Donald Trump’s escalating confrontation with the US central bank has sent shockwaves through global markets, driving gold to a fresh all-time high as investors sought refuge from mounting political risk in the world’s largest economy. Gold surged to around $4,600 an ounce on Monday, while silver moved close to record territory, as fears grew over political interference in the independence of the Federal Reserve. The US dollar weakened sharply, with the dollar index falling 0.32...
China has reported the largest trade surplus in global history, underlining the resilience of its export machine despite a year of disruption caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade brinkmanship. Official figures released in Beijing show China recorded a full-year trade surplus of $1.19 trillion (£890bn) in 2025, the first time the country’s surplus has exceeded the $1tn mark. The figure comfortably surpassed the previous record of $993bn set in 2024. Monthly data highlights the...
The government has unveiled a long-awaited blueprint to revive Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), setting out a phased programme of rail investment it claims will transform connectivity across the north of England and unlock billions in economic growth. The multibillion-pound scheme, first proposed more than a decade ago, is intended to deliver faster journeys, more frequent services and improved capacity between the North’s major cities through a mix of new rail lines, upgraded routes and modernised...
French football has used to snap back to order. Paris Saint-Germain imposes itself, everyone else improvises around the edges, and the title race becomes more a countdown than a debate. At the halfway mark, the 2025-2026 season’s Ligue 1 is behaving differently. The battle is intense, the margins are thin, and everyone’s powers are being tested endlessly. Lens are no longer the romantic subplot After 17 matches, RC Lens sit top with 40 points, one...
Keir Starmer has abandoned plans to make digital IDs mandatory for workers, marking the 13th significant U-turn of his premiership and a quiet retreat from one of Labour’s most controversial post-election policies. The digital ID scheme, originally pitched as a central plank of Labour’s crackdown on illegal working and migration, will now be optional when introduced in 2029. Workers will instead be able to verify their right to work using existing documentation, such as passports...
The debate over when to give a child their first mobile device is shifting. Parents are increasingly hesitant to hand over fully functional smartphones. The risks of unrestricted internet access are simply too high. This is where the kids smart watch has emerged as a popular alternative. It bridges the gap between connectivity and safety. Families can maintain communication lines without exposing young minds to social media algorithms. The device offers a controlled environment. It...
The automotive industry stands at the edge of a revolution, and it’s not just about the technology inside cars. An automotive digital marketing strategy has become critically important for companies to survive in the market, because 95% of potential car buyers begin their research online. We’re living in a time when traditional sales methods (showrooms, printed catalogs, radio ads) simply don’t work as effectively anymore. Electrification, self-driving cars, and fierce competition have changed the game,...
Barclays has provided a £4 million trade loan to British high-performance apparel brand ThruDark, supporting its continued growth and accelerating its retail expansion strategy. The funding, provided by Barclays UK Corporate Bank, has been deployed to strengthen ThruDark’s working capital following the crucial Golden Quarter trading period, encompassing Black Friday, Christmas and January sales. It has also enabled the brand’s high-profile festive retail activation at Battersea Power Station, bringing its performance-led apparel to one of...
Britain’s retailers limped to the end of 2025 after a lacklustre Christmas trading period, with non-food sales failing to deliver the seasonal boost many high street businesses were relying on. New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show overall retail sales rose by just 1.2% in December compared with a year earlier — well below the 12-month average growth rate of 2.3%. While food sales proved resilient, demand for non-food items such as clothing,...
Senior Labour backbenchers are pressing the government to force UK banks to expand lending to small businesses and low-income communities, warning that a lack of affordable finance is holding back entrepreneurship and economic resilience. Gareth Thomas, a former business minister, has tabled a 10-minute rule bill that would require banks to measure, disclose and improve how they serve underserved communities and smaller firms. The proposal mirrors the US Community Reinvestment Act, which obliges American banks...
