54 h. ago Trump says it may be better to let Ukraine and Russia ‘fight for a while’

US president casts doubt on peace efforts as German chancellor urges him to increase pressure on MoscowEurope live – latest updatesDonald Trump has said it may be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” rather than pursue peace immediately, as the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, urged him to increase pressure on Russia.During the Oval Office meeting, Trump voiced doubts about the potential success of peace talks, saying “sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Government facing increasing pressure to ban bottom trawling in protected areas

Calls to ban the damaging fishing practice in England’s marine protected areas have been intensifying ahead of a major UN ocean conference next week.

Politics

3 d. ago ‘Accept it or you have to walk’: Labour’s UK spending review battles enter final stage

Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces ‘make or break’ moment for government’s pledge to deliver 1.5mn new homes

Events

4 d. ago Starmer’s defence spending plans under pressure as Nato pushes for more

Sir Keir Starmer will meet Nato leaders later this month with the alliance under pressure to increase spending.

Events

4 d. ago Global economy to slow as Donald Trump’s trade wars hit growth, OECD warns – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as OECD forecasts global growth will slow to 2.9% in 2025 and 2026UK will slump to 1% growth next year as Trump tariffs bite, says OECDUS firms say Trump trade war is hitting production as dollar nears three-year lowUS economic growth is expected to slow markedly to 1.6% in 2025 and 1.5% in 2026, the OECD says.That’s relatively weak growth by recent standard, and slower than the “robust” growth of 2.8% recorded in 2024.Annual headline inflation is set to pick up to 3.9% by end-2025 due to higher import prices but is expected to ease throughout 2026, aided by moderate GDP growth and higher unemployment.Risks to the growth projection are skewed to the downside, including a more substantial slowing of economic activity in the face of policy uncertainty, greater-than-expected upward pressure on prices from tariff increases, and large financial market corrections. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago China accuses US of ‘seriously violating’ trade war truce; UK factory output shrinks again – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsToday’s UK PMI report (see 9.52am) also shows that business confidence at British factories remained ‘subdued’ last month.Manufacturers continued to raise concerns that turbulent trade conditions, the weak economic outlook and rising cost burdens will make market conditions tough during the year ahead.Weak global market conditions, trade uncertainty, low customer confidence and cost pressures resulting from recent increases to UK employer NICs and minimum wages also contributed to clients’ reluctance to spend. That said, a recent bout of good weather did boost sales at some manufacturers. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago Our obsession with spoiling pets has gone too far: your dog doesn’t care if its collar is from Burberry | Van Badham

From luxury pet-friendly accommodation to chartering a private plane for your pooch, the indulgences of late-stage capitalism are extreme A delightfully fluffy expenses controversy emerged in Queensland in the past week. The ABC reported that the chair of a Queensland government-owned company “faced questions” after billing the taxpayer for a hotel stay with a luxury accommodation package for his dog.The energy company chair, his “fur-baby Vito” and his wife (unnamed) allegedly enjoyed a $500-a-night stay at the Ovolo hotel in Fortitude Valley when a board meeting obliged his attendance in Brisbane, 100km away from his Sunshine Coast home. The “luxury pet-friendly accommodation” offered at the five-star Ovolo includes a “super comfy” dog bed, treats, premium dog food, mealtime mat and water bowl, as well as a take-home dog toy “because who doesn’t love a present?” Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago DWP chief Liz Kendall to face Labour MPs as government braces for benefits revolt

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is set to address the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) ahead of a major vote this month on cuts to sickness and disability benefits

Politics

7 d. ago Sheffield Wednesday players sent letter as wages unpaid AGAIN with club facing transfer embargo

For the second time in three months, Sheffield Wednesday's players and some staff were not paid on time amid increasing pressure on under-fire owner Dejphon Chansiri

Sport

8 d. ago Trump praises Elon Musk for ‘colossal change’ as Doge adviser says farewell

