Politics
‘Tax break tart’: hospitality tipped to exploit summer VAT cut on children’s meals
As bosses ridicule the chancellor’s scheme, one venue is offering a £25 ‘kids’ menu of snails and anchovy butter toast
Politics
Politics
Is it bad that Elon Musk has a trillion dollars? Yes, and here’s why
Just as the ‘poverty line’ determines what’s required for basic living, we need a ‘wealth line’ to show when extreme wealth becomes harmful
Politics
The tide is turning on Thames Water: special administration looks best | Nils Pratley
At last, Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, has opined on the future of Thames Water. So what’s it to be? A takeover by the company’s creditors? Special administration, which would allow anyone to pitch up with a…
Politics
SpaceX to buy AI coding firm Anysphere for $60bn and passes Amazon valuation
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is buying the startup behind the AI-powered coding app Cursor for $60bn (£44bn) and has moved ahead of Amazon in valuation days after its stock market debut.
Politics
European parliament finally approves Trump tariff deal
The European parliament has given its final approval to implement last July’s tariff agreement with Donald Trump.
Politics
Fujitsu chair resigns after ‘woman-related inappropriate conduct’
The chair of Fujitsu, the Japanese technology firm at the centre of the Post Office IT scandal, has resigned after its board became aware of his “woman-related inappropriate conduct”.
Politics
Struggling Pizza Hut restaurant chain to be sold in two deals worth $2.7bn
The struggling Pizza Hut restaurant chain will be sold for $2.7bn by parent company Yum Brands.
Politics
Retail giants join UK government drive to boost ‘plug-in’ balcony solar panels
Bosses of some of Britain’s biggest retailers are discussing plans with the government to start selling plug-in solar panels as part of a drive to encourage more UK homes to generate their own electricity.
Politics
How the Iran war affects your money and bills
From petrol prices to mortgage rates, the US-Israel war with Iran has already had an impact on people's finances in the UK.
Politics
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax isn’t far off Labour’s housing policy. Not that you’ll ever hear Starmer say it | Anna Minton
In April, to mark the day on which Americans are expected to file their taxes, the New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, filmed himself on Billionaires’ Row , an enclave of super-tall apartment buildings just south of Central…
Politics
Japan hikes interest rates to highest since 1995 to fight inflation from Iran war; Thames Water rescue in doubt – business live
Thames Water has moved a step closer to nationalisation after government ministers reportedly formally objected to the £10bn rescue deal proposed by its creditors.
Politics
The old ‘warfare v welfare’ arguments are back – but it’s Britain’s real duty to spend on both | Frances Ryan
While we need protecting from foreign enemies, slashing benefits in favour of defence will make millions less, not more, safe
Politics
Starbucks Korea to temporarily shut all stores for history lesson after bungled coffee promotion
The closures, so employees can watch a recorded lecture, will cost the company an estimated 2.1bn won ($1.4m) in sales
Politics
Starmer vows new sanctions on Russia and nuclear energy support for Ukraine
G7 told ‘we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes’, with Russia’s finance networks and shadow fleet targeted
Politics
The Guardian view on regulating big tech: the UK’s new, tougher approach to child safety is overdue
There is a long way to go before children under 16 in the UK are blocked from the main social media platforms – as Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday that they will be. He proposed a date of next spring, although whet…
Politics
Keir Starmer promised me he would end the harm caused by social media. But this ban betrays that promise | Ian Russell
Ian Russell is an internet safety campaigner and chair of the Molly Rose Foundation
Politics
UK ministers lobby Trump to avert backlash against social media ban
Ministers have embarked on a concerted lobbying operation to prevent a backlash from the Trump administration to the under-16s social media ban announced by Keir Starmer.
Politics
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…
Politics
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…
Politics
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
Politics
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.
Politics
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…
Politics
Fox strikes $22bn deal for Roku to fuel streaming push
Deal gives network access to more than 100m households using Roku streaming platform
Politics
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.