Business
To instill confidence, China tries to reassure private entrepreneurs of support
Anthony Kuhn BEIJING — Every once in a while, China’s government makes a high-profile effort to right a wrong or rehabilitate a well-known person who has fallen from favor. They are gestures to restore public confidence in authorities. And restoring confidence is vital for China’s economy, as it struggles to maintain slowing growth amid a…
Why some are accusing Trump of manipulating stock markets
By Maria Aspan Wall Street has been whipsawed for more than a week by President Trump’s every word about tariffs. Now he’s facing accusations of using his power to deliberately manipulate the markets. The scrutiny started with a tale of two social-media posts. On Wednesday, shortly after the U.S. stock market opened, Trump posted on…
Asia markets soar, after President Trump pauses global tariffs
By Sherisse Pham HONG KONG – Asian markets soared on Thursday in line with Wall Street’s gains the day before, following President Trump’s announcement of a pause on his higher global tariffs. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also gained 2%, while key indices in China also rose slightly. But investors are still looking to Beijing…
Mixed messages on tariffs raises scrutiny on Trump aides
Franco Ordoñez President Trump is boasting about the wheeling and dealing he’s doing to cut deals on steep new tariffs that take effect on Wednesday. But for weeks, his own aides have insisted that tariffs were not a bargaining chip. Trump has said he wants to see manufacturing return to the United States — the…
World markets regain some ground after Trump tariffs shock investors
By Willem Marx Shares in Europe and Asia rebounded slightly on Tuesday after several days of sustained sell-offs that saw equity markets crater since President Trump’s announcement of global trading tariffs. U.S. stock markets may now also be poised for a small jump at the start of the trading day, according to futures trading data…
Asian markets plunge with Japan’s Nikkei diving nearly 8% after big Wall St. meltdown
By The Associated Press BANGKOK — Asian shares nosedived on Monday after the meltdown Friday on Wall Street over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes and the backlash from Beijing. U.S. futures also signaled further weakness. The future for the S&P 500 lost 2.5% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 2.1%. The…
Stocks sink in another brutal day, as Trump’s tariffs send global shockwaves
By Maria Aspan Wall Street is not Main Street — but this week, investors and consumers alike seem terrified of how President Trump’s tariffs could upend the global economy. The pain continued for U.S. stocks on Friday, a day after the stock market suffered its worst day in five years. Late on Friday morning, the…
What on Earth is a ‘conservation agreement’?
In this installment, we break down “conservation agreements,” an approach that helps conserve biodiversity while improving the quality of life for local communities. So: What is a ‘conservation agreement’? It’s a deal between a community and a group or person funding a conservation project (that could be a government, a non-profit, a foundation, a business…
New NASA maps will help Liberia chart course for a sustainable future
Within Liberia’s borders lies one of the last strongholds of intact forests in West Africa. But as Liberia’s economy recovers following years of civil war, experts fear that these forests — and other ecosystems across the country — could become victims of unsustainable oil palm development, urbanization and logging. To prevent this, the Liberian government must…
Markets in Asia and Europe fall following U.S. announcement of global tariffs
By The Associated Press BANGKOK — Shares tumbled in Europe and Asia and U.S. futures tumbled Thursday following U.S. President Donald Trump ‘s announcement of big increases in tariffs on imports of goods from around the world. The double-digit tariff hikes sent shivers across world markets, as economists warned it raises the risk of recession.…
Today is Trump’s ‘Liberation Day.’ What does that mean for tariffs?
Danielle Kurtzleben On Wednesday, President Trump is set to unveil what he has been calling “reciprocal tariffs” — taxes on imported goods from a broad range of countries aimed at penalizing them for their trade barriers. It’s a push he is branding as “Liberation Day,” promising it will bring in foreign tariff revenues to be…
What on Earth is ‘natural capital’?
