12 h. ago Government spends £115,000 on ‘influencer marketing’ in less than a year

Minister said cash supported ‘multiple campaigns’, but Tories say it ‘makes a mockery’ of spending pledges

Economics

3 d. ago Revealed: Migrants make up one in every SIX universal credit recipients

It comes after the Tories last week unveiled bold plans to bar foreign nationals from claiming universal credit and other benefits, in a bid to slash billions of Government spending.

Events

4 d. ago Young people are biggest victims of UK’s fragile jobs market

Firms too scared to take a chance on youngsters when taxes and minimum wages are higher, expert saysUK labour market shows signs of stabilising after job lossesBusiness live – latest updatesSo much about the UK jobs market is influenced by Rachel Reeves. Without overdoing the blame, say many experts, the chancellor’s tough budget last year and the likelihood of a repeat next month hangs over employers and how they recruit and pay staff.The latest official figures show a rising number of young people out of work in the three months to August. More broadly, unemployment rose to a four-year high and the number of vacancies fell. And then there was the stubborn increase in the public sector wage bill, which outpaced the much more modest increase in private sector wages. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Nigel Farage vows no tax cuts before public spending is curbed by a Reform government as he 'ditches election manifesto' on the economy

In its 2024 election manifesto Reform unveiled plans for its first 100 days that included cuts to stamp duty, fuel duty and energy taxes, the abolition of IHT and changes to income tax thresholds.

Politics

7 d. ago TikTok influencers fuelling parallel market for unlicensed weight

Guardian finds a thriving trade on Telegram for retatrutide, which is still in clinical trials and illegal to sellAn online parallel market for an unlicensed weight-loss drug is being fuelled by TikTok fitness influencers and sellers on WhatsApp, a Guardian investigation can reveal.Retatrutide, which is still in clinical trials, is being advertised by social media influencers for its supposed fat-burning effects. Followers are urged to message the accounts privately for supplier links, as well as being provided with discount codes. Continue reading...

Technology

8 d. ago King Mohammed VI set to speak as Gen Z protesters demand reforms in Morocco

Morocco’s elusive King Mohammed VI is inaugurating parliament in a speech with far higher stakes than his annual addresses as anti-government protests have swept the nation’s cities and questioned the government’s spending priorities

Events

9 d. ago Brands are paying employees extra to behave like influencers and make TikTok videos

Pranking your boss and warehouse dances have been dominating all of our feeds as part of brand marketing strategies - now companies are paying staff to act like influencers

Economics

9 d. ago Governments are spending billions on their own ‘sovereign’ AI technologies – is it a big waste of money?

Many US-built AI systems fall short but competing against tech giants neither easy nor cheapIn Singapore, a government-funded artificial intelligence model can converse in 11 languages, from Bahasa Indonesia to Lao. In Malaysia, ILMUchat, built by a local construction conglomerate, boasts that it “knows which Georgetown you’re referring to” – that is, the capital of Penang and not the private university in the US. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Apertus, unveiled in September, understands when to use the Swiss German “ss” and not the German-language character “ß”.Around the world, language models like these are part of an AI arms race worth hundreds of billions of dollars mostly driven by a few powerful companies in the US and China. As giants such as OpenAI, Meta and Alibaba plough vast sums into developing increasingly powerful models, middle powers and developing countries are watching the landscape carefully, and sometimes placing their own, expensive bets. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Irish Government increases spending and scales back planned tax measures

Ministers pledged to ‘secure jobs and stability at a time of global challenge’.

Politics

1 week ago Asian markets mostly higher in quiet holiday trading after AI deals push Wall St to more records

Asian shares are mostly higher in quiet holiday trading, while Japan’s benchmark rose to new records on hope for more government spending and lower taxes under Japan’s first woman prime minister

Economics

1 week ago US shutdown enters second week as Senate votes again on funding bill

Democrats and Republicans apparently no closer to deal to restart funding as Trump warns of imminent job cutsThe US government shutdown entered its second week on Monday, with Democratic and Republican lawmakers making no apparent progress towards reaching a deal to restart funding, while the Trump administration warned it was moving forward with plans to slash the federal workforce.Many agencies and departments closed their doors and told employees to stay home last Wednesday, after Congress failed to approve legislation to continue the government’s authority to spend money. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago SNP confirms date for final Budget before 2026 Holyrood election

Shona Robison warned she faced "difficult choices" ahead of announcing the Government's spending plans for next year.

Politics

1 week ago Tories to set out plans to cut £47bn from government spending

Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride will unveil proposals at the Tory party conference.

Economics

2 w. ago Eiffel Tower forced to close due to strikes and protests across France

Protesters have taken to the streets in Paris and over 200 other locations across France to denounce government spending cuts and demand higher taxes on the wealthy

Events

2 w. ago Trump sees ‘unprecedented opportunity’ to punish Democrats as shutdown enters day two

Republicans and Democrats engage in war of words as White House also uses impasse to cut government spendingUS government shutdown – latest updatesAs the US government shutdown stretched into its second day, Donald Trump on Thursday hailed the funding lapse as an “unprecedented opportunity” to further his campaign of firing federal workers and downsizing departments.The president announced on social media that he would sit down with Russell Vought, the White House office of management and budget chief, an architect of the mass firings and buyouts of federal workers. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Organisers call for sixth night of protest as Morocco death toll rises to three

Prime minister praises security response and says government is ready for talksMorocco’s prime minister, Aziz Akhannouch, has praised the security force reaction to protests over corruption and public spending and said the government was ready for talks, as organisers called for a sixth night of protests.In a statement, Akhannouch said the death toll in the protests had risen to three. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago US government shutdown live: White House threatens ‘imminent’ layoffs with Senate set to vote Friday

The shutdown began at midnight Wednesday amid the Senate’s failure to reach a deal on federal spending

Events

2 w. ago Government shutdown live: White House threatens ‘imminent’ layoffs with Senate set to vote Friday

The shutdown began at midnight Wednesday amid the Senate’s failure to reach a deal on federal spending

Events

2 w. ago Government shutdown live: No end in sight as senators leave DC until Friday and White House threatens ‘imminent’ layoffs

The shutdown began at midnight Wednesday and has been ongoing for over 16 hours

Events

2 w. ago JD Vance blames Democrats for ‘holding Americans hostage’ with shutdown so Schumer can fight off AOC: Live updates

The shutdown began at midnight last night and has been ongoing for over 12 hours

Events