US threatens to double taxes on UK firms under 91-year-old rule
The White House is drawing up plans that could double the tax rate on the American arms of UK companies, in a move that experts fear could have an even greater impact than the tariffs on British goods unveiled last week. The Trump administration is planning to invoke a 91-year-old rule that gives the president the authority to raise taxes on foreign companies if their home nation imposes levies that are deemed to unfairly target US businesses. Section 891 of the Internal Revenue Code, which gives the president this power, has never been used. On the first day of his second term, Trump ordered his staff to investigate which countries imposed “discriminatory” taxes on US firms. The work was completed last week and senior accountants
Source:The Times
April 06, 2025 11:12 UTC
Britain can fix its non-dom exodus with a £3m ‘gold card’ for the rich
I have been here for two weeks and watched Cate Blanchett soar in The Seagull at the Barbican Theatre, and Rami Malek enthral in Oedipus at the Old Vic. I’ve hacked around the Old Course at Sunningdale Golf Club and marvelled at the cherry blossoms in Holland Park in west London. It is a spring of hope and yet a winter of fiscal despair looms for the country — but a helpful idea comes from an unlikely source: Donald Trump. The spontaneous media reaction to any Trumpian proposition is to pillory, and frequently for good reason. Look under the bonnet, though, and his $5 million “gold card” is a compelling
Source:The Times
April 06, 2025 11:07 UTC
UK readies to protect industry as US tariffs upend old order: Starmer
"The world as we knew it has gone," he wrote.The new world will be governed less by established rules and "more by deals and alliances," added the prime minister. "It demands the best of British virtues -- cool heads, pragmatism and a clear understanding of our national interest," he said.The UK leader reiterated his government's belief that "nobody wins from a trade war" and that the immediate strategy was "to keep calm and fight for the best deal. "This week we will turbocharge plans that will improve our domestic competitiveness," he wrote, ahead of an expected major announcement on industrial strategy. "We stand ready to use industrial policy to help shelter British business from the storm. "Some people may feel uncomfortable about this... but we simply cannot cling on to old sentiments when the world is turning this fast," he added.
Source:The Times
April 06, 2025 10:47 UTC
Bahrain Grand Prix practice, qualifying and race times, UK times, plus weather forecast
Formula 1 heads to Bahrain for the fourth race of the Formula 1 season from 11-13 April. The first three races produced three different winners, with Lando Norris taking the season opener in Australia, his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri triumphing in China a week later and reigning world champion Max Verstappen securing victory in the Japanese Grand Prix. Norris leads the drivers' championship with 62 points but Verstappen's win on Sunday means he is just one point behind.
Source:The Times
April 06, 2025 10:26 UTC
UK ‘stands ready’ to intervene as Trump’s US tariffs disrupt global trade order: PM Starmer
Poll What do you think about the impact of US tariffs on UK goods? I'm indifferent It's a necessary challenge It will hurt the economyPoll Do you believe the UK should adopt a more assertive industrial policy? No, it’s too interventionist. Yes, absolutely. Some people may feel uncomfortable about this... but we simply cannot cling on to old sentiments when the world is turning this fast,” he said.
