Meningitis typically occurs as isolated one-off cases, but the outbreak in Kent is being described as "unprecedented" because there have been 20 cases since the weekend. However, this infection requires close and prolonged physical contact, that spreads more slowly than Covid or flu. The BBC's Nick Triggle explains why this outbreak is not the same as Covid. More on this story.

bodrumsurf Canaccord Genuity has initiated Ocugen ( OCGN ) at buy, noting the company's pipeline of AAV gene therapy candidates for retinal diseases. The firm has a $12 price target (~390% upside based on March 17 close). Analyst Whitney Ijem highlighted OCU410ST, which is in phase 2/3 for Stargardt disease. Interim phase 2/3 is expected in Q3, which she called "an important derisking event." Ijem noted that phase 1 data found that the asset slowed lesion progression while also i mproving visual acuity. She indicated that Ocugen's stock price is poised to surge if the upcoming data readout is successful, given that Belite ( BLTE ) saw its share price skyrocket on data for its Stargardt candidate, tinlarebant, which she noted did not demonstrate visual acuity improvement. Ijem also mentioned OCU410 for geographic atrophy and OCU400, the company's most advanced asset, in phase 3 for retinitis pigmentosa as other potential catalysts. More on Ocugen Ocugen: Downgrading After OCU410 Data Release Ocugen, Inc. (OCGN) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript Ocugen: Why I Don't Read Too Much Into The Selloff On Phase 2 GA Data Ocugen spikes as Oppenheimer issues new Outperform on upcoming catalysts Ocugen outlines 2026 BLA submission and expects three pivotal filings within three years amid leadership expansion

Shares of Ferrari (RACE 1.61%) have hit a rough patch. The stock is down significantly from its 52-week high and has fallen about 29% over the last six months. A drop like this is highly unusual for the iconic Italian luxury automaker, which has historically traded with the stability of a high-end collectible rather than a cyclical car company. But the pullback arguably makes sense. Late last year, the market was spooked by management's updated five-year financial targets presented during its Capital Markets Day, which implied a significant deceleration in the company's top-line growth rate. With that said, the underlying business is still performing exceptionally well. And with a major new supercar rollout underway, is this rare pullback a buying opportunity? A conservative roadmap To understand the stock's recent weakness, look no further than the company's 2030 financial targets. At its Capital Markets Day last October, management expects net revenue to reach approximately 9.0 billion euros by the end of the decade. Compare that to the 7.15 billion euros in revenue the company generated in 2025, and this implies a compound annual growth rate of just 5% over the next five years. That is a noticeable step down from the double-digit growth rates investors have grown accustomed to in recent years. But there is a good reason for this cautious approach. Ferrari's entire business model relies on scarcity. By intentionally capping volume to protect its pricing power, the company ensures its brand equity remains pristine. And the fruits of this discipline are clearly reflected in the company's profitability. In 2025, Ferrari's operating margin -- or its operating profit as a percentage of total revenue -- expanded by 120 basis points year over year to a staggering 29.5%. For Ferrari, margin expansion like this means earnings per share is growing faster than revenue -- a trend I think should persist for the company over the long haul. Even more, Ferrari produced over 1.5 b...

格隆汇3月19日｜Ameriprise Financial首席市场策略师Anthony Saglimbene表示，美联储政策声明和利率决定都符合预期，经济预期摘要和声明略微偏鸽。他表示，从我的理解来看，这些经济预测报告略显鸽派——虽然PCE和核心PCE预期均有所上升，但声明仍然指出经济状况良好，就业增长温和，失业率稳定。

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格隆汇3月19日｜消息人士：位于巴格达机场附近的美国外交机构遭卡秋莎火箭弹袭击，该机构内响起警报声。

