Aug 27: Energy price cap rises; Nepal flash floods; New Audi Q9 flagship from £103,900

Rising energy bills ‘difficult’ for people, Andy Burnham says Prime minister Andy Burnham has said rising energy bills are ‘difficult’ for people after Ofgem raised its price cap by 4% to a three-year high and analysts forecast a further 9% hike from January. ‘It’s difficult for people and I recognise that,’ he told reporters in London. ‘But it’s why, within days of taking office, I announced that we would remove VAT off electricity bills to give people that little bit of help. That kicks in from October. We’ll continue to look as we go forward at how we get energy prices down in the long term, and that’s what we need to do too.’ The regulator said its price cap will rise by £60 per year – or £5 per month – to £1,723 for the average household using both electricity and gas if sustained for a year. Meta agrees to new protections for teenagers in US in $18bn settlement Facebook and Instagram owner Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion (£13.3bn) as part of a settlement ending a legal battle in the US, where it will also introduce major new protections for teenage users. The agreement resolves claims filed by 47 US states accusing Meta of designing Instagram with features that are addictive to children and teenagers and can harm their mental health. This brings an end to a trial that had expected Mark Zuckerberg to give evidence before a jury in federal court. Audi confirms £103,900 starting price for flagship Q9 Audi’s new Q9 has gone on sale in the UK with a starting price of £103,900. The range-topping SUV features a 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel V6 engine with mild-hybrid assistance, an electric-powered compressor for improved throttle response, an eight-speed automatic gearbox, and permanent all-wheel drive. Initially, the Q9 will be available in Edition 1 and Vorsprung specifications, priced at £103,900 and £113,250 respectively. Deliveries commence in November. London’s FTSE 100 closed with modest losses, down 0.1%, as strong US inflation data impacted sentiment ahead of Nvidia earnings. The FTSE 250 and AIM All-Share also saw minor declines. Meanwhile, the pound weakened against the dollar and euro. Rescuers search for dozens of Britons among missing in Nepal after flash floods killed over 160 people. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority in Nepal reported 165 bodies recovered, with 826 people missing, including 33 UK citizens among 341 unaccounted foreign nationals. A seven-year-old girl and her aunt died in a house fire near a fatal A66 crash site. Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Car dealer industry analysis reveals structural changes in franchised dealerships, though profitability remains resilient. German vehicle marketplace mobile.de acquires Carwow’s German operations to expand UK and Spain focus. Lotus merges its UK operations under a tech arm acquisition. Renault updates its Renault 5 electric hatchback ahead of the Paris Motor Show. The SMMT warns the ZEV Mandate could reduce used EV residual values. Weather forecasts include heavy rain pushing northwards across England and Wales today, with thundery showers and drier conditions further south. Tonight, rain will reach Scotland, eastern Northern Ireland, and northeastern England.