Source:The Times
April 06, 2025 09:30 UTC
Russian spy devices found tracking UK nuclear submarines: Report
Kremlin's 'greyzone' tacticRussian spy sensors are being deployed to track the UK’s nuclear submarines, a recent report by The Sunday Times revealed.The Royal Navy found some of the covert devices in waterways surrounding Britain, sparking fears that Moscow is secretly monitoring and potentially plotting sabotage against major parts of UK infrastructure, including the country’s four Vanguard-class submarines, which carry Britain’s nuclear missiles.Despite the discovery being flagged as major national security threat by military officials, it remained hidden from the public.“There should be no doubt, there is a war raging in the Atlantic,” a senior military source told The Sunday Times.“This is a game of cat and mouse that has continued since the ending of the Cold War, and is now heating up again. We are seeing phenomenal amounts of Russian activity.”Officials suspect the operation to be a part of Russian President Vladimir Putin ’s wider "greyzone" strategy, an undeclared form of warfare targeting undersea cables, pipelines, and other critical systems, the New York Post reported.In the last 15 months alone, 11 deep-sea communication cables in the Baltic Sea have been damaged, and similar covert surveillance equipment has reportedly washed up along Britain’s coastline.Military operatives have also detected unmanned Russian vehicles near seabed communication lines, which link the UK to the rest of the world. Of the 60 internet cables connected to Britain, some remain undisclosed to the public, according to senior sources.The ministry of defence gathered intelligence suggesting that superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs were used to conduct underwater probe, quietly gathering underwater data.“Our role is to both defeat any threats to the UK as well as take it out of the greyzone,” said captain Simon Pressdee.“We do the latter by understanding who is involved and providing that evidence to avoid misunderstandings who is involved and providing that evidence to avoid misunderstandings and make those who threaten the UK accountable for their actions.”Russian naval presence in UK waters isn’t new, and the government is now ramping up efforts to shield the country’s undersea infrastructure, seeking financial support from private tech and energy firms to help bolster defences.In the short term, a new project codenamed Cabot will be launched to safeguard vital underwater assets in partnership with industries that rely on them.However, some Royal Navy sources believe more aggressive steps should be implimented, including laying sea mines around sensitive areas, a strategy not used since the Cold War.A ministry of defence spokesperson said, “We are committed to enhancing the security of critical offshore infrastructure.”“Alongside our NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force allies, we are strengthening our response to ensure that Russian ships and aircraft cannot operate in secrecy near the UK or near NATO territory, harnessing new technologies like AI and coordinating patrols with our allies. And our continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent continues to patrol the world’s oceans undetected as it has done for 56 years.”
Source:The Times
April 06, 2025 09:20 UTC
UK PM Keir Starmer acknowledges Trump’s tariff logic but calls them wrong
Poll Do you agree with Keir Starmer's stance on tariffs? No, I oppose his view. Yes, I support his view. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to acknowledge the reasoning behind US President Donald Trump’s latest push for tariffs, even as he maintains that such protectionist measures are the wrong approach, according to The Times.In a speech due to be delivered on Sunday, the Labour leader is set to announce that he recognises why Trump's economic nationalism resonates with many voters. Both leaders reportedly agreed that a trade war would benefit no one, though “nothing should be off the table,” according to the report.Trump’s sweeping new tariffs, announced on Wednesday, include a 10% levy on all goods imported from the UK, part of a broader strategy targeting almost every country in the world.
Source:The Times
April 06, 2025 08:19 UTC
Israel detains two UK Labour MPs Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed over alleged plan to 'spread anti-Israel hatred'
(Photo: X)Two British female MPs from the Labour Party were detained and denied entry by Israeli authorities on Saturday, accused of spreading anti-Israel rhetoric and attempting to document the activities of security forces, sparking a diplomatic row between London and Tel Aviv.The MPs, Yuan Yang and Abtisam Mohamed, were part of an official parliamentary delegation when they flew into Israel from Luton Airport. Both were turned back shortly after arrival, with Israeli immigration authorities accusing them of intending “to document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred,” according to a report by Sky News.The MPs have not confirmed these claims. Yang represents Earley and Woodley, while Mohamed is the MP for Sheffield Central.British foreign secretary David Lammy described the treatment of the MPs as “unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning.”“I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support,” Lammy said in a statement on Saturday.He added, “The UK government’s focus remains securing a return to the ceasefire and negotiations to stop the bloodshed, free the hostages and end the conflict in Gaza.”The detention and deportation of Yang and Mohamed have raised fresh questions about Israel’s stance towards foreign lawmakers, especially amid ongoing criticism of its military actions in Gaza.Israeli forces resumed full-scale operations last month following the collapse of a brief truce with Hamas. Since then, the health ministry in Gaza says at least 1,249 people have been killed in renewed strikes. This brings the total number of Palestinian deaths since the conflict began to over 50,000.The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures reported by AFP.The exact reason for the MPs’ visit is still unclear, but Israeli officials said the two planned to watch and film security forces.