In this installment, we break down “natural capital,” a concept that could revolutionize the way nature is protected. What is “natural capital”? It’s the stock of renewable and non-renewable natural resources (e.g., plants, animals, air, water, soils, minerals) that combine to provide benefits to people. What kind of benefits are we talking about? The air…
German lawmakers approve huge defense and infrastructure spending
By The Associated Press BERLIN — Germany’s would-be next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, won lawmakers’ approval Tuesday for ambitious plans to loosen the nation’s strict debt rules for higher defense spending as doubts mount about the strength of the trans-Atlantic alliance, and to set up an enormous fund for investment in its creaking infrastructure. Merz passed…
For one former logging company, nature’s green is gold
Editor’s note: In the fight against climate change and wildlife extinction, businesses have to a key role to play. But how? Conservation International’s investment fund, CI Ventures, is helping startup companies fund new business models founded on the protection of nature. Here is one of them. The Amazon rainforest faced another difficult year in 2024,…
Mothers demand justice as London case over Brazil dam collapse concludes
Nineteen people died in the Mariana disaster, prompting a claim of up to £36bn claim against the mining firm BHP With tears in their eyes, mothers of children who died in Brazil’s worst environmental disaster – the 2015 Mariana dam collapse – demanded justice for their loved ones as submissions in their London lawsuit came…
Trump buys a Tesla with Elon Musk in tow, at the White House
Deepa Shivaram President Trump stepped into a car outside the White House on Tuesday afternoon — but not the usual high-security presidential limousine known as “The Beast.” Instead of the presidential motorcade of large, black SUVs lined up on the driveway of the South Lawn, there were five Teslas for Trump to peruse. Trump announced…
Trump announces double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum
Danielle Kurtzleben The day before steel and aluminum tariffs are set to go into effect, President Trump announced he would specifically set tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum at double the rate of the rest of the world. “I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all…
Mark Carney to be Canada’s next Prime Minister
By Rebecca Rosman , Jackie Northam Mark Carney, the former central banker-turned-centrist politician, triumphed over Chrystia Freeland in Sunday’s Liberal Party leadership race, paving the way for him to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada’s next prime minister. He is expected to be sworn in early this week. Carney, 59, whose resume is filled with decades…
How Trump’s Canada Tariffs Could Impact Both the U.S. and Canada
Tariffs President Trump’s plan to apply 25 percent tariffs on Canadian exports is set to start on Tuesday. They would deal a brutal blow to Canada’s economy. By Ian Austen Reporting from Ottawa It is not an exit anyone would have expected. Justin Trudeau will end his final days as Canada’s prime minister with the…
Private lunar lander Blue Ghost touches down on the moon
By The Associated Press CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private lunar lander carrying a drill, vacuum and other experiments for NASA touched down on the moon Sunday, the latest in a string of companies looking to kickstart business on Earth’s celestial neighbor ahead of astronaut missions. Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander descended from lunar orbit…
As Ramadan Nears, Syrians Feel the Pinch of a Cash Shortage
Syria After Civil War The Assad dictatorship is out, but Syria’s economy is in chaos after a civil war and recent policy shifts. The situation is putting a damper on a typically festive season. The Assad dictatorship is out, but Syria’s economy is in chaos after a civil war and recent policy shifts. The situation…
Meeting Trump at White House, Zelenskyy hopes for continued aid in war with Russia
Joanna Kakissis KYIV — President Trump is set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House today to sign a preliminary deal to give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical raw materials in exchange for possible aid in the future. It’s the first face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump since Trump’s inauguration, and…
A movement is calling for an ‘economic blackout’ on Friday. Here’s what to know
By Chandelis Duster An organization is calling for a national boycott in the form of an “economic blackout” on Friday, urging Americans not to shop for 24 hours. This movement, spearheaded by The People’s Union USA, a grassroots group, follows the rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at several companies, including Target. The boycott…
Missing British businessman’s body found in Kenyan forest
Campbell Scott, a senior director at Fico, was reported missing while in Nairobi for a three-day conference Police searching for a British businessman missing in Kenya have recovered a body, found in a sack in scrubland about 60 miles from Nairobi, reports said. Campbell Scott, 58, a senior director at the data analytics company Fico,…
