Britain faces importing salt for the first time in modern history as its chemical sector, once a world leader, suffers an unprecedented collapse. Key plants are closing, threatening national security and supply chains.
France records more deaths than births for the first time since 1945, as financial fears deter parenthood. Explore the data and implications for Europe's demographic future.
As UK high streets face decline, Guardian readers debate solutions. From supporting Brixton's markets to local art revivals, discover if consumer choice or community action holds the key to survival.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle will pledge to safeguard British start-ups from overseas takeovers, citing billions in new investment from the UK's industrial strategy. Read the full story.
The Office for Environmental Protection warns England and Northern Ireland will miss key wildlife goals. Flood and wildfire risks are rising. Read the damning report.
A quarter-century after Eric Schlosser's exposé, the industrial food system's profits and risks, from bird flu to health crises, have only intensified. Read the urgent update.
UK manufacturers warn of a competitiveness 'tipping point' due to rising costs, urging the Labour government to deliver on its industrial strategy to prevent investment fleeing overseas.
Britain's town centres face a point of no return with 13,500 shops lost in 2024. As organised crime moves in, Reform UK capitalises on the 'high street emergency'. Discover the local fightback.
Cuba faces a devastating 'polycrisis' of mass emigration, economic freefall, and demographic collapse. One in four Cubans have left in four years. Can the regime survive?
Analysis reveals Donald Trump's immigration crackdown cannot halt America's demographic shift. For the US to thrive, it must embrace a browner future. Explore the data behind the population dilemma.
Britain's foundational industries are in crisis, with jobs halving since 2000. High energy costs and policy are to blame. We must revive this vital sector as a national priority. Read the full analysis.
Archaeologists uncover a massive Roman manufacturing site in Sunderland, with over 800 whetstones found. The discovery rewrites the history of Roman Britain's industrial north. Watch the full story on BBC's Digging for Britain.
The UK construction sector has now declined for a full year, new data reveals, putting Labour's target of 1.5 million new homes by 2030 in serious jeopardy. Read the full analysis.
A major think tank predicts 2026 will mark a permanent demographic shift in the UK, with deaths exceeding births. This could mean fewer workers, higher taxes, and a renewed debate on immigration. Read the full analysis.
Met Police call handlers and fleet staff will strike for six days in January, following a 'hugely disruptive' New Year's Eve walkout. The dispute centres on an 'inferior' pay offer compared to police officers. Read the latest.
Warmer Arctic winters bring more rain, which freezes into ice layers and blocks reindeer from their food. Research links this to falling herd birthrates. Discover the challenge for Arctic wildlife.
The UK is set for a historic demographic shift in 2026, with deaths exceeding births. This long-term trend could mean fewer workers and higher taxes, putting immigration policy in the spotlight. Read the full analysis.
Once dominant, Scandinavian clubs now lag behind Europe's elite. We analyse the financial and structural gaps, and ask if Nordic women's football can ever compete again.
Civil Enforcement Officers in Bromley are striking for four days, halting parking fines. They demand £17 an hour, but APCOA offers £13. The council blames the contractor.
The spread of H5N1 bird flu through US mega-dairies exposes the dangers of industrial farming. As the UK's dairy sector consolidates, are we facing similar risks?
A letter to the Guardian argues the BBC must establish truly local radio stations in Scotland and Wales to fill the void left by declining regional newspapers and give communities a voice.
UK manufacturing activity reached a 15-month peak in December 2025, with the PMI at 50.6. Discover the drivers behind this tentative recovery and the challenges that remain for 2026.
A new review challenges the UK's traditional narrative of 19th-century industrial success, arguing that British military power, not just machinery, crushed Bengal's textile industry. Read the full analysis.
Italy faces a severe demographic crisis with births plummeting to 379,000 in 2025. Explore the economic and social 'perfect storm' causing this collapse and its profound implications for the nation's future.
China introduces a 13% VAT on contraceptives while exempting childcare services, aiming to reverse a declining population. Experts debate the policy's effectiveness and potential risks.
Nouriel Roubini argues Europe's existential crisis is economic and technological, not cultural. US GDP grew 87% vs EU's 13.5% since 2008. Can reforms save the continent?
Britain's voluntary sector is struggling with a severe financial crunch, rising costs, and falling donations as demand for services soars. Can Labour's 'covenant' offer a lifeline?
Hundreds of Crown Melbourne casino staff will walk out from 10pm to 2am on New Year's Eve, protesting a proposed two-tier pay system. The industrial action threatens to disrupt celebrations. Read the full story.
Data reveals the UK's warmest spring on record led to higher breeding success for 14 songbird species, offering a glimmer of hope amid long-term declines for threatened wild birds. Discover the full story.
Unions and the Green Alliance warn the UK's historic ceramics sector, supporting 20,000 jobs, is at a critical point due to high energy costs and imports. Urgent government action is demanded to prevent its collapse.