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Latest financial, market & economic news and analysis from The Guardian
Site URL: www.theguardian.com/uk/business
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Posts: 178
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Reeves cuts VAT on summer days out to 5% as part of cost of living support
Published: May 21, 2026 17:15
Chancellor says she will raise tax on global oil firms to help meet costs of plans and confirms delay to fuel duty increasesBusiness live – latest updatesRachel Reeves will cut VAT to 5% on summer attractions such as theme parks and soft-play centres…
HS2 is the wildest white elephant in British history. Please put it out of its misery | Simon Jenkins
Published: May 21, 2026 16:59
The government is in thrall to the sunk-cost fallacy. Scrap the project, and use the money for a renaissance in urban transitSo it is official, as if that makes a difference. After a 15-month review by the new chief executive, the transport secretary,…
Oil markets nearing ‘red zone’ as holiday season nears, warns IEA chief
Published: May 21, 2026 16:10
Surging demand, low reserves and reduced Middle East exports predicted to cause global crunch by AugustOil markets will enter “red zone” by July and August as stocks dwindle before the summer travel season amid a shortage of fresh oil exports from the…
Former boss of collapsed investment firm jailed for illegally selling hot tub
Published: May 21, 2026 16:04
Michael Thomson admitted to breaching a restraining order by selling a range of luxury itemsThe former boss of collapsed investment firm London Capital & Finance (LC&F) has been imprisoned for six months for contempt of court, after admitting breaching a…
No evidence of formal security vetting when Andrew became UK trade envoy, minister says
Published: May 21, 2026 15:13
Documents released by government also show late queen was ‘very keen’ for her son to have prominent roleUK politics live – latest updatesFormal security vetting and due diligence appear not to have been carried out before the appointment of Andrew…
Queen’s ‘keenness’ for Andrew to be trade envoy was a grave mistake
Published: May 21, 2026 14:22
The monarch may have thought the role would keep her ‘favourite’ second son out of trouble. How wrong she wasNo evidence of formal security vetting when Andrew became UK trade envoy, minister saysThat Queen Elizabeth II was “very keen” for Andrew…
BT warns of smartphone price rises due to chip shortages from AI boom
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/21/bt-smartphone-price-rises-chip-shortages-ai-boom
Published: May 21, 2026 14:05
Telecoms company CEO says tech firms are buying up memory chips to power datacentres relied on by AIBusiness live – latest updatesBT has said the cost of smartphones could rise as technology companies buy up semiconductor chips because of the boom in…
Southampton claim spying on Middlesbrough did not change their tactics
Published: May 21, 2026 13:49
Club showed EFL commission their training sessionsMillwall and Wrexham considering their legal optionsSouthampton have provided footage of their training sessions to the English Football League’s independent disciplinary commission to try to prove they…
The main takeaways from Elon Musk’s plans for $1.75tn SpaceX flotation
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/may/21/elon-musk-trillion-dollar-spacex-flotation-takeaways
Published: May 21, 2026 13:46
Prospectus for tycoon’s sprawling empire reveals his plan to keep control – and ambition to colonise MarsSpaceX reveals plan for $1.75tn stock market debutBusiness live – latest updatesElon Musk’s SpaceX has revealed plans for a highly anticipated $1.75tn…
‘LA is not film friendly’: how Hollywood’s woes became a political cudgel in mayoral race
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/21/los-angeles-baywatch-film-mayor-race
Published: May 21, 2026 13:00
Troubled Baywatch reboot production echoes film-making woes in a city best known for its movie and TV industryThe fight for the future of Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city, usually plays out in the grand art deco offices and committee rooms of…
Britain’s politicians need to worry less about the bond markets – and more about the Bank of England | Daniela Gabor
Published: May 21, 2026 12:45
A new model of central banking would weaken the power of bond vigilantes – and help progressive politicians pay for transformative changeDaniela Gabor is professor of economics and macrofinance at Soas, University of LondonA spectre is haunting British…
