Politics
Banknote imagery advisory group minutes – 15 December 2025
Time: 9am to 10am | Location: Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH and MS teams
Politics
Politics
Gina Rinehart makes ‘significant investment’ in Elon Musk’s SpaceX
Australian billionaire says investment reflects her confidence in world’s first trillionaire after his record-breaking IPO
Politics
Britain ‘faces deindustrialisation’ without relief from high energy prices, survey warns
Make UK says manufacturers’ feedback shows sector at risk of collapse as it calls on Treasury to take action
Politics
A £350 swimming pool fee ruined our easyJet holiday
My partner and I paid £2,150 for a week’s all-inclusive break in Marrakech with easyJet Holidays.
Politics
Mike Ashley’s Frasers follows Hugo Boss bid with offer for Australia’s Accent
UK billionaire’s fashion group offers £166m for takeover of 77.1% of shares in shoe firm it does not already own
Politics
Oil price falls to three-month low and markets rally after US-Iran peace deal – business live
Whilst the deal is very good news for markets it looks like tough conversations will have occur in the 60-day window to ensure the peace is sustainable. As an example, the Senate needs to approve any extensive sanction …
Politics
Oil prices tumble amid hopes strait of Hormuz will soon reopen
US-Iran peace deal sparks immediate drop for Brent crude but analysts warn complex negotiations lie ahead, potentially halting further significant drops
Politics
Europe is starting to break up with US big tech. But it’s still abiding by the Silicon Valley rulebook | Max von Thun
The European Commission has unveiled its plans for digital sovereignty. Its proposals betray a disappointing lack of vision
Politics
Why I sold my business to my staff
Staff at Softstar Shoes in Oregon have discovered a newfound enthusiasm for eking out resources and growing profits.
Politics
Running a small business has become almost impossible | Letter
Rosie Wolfenden says that under the current tax system, and with rising costs, traditional business models are no longer viable
Politics
Welcome to California: land of plunder and hypocrisy | Mark Arax
From gold to water, California’s wealth was built on extraction. The AI boom is reviving an old question: who pays the price?
Politics
Me, worry? For US small businesses, Trump’s tariffs are now a non-issue
In two weeks, I’m speaking to a group of companies in the packaging industry about issues affecting their businesses this year. I’m going to discuss the economy, navigating higher costs, leveraging new tax legislation, …
Politics
Jamaican beach access campaigners go to court to fight privatisation of coast
Activists are challenging colonial-era law and demanding ‘free, legal, unfettered, forever rights’ to use beaches
Politics
Ministers could give billions raised by business rates to England’s regions
Exclusive: devolving tax is part of plans to give local areas more power in areas including justice, health and education
Politics
Starmer to announce ‘Australia plus’ ban on social media for under-16s
Keir Starmer will ban under-16s from major social media apps such as TikTok, Instagram and X in sweeping restrictions described as “Australia plus”, the Guardian understands.
Politics
UFC to pay White House fighters in crypto issued by Trump company
Some fighters will receive bonuses in ‘stablecoins’ issued by Trump family business World Liberty Financial
Politics
‘It’s going to be extremely hot’: workers imperiled as sweltering World Cup temperatures are forecast
It could top 90F in several cities hosting World Cup games – and workers could pay the price with their health
Politics
Jamaica’s beach access crisis: ‘We shouldn’t be forced to fight for what is already ours’
Activists argue business model is ‘plantation tourism’ designed to benefit elite and disadvantage most Jamaicans
Politics
Elon Musk and co may relish march of the robots but there must be AI boundaries in the workplace | Heather Stewart
While D4YRL’s tricks were exemplary, the august organisation decided “he” did not engage the audience’s emotions as a flesh-and-blood performer would.
Politics
‘Have I been influenced, or is this actually me?’ How personal taste fell out of fashion
What are you into? What floats your boat? What music, films, clothes, art, books – anything, really – do you actually like? Do you find these questions more difficult to answer than you would have done 10 years ago? How…
Politics
British armed forces intercept Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in Channel
Keir Starmer says operation involving UK armed forces has delivered ‘yet another blow’ to Russia and Putin
Politics
‘Labour had their chance – they flopped.’ Two days in Makerfield show me the scale of Burnham’s task | John Harris
Keir Starmer teeters. The defence secretary exits, and thereby seems to confirm the prime minister’s demise. Andy Burnham scents a final, belated breakthrough, while most of the national talk is of violence, a country i…
Politics
Minister defends changes to UK workers’ rights against costs backlash
Labour’s radical workers’ rights reforms have simply put the UK on a “level playing field” with other big economies, the employment minister, Kate Dearden, has said.
Politics
How Brexit has made Britain poorer – in charts
Forecasters were wrong about an immediate recession but right that we would be worse off outside the EU