卡塔尔国家石油巨头卡塔尔能源公司（QatarEnergy）周三表示，拉斯拉凡工业城在遭受导弹袭击后已造成“广泛破坏”。此前不久，该国内政部曾报告称，伊朗对该地区的袭击引发了火灾。 世界第二大液化天然气出口商在一份声明中称：应急小组立即被部署以控制由此引发的火灾。声明说，没有人员伤亡的报告，所有人员均已确认安全。 卡塔尔在一份声明中谴责了这次袭击，称这是对其国家安全的“直接威胁”。卡塔尔外交部补充说，伊朗坚持以卡塔尔及其邻国为目标，这是一种“不负责任的做法”。 卡塔尔内政部早些时候表示，民防人员正在处理伊朗袭击后拉斯拉凡地区发生的火灾。内政部表示，拉斯拉凡地区的火灾已初步得到控制，没有人员伤亡的报告。 拉斯拉凡位于多哈以北80公里处，是一个能源工业中心，拥有多家国际公司。 据伊朗国家媒体报道，伊朗早些时候对包括拉斯拉凡炼油厂在内的沙特阿拉伯、阿联酋和卡塔尔的多个石油设施发出了疏散警告，称这些设施将在“未来数小时内”成为袭击目标。 一位知情人士周三告诉路透，在伊朗威胁攻击海湾能源设施后，卡塔尔的拉斯拉凡液化天然气设施正在撤离。 责任编辑：李桐

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is one of the best growth stocks to invest in according to billionaires. On March 13, Guggenheim reiterated its Buy rating on Oracle and kept its $400 price target, one of the highest targets on the Street. Analyst John DiFucci argued that Oracle’s recent quarter strengthened the case for the stock as a long-duration AI and cloud story, pointing in particular to the company’s $553 billion remaining performance obligations, which were up 325% year over year. He said the current spending cycle could set up a “free cash flow waterfall” in fiscal 2029 and 2030 once today’s infrastructure build-out starts converting into revenue at scale. Why Guggenheim Sees Oracle’s AI Buildout Setting Up a Future Cash Flow Inflection Pixabay/Public Domain The backdrop for that call was Oracle’s fiscal third-quarter report on March 10. The company posted $17.2 billion in revenue, up 22% year over year, while non-GAAP earnings per share rose to $1.79. Cloud revenue climbed 44% to $8.9 billion, and cloud infrastructure revenue jumped 84% to $4.9 billion. Oracle also raised its fiscal 2027 revenue target to more than $90 billion. Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) provides database software, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise applications. Its business spans cloud infrastructure, database platforms, and software products used by enterprises and governments worldwide. While we acknowledge the potential of ORCL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Why Guggenheim Sees Oracle’s (ORCL) AI Buildout Setting Up a Future Cash Flow Inflection Yahoo! Finance Canada

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is one of the best growth stocks to invest in according to billionaires. On March 13, Guggenheim reiterated its Buy rating on Oracle and kept its $400 price target, one of the highest targets on the Street. Analyst John DiFucci argued that Oracle’s recent quarter strengthened the case for the stock as a long-duration AI and cloud story, pointing in particular to the company’s $553 billion remaining performance obligations, which were up 325% year over year. He said the current spending cycle could set up a “free cash flow waterfall” in fiscal 2029 and 2030 once today’s infrastructure build-out starts converting into revenue at scale. Why Guggenheim Sees Oracle’s AI Buildout Setting Up a Future Cash Flow Inflection Pixabay/Public Domain The backdrop for that call was Oracle’s fiscal third-quarter report on March 10. The company posted $17.2 billion in revenue, up 22% year over year, while non-GAAP earnings per share rose to $1.79. Cloud revenue climbed 44% to $8.9 billion, and cloud infrastructure revenue jumped 84% to $4.9 billion. Oracle also raised its fiscal 2027 revenue target to more than $90 billion. Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) provides database software, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise applications. Its business spans cloud infrastructure, database platforms, and software products used by enterprises and governments worldwide. While we acknowledge the potential of ORCL as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Sundry Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings ( KNX ) is in the spotlight after announcing earlier in the week that it sold its FleetAero assets to Transtex for an undisclosed amount. The agreement also establishes a long-term partnership between Transtex and Knight-Swift focused on advancing fleet performance, accelerating technology validation, and driving continuous innovation aligned with fuel-efficiency and emissions-reduction objectives. "We believe this long-term partnership will support continued innovation and drive measurable operational and environmental benefits across our fleet," highlighted Knight-Swift ( KNX ) Senior VP Dave Williams. Weighing in on the development, Evercore ISI analyst Jonathan Chappell noted the deal allows Knight-Swift ( KNX ) to continue using and developing the FleetAero technologies without directly owning the business. That is expected to support the company's efficiency goals while it focuses on core operations. The deal is also expected to strengthen Transtex’s portfolio of aerodynamic and fuel-efficiency solutions that help fleets reduce costs and emissions. Elsewhere, UBS upgraded Knight-Swift ( KNX ) to a Buy rating from Neutral due to rising visibility for attrition in truckload supply and elevated spot rates, which were said to reflect the resulting tightening in the market. Knight-Swift ( KNX ) is seen as having pricing power over the next two years. Shares of Knight-Swift ( KNX ) were up 1.4% in late Wednesday trading. More on Knight-Swift Transportation Knight-Swift Transportation: Its Rally Has Already Run Longer And Farther Than Expected Knight-Swift Transportation Trades At A Premium Of Already Optimistic Assumptions Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings: Rating Upgrade As Cycle Is Turning Knight-Swift unloads FleetAero assets onto Transtex Fuel shock creates buying opportunity for Knight-Swift Transport—Citi Research