Air France and Airbus guilty of corporate manslaughter for 2009 plane crash
Published: May 21, 2026 12:38
Firms given maximum fine of €225,000 each and are expected to appeal after lower court had cleared themA Paris appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter over the 2009 Rio-Paris plane crash that killed 228 passengers and…
JPMorgan banker countersues accuser, says sexual assault 'lies' ruined her life
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/21/jpmorgan-banker-countersue-sexual-assault-accuser
Published: May 21, 2026 12:06
Investment banker Lorna Hajdini says ex-colleague Chirayu Rana’s ‘malicious’ allegations ‘wreaked havoc’The JPMorgan Chase investment banker accused of sexual assault in an explosive lawsuit that went viral countersued her accuser, saying his malicious…
Trump has created a slush fund of taxpayer money to give to his friends | Moira Donegan
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/21/trump-slush-fund-anti-weaponization
Published: May 21, 2026 12:00
The ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ is an extraordinary example of bald self-dealingDonald Trump is stealing almost $2bn in taxpayer money and handing it out to his friends. That’s the upshot of the president’s recent agreement following a $10bn lawsuit he…
UK service sector activity slumps in one of sharpest declines for a decade
Published: May 21, 2026 11:55
Firms hit by ‘perfect storm’ of uncertainty about Labour leadership and impact of Iran warBusiness live – latest updatesCompanies in the UK’s dominant services sector have reported one of the sharpest declines in business activity in a decade, according to…
Canadian prime minster Mark Carney is not the climate guy you thought | Seth Klein
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/21/mark-carney-climate-canada
Published: May 21, 2026 10:00
While Canada may be clinging to fossil fuels, much of the world is moving onCasual international observers would be forgiven for assuming Canada is in the comforting hands of a climate champ. After all, while climate policy rollbacks reign supreme in…
‘I knew everyone here’: the tower block with 164 boarded-up homes – and a few residents who just won’t leave
Published: May 21, 2026 09:00
Lund Point in east London was once ‘a beautiful community’, according to Tee Fabikun, who has lived there since 1997. Now just four flats are occupied. Why are Fabikun and her friends hanging on? And what happened to the long-promised redevelopment?Tee…
Rachel Reeves hits back at petrol station heckler – video
Published: May 21, 2026 08:45
Rachel Reeves was repeatedly shouted at by a heckler while she was answering questions from the media at a petrol station in Leeds. As the man drove away in a truck with two St George’s flags on the roof, still shouting, the chancellor responded, saying:…
EasyJet summer holiday bookings down on last year amid Iran war uncertainty
Published: May 21, 2026 08:16
Budget airline, which took £25m hit on jet fuel in March, says passengers are waiting later to book tripsThe budget airline easyJet has said its summer holiday bookings are lagging behind last year as the Iran war weights on consumer confidence and has…
Nvidia beats Wall Street expectations amid AI chip boom, Asian tech stocks surge – business live
Published: May 21, 2026 07:10
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsBudget airline easyJet has said it had to spend an unexpected extra £25m on jet fuel in March, after the start the US and Israel’s war on Iran.But chief executive Kenton Jarvis said this morning…
All this talk about ‘difficult’ cuts, yet the largest part of Britain’s welfare bill is never mentioned. Why? | Zoe Williams
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/21/politicians-hard-choices-welfare-bill-pensions
Published: May 21, 2026 07:00
Pensioners vote and young people don’t, so the truism goes. That’s no longer any reason to avoid dealing with the triple lockNothing makes you feel more like a de-developing nation than being reprimanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Rachel…
Schools are ‘pipeline’ to joblessness for many people, says ex-Labour adviser
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/21/schools-unemployment-young-people-neets-peter-hyman
Published: May 21, 2026 06:00
Ban social media and reform education to tackle scandal of young people not in work or study, says Peter HymanSchools have become a “pipeline” to worklessness for a large cohort of young people in the UK, according to an influential former Labour adviser…
