Britain’s biggest weapons manufacturer, BAE Systems, has reported record orders as the European defence industry gears up for increased spending sparked by the Ukraine war. The company, a member of the FTSE 100, said it expected sales next year to top £30bn, as it reported annual profits before interest and tax of more than £3bn…
A sign is posted in front of a home for sale in San Rafael, California, on Aug. 7, 2024. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Mortgage rates dipped slightly last week, but so did mortgage demand, as housing affordability continues to sideline potential buyers. Total mortgage application volume fell 6.6% for the week, according to the…
KFC, the fast food chain previously known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, has come in for some heat after announcing plans to move its corporate headquarters from the state after which it is named to Texas. The chain’s parent company, Yum! Brands, told investors it would move about 100 employees from its office in Louisville, Kentucky,…
Published Wed, Feb 19 20256:00 AM EST Morgan Chittum@morgan_chittum Marquee at the main entrance to BlackRock headquarters building in Manhattan. Erik Mcgregor | Lightrocket | Getty Images BlackRock has been on a buying spree that will change the makeup of the world’s biggest asset manager. More In Analysis We’re sitting on a pile of cash.…
Clean energy contributed a record 10% of China’s gross domestic product in 2024, an analysis has found. With sales and investments worth 13.6tn yuan (£1.5tn; $1.9tn), the sector has now overtaken real estate sales in value. Solar power, electric vehicles (EVs) and batteries have all played a major role in the dramatic growth of Chinese…
More than 150 whales have stranded on a beach near Arthur River, on Tasmania’s remote north-west coast. A group of 157 animals that appear to be false killer whales have stranded, according to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, with initial observations showing 136 animals were still alive. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s…
Elected politicians who deliberately lie could be forced from office under proposals designed to put Wales at the forefront of the “global challenge” to restore trust in politics. Radical changes suggested by the Welsh parliament standards committee would also make candidates in elections liable to criminal prosecution for making any false statement to win votes.…
Donald Trump has signed an executive order to expand access to in vitro fertilization (IVF). The order directs the domestic policy council to make recommendations to “aggressively” reduce the costs for accessing IVF, according to a White House fact sheet. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said on Twitter/X that the order was evidence…
Donald Trump stood firm against warnings that his threatened trade war risks derailing the US economy, claiming his administration could hit foreign cars with tariffs of around 25% within weeks. Semiconductor chips and drugs are set to face higher duties, Trump told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday. The White House has repeatedly raised…
Rick Buckler, the drummer of the rock group The Jam, has died aged 69 after a short illness. In a statement, his management company said Buckley “passed away peacefully on Monday evening in Woking after a short illness with family by his side”. The statement described him as a “loving husband, father and grandfather” who…
