Author: Liam Porter

In a political landscape where the traditional left struggles to even mention the working class, let alone articulate a compelling vision for them, Nigel Farage and Reform UK are playing a shrewd hand. This week they will add to their political momentum with a bold, headline-grabbing policy: the Britannia Card – a commitment to tax the rich to put money in the pockets of the poor. This isn’t just policy; it’s political theatre, designed to resonate deeply with an electorate hungry for tangible change, mixed with an idea of British patriotism.Reform’s proposal is deceptively simple: anyone seeking to live in…

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for freeYour guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the worldDonald Trump’s commitment to Nato should not worry allies as long as they drastically increase their defence spending, according to the alliance’s secretary-general at the outset of a summit designed to placate the US president.While many European allies, including Germany, France and the UK have committed to meet Trump’s new target of 5 per cent of GDP on defence over the next decade, Spain has secured an opt-out, increasing the likelihood of a clash at the Nato leaders’ meeting in…

According to a new report from the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA), global EV sales will surpass 20 million in 2025, accounting for more than a quarter of cars sold worldwide. In the first three months of 2025, electric car sales worldwide were up 35 percent over the previous year. And, adds the IEA, market share is on course to exceed 40 percent by 2030 as EVs—smaller, cheaper ones, mainly—become increasingly affordable in more markets.Almost half of all car sales in China last year were electric. Emerging markets in Asia and Latin America have also become new centers of growth,…

It was a historic scene at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, when Czech filmmaker Zuzana Kirchnerová climbed the stairs of the Lumière Theater for the premiere of her long-gestating debut feature “Caravan,” the first time in more than three decades that a Czech majority production played in the French fest’s official selection. While the Cannes triumph was a crowning moment for the debutante director, it also marked the latest in a series of watershed achievements for the Czech industry. Beyond the Croisette, Czech directors are becoming a staple at prestigious festivals, including Venice, Berlin and Annecy, reflecting a steady growth…

You may be familiar with the feeling. Someone factchecks you mid-conversation or discredits your dishwasher-loading technique. Heat rises to your face; you might feel defensive, embarrassed or angry. Do you insist you’re right or can you accept the correction?Admitting to being wrong can be difficult and uncomfortable. But the ability to admit to incorrect ideas or beliefs – what psychologists call “intellectual humility” – is important. Research shows that people with higher intellectual humility think more critically, and are less biased and less prone to dogmatism.People high in intellectual humility “are able to acknowledge the limits of their knowledge and…

The Boston Celtics are trading Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks in the first major trade since the end of the NBA Finals. It’s a fairly rare trade in that the recent champion Celtics are giving away the well-known veteran while the younger rebuilding team is giving away young talent in a win-now effort.So what does the deal mean? And who won the deal? Let’s grade both Boston’s and Portland’s performance in Monday’s surprise blockbuster. Jrue Holiday trade: Celtics send All-Star guard to Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and picks, per report…

The BBC’s Wyre Davies has visited the scene of an Iranian missile attack on a residential building in Beersheba, Israel. According to search and rescue teams the building took a direct hit in the early hours, killing at least four people. Three of the dead were sheltering inside a “safe room”.Follow live updates on this story.

Peter SaullPolitical editor, BBC East MidlandsBBCLabour’s Natalie Fleet said she used to tell her friends: “I can’t be an MP – I was a teenage parent””You’ve ruined your life, not only for you, but for your unborn daughter.”Natalie Fleet fell pregnant at 15 and says she was made to feel like it was entirely her fault, despite being a victim of statutory rape.The Labour MP for Bolsover in Derbyshire is now campaigning to change the law to stop rapists having parental rights – and says she has the the prime minister’s backing.Fleet grew up on a council estate in Sutton-in-Ashfield…

A Rolls-Royce Spectre all electric luxury coupe is displayed at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars dealership showroom in London.John Keeble | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesRepublicans are trying to make good on President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to give Americans a tax break on their car loan interest. However, as structured, most households wouldn’t get a substantial financial benefit, economists said.House and Senate Republicans proposed giving drivers a tax deduction of up to $10,000 on annual interest for new auto loans in their so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The tax break would be temporary, ending after 2028.But few drivers pay…

Crypto company Digital Asset said Tuesday that it’s netted $135 million in funding from a raft of major names in banking and finance.The firm, which touts itself as a regulated crypto player, said it raised the fresh cash in a funding round co-led by DRW and Tradeweb, with Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas and Ken Griffin’s Citadel Securities also investing.The investment highlights how large financial institutions are embedding themselves in the once murky world of cryptocurrencies.Previously associated with fraud, money laundering and other illicit activities, digital assets have become a more mainstream asset class over the years as big names like…