Here’s what to know about Germany’s election this Sunday
Rob Schmitz BERLIN — An economic slump, an immigration crisis and the lifting of a security blanket provided for decades by its most powerful ally are on the minds of German voters as they head to the polls for Sunday’s national parliamentary election. The general election of the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, was…
Key to protecting the ocean? Money and manpower, study finds
Editor’s note: You can draw lines on a map to “protect” an area of ocean, but does that mean that local communities and wildlife will be better off? According to new research, the answer is “not necessarily.” A new paper published in the journal Nature offers data to back up something conservationists have argued for…
UK marketplace sellers face ‘second Brexit’ hit from Trump’s US import rules
End of ‘de minimis’ policy for Chinese goods also expected to hit bigger fashion retailers such as Asos and Boohoo Many UK-based independent sellers on marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon could suffer a significant hit to US sales from planned changes to import rules under Donald Trump, with experts comparing the impact to a…
Climate crisis contributing to chocolate market meltdown, research finds
Scientists say more-frequent hotter temperatures in west African region are part of reason for reduced harvests and price rises The climate crisis drove weeks of high temperatures in the west African region responsible for about 70% of global cacao production, hitting harvests and probably causing further record chocolate prices, researchers have said. Farmers in the…
Trump funding freeze could leave communities on their own as climate threats grow
By Michael Copley Removing lead paint and pipes. Cleaning up contaminated land. Monitoring pollution. Making houses more energy efficient. Installing solar panels in low-income neighborhoods. Those are some of the projects across the country that were cut off from federal funding when the Trump administration paused spending approved earlier by Congress. The sweeping move is…
Federal Reserve’s Jerome Powell says there’s no need to rush on interest rate cuts
Scott Horsley Don’t expect interest rates to fall any time soon. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told a Senate Committee Tuesday that with a strong job market and with inflation still elevated, he and his colleagues “do not need to be in a hurry” to cut interest rates. Powell also fielded questions about President Trump’s…
Trump says he will impose a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel imports
Scott Horsley President Trump says he plans to announce a 25% tax on all imported steel and aluminum, extending a trade battle he launched during his first term in the White House. The move has the potential to give a helping hand to domestic steel and aluminum makers, while also raising costs for businesses and…
China Strikes Back After Trump Imposes 10% Tariff on Goods
Trump Tariffs After a 10 percent tariff on Chinese products took effect on Tuesday, China announced retaliatory measures, including tariffs and an investigation of Google. By Ana Swanson and Chris Buckley Ana Swanson reported from Washington and Chris Buckley from Bangkok. Follow live updates on President Trump’s tariffs and the global fallout. Beijing responded swiftly…
World Indie Games: A New Era of Crowdfunding for Independent Developers
In the ever-evolving world of game development, crowdfunding has emerged as a game-changer, enabling independent studios and solo developers to bring their creative visions to life. Traditional funding models often impose high barriers to entry, forcing developers to seek publishers or private investors, which can lead to compromises in artistic vision and project autonomy. Crowdfunding,…
New Game Card “Beat”
🎮 BEAT Party Game Card: The Game That Takes Truth to the Limit is Now on Kickstarter If you’ve ever felt that a simple “Truth or Dare” wasn’t enough, BEAT Party Game Card is here to revolutionize how we play with the truth. This bold and exciting board game, created by Monkey Republic Games, has…
Former German President Horst Köhler dies at 81
By The Associated Press BERLIN — Horst Köhler, a onetime head of the International Monetary Fund who became a popular German president before stunning the country by resigning abruptly in a flap over comments about the country’s military, has died. He was 81. Köhler, who was head of state from 2004 to 2010, died Saturday…
Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary is Howard Lutnick. Here’s what to know
Alina Selyukh We’re following the confirmation hearings for the incoming Trump administration. See our full politics coverage, and follow NPR’s Trump’s Terms podcast or to stay up to date. Who: Howard Lutnick Nominated for: Commerce Secretary You might know them from: Lutnick is a billionaire investor and long-time Wall Street CEO. What does this role do: The Commerce Department is responsible for enforcing…
5 economic papers that lit up our brains — and what they say about our confusing world
