18 m. ago US trade deficit surges ahead of tariffs; China vows not to ‘kneel down’ – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsUK grocery inflation has edged up this month, as consumers are hit by rising food prices.Data provider Kantar has reported that supermarket prices rose by 3.8% per year in the four weeks to April 20, up from 3.5% a month earlier.“Chocolate confectionery prices rose by 17.4% this period, the fastest of any category, but that didn’t stop the British public treating themselves this Easter. The volume of chocolate eggs sold through supermarket tills still grew by 0.4% on last year, while at the dinner table lamb was the most popular fresh meat joint, followed by beef and pork.Some households chose to indulge in less seasonal fare as the sun came out and they dusted off the barbecue, with burger sales shooting up by 31% over the last month.”The way in which regulations are being applied to bioethanol is undermining the commercial viability of our business. We are having constructive discussions with the UK Government to explore re...

Economics

76 m. ago Donald Trump to mark 100 days in office with Michigan rally – US politics live

US president expected to hail avalanche of orders and policies as Mark Carney marks election victory in Canada with warn ing that ‘America wants our land’100 days of Trump: interactive look at second term so far Trump has posted on Truth Social about the first 100 days of his second term, calling them “100 very special days”.100 VERY SPECIAL DAYS. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!Danielle Alvarez of the RNC, and Paul Perez of Border Patrol, were GREAT on Fox & Friends (First). Thank you both! DJT Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Trump’s first 100 days marked with lowest approval rating of any US president in decades: Live

President Trump brushes off his historic approval ratings lows and condemns the polls as ‘FAKE’ as he marks his 100th day in office

Politics

5 h. ago Trump live updates: President’s first 100 days in office marked by deportation crackdowns and trade wars

Trump brushes off his plummeting approval rating and condemns the polls as ‘FAKE’ as president celebrates 100th day in office

Politics

6 h. ago HSBC sounds alarm on trade war; Trump to soften blow of automotive tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe architect of BP’s failed green energy agenda will leave the embattled oil company within months as it continues its retreat from low-carbon investments following this morning’s sharp fall in profits (see last post).The oil company said Giulia Chierchia, the executive in charge of BP’s sustainability ventures, would step back from her role from 1 June 2025 to “pursue other opportunities” outside the company. She will not be replaced. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago Trump signs orders stepping up immigration crackdown and ‘unleashing America’s law enforcement’ – US politics live

Executive orders target sanctuary cities, give legal help for police accused of misconduct and require truck drivers to speak EnglishHere is an extract from The Atlantic’s piece on Trump’s first 100 days – in an interview secured after initially being canceled by the president over previous reporting from the journalists, who then reached the president on his cellphone – detailing some of the key development’s of his second term so far.The president seemed exhilarated by everything he had managed to do in the first two months of his second term: He had begun a purge of diversity efforts from the federal government; granted clemency to nearly 1,600 supporters who had participated in the invasion of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, including those caught beating police officers on camera; and signed 98 executive orders and counting (26 of them on his first day in office). He had fired independent regulators; gutted entire agencies; laid off great swaths of the federal workforce; and...

Politics

13 h. ago Canada election 2025 live: Most polls close after Trump’s tariffs dominate campaign

The Liberal Party – led by current prime minister Mark Carney – are seeking to extend their decade in power and beat Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative party

Politics

24 h. ago Trump to step up immigration crackdown with extra powers for law enforcement – US politics live

Press secretary says president also to sign executive orders increasing pressure on sanctuary cities and statesHere is an extract from The Atlantic’s piece on Trump’s first 100 days – in an interview secured after initially being canceled by the president over previous reporting from the journalists, who then reached the president on his cellphone – detailing some of the key development’s of his second term so far.The president seemed exhilarated by everything he had managed to do in the first two months of his second term: He had begun a purge of diversity efforts from the federal government; granted clemency to nearly 1,600 supporters who had participated in the invasion of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, including those caught beating police officers on camera; and signed 98 executive orders and counting (26 of them on his first day in office). He had fired independent regulators; gutted entire agencies; laid off great swaths of the federal workforce; and invoked 18th-century ...

Politics

3 d. ago FBI arrests judge for alleged obstruction of immigration arrest operation, Patel says in deleted social post – live

Kash Patel has since deleted the post on X that had said a Wisconsin judge was arrested and accused of helping an immigrant ‘evade arrest’Apple is reportedly planning to switch assembly of all iPhones for the US market to India as the company seeks to reduce its reliance on a Chinese manufacturing base amid Donald Trump’s trade war.The $3tn (£2.3tn) technology company aims to make the shift as soon as next year, the Financial Times reported. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Trade war fears trigger biggest slide in US consumer expectations since 1990 recession – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsXi announces plan for Chinese economy to counter impact of US trade warEuropean stock markets are rising this morning, amid hopes that China is relaxing some of its tariffs.In London, the FTSE 100 index is up 12 points or 0.13%, at 8417 points. Engineering companies are among the top risers, with aerospare manufacturers Melrose up 3.6%, and Rolls-Royce up 2%, after Safran reported that tariffs on aircraft parts have been lifted.“We learned last night that China has taken the decision not to tax engines or landing gear or nacelles - in other words a certain number of aerospace equipment parts.”“It demonstrates that the situation is very fluid.” Continue reading...

