How the Iran war affects your money and bills
From petrol prices to mortgage rates, the US-Israel war with Iran has already had an impact on people's finances in the UK.
FCA & Rules
Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax isn’t far off Labour’s housing policy. Not that you’ll ever hear Starmer say it | Anna Minton
In April, to mark the day on which Americans are expected to file their taxes, the New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, filmed himself on Billionaires’ Row , an enclave of super-tall apartment buildings ju…
Japan hikes interest rates to highest since 1995 to fight inflation from Iran war; Thames Water rescue in doubt – business live
Thames Water has moved a step closer to nationalisation after government ministers reportedly formally objected to the £10bn rescue deal proposed by its creditors.
The old ‘warfare v welfare’ arguments are back – but it’s Britain’s real duty to spend on both | Frances Ryan
While we need protecting from foreign enemies, slashing benefits in favour of defence will make millions less, not more, safe
Starbucks Korea to temporarily shut all stores for history lesson after bungled coffee promotion
The closures, so employees can watch a recorded lecture, will cost the company an estimated 2.1bn won ($1.4m) in sales
Starmer vows new sanctions on Russia and nuclear energy support for Ukraine
G7 told ‘we will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes’, with Russia’s finance networks and shadow fleet targeted
If the right wants money for defence, it can start with MoD wastefulness – or even the pensioner triple lock | Polly Toynbee
What’s it to be, warfare or welfare, social or military spending, guns or butter? Hermann Göring coined that phrase calling for re-armament, “Guns will make us powerful, butter will only make us fat.”…
An absurd illustration of Britain’s housing problem | Letters
Grand properties lying empty when we’re in the midst of a housing crisis is ludicrous. Sam Wollaston’s article about a homeless person sleeping in the portico of a £200m palace, which used to be terra…
Keir Starmer promised me he would end the harm caused by social media. But this ban betrays that promise | Ian Russell
Ian Russell is an internet safety campaigner and chair of the Molly Rose Foundation
If the UK wants to rejoin the European Union, it first needs to understand it | Timothy Garton Ash
As Britain approaches the 10th anniversary of its vote to leave the EU, the British are beginning to debate rejoining what they call Europe. But, as in most previous British debates about “Europe”, th…
UK ministers lobby Trump to avert backlash against social media ban
Ministers have embarked on a concerted lobbying operation to prevent a backlash from the Trump administration to the under-16s social media ban announced by Keir Starmer.
City & Guilds bosses awarded themselves millions in bonuses, investigation finds
The two most senior executives at City & Guilds awarded themselves millions of pounds of bonuses “without authorisation from, or knowledge of” their superiors, an internal investigation into last year…
The Guardian view on regulating big tech: the UK’s new, tougher approach to child safety is overdue
There is a long way to go before children under 16 in the UK are blocked from the main social media platforms – as Sir Keir Starmer announced on Monday that they will be. He proposed a date of next sp…
Fox strikes $22bn deal for Roku to fuel streaming push
Deal gives network access to more than 100m households using Roku streaming platform
EU trade deficit with China reaches record €1bn a day, data shows
The EU’s trade deficit with China has reached a record €1bn (£0.8bn) a day, according to official trade data, fuelling concerns over the future of Europe’s “industrial backbone”.
'Growing up too young': Londoners praise under-16s social media ban – video
On Monday, Londoners praised the measures that are planned to block children from access to Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, X and Facebook, as well as livestreaming and communication on gaming p…
AI use by the US government is ballooning. And the lack of transparency is troubling | Nathan E Sanders and Bruce Schneier
The list of government AI use cases has ballooned by 70% since Biden left office and includes many plans to hand over sensitive governmental functions to AI
UK’s oldest Indian restaurant takes crown estate to court over theatened eviction
The UK’s oldest Indian restaurant will be taking the crown estate to court this month as it faces eviction.
Trump wants to put a $75m coal terminal in this liberal California city. Residents aren’t having it
Residents of West Oakland, which suffers from toxic waste and high pollution rates, rally against a coal export facility
‘It’s more exciting than ketchup!’ How chilli crisp became the hottest condiment – and how to make your own
Walk down the specialist aisle in most British supermarkets and you will find a red jar with the kindly face of a middle-aged Chinese woman staring back at you. Branded Lao Gan Ma, meaning “old godmot…
How will the under-16s social media ban work? – podcast
Keir Starmer has announced his social media ban for under-16s. The proposals are tougher than expected, and include a ban on major apps such as TikTok, Instagram, X, Snapchat, YouTube and Facebook.
Banknote imagery advisory group minutes – 15 December 2025
Time: 9am to 10am | Location: Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH and MS teams
Banknote imagery advisory group minutes – 29 April 2026
Time: 4pm to 5pm | Location: Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH and MS teams
Mike Ashley’s Frasers follows Hugo Boss bid with offer for Australia’s Accent
UK billionaire’s fashion group offers £166m for takeover of 77.1% of shares in shoe firm it does not already own