Headline

UK GDP Records Fastest Growth In Q1 2025

Published

2 months ago

June 30, 2025

The United Kingdom recorded its fastest economic growth in over a year during the first quarter of 2025, boosted by a surge in home buying ahead of a property tax deadline and increased manufacturing activity in anticipation of new United States tariffs, Reuters reported.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the economy expanded by 0.7 percent between January and March, the strongest quarterly growth since early 2024.

“UK gross domestic product is estimated to have grown by 0.7% in Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2025, unrevised from the first estimate,” it said on X on Monday.

The figure confirms earlier estimates and marks a sharp contrast to the 0.1 percent growth seen in the final quarter of last year.

Reuters reported that ONS also revised March’s growth upward to 0.4 percent, from an initial 0.2 percent. However, the economic boost may prove short-lived. Preliminary data already shows a 0.3 percent contraction in April, partly due to one-off disruptions.

The Bank of England projects a more modest 0.25 percent growth for the second quarter. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is hoping the uptick will continue, easing pressure to introduce further tax hikes as the government works to meet its fiscal goals.

The strong first quarter was driven in part by a rush of property transactions before the March 31 expiration of a homebuyer tax break. Household spending rose by 0.4 percent, revised up from 0.2 percent, fueled by expenditures on housing, household goods, services, and transport.

To finance this spending, households dipped into their savings, though the savings ratio remains robust at 10.9 percent.

Manufacturers also ramped up output early in the year, anticipating new import tariffs planned by US President Donald Trump. Some of these proposed tariffs have since been suspended, easing business uncertainty.

Chief economist at RSM UK, Thomas Pugh, noted that earlier weakness in consumer spending and hiring was likely a temporary response to tax changes and trade uncertainty.

“Now that uncertainty has started to recede, consumer confidence is rebounding, and business surveys suggest the worst of the labour market pain is behind us,” he said.

A recent survey indicates that employer confidence in the UK has reached a nine-year high, with optimism growing about the economic outlook. The Bank of England is expected to cut interest rates twice more this year, potentially bolstering consumer spending.

Headline

Charlie Kirk Shooter Arrested, Named

Published

18 hours ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

United States authorities have arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as 21-year-old Tyler Robinson from Utah, according to NBC News, citing five senior law enforcement sources.

Kirk was fatally shot in the neck on Tuesday while speaking at a debate at Utah Valley University.

Authorities said the attacker fired a single round from a rooftop in what they described as a targeted assassination.

US President Donald Trump confirmed the arrest, telling Fox News that investigators acted “with a high degree of certainty” in taking Robinson into custody.

Trump praised the joint efforts of local police and state officials in the investigation.

Headline

FBI Releases Video Of Charlie Kirk’s Shooter, Recovers Weapons Near Scene [WATCH]

Published

1 day ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

The FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office on Friday released video footage of the man suspected of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk fleeing a rooftop after the incident on September 10, 2025.

The bureau, in a statement accompanied by the video link shared on X on Friday, noted that the video shows the shooter climbing onto a rooftop shortly before the attack and then jumping off and fleeing the scene after firing the fatal shots.

Investigators also reportedly found the weapon and ammunition used in the shooting in a wooded area near the university.

The agency wrote, “The FBI has released a video and more photos of the shooter in the Utah Valley shooting. The subject is seen jumping from the rooftop of a building after the shooting.

“Around 12 pm Mountain Time on September 10, 2025, the subject climbed up to a rooftop; after he shot and killed Charlie Kirk, he jumped off and ran away. He left a gun and ammunition in a wooded area near the university.

“Trace evidence collected from the rooftop scene included shoe impressions, a forearm imprint, and a palm print. Anyone with information in this case should call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting.”

The bureau added that it is working closely with law enforcement partners to seek justice in the murder of Charlie Kirk.

The PUNCH reported on Thursday that the FBI released initial images of a person of interest in the fatal shooting of Kirk.

The agency also offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of those responsible for his death.

Meanwhile, two people misidentified online as suspects in the fatal shooting of right-wing US activist Charlie Kirk also told AFP Thursday they were terrified by the misinformation targeting them, as the manhunt for the real killer continued.

31-year-old Kirk, a major ally of President Donald Trump and the head of the largest conservative youth movement in the United States, was shot dead while attending an event at Utah Valley University.

Watch the video below:

https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1966444113794109657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1966444113794109657%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-186661262228333818.ampproject.net%2F2508281901000%2Fframe.html

Headline

Russia Threatens Poland Over Belarus Border Closure

Published

1 day ago

September 12, 2025

Editor

Russia, on Thursday, urged Poland to reopen its border with Belarus, Moscow’s close ally, calling the closure “destructive” and warning of consequences.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Tuesday the closure of the border with Belarus from 0000 on September 12 (2200 GMT on September 11), in response to the upcoming joint Russian-Belarusian war games.

“We urge Warsaw to consider the consequences of such destructive steps and to review its decision as soon as possible,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

The border closure was to “justify a policy of further escalating tensions in the centre of Europe”, she added.

NATO’s eastern flank members Poland, Lithuania and Latvia are on high alert due to the massive drills, which according to Tusk are designed to simulate occupation of the Suwalki corridor, a strategically important area in Poland.

Usually held every four years, the 2025 iteration of Zapad is the first during the conflict in Ukraine, and is due to run until September 16.

Belarus had said in January that 13,000 troops would be involved in the drills, but in May it said the number was to be reduced by around half.

Zakharova said Warsaw had “demonstratively” ignored the “goodwill” gestures by Moscow and Minsk to move the exercise away from the Polish border and to reduce the number of military personnel participating.