24 h. ago Declining Eid travel and spending dampen holiday spirit as soaring prices hit Indonesia

The usual festive mood of Eid al-Fitr holiday to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan has been subdued in Indonesia this year as people grapple with soaring prices for food, clothing and essential goods

Economics

69 h. ago Payment rules older people on DWP benefit need to know before booking any holidays

Nearly 1.4 million people on Pension Credit should tell the DWP if they plan to leave mainland Britain for any reason.

Politics

4 d. ago RFK Jr is axing 10,000 employees at Health Department in dramatic restructuring

Critics condemn cost in health and lives

Society

4 d. ago European leaders agree now ‘not the time’ to lift sanctions against Russia

Support for Ukraine continues with divided opinion on Franco-British plan for ‘reassurance force’ to help ceasefireEuropean leaders have affirmed their support for Ukraine at a Paris summit and agreed now was “not the time” to lift sanctions against Russia, but with splits remaining on Franco-British plans for a “reassurance force” to help guarantee an eventual ceasefire.France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, said on Thursday the meeting of more than two dozen heads of state and government had agreed unanimously that sanctions on Moscow should not be eased until “peace has clearly been established” in Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Thousands of jobs at risk as British Steel announces plan to close blast furnaces

Trade unions have responded by calling this a 'dark day' for the nation's steel industry - while calling for urgent government intervention.

Events

4 d. ago Young Brits plan big holiday spends this year despite cost of living crisis

Young Brits, including Gen Z and Millennials, are more likely to spend big on holidays for 2025, than any other generation, new research by Aviva has revealed

Economics

5 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 26 March: Inflation boost ahead of Chancellor statement, Ocado surges

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce welfare cuts and a boost to defence spending when she delivers a statement to parliament today.

Economics

5 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 26 March: Inflation cheer ahead of Chancellor statement, Vistry halts dividend

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce welfare cuts and a boost to defence spending when she delivers a statement to parliament today.

Economics

5 d. ago Odds of May interest rate cut rise after UK inflation falls to 2.8% – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as pound dips after February’s inflation reportFurther benefits cuts planned as Rachel Reeves forced to find extra £1.6bnFive economic factors that will govern Rachel Reeves’s spring statementSterling is weakening a little, after UK inflation fell by more than expected this morning.The pound has lost nearly a third of a cent against the US dollar to $1.2915.The market reaction to this data has been minimal, as the focus remains on the Spring Statement later today.The pound has dropped slightly, but GBP/USD is down less than 20 pips so far on Wednesday, the bond markets are not open, but we think that UK Gilts will also have a mild reaction to this data. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago UK inflation falls to 2.8% ahead of Rachel Reeves’s spring statement – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news.Further benefits cuts planned as Rachel Reeves forced to find extra £1.6bnFive economic factors that will govern Rachel Reeves’s spring statementHere’s a chart showing the various price changes that pulled UK inflation down to 2.8% last month.Core inflation has also slowed in February, despite prices rising steadily in the services sector.“The Bank of England will be reassured by today’s fall in underlying inflation, with core inflation easing. We expect underlying inflationary pressures to fall further over the coming months. That will hopefully allow the MPC to look through the expected near-term increase in headline inflation and resume cutting interest rates in the upcoming May meeting.“Goods inflation fell to 0.8% in February, however ongoing trade frictions could push prices higher. With the potential imposition of tariffs, the cost of imported goods could increase, creating additional cost pressures for both businesse...

Economics

6 d. ago Charities and health experts warn welfare cuts could cost lives

The Government will release an impact assessment indicating how many people will be hit by its benefits reforms.

Events

7 d. ago UNAIDS director proposes that President Trump make an 'amazing deal' to end HIV

The head of the U.N. AIDS agency says the sudden loss of American money has been “devastating” for efforts to stop HIV and will cost many lives of the world’s most vulnerable people

Politics

8 d. ago Trump's envoy mocks Starmer's peacekeeping Ukraine plan as 'Churchill

Steve Witkoff, 68, criticised Britain and France 's plan to send peacekeepers to Ukraine in order to prevent another Russian invasion if a ceasefire agreement is made.

Politics

9 d. ago Covid hoax lies mean 'we're finished if another pandemic hits' warns doctor

"I think if we had another pandemic tomorrow, it would be a disaster because nobody would believe it existed."

Events

1 week ago Luxury brands in UK warn copyright plan puts £125billion growth in danger

Britain's £81billion luxury goods industry has attacked Labour's plan to overhaul copyright law to let AI developers use material without paying as a 'damaging proposal'.

Economics

1 week ago Government debt costs in richest nations at highest since 2007

Payments by OECD countries outstrip amount spent on defence, police services and housing, report findsBusiness live latest updatesThe cost of government debt payments in the world’s richest nations last year reached its highest level since 2007, outstripping the amount spent on defence, police services and housing, a report has found.Across the 38 members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), debt service costs as a percentage of national income rose to 3.3% in 2024, from 2.4% in 2021. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago 'Slashing disability benefits is a cruel political choice that will cost lives'

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn argues none of the cuts announced today are necessary - and the government should tax the super-rich instead

Politics

1 week ago DWP announcement LIVE as major changes to PIP and benefits expected

Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall is set to announce major changes to the welfare system

Politics

1 week ago PIP disability benefits and universal credit changes announced by DWP

Disability benefit cuts being announced on Tuesday could reportedly slash some £5bn of welfare payments

Politics

2 w. ago Labour's full £5bn PIP cuts plan explained as DWP 'to freeze benefits' for 3.6m Brits

The Personal Independence Payment could see big changes including for certain age groups

Economics