Economics

4 d. ago Swiss leader says Trump administration foresees ‘privileged’ talks with 15 countries on US tariffs – US politics live

Karin Keller-Sutter, Swiss president, says Switzerland is among 15 countries with which US plans to hold negotiations to reach deals over tariffsThe Swiss president says Switzerland is among 15 countries with which the United States plans to conduct “privileged” negotiations to help reach a deal after sweeping US tariffs on dozens of countries that have shaken global markets, reports the Associated Press (AP).Karin Keller-Sutter, in an interview with broadcaster SRF published Friday, said she was “satisfied” with talks in Washington this week that included an International Monetary Fund conference and her one-on-one meeting with US treasury secretary Scott Bessent. Keller-Sutter also serves as Switzerland’s finance minister. “The United States has defined a group of 15 countries with which it wants to find a quick solution in this tariff question. Switzerland is part of this group of these 15 countries,” she told reporters separately late on Thursday in Washington, according to the ...

Politics

4 d. ago China ‘may exempt some US goods’ from tariffs; British retail sales beat forecasts – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsRachel Reeves used a brief speech to US investors at the British ambassador’s lavish residence in Washington last night, to acknowledge some of the downsides of globalisation, in a nod to Donald Trump’s stance.As she prepares to meet Treasury secretary Scott Bessent today, Reeves said China’s entry into the global trading system 25 years ago had created “huge benefits in terms of cheaper goods, more innovation and more opportunities to trade”.“They voted for change because they didn’t think that the economy worked well enough for them and their families. They saw the erosion of good jobs that paid a decent wage. They saw industries that once powered their towns disappear. And as elected politicians we have to respond to that”.“Some may say that under this very consequential president we have at the moment, this is a rollercoaster period and therefore a challenge to us all. But we would say that a rollercoaster is fine, as lon...

Economics

4 d. ago Trump tariffs: President vents at China over Boeing as Beijing denies claims of trade deal talks

Beijing called claims of trade talks ‘groundless as trying to catch the wind’ and having ‘no factual basis’ as Trump insisted they were happening

Politics

4 d. ago Trump to meet with top Atlantic editor who was accidentally added to Hegseth Signal group chat – live

President says he will meet with Jeffrey Goldberg and two Atlantic reporters to ‘see if it’s possible for The Atlantic to be ‘truthful’’South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has said he talked about the war in Ukraine and the need to foster good bilateral relations with the US in his phone call with Donald Trump.“We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to stop further unnecessary deaths... to meet soon to address various matters regarding US-South Africa relations,” Ramaphosa wrote in a post on X. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump tariffs live: President vents at China over Boeing as Beijing denies claims of trade deal talks

Lawsuit comes as president warned he could re-impose higher tariffs in as little as two weeks

Politics

5 d. ago China calls reports of ongoing US tariff talks ‘baseless’ while Trump claims administration ‘actively’ seeking deal – live

Spokesperson for China’s ministry of commerce says any claims of progress in China-US negotiations are ‘without factual evidence’South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has said he talked about the war in Ukraine and the need to foster good bilateral relations with the US in his phone call with Donald Trump.“We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to stop further unnecessary deaths... to meet soon to address various matters regarding US-South Africa relations,” Ramaphosa wrote in a post on X. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago Trump tariffs live: Dozen US states sue to stop ‘insane’ policy as president threatens more global levies

The lawsuit comes as the president warned he could re-impose the higher tariffs in as little as two weeks

Politics

6 d. ago Trump live updates: Just 37% of Americans approve of president’s handling of economy, poll shows

The majority of Americans now fear a recession, even as Donald Trump conceded ultra-high tariffs on China would fall but warned they would not hit zero

Politics

6 d. ago Trump latest updates: Elon Musk to ‘significantly’ step back from DOGE role after Tesla profits plunge

Musk told investors that he would likely cut back his work for Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency to one or two days a week

Politics

1 week ago US senator says margaritas in photo with wrongly deported man planted by El Salvador – live

Chris Van Hollen of Maryland says drinks placed on table created hoax and neither he nor Kilmar Ábrego García touched themThe US is optimistic that it can end “the very brutal war” between Russia and Ukraine, Vice-President JD Vance said before a bilateral meeting with the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Friday.The meeting comes less than 24 hours after the pair met in Washington. Vance said:I want to update the prime minister on some of the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine even in the past 24 hours, we think we have some interesting things to report on.Since there are the negotiations I won’t prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close. Continue reading...

Culture