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JD Vance champions ‘roadmap’ toward US-India trade deal, says partnership critical to deterring ‘dark time’

Vice President JD Vance touted progress made toward a U.S.-India trade deal on Tuesday, saying a partnership between the Trump administration and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would ensure a 21st century that’s ‘prosperous and peaceful.’  Speaking in the northwestern Indian city of Jaipur, Vance also warned of ‘dire’ consequences in the Indo-Pacific and a ‘dark time’ for the world should the partnership between the U.S. and India fail.  ‘Critics have attacked my president, President...

Supreme Court to hear case on LGBTQ-themed storybooks and parents’ right to opt out

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a closely watched case that could reshape the role of parental rights and religious freedom in public education.  At issue is whether a Maryland school district violated the First Amendment by requiring elementary school students to engage with LGBTQ+ storybooks that include topics about gender transitions and same-sex relationships, without allowing parents to opt out.  The policy was implemented to disrupt ‘cisnormativity’ and...

The long line of the papacy: Francis’ death renews focus on the church’s most powerful figures

There have been 266 papal leaders of the Catholic Church since Jesus Christ’s death in the AD 30s through Pope Francis – Jorge Mario Bergoglio – who died on Easter Monday at 88. The most prominent pope is considered to be St. Peter, the first holder of the title. Christ had appointed him the inaugural Bishop of Rome, and the papal church – St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City – is named in his honor....

Reeves heads to Washington to champion free trade amid Trump tariff tensions

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will travel to Washington this week to make the case for global free trade at the International Monetary Fund’s spring meetings, as Britain faces mounting pressure from punitive tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Reeves will use the high-profile forum — attended by global finance ministers and central bankers — to stress the importance of open trade for economic resilience and growth, both in the UK and worldwide. According to a...

Small businesses embrace AI for quick productivity wins, study finds

Small and local businesses across the UK are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence (AI) tools to boost productivity and efficiency, according to new research that highlights the technology’s growing appeal for time-poor entrepreneurs. A study led by Professor Ross Brown at the University of St Andrews Business School found that UK SMEs using AI tools could achieve productivity gains of between 27 and 133 per cent. The findings, based on interviews with nearly 10,000 businesses conducted...

Fuel Ventures backs £3m investment in 51toCarbonZero to drive global expansion

Fuel Ventures has led a £3 million investment round in 51toCarbonZero, a fast-growing climate-tech platform helping businesses transition to net zero while driving operational performance. The round, which included support from angel investors, builds on Fuel Ventures’ previous backing and reflects the company’s strong growth trajectory. 51toCarbonZero’s cloud-based platform helps organisations measure, manage and reduce their carbon emissions, supporting a wide range of sectors including advertising, entertainment, logistics, automotive, finance, food and beverage, and sport....

Fiscal drag to push 8.3 million more Britons into higher tax brackets by 2030

More than eight million people will find themselves paying higher rates of income tax by the end of the decade due to the long-term freezing of tax thresholds, according to the UK’s official forecaster. In projections released alongside the March spring statement, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said that 8.3 million people would be pulled into the tax system or pushed into higher tax bands by 2029-30 as a result of so-called fiscal drag...

UK government accused of ‘sabotaging’ tourism as international visitor spending falls £2bn

The UK government has been accused of “sabotaging” its own tourism industry after new figures revealed that international visitor spending fell by more than £2 billion in 2024 compared to pre-pandemic levels, despite a global recovery in travel. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), overseas visitors spent £40.3 billion in the UK last year, a 5.3 per cent drop from 2019. The council warned that the shortfall reflects deliberate policy decisions that...

Trump issues full-throated endorsement of Sen. Steve Daines: ‘HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!’

President Donald Trump endorsed Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., calling the lawmaker ‘a Great Man, and TREMENDOUS Senator’ in a post on Truth Social. ‘I love Montana, won every one of my Races there by a landslide, and would only recommend the best to represent you in the Senate!’ the president declared.  ‘Senator Steve Daines, of the Great State of Montana, has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!’ Daines served...

Pound hits seven-month high and gold surges past $3,500 as weak dollar and Trump-Fed row shake markets

The pound climbed to its highest level in seven months on Tuesday and gold prices surged to a record high above $3,500 per ounce, as investors dumped equities in favour of traditional safe-haven assets amid deepening fears over US political interference in monetary policy. Sterling briefly broke above $1.34 against the dollar — its highest since September — before easing to $1.338. Against the euro, the pound gained 0.12 per cent to reach €1.163, on...