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Moorcroft Pottery, in operation for over 100 years, has ceased trading leading to the loss of 57 jobs. The company did not specify reasons for the closure, but it had previously warned about rising costs and falling sales.
Key Facts
Moorcroft Pottery has stopped business after being in operation for more than a century.
The closure of the company means a loss of 57 jobs.
The company has appointed Moore Recovery for voluntary liquidation.
Previously, Moorcroft had alerted about increasing costs and reduction in sales.
World-renowned for pottery, Stoke-on-Trent city, the company's base, had been hit by several pottery business closures recently.
In 2025, the pottery industry of Stoke-on-Trent city suffered a setback.
Earlier in March, Moorcroft stated their energy costs had risen by nearly £250,000 in two years.
The company’s roots trace back to 1897, and it has been at its current location since 1913.
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Tesla, the electric car company, has stated that they are not seeking a new CEO to replace Elon Musk. This response came after the Wall Street Journal claimed the company was considering such a move due to frustrations with Mr. Musk's performance and declining share price.
Key Facts
The Wall Street Journal reported that Tesla was searching for a new CEO to replace Elon Musk.
In response, Tesla stated that there is no search for a new CEO and that these reports are false.
Elon Musk is also involved in President Trump's administration, leading an advisory body called the Department for Government Efficiency (Doge).
Some Tesla customers have been unhappy with Musk's political actions and views.
There have been instances of boycotts and protests against Tesla due to Elon Musk's actions.
President Trump has shown support for Tesla and Elon Musk, even pledging to purchase a Tesla vehicle.
Elon Musk contributed more than $250 million to President Trump's re-election campaign. It remains unclear when he will step down from his government role.
Despite some issues, Tesla's board conveyed confidence in Musk's ability to execute the company's plans for growth.
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Alberto Salagan, who spent most of his life in the U.S., was deported back to Mexico, his birth country. He was able to find work at a local call center, EZ Call Center, which employs mainly other deportees, and pays them to use their English language skills to interact with U.S. customers.
Key Facts
Alberto Salagan was born in Mexico but raised in the U.S.
He was deported back to Mexico following an arrest for gang activity.
He struggled with returning to Mexico due to language barriers and lack of support.
He found employment at EZ Call Center, which is a company that employs many deportees.
The company's owner, Daniel Ruiz, was himself deported from the U.S.
The company has U.S. clients and the employees use their English language skills to assist these clients.
President Trump has spoken about carrying out a large-scale deportation, but numbers from the Mexican government show deportations have been lower in the first three months of Trump's second term.
Daniel Ruiz also co-founded a humanitarian organisation, the Borderline Crisis Center, which supports deportees in Mexico.
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Karri Kitchen, a company in Northern Ireland that made healthy ready meals, has stopped operating and is in the process of liquidation due to high production costs. The business was appreciated in the community, and its closure will affect its 33 employees and the local economy.
Key Facts
Karri Kitchen, a Northern Ireland based healthy ready meal company, has gone into liquidation.
This company, which began in 2019, was well-known for its healthy Asian-style meals.
It used to sell its products in major stores like Tesco, Lidl, Asda, and Spar.
Liquidation is a process of closing a business, selling its assets, and using the money to pay off as many debts as possible.
The reason for liquidation: Karri Kitchen couldn't afford the increasing costs of producing meals.
At the time it stopped trading, the company had about £700,000 in net debts, including money owed to a food business and a loan from one of its directors.
The company used to employ 33 people who will now likely lose their jobs.
The closure will affect the local economy of Craigavon, County Armagh, where the business was based.
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Hu Tianqiang, who manages a toy shop in the world's largest wholesale market in Yiwu, China, states that the impact of tariffs placed by the US has led to shifting business focus away from America towards other nations. Despite the US-China trade war, the city of Yiwu remains an essential global trading hub.
Key Facts
Hu Tianqiang runs a toy shop in Yiwu, China.
Yiwu is home to the world's biggest wholesale market, consisting of over 75,000 shops.
Yiwu is located in Zhejiang province, a significant manufacturing and export area in China which accounted for 17% of all Chinese sales to the US last year.
Last year, China exported $34 billion worth of toys, $10 billion of which went to the US.
Chinese exports to America are now subject to tariffs as high as 245% due to the trade war initiated by President Donald Trump.
Since the beginning of the trade war in 2018, many Chinese businesses, including Mr. Hu’s, have begun shifting their focus towards non-US markets. Mr. Hu says he mostly sells to South America and the Middle East now.
Even though 20-30% of Hu's business once came from US buyers, he chooses not to target them anymore because of the tariffs.
