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Cambridge shelter resident says Budget must focus on housing

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Cambridge shelter resident says Budget must focus on housing


A man experiencing homelessness said he hoped the government would focus on increasing accessibility to housing in its upcoming Budget.

Josh, 26, who is currently a resident at the night shelter Jimmy’s in Cambridge, said the availability of council housing and “move-on housing” – shared accommodation where people can receive support – was important.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver Labour’s second budget on 26 November.

Cambridge City Council received 1,139 homelessness applications between April 2024 and March 2025, which was a 13% rise on the previous year.

Josh said his focus was to get back into work after he completed his electrician qualifications, which he said were “just as hard as a degree in my opinion”.

He would like to see the Budget include more opportunities for continuing apprenticeships and more financial support for necessities such as course books.

Josh said he recently received a government grant to pay for essential job hunting equipment, such as a mobile phone, boots and suitable clothing.

He added that he would support a rise in taxes if they were spent on investing in public services, “especially the train lines into London”.

Andrew works in the security sector and lives in Peterborough in a home owned by the charity Hope Into Action.

The charity, which was set up in the city 15 years ago, owns 130 houses across the UK.

Andrew has beea living in one of the charity’s properties for two years, after experiencing homelessness for about “three or four months”.

“The charity saved my life,” he said.

He said renting in the private sector “can be expensive” but that people themselves have “got to budget as much as possible”.

Applications for housing to Peterborough City Council are also rising.

In 2024, it was contacted by 3,654 households facing homelessness, which was an 11% jump on the previous year.

And since 7 April this year, there have already been 2,333 approaches – an average of 70 a week.

The authority received nearly £1m last month to help tackle rough sleeping in the city.

Andrew said he recognised that public services needed to be paid for and that if tax rises needed to happen to pay for them then “you’ve got to make good” yourself.

HM Treasury was contacted for comment.



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Indian electronic firms seek PLI 2.0, eye 30–35% share in global mobile production by FY31 – The Times of India

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Indian electronic firms seek PLI 2.0, eye 30–35% share in global mobile production by FY31 – The Times of India


With the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme now over, India’s electronics industry has pitched a fresh expansion plan, seeking continued government support as it eyes a strong jump in manufacturing and exports over the next five years. During discussions with the ministry of electronics and IT (MeitY), the industry said that by FY31, India could capture 30–35% of global mobile production. This would take annual output to $110–130 billion, with exports estimated at $55–70 billion. At present, according to ET, India accounts for about 15% of global mobile phone production, with manufacturing output exceeding $64 billion. Industry executives said the current production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme has played a key role in this growth. With the scheme set to end on March 31, companies are pushing for a new version to keep the momentum going. Talks are underway on a proposed PLI 2.0 scheme, which is likely to run from 2026 to 2031. Government officials said a new incentive programme is being considered, though details have not yet been finalised. The industry has also shared a roadmap with the government to meet production and export targets by FY31. “With a strong foundation, we have an opportunity to achieve 30-35% of global mobile production in the next five years,” Pankaj Mohindroo, chairman of India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), told ET. “To realise this ambition, it is critical to sustain the current momentum and continue investments. We are actively engaging with the government to shape the next phase of this growth journey.” Industry players said increasing India’s global share would help strengthen the supply chain, deepen the manufacturing ecosystem and support research and development at scale. One executive said scale is more important than value addition alone for long-term sustainability. The government is also examining how much domestic value addition should be required for incentives and how exports can be increased without breaching World Trade Organization norms. Experts said the growth in production will depend largely on exports, as domestic demand is expected to weaken. India’s smartphone market could shrink by more than 13% this year due to rising memory costs, which may push device prices up by 15–40%, according to an earlier report. Data from the commerce ministry showed smartphone exports rose 47.4%, from $20.44 billion in 2024 to $30.13 billion in 2025. The United States accounted for $19.7 billion, or 65% of total exports. Meanwhile, China’s smartphone exports fell from $132.6 billion to $120.6 billion during the same period, with shipments to the US declining sharply due to fentanyl-related tariffs. India’s tariff advantage in the US market has narrowed after the US Supreme Court struck down sweeping global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. China continues to have an advantage due to its strong supply chain and advanced manufacturing capabilities, while India is still developing these.



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Duty on diesel exports hiked from Rs 21.5/L to Rs 55.5 – The Times of India

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Duty on diesel exports hiked from Rs 21.5/L to Rs 55.5 – The Times of India


NEW DELHI: Govt on Saturday significantly increased export duties on diesel and aviation turbine fuel to dissuade oil refiners from exporting these fuels and to ensure adequate availability in the domestic market amid ongoing tensions in West Asia. The ministry of finance issued a series of notifications hiking the export duty on diesel by more than 150% – from Rs 21.5 per litre to Rs 55.5 per litre – with immediate effect. The levy on ATF, or jet fuel, was increased from Rs 29.5 per litre to Rs 42 per litre. The export duty on petrol continues to be nil. Under the revised structure, the special additional excise duty on high-speed diesel has been raised to Rs 24 per litre, while the road and infrastructure cess now stands at Rs 36 per litre, which means a large chunk will now flow to the Centre. Govt said these duties are not meant to boost revenue, but to stop fuel exporters from taking undue advantage of price differences. The Centre had, on March 27, imposed an export duty of Rs 21.5 per litre on diesel and Rs 29.5 per litre on ATF in a bid to check windfall gains, as fuel was in short supply in international markets due to a squeeze on energy supplies amid the military conflict and export curbs imposed by China. It had also slashed excise duty on diesel and petrol to shield consumers and oil companies from the impact of high crude prices. Retail prices of automobile fuels in India have not increased despite high volatility in the international crude market, while only a small part of the international price pressure has been passed on to domestic flights. The windfall tax on exports of diesel and ATF helps the Centre partly offset the impact of the excise duty cut. On March 27, govt had estimated revenue gains from export duties at around Rs 1,500 crore in a fortnight. The further hike in export duties is likely to lead to higher revenue gains. In a statement, the ministry of petroleum had said, “At a time when international diesel prices have surged sharply, the levy is designed to disincentivise exports and ensure that refinery output is directed first tow-ards meeting domestic demand.



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NI fuel protesters ‘stand in solidarity’ with Irish counterparts

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NI fuel protesters ‘stand in solidarity’ with Irish counterparts



A convoy of vans, lorries, tractors, and even a limousine took part in a slow moving protest around the town centre on Saturday afternoon.



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