1 hour ago Phasing out fossil fuels ‘doomed to fail’, says Tony Blair as he calls for rethink of net zero policy – UK politics live

‘Any strategy based on either phasing out fossil fuels in the short term or limiting consumption is a strategy doomed to fail,’ says former PMSeverin Carrell is the Guardian’s Scotland editor.Keir Starmer is not expected to campaign in the Hamilton byelection, a critical contest for Scottish Labour which takes place in early June, Anas Sarwar has confirmed.I wouldn’t expect Keir to be campaigning in the byelection. That’s not to say he won’t, but I’m not expecting Kier to campaign in the byelection.I’ll be on the stump campaigning for a Labour win. I’m the candidate for first minister next year. I’m the one that wants to remove the SNP from government.Next year, we’ve got to demonstrate to people that for all Nigel Farage might want to come here with his easy answers and create a bit of a circus, the reality is a vote for Reform only helps the SNP. If you want to get rid of the SNP, only Scottish Labour can beat them. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Richard Caring's Ivy Collection of restaurants serves up record sales and profits

Affordable luxury dining group is reportedly still up for sale with a £1 billion price-tag

Economics

2 h. ago Plan to phase out fossil fuels ‘doomed to fail’, says Tony Blair as he calls for rethink of net zero policy – UK politics live

‘Any strategy based on either ‘phasing out’ fossil fuels in the short term or limiting consumption is a strategy doomed to fail,’ says former PMSeverin Carrell is the Guardian’s Scotland editor.Keir Starmer is not expected to campaign in the Hamilton byelection, a critical contest for Scottish Labour which takes place in early June, Anas Sarwar has confirmed.I wouldn’t expect Keir to be campaigning in the byelection. That’s not to say he won’t, but I’m not expecting Kier to campaign in the byelection.I’ll be on the stump campaigning for a Labour win. I’m the candidate for first minister next year. I’m the one that wants to remove the SNP from government.Next year, we’ve got to demonstrate to people that for all Nigel Farage might want to come here with his easy answers and create a bit of a circus, the reality is a vote for Reform only helps the SNP. If you want to get rid of the SNP, only Scottish Labour can beat them. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago Why effects of Michigan’s ice storm will linger for months, perhaps years

Climate experts say warming atmosphere from climate change could fuel severe freezing rain and ice storms like the one that hit the upper midwest last month Winter has been slow to release its icy grip from the upper midwest this year, and in northern Michigan, its effects will be keenly felt for months, perhaps years.A devastating ice storm that hit late last month has left an estimated 3m acres of trees snapped in half or damaged from the weight of up to an inch-and-a-half of ice across the northern part of lower Michigan. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago Daniel Farke rails against transfer strategy coming to Rangers as 49ers show the world the rules of a takeover

The sporting wing of the NFL behemoths alongside Andrew Cavenagh are closing in on their Ibrox takeover

Politics

5 h. ago Flood the zone: Trump’s shock and awe game plan to revolutionize America – and keep his enemies on the back foot

The chaos of Trump’s first 100 days is actually the result of a deliberately choreographed plan to damage any institution not explicitly aligned with the MAGA movement, writes Andrew Feinberg

Events

6 h. ago Senior Labour council leader says Government must do more to counter Reform UK

Sir Stephen Houghton, chairman of the body representing metropolitan district councils, questioned benefits changes and investment strategy.

Politics

6 h. ago Top Gun 2 writer’s cousin sues Paramount saying he wrote ‘key scenes’

Shaun Gray seeks joint credit for screenplay and share of film’s profits

Politics

7 h. ago DFS Dundee team named 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Award finalist

Dover Fueling Solutions® (DFS), a part of Dover Corporation and a leading global provider of advanced customer-focused technologies, services, and solutions in the fuel and convenience retail industry, today announced it has been named a 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Award finalist in the Operational Excellence category by the Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

Politics

7 h. ago HSBC sounds alarm on trade war; Trump to soften blow of automotive tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe architect of BP’s failed green energy agenda will leave the embattled oil company within months as it continues its retreat from low-carbon investments following this morning’s sharp fall in profits (see last post).The oil company said Giulia Chierchia, the executive in charge of BP’s sustainability ventures, would step back from her role from 1 June 2025 to “pursue other opportunities” outside the company. She will not be replaced. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago BP makes ‘significant progress’ on fossil fuel strategy as profits slump

The company also reported that its debts swelled to 27 billion US dollars (£20.1 billion).

Politics

8 h. ago BP profits halve as oil major struggles to turn around business

FTSE 100 group plans to sell at least $3bn-$4bn of assets this year as it seeks to reduce debts

Economics

11 h. ago The EU can’t replace the US as a global player until it sheds its own colonial thinking | Shada Islam

Eurocentric assumptions and bullying resource-grabs are justified causes of outrage in the global southDonald Trump has disrupted the global economy with his disastrous tariff wars and appears hell-bent on gutting transatlantic relations. I am hoping he has also unwittingly injected new life into the EU’s struggle to wean itself off overreliance on Washington.A vast network of trade and aid agreements connects the EU with more than 70 countries. The union could become an important standalone global actor and even thrive in a multipolar world. But it must first shed its Eurocentric worldviews, complacent policymaking and double standards.Shada Islam is a Brussels-based commentator on EU affairs. She runs New Horizons Project, a strategy, analysis and advisory company Continue reading...

Sport

16 h. ago Trump’s first 100 days supercharged a global ‘freefall of rights’, says Amnesty

World now in era of repressive regimes’ impunity, climate inaction and unchecked corporate power, says reportThe first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency have “supercharged” a global rollback of human rights, pushing the world towards an authoritarian era defined by impunity and unchecked corporate power, Amnesty International warns today.In its annual report on the state of human rights in 150 countries, the organisation said the immediate ramifications of Trump’s second term had been the undermining of decades of progress and the emboldening of authoritarian leaders. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago Antiques Road Trip expert outraged as 'rule break' leads to huge loss

Antiques Road Trip took an unexpected turn after an item made a huge profit at auction, following a very last-minute bid

Politics

21 h. ago Europe fears Trump preparing to walk away from Ukraine talks

Officials are worried US president will use minor progress in talks as ‘excuse’ to disengage

Politics

22 h. ago Diddy's bold new 'mental condition' strategy revealed a week before sex trafficking trial is set to begin

The 55-year-old disgraced rap mogul  will have a defense built around his mental capacity to commit the crimes as his representatives are arguing that he was not of clear mind.

Politics

23 h. ago West Lothian pensioners helped to get vital winter fuel payments

More than 100 OAPs in the county were able to claim more than £28,000 in winter fuel payments following targeted advice from the council’s Anti-Poverty Service.

Economics

24 h. ago EU microchip strategy ‘deeply disconnected from reality’, say official auditors

Plan to supply 20% of the world’s semiconductor chips by 2030 described as ‘essentially aspirational’The EU’s strategy to secure its own supply of microchips is “deeply disconnected from reality”, a damning report by the official European court of auditors (ECA) has found.The ECA reported that the bloc was “very unlikely” to meet its 2030 target of supplying 20% of the world’s microchips at a time when global demand for semiconductors is booming to meet the growing needs of defence, green tech and artificial intelligence. Continue reading...

Politics

26 h. ago Big Oil braced for worst year since pandemic as bumper profits recede

Investors ask whether industry can afford the higher dividends and share buy-backs on offer over recent years

Events