Germany’s leadership in Europe has weakened following Angela Merkel’s retirement, leaving Olaf Scholz’s government operating as a caretaker amid crises, including economic pressures and geopolitical tensions.

The UK’s economic options are severely constrained due to high borrowing and record tax levels, limiting the government’s ability to respond to the economic shock caused by Trump’s tariff announcement.

Today’s headlines – in print and online – are, of course, dominated by the ongoing fallout from Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs as the PM promises to protect British business and stock markets continue to fall. There are fears of a US recession – and a global economic meltdown.

Monday’s headlines continue to report on the backlash of the US tariffs – announced last week – that’s sparked a massive stock market sell-off and fears of a looming global recession.

The prime minister has promised to “shelter British business from the storm” expected from Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. The government has stepped in to help the British car industry (amid 25% car tariffs) by making the rules on manufacturers going all-electric more flexible.

Elsewhere, as of next month, health workers will go door-to-door under new plans to tackle sickness rates across England.

The UK weather continues to dominate the headlines as wildfires broke out across Scotland and Northern Ireland over the weekend after temperatures soared.

In sports, there is continued coverage of the weekend’s Premier League action, including Liverpool’s unbeaten run being ended by Fulham, a drab performance between Man Utd and Man City and Southampton being relegated.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) re-elected Ozgur Ozel as chairman, garnering an overwhelming majority of votes amid ongoing protests against President Erdogan’s government following the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

Global stock markets plummeted overnight, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 falling nearly 8% and US stock market futures indicating further declines, as fears of a trade war escalate following President Trump’s new tariffs.