Hidden fees at the checkout? The CMA is cracking down on unclear online pricing.

BBC Money Box’s Dan Whitworth explains how to spot extra charges before you buy, and whether you could be entitled to compensation if you’ve been affected.

To watch this with subtitles go to BBC iPlayer and search for Morning Live from 06/07/2026

City centre will be extended as many more new homes planned

A report has offered a glimpse into the major changes coming to Manchester over the next 15 years.

Bosses at the council are creating a blueprint for the city’s future, including expanding the city centre, building more homes, and cementing Manchester’s place as a top place to visit.

The vision has been shared in a report known as the local plan, covering the changes set to take place in the city between 2022 and 2039.

It is at an ‘advanced and final stage’ and is being put before the council’s cabinet team at a public meeting this week.

‘Manchester will be an even more must-see city, with amazing things to do,’ the report claims.

‘Our neighbourhoods will be clean and green, with good-quality affordable homes and good public services. Mancunians will feel safer indoors, outdoors and online.’

The plan includes improvements to the city centre to make it ‘more attractive’ to spend time in, as well as better transport connections.

Areas of ‘core growth’ – where major changes are planned – will see the city centre boundary get bigger.

It will stretch out to the Great Ducie Street area of Strangeways, Ancoats, New Islington, as well as south of town, towards Manchester Science Park, and the Manchester Metropolitan University campus.

Some of the parts of the city earmarked for huge upgrades in the local plan include Sportcity in east Manchester, Strangeways, and Victoria North – an area which includes Collyhurst and some surrounding neighbourhoods.

The redevelopment of North Manchester General Hospital is another major project, which is set to be redeveloped to create a ‘modernised hospital and health facilities’.

Plans around the hospital include building new housing, office spaces, and shops.

The local plan is set to move to a six-week public consultation later this year, with adoption planned for summer 2027.

The report states: ‘Manchester is a dynamic city, it continues to see strong population and economic growth.

‘Through a myriad of initiatives seeking to tackle inequalities and ensuring our residents benefit from our success, we have seen new homes across all tenures and new jobs in both traditional and new sectors.

‘We’ve seen many parts of the city go through physical changes, with new housing allowing more people to live here.

‘As more businesses have invested here, further jobs opportunities have been created for people across all our neighbourhoods. Our residents are better connected with improved transport and can enjoy a varied culture and leisure scene.

‘As we move towards a zero-carbon future, we’re recycling more, and our parks have been protected and developed for all.

‘However, there remains a demand for more housing, including genuinely affordable new homes, and provision for accommodation for supported care and for students attracted to our world class universities.

‘There also remains significant levels of economic inactivity (due to poor health) which we are committed to tackle. The updated Local Plan seeks to provide those spatial policies that can address growth, inclusivity, poverty, health, housing, climate change and transport.’

Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth has initiated a meeting to address Thailand’s emergency response to a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Venezuela, preparing USAR Thailand for potential deployment.

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Key Points

• Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth has called a meeting to assess the aftermath of a powerful earthquake in Venezuela and coordinate Thailand’s emergency response efforts. The earthquake, initially measured at 7.2 and later at 7.5, struck on June 25, 5:05 a.m. Thailand time, near Caracas.
• The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has set up a 24/7 monitoring team and is preparing USAR Thailand for potential deployment if an international assistance request arises. The deployment plan includes a 46-member response team, three rescue dogs, and specialized equipment.
• USAR Thailand, the national urban search and rescue team, holds INSARAG External Classification certification, affirming its compliance with international standards for humanitarian missions both in Thailand and abroad.

Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth has convened a meeting to review the situation after a powerful earthquake struck Venezuela and to oversee Thailand’s emergency response preparations. The earthquake occurred on June 25 at 5:05 a.m. Thailand time, with its epicenter about 160 kilometers west of Caracas. An initial magnitude 7.2 quake was followed by a stronger magnitude 7.5 tremor.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has established a team to monitor developments around the clock while preparing USAR Thailand for possible deployment if an official request for international assistance is received.

The deployment plan includes a 46-member core response team, three search-and-rescue dogs, and specialized rescue equipment. Personnel from several government agencies and partner organizations have confirmed they are ready for immediate deployment.

USAR Thailand is the country’s national urban search and rescue team and has received INSARAG External Classification certification from the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, confirming that it meets internationally recognized standards for humanitarian search and rescue missions in Thailand and overseas. 

