2 h. ago IKEA's global sleep survey shows what countries get best shut

One of the largest sleep studies ever undertaken has revealed where in the world enjoys the best snooze

Politics

10 h. ago German voters head to polls facing world of change as far right waits in the wings

Europe holds its breath as world’s third largest economic power and most populous EU country faces crossroadsGerman voters go to the polls today but it is a different world from when the campaign began only a few weeks ago.Nearly 60 million ­people are choosing a government that will have to grapple with the breakdown of the transatlantic alliance under Donald Trump and new threats to European security just as the country’s vaunted economic model is hitting the skids. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago World's largest £15m kids park is in UK and features incredible fantasy tower

This Danish-designed village is full of invisible Christmas elves and vigilant "secret keepers" who help fuel kids' imaginations

Economics

52 h. ago International aid groups axe thousands of jobs in wake of Trump funding freeze

Fears that cuts will ‘decimate’ ability to react to crises as sector loses expertise and skills at every level, report findsSome of the world’s largest aid organisations are axing thousands of jobs as a result of US president Donald Trump’s freeze on overseas aid, potentially “decimating” the sector’s ability to react to future crises.Those that have already announced job cuts include the International Rescue Committee, Danish Refugee Council, Norwegian Refugee Council and war zone-focused Norwegian People’s Aid. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago Walmart shares fall upon disappointing forecast, fueling US spending worries

World’s largest retailer expects inflation-weary consumers to pull back after shares hit record high of $105 last weekWalmart on Thursday forecast sales and profit for its latest fiscal year below Wall Street estimates, suggesting that the world’s largest retailer expects inflation-weary consumers to pull back after several quarters of solid growth.Walmart shares, which had risen about 72% in 2024 and hit a record high of $105 last week, were down 6% in early trading. Shares of its rival retailer Target were down 1.6%, with Amazon 0.9% lower. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Historic ocean liner departs Philadelphia on voyage to become the world's largest artificial reef

The historic, aging ocean liner that a Florida county plans to turn into the world’s largest artificial reef has departed from south Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront

Politics

3 d. ago Nigeria sues crypto giant Binance for $81.5bn in economic losses and back tax

Authorities blame crypto exchange, already facing four counts of tax evasion in the country, for currency woesNigeria has filed a lawsuit seeking to compel Binance to pay $79.5bn for economic losses the country’s government says were caused by the cryptocurrency exchange’s operations there and $2bn in back taxes, court documents showed on Wednesday.Authorities blame Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, for Nigeria’s currency woes and detained two of its executives in 2024 after crypto websites emerged as platforms of choice for trading the local naira currency. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago US energy secretary says Australia should ‘get in the game of supplying uranium’

Chris Wright also tells conservative conference Australia developing shale gas would be a ‘tremendous resource’ – despite Australia already being one of the world largest producers and exporters of both LNG and uranium Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe US energy secretary, Chris Wright, has said he “would love to see Australia get in the game of supplying uranium and maybe going down the nuclear road themselves”.Australia is already the world’s fourth-largest producer of uranium, but nuclear power remains banned at national level.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Xi Jinping tells Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Chinese tech chiefs to ‘show their talent’

Analysts say address to symposium suggests crackdown on sector may be ending in effort to tackle economic slumpBusiness live – latest updatesRevealed: Google facilitated ensorship requestsChina’s president, Xi Jinping, has told businesses to “show their talent” at a meeting of Chinese industry leaders including the Alibaba founder, Jack Ma, as he attempts to halt an economic slump in the world’s second-largest economy.Xi met Ma, who was at the centre of a crackdown on the tech industry in recent years, as well as the bosses of the electric carmaker BYD, the battery manufacturer CATL, Tencent, Xiaomi, and the founder of Huawei, Ren Zhengfei Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Xi Jinping meets Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Chinese tech chiefs amid economic slump

Analysts say symposium may be end of president’s crackdown on sector as he tries to tackle economic stagnationBusiness live – latest updatesRevealed: Google facilitated ensorship requestsChina’s president, Xi Jinping, has met some of the country’s top business leaders, including the Alibaba founder, Jack Ma, as he attempts to halt an economic slump in the world’s second-largest economy.Xi met Ma, who was at the centre of a crackdown on the tech industry in recent years, as well as the bosses of the electric carmaker BYD, the battery manufacturer CATL, Tencent, Xiaomi, and the founder of Huawei, Ren Zhengfei Continue reading...

Economics