The Guardian

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, including Rachel Reeves’s Mais lecture at Bayes Business School in LondonThe number of people in England and Wales falling into insolvency has jumped.There were 11,609 individual insolvencies registered in England and Wales in February, the Insolvency Service has reported this morning. This was 18% higher than in February 2025 and 6% higher than in January 2026.The individual insolvencies consisted of 768 bankruptcies, 4,210 debt relief orders (DROs) and 6,631 individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs). The number of DROs in February 2026 was a record high in the monthly time series going back

Emily Thornberry is the latest figure to call on the king’s visit to the US to be delayed, citing the ongoing war against IranNigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, Robert Jenrick, his Treasury spokersperson, and Richard Tice, his business spokesperson, are holding their press conference now. As the BBC reports, they will commit the party to getting rid of VAT and green levies on energy bills.There is a live feed here.This strategy will provide unprecedented funding for local media outlets to invest in innovation and infrastructure, almost tripling the size of funding for community radio, harnessing the power of local

Michele Bullock says high inflation hurts everyone, but there still seems to be an extraordinary level of complacency about potential fallout from the US-Israel war on IranGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Reserve Bank has made some controversial calls over recent years, but hiking interest rates in the middle of a historic global energy shock is right up there.If this Middle East conflict lasts for months, not weeks, and drags the world and our economy down, then Tuesday’s decision to increase households’ borrowing costs will not age well. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/mar/17/the-rba-has-made-one-of-its-most-controversial-calls-in-recent-years-and-this-rate-rise-may-not-age-well Author

Liz Kendall announces £1bn funding to help design large-scale quantum computers for scientists, researchers, public sector and businessThe UK will not let quantum computing talent slip through its fingers and must learn lessons from US dominance of the AI race, the technology secretary has said, as the government announced a £1bn quantum funding pledge.Liz Kendall said the government hoped to retain homegrown quantum startups, engineers and researchers rather than lose them to competing countries, with the US stealing a march on its western rivals in AI. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/17/uk-must-learn-lessons-from-ai-race-and-retain-its-quantum-computing-talent-says-minister Author : Dan Milmo Global technology editor Publish

Trump says delay of ‘a month or so’ requested while key official insists move is not to pressure Beijing to help unblock strait of Hormuz; Iraqi officials say drones and rockets attacked embassyEuropean countries reject Trump’s call for help to reopen strait of HormuzHow have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Are fuel price increases making you cut back?The United Arab Emirates’ air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone attacks from Iran, the Gulf state’s ministry of defence has just said. It posted on social media that sounds being heard there are from air defences

Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman says death toll has reached 400 people ‘so far’ as Islamabad denies targeting facility for drug addictsHeavy casualties were feared in Kabul after a hospital that treats drug users was hit by airstrikes, which Afghanistan blamed on Pakistan’s military.Pakistan dismissed the accusation, saying the strikes on Monday – which were also launched against eastern Afghanistan – did not hit any civilian sites. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/16/afghanistan-accuses-pakistan-of-kabul-hospital-strike-killed Author : Guardian staff and Associated Press Publish date : 2026-03-17 01:08:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Meanwhile energy minister says it will take ‘some time’ for extra fuel supply to reach regional areas. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo men charged with murder after man fatally shot in Sydney unitTwo men have been charged with murder after a gangland-linked shooting at a suburban apartment complex that left one man dead and another injured, AAP reports. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/mar/17/bowen-rba-interest-rates-decision-cost-of-living-inflation-fuel-price-shortages-petrol-jim-chalmers-economy-war-iran-anthony-albanese-ntwnfb Author : Nick Visser Publish date : 2026-03-16 22:39:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