Source : Thailand Prepares Team for Venezuela Earthquake Response

Other People are Reading

Raymond shares rose nearly 4% on Monday after the company appointed former Bharat Electronics chief Bhanu Prakash Srivastava as the chief executive officer (CEO) of its defence business. The stock gained nearly 4% to hit an intraday high of Rs 632 on the NSE. It later gave up some gains and was last trading at Rs 622.5, up 2.4%.

Raymond said in an exchange filing that Srivastava has been appointed CEO-Defence as the company looks to expand in the defence and aerospace sector.

Srivastava has nearly 40 years of experience at Bharat Electronics (BEL), where he worked across defence technologies, programme execution and organisation building. He also served as chairman and managing director of BEL.

At Raymond, he will lead the company’s defence business. He will be responsible for its strategy, operations and growth plans.

During his tenure as chairman and managing director of BEL, Srivastava oversaw the company’s market value increase from about Rs 51,000 crore to Rs 1.5 lakh crore. BEL also secured more than Rs 55,000 crore in new orders and launched over 100 products during this period.

He has worked on programmes in radar systems, naval and sonar systems, missiles, electronic warfare and tactical communications. He also supported indigenous defence capabilities and helped set up AI incubation centres.
Raymond said Srivastava will focus on building its long-term defence strategy. The company plans to expand its engineering capabilities into defence electronics, software, systems integration and related aerospace and automotive technologies.Raymond Chairman and Managing Director Gautam Singhania said India’s defence sector is entering a new phase of growth and self-reliance. He said this creates opportunities for companies with strong engineering capabilities.

Singhania said Srivastava’s experience in handling complex defence programmes and building large organisations makes him the right person to lead Raymond’s defence business.

Srivastava said he is joining Raymond at an important point in its growth journey. He said India’s focus on local defence manufacturing opens up strong opportunities for the company.

He said Raymond will look to build technology-led solutions, form strategic partnerships and create a defence business that can compete globally.

Shares of Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri FCT 10.60%increase; up pointing triangle jumped after the group said it had sealed agreements to acquire stakes in four companies to shore up its operations across marine construction support, unmanned underwater and surface drone technologies, and underwater wireless communication systems.

The company said it was taking stakes in Next Geosolutions Europe NXT -3.34%decrease; down pointing triangle, which operates in the offshore renewable energy, offshore oil and gas and subsea cable sectors; WSense, which specializes in underwater monitoring and communication systems; Defcomm, active in the design and construction of unmanned surface vehicles; and Graal Tech, which makes underwater robotic technologies.

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The Bristol-based investment platform has snapped up two senior figures from Vanguard

Bristol-based investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) has bolstered its senior leadership team with two new hires.

The finance platform has appointed Charles Thompson as chief technology officer and Michael Finnegan as chief transformation officer.

The pair, who are both joining from asset manager Vanguard, have backgrounds in tech and retail investing in the US market.

They will replace Richard Hebdon, current chief digital and technology officer, and Darren Worth, chief strategy and transformation officer, who will leave HL later this year. Hebdon and Worth will remain with the business for a transition period, Business Live understands.

Thompson will join HL on September 1, subject to regulatory approval, and will be based in Bristol. He was most recently principal and divisional CIO for advice and wealth management at Vanguard, having previously led technology at Vanguard International, spanning APAC, Europe and the Americas. Before that he held senior technology leadership roles at National Australia Bank.

Finnegan will also join HL in September and will be based in Bristol. He previously held a number of senior roles at Vanguard, most recently as head of wealth planning and partnerships. Before that he was head of international strategy and chief of staff for Vanguard’s International business and CFO for the Americas.

Richard Flint, outgoing CEO and non-executive deputy chair at HL, said the appointments were made following “a rigorous external search”.

“We are delighted to welcome Charles and Michael to HL,” he said.

“They are strong leaders with deep experience across technology, transformation and retail investing, and they will further strengthen the executive team.”

Mr Flint said HL would look to “combine the best” of its market position with lessons from the US, where technology, product innovation and customer engagement had “helped more people invest for their future”.

“Charles and Michael will play critical roles in that next phase,” he added. “I want to thank Darren and Richard for their service to HL… We are grateful for everything they have contributed and wish them both well for the future.”

Thompson said he was “incredibly excited” to join HL and was “looking forward to leading the build” of new technology capability within the business.

Meanwhile, Finnegan said HL had a “major opportunity” to help more people move from saving to investing.

“I’m excited to help deliver the change needed to support that ambition and help HL move faster for clients,” he added.