News

Public sector borrowing has surged past official expectations, piling pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of next week's Spring Statement. The data raises concerns about the Chancellor's ability to meet her fiscal rules, particularly the requirement to cover day-to-day spending with tax revenues within five years and reduce debt as a share of GDP in the final year of the OBR's forecast.

JD Wetherspoon's shares plunged after the pub chain reported lower-than-expected profits despite solid sales growth, blaming higher labor and utility costs for the dip in performance. The company remains optimistic about its future prospects but faces challenges from rising costs and a competitive market.

The BBC, ITV, BT, and IMG have been fined a total of £4.2 million for colluding on pay rates for freelance sports broadcasting staff, impacting workers behind the scenes of major sporting events. The companies have admitted their involvement and committed to improving compliance measures and ensuring fair pay for freelancers in the future.

The UK is on track to deliver full-fibre broadband to nearly every household by 2027, marking a major milestone in its digital infrastructure ambitions. This will provide faster, better broadband for people and businesses across the country, fueling economic growth and enabling technologies like artificial intelligence to benefit everyone.

Tesla faces global challenges with falling share prices and boycotts, while its Chinese rival BYD gains traction with groundbreaking battery technology. Meanwhile, other global news includes a Japanese startup enabling auto loans for drivers without credit, a fraud scandal in Singapore, the rise of vanadium batteries in China, increasing Chinese migration to Japan, and the growing role of female chefs in India's fine dining scene.