"It's encouraging to see an intent to invest from UK businesses, with many turning that into action," said Matt Hammerstein, chief executive of Barclays UK Corporate Banking. "Against a backdrop of global uncertainty, there's more to do to build confidence in the UK as a place for businesses to grow and scale. "Our research suggests that AI is becoming a key tool to drive innovation, encourage investment and upskilling to lift productivity, and build confidence in the UK as a global business hub."
About 18 months back, British youth were in the midst of a Prime craze. Pushed by YouTube influencers Logan Paul and KSI, this brightly coloured energy drink sparked a buying frenzy that left parents puzzled. Not only by the high price, or the resale sites that took advantage of scarcity and acted as a kind of ticket tout for the beverages, but also the desperation that children and teens apparently felt to consume this product.
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
Much has changed since Kim Cotton became the UK's first surrogate 40 years ago, when she was forced to flee hospital on the floor of a car under a blanket, such was the level of media frenzy around her story. She describes it as a harrowing experience and wishes much of that surrogacy journey had been done differently. It wasn't the right way to do surrogacy, but it was the only thing that was offered, she says.
The financial action is aimed at tackling illegal immigration to the UK and is central to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's plan to disrupt the English Channel crossings by "smashing the gangs" that are organising them.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the PAC's chair, stated that the government's inaction suggests it is comfortable with the current state of local authority finances, perceiving issues as normalized.
