Starmer’s fraught visit to China will tell us what he really thinks of the UK’s place in the world

Does Britain have any leverage over human rights or security concerns or is it a decaying nation that cannot risk trade relations, asks professor of global history Peter Frankopan

Trump says he will impose new tariffs on South Korea as he criticises delays in trade deal

US president says tariffs on automobiles, lumber and pharmaceuticals will rise to 25%, accusing Seoul of not living up to a trade deal struck last year

Scotland-France ferry could relaunch amid £35bn Dunkirk regeneration plan

French port’s green energy push, evoking second world war spirit of resilience, is seen as a testing ground for reindustrialisation

Most young adults in UK are anxious about jobs and the economy, research suggests

Respondents to King’s Trust survey cited AI and a lack of work experience as reasons they might fail in life

Record number of people in UK live in ‘very deep poverty’, analysis shows

Joseph Rowntree Foundation finds problem is ‘deeper and more damaging than at any point in the last 30 years’

National insurance hike and energy bills behind food price rise, say UK retailers

Latest BRC figures show year-on-year rate of increase was 3.9% in January, up from 3.3% the month before

UK supermarkets push for Amazon soy safeguards after traders abandon ban

European retailers urge traders to adhere to commitments after Brazilian lawmakers wreck forest protection pact

Bank of Scotland fined £160,000 over account for sanctioned Putin ally

Dmitrii Ovsiannikov, who had held senior roles in Russian government, used a variant spelling of his name to access UK banking system

‘No one knows anything’: Washington Post staffers fear major cuts

Members of foreign staff send letter to billionaire owner Jeff Bezos urging him to change course

Gold price jumps above $5,000 an ounce for first time amid Trump turmoil

Investors seek safe haven in precious metal, while Japan’s government spooks money markets with tax-cuts pledge

Gold soars past $5,100 an ounce, silver hits new record on tariff and US shutdown fears – as it happened

Both precious metals hit all-time highs as investors pile into safe-haven assets amid Donald Trump’s threat of 100% tariffs on Canada and shutdown fears

Waterstones boss defends government’s business rates shake-up

James Daunt is relaxed about bills and the higher living wage, and says bookselling is having ‘a nice time’

UK’s biggest private hospital provider Spire in talks on sale to private equity

Shares in FTSE 250 company jump as it reveals Bridgepoint and Triton are among groups interested in takeover

Ryanair says it could use Starlink in future despite Elon Musk feud

Airline raises forecasts for profits and passenger numbers, after boss said spat with Tesla CEO boosted bookings

UK maker of AI avatars nearly doubles valuation to $4bn after funding round

Synthesia makes digital presenters for clients to use in corporate videos and counts 70% of FTSE 100 as customers