Greg Rosalsky We at Planet Money are constantly reading the work of economists and other social scientists to glean ideas, evidence and insights about the economy, and, more generally, the confusing world around us. Often this work provides the seeds for episodes or newsletters. But sometimes they’re just interesting things we learned privately, and we…
Exclusive: White House in talks to have Oracle and U.S. investors take over TikTok
Bobby Allyn The Trump administration is working on a plan to save TikTok that involves tapping software company Oracle and a group of outside investors to effectively take control of the app’s global operations, according to two people with direct knowledge of the talks. Under the deal now being negotiated by the White House, TikTok’s…
Trump pardons dark web marketplace creator Ross Ulbricht
Jenna McLaughlin President Trump fulfilled a campaign promise to Libertarian supporters on his second day back in office by pardoning the former creator and owner of an underground e-commerce website known for drug trafficking. Ross Ulbricht, also known as “Dread Pirate Roberts,” operated the anonymous digital marketplace known as Silk Road between 2011 and 2013,…
Australia exposed to modern slave labour imports and many businesses ‘ignoring the facts’, commissioner warns
The scale of Australia’s trade with blacklisted companies, revealed in Guardian investigation, prompts anger across the Uyghur community Australia’s new anti-slavery commissioner has called on the government to urgently address the “inadequacy” of its forced labour laws after revelations that it had allowed thousands of imports from Chinese companies blacklisted for their alleged links to…
All of the Day 1 executive actions Trump has announced so far
By Lexie Schapitl , Franco Ordoñez President-elect Trump is expected to sign a flurry of executive orders, memorandums and proclamations on Monday after he is sworn in, reversing many of his predecessors’ policies and reinstating actions from his first term in office. The actions are expected to address a range of issues, including campaign priorities…
Heavy snow and frigid temps put 70 million in the U.S. under winter storm warnings
By The Associated Press BOSTON — Tens of millions of residents along the East Coast are bracing for several inches of snow Sunday followed by dangerously cold temperatures that will take hold in much of the country from the Northern Plains to the tip of Maine. Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service…
From GDP to trade, how well equipped is China’s economy for Trump 2.0? | Amy Hawkins
Beijing has prepared for increased tariffs but its actions will not be enough to offset falling demand from the US When Donald Trump enters the White House for the second time on 20 January, the view from the Oval Office will look very different to the one he encountered in 2017. A pandemic, the war…
Zyn nicotine pouches can be marketed in the U.S., the FDA says. What does this mean?
Jaclyn Diaz Federal health officials have authorized the marketing and sale of Zyn nicotine pouches, marking the first time the Food and Drug Administration authorized these popular products that go between a user’s gum and upper lip. After “an extensive scientific review,” the FDA said, the products were found to pose lower risks of cancer…
People are rushing to install solar panels before Trump becomes President
Jeff Brady The solar power industry is growing fast, accounting for more than half of all new electricity on the grid last year. But soon President-elect Trump and fellow Republicans in Congress may try to reduce or eliminate government incentives that have driven much of that growth. Solar installers face even more uncertainty with threats…
Reeves’ drive for growth seeks China lifeline after UK market turmoil
Chancellor’s mission to Beijing weighted with greater expectations Rachel Reeves hailed a new era of “respectful and consistent future relations with China” as pressure grew on the embattled chancellor to deliver on her government’s central promise to fire up UK economic growth. After meeting China’s vice-premier, He Lifeng, in Beijing, Reeves said Britain’s relationship with…
Rail passengers face disruption from Avanti strikes every Sunday until June
Train managers on west coast mainline to take action from 12 January to 25 May in dispute over rest-day working Passengers on Great Britain’s west coast mainline have been warned of disruption to Avanti services on every Sunday from this weekend to the end of May. Train managers represented by the the National Union of…
Labour MPs urge Rachel Reeves to demand Jimmy Lai’s release
UK chancellor will be first to make an official visit to China in a decade Labour MPs have urged Rachel Reeves to demand Jimmy Lai’s release when she becomes the first UK chancellor to make an official visit to China in nearly a decade. Nine Labour MPs have joined a cross-party call for Reeves to…
There is one major gift Trump is inheriting from Biden: A good job market
Scott Horsley There is major thing that president-elect Donald Trump will be getting as President Biden prepares to hand over the reins: a strong labor market. U.S. employers added more than a quarter-million jobs in December — well above expectations — while the unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%, according to a report from the Labor…
