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Uber expands free childcare support to over 100,000 UK drivers in industry-first move

Uber has announced the nationwide expansion of its pioneering childcare support scheme, offering more than 100,000 drivers across the UK access to free, flexible childcare through a partnership with on-demand childcare platform Bubble. The move follows a successful pilot launched in 2023, which provided 1,000 drivers with a total of 10,000 hours of fully funded childcare. Building on that positive response — with 96% of participating drivers saying the support made it easier to work...

Thai PM faces censure motion as opposition takes aim at father’s influence

BANGKOK – Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces a no-confidence motion in parliament starting on Monday, with the opposition set to grill her over an underperforming economy and her powerful father’s perceived influence over her administration. Despite lukewarm ratings in opinion polls, Paetongtarn comes into the debate in a firm position, with no signs of turmoil in a ruling coalition that commands a parliamentary majority, making it unlikely the motion will prosper when it goes...

What came first, the purpose or the people?

We’ve talked a lot about purpose, and while it should be at the very heart of your organisation, it’s been long debated what should come first – a clear purpose or the ‘right people’? It’s ‘the chicken or the egg?’ equivalent for business. Wait – here comes the bus! Jim Collins’ famous concept of “getting the right people on the bus”, introduced in his book Good to Great, endorses getting the right people around the...

Inheritance tax reform could threaten 200,000 jobs in family businesses and farms, survey warns

More than 200,000 jobs in family-run businesses and farms could be lost as a result of upcoming changes to inheritance tax rules, according to new research that warns of a substantial hit to investment, employment and long-term economic growth. A nationwide survey of 4,200 family-owned firms and agricultural businesses — commissioned by lobby group Family Business UK and conducted by CBI Economics — found that the government’s decision to cap relief on business and agricultural...

Consumer confidence edges up in March but recovery remains elusive

UK consumer confidence saw a marginal improvement in March, rising by just one point to -19, according to the latest GfK index. While the figure beat analysts’ expectations of a fall to -21, experts warned there is still “little evidence of a recovery” as households remain cautious in the face of persistent economic pressures. The slight uptick was largely driven by a more positive view of the economy’s performance over the past year and cautious...

Rachel Reeves to cut £1.5bn in civil service savings to balance public finances

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to unveil £1.5 billion in savings from civil service administration budgets as part of a broader effort to rein in government spending and demonstrate fiscal discipline ahead of the next general election. In her Spring Statement on Wednesday, Reeves will announce a 10 per cent cut to the administration budgets of Whitehall departments. These reductions will focus on back-office functions, including HR, communications and policy roles, rather than frontline public...

Waltz tells Iran to give up nuclear program or ‘there will be consequences’

The Trump administration is calling on Iran to give up its entire nuclear program or face the consequences, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said Sunday. Waltz said it was time for Iran to ‘walk away completely’ from its pursuit of nuclear weapons, pushing for a ‘full dismantlement’ during an appearance on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation.’ ‘This isn’t some kind of, you know, kind of tit-for-tat that we had under the Obama administration or Biden,’ Waltz...

Trump envoy doesn’t believe Putin wants to take over Europe

President Donald Trump’s envoy to Russia and Ukraine says he doesn’t believe Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to invade Europe. Envoy Steve Witkoff made the statement during a Sunday morning appearance on ‘Fox News Sunday,’ commenting on Putin’s motives on a ‘larger scale.’ ‘Now I’ve been asked my opinion about what President Putin’s motives are on a larger scale. And I simply have said that I just don’t see that he wants to take all...

Trump makes endorsement in ‘important’ Wisconsin Supreme Court race

President Donald Trump has issued an endorsement in Wisconsin’s upcoming state Supreme Court race, as the formally bipartisan contest draws mega-donor dollars over its potential national implications. Trump threw his support behind conservative Brad Schimel, the former Wisconsin Attorney General who is currently a Waukesha County judge. Republicans have warned that Schimel’s opponent, Dane County’s Susan Crawford, a liberal considered the Democrats’ preferred candidate, could support efforts to ‘draw out’ two U.S. House Republicans in...

Bernie Sanders gets up during interview after ‘nonsense’ question about AOC

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., got up during a pre-taped ABC ‘This Week’ interview that aired Sunday, and accused Jonathan Karl of asking a ‘nonsense’ question about whether Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., should run for Senate. Right after calling Ocasio-Cortez ‘extraordinary,’ Sanders would not answer a question about whether he would like to see her in the Senate. Speculation has ramped up about AOC challenging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a primary after Schumer supported...