Many international buyers from Africa, Dubai and South America frequent the Yiwu market.
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The owner of Royal Mail, International Distribution Services (IDS), has been bought by a Czech billionaire named Daniel Kretinsky. The sale, which had the support of over 80% of IDS's shareholders, means Kretinsky's EP Group will now manage Royal Mail, a company with a 500-year history.
Key Facts
The sale of Royal Mail to Daniel Kretinsky's EP Group was approved by over 80% of IDS shareholders.
The deal is said to be worth £3.6 billion.
Under the agreement, EP Group must maintain Royal Mail's current service commitments, which require delivery of letters six days a week, and parcels five days a week.
Kretinsky has committed to fulfill these service requirements for as long as he owns Royal Mail.
Royal Mail recently proposed to regulator Ofcom a reduction in second class deliveries to save costs.
The Greeting Card Association expressed concerns about these proposed changes, saying they could put pressure on small businesses.
Daniel Kretinsky, who is worth £6 billion, also owns parts of West Ham United football club and Sainsbury's, along with a gas transmission service.
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The US economy saw a decrease in the first three months of this year as companies imported more goods to avoid tariffs. This decrease happened alongside a drop in government spending.
Key Facts
The US economy decreased at an annual rate of 0.3% in the first three months of the year.
This decrease followed a growth of 2.4% in the previous quarter.
The change was due to a drop in government spending and increased imports.
Businesses imported more goods to get them into the country before tariffs were imposed.
Business investment and consumer spending, however, increased during this time.
Consumer spending grew at a slower pace than in 2024.
The comprehensive report indicated imports increased by over 40% during the first quarter.
Despite the economic downturn, final sales to private domestic purchases, a measure of overall demand, stayed relatively stable, showing a 3% growth.
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The community shop, Honesty Jar, located in Henstridge, Somerset, offers free or inexpensive essential items to those facing financial difficulties. Their initiative is to reduce the burden on such families and encourage re-use of items that would otherwise go to landfill.
Key Facts
The Honesty Jar is a community shop in Somerset, helping families who are having a hard time with money.
It offers free or cheap items like clothes, school uniforms, books, toys, and kitchen stuff.
The shop was started by Sam Flounders and is run by 40 volunteers.
Each month, about 1,000 people come to the Honesty Jar for help.
People are encouraged to give money if they can, but it's not a requirement.
The items in the shop are all donated. They receive about 2,000 kg of items every week.
Their goal is to reuse items that people don't want anymore, instead of letting them end up in the trash.
The Honesty Jar provides support to new parents, people looking for jobs, and young people starting to live on their own.
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House prices in the UK dropped by 0.6% in April due to changes in stamp duty laws. Even so, the average house price is still 3.4% more than it was last year, at £270,752.
Key Facts
UK house prices dropped by 0.6% in April.
The average house price is £270,752, which is more expensive by 3.4% compared to the previous year.
The price fall happened after changes to stamp duty laws, which now applies to properties over £125,000 instead of over £250,000.
First-time home buyers now pay stamp duty for properties that cost more than £300,000. Before this change, they only paid if the property was above £425,000.
The data is based on Nationwide's mortgage lending, and does not include cash purchases or buy-to-let deals.
Experts expect the housing market to be slightly weak in the next few months, but anticipate a bounce back due to rising incomes and possible interest rate cuts.
All big UK lenders are now offering fixed mortgage deals with an interest rate lower than 4%.
There's increased availability of mortgages with a low deposit of 5% or 10%, which is the most since the 2008 financial crisis.
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Starbucks' CEO, Brian Niccol, plans to hire more baristas and reduce use of automation to attract more customers. This comes as a response to continuous drop in Starbucks' sales.
Key Facts
Starbucks management plans to employ more baristas and decrease the use of automated systems.
This strategy aims to attract more customers, in the face of falling sales.
Recent test runs, involving increased staffing, have been implemented in around 3,000 Starbucks stores.
Starbucks also plans to modernize its coffee shops, change menus, and revise dress code for employees.
A previous Starbucks policy allowing non-purchasing customers to use Starbucks facilities was reversed in January.
Starbucks' global sales fell by 1% in the three months ending March, marking the fifth quarter of sales decline.
Despite overall declining sales, Starbucks experienced a rise in sales in China and Canada.
After the announcement of sales results, Starbucks shares dropped by more than 6.5%.
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In a recent event, Sir Richard Branson spoke about his views on tariffs set by Donald Trump, stating that they have caused considerable damage. However, he believes the UK still offers a great environment for starting a business in spite of Brexit issues and the ramifications of these tariffs.