‘Aramco is selling our sweat and blood’: workers in World Cup sponsor’s supply chain faced safety risks, report finds
Published: May 21, 2026 06:00
FairSquare report claims migrant workers injured in Saudi Arabia received no compensation, including one who says his legs were crushedLying in a hospital bed in Saudi Arabia, his legs encased in plaster casts, Shrawan Shah Rauniyar clung to the hope that…
England must harvest rainfall and take action on water usage, Lords warn
Published: May 21, 2026 05:01
Without urgent intervention England faces water shortages of 5bn litres a day by 2055, peers tell governmentRainwater harvesting, the use of grey water in homes and an urgent campaign to reduce water usage across society are vital to prevent water…
‘We feel let down’: sustainable chefs in UK mourn end of Michelin green star
Published: May 21, 2026 05:00
Guide retires award for eco-friendly practices – and says restaurants will no longer be able to advertise they have itWith rare bluefin tuna and red meat often on their menus, Michelin-starred restaurants have not always prioritised sustainability.In an…
‘Give every item a long life’: Vinted boss on how the site is moving beyond fashion
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/21/vinted-boss-adam-jay-fashion-uk-clothes-retail
Published: May 21, 2026 05:00
Having shaken up UK clothes retail, the secondhand marketplace is pushing into phones and cameras – and even booksOnce the preserve of jumble sales and charity shops, “preloved” fashion and homewares are now leading style and shopping trends in the UK.…
Manchester shows biggest fall in inner-city deprivation in boost for Burnham
Published: May 20, 2026 23:01
City made outsized contribution to falling levels of deprivation between 2010 and 2025, thinktank finds Manchester has recorded the biggest fall in inner-city deprivation in Britain, according to a report, as Andy Burnham stakes a claim that he could…
Incoming Ofcom chair vows to take on ‘tech bros’
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/may/20/incoming-ofcom-chair-vows-to-take-on-tech-bros
Published: May 20, 2026 23:00
Ian Cheshire says media regulator must address perception it has been complacent and slow on online safetyOfcom’s incoming chair has vowed to take on the “tech bros”, as he conceded there was now a perception the regulator had been complacent and slow over…
SpaceX reveals plan for $1.75tn stock market debut that could make Musk a trillionaire
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/may/20/spacex-finances-stock-market-debut
Published: May 20, 2026 22:57
Elon Musk’s rocket and satellite operations company, with extensive contracts with US, to go public next monthSpaceX unveiled its plans to list publicly on the US stock market Wednesday, disclosing its investor prospectus and revealing details about its…
Nvidia’s revenue blows past Wall Street expectations as AI boom accelerates
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/20/nvidia-revenue-ai-boom
Published: May 20, 2026 22:45
Many analysts view company’s financial performance as a broader referendum on AI buildoutNvidia continued its years-long streak of beating Wall Street’s expectations for growth on Wednesday, reassuring most investors that the AI boom, particularly the…
Reeves to promise free summer bus rides for children and food tariff cuts in living costs package
Published: May 20, 2026 21:30
Chancellor launches ‘Great British summer savings scheme’ after Keir Starmer postpones fuel duty increasePlanned fuel duty rise to be scrapped, says Keir StarmerRachel Reeves is to promise free summer bus rides for children and cut tariffs on some food…
Starbucks does not recycle plastic cups it claims are ‘widely recyclable’, report says
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/20/starbucks-plastic-cups-recycling-report
Published: May 20, 2026 17:04
Watchdog group glued trackers to 53 of the chain’s cups across nine states and found none ended up at a recycling facilityIf you attach a GPS tracker to a “widely recyclable” plastic Starbucks cup and drop it in an in-store recycling bin, you might expect…
The Treasury’s supermarket food price cap wheeze was bananas | Nils Pratley
Published: May 20, 2026 16:41
Retailers such as M&S need not worry – the UK is not in a state of emergency and competition is clearly workingCall for food price caps ‘preposterous’, says M&S boss“Completely preposterous,” said Stuart Machin, the chief executive of Marks & Spencer,…
