‘Unsustainable’ sickness benefits cost UK more than defence, Lords warn January 20, 2025 The UK is spending more on “financially unsustainable” sickness benefits than defence, and “urgent” reform to the welfare system is needed to rein in costs, a group of Lords has said. In a letter to the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, the cross-party Lords Economic Affairs committee said the current benefits system penalises people [...]
How City of London investors are bracing for Donald Trump 2.0 January 20, 2025 City investors are bracing for four more years of unpredictability on the global markets as Donald Trump returns to the White House as president. After banging the drum for punitive trade tariffs and US protectionism in recent months, Trump’s second term is expected to inflict more turmoil on global markets than outgoing president Joe Biden. [...]
Government ‘prepared for all scenarios’ says minister as Trump tariffs loom January 19, 2025 The Government “has prepared for all scenarios”, a Cabinet minister has said, as questions about President-elect Donald Trump’s tariffs loom large ahead of the inauguration on Monday. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said “we need to see what the Trump administration do” but also that Mr Trump is “well known for wanting to [...]
Priti Patel: Labour should focus on negotiating with Trump instead of ‘disparaging comments’ January 19, 2025 Labour should focus on starting negotiations with Donald Trump, rather than making “disrespectful and disparaging comments”, shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel has said. She told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News: “I think we have to respect the fact that he has a very significant mandate. The American people voted clearly, categorically, [...]
Supreme Court upholds Tiktok ban despite Trump’s efforts January 17, 2025 On Friday, the Supreme Court confirmed the federal law banning Tiktok in the US from 19 Sunday, unless the app is sold. This unanimous decision to ban-or-sell the video app was made due to national security claims. “There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, Tiktok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet [...]
Tiktok looks to overturn US ban amid concerns over Chinese influence January 10, 2025 TikTok representatives are set to appear before the US Supreme Court on Friday, in a final effort to overturn a ban which could force the app out of the States by 19 January, unless it demerges from its Chinese parent company. The case pits national security concerns against First Amendment rights, reported BBC News, where [...]
The inbox from hell? Headaches and unpredictability await Starmer in 2025 January 8, 2025 New year, new Keir? Jessica Frank-Keyes looks at the pitfalls, rivals and online trolls threatening to ruin the PM’s 2025 For politicians, the dawn of a New Year can represent the opportunity for a fresh start, while avoiding that dreaded Westminster word ‘reset’. But for Keir Starmer in particular, looking ahead to the next 12 [...]
Zuck rediscovers love of free speech – just in time for Trump 2.0 January 8, 2025 Will Mark Zuckerberg’s drastic policy changes tempt me back to Facebook? Nope. I quit the platform in 2010, after a friend request from an uncle made me realise it was no longer just a safe space for sharing morning-after-the-night-before photos and gags with university pals. Having left the party 15 years ago, it’s been interesting [...]
The purposeful CEO is dead: Long live the ‘corporate diplomat’ December 31, 2024 The era of green-centric grandstanding by CEOs might be over – welcome to the age of corporate diplomacy, writes Ali Lyon It had never been more essential, Blackrock’s Larry Fink wrote in the 2022 edition of his widely-read annual letter to CEOs, for bosses “to have a clear purpose”. “Putting your company’s purpose at the [...]
Trump hosts Apple chief at Mar-a-Lago as big tech leaders reach out December 14, 2024 Trump has said he has spoken with Apple chief Tim Cook about the company’s long-running tax battles with the European Union.