9 h. ago BlackRock’s billions and signs of a fall in interest rates show it’s not all gloom for UK business

Awful April might just be closing with reason to face May and beyond with a more careful measure of optimism, as Karl Matchett reports

Economics

24 h. ago I want to start dating casually. How do I turn off the illogical, hopelessly romantic part of my brain? | Leading questions

Are you responding to reality or possibility, asks advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. Knowing the difference might help your better judgment win outRead more Leading questionsHow do I start dating casually when I know I’m going to catch feelings even if I don’t want to? My last relationship ended about a year ago and I’ve been taking time for myself and healing and all that good stuff but I now feel as though I’m ready to get back out there.I haven’t dated casually before and I’d like to try it out, but even if I know it’s a bad idea, there’s going to be a significant part of myself that might fall in love with whoever I spend time with. How do I turn off that completely illogical, hopeless romantic part of my brain? Continue reading...

Politics

66 h. ago London school closures: Four Hackney primaries to shut due to 'ongoing significant fall' in pupils

Hackney Council has agreed to permanently close four primary schools despite a fierce campaign from parents and teachers

Politics

1 week ago LVMH sales fall sharply in warning sign for the luxury industry

Slowing demand in the US and ongoing struggles in China will raise concerns for an industry grappling with Trump’s tariffs

Events

1 week ago ‘The sky won’t fall’: China plays down Trump tariff risks as stock markets rally

Chinese customs official says trade has diversified away from US in recent years and plays up its ‘vast domestic market’Business live – latest updatesChina has played down the risk of damage to its exports from Donald Trump’s tariffs, with an official saying the “the sky won’t fall”, as stock markets rose on Monday amid signs of a retreat on electronics restrictions.The world’s second-largest economy has diversified its trade away from the US in recent years, according to Lyu Daliang, a customs administration spokesperson, in comments reported by state-owned agency Xinhua. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Stock markets rise on signs of Trump tariff retreat; British Steel races to keep furnaces burning – business live

Chinese exports jump as official says ‘the sky won’t fall,’ despite warning from US officials that smartphone and laptop exemption from import tariffs on China will be short-livedMatt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said:Just when it seemed the tariff chaos couldn’t get any worse, tech investors have spent the weekend scrambling to make sense of a whirlwind of confusing - and at times contradictory - messages coming out of the White House. Despite the drama, European markets have taken an easing stance on US tech components as a positive in a broad-based rally this morning, with the FTSE 100 up 1.5% in early trading.This time, it’s chips, smartphones, and other tech components taking centre stage. While there were early signs on Friday night that some broad exemptions might be in play, it turns out tariffs are still very much on the table. But here’s the twist: despite the messy rollout, what’s caught investors’ attention is the news that these products won’t...

Economics

4 w. ago Snow Woke and the Seven Virtue Signals: How Disney fairytale turned into a nightmare fall out between stars Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot over their entrenched opinions on the Israel

What happened to this $270million should-be smash-hit? The opposing views of its two leading ladies - and a social media rift - might have something to do with it.

Politics