UK strikes £3.7bn trade deal with six Gulf states
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/20/uk-trade-deal-six-gulf-states-keir-starmer
Published: May 20, 2026 16:14
Keir Starmer described the agreement, worth double original estimates, as a ‘huge win’ for British businessesKeir Starmer has struck a trade deal with six Gulf states in what he described as a “huge win” for British business, ending four years of talks led…
Jeff Bezos calls Amazon’s $40m Melania film ‘a good business decision’
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/may/20/jeff-bezos-defends-amazon-melania-film
Published: May 20, 2026 15:46
The Amazon founder has denied any personal involvement in the film, which failed to recoup its budget on releaseJeff Bezos has defended Amazon’s controversial Melania documentary as “a good business decision” while denying any personal involvement.The…
James Murdoch to acquire half of Vox Media in deal reportedly worth $300m
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/may/20/james-murdoch-vox-media-deal
Published: May 20, 2026 15:04
Deal is the biggest acquisition for Murdoch since family resolved dispute over future control of media holdingsJames Murdoch, second son of publishing giant Rupert Murdoch, has agreed to acquire some of Vox Media’s assets, including New York magazine, in a…
Tell us: how open are you about money with your partner?
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/may/20/tell-us-how-open-are-you-about-money-with-your-partner
Published: May 20, 2026 14:54
Are you or you partner a secret spender? Take part in our experimentWe’re looking for couples, who don’t often open up about their finances with each other, to take part in an experiment for the Saturday magazine. Maybe you have a ridiculous Pret habit you…
Google DeepMind in talks with UK unions amid staff concern over AI use by US and Israel
Published: May 20, 2026 14:10
Exclusive: Workers sign petitions over applications of AI by governments for defence and intelligence, and vote to unioniseGoogle DeepMind has agreed to enter formal talks with UK tech workers that could lead to trade union representation, in a…
Same but different: how Xi and China welcomed Trump and Putin
Published: May 20, 2026 13:44
Choreography of back-to-back visits appeared deliberately mirrored but China made sure the differences were noticedDays after Donald Trump was greeted in Beijing with a military band, an honour guard and dozens of youths waving American and Chinese flags,…
More than £52m reserved for social housing at risk after collapse of investment firms
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/20/social-housing-investment-firms-heylo-administration
Published: May 20, 2026 12:52
Exclusive: 3,500 social homes could switch to private sector after companies run by Heylo Housing group go into administrationMore than £52m in public money earmarked for social housing is at risk after the partial collapse of one of the England’s…
Channel 4 boss apologises after Married at First Sight sexual misconduct allegations
Published: May 20, 2026 12:50
Priya Dogra says she believes channel acted appropriately, but that she is ‘deeply sorry’ for distress of participantsChannel 4’s chief executive has stood by the broadcaster’s treatment of concerns raised by contestants on Married at First Sight, as she…
Xi and Putin highlight close China-Russia ties during Beijing visit – video
Published: May 20, 2026 12:24
The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have praised relations between their countries. During Putin's two-day visit to Beijing, bilateral talks between the leaders reaffirmed Russia and China as close partners in…
‘I don’t worry about a robot takeover’: AI expert Michael Wooldridge on big tech’s real dangers (and occasional blessings)
Published: May 20, 2026 11:00
Almost 50 years after he first got his hands on a computer, the Oxford professor still believes in the power of technology. Can his beloved game theory explain why Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurs consistently misuse it?Michael Wooldridge is like the teacher…
Uefa vows to take hard line on multi-club ownership in Women’s Champions League
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/20/uefa-multi-club-ownership-womens-champions-league
Published: May 20, 2026 10:54
