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Labour figures uneasy about Healey’s ‘underpowered’ approach to budget

Chancellor faces global volatility and soaring energy costs as some insiders worry lack of clarity could trigger fresh market shockSenior Labour figures are privately voicing unease about John Healey’s approach to his crucial first budget this month, against the backdrop of volatile global markets and soaring energy costs.The chancellor’s work has been made significantly harder by the global bond sell-off, which continues to raise the cost of government borrowing, and ever increasing energy prices as Donald Trump continues the US war with Iran. Continue reading...

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‘Total class act’: Marie-France van Heel is poised to be a very different PM’s wife

The former marketing executive is expected to play a big role in promoting the UK and could be the most influential spouse in No 10 in yearsSarah Brown called Gordon her hero, Samantha Cameron insisted David was “incredibly funny”, while Akshata Murty said Rishi was her best friend. When Marie-France van Heel spoke about her husband, Andy Burnham, in a rare public interview a decade ago, she joked that she had noticed his “good looks … and monobrow”.The spousal humanising of a party leader is a well-worn political tool, but van Heel is likely to be a very different prime ministerial partner. The former senior marketing executive is poised to play a more significant role in promoting Britain than any other spouse in the last two decades, stepping up her political engagements after stepping back from her own corporate career. Continue reading...

US borrowing costs hit 24-year high as global bond sell-off intensifies

Fears that US deficit is unsustainable also drive UK 30-year bond yields briefly above 6% for first time since 1998Business live – latest updatesThe global bond sell-off intensified on Thursday, driving 10-year US government borrowing costs to their highest level in 24 years in a frantic day’s trading.The threat of a renewed round of inflation from the persistently high cost of oil has spooked investors on both sides of the Atlantic, with central banks expected to raise interest rates in the coming months to prevent price increases from becoming embedded. Continue reading...

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France school protests escalate into ‘urban violence’ as PM calls crisis cabinet meeting

About 900 demonstrations, blockades and related incidents under way outside high schools around the countryA fast-growing protest by high-school students over long hours, teacher shortages and decaying facilities has escalated into “urban violence”, the French government has warned, as it said many schools would switch to online classes to protect teachers and pupils.The prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, called a crisis cabinet meeting on Thursday and told ministers to cancel travel plans to deal with the demonstrations, which erupted in the Paris region last week but have snowballed across the country. Continue reading...

NAZA film-makers say they spoke to more than 100 sources about Israeli actions in Gaza

Team behind documentary push back against IDF attempt to discredit its exposure of military systemsThe team behind the award-winning film NAZA, which details the Israeli military’s targeting policies in Gaza and its alleged acceptance of high numbers of civilian deaths, have revealed they spoke to more than 100 sources with knowledge of the military systems used in the war.The disclosure came in response to an Israel Defense Forces statement seeking to discredit the documentary. Continue reading...