Early phase-out of full hybrid vehicles may be a political risk too far for UK ministers | Nils Pratley

The main timetable is set: no new petrol and diesel cars will be allowed to be sold in the UK after 2030, and sales of all new hybrids will be forbidden from 2035. But that phasing still leaves open the critical matter – for the automotive industry, and for a couple of manufacturers in particular – of which new hybrids will be allowed to be sold until the last day of 2034.Just the variety that comes with a socket – plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)? Or should old-style hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, which have smaller batteries charged by a main internal combustion engine, also be permitted?Cue an almighty lobbying effort now that the government is finally promising an answer to a question that should have been settled years ago given the long lead times in vehicle manufacturing. A formal consultation was launched on Christmas Eve – and a decision is promised within weeks.In one corner is Electric Vehicles UK (EVUK) – an industry group that, as its name suggests, is pushing for the adoption of electric cars as quickly as possible

Pound falls after weak UK factory data as US dollar rises – as it happened

The pound has fallen by 1% against the US dollar to below $1.24, its lowest since April.Sterling was not helped by weak factory data, which suggests that the UK economy may have some way to go before it picks up the growth momentum for which the Labour government is aiming.But as ever with currency movements, there are two sides: on the other, there is the rise in the value of the US dollar as investors position for the second Trump administration. The dollar index against a trade-weighted basket of currencies has risen as high as 108

Halal tech: how Muslim-friendly websites and apps blossomed in 2024

Amany Killawi made a breakup playlist every time she was dumped, three in all. The playlists, which feature songs such as Gotye’s Somebody That I Used to Know and Apologize by OneRepublic, would make good soundtracks to romantic splits, but that’s not what they were. The playlists came together after Killawi was told by three different banks and payment processors they would no longer work with LaunchGood, the crowdfunding platform for the Muslim community she co-founded.Stripe said its banking partner instructed the company to cut ties with LaunchGood after five years of working with the crowdfunding platform. Stripe also told the company it couldn’t be associated with any international humanitarian work in sanctioned jurisdictions like Syria – a prerequisite for a crowdfunding platform that caters to the Muslim community

Nick Clegg, former UK deputy prime minister, leaves Meta

Nick Clegg, Britain’s former deputy prime minister and Meta’s current president of global affairs, is leaving the company after six years.“It truly has been an adventure of a lifetime!” Clegg said in a post on Facebook. “I am proud of the work I have been able to do leading and supporting teams across the company to ensure innovation can go hand in hand with increased transparency and accountability, and with new forms of governance.”Clegg joined the Facebook parent company in 2018 as the social media platform’s vice‑president for global affairs and communications. At the time the company faced intense scrutiny over the Cambridge Analytica data scandal and its role in the 2016 US presidential election

Australia v India: fifth men’s cricket Test, day one – live

Starc strikes! And it’s the big wicket of Rahul who has clipped one off his toes and lobbed it straight to Sam Konstas at square leg. A poor shot, a simple catch and Australia has first blood! The crowd roar as Konstas gets into the game early.5th over: India 11-0 (Jaiswal 7, Rahul 4) Starc has his pace up to 140kph. Given he’s played all five Tests and the rib niggle he suffered through in Melbourne, Starc will want to ease into his work to last the five days. Australia have Scott Boland as first change and Beau Webster next with his ability to bowl medium pace and off spin

Luke Littler sails into blockbuster world darts final with Michael van Gerwen

Deep down, we all knew this was going to happen at some point. From the moment Luke Littler stepped through the doors of Alexandra Palace in 2023 and started throwing darts from the gods, a countdown had begun that would ineluctably, irrevocably end with the Sid Waddell Trophy hoisted aloft in his arms.And yet, with the moment potentially hours away, the thought of it still seems somehow unreal, illusory, transgressive. Darts is on the verge of a new age, a tectonic shift in its history, popularity and cultural footprint.Eric Bristow, Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, Michael van Gerwen: turns out this was the preamble