Teams with same owner cannot compete togetherHead of women’s football Kessler says ‘no exceptions’Uefa’s head of women’s football has said rules prohibiting clubs with the same owner from playing together in the Women’s Champions League will be strictly…
Musk and the US government fought an AI anti-discrimination law. The arguments don’t hold up | Genevieve Smith
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/elon-musk-us-government-ai-law
Published: May 20, 2026 10:00
The justice department’s lawsuit is part of a federal effort to reframe AI consumer protections as ideological overreachThis April, the US Department of Justice joined Elon Musk’s xAI in suing the state of Colorado to kill its AI anti-discrimination…
Online child safety campaigners call for US inquiry into Roblox
Published: May 20, 2026 10:00
Groups claim game platform’s design and business model conflict with children’s developmental needsOnline child safety campaigners including Jonathan Haidt, the bestselling writer on the mental health impacts of social media, have called on the Trump…
Call for food price caps ‘completely preposterous’, says M&S boss
Published: May 20, 2026 10:00
Stuart Machin argues government should reduce tax and regulatory burden on supermarkets insteadThe boss of Marks & Spencer has called a government proposal for voluntary price caps on essential food items “completely preposterous”, saying it should reduce…
Germany urged to stop admiring Beijing and wake up to ‘China Shock 2.0’
Published: May 20, 2026 09:25
‘China has already eaten much of German industry’s lunch and is preparing to start on dinner,’ thinktank saysBusiness live – latest updatesGermany must stop admiring China’s success in the EU or it will sleepwalk into the kind of deindustrialisation the US…
Tell us: are you struggling to save enough to retire?
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/may/20/tell-us-are-you-struggling-to-save-enough-to-retire
Published: May 20, 2026 09:06
The Pensions Commission said 15 million people were currently not saving adequately for their retirementFifteen million people are currently not saving enough for their retirement, according to the Pensions Commission, who have warned this could rise to as…
I believed sustainable fashion’s hype. But between Everlane and Allbirds, the letdowns keep coming | Clare Press
Published: May 20, 2026 08:52
Sustainability promised to change the industry. With Shein reportedly acquiring Everlane, and Allbirds pivotting from eco sneakers to AI, it seems that promise was mostly marketingIt was always about the money, wasn’t it? For a while there, it seemed like…
Rachel Reeves to protect ‘critical’ clean energy projects from legal challenges
Published: May 20, 2026 08:50
Chancellor’s planning shake-up would ‘reduce exposure from judicial review on all but human rights grounds’Rachel Reeves is preparing to announce a planning shake-up that would fast-track clean energy and infrastructure projects by curbing judicial…
UK relaxes strict sanctions on Russian crude as oil costs soar
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/20/uk-relaxes-strict-sanctions-on-russian-crude-oil
Published: May 20, 2026 08:18
Decision to allow import of jet fuel and diesel refined in third countries is criticised by Tories as ‘insane’The UK government has relaxed strict sanctions on Russian crude oil, allowing for the import of jet fuel and diesel refined in third countries…
EU agrees to implement US trade deal struck last summer
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/20/eu-european-union-to-implement-us-trade-deal
Published: May 20, 2026 08:13
MEPs had twice frozen ratification process in protest at Trump’s threats to increase tariffs and take control of GreenlandThe EU has finally agreed to implement its trade deal with the US after five hours of talks between members of the European parliament…
Limit social media ban for under-16s to unsafe apps, Starmer urged
Published: May 20, 2026 07:00
Campaigners warn against blanket restrictions and say focus should be on blocking teenagers from platforms with ‘risky’ featuresOnline safety campaigners have urged Keir Starmer to block under-16s from accessing social media apps that do not meet strict…
UK inflation eases more than expected to 2.8%, led by lower electricity and gas bills – business live
Published: May 20, 2026 06:19
Food inflation also slowsGood morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.It’s inflation day! (and Nvidia day)There was a notable fall in annual inflation led by lower electricity and gas prices.…
Scrap stamp duty and council tax to fix London housing crisis, thinktank says
