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Artificial intelligence is set to play a central role in transforming Britain’s road and rail network, with continued government investment in digital technology expected to improve reliability, reduce delays and support economic growth. Speaking at the Transport AI Summit in Parliament on Tuesday, Ruth Cadbury MP, chair of the Transport Select Committee, said AI and data-led technologies would be critical to tackling long-standing issues such as potholes, congestion and train delays. The event, organised by...

The High Court has ruled that claims of forced labour, modern slavery and exploitation brought against Dyson will proceed to a full trial in April 2027. In a judgment handed down today, following a case management conference in December 2025, the court confirmed that allegations brought by 24 former migrant workers will be tested through the cases of six lead claimants. The trial will focus on working and living conditions at Malaysian factories within Dyson’s...

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...