Key Facts
Richard Branson recently shared his perspectives on Donald Trump's tariffs.
He stated that these tariffs have inflicted a good deal of harm.
Despite the challenges presented by Brexit and these tariffs, Branson maintains that the UK is still a suitable place for initiating a business.
He expressed his desire to enhance London's prosperity post-Brexit.
Branson also believes that business people can help reduce taxes in the UK by generating sufficient income.
More than 50 years after launching Virgin Records in London, he still thinks the UK is a really special and stable place.
James Bermingham, CEO of Virgin Hotels, expressed optimism about London's resilience in the face of any crisis.
On the idea of a tourism tax in London, Bermuda agreed to a small, reasonable fee that wouldn't restrict demand.
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Many homes in the UK could lose hot water or heating as their older types of electricity meters become non-functional. This is due to the upcoming switch-off of the Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) on 30 June, and the challenge to replace all RTS meters with smart meters before this deadline.
Key Facts
Radio Teleswitching System (RTS) meters are older types of electricity meters that use a longwave radio frequency to change energy tariffs.
Over 300,000 homes could face heating and hot water disruption as RTS meters become non-operational.
Energy companies have been told to replace RTS meters with smart meters before 30 June, when the old technology is disabled.
As of the end of March, 430,000 homes were still using RTS meters according to Energy UK.
Energy UK says over 1,000 RTS meters are being replaced daily, but this needs to rise to around 5,000 a day to replace all meters by the expected deadline.
Ordinary electricity use, like lights and plug sockets, should not be affected by the RTS switchoff.
Some consumers are hesitant to switch to smart meters due to issues like inaccurate readings and variable performance based on location.
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MPs say stores and services may have to accept cash at some point because some people need to use it. The government is not planning to make this a law yet, but is being asked to keep a closer eye on how often cash is used.
Key Facts
In the future, stores and services may need to accept cash to help people who rely on it, according to MPs.
A report by the Treasury Committee did not suggest a new law to make cash acceptance mandatory.
Some places, like Australia and parts of the EU, are planning rules to make essential services accept cash in some situations.
Currently, stores and services can choose which form of payment they accept.
If fewer stores accept cash, the prices in the remaining stores that do could go up.
This could make things harder for people who only have cash or prefer to use it to manage their budget.
The report also warns about people being left out if they can't use cash at places like leisure centers, theaters, and public transport.
The Committee's report suggests that for some businesses, like market stalls, cash is still very important.
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Amazon may be planning to show its customers how President Trump's trade tariffs are affecting prices, but this information hasn't been confirmed yet. The White House is not happy about this potential plan, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling it a "hostile" political act.
Key Facts
Amazon might be planning to show customers the cost impact of President Trump's trade tariffs.
The White House has strongly disagreed with such a possible plan, calling it "hostile" and political.
Amazon has not yet confirmed this plan.
President Trump has increased tariffs since starting his term in January. He believes this will support manufacturing and bring more tax money to the US.
The increased tariffs have caused a decrease in trade between the US and other countries, leading to worries about supply shortages and higher prices for items like baby strollers and umbrellas.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, has previously supported President Trump's push for fewer regulations and lower taxes.
Some businesses have already started to show customers the cost of these tariffs.
Roughly half of the sellers on Amazon in the US are from China.
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The sportswear company Adidas has announced that the cost of their trainers in the United States may increase due to tariffs imposed by the US government. Adidas's CEO, Bjorn Gulden, explained that since their products are mostly not made in the US, these tariffs would lead to higher product costs.
Key Facts
Adidas warned that the cost of their trainers in the US may go up.
The reason for the potential price rise is the import taxes imposed by the US government.
Adidas largely does not produce their products in the US.
Clothing manufacturers like Adidas, which use labor from countries like China and Vietnam, are heavily affected by these tariffs.
The final amount of the price increase is not yet known.
Adidas doesn't know what the final tariffs will be due to ongoing negotiations between the US and exporting nations.
Adidas, among other shoe brands, have large factory outlets in South East Asia.
In an attempt to lessen the impact of tariffs, Adidas previously increased its exports to the US and redirected products meant for the US to other markets.
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The article discusses actions taken by Donald Trump during his first 100 days in office focusing on his economic plan. It also delves into other related areas such as immigration and changes in the federal government.
Key Facts
This is an assessment of Trump's first 100 days in office.
The report particularly focuses on Trump's actions concerning the U.S. economy.
Trump's policy to "make America wealthy again" was analyzed.
