47 h. ago Voices: ‘This will be disastrous’: Independent readers fear social care collapse after visa ban

Our community is sharply divided over Yvette Cooper’s care worker visa crackdown. While some labelled it “madness”, others argued it is time to reduce reliance on overseas labour and invest in training and better pay for UK workers

Events

7 d. ago Teenagers will be allowed to drive trains in bid to beat staff shortages that cause of nine out of 10 night

Lines are often disrupted because operators depend on drivers working overtime to run timetabled services. The Government hopes cutting the qualifying age will reduce reliance on rest-day shifts.

Politics

8 d. ago China’s service sector hit by trade war; Ford predicts $1.5bn profit hit from Trump tariffs – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsTrump’s foreign film tariffs could ‘wipe out’ UK movie industry, ministers toldAmerican children face paying higher prices for Barbie dolls due to the Trump tariffs on imports.Mattel, the toy manufacturing giant, revealed last night that it plan to raise prices on American toys due to tariffs, and is also looking to move some manufacturing out of China.Accelerating diversification of its supply chain and further reducing reliance on China-sourced product,Optimizing product sourcing and product mix, andWhere necessary, taking pricing action in its U.S. business.In an uncertain macro environment that has intensified due to the potential impact of tariffs, we are focused on what we can control.We are improving our supply chain agility, taking decisive cost actions to mitigate financial impact where possible, and ensuring we can continue to serve our customers and consumers. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago US GDP report to show if economy expanded in last quarter, after eurozone growth accelerates – business live

First estimate of US GDP for Q1 2025 will show whether tariffs hurt growthUK house prices fall but market ‘likely to pick up’ during summerChina manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff warFrance’s economy is likely to “flirt with stagnation” throughout the year, despite the small rebound in GDP in the last quarter, predicts Dutch bank ING.Charlotte de Montpellier, ING’s senior economist for France and Switzerland, explains:The additional customs duties in the US and their direct and indirect impact will delay the French economy’s rebound. We estimate that the direct effect of a permanent 10% import duty in the US on French GDP (via a reduction in exports) will be around -0.1%.Adding to this are the effects of uncertainty, the global economic slowdown and more restrictive fiscal policy, all of which will weigh on French economic activity throughout the year. The cooling in the labour market is likely to limit the recovery in household consumption, and the savings rate is se...

Economics

2 w. ago France and Germany avoid recession as eurozone growth accelerates; Taiwan’s GDP boosted by pre

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, including growth figures from across EuropeUK house prices fall but market ‘likely to pick up’ during summerChina manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff warFrance’s economy is likely to “flirt with stagnation” throughout the year, despite the small rebound in GDP in the last quarter, predicts Dutch bank ING.Charlotte de Montpellier, ING’s senior economist for France and Switzerland, explains:The additional customs duties in the US and their direct and indirect impact will delay the French economy’s rebound. We estimate that the direct effect of a permanent 10% import duty in the US on French GDP (via a reduction in exports) will be around -0.1%.Adding to this are the effects of uncertainty, the global economic slowdown and more restrictive fiscal policy, all of which will weigh on French economic activity throughout the year. The cooling in the labour market is likely to limit the recovery in household consumptio...

Politics

2 w. ago France and Germany avoid recession as economies return to growth; UK house prices drop – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, including growth figures from across EuropeUK house prices fall but market ‘likely to pick up’ during summerChina manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff warFrance’s economy is likely to “flirt with stagnation” throughout the year, despite the small rebound in GDP in the last quarter, predicts Dutch bank ING.Charlotte de Montpellier, ING’s senior economist for France and Switzerland, explains:The additional customs duties in the US and their direct and indirect impact will delay the French economy’s rebound. We estimate that the direct effect of a permanent 10% import duty in the US on French GDP (via a reduction in exports) will be around -0.1%.Adding to this are the effects of uncertainty, the global economic slowdown and more restrictive fiscal policy, all of which will weigh on French economic activity throughout the year. The cooling in the labour market is likely to limit the recovery in household consumptio...

Economics

2 w. ago Carney gave a eulogy for Canada’s old relationship with the US. Now he must redefine it

Prime minister pledges to reduce country’s reliance on US trade – but must navigate competing visions for the futureCanada election live – latest updatesIn his victory speech early on Tuesday, Mark Carney wasted little time calling both for a dramatic reshaping of his government’s relationship with the United States, arguing that threats from Donald Trump cast doubt Canada’s ability to function as a “free, sovereign, and ambitious” nation.The former central banker and investment executive had for months focused his electoral campaign on the threats from Canada’s largest trading partner and longtime political ally. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago ‘It makes me want to scream’: Nobel peace prize winner horrified by planned exits from landmine treaty

Plans by five Nato countries to pull out of life-saving agreement are ‘stupid’, says Nobel laureate Jody WilliamsWhen leaders from dozens of countries met in Mozambique a decade ago, their aim was to rid the world of one of its most treacherous weapons. Years after signing a landmark treaty banning the use, production and stockpiling of landmines, they seized on the gathering to set out an ambitious deadline for the completion of their efforts: 2025.Now 2025 is here, a very different precedent looms as five European countries have announced their intentions to be the first to withdraw from the treaty. All are Nato members that border Russia, and cite concerns about the growing threat posed by Vladimir Putin. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. 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

2 w. ago Apple ‘aims to source all US iPhones from India’, reducing reliance on China

Report suggests tech firm – swept up in Donald Trump’s trade war – will make change as soon as 2026Apple 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...

Politics

3 w. ago UK set to ramp up weapons production to reduce reliance on US and French imports

Defence secretary says lessons from Ukraine highlight need for homegrown supply chainBritain is set to significantly increase its weapons production in order to no longer rely on importing from the US and France.This comes as British and European defence companies move away from buying US-made weaponry and equipment due to concerns over president Donald Trump making the country an unreliable military partner. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Renewables rollout making UK electricity supply ‘more British’, analysis finds

Wind and solar have already reduced the reliance on foreign gas imports in recent years, experts said, as Labour’s clean power push ramps up.

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: China arming Russia and building weapons on its soil, says Zelenskyy

Just as much Russian bombing under energy ceasefire, says Ukrainian president. What we know on day 1,150China is supplying weapons to Russia, including gunpowder and artillery, and Chinese representatives are involved in weapons production on Russian territory, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Thursday, citing reporting by Ukrainian security and intelligence agencies. “We are ready to speak in detail about this,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine expects to share documentation to support the claims next week.Zelenskyy said: “We have finally received information that China is supplying weapons to the Russian Federation. We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on Russian territory We see the cooperation between these two countries in this area, and we must acknowledge it is happening.” The Associated Press could not confirm Zelenskyy’s statement. At the time of writing there was no response from China to the latest claim...

Events