Don’t hold your breath on Trump testifying in his own defense. It would likely be embarrassing, if not perjurious Donald Trump dodged financial calamity on Monday. The office of Letitia James, the New York attorney general, and lawyers for Trump reached agreement in open court on the terms governing the appellate bond posted by the former president. After nearly an hour of argument and an extended recess, the parties achieved a workable solution. It is a ray of sunshine in Trump’s otherwise bleak legal landscape. Trump would be required to leave $175m in cash only as collateral for the bond. M ..read more

Falls, slips and trips accounted for 865 worker fatalities in 2022 – more than 400 of whom worked in construction Wooden planks with nails covered the site where Antonio, a construction day laborer in Houston, Texas, was helping clear large fencing last December. The contractor that hired him provided no protection, he said – so when he slipped, and a nail struck him just above the ankle, it became “really swollen”. Antonio was given hydrogen peroxide, and the contractor promised to get him medical attention the next day. But after developing a fever overnight, and with his ankle still swollen ..read more

Shoppers spend more on promotions as Easter lifts sales of chocolate eggs and hot-cross buns Business live – latest updates Grocery price inflation in Great Britain has slowed to 3.2%, the lowest since November 2021, as the cost of toilet rolls, butter and milk fell and people spent more on store promotions. The decline in the four weeks to 14 April marked the 14th monthly drop in a row, and compares with an annual rate of 4.5% this time last month, according to the retail analysts Kantar. The slowdown in grocery inflation was aided by a big increase in promotional spending, with items bough ..read more

Government borrowed £120.7bn in the last financial year, with just under £12bn in March Business live – latest updates Jeremy Hunt’s scope for a substantial pre-election tax giveaway has been hit after the latest set of official figures showed the UK’s public finances in worse shape than thought at last month’s budget. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the government borrowed £120.7bn in the 2023-24 financial year – £6.6bn more than the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) had expected ..read more

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as FTSE 100 hits alltime high of 8076 points Full story: FTSE 100 hits record high as shares rise amid hopes of interest rate cuts The London stock market is benefitting from expectations that interest rates will be cut sooner in the UK than in the US. The Financial Times reports this morning that some traders are building up bets that the US Federal Reserve will raise interest rates higher, as inflationary pressures in America look stubbornly high. With economic growth still lagging many of its G7 peers, the UK has turned this to i ..read more

With his claims of a ‘sicknote culture’, the prime minister is scapegoating those worst affected by 14 years of Conservative rule When a prime minister knows he is heading for electoral wipeout, he has one of two options. He can choose dignified statesmanship, using his remaining months in power to bring about as much unity and stability as possible. Or he can choose desperation, grasping for votes by scapegoating marginalised people, and leaving division and misery in his wake. Rishi Sunak has gone for the second option. On Friday, he announced a new crackdown on disability benefits that has ..read more

International Energy Agency says 17m vehicles will be sold this year, up more than 20% compared with 2023 Electric and plug-in hybrid car sales will jump to a new global record in 2024 despite slowing growth in some markets, according to forecasts from the influential International Energy Agency (IEA). The Paris-based forecaster said that 17m battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will be sold in 2024, up more than 20% compared with 2023 ..read more

Anthony Albanese responds to X owner who criticised Australian authorities demanding videos of a Sydney church stabbing be removed Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast Australia’s prime minister has labelled the X owner, Elon Musk, an “arrogant billionaire who thinks he is above the law” as the rift deepens between Australia and the tech platform over the removal of videos of a violent stabbing in a Sydney church. On Monday evening in an urgent last-minute federal court hearing, the court ordered a tw ..read more

Either way it stinks See more of Fiona Katauskas’s cartoons here ..read more

FTC lawsuit to block Coach parent from buying Michael Kors owner says deal would deprive consumers of competition The US Federal Trade Commission said on Monday it was suing to block Coach parent Tapestry’s $8.5bn deal to buy Michael Kors owner Capri, saying it would eliminate competition. This comes at a time when several US lawmakers have sought increased scrutiny from the FTC of several multi-billion dollar deals that might risk higher prices and affect consumers ..read more