Fears over UK borrowing costs as US jobs figures prompt stock market volatility
Pound falls against the dollar and bond yields rise amid concerns over high UK inflation and interest rates Concerns over the UK government’s borrowing costs were revived on Friday after stronger-than expected US jobs figures triggered volatile conditions in global financial markets. In an accelerating global bond market sell-off, investors warned that the UK was…
Budget tax changes will push up price of fresh food, says Sainsbury’s boss
NICs increase will add £140m to wage bill of supermarket, which has announced 5% pay rise for staff Changes to employers’ national insurance contributions announced in the government’s October budget will drive inflation, particularly on fresh food, according to the boss of Sainsbury’s as he announced a 5% pay rise for workers. “It is coming…
UK music industry hails proposals to crack down on ticket touting
Resale prices could be capped at 30% over face value, while resale websites face greater legal obligations The price at which tickets for live events can be resold is to be capped under “gamechanging” proposals put forward by the government to crack down on touting in the sector. In a move hailed by music industry…
Cuts, tax rises and doing nothing: Rachel Reeves’ options to tackle economic woe
Labour’s fiscal rules may limit the chancellor’s ability to act, but waiting it out may be the best option The UK government has come under pressure from a bond market sell-off and the tumbling pound, heaping pressure on the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to reassure investors about Britain’s economic and financial position. After a challenging first…
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to share branches
Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland customers will be able to use services in any branch of the three brands as part of the group’s latest network shake-up. Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three banking brands and is the UK’s biggest moneylender, said the move would give customers more choice and flexibility. It has…
Reeves mulls deeper cuts to public services as borrowing costs soar
Chancellor could slash departmental spending in spring after ruling out tax increase, officials reveal Rachel Reeves is considering imposing steeper cuts to public services to repair the government’s finances after a bruising week in which investors drove up the cost of UK borrowing and pushed the pound to a 14-month low. Government officials have told…
Man told he can’t recover £598m of Bitcoin from tip
A judge has thrown out a man’s attempt to sue a council to recover from a rubbish tip a Bitcoin hard drive that is now worth about £598m. James Howells had argued that his former partner had mistakenly dumped the hard drive containing a Bitcoin wallet in 2013, and he wanted to access the site…
Peter Dutton’s pledge to exclude CFMEU from Queensland road projects could be illegal, experts say
Law professor says prohibiting companies from tendering because of union relationships would be ‘tantamount to a secondary boycott’ A pledge to “exclude” the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union from Queensland road projects by state and federal LNP leaders has been criticised as illegal by industrial relations experts. On Thursday, the opposition leader, Peter Dutton,…
Lloyds to let customers use Halifax and BoS branches, raising job cut fears
Account holders at the group’s three brands will be able to use any of their locations, but unions fear site closures Lloyds Banking Group will allow customers to use any of its Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Lloyds branches as part of a shake-up that has sparked fears of job cuts and site closures, weeks…
Greggs sales growth slows amid ‘lower consumer confidence’
Bakery chain says fewer shoppers on high streets over Christmas also to blame in ‘more challenging market’ Greggs, the UK’s biggest bakery chain, has reported slowing sales growth over the festive period, blaming weakening consumer confidence and fewer shoppers on high streets. The company said its total sales rose by 11.3% to just over £2bn…
M&S reports strong festive sales but says UK firms will take hit from tax rises
Sales at food halls rise 8.9% over Christmas, with 23 December its biggest ever day of food trading Marks & Spencer has hailed a “good Christmas” with strong sales of food but warned that British businesses face higher costs from the government’s tax increases. The UK retailer said sales at established food halls rose 8.9%,…
Retailers warn of higher prices in 2025 and urge ministers to ease tax burden
Companies grappling with higher employment costs say price of food may rise by 4.2% in latter half of year UK retailers have urged ministers to ease their tax burden as they said that the cost of food and other items will rise sharply throughout the year as companies grapple with higher employment costs. Food prices…
Royal Mail to celebrate The Vicar of Dibley with 12 special stamps
