6 d. ago Overdue invoices in Scotland drop to 2025 low, new R3 research shows

The number of overdue invoices on the books of Scottish businesses dropped to the lowest level in 2025 so far in April, according to new research from R3, the UK’s insolvency and restructuring trade body.

Politics

8 d. ago Labour’s poll ratings have plummeted – so is Starmer’s future in question?

Dissatisfaction among MPs has created a febrile mood, with ambitious cabinet ministers assessing their optionsA lesson in comms for any prime minister: when asked whether you will serve another term, try to express some enthusiasm at the prospect.When at the end of his first term, David Cameron breezily told a reporter he would not serve a third, he inadvertently fired the starting gun for leadership jostling between his potential successors. Keir Starmer fell into the same trap this month when he was asked whether he would fight the next election. “You’re getting way ahead of me,” he said. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Tim Dowling: I need to drop everything so I can get back to doing nothing – and quickly

My wife wants me to cut the grass right away. I hate having my working day interrupted, even when I’m not actually doing any workI am sitting in my office shed, marvelling that an email from a car hire company I last used six years ago feels entitled to employ the subject line DROP EVERYTHING.“It’s hard to imagine,” I say, “how a 20% reduction in rental rates for the month of June could be sufficient cause for anyone to suddenly abandon their present business, be it knee surgery, adoption proceedings or, in this specific case, Wordle.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Google and Home Depot drop Pride Toronto sponsorship amid Trump’s DEI war

Organizer points to president’s anti-diversity push as companies join Adidas and Clorox in withdrawing supportIn another blow to one of the largest celebrations of LGTBQ+ people in North America, Pride Toronto has unexpectedly lost two more major corporate sponsors, just weeks before the festival in a setback the festival’s organizer says is direct result of Donald Trump’s campaign to eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the US.Google and Home Depot both announced their plans to abandon the festival in the form of one-line emails, said Kojo Modeste, the executive director of the Canadian event. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago France drop Renard, Le Sommer and Dali in shock cull before Women’s Euros

Laurent Bonadei drops trio from Nations League squadIt is not a spur of the moment decision, says France coachFrance have dropped their captain Wendie Renard, their vice-captain Eugénie Le Sommer and the experienced midfielder Kenza Dali for their upcoming Nations League games with little prospect of either making a return for this summer’s Euros.Laurent Bonadei’s side face Switzerland and Iceland in the international window. There had been reports of the trio being left out but the announcement still came as a shock. France are one of the favourites for the European Championship in Switzerland but have been drawn in a tough group with England, the Netherlands and Wales. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Drop by drop: Carlos Alcaraz leads shift back to the most deft shot in tennis

Roger Federer saw it as a ‘panic shot’ but the drop shot is back in vogue thanks to a greater understanding of its effectivenessA little more than two years ago, Daniil Medvedev was working his way through the early rounds of the Miami Open when he noticed a distinct shift in his opponents’ tactics. A few days earlier, he had been convincingly beaten in the Indian Wells final by Carlos Alcaraz, who dismantled him with a relentless stream of drop shots. Suddenly, everyone was hitting drop shots against him.“A lot of guys maybe saw the final, so they started to do only drop shots against me,” says Medvedev, smiling widely. “It’s not the same. It’s like: ‘OK, continue doing it. I’m there.’ Against [Alcaraz], I’m not there.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Thames Water CEO says crisis ‘decades in the making’; Goldman Sachs cuts US recession odds – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsUK pub chain Marston’s has swung back to a profit in the first half of its financial year, thanks to a busy Christmas and Mother’s Day, as well as a tighter focus on costs.The pub owner reported a pre-tax profit of £19m in the 26 weeks ended on 29 March, compared with a loss of £0.2m in the comparable period in 2024.Their revised forecast reflects a combination of a lower effective tariff rate and the recent easing of financial conditions.We raise our S&P 500 return and earnings forecasts to incorporate lower tariff rates, better economic growth, and less recession risk than we previously expected. Our new 3- and 12-month returns forecasts are +1% and +11%, indicating levels of 5900 and 6500 (previously 5700 and 6200). Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Goldman Sachs cuts US recession odds on tariff optimism; UK wage growth slows as jobs market cools – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsUK pub chain Marston’s has swung back to a profit in the first half of its financial year, thanks to a busy Christmas and Mother’s Day, as well as a tighter focus on costs.The pub owner reported a pre-tax profit of £19m in the 26 weeks ended on 29 March, compared with a loss of £0.2m in the comparable period in 2024.Their revised forecast reflects a combination of a lower effective tariff rate and the recent easing of financial conditions.We raise our S&P 500 return and earnings forecasts to incorporate lower tariff rates, better economic growth, and less recession risk than we previously expected. Our new 3- and 12-month returns forecasts are +1% and +11%, indicating levels of 5900 and 6500 (previously 5700 and 6200). Continue reading...

Economics