Published: May 20, 2026 06:00
Centre for London report finds levy on property wealth would free up homes, fund social housing and help renters save for depositsStamp duty should be scrapped and replaced with a new property wealth tax to fix London’s housing crisis, a leading thinktank…
AI engineer says Google unfairly sacked him after he protested against work for Israel
Published: May 20, 2026 06:00
Exclusive: Employment tribunal claim says worker lost his job after distributing leaflets throughout London officeGoogle is facing a legal challenge from an AI engineer who claims he was unfairly dismissed after he protested against its work for the…
The balance of global power is shifting fast, but Britain is stuck in the same old Brexit rut | Rafael Behr
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/20/global-power-britain-brexit
Published: May 20, 2026 05:00
Without a reckoning about the epic strategic error of leaving the EU, there is no serious debate about the country’s future place in the worldWhile the Labour party was in meltdown last week, Donald Trump was visiting China. By the time Wes Streeting had…
‘A world-class producer’: English wines toast record gold medal haul
Published: May 20, 2026 05:00
England wins highest percentage per entry at International Wine Challenge, with Kent the country’s best regionEnglish wines won the highest percentage of gold medals per entry in a global competition, with experts describing the improvement as…
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin meet in Beijing less than a week after Trump visit
Published: May 20, 2026 04:36
Coming so soon after the visit by US president Donald Trump, the optics and outcomes of the meeting between China and Russia will be closely scrutinised Xi Jinping welcomed Russian president Vladimir Putin with pomp and pageantry as the pair kicked off…
Google announces glasses are back and search is getting an AI makeover
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/19/google-glasses-search-ai
Published: May 20, 2026 00:03
At annual I/O conference, company debuts a product for everyday consumers to create autonomous AI agentsGoogle announced Tuesday that it would expand its search bar, the centerpiece of the most-visited website in the world, with a heavy dose of artificial…
Spending watchdog warns £38bn cost of Sizewell C nuclear plant is ‘risky’
Published: May 19, 2026 23:01
National Audit Office says potential benefits are ‘considerable but uncertain’ while risks are ‘immediate and substantial’The cost of the government’s £38bn nuclear plant in Suffolk is subject to “significant uncertainty” and may outweigh the benefits for…
Can Burnham turn ‘Manchesterism’ into a practical offer for government?
Published: May 19, 2026 18:29
Roots of idea for ‘ending neoliberalism’ have been growing over many months – with many different influencesManchesterism is “the end of neoliberalism”. That was the claim made by Andy Burnham in his campaign launch video this week – a film which made an…
The Guardian view on saving for old age: alarming shortfalls set the scene for a pensions overhaul | Editorial
Published: May 19, 2026 17:37
Auto-enrolment has made retirement more secure for many. But some groups, including women, need more support Recommendations from the government-backed Pensions Commission are not due until next year. But its interim warning that at least 15 million…
NS&I to contact bereaved families owed £367m after missing savings scandal
Published: May 19, 2026 17:27
The bank’s interim chief executive says ‘this issue should never have happened’, but warns it may take time to process claimsNational Savings and Investments bank will start to contact thousands of families affected by a missing savings scandal next week,…
UK supermarkets urged to consider voluntary price caps on essential foods
Published: May 19, 2026 17:11
Retail sources rebuff government proposal as ‘unjustified’ and likely to push costs up across boardUK supermarkets have been asked by the government to consider freezing the prices of some essential foodstuffs to protect the public from inflation fuelled…
Police to seek criminal charges against 77 companies and people over Grenfell fire
Published: May 19, 2026 17:09
Scotland Yard to send files to CPS with ‘strong evidence’ of potential wrongdoing – but any trials could be years awayScotland Yard has said it hopes to bring criminal charges against 77 companies and individuals for the Grenfell Tower fire, but trials…
