29 h. ago Britain has escalated the global nuclear arms race – and is bringing us closer to armageddon | Simon Tisdall

The UK’s strategic defence review risks normalising nuclear warfare. Don’t believe the PR hype: these weapons are immoral, irrational and catastrophicPlans by Keir Starmer’s government to modernise and potentially expand Britain’s nuclear weapons arsenal, unveiled in the 2025 strategic defence review (SDR), seriously undermine international non-proliferation efforts. They will fuel a global nuclear arms race led by the US, China and Russia. And they increase the chances that lower-yield, so-called tactical nukes will be deployed and detonated in conflict zones.This dangerous path leads in one direction only: towards the normalisation of nuclear warfare.Simon Tisdall is a Guardian foreign affairs commentator Continue reading...

Sport

44 h. ago Pensions report cuts Reeves’ planned growth funds from £160bn to £11bn

Chancellor had anticipated surpluses from final salary schemes would boost investment in UK economyPlans to invest £160bn of surplus funds from final salary pension schemes to boost the UK economy over the next 10 years have been dealt a blow by a Whitehall assessment that found there was likely to be little more than £11bn available to spend.In a knock to Rachel Reeves’s growth agenda, a report by civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) found that the expected surpluses in occupational schemes would be used by businesses to offload their pension liabilities to insurance companies. Continue reading...

Economics

69 h. ago US jobs market slows down as businesses cope with Trump trade war uncertainty

May’s jobs report was dragged down by loss of 22,000 federal workers’ jobs as Doge cut positionsThe US economy added 139,000 jobs in May, a slowdown compared with recent months as American businesses cope with uncertainty around Donald Trump’s continuing trade war.After signs of a strong labor market in April – which was largely seen as resiliency against teetering trade policy from the White House – May saw a drop in new jobs added to the labor market, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2%, unchanged from last month. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Popular central London restaurant accused of exploiting illegal workers amid 'modern slavery' claims

Fei Er Cottage has failed to pay a £180,000 fine for hiring illegal workers, the Home Office said

Events

3 d. ago TikTok viral London restaurant accused of exploiting illegal workers and 'modern slavery'

Fei Er Cottage has failed to pay a £180,000 fine for hiring illegal workers, the Home Office said

Events

3 d. ago Procter & Gamble announces plans to layoff 7,000 workers despite increasing profits

The Ohio-based company says new and increased tariffs pose a risk

Economics

3 d. ago Pension boost 'worth £1,000' for millions of UK workers as DWP gives update on major reforms

The average worker will see an increase in their retirement savings of around £1,000 and be able to track down their pension savings more easily thanks to the reforms

Economics

3 d. ago 'Bigger pension pots for Britons': Chancellor says reforms will boost economic growth

Measures include a clampdown on schemes offering poor value for money, and creating 'mega' pension funds which can make better investment returns.

Economics

4 d. ago HMRC workers admit £47m loss after phishing scam breaches 100,000 taxpayer accounts

Two senior civil servants at HM Revenue and Customs told the Treasury Committee that 100,000 people have been contacted after the breach

Economics

6 d. ago Heathrow rival could build and operate third runway in UK 'first', says aviation minister

Government invites potential promoters of another runway at the west London airport to come forward with plans this summer

Politics

8 d. ago People over certain age urged to claim £303 state pension boost

HMRC will add National Insurance credits to your State Pension if you look after a child related to you under the age of 12 - this can be worth a few thousand pounds over a typical 20-year retirement

Economics

1 week ago Goods delivered by nuclear power? UN agency chief meets Greek shipowners to discuss the idea

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, has met with Greek shipowners and government ministers to discuss the potential use of nuclear power in the future of global goods transportation

Events

1 week ago Ministers consider tweaks to soften welfare cuts before key vote

Government looking at changes to disability benefit assessment rules, after backlash from many Labour MPsMinisters are considering tweaks to soften their controversial welfare cuts before a crunch vote in parliament next month.The government is examining a potential change that could allow up to 200,000 people to keep their disability benefits by tweaking assessment rules. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Will megafunds really put an extra £6,000 in the average pension?

Some experts are sceptical about the touted benefits to workers from the UK government’s proposed shake-upAmid all the jargon of the latest announcement on pensions, one number will have leapt out: the claim that the average worker will gain £6,000 in their retirement fund as a result.The figure comes from the government’s final report of its Pensions Investment Review published on Thursday. It lays out plans to shake up defined contribution pensions, the funds that invest workers’ regular payments in stocks, shares and other assets to grow the money. These provide workers with an income on retirement based on the value of their stake; the size of this income will depend on how much they have paid in and how well the investments have performed. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Millions of workers could get £6,000 pension boost under huge rule change

New reforms in the Pension Schemes Bill have been detailed, including proposals for at least £25billion in assets to operate at megafund level within the next five years

Economics

1 week ago Workers could see £6,000 boost to pension pots under Government plans

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: ‘We’re making pensions work for Britain.’

Economics

1 week ago This incredible pension perk faces the chop in Rachel Reeves' latest stealth raid. Here's what you need to do NOW to boost your pot by thousands... before it's too late

The old adage 'if it's too good to be true, it probably is' almost always applies when it comes to money matters. But there is one exception.

Events

1 week ago £303 annual State Pension payment boost for older people with grandchildren

Older people could boost their State Pension by more than £6,000 over a typical 20-year retirement.

Economics

2 w. ago UK employees work from home more than most global rivals, study finds

Exclusive: Staff in Britain now average 1.8 days a week of remote working, above global average of 1.3 daysUK workers continue to work from home more than nearly any of their global counterparts more than five years after the pandemic first disrupted traditional office life, a study has found.UK employees now average 1.8 days a week of remote working, above the international average of 1.3 days, according to the Global Survey of Working Arrangements (G-SWA), a worldwide poll of more than 16,000 full-time, university-educated workers across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa that began in July 2021. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago UK employees work from home more than most global peers, study finds

Exclusive: Staff in Britain now average 1.8 days a week of remote working, above global average of 1.3 daysUK workers continue to work from home more than nearly any of their global counterparts more than five years after the pandemic first disrupted traditional office life, a study has found.UK employees now average 1.8 days a week of remote working, above the international average of 1.3 days, according to the Global Survey of Working Arrangements (G-SWA), a worldwide poll of more than 16,000 full-time, university-educated workers across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa that began in July 2021. Continue reading...

Society