3 d. ago ‘One minute it’s “would you like to listen to Galaxie 500?”, the next humanity’s enslaved’: can anyone escape Spotify?

As a new book skewers Spotify’s effect on music, two Guardian music writers spent a week assessing the limits of living with and without itLaura Snapes, deputy music editor I was set the task of not listening to Spotify for a week, but Alexis, your task was much worse: only listening to Spotify-created playlists, and the songs it suggested to you based on your listening history. How did that go?Alexis Petridis, chief rock and pop critic One day in the car I just listened to nothing instead of facing it again. When it plays me songs I like, it’s not what I want to hear at that moment. That’s not to say the music it was recommending wasn’t good. One morning it played Schizophrenia by Sonic Youth. I love that song but I didn’t want to hear it then. It played me Billie Holliday’s Riffin’ the Scotch followed by My Bloody Valentine, which clearly demonstrates the great breadth of my music taste – but just because I like it all doesn’t mean I want to hear it all together. I didn’t like tha...

Politics

9 d. ago Switching from this 'healthy' diet to Western food has 'harmful' effects in just two weeks

New research identified one diet that could rival the health benefits of the "world's healthiest diet"

Society

1 week ago China retaliates with 84% tariffs as Trump says ‘great time to move companies to the US’ – business live

Stock markets down in UK and across Europe after steep declines in Asia, while turmoil spreads to bond market China announces 84% tariffs on all US goods in response to Trump’s 104%Bank of England warns Trump tariffs threaten global growth and raise risk of ‘severe shocks’Today’s tariffs follow Trump’s 10% tariff on all imports from many countries, including Australia, which came into effect at the weekend.US customs agents began collecting the unilateral tariff at US seaports, airports and customs warehouses on Saturday. Today’s measures are higher levies on goods from 57 larger trading partners. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago UK and EU stock markets slump as Trump’s tariffs, including 104% on China, take effect – business live

Stock markets down from Australia to Japan and Taiwan as Trump presses ahead with huge retaliatory tariffs on ChinaFull report: Trump unleashes new wave of tariffsDispatch: The view from Yiwu, China’s biggest wholesale marketToday’s tariffs follow Trump’s 10% tariff on all imports from many countries, including Australia, which came into effect at the weekend.US customs agents began collecting the unilateral tariff at US seaports, airports and customs warehouses on Saturday. Today’s measures are higher levies on goods from 57 larger trading partners. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, including 104% against China, take effect – business live

Stock markets down from Australia to Japan and Taiwan as Trump presses ahead with plans to hit China with huge retaliatory tariffsFull report: Trump unleashes new wave of tariffs Dispatch: The view from Yiwu, China’s biggest wholesale marketToday’s tariffs follow Trump’s 10% tariff on all imports from many countries, including Australia, which came into effect at the weekend.US customs agents began collecting the unilateral tariff at US seaports, airports and customs warehouses on Saturday. Today’s measures are higher levies on goods from 57 larger trading partners. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Asian markets fall as Trump’s sweeping global tariffs, including 104% against China, due to take effect – business live

Stock markets down from Australia to Japan and Taiwan as Trump presses ahead with plans to hit China with huge retaliatory tariffsToday’s tariffs follow Trump’s 10% tariff on all imports from many countries, including Australia, which came into effect at the weekend.US customs agents began collecting the unilateral tariff at US seaports, airports and customs warehouses on Saturday. Today’s measures are higher levies on goods from 57 larger trading partners. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Will Trump’s tariffs tip the world into recession? – podcast

As countries reel from the Trump tariffs, can a global recession still be avoided? Richard Partington reportsJust after midnight on Tuesday, EDT time, the wall of tariffs Donald Trump announced last week came into effect. The new system upends decades of precedent from the world’s strongest economy and has sent global markets reeling.The Guardian’s senior economics correspondent, Richard Partington, explains to Michael Safi the dynamics of a market crash and a trade war and how together they may contribute to the onset of a global recession. However, as he makes clear, the world is not yet in that worst-case scenario and steps can still be taken to minimise the risk. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Agency for promoting Britain abroad sees budget slashed by 40 per cent with immediate effect... while being urged to find 50 million foreign visitors by 2030

Ministers told the organisation last week its annual budget was being cut with immediate effect from £18m to £10.5m for the year.

Economics

2 w. ago Trump tariffs come into effect in ‘seismic’ shift to global trade

‘Baseline’ 10% import levy takes effect at US seaports, airports and customs warehouses on Saturday, with some higher tariffs to begin next weekUS customs agents began collecting President Donald Trump’s unilateral 10% tariff on all imports from many countries on Saturday, with higher levies on goods from 57 larger trading partners due to start next week.The initial 10% “baseline” tariff took effect at US seaports, airports and customs warehouses at 12.01am ET (0401 GMT), ushering in Trump’s full rejection of the post-second world war system of mutually agreed tariff rates. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Benidorm tourist clampdown as penalties revealed for anyone breaking strict rule

As fed-up locals continue to berate tourists for fuelling Spain's housing crisis, Benidorm has decided to take powers into its own hands in a huge new clampdown that comes into effect in just two weeks

Politics

2 w. ago DVSA rule will introduce major driving test change within days

The new directive will come into effect early next week

Politics

2 w. ago EasyJet flight attendants in European country to walk out next week

EasyJet flight attendents are due to walk out next week as part of industrial action, which could cause a 'ripple-effect' of disrupted air journeys according to an expert

Politics

2 w. ago Cost of national insurance rise could fix 14m potholes, say Tories

It is the second Conservative attack this week on the national insurance rise due to come into effect on Sunday.

Politics

2 w. ago King Charles returns to duties for first time since hospital stay for cancer treatment side effects

King Charles has returned to public duties for the first time since his short hospital stay after suffering cancer treatment side effects last week. The monarch hosted an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle

Science

2 w. ago Palace provides health update on King Charles after hospital stay due to side effects of cancer treatment

King Charles was observed in hospital for a short period last week due to side effects from his cancer treatment

Science

2 w. ago King to begin normal week of official duties after cancer treatment side effects

Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024 and returned to public-facing duties last April.

Politics

2 w. ago Major King Charles health update after hospital stay following cancer treatment

King Charles was admitted to hospital last week, with Buckingham Palace revealing that the monarch was suffering side effects from his ongoing cancer treatments

Science

2 w. ago Nigel Slater’s recipes for noodles with breadcrumbs, and panna cotta with passion fruit

Spicy noodles and delicate dessert for these see-saw daysIn tune with the changeable weather, dinners this week have veered between substantial winter casseroles and lighter, more uplifting dishes. A typical dinner was one of a spicy noodle dish glowing red with chilli followed by a pale and gently flavoured panna cotta. A sort of whip-and-kiss effect that followed that of the week’s see-saw between icy mornings and blissful afternoons with the sun on our backs.I used two hits of chilli for the noodles – a thick, brick-red Korean paste in which to toss the strings of noodles hot from their steaming water and then flakes of dried chilli added to the breadcrumbs I used to finish the dish. A double hit of chilli, but still producing an effect that was warm and aromatic, rather than blow-your-socks-off hot. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago RUSSELL MYERS 'King Charles' hospital stay is a real worry for royals

King Charles is having a period of rest and recuperation this weekend following a brief admission to hospital after suffering side effects of his cancer treatment

Politics

3 w. ago Trump tariffs could cut growth and wipe out Chancellor’s headroom, OBR warns

The UK continues to seek exemptions from US tariffs due to come into effect next week.

Events