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The Papers: 'UK economy takes triple hit' and 'Cheers, Timmy!'

UK. But on Wall Street, banks have "smashed records" with their first-quarter earnings, according to [the Financial Times](https://www.ft.com/content/0b8fe58f-e392-4aa4-b3cd-c75f566d495e?syn-25a6b1a6=1), as traders benefit from the volatility in global markets. [The Daily Mail

Could key climate talks mark ground zero in global push to ditch fossil fuels?

governments to the dangers. “The fossil fuel cost crisis now has its foot on the throat of the global economy,” he said. “Those who have fought to keep the world hooked on fossil fuels

Zero-hours contracts: ministers’ detailed plans for ban criticised by firms and unions

government’s preferred option. It will be possible for workers to choose to be a zero-hours contract but they will be eligible for compensation if their shifts are changed at short notice. [More than

Vets advise ban on over the counter flea treatment for pets

UK should be banned, a panel of vets has told a parliamentary inquiry. Some environmental scientists have flagged two parasiticides found in most spot-on treatments to kill fleas and ticks on cats and dogs

Reinstate windfall tax on banks after surge in profits, TUC urges

UK’s largest banks according to trade union leaders, after the big four lenders reported almost £14bn in first-quarter profits, partly fuelled by market turbulence caused by the Iran war. The Trades Union Congress

Starmer tells MPs to ‘fight together’ before critical day for his premiership

government before crucial elections next week. Brown urged Labour MPs to “put the needs of the country first” at a time when there are “conflicts raging around the world” with serious consequences for the UK

Tony Blair says Labour must abandon net zero, support Trump and cut benefits

government”. While Labour is likely to lose many more seats to Reform than the Greens in a general election, most analysts of the recent local elections suggest that it loses four times as many votes

Austria expels three Russian embassy staff on suspicion of spying

government phones and secure laptops to Moscow at the behest of [Jan Marsalek](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/07/spy-ring-trial-whos-who-spymaster-ringleader-minions), the fugitive Austrian-born former chief operating officer of Wirecard, a collapsed German payments firm. ![Posters of Interpol

From oil giants to banks - these companies are making billions from Iran war

governments. But while some have been pushed to the brink, others, whose core businesses are more profitable in a war or who benefit from volatile energy prices, have seen record earnings. Here are some

The key plans laid out in the King's Speech

government's much-amended **Northern Ireland Troubles Bill**, to create a new commission to investigate Troubles-related killings, also featured - Powers to deliver a new voluntary digital ID scheme to access public services are contained

London stabbing of journalist was by men working for Iran, court told

UK had "become targets of Iranian intimidation and, effectively, of Iranian terror". He said that in November 2022 posters had been put up in the Iranian capital Tehran which included a picture of Zeraati, under

McSweeney denies bullying civil servants into appointing Mandelson

UK, before an evidence hearing with MPs next week. Keir Starmer’s former chief of staff resigned in February over his role in the hiring of Mandelson, but the move failed to end the crisis

Smacking children could lead to lower GCSE grades, study suggests

UK between 2000 and 2002 at the ages of three, five and seven. They observed that smacking "does no good whatsoever" and have called for England and Northern Ireland to outlaw it, in line with

Former prosecutor calls for EU statute blocking US sanctions on ICC members

government in particular – as host to the ICC in The Hague – has done little to protect ICC judges facing crippling sanctions or individual intimidation. Bensouda, a Gambian lawyer currently serving as the west African country

Bulgaria votes as pro-Russian former president leads in the polls

government fell amid protests against a new budget proposing tax rises and higher social security contributions. That and the recent political crisis appear to be as important to voters as Radev’s calls to improve

‘No other plan comes close’: Labour MPs turn to Burnham as pressure mounts on Starmer

government when he fights his eventual parliamentary byelection campaign, with several possible seats identified in Greater Manchester and Merseyside. Pledges would include sweeping reforms to the electoral system – backing the introduction of proportional representation across

Reform UK council backs release of beavers amid party row over rewilding

UK](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/brexit-party) council has backed the release of wild beavers into the countryside, despite the party’s opposition to rewilding. The Reform-led Leicestershire county council has backed the release of the rodents

JLR and General Motors eye £900m contract to build new range of military trucks

UK carmaker to turn to the newly booming defence sector as manufacturers grapple with a [transition to electric vehicles](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/21/west-carmakers-retreat-electric-vehicle-risks-irrelevance-iran-war-evs-china) and rising competition from Chinese rivals. In Germany, Volkswagen has been in talks

Nigel Farage’s Russian hack claim ‘without any merit’, former NCSC chief says

UK leader had yet to provide “a shred of evidence”. It is understood that Farage is yet to ask the NCSC to investigate his apparent belief that the Guardian’s revelation of the multimillion-pound

Rachel Reeves tells foul-mouthed Reform UK heckler good manners matter

UK](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/brexit-party) supporter. As he walked into the station to pay, he shouted: “Get [Keir Starmer](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/keir-starmer) fuckinging out.” When he left in his van, he continued to yell