Martin Lewis ‘crashes government website’ as users rush to beat deadline for £50,000 state pension boost

EU trade negotiators are grappling with the reality that they may not overturn US President Trump's “reciprocal” tariffs, necessitating deeper concessions to prevent a trade war. Senior EU officials conveyed concerns that the 10% tariff on goods affecting 70% of EU exports could persist, as Brussels faces pressure to either concede or retaliate. Amidst these challenges, measures such as deregulation and negotiations on sensitive exports like cars are being discussed, but some member states advocate...

Prague announced that state-sponsored Chinese hackers, linked to the group APT31, targeted its foreign ministry's unclassified communications network, marking an ongoing cyber campaign since 2022. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský condemned China's interference through cyber attacks and summoned the Chinese ambassador for discussions. NATO and EU officials denounced the attack, emphasizing a pattern of cyber incidents attributed to China, while the Czech Republic implemented a new communications system to mitigate the threat and shared information...

Homeowners in the euro area will face rising mortgage costs until at least 2030, despite declining interest rates, according to the European Central Bank (ECB). Many borrowers who secured low-rate loans must remortgage in the coming years, leading to reduced consumption as households tighten their budgets. While the ECB has cut its key deposit facility rate from 4% to 2.25% since June 2024, the majority of mortgages, particularly fixed-rate ones, will continue to be affected...

European companies in China view the country's economic slowdown as a greater challenge than the ongoing trade war with the US, according to a survey by the EU Chamber of Commerce. A significant 73% of the 503 surveyed firms reported increased difficulties in doing business, with 71% attributing this to China's economic conditions, while only 47% cited US-China tensions. Despite regulatory barriers leading to missed opportunities, many companies still source components from China due to...

SummaryBrussels plans to urge EU countries to reduce water usage by at least 10% by 2030 due to increasing droughts and dwindling groundwater reserves, marking the European Commission's first water efficiency target. The proposal, set to be presented next month, aims to enhance water resilience and encourages investment in infrastructure, as 25% of EU water is lost through leaks, with some countries like Bulgaria losing up to 60%. The plan is non-mandatory, allowing member states...

US stocks surged following President Trump's positive remarks on trade talks with the EU, coinciding with the postponement of proposed 50% tariffs. The S&P 500 climbed 1.6%, led by consumer cyclicals and tech companies, while consumer confidence rebounded in May after five months of decline. Trump's engagement with the EU, which included a call for quick meetings, and the anticipation of a trade deal contributed to market optimism, with analysts suggesting the tariff threats may...