UK carmakers on track to meet EV sales target despite the intense lobbying push to lower quota

Carmakers are on track to meet existing UK electric car sales targets despite having successfully lobbied the government to water them down.Electric car sales made up 21.6% of sales in the first half of 2025, only marginally below the 22.06% share needed to meet existing rules once concessions are taken into account, according to an analysis by New AutoMotive, a thinktank.The Conservative government under Rishi Sunak brought in the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate

EU leaders race to secure a deal as deadline looms in Trump trade talks

The EU is entering a crunch week with only two days of talks left to secure a trade deal with Washinton to avert Donald Trump’s threatened 50% tariff on its imports into the US.According to the US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, on Friday, the negotiations – which continued over the weekend – are focussed on 15 to 18 agreements with important partners, while Trump warned of import tax rates of up to 70% on others.The uncertainty created by Washington has sent shock waves through the global economy. Businesses have paused investment and the dollar posted its worst performance in 50 years in the first half of the year.With the clock ticking down to Trump’s 9 July deadline, the European Commission remains uncertain how he will treat the bloc, threatening €1

Elon Musk’s ‘America’ party could focus on a few pivotal congressional seats

The new US political party that Elon Musk has boasted about bankrolling could initially focus on a handful of attainable House and Senate seats while striving to be the decisive vote on major issues amid the thin margins in Congress.Tesla and SpaceX’s multibillionaire CEO mused about that approach on Friday in a post on X, the social media platform he owns, as he continued feuding with Donald Trump over the spending bill that the president has signed into law. On Saturday, without immediately elaborating, the former Trump adviser announced on X that he had created the so-called America party.“One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts,” wrote Musk, who is the world’s richest person and oversaw brutal cuts to the federal government after Trump’s second presidency began in January. “Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring they serve the true will of the people

Minister demands overhaul of UK’s leading AI institute

The technology secretary has demanded an overhaul of the UK’s leading artificial intelligence institute in a wide-ranging letter that calls for a switch in focus to defence and national security, as well as leadership changes.Peter Kyle said it was clear further action was needed to ensure the government-backed Alan Turing Institute met its full potential.In a letter to ATI’s chair, seen by the Guardian, Kyle said the institute should be changed to prioritise defence, national security and “sovereign capabilities” – a reference to nation states being able to control their own AI technology.The call for new priorities implies a downgrading of ATI’s focus on health and the environment, which are two of three core subjects for the institute, alongside defence and security, under its “Turing 2.0” strategy

England v India: second men’s cricket Test, day five – live

66th over: England 262-9 (Carse 30, Bashir 12) India think they have their victory after Bashir tries to scoop Jadeja, the ball lobbing up for a catch. But there was no bat or glove on it, just the pad.65th over: England 259-9 (Carse 29, Bashir 10) Akash Deep is back, victory and a 10-for in his sights. Carse wants to make room for a swing but Deep follows him with a bumper. Carse slogs a fuller ball high into the air … and Siraj, back-pedalling at mid-on, can’t hold on

Wimbledon 2025: Norrie and Sabalenka in action, Kartal bows out, Alcaraz to come – live

Back on No 1, we’re playing a third-set breaker while, on Centre, Mertens breaks Sabalenka, then converts for 3-1 in the second. This is a proper match now.Siegemund says this was her toughest match so far as she’d not previously felt she had to win. But this time she was the favourite, against a great player not much more than half her age.She and her team are doing the same thing they always do, staying with a family who’ve become friends