National/regional news and analysis

Spending review delivers big boosts for health and defence – but Rachel Reeves is focused on investment

06/11/2025 The Conversation UK

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves has delivered the government’s spending review, setting out its plans and priorities for the next three years. The aim of the review is of course to allocate spending over that time period – but this government is keen for economic growth and so has directed the funds to try to boost GDP. This approach could work but is particularly challenging in an uncertain global environment.

Where should governments spend your money? The impossible maths of political and moral decisions

06/11/2025 The Conversation UK

Whenever the UK government decides to spend public money on a new project, it needs to weigh up the costs against the value of the benefits it hopes to achieve. And it’s rarely a simple calculation.

This is why Chancellor Rachel Reeves is changing the Treasury’s “green book” of rules which dictate how investment plans are made. Those rules, and the calculations they support, do not always work.

You’re probably richer than you think because of the safety net – but you’d have more of that hidden wealth if you lived in Norway

06/11/2025 The Conversation USA

You may be wealthier than you realize. Deagreez/iStock via Getty Images PlusHow wealthy are you?

Like most people, you probably would do some math before answering this question. You would add up the money in your bank accounts, the value of your investments and any equity in a home you own, then subtract your debts, such as mortgages and car loans.

U.S. Court Agrees to Keep Trump Tariffs Intact as Appeal Gets Underway

06/10/2025 New York Times USA

The appeals court’s decision delivered an important but interim victory for the Trump administration.

Trump Administration Holds Trade Talks With China as Fight Over Rare Earths Escalates

06/10/2025 New York Times USA

Officials from the world’s largest economies will try to strike a deal Tuesday to relax painful export restrictions that they have imposed on each other.

European Union Unveils Fresh Sanctions on Russia, Including a Nord Stream Ban

06/10/2025 New York Times USA

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, announced a proposal meant to ramp up pressure on Moscow.

Trump Aides Urge Court to Spare Tariffs as They Dismiss Worries in Public

06/10/2025 New York Times USA

There are dueling narratives as the administration seeks to preserve a set of tariffs recently deemed to be illegal.

Why the salmon on your plate contains less omega-3 than it used to – and how the industry can address that

06/10/2025 The Conversation UK

Maria_Usp/ShutterstockFarmed Atlantic salmon has become one of the most highly traded food commodities in the world, enjoyed for its versatility as much as for its health benefits. It has long been known that eating oily fish such as salmon is the best way to consume long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Spending review: Rachel Reeves is about to make a £600 billion gamble on growth

06/10/2025 The Conversation UK

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves faces her biggest test with the government’s departmental spending plans for the three years from next April until the general election. With nearly £600 billion a year to spend, her decisions will impact on every aspect of public life and shape the political weather for years to come.

For Trump’s ‘no taxes on tips,’ the devil is in the details

06/10/2025 The Conversation USA

President Donald Trump’s promise to eliminate taxes on tips may sound like a windfall for service workers — but the fine print in Congress’ latest tax bill tells a more complex story.

National/regional news and analysis

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