‘Classic moments’ from BBC comedy series to feature on range of first- and second-class stamps The Royal Mail is issuing 12 special stamps to celebrate the 1990s BBC comedy series The Vicar of Dibley. Eight stamps depict memorable scenes from the sitcom, including a guest appearance by former ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell, while four stamps…
Rachel Reeves heads to China to build bridges, but a new golden era of relations is impossible
Seeking business partners post-Brexit is sound policy, but even in these darker geopolitical times the UK will ultimately side with the US Rachel Reeves will fly with a delegation of City grandees to China this week as Labour seeks closer economic links with Beijing as part of its quest for growth. With the outlook increasingly…
Permanent job vacancies in UK shrink at fastest pace for four years
Job market data deepens sense of gloom enveloping UK plc as analysts plan close look at effects of NICs rise on hiring Vacancies for permanent jobs in the UK declined at their fastest pace for four years last month, according to a new survey that adds to the gloomy economic mood. Amid febrile markets and…
Two power station owners to get more than £12m for three hours of electricity
Uniper and a subsidiary of Vitol able to charge 50 times recent market price to ensure supply during evening peak Two gas power station owners will be paid more than £12m to supply just three hours of electricity on Wednesday evening after freezing weather led to some of the highest market prices since the energy…
UK long-term borrowing costs at highest since 1998 amid fears over weak growth
Yield rises above peak reached when Liz Truss’s mini-budget in 2022 caused turmoil in markets The UK government’s long-term borrowing costs have reached the highest level since 1998 amid investor concerns over Britain’s sluggish growth prospects and stubbornly high inflation. The yield – in effect the interest rate – on UK 30-year government debt rose…
Mark Carney ‘considering’ run to replace Justin Trudeau as Canada PM
Supporters of former Bank of England and Bank of Canada governor say he has experience to lead in period of instability The former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, a climate-focused economist who became the first non-Briton to run the Bank, is considering entering the race to replace Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister. Trudeau…
UK house prices dip for first time since March, says Halifax
Britain’s biggest mortgage lender says say affordability could hamper further rises in the months ahead UK house prices fell by 0.2% month on month in December – the first monthly drop since March – according to Britain’s biggest mortgage lender. Data released by Halifax, Britain’s biggest mortgage lender, also showed that the price of the…
Luxury tights brand Wolford apologises for delays to orders and refunds
Exclusive: Skinwear firm admits delivery services overstretched amid heavy criticism from customers Shoppers have taken to the reviews site Trustpilot to warn others against making orders, with some saying they had waited for more than a month for their goods to arrive and had been unable to obtain a refund. Almost 90% of the 460…
UK retailers may have to cut thousands of jobs after bleak Christmas
British Retail Consortium figures show sales growth close to flatlining, as card spending fails to rise Britain’s largest retailers are warning they could be forced to cut thousands of jobs this year as the industry braces for higher taxes and employment costs after a bleak Christmas shopping season. In the latest sign of tough trading…
Meta taps Trump ally and UFC CEO Dana White to join its board
Shannon Bond Dana White, the Ultimate Fighting Championship president and supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, is joining the board of Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta. White’s election as a Meta director two weeks before Trump takes office comes as Silicon Valley is courting the incoming administration, following what has been a frosty relationship with…
China’s yuan hits 16-month low amid fears over Trump tariffs
CSI 300 blue-chip stock index also trades weakly, hitting its lowest point since September China’s currency hit a 16-month low on Monday, despite efforts by the central bank and stock exchanges to soothe investor worries about impending US tariffs under a Donald Trump presidency. The tightly controlled yuan reached 7.3301 per US dollar, its weakest…
U.S. Steel sues to salvage its sale to Japan’s Nippon Steel
Scott Horsley U.S. Steel and its would-be Japanese suitor Nippon Steel have gone to court to defend their $15 billion merger, after President Biden on Friday moved to block the deal, citing national security concerns. In a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Washington, the companies accuse the president of violating their due process…
Anas Sarwar accuses Scottish government of ‘weakening every institution’
Scottish Labour leader sets out plan to revive party’s flagging fortunes before Holyrood elections Anas Sarwar has accused the Scottish government of “weakening every institution in Scotland” as he set out plans to revive Labour’s flagging fortunes before the Holyrood elections. The Scottish Labour leader said he would spend much of 2025 reminding the Scottish…
What are my rights if my home is flooded or damaged?
