2 d. ago Civil servant sues for racism after he is disciplined for going shopping for a vacuum cleaner while supposed to be working from home

Victor Stanley-Idum claimed his boss had a stereotypical view of 'Black Africans being lazy' after he was disciplined for being away from his desk during office hours.

Economics

3 d. ago New West Lothian homes planned for brownfield site despite flooding concerns

Local councillor Pauline Orr spoke on behalf of two neighbours who feared flood risk and overshadowing from tree planting on the plans for the site.

Events

3 d. ago London town halls on edge of bankruptcy after overspending £330m on homelessness services

Boroughs plea for financial lifeline due to ‘growing mismatch’ between temporary accommodation costs and Government funding

Economics

4 d. ago UK Government borrowing rises above forecasts for financial year

The Office for National Statistics said public sector net borrowing rose to £151.9 billion in the year to the end of March.

Politics

4 d. ago Elon Musk to pull back in Doge role starting May amid 71% dip in Tesla profits

CEO to pare back White House work to one to two days weekly as analysts say role has caused branding crisisThe Tesla chief executive Elon Musk said he will start pulling back from his role at the so-called “department of government efficiency” starting in May. Musk’s remarks came as the company reported a massive dip in both profits and revenues in the first quarter of 2025 amid backlash against Musk’s role in the White House.On an investor call, Musk said the work necessary to get the government’s “financial house in order is mostly done”. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Civil servant faces jail after pocketing £40,000 in bogus expenses and faking sick note so he could travel the world

Maurice Okello, 39, pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to forging an unfit to work note so he could go on holiday and fraudulently claiming £41,476.91 under the guise of work travel.

Economics

6 d. ago Readers' Letters: Scottish Government clueless when it come to Education

Scottish Government is getting it wrong on financing universities, says reader

Politics

6 d. ago Department for Work and Pensions launches probe after civil servant 'exposes herself on porn livestream while taking calls working from home'

In one clip she can even be seen flashing at her online followers as she finishes up an alleged call with a customer about pensions entitlements, The Sun reported.

Society

9 d. ago Layoffs hit Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as Trump's government downsizing continues

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is being downsized by President Donald Trump

Politics

9 d. ago North Koreans filmed stroking a dog beside large cooking pot in Russia spark fears Kim Jong Un's countrymen are eating local pets

The footage, filmed at a construction site in the far eastern city of Vladivostok, was released by a local official in an effort to squash growing panic online.

Politics

2 w. ago Donald Trump is now badly wounded. Europe can seize an advantage | Will Hutton

It’s time to fashion a new global trade order without the USThe game-changing geopolitical event last week was the near collapse of the immense $29tn ­market in US government debt, threatening the stability of the American and global financial system and the safe-haven status of dollar assets.The US president boasted as the collapse unfolded that world leaders were queueing to “kiss his arse”. Twelve hours later, he was in the same humiliatingly weak position as the then British prime minister Liz Truss found herself after her tax-slashing “mini-budget” in 2022. The markets had forced him to pause for 90 days the swingeing range of “reciprocal” tariffs that he announced on what he proclaimed “liberation day”; instead he lowered all of them, bar that on China, to 10%. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Criticise Trump’s tariffs all you like, but western sanctions aren’t any better – just ask Syria | Simon Jenkins

This form of economic aggression is macho and myopic, yet countries including the UK refuse to give it upAmong the more improbable countries that Donald Trump punished most severely last week was Syria, with a 41% tariff in retaliation for its part in the “raping and plundering” of the US economy. That should teach it a lesson for toppling Bashar al-Assad last year.The Damascus regime that subsequently came to power is pleading for help in keeping order and restoring its economy. But the chief obstacle is not Trump’s absurd tariff – now reduced to 10%. It is the sanctions regime imposed on it for the past 14 years by the west, including Britain. The US prohibits nearly all trade and financial transactions, extending this to foreign companies engaged with the Syrian government. EU sanctions targeted crude oil, investments, banking, telecoms and more. No tariff could be as severe as this.Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump’s tariffs are ruinous, but are western sanctions any better? Just look at Syria | Simon Jenkins

Sanctions as a form of economic aggression are macho and myopic, yet countries including the UK refuse to call a haltAmong the more improbable countries that Donald Trump punished most severely last week was Syria, with a 41% tariff in retaliation for its part in the “raping and plundering” of the US economy. That should teach it a lesson for toppling Bashar al-Assad last year.The Damascus regime that subsequently came to power is pleading for help in keeping order and restoring its economy. But the chief obstacle is not Trump’s absurd tariff – now reduced to 10%. It is the sanctions regime imposed on it for the past 14 years by the west, including Britain. The US prohibits nearly all trade and financial transactions, extending this to foreign companies engaged with the Syrian government. EU sanctions targeted crude oil, investments, banking, telecoms and more. No tariff could be as severe as this.Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnistDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in th...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump tariffs likely to hit UK growth, warns Bank of England policymaker

Deputy governor for financial stability Sarah Breeden added that it is ‘not clear-cut’ what effect the new trade policy will have on inflation.

Events

2 w. ago Investing in climate adaptation is not just good for the planet, it’s good business | William Ruto and Patrick Verkooijen

Climate denialism should not blind investors and governments to the very real opportunities to be found in financing solutionsAmong the many shocks currently facing the international development community is the new direction of the US administration on climate, and the implications worldwide for mitigation and adaptation efforts.This is not uncharted territory. While a withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement is undoubtedly a setback, it no longer carries the same level of disruption as it did. The global community has become more resilient and will continue to advance climate action. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump tariffs threaten global growth and raise risk of ‘severe shocks’, says Bank of England

Levies have heaped pressure on government finances and increased chance of ‘further sharp correction’, report warnsTrump imposes new tariffs on dozens of partnersDramatic sell-off of US government bondsBusiness live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s sweeping tariffs have put global growth at risk, the Bank of England has warned, heaping pressure on government finances and increasing the likelihood of “severe shocks” to the financial system.The Bank’s financial policy committee (FPC) said its global risk environment had deteriorated and “uncertainty had intensified” since its last update in November, with US tariff announcements contributing to a “material increase in risks to global growth” and inflation levels. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Andrew Bailey given top financial stability role as tariffs create turmoil

Bank of England governor set to serve three-year term at Financial Stability Board from July

Economics

3 w. ago Fears of local government financial collapse ‘pessimistic’, says top civil servant

The Local Government Association said councils in England were facing a funding gap of more than £8 billion by 2028/29.

Politics

3 w. ago RCT foodbanks raise fears over impact of benefit cuts on the disabled

The foodbank networks in Rhondda Cynon Taf said the UK Government measures around disability benefits risk pushing more people into poverty

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Defence investment is ethical’ says Healey as he meets firms to drum up capital

The Defence Secretary has met with start-up investors as part of wider Government efforts to boost financial flows into the sector.

Economics