British version of the topical US comedy show will air live on Sky One and will be written in the week before broadcastTina Fey, Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed have been named as the first three guest hosts of the UK spin-off of Saturday Night Live.The first episode of the long-awaited British version of the US late-night comedy show will air live on Sky on 21 March. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/mar/16/tina-fey-jamie-dornan-riz-ahmed-first-three-guest-hosts-of-uk-saturday-night-live Author : Matty Edwards Publish date : 2026-03-16 20:18:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Candidates look for deals with rivals to boost chances as major seats including Paris, Marseille and Lyon appear tightPolitical parties in France are hastily attempting to negotiate strategic alliances before the final round of local elections this weekend, after a strong showing by the far right and the radical left.This Sunday’s final-round vote for mayors and local councillors in major cities including Marseille, Lyon and Paris is expected to be close. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/16/french-political-parties-alliances-local-elections Author : Angelique Chrisafis in Paris Publish date : 2026-03-16 17:58:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Leaders seek a diplomatic solution despite US president’s threat of ‘a very bad future’ for Nato unless it provides warshipsMiddle East crisis – live updatesEuropean countries have ruled out sending warships to the strait of Hormuz, despite threats from Donald Trump that Nato faces “a very bad future” if members fail to help reopen the vital waterway.Germany ruled out participation in any military activity, including efforts to reopen the strait. “This is not our war, we have not started it,” said the country’s defence minister, Boris Pistorius. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/16/europe-donald-trump-strait-hormuz-iran Author : Jennifer Rankin in Brussels and

President accuses court of having ‘unnecessarily RANSACKED’ the US and claims he has ‘absolute right’ to impose new tariffsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxGood morning and welcome to the US politics liveblog.In a late-night social media post, Donald Trump has claimed he has the “absolute right” to impose new tariffs after the supreme court ruled many of the import duties he imposed last year were illegal.Our Supreme Court has made these Countries very happy but, as the Court pointed out, I have the absolute right to charge TARIFFS in another form,

Magnusson’s 2017 bestseller The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning turned the Scandinavian decluttering practice into a global phenomenonSwedish author and artist Margareta Magnusson, whose book on “death cleaning” became a global phenomenon, has died aged 92.Magnusson’s 2017 book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, introduced international readers to the concept of döstädning – the practice of sorting through and giving away possessions in later life so that family members are not left with the burden of doing so after one’s death. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/mar/16/margareta-magnusson-swedish-death-cleaning-author-dies-age-92 Author : Emma Loffhagen Publish date : 2026-03-16 10:13:00 Copyright for

Israeli military says it has begun ‘limited and targeted’ ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon; airport flights resume after ‘drone-related incident’How have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Continued from previous post:Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has said she has no immediate plans to send her country’s maritime self-defence forces to help protect tanker traffic in the strait of Homuz.We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done ⁠within the legal framework.I would like to ⁠engage in solid discussions based

US supreme court has ‘ransacked’ the country, president argues, in wake of its ruling against his trade agendaDonald Trump has claimed he has “the absolute right” to impose new tariffs after the US supreme court ruled many of the import duties he imposed last year were illegal.The president attacked the court in a late night broadside on Sunday, accusing it of having “unnecessarily RANSACKED” the US – and failing to show him sufficient loyalty. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/16/trump-tariffs-absolute-right-claim-supreme-court-ruling Author : Callum Jones Publish date : 2026-03-16 05:09:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Primary school teacher Pavel Talankin’s record of the indoctrination of his pupils to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine beats contendersOscars 2026 – follow the action live!The winners: the full list – updating liveMr Nobody Against Putin, a primary school teacher’s record of the indoctrination of his pupils to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has won the Oscar for best documentary.Pavel Talankin, who is now in exile in Europe, picked up the award alongside the film’s US co-director, David Borenstein. It beat favourite The Perfect Neighbor to take the prize, along with other contenders The Alabama Solution, Come See Me in

Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDiscovery of fire ant nest at New Farm park reflects growing need to deal with threat, group saysLast week, the Invasive Species Council said fire ant nests had been detected and destroyed in World Heritage rainforest in the Gold Coast hinterland. The ants have also been detected on sporting fields across Brisbane and surrounds, including at Mount Gravatt, Rocklea, Coorparoo and the Redlands.That’s an iconic location in Brisbane. If we don’t eradicate fire ants, this is going to happen everywhere in the country. Brisbane is getting a

