33 h. ago Trump administration to cut thousands of jobs from CIA and other spy agencies – report

CIA to lose 1,200 while NSA among other agencies reported to face downsizing amid president’s drive to shrink federal workforceThe White House plans to cut staffing at the Central Intelligence Agency by 1,200 positions while other intelligence agencies including the National Security Agency will also shed thousands of jobs, the Washington Post has reported.A person familiar with the plan confirmed the changes to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago British Steel halts plans for thousands of job losses after government intervention

Chinese firm Jingye proposed to close Scunthorpe's two blast furnaces last month

Politics

1 week ago From peppercorns to plastic forks: US businesses that rely on Chinese products reel from Trump tariffs

Price hikes worry restaurants and online markets as uncertainty stymies their ability to plan for the futureChang Chang, a Sichuan restaurant in Washington DC, was already noticing that some of its business had dropped off after tens of thousands of federal workers living in the area lost their jobs. But the recent tariff rate hikes mark an even greater blow for the restaurant.Sichuan peppercorns, which create the signature numbing spice of the regional Chinese cuisine, along with other ingredients, face an at least 145% tariff after last week’s tit-for-tat trade battle between China and the United States. The steep rate is an existential threat for restaurants across the country that rely on specialty ingredients imported from China to craft the authentic flavors of their dishes, said operators who were blindsided. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Sainsbury's issues update as popular sections at major stores face closure

The supermarket giant is making cutbacks despite new performance results showing healthy profits. Three thousand jobs are going and 61 cafes shutting

Politics

2 w. ago Rachel Reeves says Government is going to play a 'big role' in Scunthorpe steel

The Chancellor visited the British Steel facility in Scunthorpe after MPs voted to let ministers take control of the company to prevent Chinese owners Jingye from closing down Britain's last remaining blast furnaces

Politics

2 w. ago Nato is coming to town in Ohio and it’s not just Trump who has mixed feelings

Dayton will host the alliance’s parliamentary assembly 30 years after the Bosnian peace accords were signed thereWhen hundreds of Nato delegates and thousands of ancillaries, protesters and security forces descend on Dayton, Ohio, next month, the visitors will see a town that’s clawed its way back from the brink.White flight in the late 20th century and the 2008 Great Recession saw thousands of jobs and residents leave. More recently, the pandemic forced many downtown businesses to allow staffers to work from home, erasing a key daytime customer base for cafes and restaurants. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Wales holiday let rules are putting ‘thousands of jobs at risk’

Short-term holiday let operators must rent out their properties for at least 182 days to meet business rate requirements in Wales

Events

2 w. ago Beijing should be banished from vital British businesses as the UK must not let crucial industries 'fall into the arms of false friends', campaigners insist

The fiasco at British Steel prompted MPs, peers and experts to insist last night that it is time for ministers to get tough to stop another crisis.

Politics

2 w. ago British Steel update as vital materials to save thousands of jobs on way TODAY

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said crucial shipments of iron ore and coking coal are on their way to the Scunthorpe steelworks in a tense race against time

Politics

2 w. ago China must be blocked from all of Britain's vital industries as British Steel fiasco shows Beijing

China must be blocked from all of Britain's vital industries as British Steel fiasco shows Beijing-linked companies cannot be trusted, MPs warn.

Politics

3 w. ago Royal Navy on alert to escort essential fuel cargo to Scunthorpe after MPs vote to seize control of British Steel from Chinese owners

The Royal Navy could be deployed to deliver an essential fuel shipment to Scunthorpe's blast furnaces after MPs voted to seize control of British Steel from Chinese owners.

Politics

3 w. ago MPs scramble back from holidays for historic vote to save British steel

The extraordinary Saturday sitting to save British Steel's Scunthorpe plant from closing required the new law to clear both houses unopposed and receive royal approval before nightfall,

Politics

3 w. ago Reynolds gives instructions to British Steel after MPs back emergency law

The move came after an extraordinary sitting of Parliament on Saturday.

Politics

3 w. ago MPs approve British Steel bill after Chinese owners’ ‘excessive’ demands – live

Bill now proceeds to the House of Lords for debate and passageIt’s been a busy morning for Sarah Jones, who is now on BBC Breakfast.Asked whether the government had received any private offers for the company’s Scunthorpe plant, Sarah Jones said:There is not at the moment, to answer your question, a private company that is there willing to invest at this point.When we came into government, there was a deal on the table with Tata Steel in Port Talbot.We negotiated in 10 weeks a much better deal, but there was a private company willing to invest, who are now investing.We are hoping that the company will co-operate with what we are asking them to do, we hope that we will give them a notice and they will continue.If they do not, we will step in. Now the company will be liable for any costs that we incur, and we will seek to get that money back.We have the £2.5 billion fund for steel which we had in our manifesto, that we will use if necessary, so there will be no extra costs to the Exch...

Politics

3 w. ago SNP claim double standards as MPs told Grangemouth 'not comparable' to British Steel

Emergency legislation is being pursued to save the British Steel plant at Scunthorpe from closure.

Politics

3 w. ago Moment MPs back move to take control of British Steel in emergency debate

MPs have backed the government’s plans to take control of British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant in a rare weekend emergency debate in parliament on Saturday, 12 April.

Politics

3 w. ago British Steel latest: MPs back move to take control of Scunthorpe plant in emergency debate

Sir Keir Starmer’s emergency bill to save Scunthorpe steelworks plant from closure approved by Commons

Politics

3 w. ago Labour faces calls to nationalise British Steel as MPs urged to pass emergency law today to save UK steelmaking and thousands of jobs

Both the Commons and the Lords have reconvened during Easter recess for a highly unusual Saturday sitting to debate a Bill aimed at blocking Jingye from closing the Scunthorpe site.

Society

3 w. ago British Steel latest: Nationalisation ‘likely’, says business secretary as MPs debate emergency law

The prime minister will pass a bill through parliament in a single day on Saturday

Society

3 w. ago MPs debate emergency law to take control of British Steel after Chinese owners’ ‘excessive’ demands – live

No 10 has published a draft law that would give the business secretary the power to direct the companyIt’s been a busy morning for Sarah Jones, who is now on BBC Breakfast.Asked whether the government had received any private offers for the company’s Scunthorpe plant, Sarah Jones said:There is not at the moment, to answer your question, a private company that is there willing to invest at this point.When we came into government, there was a deal on the table with Tata Steel in Port Talbot.We negotiated in 10 weeks a much better deal, but there was a private company willing to invest, who are now investing.We are hoping that the company will co-operate with what we are asking them to do, we hope that we will give them a notice and they will continue.If they do not, we will step in. Now the company will be liable for any costs that we incur, and we will seek to get that money back.We have the £2.5 billion fund for steel which we had in our manifesto, that we will use if necessary, so ...

Society