Warning over fragile public finances as borrowing rises

The owner of a small pub chain in the south east of England has said his costs will rise by £62,000 per year after changes announced in the Budget. Phil Thorley, who runs the Thorley Taverns pub group, said business rates – a tax on commercial properties – will rise for 17 of his 18…

“Advertising on our platform is already helping thousands of British businesses reach new customers, increase sales and create jobs, while our new ad-free option gives people greater control over their experience,” said Kris Boger, TikTok’s UK managing director.

One month into the Iran war, US petrol prices are beginning to hurt consumers at the pump. Iran has effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil shipping channels, since the US and Israel attacked it on 28 February. And it means the average price of petrol at the pump…

Yunus MullaNorth West, Blackpool BBC Lisa Parkinson has been volunteering for three-and-a-half years for the Big Food Project in Blackpool A woman who began volunteering at a foodbank that “got us through a very difficult time” says it is her way of “giving back”. Lisa Parkinson started working for the Big Food Project in Blackpool…

Vital supplies of US liquefied natural gas are due to start flowing into war-ravaged Ukraine this winter via a pipeline across the Balkans. The deal was announced after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens on Sunday. Greece is working to increase the flow of American LNG to its terminals…