The commentary also discussed changes in immigration under Trump's leadership.
Another topic discussed was the reduction in the federal government, apparently influenced by Elon Musk.
The article mentioned a potential shift in public support for Trump.
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A community store in Sunderland called Second Chance is supplying free second-hand school uniforms to families who can't afford them. The UK's Department for Education is considering changes to lower the number of mandatory branded school items, which can be expensive.
Key Facts
Second Chance is a community shop in Sunderland that provides used school uniforms for free to families in need.
The shop has been in operation for two years and has seen an increase in demand.
The government is discussing changing the law to reduce the number of branded school items students must have, to cut costs for families.
On average, 20 families use the Second Chance service every day.
The new measures proposed by the Department for Education could save parents around £50 per child.
The average cost of a full school uniform and PE kit for a secondary school student is £442, and £343 for a primary school student, according to Department for Education data.
Second Chance plans to move to a larger location this year to better meet demand.
The proposed changes to the law still have several stages to go through before they can be officially passed.
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A support center in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, reports an increase in people worried about proposed changes to UK benefits. The UK government plans to modify the benefits system, leading to concerns particularly regarding the personal independence payments (PIP) and incapacity benefits under universal credit.
Key Facts
Staff at @the Hub, a support center for vulnerable individuals, are experiencing an increase in visitors concerned about changes to the benefits system.
@the Hub is a volunteer-led service located in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, providing advice and assistance about issues such as benefits, housing, and debt.
The UK government, previously under Labour, announced major changes to the benefits system aimed at reducing public spending on welfare.
These changes include stricter criteria for personal independence payments (PIP) and reducing incapacity benefits under universal credit for new applicants.
Les Mifflin, a 64-year-old former kitchen porter and regular at @the Hub, is worried about significant cuts to his PIP due to these proposed changes.
Since its launch in June, @the Hub has received 5,000 visits with the number of regular users increasing from 220 in winter to about 280 currently.
The Government plans to save £4.8 billion by reducing the benefits bill; it is estimated that by 2030, these reforms will leave 3.2 million families worse off, while 3.8 million families will be better off.
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson emphasized that the government will continue to support those with severe health conditions, and plans to introduce a new premium for those unable to work.
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A company controlled by businessman Doug Barrowman managed one of Prince Andrew's businesses, Pitch@Palace Global, for two years. This happened after a difficult TV interview with Prince Andrew in 2019. Pitch@Palace Global is like a business competition for new business ideas and was in the name of Knox House Trustees (UK), a company linked to Barrowman.
Key Facts
Pitch@Palace Global, a business of Prince Andrew's, was managed by Knox House Trustees (UK), a company associated with Doug Barrowman, for two years.
Doug Barrowman is a businessman who, along with his wife Michelle Mone, has been questioned about their connection to a company that won big government contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a hard-hitting interview on the show Newsnight in 2019, legal ownership of Pitch@Palace Global was transferred to Knox House Trustees (UK).
Pitch@Palace Global is a competition where entrepreneurs can present their business ideas to potential investors.
Prince Andrew's financial situation has been closely examined recently, in particular how he affords his lifestyle after reportedly being cut off financially by his brother, King Charles.
The prince has said that he has stopped all communication with Yang Tengbo, the man in charge of the Chinese version of Pitch@Palace, based on advice from the UK government who suspect Yang is a spy.
In 2017, one of Barrowman's companies, AML Tax (UK), was investigated by HMRC (UK's tax authority) for promoting ways to avoid paying tax. The company was fined £150,000 in 2022.
Both parts of Pitch@Palace stopped operating after Prince Andrew's 2019 interview about his connections to the late Jeffrey Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes.
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President Trump plans to take measures to lessen the effect of his tariffs on car manufacturers in the U.S. These moves are expected to decrease some import duties on parts used in American-made vehicles and avoid additional charges on cars built overseas.
Key Facts
President Trump intends to reduce the impact of his tariffs on U.S. car manufacturers.
This will involve decreasing some import duties on parts from abroad used in U.S.-made vehicles.
Cars manufactured outside the U.S. will still face automotive tariffs but won't have extra charges like those on steel and aluminum items.
This move is seen as the latest effort by the Trump administration to show flexibility on tariff policy.
Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis are among the major car manufacturers in Michigan, a state significant to the U.S. car industry.
The decision is welcomed by GM's Chief Executive Mary Barra.
Last week, several U.S. car industry groups urged President Trump not to impose 25% tariffs on imported car parts, warning it would lead to higher prices for consumers.
Trump had previously indicated the tariffs would take effect by May 3.
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