EU trade deficit with China reaches record €1bn a day, data shows
The EU’s trade deficit with China has reached a record €1bn (£0.8bn) a day, according to official trade data, fuelling concerns over the future of Europe’s “industrial backbone”.
Economy
'Growing up too young': Londoners praise under-16s social media ban – video
On Monday, Londoners praised the measures that are planned to block children from access to Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, X and Facebook, as well as livestreaming and communication on gaming platforms.
Trump wants to put a $75m coal terminal in this liberal California city. Residents aren’t having it
Residents of West Oakland, which suffers from toxic waste and high pollution rates, rally against a coal export facility
If the right wants money for defence, it can start with MoD wastefulness – or even the pensioner triple lock | Polly Toynbee
What’s it to be, warfare or welfare, social or military spending, guns or butter? Hermann Göring coined that phrase calling for re-armament, “Guns will make us powerful, butter will only make us fat.” In her “ Britain a…
If the UK wants to rejoin the European Union, it first needs to understand it | Timothy Garton Ash
As Britain approaches the 10th anniversary of its vote to leave the EU, the British are beginning to debate rejoining what they call Europe. But, as in most previous British debates about “Europe”, this is Europe with t…
An absurd illustration of Britain’s housing problem | Letters
Grand properties lying empty when we’re in the midst of a housing crisis is ludicrous. Sam Wollaston’s article about a homeless person sleeping in the portico of a £200m palace, which used to be terrace houses, is the m…
How will the under-16s social media ban work? – podcast
Keir Starmer has announced his social media ban for under-16s. The proposals are tougher than expected, and include a ban on major apps such as TikTok, Instagram, X, Snapchat, YouTube and Facebook.
UK’s oldest Indian restaurant takes crown estate to court over theatened eviction
The UK’s oldest Indian restaurant will be taking the crown estate to court this month as it faces eviction.
City & Guilds bosses awarded themselves millions in bonuses, investigation finds
The two most senior executives at City & Guilds awarded themselves millions of pounds of bonuses “without authorisation from, or knowledge of” their superiors, an internal investigation into last year’s £166m sale of th…
Summary of the RTGS CHAPS Industry Forum
The Chair introduced the first RTGS CHAPS Industry Forum. This group will meet regularly to provide industry input on a range of strategic issues relating to both the live operation and change roadmap for the RTGS and C…
‘It’s more exciting than ketchup!’ How chilli crisp became the hottest condiment – and how to make your own
Walk down the specialist aisle in most British supermarkets and you will find a red jar with the kindly face of a middle-aged Chinese woman staring back at you. Branded Lao Gan Ma, meaning “old godmother”, these jars co…
BBC News braces for major round of job cuts in broadcaster’s £500m cost-saving drive
BBC News is braced for a major round of job cuts to be revealed within days, in an announcement that will kick off a brutal cost-saving drive designed to save £500m across the corporation.
Fox strikes $22bn deal for Roku to fuel streaming push
Deal gives network access to more than 100m households using Roku streaming platform
Listen to manufacturers and unions: high electricity prices are killing industry | Nils Pratley
The manufacturing lobby group Make UK and the Trades Union Congress have picked a bad moment to plead for urgent relief for the nation’s industrial companies from sky-high electricity prices. The cabinet is tearing itse…
Investment fraud in UK soared to more than £220m lost last year, trade body says
Increasingly elaborate investment scams involving gold, cryptocurrencies and wine have soared in the past year with more than £220m lost to the fraud, according to a report.
Banknote imagery expert panel minutes – 24 April 2026
Time: 10am to 1pm | Location: Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH and MS teams
Banknote imagery advisory group minutes – 15 December 2025
Time: 9am to 10am | Location: Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH and MS teams
Oil price falls to three-month low and markets rally after US-Iran peace deal – business live
Whilst the deal is very good news for markets it looks like tough conversations will have occur in the 60-day window to ensure the peace is sustainable. As an example, the Senate needs to approve any extensive sanction …
AI use by the US government is ballooning. And the lack of transparency is troubling | Nathan E Sanders and Bruce Schneier
The list of government AI use cases has ballooned by 70% since Biden left office and includes many plans to hand over sensitive governmental functions to AI
Australia’s Sigma drops out of talks to buy UK’s Boots
The Australian pharmaceutical group Sigma Healthcare has dropped its pursuit of the UK retail chain Boots, abandoning a takeover estimated to be worth $10bn (£7bn).
A £350 swimming pool fee ruined our easyJet holiday
My partner and I paid £2,150 for a week’s all-inclusive break in Marrakech with easyJet Holidays.
Banknote imagery expert panel minutes – 15 April 2026
The Chair opened the meeting, thanking members for sending across their wildlife nominations.
Britain ‘faces deindustrialisation’ without relief from high energy prices, survey warns
Make UK says manufacturers’ feedback shows sector at risk of collapse as it calls on Treasury to take action
Mike Ashley’s Frasers follows Hugo Boss bid with offer for Australia’s Accent
UK billionaire’s fashion group offers £166m for takeover of 77.1% of shares in shoe firm it does not already own