Video appears to show football star refer to Mao Zedong as a ‘dictator’ Dongpeng Beverage and Mengniu end deals with France captain Kylian Mbappé was dropped Tuesday by two major brands in China after a video circulated online in which the French football superstar apparently joked about former leader Mao Zedong. In China jokes about Mao, the country’s founding leader who died in 1976, are considered disrespectful and remain a social taboo. Continue reading...
Kylian Mbappé dropped by Chinese brands for ‘offending national sentiments’
Source: The Guardian
Original reporting
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HSBC profits surge 32%, sparking fresh calls for bank taxes in the budget – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news The TUC are also urging the Chancellor to increase taxes on banks in tomorrow’s Budget, arguing the sector could pay tens of billions of pounds more. Rather than simply reversing Jeremy Hunt’s cut to the bank surcharge from 8% to 3%, the TUC argue that the surcharge – additional corporation tax – should be increased further. “Some in the finance lobby have tried every which way to stop tax rises in the Budget. But these results make it blatantly obvious banks can afford to contribute more. “It’s not just HSBC. Barclays announced bumper profits last week too. And Britain’s big four banks have made more than £200bn in profit over the last five years. “It’s not surprising that HSBC have made such significant profits in the last quarter, but it will be difficult news to swallow for households struggling with rising mortgage costs. Li
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The 'stablecoin sandwich': Why speeding up payments isn't so simple, according to Mastercard
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UK government met 137 businesses over AI datacentres – but no environmental groups
Investigation finds dozens of ministers and civil servants moved into AI roles as government developed datacentre expansion plans The UK’s policy on datacentres and AI was developed without any meetings with environmental groups, an investigation has found. The nonprofit organisation Spotlight on Corruption said a “considerable revolving door” shaped the government’s development of “AI growth zones”, a central plank of the former prime minister Keir Starmer’s AI and economic policy, with 38 ministers, senior civil servants and special advisers hired to positions in AI companies between July 2024 and September 2026. Continue reading...
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Healey pledges cheaper marmalade and gherkins in pre-Budget package of 'everyday fixes'
The chancellor will axe tariffs on some staples as part of plans to give households "breathing space".
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'I'm a single mum on £41,000 and limit my weekly shop to £40.' What do you want from the Budget?
People earning from £380 a month to £150,000 a year tell the BBC what they want to see in this year's Budget.