Source:The Times
April 06, 2025 02:15 UTC
Somerset hotel ranked one of the best UK stays under £150
The Manor House Inn, in Ditcheat, near Bruton, Somerset, has gained recognition from the Times after new ownership, Chickpea Group, bought the historic house in March 2024. The Somerset hotel has been ranked as one of the best UK stays under £150 in a top 33 list, also coming in as the sole representation of the county of Somerset. The Manor House Inn reopened at the end of January this year after receiving a fresh new look from Chickpea Group. A stay at the historic Somerset house will set you back anywhere from £130 a night, with main meals available from £18. You can find the Manor House Inn at Wraxall Rd, Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6RB.
Source:The Times
April 05, 2025 23:22 UTC
U.K. Labour Lawmaker Suspended From Party After Arrest
Britain’s governing Labour Party on Saturday said it had suspended Dan Norris, one of its lawmakers in Parliament, after he was arrested by the police. Mr. Morris “was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest,” the party said in a statement, adding that it “cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.”The party did not specify why Mr. Norris, 65, had been arrested, and he did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. In Britain, the police typically do not disclose the name of suspects unless they are charged. The BBC said that Mr. Norris was arrested on suspicion of rape, child sex offenses, child abduction and misconduct in a public office.
Source:The Times
April 05, 2025 21:25 UTC
Revealed: Russia’s secret war in UK waters
Russian sensors suspected of attempting to spy on the UK’s nuclear submarines have been found hidden in the seas around Britain. The discovery by the British military was deemed a potential threat to national security and has never been made public. Several were found after they washed ashore, while others are understood to have been located by the Royal Navy. The devices are believed to have been planted by Moscow to try and gather intelligence on Britain’s four Vanguard submarines, which carry nuclear missiles. One of these submarines is always at sea under what is known as the UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent.
Source:The Times
April 05, 2025 21:15 UTC
Elton John on ‘distressing’ sight loss as he is unable to see his boys play
Sir Elton added: “I can’t read. I can’t see my boys playing rugby and soccer, and it has been a very stressful time because I’m used to soaking it all up. Sir Elton has previously said his eye issues have impacted his ability to record music and left him feeling “stuck”. Sir Elton also said he became “frustrated” when “they stood up to me”. Sir Elton has two children, Zachary and Elijah, with his husband, filmmaker David Furnish.
Source:The Times
April 05, 2025 19:48 UTC
UK's Starmer and France's Macron share concerns over tariff impacts
(You can now subscribe to our(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channelBritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron shared their concerns over the economic and security impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs when they spoke on Saturday, Starmer's office said. "They agreed that a trade war was in nobody's interests, but nothing should be off the table," the statement from Downing Street said. "The prime minister and president also shared their concerns about the global economic and security impact, particularly in Southeast Asia. "The pair agreed to stay in close contact over the coming weeks.
Source:The Times
April 05, 2025 19:39 UTC
I visited the tranquil Northumberland market town named among the best places in the UK to live
The Times praised Morpeth for its shops, facilities and friendliness, describing it as feeling "tranquil rather than sleepy". She said: "I live within walking distance of doctors, dentists and opticians, that makes life very easy. But I do still love Morpeth and I come to see my mum here every weekend." (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)Morpeth's appeal doesn't just extend to those who live there or want to move to the town. Steve and Babs Roberts from Merseyside have visited Morpeth for the last 30 years as part of their annual holiday.
Source:The Times
April 05, 2025 19:13 UTC
British Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover Pauses Shipments to U.S.
For them, setting up manufacturing in the United States hasn’t been economical, leaving them without an easy way to circumnavigate tariffs. Jaguar Land Rover sells about a fifth of its cars in the United States. At the same time, officials are consulting with businesses over the next four weeks on a list of U.S. imports that could face retaliatory British tariffs. Britain’s trade with the United States is heavily skewed toward services. In 2023, Britain imported about £58 billion of goods and exported about £60 billion to the United States, according to the British Office for National Statistics.
Source:The Times
April 05, 2025 18:01 UTC