British farmers are voicing growing anger after a sharp rise in Australian beef and lamb imports, which they say is undercutting domestic producers and putting further pressure on an already strained livestock sector. New figures show that beef imports from Australia have surged since the UK-Australia free-trade deal came into force in May 2023. Volumes jumped by almost 200 per cent in the first year of the agreement, rose a further 170 per cent last...
Poundland is preparing to draw on emergency funding after a disappointing Christmas trading period intensified concerns over the discount retailer’s recovery. The chain is set to tap a £30m overdraft facility provided by its former owner, Pepco, after festive footfall and sales fell short of expectations. The move follows a tough few months for the retailer, which was rescued in the summer by distressed investment specialist Gordon Brothers in a court-approved restructuring deal. Gordon Brothers...
Capitol Hill is a ghost town with both the House and Senate out of session until a few days into the new year. Lawmakers left town the week before Christmas, and with their departure have left several key fights unresolved — with deadlines looming large for both Republicans and Democrats. Government funding Congress voted to end the longest-ever government shutdown in history last month after 43 days of gridlock. But lawmakers did not strike a...
A British parcel entrepreneur forged documents as part of a failed attempt to seize control of Yodel, according to a damning High Court judgment that brings fresh clarity to one of the most chaotic corporate battles in the UK logistics sector. Mr Justice Fancourt ruled that Jacob Corlett conspired with his mother, Tamara Gregory, to falsify share warrant documents in an effort to overturn Yodel’s sale to Polish courier group InPost. The judge said the...
Britain’s long and often spectacular history of mismanaged inventions, doomed projects and ill-fated ideas is finally getting its own cultural institution. Next spring, the internationally touring Museum of Failure will open in the UK, celebrating everything from grand design disasters to corporate overreach – all viewed through the lens of learning rather than ridicule. Its founder, Dr Samuel West, believes the UK is the exhibition’s natural home. Having toured the museum across Europe, the US...
Major sports events are not just thrilling spectacles; they are economic powerhouses. These events ripple through various industries, driving significant economic activity. The betting sector, in particular, sees a notable surge in activity during such times. Global sports events such as the FIFA World Cup play a pivotal role in the economy by attracting millions of spectators and participants. These gatherings ignite a flurry of activities across sectors like hospitality, tourism, and media. The betting...
Boxing Day sales are expected to deliver a £3.6 billion boost to UK retailers this year, around £1 billion less than in 2024, as cost-of-living pressures continue to weigh on household spending. The forecast comes from Barclays, which tracks nearly half of all credit and debit card transactions across the UK. The anticipated decline represents a blow to retailers during their all-important “golden quarter”, traditionally the most lucrative period of the year. Seven in ten...
British businesses are sharply reducing their public support for Pride, mirroring a broader retreat from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that has gathered pace in the United States. Analysis of corporate social media activity shows that references to Pride by some of the UK’s largest companies have fallen dramatically in the past two years. Mentions are down by more than 90 per cent since 2023, reflecting a shift in tone as companies respond to...
The UK is on course to overtake Japan and become the world’s fifth-largest economy by the end of the next decade, according to new long-term projections from Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). In its latest global outlook, the think tank forecasts that Britain’s gross domestic product will rise from just under $4 trillion in 2025 to around $6.8 trillion by 2040, lifting the country back into the global top five when measured at...
North Korea showed off its apparent progress in the development of a nuclear-powered submarine. State media released photos of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and his daughter, a potential heir, as they inspected what appears to be a largely completed hull. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s official state media, said Kim and his daughter visited the shipyard to examine the construction of what it describes as an 8,700-ton-class nuclear-propelled submarine, The...