Billionaire Trump donor in line to make millions from Thames Water bid
Published: May 19, 2026 17:05
Paul Singer is founder of a leading creditor in the hedge fund consortium locked in talks with the UK governmentA billionaire Donald Trump donor could make millions from a deal being struck between the government and Thames Water.The UK’s largest water…
HS2 bill could rise to £102bn with first trains delayed until 2039, government admits
Published: May 19, 2026 13:20
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander blames Conservative government for ‘obscene increase in times and costs’Business live – latest updatesThe HS2 high-speed railway will now cost up to £102.7bn and trains will not start running between London and…
Son of Mango fashion chain founder arrested in Spain over death of father
Published: May 19, 2026 12:35
Catalan police questioning Jonathan Andic over father Isak Andic’s apparent fall down a mountain ravine in 2024Police in Catalonia have arrested the son of Isak Andic, the founder of the fashion chain Mango, and are questioning him in connection with the…
Billionaires are trying to lull us into AI complacency. Don’t let them | Steven Greenhouse
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/19/billionaires-ai-complacency-resistance
Published: May 19, 2026 12:00
As resistance to data centers grows, Musk and others are painting a rosy picture. But the US must institute protectionsAs Americans grow increasingly worried that AI will wipe out millions of jobs and create a permanent new underclass, tech billionaires…
Former Spanish PM under criminal investigation as €53m bailout of airline examined
Published: May 19, 2026 11:43
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who denies any wrongdoing, ordered to appear at Spain’s highest criminal court on suspicion of influence-peddlingThe former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has been placed under investigation for alleged…
Old Spanish Hen? Estrella owner buys Greene King ale brand
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/19/old-speckled-hen-estrella-greene-king-ale-beer-damm
Published: May 19, 2026 11:15
Pub owner’s sale to Barcelona-based brewer Damm is latest takeover of a British beer by an overseas buyerBusiness live – latest updatesPub chain Greene King has agreed to sell its Old Speckled Hen ale brands to the Spanish owner of Estrella lager, making…
Standard Chartered to cut more than 7,000 jobs as it steps up AI use
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/19/standard-chartered-bank-cut-jobs-ai-london
Published: May 19, 2026 08:31
London-headquartered bank will reduce back-office jobs and aims to move some workers to new rolesBusiness live – latest updatesStandard Chartered plans to cut more than 7,000 jobs over the next four years as it increasingly uses artificial intelligence.The…
Energy bills will rise by £200 in July to nearly £1,900 a year, forecast says
Published: May 19, 2026 08:20
Cornwall Insight predicts rise in price cap of nearly 13% in Great Britain as Iran war pushes up gas costsBusiness live – latest updatesHouseholds in Great Britain could see their energy bills increase by over £200 a year to almost £1,900 from this summer…
Wes Streeting’s Brexit play may be clever gamesmanship – but it has nothing to do with Europe | Anand Menon
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/19/wes-streetings-brexit-europe-referendum
Published: May 19, 2026 07:00
Ten years after the referendum, its role as domestic football is still the order of day – and the ex-health secretary is happy to use it in his leadership bidAnand Menon is director of The UK in a Changing EuropeBrexit, it seems, is back. Or at least back…
At least 15m Britons not saving enough to retire, Pensions Commission says
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/may/19/britons-not-saving-enough-retire-pensions-commission
Published: May 19, 2026 07:00
Just 4% of self-employed workers are putting cash into pensions, with ‘large groups across the UK facing a severe cliff-edge’Millions of people across Britain are facing a “cliff edge” when they retire due to a chronic shortfall in saving that will require…
UK wage growth slows and unemployment rate rises as companies react to Iran war – business live
Published: May 19, 2026 06:58
Jobless rate unexpectedly rises to 5% and employment falls by 100,000, biggest drop in six years; economists say June interest rate hike looks less likely“With unemployment at 5%, the expectation is that it will rise this year as business uncertainty grows…