Serious storms, including Darragh and Bert, caused extensive damage in various parts of the UK, and were followed by wintry and wet weather causing flooding in January. As homeowners and businesses assess the damage, they will find insurance cover and compensation can vary significantly depending on the level of impact and the small print in…
Aldi celebrates ‘best Christmas ever’ with sales of £1.6bn
Britain’s fourth-biggest grocer says crucial holiday period performance boosted by 12% surge in premium range sales Aldi has reported its “best Christmas ever” after Britain’s fourth-biggest grocer said it made sales of more than £1.6bn in the four weeks to Christmas Eve, thanks in part to shoppers trading up to its premium range. The supermarket…
Amazon aims to branch into UK internet market with satellite broadband plan
Proposed space launches within next two years could ultimately deliver mobile phone signal even to most remote areas Amazon is hoping to offer a satellite broadband service in the UK within the next two years as it prepares to launch a constellation of spacecraft that could ultimately deliver a mobile signal even to the most…
CNN goes on trial over its report alleging ‘black market’ for Afghan rescues
David Folkenflik After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, many people were desperate to flee the country. CNN reported that a security consultant was among those offering to evacuate them — for a price — as part of an investigation into claims of “black market” rescue operations. CNN’s story, which aired on…
Uniqlo, Gymshark and Lush stop hiring UK workers via gig economy apps
TUC criticise retailers for endangering workers’ rights by using apps such as YoungOnes and Temper Lush, Uniqlo and Gymshark have stopped using freelance retail workers hired through apps such as YoungOnes and Temper, after unions criticised the gig economy companies. The TUC wrote to the retailers urging them to stop using freelance retail workers amid…
New year, new deal: the buyout boom poised to take over City lawyers’ lives
Around-the-clock work will be commonplace to tackle an M&A surge fuelled by tax changes, activist investors … and the Trump factor Whether they’re on skis or a sunlounger, there is no beach, mountain or fireside that can spare lawyers from the urgent calls of zealous, dealmaking executives and private equity bosses. After a breathless 2024,…
Net neutrality is struck, ending a long battle to regulate ISPs like public utilities
Emma Bowman A federal appeals court struck down the Federal Communications Commission’s net neutrality rules, ending a 20-year push to regulate internet service providers like a public utility. A U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati on Thursday ruled that the FCC did not have legal authority to reinstate the landmark net…
What are cold weather payments and who can get them?
Cold weather payments have been triggered for the start of 2025. Some people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are entitled to the money when there is a prolonged period of below-zero temperatures. In Scotland, those on low incomes and benefits may receive a separate winter heating payment, which does not depend on how low…
Biden Blocks Takeover Bid of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon
The president said he was moving to protect national security in deciding the fate of the iconic Pennsylvania-based company, which became a contentious political issue in an election year. By Alan Rappeport Reporting from Washington President Biden blocked the $14 billion takeover of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel of Japan in an announcement on Friday…
Trump will be sentenced Jan. 10 in New York case, days before his inauguration
Ximena Bustillo President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 10 in New York, 10 days before he is sworn in to be president of the United States. In a decision Friday, New York Judge Juan Merchan noted that his inclination was to not impose a sentence of incarceration. In the filing, Merchan noted…
Debate Over U.S. Sanctions on Russia For Ukraine War Intensifies
Russia-Ukraine War The president-elect has said he will use sanctions sparingly while vowing to end the war in Ukraine, renewing questions over their efficacy. By Patricia Cohen Patricia Cohen, based in London, has been covering the sanctions on Russia since the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Thousands of far-reaching sanctions have been imposed…
House Speaker vote puts GOP unity to the test
Deirdre Walsh Republicans are taking the first steps Friday to usher in a new era of full GOP control in Washington as Congress comes into session. But the usually ceremonial process in the House is already bogged down in political infighting over who should be elected Speaker of the House. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La,…
Laura Ashley bought by US owner of Ben Sherman
