The US tariff situation may have fallen off the front pages of many newspapers, but the business media remains on top of the latest news from Washington. Despite Trump issuing an exemption for big tech in his tariffs on China, he has since signalled that it’s only a temporary measure and investigations are under way into the semiconductor and pharmaceutical trade – which could lead to their tariff exemptions ending. 

US Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about a forthcoming trade deal between the US and UK, indicating productive negotiations with the UK government.

It’s a wet and windy morning here in the capital, but lots is happening in the news – grab yourself a coffee and let’s dive into the headlines.


The ongoing Birmingham bin strike is a popular story in the country this morning as unions overwhelmingly rejected a deal to end the strike. Several newspapers suggest the strike could spread outside the city – and there are reports on the growing concerns over a potential health crisis as residents report streets being overrun by large rats and trash.


There is backlash from China amid the British Steel crisis – after the government dramatically took over control of the Scunthorpe plant over the weekend – as Beijing warns the UK to avoid politicising the situation. There are concerns from the top that the Chinese owners are intentionally trying to sabotage the UK steel industry to force the country to become more reliant on cheap Chinese steel.


On the international front, there are reports on the all-female Blue Origin team that took a trip to space. Katy Perry and Gayle King were amongst the crew.


The business publications continue their heavy coverage of the US tariffs saga amid an investigation into the semiconductor and pharmaceutical trade – which could lead to their tariff exemptions ending. In recent news, JD Vance has said there is a good chance the UK will secure a trade deal with the US.


In sports news, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is in hospital with pneumonia, he is set to miss more matches. Several publications look ahead to tonight’s Champions League match involving the English club Aston Villa. The Birmingham club need to overturn a 2 goal deficit.

The US FTC has initiated an antitrust trial against Meta, alleging that the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were aimed at eliminating competition to maintain market dominance.

The US federal government has frozen over $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard University due to its refusal to restrict campus activism, a demand from the Trump administration.

The UK government used emergency powers over the weekend to take control of British Steel’s Scunthorpe site after it looked set to close. The Chinese owners planned to shut down the Scunthorpe site, risking thousands of jobs. The government is exploring various options, including potential nationalisation, to ensure the continued operation of the steelworks. There have also been suspicions that the Chinese owners were intentionally trying to sabotage the company in a bid to force the UK to rely on cheap Chinese steel.

An investigation has been launched into how an inmate at HMP Frankland was able to attack three prison officers with boiling oil and a knife despite being in a high-security prison. The officers were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after being attacked by Hashem Adedi, one of the men responsible for the Manchester Arena bombing. He is serving a minimum 55-year sentence for helping his brother carry out the 2017 attack. Unions are calling for changes to the system to ensure their officers are safe – and to avoid copycats.

The army have been called in to help Birmingham City Council with the bin strikes that are plaguing the city and leading to reports of rats the size of cats and fears of a potential health crisis.