62 m. ago The three financial ghosts haunting Rachel Reeves’ crucial Budget

Three issues have fundamentally shaped the UK’s money woes, writes Renaud Foucart of The Conversation

Economics

83 m. ago Rachel Reeves has many problems. She’s realising that her Brexit bind may be the biggest of all | Rafael Behr

Brutal economic realities are prompting a shift in Labour’s tone on Europe. But will it dare tell the whole truth about Britain’s predicament? Rachel Reeves has approached this week’s budget like a reluctant swimmer inching into freezing water, trying to ease the unpleasantness by incremental exposure. The chancellor started paddling delicately around the problem of insufficient revenue at the end of the summer. First, she refused to stand by former insistence that tax rises in last year’s budget would be the last. “The world has changed,” she said.Then, earlier this month, she took a bigger stride into the icy waves. There was a speech promising to “do what is necessary” to fund public services and keep borrowing costs down. Downing Street did not discourage speculation that this meant reneging on Labour’s 2024 manifesto promise not to raise income tax. Too deep! Within 10 days the Treasury had retracted the hint. The manifesto commitment still stood after all. As any cold-water sw...

Politics

84 m. ago Christy’s Ben Foster: ‘Sydney Sweeney is in a unique position. And she’s handling it incredibly well’

The acclaimed character actor speaks to Louis Chilton about working with Sweeney on new boxing biopic ‘Christy’, finding humanity in a monstrous man, and his one foray into superhero blockbusters

Politics

84 m. ago Celtic and Rangers mates blew up my phone after Hearts defeat but I'd be saying this in dressing room – Ryan Stevenson

The former Jambos hero admits in his latest Record Sport column that he knew what was coming after the men in maroon went down to Aberdeen

Politics

84 m. ago Kevin Thelwell had different Rangers ideas from me but here is his real biggest issue in the end – Barry Ferguson

The Ibrox icon lifts the lid on his relationship with Thelwell and ex CEO Patrick Stewart after the pair were axed

Politics

2 h. ago ‘Drone operators are hunted. You feel it from your first day’: the female pilots on Ukraine’s frontline

As casualties mount, recruitment is expanding. Three women talk about why they signed up for a brutal combat environmentWomen have been involved in Ukraine’s drone operations since the early months of the full-scale invasion, but as shortages in the military increase their presence has grown, particularly in FPV (first-person-view) attack units.Casualty figures are not disclosed but widely understood to be high, and Ukraine is becoming reliant on civilians to fill roles that once belonged to trained military personnel. A short but intensive 15-day course is given to a trainee operator for frontline deployment, a turnaround that reflects the urgent need.Indoor and outdoor training courses set up for trainee pilots at a drone school Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Johnny Kenny is the Celtic silencer at Rotterdam rave as Euro first against Feyenoord would be music to his ears

Kenny has hit the high notes on the continent with Shamrock Rovers before and now he's chasing maiden strike for Celts

Politics

3 h. ago Pep Guardiola takes the blame for Man City selection mistakes

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about the issues they encountered against Leverkusen in their 2-0 defeat

Politics

5 h. ago Sir Elton John, 78, says the last 15 months have been 'challenging' as he issues health update on his 'devastating' battle with blindness

Sir Elton John has admitted the last 15 months have been 'challenging' amid his battle with blindness.

Events

5 h. ago Usha Vance sends defiant message to her critics amid vicious JD marriage claims

Second Lady Usha Vance hit back at rumors that have been circulating about her marriage to Vice President JD Vance in the wake of a trip she took with First Lady Melania Trump last week.

Politics

6 h. ago The commuter mobile phone scam targeting your bank details: Warning as fraudsters use hidden 'SMS blasters' to blitz thousands of devices with spam text messages

Fraudsters are increasingly targeting commuters using portable transmitters known as 'SMS blasters', a new report by a British think-tank warns today.

Events

7 h. ago Barcelona boss issues clear Marcus Rashford message after Man Utd star benched vs Chelsea

Marcus Rashford was named on the subs bench for Barcelona's Champions League clash vs Chelsea - with Hansi Flick explaining that decision before the match.

Politics

8 h. ago Marcus Rashford sent direct message as Barcelona suffer Champions League nightmare vs Chelsea

Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford was back in England for Barcelona's Champions League clash against Chelsea with Hansi Flick sending a clear message before their 3-0 defeat

Sport

8 h. ago Estevao sends message after Barcelona heroics as Chelsea issue Arsenal warning

Chelsea's teenage superstar Estevao lit up Stamford Bridge with a dazzling solo goal as Enzo Maresca's delivered a statement Champions League win over the mighty Barcelona

Events

8 h. ago US to send envoy to Moscow to discuss proposals to end Ukraine war

Despite recent efforts and White House optimism, recent negotiations have failed to secure a breakthrough on key issuesDonald Trump said he would send special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss developing proposals to end the Ukraine war, but despite White House optimism there was little sign of progress on core sticking points.The US president said negotiations had left “only a few remaining points of disagreement” but there was no breakthrough on the issues of territorial control and security guarantees and he dampened expectations of immediate peace summits. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago Martin Lewis issues November warning to claim back hundreds of pounds

Martin Lewis has revealed that billpayers may be sitting on hundreds of pounds of unclaimed energy credit, urging viewers to follow his advice and claim money back in November.

Events

8 h. ago Martin O'Neill gives next Celtic manager strong advice amid disunity at club

Interim boss believes ‘fresh start’ awaits Rodgers’ successor

Society

8 h. ago Wilfried Nancy sent essential Celtic handover by Martin O'Neill amid escalating board and fan tension

The Irishman is set to step aside to allow the Columbus Crew gaffer to become the permanent boss

Events

9 h. ago Aubameyang fires Marseille to win as Newcastle fail to heed Howe’s warning

Newcastle cannot complain they were not warned. Eddie Howe had cautioned his players that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was “as good as ever’ and would need to be “controlled” but ultimately they proved powerless to prevent the 36-year-old transforming both the match and Marseille’s Champions League ambitions.While Aubameyang fulfilled the soaring expectations of a raucously loud audience at this stupendously designed, wonderfully atmospheric arena, Howe’s team started well but ended up mugged in the manner of naive tourists who had wandered into the wrong arrondissement of this beguiling yet sometimes brutal city. Continue reading...

Events

9 h. ago Motherwell slay Hibs as Scotland hero has night to forget amid moronic firecrackers and Celtic spies

Steelmen join Hibees on 21 points as top half of table heats up

Events