Duffy warns of air travel ‘mass chaos’ by next week

The Transportation secretary said air traffic controllers can’t afford to miss another paycheck. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Tuesday said the government shutdown has injected “more risk” into air travel and warned of widespread flight cancellations and potentially closed airspace if air traffic controllers miss their second full paycheck next week. Duffy told reporters at … Read more

Americans will still get partial SNAP benefits despite Trump post, White House says

The clarification comes after the president threatened on Truth Social to withhold federal food aid funding until Democrats agree to reopen the government. The Trump administration is still sending partial food aid benefits for nearly 42 million Americans this month, despite the president’s recent threat to withhold federal funding until the shutdown ends. “The administration … Read more

South Korea awards Trump gold crown amid deal to unlock $350bn trade talks

Seoul says it has reached broad agreement on investment and shipbuilding as attention shifts to US-China meeting Just two weeks after millions of Americans joined No Kings protests against Donald Trump, the US president was presented with a golden crown by South Korea. After arriving on Wednesday for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings, Trump … Read more

EU carmakers ‘days away’ from halting work as chip war with China escalates

Industry body says reserves of Nexperia semiconductors are dwindling after Beijing bans exports of key components Carmakers in the EU are “days away” from closing production lines, the industry has warned, as a crisis over computer chip supplies from China escalates. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) issued an urgent warning on Wednesday saying its … Read more

Starmer refuses to rule out tax rises in budget after questioning by Badenoch

Prime minister fails to answer Tory leader’s questions about manifesto pledge not to raise income tax Keir Starmer has refused to rule out tax rises in next month’s budget, which would breach Labour’s manifesto promises, boosting speculation that Rachel Reeves is considering raising income tax to reduce a shortfall. The prime minister pointedly ignored questions … Read more

Profit upgrade at Next raises hopes UK shoppers still keen to spend

Sales benefited from warm summer, M&S online shutdown after cyber-attack and supply improvements Next has raised hopes that UK consumers are still willing to spend despite pressures on household budgets, as it revealed sales and profit growth “materially above” expectations. The clothing and homeware retailer said it benefited from a sunny summer, the online shutdown … Read more

Santander urges ministers to intervene in UK car finance compensation scheme

Lender’s chief executive says redress proposals could affect jobs, supply chains and broader UK economy Santander UK has urged the government to intervene in the £11bn car finance compensation scheme, claiming that the current proposals could end up inflicting “significant” harm to consumers, jobs and the broader economy. The comments mark some of the strongest … Read more

Hundreds of hospice beds and staff cut in England amid funding crisis

National Audit Office reports nearly two-thirds of independent hospices in deficit in 2023-24 as demand increases Hospices in England are cutting hundreds of beds and staff because of a funding crisis, despite a sharp rise in demand for palliative care, a damning report warns. People needing end of life care faced a postcode lottery because … Read more

Britain can defy gloomy economic forecasts, says Rachel Reeves

Exclusive: Fiscal watchdog predicts productivity downgrade will leave chancellor with £20bn gap to fill in budget Rachel Reeves has said Britain can defy gloomy economic forecasts after the fiscal watchdog infuriated ministers by predicting a productivity downgrade would leave her with a £20bn gap to fill in her forthcoming budget. The chancellor said she was … Read more