Students in Canterbury given antibiotics for fast-acting and invasive meningococcal disease, says UKHSATwo people have died and 11 are reportedly seriously ill in hospital after an outbreak of a rare form of invasive meningitis at the University of Kent.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it had provided antibiotics to students in the Canterbury area after it detected 13 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a combination of meningitis and septicaemia. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/mar/15/two-die-and-11-seriously-ill-in-meningitis-outbreak-at-university-of-kent Author : Matty Edwards Publish date : 2026-03-15 21:42:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Senator Ron Johnson pushes back, saying he’s not in favor of government meddling in freedom of speechThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair, Brendan Carr, is facing pushback from a Republican lawmaker after warning on Saturday that broadcasters could lose their licenses if they run what the federal agency deems “fake news” over the Iran conflict.Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said in an interview on the Sunday Briefing on Fox News that he was not in favor of the government control of private enterprise or efforts to meddle with freedom of speech protected under the constitution. Continue reading... Source link :

Israeli military also says on social media brother of Ayman Mohamad Ghazali was ‘eliminated in airstrike last week’Israel’s military claimed on Sunday that the brother of the recent Michigan synagogue attacker was a Hezbollah commander responsible for managing weapons in a unit that has launched “hundreds of rockets toward Israeli civilians”.In a statement posted on X, the IDF claimed that Ibrahim Mohamad Ghazali – brother of Ayman Mohamad Ghazali – was a Hezbollah commander within a specialized branch of the Badr unit. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/15/michigan-synagogue-attacker-brother-hezbollah-commander Author : Edward Helmore Publish date : 2026-03-15 16:36:00 Copyright for syndicated

Tommy Thompson refused to give up the location of 500 missing coins found in a historic shipwreckA US treasure hunter who was imprisoned for 10 years after refusing to reveal the location of missing gold coins has been released from prison, without officials apparently ever learning where that gold is.Tommy Thompson – a renowned salvager who in 1998 found the long-lost, so-called Ship of Gold near South Carolina – was freed from federal prison on 4 March, records and reports recently indicated. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/15/treasure-hunter-gold-coins-shipwreck Author : Victoria Bekiempis Publish date : 2026-03-15 14:12:00 Copyright for syndicated

Advisers say to ‘assume the cameras are always rolling’ as exchanges can be decoded in seconds and posted onlineRoyals and celebrities are being warned by their representatives and advisers to watch what they say when they are out of the house – or palace – as a lip-reading phenomenon means videos can be posted online and translated in seconds.Prince William was recently embroiled after a video of him speaking to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was translated by an expert lip-reader who was working as part of a forthcoming Channel 5 documentary, Lip-Reading the Royals. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/15/royals-and-celebrities-warned-to-watch-words-as-lip-reading-videos-go-viral Author :

Criminals exploiting Middle East crisis by targeting customers seeking help or refunds from affected carriersYour flight has been delayed as a result of the Middle East crisis and you want to find out what’s happening, so you go online for an answer. You find a social media account run by the airline you are booked with and post a question, and get a reply offering help.You’re asked to send a direct message with details, which seems reasonable. A conversation starts and you are told to give your phone number as you may be due compensation. This is where it all

In 2023, what were thought to be Nazar Daletskyi’s remains were buried in his home village and his mother, Nataliia, visited the grave every week. Three years later, he spoke to her on the phoneNazar Daletskyi was declared dead in May 2023. The DNA match left no room for doubt, officials told his mother, Nataliia. A Ukrainian soldier who volunteered for the front in the early weeks of the war, Nazar had become one more casualty of Russia’s invasion.Nazar’s remains were laid to rest in the cemetery of his home village. In the months after the funeral, Nataliia visited the

US president said he did not want to make a deal with Iran yet, while claiming that he might hit Kharg Island again ‘just for fun’How have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Israel says it has identified missiles that were launched from Iran a short while ago, towards its territory.In a post online, the military said defence systems are “operating to intercept the threat”, while warning citizens to enter protective spaces. Continue reading... Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/mar/15/iran-war-news-live-updates-us-israel-middle-east-crisis-latest-kharg-island Author : Jonathan Yerushalmy Publish date : 2026-03-15 03:55:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

Underquoting and ‘dummy bidding’ will attract fines of $110,000 in bid to create a ‘fair property market’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales government will introduce new laws this week to force property sellers to publish a price guide on all advertising, and impose a fivefold increase to fines for underquoting real estate agents.The government says the draft laws, first flagged last year, are aimed at cracking down on agents providing misleading price estimates on property listings, a practice often used to inflate interest. Continue