Here’s how Europe can file for divorce from Donald Trump | Phillip Inman

There is a way to file for divorce from Donald Trump and Europe needs to grab the opportunity.To the public it will look as if nothing has changed. But behind the scenes the EU and the UK could close the joint bank account and cut up the credit cards, or at least set in motion a form of financial separation that limits the power of a controlling former partner.It won’t be easy to walk away and it won’t be quick. But a degree of separation is necessary and, crucially, achievable

UK expected to reduce amount of steel it allows in tariff-free

The UK is expected to reduce the amount of foreign steel it allows in tariff-free, as the government looks to protect its domestic industry amid a global glut and a rise in protectionism.Ministers are considering changing the quota system that allows a quantity of the metal to be imported before imposing a 25% levy on anything above that level.Lower tariff-free quotas could be announced in April, for implementation from 1 July, according to three people with knowledge of discussions.The development comes amid a surfeit of steel driven by supplies from China, which is by far the world’s largest producer. Chinese steel exports hit yet another all-time high in December, while other producers such as Vietnam, Korea and Turkey are also trying to find customers

Is the supreme court ready to stand up to Trump over Federal Reserve attack?

Donald Trump has tried his usual tactics when it comes to getting the US Federal Reserve to lower interest rates: bully when persuasion doesn’t work, and then fire when bullying doesn’t work.In an unprecedented assault on the central bank, the president has called the Fed chair, Jerome Powell, “stupid” and threatened to fire him for not cutting interest rates as quickly as Trump would like. Most recently, the justice department instigated a criminal investigation against Powell for testimony he gave about renovations at the Fed’s headquarters. Even so, the Fed has not budged.Tactically, Trump’s assault on the Fed appears to be no different than his overhaul of the entire federal government

Customer complaints over water bills surge by 50% in England and Wales

Complaints about water companies in England and Wales to an independent monitor surged by more than 50% last year, as customers bristled at steep bill increases.More than 16,000 complaints were lodged in 2025 with the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), a government-sponsored body that represents customers’ interests.That was up from 10,600 in 2024, with the flow of objections well above the level of the prior year in every month from March onwards.Water companies have faced huge public anger in recent years over the amount of sewage flowing into Britain’s rivers and seas. However, the extent of the outrage increased sharply last year when water companies were allowed to increase bills to pay for upgrades after decades of underinvestment

Coca-Cola sues Vue after cinema chain switches to Pepsi

Coca-Cola is taking legal action against Vue after the cinema chain switched to its arch-rival PepsiCo to supply soft drinks in Europe.Vue, which operates more than 90 cinemas across the UK and Ireland, put the contract up for tender last year.The largest privately owned cinema operator in Europe, with 222 sites in eight countries, selected PepsiCo as its exclusive supplier in March last year until at least 2030.The deal brought an end to a relationship between Vue and Coca-Cola that had lasted for almost 25 years.Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Great Britain (CCEP) took legal action against Vue Entertainment on Thursday to reclaim alleged unpaid debts outstanding when the contract was terminated

Asbestos found in children’s play sand sold in UK

Bottles of children’s play sand have been withdrawn from shelves by the craft retailer Hobbycraft after a parent discovered they were contaminated with asbestos.The parent, who did not wish to be named, raised the alarm after her children played with the sand at a party.She sent samples off to a testing lab, which found traces of asbestos fibres in the bottles of yellow, green and pink sand sold in Hobbycraft’s Giant Box of Craft arts kit.Asbestos can cause cancer in later life if inhaled, although the risk to children who played with the sand is thought to be low.The discovery came two months after asbestos traces found in similar play sand products in Australia prompted a government recall and the closure of schools and nurseries across the country and in New Zealand