [64 hours old]: Multi-billionaire Elon Musk's electric car maker also said its annual revenue had fallen for the first time.
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Vehicle production in the UK falls to 73-year low [67 hours old]: The industry has "the toughest year in a generation" as vehicle making falls back to 1952 levels.
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Why an India court ruling on a 2018 deal is rattling foreign investors [59 hours old]: Investors are spooked by an order on a 2018 stake sale and fear it could open up old transactions to tax scrutiny.
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Facebook-owner Meta to nearly double AI spending [67 hours old]: Mark Zuckerberg's spending plans hint at further layoffs and changes within Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
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Will Trump's pick to lead US central bank get him the change he wants? [21 hours old]: Opinion is divided over whether Warsh will align with the US president's views over how the Federal Reserve should be run.
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'You don't feel judged': Why we buy more at self-service terminals [67 hours old]: How restaurants and retailers use behavioural science to get us to increase our spending.
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Can India be a player in the computer chip industry? [115 hours old]: India is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in building up a computer chip industry.
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Caribbean cannabis growers eye budding domestic sales and exports [132 hours old]: Producers in Jamaica and Antigua hope that increasing liberalisation will lead to higher revenues.
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Trump covets mineral-rich Greenland, but what natural resources does it actually have? [198 hours old]: Greenland's natural resources include large reserves of rare earth deposits.
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AI ready: The advantages of being a young entrepreneur [211 hours old]: The latest generation of entrepreneurs have a head-start with AI but also face familiar challenges.
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How Slovakia became the world's number one carmaker [235 hours old]: The European country is the biggest autos manufacturer relative to the size of its population.
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Trump says tiny cars are amazing but will Americans actually buy them? [249 hours old]: The president wants to bring to the US tiny vehicles, like those commonly seen on the streets of Japan.
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Are 'tech dense' farms the future of farming? [283 hours old]: A host of technology is on offer to farmers, promising to raise farming yields and lower food prices.
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'The finest in the world': Why the US is buying icebreakers from Finland [296 hours old]: The Nordic nation leads the way when it comes to both the design and construction of the vessels.
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How realistic is India's quest for magnets made of rare earths [378 hours old]: India has a 0m plan to make rare earth magnets, aiming to reduce dependence on Chinese imports - but can it work?
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'They are essential': How smoke detectors are evolving [379 hours old]: AI trained to recognise fire is among the latest developments in fire alarm tech.
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Honey, I shrunk the data centres: Is small the new big? [427 hours old]: Huge data centres are being built to handle AI computing but some experts say they aren't necessary.
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Why are more bosses sharing the top job? [451 hours old]: More bosses are sharing the top job giving them more time for family and breaks.
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Why luxury carmakers are now building glitzy skyscrapers [475 hours old]: Bugatti is the latest auto firm to construct an opulent apartment building for the super rich.
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'I had no electricity for six months': US families struggle with soaring energy prices [497 hours old]: Rising electricity costs have emerged as a key cost-of-living concern, pushing families further into debt.
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Excel: The software that's hard to quit [547 hours old]: Companies are trying to wean staff off Excel spreadsheets to centralise control of their data.
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How tariff disruption will continue reshaping the global economy in 2026 [571 hours old]: Trump's import levies are still changing the patterns of international trade.
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How the defence sector is battling a skills crisis [714 hours old]: Attracting younger workers into the defence industry can be challenging.
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Retail price index rose by 2.8% in 2025 [28 hours old]: The increase was fuelled by the prices of food, leisure, motoring and household services, Jersey Statistics says.
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'Relief' for pubs and hotels as rates revaluation halted [49 hours old]: Finance Minister John O'Dowd said he had "listened carefully" to the concerns raised by hospitality.
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Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour? [1516 hours old]: Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
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Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful? [1627 hours old]: Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
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The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis [1715 hours old]: Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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The £5.30 orange juice that tells the story of why supermarket prices are sky high [2436 hours old]: Butter, chocolate, coffee and milk have all seen prices rocket. Tracing back through the story of one particular supermarket staple begins to explain why
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How Guest Dragon Jenna Meek likes to do business [29 hours old]: Jenna Meek joins the Dragons' Den as a guest for the first time.
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The Apprentice is back! Meet the new candidates [61 hours old]: Twenty candidates are hoping to secure a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar.
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1975: Could you do your food shop just once a year? [194 hours old]: Grocery shopping with a couple who bought all their supplies yearly rather than weekly.
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Does TikTok's US deal threaten the company's global ambitions? [203 hours old]: TikTok has finalised a deal to allow its American business to continue, by creating a new US entity separate from its global operations. The BBC's Asia Business Correspondent Suranjana Tewari breaks down what this could mean.