Political News
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Israel sees window for Iran strikes, US intelligence says - WSJ
American intelligence believed that Israel was considering large strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities.
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Gold prices rally as Trump ratchets up geopolitical tensions
Gold prices surged on Wednesday, hitting fresh highs, as geopolitical worries and trade tensions between the US and China intensified.
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Trainline shares slide on reports of possible wider contactless rollout
Shares in Trainline were sliding on Monday, as it emerged that the UK government was planning to expand contactless pay-as-you-go travel across the country's railway network as part of the priorities for the new state-owned operator Great British Railways (GBR).
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Supreme Court rejects appeals against TikTok ban
TikTok, the popular social media platform owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, will be banned in the United States from Sunday, the US Supreme Court ruled on Friday, unless it is sold to non-Chinese ownership.
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RMT boss Mick Lynch announces his retirement
Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union general secretary Mick Lynch announced his retirement at the age of 63 on Thursday.
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Trump could declare emergency to justify tariffs - report
US president-elect Donald Trump is exploring the option of declaring a national economic emergency to justify implementing a broad new tariff programme, it emerged on Wednesday, according to a report from CNN.
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Nippon Steel, US Steel sue over Biden's blocking of $15bn deal
Nippon Steel and US Steel have filed a federal lawsuit in the United States, it emerged on Monday, contesting the Biden administration's decision to block a proposed $15bn acquisition of US Steel by the Japanese steelmaker.
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Tesla reports first-ever fall in annual deliveries
Tesla reported a decline in annual deliveries for the first time in its history on Thursday, delivering 1. 79 million vehicles in 2024 compared to 1. 81 million in 2023.
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Beijing commits to 'more proactive' stimulus measures
China's leadership committed to "more proactive" fiscal measures and a moderately looser monetary policy for 2025, it emerged overnight on Monday, in a bid to bolster domestic consumption and stabilise key markets.
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South Korean president declares martial law
South Korea's president declared emergency martial law, arguing that it was needed to defend the country from communists in North Korea.
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Retailers warn of £7bn spike in costs from Budget measures
More than 80 leading retail leaders signed an open letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Tuesday, expressing grave concerns about the economic impact of the Autumn Budget on the retail sector.
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Chancellor to shake-up council pension schemes
Rachel Reeves is to use her first Mansion House speech as chancellor to unveil a slew of reforms to UK pension rules.
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China unveils £1.1bn stimulus package
China unveiled its latest stimulus package on Friday, as it looked to tackle surging levels of local government debt and revive the country's flagging economy.
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Chancellor unveils £40bn of tax rises in first Budget
Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled £40bn of tax rises on Wednesday, as she used her long-awaited first Budget to launch a scathing attack the previous government’s fiscal record.
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Consumer confidence falls slightly ahead of Budget
UK consumer confidence fell slightly in October, according to fresh survey results released on Friday, with GfK’s consumer confidence index dropping one point to -21.
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Reeves considering tax hike on Amazon, online retailers - reports
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is considering a tax increase on large e-commerce companies like Amazon in her upcoming budget, according to reports on Tuesday, in a bid to support the UK’s ailing high street.
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EU backs steep tariffs on Chinese EV imports
The European Union is to impose steep tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles, it was confirmed on Friday, after a majority of member states voted in favour.
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Oil prices climb on heightened Middle East fears
Oil prices continued to climb on Wednesday, as fears mounted that conflict was set to spread across the Middle East following Iran's missile attack on Israel.
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UK consumer confidence slides ahead of Budget - BRC
Consumer confidence fell in September, a well-regarded survey showed on Thursday, as people waited anxiously for next month’s Budget.
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Tata Steel secures £500m for Port Talbot; 2,500 jobs lost
The government has agreed to pay Tata Steel £500m to help redevelop the Port Talbot steelworks, it was announced on Wednesday, securing the site’s future.