British clothing and home furnishings brand sold by Gordon Brothers to Marquee Brands Laura Ashley has been acquired by New York-based Marquee Brands, the owner of 17 businesses including Ben Sherman and Martha Stewart. The clothing and home furnishings brand, best known for its floaty floral frocks, has been sold by Gordon Brothers. Gordon Brothers…
Badenoch’s department wrote to Treasury after Dyson lobbying over potential tax break
Business department raised issue of patent box benefit after meeting that took place last June, documents show Kemi Badenoch instructed her department to write to the Treasury about a potential tax break after an intervention from Dyson, documents have revealed. In the minutes of a meeting during her time as business secretary last June, seen…
Dress codes for high-end restaurants may not be as strict as you think they are
By Hosts Many restaurants — even the high-end ones — are ditching dress codes for diners. LEILA FADEL, HOST: Maybe this has happened to you. You go out to eat at a restaurant you haven’t tried before. But you’re not sure about the vibe, so you don’t know what to wear. So you worry, will…
‘We’d be stuck’: alarm as UK’s last braille typewriter repairer ponders retirement
Alan Thorpe is Britain’s last certified fixer of the Perkins brailler, a machine vital for teaching blind children to read and write Alan Thorpe runs his fingers over the braille note attached to the latest repair job to arrive at his doorstep in Sheffield. Reading from the tactile note, he says: “The paper won’t wind…
Lidl enjoys record £1bn UK sales in run-up to Christmas
Discount grocer records 7% increase in four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve Lidl made more than £1bn in sales in the run-up to Christmas for the first time in the three decades the discount grocer has been operating in the UK as cash-strapped shoppers cut costs. The German-owned discounter, which is close to overtaking…
Neil Young pulls out of Glastonbury and says it is ‘under corporate control’
Rock star Neil Young has announced he will not be performing at this year’s Glastonbury, saying he believes the festival, which is partnered with the BBC, is “now under corporate control”. The 79-year-old Canadian wrote on his website that he and his band the Chrome Hearts “were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my…
UK house prices rise for fourth month in a row, says Nationwide
Cost of average home in December reaches £269,426, with value increasing over year by almost £12,000 House prices rose for a fourth consecutive month in December, ending 2024 on a “strong footing”, Nationwide said, with the cost of an average home hitting £269,426. The building society’s monthly tracker found prices in December rose 0.7% on…
Centrelink payments increase, higher passport fees and pay rises: all the 1 January changes in Australia in 2025
Bigger Austudy and carer allowance payments, higher Medicare safety net thresholds and mandatory corporate reporting on climate also in 1 Jan changes With the new year come new policies, laws, taxes and reforms. Here’s everything to know about changes on 1 January, 2025 that could affect you. Centrelink payments, including youth allowance, Austudy and carer…
It’s time to get serious about stamp duty on shares, a terrible advert for London
The number of listed companies fleeing can’t be ignored – cutting or abolishing the tax could revive the capital market Last year was another depressing one for departures from the London stock market. Back in January, it was Flutter heading for the exit. The owner of Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet got itself a…
Australian property prices fall for the first time in two years
Australia’s property market has finally come off the boil after a resilient run of growth at a time of high interest rates and inflationary pain. The 0.1% fall in December followed a flat result in November and a gradual slowing in the pace of growth over the course of the year. Sign up for Guardian…
Turnout inequality in UK elections close to tipping point, report warns
IPPR says elections could lose legitimacy because of falling turnout among groups such as renters and non-graduates UK elections are “close to a tipping point” where they lose legitimacy because of plummeting voter turnout among renters and non-graduates, an influential thinktank has said. Analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that the…
The Papers: Energy bills ‘to rise further’ and world rings in 2025
“So much for cutting our energy bills!” is the headline on the front of The Daily Mail. It’s one of several papers to highlight increases in fuel costs for households. The Mail says Labour promised to slash prices, but the paper warns that families are now facing three hikes to the energy price cap in…
Post Office scandal: MPs call for financial penalty for slow payouts
A group of MPs says compensation is not being paid quickly enough for the victims of the Post Office scandal and is calling for the government to face financial penalties if the process doesn’t speed up. The Business and Trade Select Committee said binding timeframes were needed, with any money arising from missed deadlines going…