1 week ago Scottish hospitality coalition urges chancellor to protect whisky industry

Exclusive: letter to Rachel Reeves from drinks, tourism and farming bodies calls for freeze on spirits duty in budgetA coalition of drinks, tourism and farming bodies has urged the chancellor to protect the Scottish whisky industry from a steeper sales slump and further job losses by freezing spirits duty in her budget next month.The grouping, which includes the Scottish arms of the National Farmers’ Union, the Institute of Directors and UKHospitality, has written to Rachel Reeves to argue that a freeze in duty would be a “strategic investment” that could increase tax revenues. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago US Senate poised to approve industry lobbyist to lead chemical safety at EPA

If Douglas Troutman is confirmed, the top four toxics office at the environmental agency will be held by ex-lobbyistsThe US Senate is poised to approve Donald Trump’s nomination of an industry lobbyist to lead the US Environmental Protection Agency’s chemical safety office.If the nominee, Douglas Troutman, is confirmed, the top four toxics office positions at the EPA will be held by former chemical industry lobbyists, raising new fears about the health and safety of the American public, consumers and workers, campaigners say. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago EU ambassador defends looming steel tariffs amid talks on protecting UK industry

Pedro Serrano said tariffs were necessary to protect the bloc’s steel industry.

Politics

3 w. ago Nineteen people feared dead after blast at Tennessee munitions plant

Police chief calls explosion near Bucksnort, south-west of Nashville, ‘devastating’ and says ‘we have some deceased’Nineteen people are missing and feared dead following a massive explosion at a military munitions plant in Tennessee on Friday morning.The powerful blast ripped through the explosives manufacturing plant in rural Tennessee on Friday morning, rattling homes miles away and bringing emergency services to the scene, authorities and residents said. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Blast at Tennessee military explosives plant leaves multiple people dead or missing

Number of people dead unknown as secondary blasts initially kept first responders from entering siteA huge explosion at a Tennessee military munitions plant on Friday morning has left multiple people dead or missing, according to a county sheriff, as first responders said secondary blasts initially forced rescuers to keep their distance from the burning site.The powerful blast ripped through the explosives manufacturing plant in rural Tennessee on Friday morning, rattling homes miles away and bringing the emergency services dashing to the scene, authorities and residents said. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago EU proposes steel industry protections, rattling UK manufacturers

The European Union has proposed cutting free-trade quotas on steel by 47%, adding significant tariffs on imports from countries like China, India, Turkey, and the United Kingdom

Politics