专题：美联储宣布维持利率不变 金融机构预计今年或只降息一次 美联储似乎准备暂时忽略美国和以色列与伊朗战争引发的石油危机。 尽管美联储通常对波动剧烈的能源市场不予理会，但主席鲍威尔周三表示，能源成本持续走高将推高物价，并抑制近年来饱受冲击的美国经济增长。 鲍威尔在新闻发布会上说：“我们经历了关税冲击和疫情，现在又面临著具有一定规模和持续时间的能源冲击。人们担心这类事件可能给通胀预期带来麻烦。” 在伊朗实际上切断了霍尔木兹海峡的油轮运输后，作为基准的美国石油期货价格今年已飙升67%。据美国汽车协会（AAA）的数据，美国人的汽油平均零售价跃升至每加仑3.84美元，而柴油平均价格则飙升至每加仑5.07美元。 “美联储忽略能源价格的倾向不应被夸大，”信安资金管理（Principal Asset Management）的首席全球策略师Seema Shah说。“如果油价维持在当前水平附近，家庭将面临更大压力，通胀预期将小幅走高，美联储的政策困境也将迅速加剧。” 责任编辑：李桐

格隆汇3月19日｜在美联储主席鲍威尔表示油价上涨可能会加大物价压力并损害美国经济增长之后，股市跌至当日低点。一些分析师认为，这种担忧可能会抑制未来降息的幅度。鲍威尔表示：“我们遭遇了关税冲击，经历了疫情，如今又遭遇了一场规模较大且持续时间较长的能源危机。你可能会担心这种情况会对通胀预期造成影响。”

Douglas Rissing With a war-induced surge in energy prices stoking stagflation fears, "oil is the new Fed chair" for now, Peter Boockvar, chief investment officer of Bleakpoint BFG Wealth Partners, quipped on Wednesday after the central bank's rate decision and chair Jerome Powell's post-meeting press conference. Powell did not put it that way, though he acknowledged that higher energy prices are set to push up overall inflation in the near term, and the Fed still has no clear fix on how far the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict will spread or how long it will last. That, in turn, left the central bank doing what markets expected, holding rates steady at 3.50% - 3.75% and keeping its median projection for one quarter-point cut this year. Powell said during his presser that short-term inflation expectations have risen with oil, while longer-term expectations remain broadly anchored. Looking through an oil shock only works if longer-run implied inflation stays anchored, he noted. Still, "it's too soon to know the scope and duration of potential effects on the economy" from the Middle East conflict," he added. "The net of the oil shock" will be downward pressure on spending and upward pressure on inflation, Powell said. Oil may be dominating the headlines, but Powell also made clear it is not acting alone. Tariffs are still feeding goods inflation and services prices remain stubborn, leaving the Fed with a broader inflation problem than just crude. Oil ETFs: ( USO ), ( UCO ), ( DBO ), ( OILK ), and ( USL ). Natural Gas ETFs: ( UNG ), ( BOIL ), and ( UNL ). Treasury ETFs: ( TLT ), ( TLH ), ( IEF ), ( IEI ), ( SHY ), ( SGOV ), ( SCHO ), and ( BIL ). More on Crude Oil Futures, Brent Futures, etc. Hard Assets Weekly: The Signal That Precedes Falls In Hard Assets Appeared In Oil Commodities: Brent Consolidates Above $100 As Disruptions Persist Head And Shoulders In WTI - Is The Rally Over For Crude Oil? Stock Markets Mixed Ahead Of FOMC Yields climb across the c...

