UK-EU trade talks in ‘final hours’ ahead of landmark summit May 18, 2025 Talks on a UK-EU deal are in their “final hours” ahead of a major summit with the bloc, the minister in charge of negotiations has said. Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce a deal with the EU when he meets European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa in [...]
Shareholders eye more details on M&S cyber attack impact May 18, 2025 Investors will be hoping that Marks & Spencer can shed light next week on the impact of a damaging cyber attack which has halted all online orders at the retail giant. The company will unveil its financial performance for the past year in an update to the stock market on Wednesday, May 21. However, attention [...]
MPs warn ‘secretive’ approach may have harmed EU ‘reset’ efforts May 18, 2025 The government’s “secretive” approach to negotiations with the EU may have harmed efforts to “reset” relations with the bloc, a cross-party group of MPs has warned. In a letter to Keir Starmer, the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said public support for closer relations with Europe meant the government had space to be “bold in its [...]
Trump tells Walmart to ‘eat the tariffs’ instead of raising prices May 17, 2025 US president Donald Trump said on Saturday that Walmart should “eat the tariffs” instead of blaming duties imposed by his administration on imported goods for the retailer’s increased prices. His comments were in response to the world’s largest retailer saying this week it would have to start raising prices later this month due to high tariffs. “Walmart [...]
Israel launches military operation in Gaza to pressure Hamas to release hostages May 17, 2025 The Israeli government said it has launched a new military operation in the Gaza Strip to increase the pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages. Defence minister Israel Katz said Operation Gideon Chariots is under way and is being led with “great force” by Israel’s army. The announcement comes after days of intensive strikes [...]
UK condemns Russian drone strike that left nine dead in Ukraine May 17, 2025 The UK has condemned a Russian drone attack that killed nine people in Ukraine early on Saturday. The attack, which struck a passenger bus in Ukraine’s north-eastern Sumy region, came just hours after the first face-to-face talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was “appalled” by the [...]
Moody’s cuts America’s pristine credit rating, citing rising debt May 17, 2025 Moody’s downgraded the US sovereign credit rating on Friday due to concerns about the nation’s growing $36 trillion debt pile, in a move that could complicate President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut taxes and send ripples through global markets. Moody’s first gave the United States its pristine “Aaa” rating in 1919 and is the last [...]
Three Iranian men charged with spying offences under National Security Act May 17, 2025 Three Iranian nationals living in London have been charged under the National Security Act with engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service, after an investigation led by counter-terrorism officers, the Metropolitan Police said. Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, of St John’s Wood, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, of Kensal Rise, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, [...]
Chancellor Rachel Reeves warned against slashing cash ISA allowance May 17, 2025 Finance chiefs have urged Rachel Reeves not to reform cash ISAs amid reports the Chancellor plans to slash the tax-free savings allowance. The Treasury is reportedly considering lowering the annual cash ISA allowance from £20,000 to £4,000, to encourage more people to put their money into investments, with Reeves looking for new sources of investment [...]
Cable fault causes London Underground disruption and fire May 12, 2025 A cable fault has caused travel disruption and a fire in London. The Elizabeth, Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern lines were all disrupted on Monday afternoon after a fault on the National Grid’s transmission network. The malfunction also caused a blaze at an electrical substation in the Cunningham Place and Aberdeen Place area in Maida Vale, [...]