US president presents top ally with golden key as Musk says Doge unit ‘will only grow stronger over time’Donald Trump saw Elon Musk off from the White House on Friday, as the Tesla chief concluded his more than four months leading the so-called department of government efficiency’s disruptive foray into federal departments that achieved far fewer cost savings than expected.Standing alongside Trump in the Oval Office, Musk, who faced a 130-day limit in his tenure as a special government employee that had ended two days prior, vowed that his departure “is not the end” of Doge. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Diddy trial live: Combs rape accuser ‘Mia’ to return to stand after gruesome ‘freak off’ testimony

Ex-assistant will face futher direct questioning from the government Friday in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s sex trafficking trial

Events

9 d. ago Trump administration increases pressure on 'sanctuary jurisdictions' with public listing

The Department of Homeland Security is putting hundreds of “sanctuary jurisdictions” across the country on notice

Politics

9 d. ago Spending cuts and tax rises loom in ‘challenging period’ for ministers, with welfare bill set to top £9bn

Scottish Government warned by economic experts it faces ‘widening gap on social security’ and will ‘have to find additional resources’

Economics

9 d. ago England could run out of drinking water within TEN YEARS as mass immigration fuels rapid population growth, warns minister

Emma Hardy said the country faces an 'infrastructure crisis' as she set out plans for the Government to seize take control of the planning process for two new reservoirs.

Events

9 d. ago UFC faces increased pressure to strip Jon Jones of heavyweight title after petition skyrockets

The regular heavyweight champion continues to resist calls to fight Aspinall, who owns the interim belt, with Dana White yet to take any action on the UFC champion’s apparant reluctance to defend his belt

Events

9 d. ago England could run out of drinking water within TEN YEARS, warns minister

Emma Hardy said the country faces an 'infrastructure crisis' as she set out plans for the Government to seize take control of the planning process for two new reservoirs.

Events

1 week ago UK has sunniest spring on record but what are the implications of the dry spell?

Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle said seven of the top 10 sunniest springs on record for the UK have occurred since the year 2000. Alongside a dry spell it puts food production and the natural environment under increasing pressure.

Politics

1 week ago DWP Universal Credit 'two child' rule update as 'it's not off the table'

The Government has faced calls from campaigners, opposition MPs and some Tory backbenchers to scrap the two-child benefit cap

Politics

2 w. ago Poland presidential debate puts Ukraine and Europe centre stage

Rafał Trzaskowski, from the governing pro-EU coalition, faces Eurosceptic populist rightwing historian Karol Nawrocki ahead of run-offPolish presidential candidates offered different visions of Poland and its relations with Ukraine in a televised debate ahead of next week’s run-off, which remains on a knife-edge.During a head-to-head debate lasting two hours, the centrist Warsaw mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, from prime minister Donald Tusk’s governing pro-European coalition, faced the Eurosceptic historian Karol Nawrocki, backed by the populist rightwing Law and Justice party (PiS). Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Your favourite podcast is now a video – but are vodcasts the future, or just ‘crap telly’?

Successful podcasters are filming their shows, putting traditional platforms under pressure. Does it add value or reflect YouTube’s increasing might?It is four in the afternoon at Pellicci’s, a family-run cafe on Bethnal Green Road in London that has been an East End institution for 125 years. Its famously loudmouthed owners, British-Italian siblings Nevio and Anna, have been serving fry-ups, soups, pasta and jam roly-polies since eight this morning. The cafe is now closed, but Anna and Nevio are just getting started on their second job as hosts of the podcast series Down the Caff, in which they interview people about food and life over a meal of the guest’s choosing. The conversations are sweary, chaotic and an absolute hoot.Their guests so far include actor and Pellicci’s regular Ray Winstone, Dexys’ Kevin Rowland, rapper Hak Baker and 86-year-old YouTuber Marge Keefe, AKA Grime Gran. Today’s interviewees are TikTok star John Fisher, AKA Big John, and his son, the boxer Johnny Fis...

Politics