Getty Images Here is today's decision about a reduction in the Federal Reserve's policy rate of interest. "...the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3‑1/2 to 3‑3/4 percent." "In considering the extent and timing of additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks." "The Committee is strongly committed to supporting maximum employment and returning inflation to its 2 percent objective." Otherwise, "the Committee" is going to carefully assess all data and all market conditions as we go forward. There was one vote for a lower rate...Stephen Miran. This was one of the shortest Federal Reserve statements I have ever seen. Basically...no change...will keep watching things closely...things are pretty strong! Well, this picture is generally what I have been writing about in the past few months. Economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace... the latest projection is slightly up. The unemployment rate has been little changed in recent months...the latest projection is slightly up. Inflation remains somewhat elevated...the latest projection is up modestly. And, when I write...slightly up...I mean 0.1 percent. So, the growth of real GDP...2.4% in 2026, up from 2.3% in December 2025. Unemployment is 4.4% in 2026, the same as was forecast in December 2025. Inflation is 2.7% in 2026, up from 2.4% in December 2025. And the forecasts for 2027 and 2028 are only modestly different. So....things have not really improved...but things have not really gotten worse since the December meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. Little change...little need to change policy. The one thing that seems to be running through the thinking of the FOMC is the future of inflation. I get the idea in reading the Federal Reserve material released today that the problem of inflation continues to be just "off-stage" and if anything can...

Tech stocks were lower late Wednesday afternoon, with the State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR Upgrade to read this MT Newswires article and get so much more. A Silver or Gold subscription plan is required to access premium news articles.

专题：美联储宣布维持利率不变 金融机构预计今年或只降息一次 美联储主席鲍威尔周三表示，如果他的继任者在5月15日其任期届满前未获确认，他将继续担任美联储领导人。这是他就美联储迫在眉睫的领导层交接问题迄今为止最直接的表态。 鲍威尔在美联储决定维持利率不变后的新闻发布会上说：“法律就是这么规定的。我们已经这么做过好几次了，包括我本人在内。” 鲍威尔更进一步表示，只要司法部针对他的调查尚未结束，他就不会离开美联储理事会。他说：“在调查彻底结束，并有了一个透明、明确的结论之前，我无意离开理事会。” 上周，一名联邦法官驳回了作为该调查一部分而向美联储发出的传票，裁定这些传票旨在向鲍威尔施压。首席检察官已表示将对该裁决提起上诉。 这是鲍威尔首次公开谈及他的交接计划。美国总统特朗普已提名前美联储理事凯文·沃什接替鲍威尔，但北卡罗来纳州共和党参议员汤姆·蒂利斯已威胁称，在司法部的调查结束前，他将阻止这项任命确认。 鲍威尔表示，他尚未决定，如果调查结束且有继任者接替他的主席职位，他是否会继续担任理事。鲍威尔另有一个任期至2028年的美联储理事职位，该任命已获确认。他说：“我将根据我认为对本机构以及我们所服务的民众最有利的因素来做决定。” 鲍威尔的意向对美国总统特朗普重塑美联储的能力有著重大影响。如果鲍威尔继续留在理事会，特朗普将失去一个本可以安插自己提名人选的席位。目前，美联储理事会的七名理事中有三名是由特朗普任命的。 责任编辑：李桐

