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The UK is experiencing an unseasonably warm Friday, with temperatures reaching up to 23C in some areas, significantly higher than the average of 13C for this time of year.

Harriet Harman advises Sir Keir Starmer to clearly communicate that Donald Trump’s tariffs on UK goods are incorrect and unjustified.

The UK Economy grew by 0.5% in February, outperforming analyst forecasts of a 0.1% rise, driven by strong manufacturing and service sectors.

Continuing the trend of the week, coverage of Donald Trump’s tariffs, the stock market reaction and now claims of potential insider trading. 

Gold has risen to a record high as investors seek safe-haven assets amid the chaos. The ongoing escalation in the US-China trade war is still causing chaos in the markets as the Asian markets slid on Friday and the US markets slumped on Thursday close, wiping out a chunk of Wednesday’s historic rally. The US markets open at 14:30 GMT. 

Prince Harry made a surprise visit to an orthopaedic clinic in Lviv – a centre that treats and rehabilitates wounded military personnel and civilians. Harry attended with a group from the Invictus Games Foundation after two days back in London for a high court appearance.

Friday’s UK headlines cover a variety of domestic and international stories. There is, of course, continued coverage of the fallout from the Trump tariff debacle amid claims of market manipulation and calls for an investigation into potential insider trading.

Royal news continues to be highlighted on the front pages – in print and online – with Prince Harry making a surprise visit to Ukraine and Prince William talking football after Villa’s 3-1 loss. Charles and Camilla are pictured on several tabloids after marking their 20th wedding anniversary with a state visit to Italy, where the pair exercised their soft power in a bid to rebuild relations with the rest of Europe. 

The UK is set for another sunny day with temperatures reaching over 23C in some parts – and in Scotland, there are warnings of potential wildfires. 

The International Energy Agency forecasts that electricity consumption by global data centres will double within five years, largely driven by the rise of powerful AI models.

The Trump administration has initiated a controversial move to classify over 6,000 living immigrants as deceased, effectively cancelling their Social Security numbers. This action is designed to compel these individuals to leave the United States.

Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian, was extradited from the US to India and accused of being a key conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that resulted in over 160 deaths.

The US aims for free and priority access to the Panama Canal, while Panama insists on its sovereignty, complicating negotiations amidst ongoing tensions.

Sudan has urged the International Court of Justice to issue emergency orders against the UAE for allegedly supporting paramilitaries involved in violence against the Masalit people in Darfur.

Space Forge, founded by two entrepreneurs in Cardiff, is set to launch its ForgeStar-1 satellite, aimed at revolutionising semiconductor manufacturing in microgravity.

A helicopter crash in New York’s Hudson River resulted in the deaths of six Spanish tourists, including three children and the pilot, as confirmed by Mayor Eric Adams.

The King and Queen of the UK engaged positively with the public during a visit to Ravenna, showcasing their resilience and dedication to royal duties despite recent health concerns related to the King’s cancer treatment.

Cliff Notes The father of a grooming gang victim criticises the government for causing confusion regarding the promised local inquiries, stating it is "messing around…

Cliff Notes President Trump has paused retaliatory tariffs, leading to greater market stability and expectations for three interest rate cuts by the Bank of England,…

Cliff Notes A Hungarian official has suggested the country’s first foot-and-mouth disease cases in over 50 years may have originated from a "biological attack". Thousands…

Donald Trump announced a temporary 90-day suspension of certain tariffs less than a day after they came into effect. Many see it as the president backing down from his policy after US government bonds were being sold off, and the president likely under pressure from his rich and powerful friends (Elon Musk).

Whilst he came back from the brink for most countries he had hit, all countries (interestingly, Russia was not hit with tariffs) still face a blanket 10% tariff.

The administration intensified its stance on China by elevating tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, underscoring a complex and strained U.S.- China trade relationship.

China responded firmly to the increased tariffs, maintaining a resolute position and implementing retaliatory measures. The Chinese Commerce Ministry announced an 84% tariff on all U.S. goods, signaling Beijing’s unwillingness to yield to U.S. pressure. This escalation has heightened concerns about a prolonged trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies.

The financial markets have reacted with notable volatility to these developments. Following the announcement of the tariff suspension, global markets experienced a relief rally. However, this optimism is tempered by underlying uncertainties, as analysts caution that the fundamental issues driving the trade tensions remain unresolved. The bond market, in particular, has exhibited signs of distress, with the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield climbing from under 4% to 4.5%, reflecting diminished confidence in U.S. fiscal stability.

Amid these economic fluctuations, there have been murmurs of potential market manipulation.

The current trajectory of U.S. trade policy, characterized by abrupt shifts and escalating tariffs, has prompted warnings from economic leaders. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon cautioned that the ongoing trade war could precipitate a U.S. recession this year.

Cliff Notes A 38-year-old Romanian national was arrested at Stansted airport on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service linked to a fire at a…

Manchester United are away at Lyon tonight in the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final 1st Leg, whilst fellow English club, Tottenham Hotspur, welcome Eintracht Frankfurt to the Spurs Stadium.

Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russian citizen, was jailed in Russia for 12 years after her £40 donation to a Ukrainian charity was deemed treasonous.

Donald Trump has backed down on his tariffs (higher than the baseline 10%) on countries that did not retaliate against the levies. The US president announced via social media that there would be a 90-day pause on those tariffs and they would instead be dropped to the blanket 10% rate. But since China did retaliate, Trump announced that the tariffs on China would be hiked to 125%.

Much of the global media sees the announcement of Trump backing down from the trade war he started, likely amid US government bond sell-offs.

King Charles and Camilla are in Italy for a state visit, meeting with politicians and the pope and delivering a historic speech to both houses of the Italian parliament. The UK media is suggesting it is an exercise in Britain’s soft powers and that the royals are being used to help reset the UK’s relationship with the rest of Europe following the fraught and turbulent times of the Brexit era.

The state visit also coincides with the pair’s 20th wedding anniversary, and several of the royal-supporting news media offer insights into the couple’s marriage – the ups and downs and how they finally got together. There is also commentary on the King’s relationship with his youngest son, who is back in Britain for a court case regarding his personal security. The pair reportedly did not meet before Charles headed to Italy.

Thursday’s UK headlines, like much of the rest of the world, are, of course, dominated by the latest from the escalating trade war between the United States and the rest of the world. Trump announced a 90-day pause on the highest tariffs, dropping them all down to 10% except for China, which was hit with 125% levies. The stock markets have bounced back since the announcement, but the ball is very much back in China’s court, and all eyes are on Beijing to see how it responds. Everything that is coming out of China at the moment suggests they won’t back down and believe they can ride this out. 

A little closer to home, there are a handful of royal headlines, including King Charles’s state visit to Italy, which is being viewed as Britain exercising the royal family’s soft powers to help reset Britain’s relationship with the rest of Europe, nine years on from the Brexit mess. Charles and Camilla met with politicians and the Pope during their visit.

Cliff Notes The Home Secretary has rejected claims that the government is lessening its response to child grooming gangs, asserting increased action is being taken.…