Business

JD Sports has warned Rachel Reeves against any fresh hikes in employment costs, saying further increases would cripple competitiveness and drive youth unemployment higher. Chief executive Régis Schultz said the Chancellor’s last budget had already piled pressure on retailers by raising staff expenses, creating “tension around unemployment”. He urged Reeves not to repeat the move in November’s Budget. “We’re starting …

Karachi: Former Prime Minister of Malaysia, H.E. Tun Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad, reflected on the deepening ties between Pakistan and Malaysia and underscored the enduring and evolving relationship between the two countries. He emphasized that the foundation of strong bilateral ties lies in shared values, mutual respect, and collaborative efforts across sectors. In a special video message, Dr. Mahathir extended …

Revolut has pledged to invest £3 billion in the UK over the next five years in a move that will create 1,000 new jobs, strengthening the country’s status as a hub for global financial services. Chancellor Rachel Reeves hailed the announcement as a “vote of confidence in Britain” as she formally opened the fast-growing digital bank’s new global headquarters in …

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has spent more than £3.6 million on laptops, tablets, and mobile phones over the past three years as part of its push to modernise remote working and support digital transformation across the sector. Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request show the department dramatically increased its IT spending between 2022 and …

Small businesses are bracing for a major shake-up after it emerged the Treasury is considering slashing the VAT registration threshold from £90,000 to just £30,000. The move, reportedly under review ahead of the November 26 Budget, would pull tens of thousands of sole traders and small firms into the VAT system for the first time, forcing them to charge customers …

Gold has surged to a fresh all-time high, fuelling predictions it could break through the $4,000 mark before the end of the year. The precious metal climbed to $3,778 per ounce this week, up 42% since January, while silver reached $42 per ounce – a gain of 45%. The rally has been underpinned by a combination of central bank buying, …

Boohoo has warned suppliers that payments could be delayed as the fast-fashion group grapples with growing financial pressures. The retailer, which also trades as Debenhams, wrote to some suppliers saying it was “running behind on payments” and asked how much stock they could deliver in September without receiving further payment, according to an email seen by Business Matters. The warning …

Thousands of British technology workers face soaring costs after Donald Trump confirmed plans to impose a $100,000 (£74,000) fee on specialist US visas. The dramatic increase applies to the H-1B visa, which is widely used by tech companies to hire foreign workers. Last year, 1,462 Britons received H-1B visas – more than any other European nation – while 985 have …

The UK is forecast to have the highest rate of inflation among the world’s richest economies this year, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In its latest outlook, the OECD raised its prediction for UK inflation to 3.5% across 2025, up from a previous estimate of 3.1%, citing rising food prices and higher business costs. Although …

Amazon is shutting down all 19 of its Amazon Fresh grocery stores in the UK, putting around 250 jobs at risk as the company pivots towards online sales and expands its Whole Foods brand. The US retail giant confirmed it has launched a consultation process with employees, warning that while some staff may be redeployed elsewhere in the business, many …