文章提及标的 原油 -- 美原油 -- WTI原油涨超2%，现报97.54美元/桶。

专题：美联储宣布维持利率不变 金融机构预计今年或只降息一次 美联储主席鲍威尔周三表示，即使伊朗战争导致能源价格飙升，美国当前的经济形势也与上世纪70年代的“滞胀”相去甚远，目前的通胀率仅比目标高出一个百分点，失业率也很低。 鲍威尔在美联储维持政策利率稳定后的新闻发布会上说：“我会把‘滞胀’一词留给远比现在严重得多的情况。我们现在的情况并非如此。” 鲍威尔补充说：“我们所面临的是目标之间的一些紧张关系，我们正试图设法解决。这是一个非常困难的局面，但与20世纪70年代所面临的情况完全不同，我将‘滞胀’这个词留给那个时期。也许这只是我的看法。” 责任编辑：李桐

Next Geosolutions已完成融资，以支持收购一艘新的海上支援船。随着海上能源领域需求的增长，此举将加强其船队和水下服务能力。 这家总部位于意大利的海洋地质科学和海上施工支持专业公司表示，已获得联合圣保罗银行和存贷款基金会的支持，用于购买Siem Day号船舶，该船将更名为NG Supporter号。总投资价值约为1.12亿美元。 这两家金融机构提供70%的资金，还款期为10年。联合圣保罗银行担任牵头行，承销融资额的60%，而存贷款基金会提供剩余的40%。 此次收购是Next Geosolutions今年早些时候首次公布的船队扩张战略的关键一步，并支持该公司加强其在海上施工和水下服务领域地位的更广泛努力。 公司高管表示，NG Supporter号将在多元化运营和增强国际市场（特别是支持海上能源项目）能力方面发挥战略作用。 这笔交易也凸显了机构对在高科技和能源领域进行全球扩张的意大利公司的持续支持，两家贷款机构都强调这笔交易是支持工业增 长和 竞争力的更广泛努力的一部分。 随着这艘新船的加入，Next Geosolutions正在重新定位自身，以抓住全球水下活动和能源转型项目加速带来的对专业海上支援船舶吨位日益增长的需求。 责任编辑：张俊 SF065

Key Points The One Big Beautiful Bill Act introduced a new tax deduction for rerirees. There are certain eligibility requirements that you have to meet to qualify for benefits. If you have remaining taxable income after taking other deductions, you may benefit from this new provision. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) provided a generous new tax break to most retirees. Touted as a fulfillment of President Donald Trump's campaign pledge to eliminate taxes on Social Security, the new tax break in the OBBBA takes the form of a $6,000 tax deduction for eligible retirees. However, the deduction isn't directly related to Social Security and, in fact, a good number of people who collect Social Security benefits won't benefit from it at all. This group includes many people who get most of their money from Social Security. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue » Why you may not benefit from the new tax deduction if most of your income comes from Social Security The new $6,000 deduction is available if you're 65 or older, regardless of whether you're collecting Social Security benefits or not. The full deduction is available for single tax filers with incomes that don't exceed $75,000 and married joint tax filers with incomes that don't exceed $150,000. For married couples, each spouse can claim the $6,000 to reduce the couple's combined taxable income, as long as both qualify independently. For many people who only collect Social Security, though, it's not going to be possible to take advantage of the deduction. That's because the deduction works by reducing taxable income, and any taxable income they have may already be eliminated by existing tax breaks for seniors. Deductions cannot reduce your tax bill below zero and resu...

Given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the odds of a U.S. recession have been rising on prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket. Odds are currently hovering around 30%, although they have topped 35% on both platforms at times this month. The question is whether investors should take heed and prepare for a potential recession. From a purely economic standpoint, the war and the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran could lead to higher prices at the pump, which is very likely to impact the U.S. consumer, who has already been struggling with high inflation stemming from tariffs. Meanwhile, the closure could lead to supply disruptions in other industries as well, as diverting ships to the Cape of Good Hope adds transport days and increases costs. As such, the longer this conflict lasts, the greater the potential threat of a recession this year. However, while the 30% odds of a recession are relatively high, the odds suggest the market is still leaning toward there not being a recession this year. There is so much spending on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure right now that it is driving tremendous growth. Meanwhile, AI is also helping make companies more efficient, allowing them to automate tasks and improve productivity. The combination of heavy capital investment and rising productivity should help support corporate earnings even as recession risks rise. What should investors do? At this point, I think investors should stick to their strategy for the most part. If you have investments in some more economically sensitive stocks, you could consider paring back some of your positions. However, I think that at the core of most investors' portfolios should be an index exchange-traded fund (ETF) like the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO 1.38%). The fund tracks the S&P 500, which is composed of the 500 largest traded U.S. stocks. This gives investors diversification and a fund with a strong long-term track record. The ETF has produced an average ...

