Cuts

Trabalhadores escreveram a ‘Katrina declaration’, alertando que cortes de financiamento deixaram os US perigosamente despreparados para desastres naturais Quatorze funcionários da US Federal Emergency Management Agency retornaram ao trabalho esta semana, após passarem oito meses em licença administrativa por assinarem uma carta pública criticando o governo Trump. A chamada “Katrina declaration”, enviada em agosto passado a membros do Congresso e a um conselho federal formado para ajudar a determinar o futuro da Fema, foi escrita como um repúdio dos trabalhadores sobre a perigosa erosão na capacidade dos US de se preparar e responder a desastres naturais. Continue lendo...

• A medida ocorre enquanto o setor aéreo reage à incerteza sobre a guerra no Irã e ao aumento no preço do petróleo Brent • Business live – últimas atualizações • A Air France-KLM cortou suas previsões de crescimento de capacidade para este ano, já que a guerra no Irã elevou seus custos de combustível em bilhões de dólares

• Autoridades do Fed citam inflação elevada, crescimento lento do emprego e incerteza no Oriente Médio como razões para manter as taxas • O Federal Reserve dos EUA manteve as taxas de juros inalteradas após sua última reunião de diretoria, desafiando mais uma vez o pedido de corte de Donald Trump, enquanto o banco central se prepara para uma reformulação de liderança no próximo mês. • Na quarta-feira, funcionários do Fed continuaram a citar a inflação elevada, o crescimento lento do emprego e a incerteza no Oriente Médio como razões para que as taxas permanecessem intocadas.

Bank’s chief executive points to rising fraud as it sets aside a further £105m for motor finance compensationBusiness live – latest updatesBarclays is pulling back from lending to risky borrowers, as its chief executive warned of increasing numbers of fraud cases and the bank took a £228m hit from the failure of a mortgage lender.The mortgage lender Market Financial Solutions (MFS) collapsed in February amid allegations of fraud and the UK’s financial regulator has since launched an investigation into the scandal. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump outlined sweeping healthcare reforms in an Oval Office address, announcing what he described as the largest prescription drug price cuts in U.S. history. • The announcement represents a major domestic policy initiative focused on reducing medication costs for American consumers. • Trump simultaneously signaled potential progress in Iran conflict negotiations, suggesting possible diplomatic breakthroughs as ceasefire talks continue.

Report from Elizabeth Warren calls Trump administration cuts to Social Security Administration ‘catastrophic’Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxCuts to the Social Security Administration have caused “customer service chaos” for millions of older Americans and those with disabilities who rely on the agency’s services, according to a new report from a group of Democratic senators.An investigation found that phone wait times were more than 10 times higher than what the agency claimed on its website, if the calls were even answered at all. Continue reading...

Minister tells Guardian Australia despite substantial changes to disability scheme, it will remain one of best support services ‘anywhere in the world’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMark Butler has defended the government’s decision to trim the NDIS just days after announcing $53bn in new defence spending, with the health minister conceding Australians may be “uneasy” but insisting it would remain one of the best support services “anywhere in the world”.The Coalition looks likely to back the proposed changes, despite alarm from the Greens and some in the disability sector about the 160,000 participants expected to be removed by 2030 and changes to who can access the scheme. Continue reading...