Schiff: This War Is "Going To Cost A Lot Of Money We Don't Have" Last night, ZeroHedge hosted investor Peter Schiff and Rabobank's Michael Every to debate the question: Will the war in Iran accelerate the U.S. dollar’s collapse or is it a geopolitical chess move that could strengthen its hegemony? Moderated by Cornell professor Dave Collum, Schiff - based in Austrian economics - argued that the war will do nothing but harm the American economy via higher prices and interest rates, while the dollar weakens. Every believes Trump can pull a rabbit out of a hat and come out of this with the U.S. and the dollar in a stronger position. Though, he notes that some measure of economic pain is likely a necessity of war. Below were the highlights for those short on time but we recommend listening to the full debate, linked at the bottom. War: An Economic Nightmare Schiff: “The war itself is inherently going to end up being inflationary… it’s going to cost a lot of money that we don’t have.” With no plan to raise taxes, the path is clear. “We’re just going to run bigger budget deficits,” Schiff said. This will weaken the dollar while raising interest rates, an ugly combo. “We’re going to have to borrow more money to fund the war… the Fed is going to monetize that debt because the markets can’t absorb it,” he said. “Interest on the debt is already the number two line item… and pretty soon it’s going to pass Social Security.” Already the Treasury is moving to suppress rising interest rates with the largest buybacks in history. JUST IN 🚨: U.S. Treasury just bought back $15 Billion of its own debt, the LARGEST U.S. Treasury buyback in history 🤯👀 pic.twitter.com/m3wgoKClQv — Barchart (@Barchart) March 17, 2026 Schiff is predicting a return of stagflation or as he’s called it, an “inflationary depression.” “We’re going to have more inflation to pay for this war… a weaker economy, upward pressure on interest rates.” Higher energy, food, and input costs feed into that dynamic. Housing ...

格隆汇3月19日｜据伊朗法尔斯通讯社：巴林一座液化天然气炼厂遭到袭击并受损，袭击仍在持续。

Keir Starmer is hoping to soften the impact of his government’s changes to the immigration system after a backlash from Labour MPs and a dramatic intervention from his former deputy Angela Rayner. The prime minister is considering exempting large numbers of people from the proposed changes, which would make it harder to achieve settled status in the UK, as he attempts to keep his restive party onboard. Under the plans, most people would have to wait 10 years to qualify for settled status, rather than the existing five-year period. But proposals included in a government consultation could involve migrants working in the public sector excluded from the changes, as well as those who are on the verge of being settled. Ministers are now debating how far they want to extend those exemptions but Downing Street said on Wednesday they would not cover everyone who had already arrived in the country, as demanded by Rayner and others. “In the four years before the election, we saw record levels of immigration,” a spokesperson for the prime minister said on Wednesday. “In the manifesto, we promised to deliver a fair and properly managed immigration system. We are considering responses to Home Office consultation, and we respond in line with our principles and values.” Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, announced the proposals earlier this month as part of a package of measures designed to limit the number of people entering the country. The plans would make refugee status temporary rather than permanent and the qualification period for indefinite leave to remain doubled to 10 years in most cases. Mahmood also announced a pilot scheme to pay families whose asylum claims have failed up to £40,000 to leave the country. If they refuse, she said, they would be ejected forcefully, even if that meant handcuffing children. The home secretary said a key part of the changes to indefinite leave to remain was making sure they applied retrospectively to those who were already in the countr...