Tax-free childcare: up to £2,000 a year is on offer – but claiming isn’t easy
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/may/19/tax-free-childcare-claiming-benefits
Published: May 19, 2026 06:00
Many families struggle to understand how the system works and how it could affect any benefits they claimAny parent who has ever used the UK government’s tax-free childcare system knows what a painful experience it is. Each month when I log into my…
Fears of new China shock as EU industry’s reliance on imports grows
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/19/china-shock-eu-european-union-industry-imports
Published: May 19, 2026 06:00
Rising volume of components imported from China prompts warning of cannibalisation of European industriesEurope is facing a fresh China shock that threatens to cannibalise local factories, leading to job losses and de facto colonisation of industry by…
Thames Water rescue deal threatened by uncertainty over next prime minister
Published: May 19, 2026 05:00
Exclusive: Potential investors fear Andy Burnham could push to bring utility companies into public ownershipA rescue deal for Thames Water is under threat because of a potential change in prime minister, government insiders have said.Ministers are…
Belfast harbour operator to invest £1.3bn as NI economy grows
Published: May 19, 2026 04:00
Port has upgraded offshore wind facilities and is to expand quays, ferry terminals and cruise ship servicesThe operator of Belfast harbour plans to spend £1.3bn over the next 25 years to take advantage of strong economic growth in Northern Ireland, in what…
Farage’s undisclosed £5m gift – podcast
https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/may/19/farages-undisclosed-5m-gift-podcast
Published: May 19, 2026 02:00
Anna Isaac on Nigel Farage’s response to the Guardian revelation that he was given an undisclosed £5m gift from a crypto billionaire in 2024Just weeks before Nigel Farage decided to run as an MP in the 2024 general election, he accepted a £5m gift from the…
How Sam Altman’s victory over Elon Musk clears way for OpenAI’s trillion-dollar ambitions
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/18/altman-trial-victory-musk-openai
Published: May 18, 2026 23:36
OpenAI’s plans now seem all but guaranteed, given that the world’s richest man couldn’t put a stop to themOn Monday morning, a jury in Oakland, California, handed a resounding victory to Sam Altman and OpenAI in their long, bitter courtroom battle with…
Free up fertiliser supplies to avert global food crisis, Yvette Cooper urges
Published: May 18, 2026 23:01
UK foreign secretary says urgent pressure needed to get strait of Hormuz reopened and fertiliser and fuel movingGlobal fertiliser supplies must be freed up within weeks to avoid disaster, with harvests suffering and food prices rising, the UK’s foreign…
Prediction market Kalshi to give $2m to problem gambling group as it fights ‘gambling’ label
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/18/kalshi-problem-gambling-group-investment
Published: May 18, 2026 18:53
Kalshi announces two-year investment to National Council on Problem Gambling ‘focused on trader health and safety’The prediction market Kalshi, which maintains it is not a gambling platform, has announced plans to give $2m to the National Council on…
The Guardian view on India’s Iran shock: Asia’s neoliberal era starts to fracture | Editorial
Published: May 18, 2026 18:03
Narendra Modi’s austerity appeals reveal how war, energy insecurity and dollar pressures expose the fragility of globalisationThe Indian prime minister’s call for sacrifice last week marks a fundamental shift. He urged the country’s 1.4 billion people to…
Farage claim he bought £1.4m house with I’m a Celebrity fee under scrutiny
Published: May 18, 2026 17:44
Accounts for Reform UK leader’s media company suggest money was not withdrawn at time of property purchase Nigel Farage is facing fresh scrutiny over his claim that he paid for his £1.4m house from a reality show fee rather than the millions gifted to him…
Halifax could disappear from UK high streets as Lloyds assesses branding strategy
Published: May 18, 2026 17:44
Bank founded 174 years ago could be phased out as early as 1 July as part of group’s reviewBosses at Lloyds Banking Group are considering axing the Halifax as a standalone brand, as part of a sweeping review that could result in the historic 174-year-old…
Jury hands victory to Sam Altman and OpenAI in battle with Elon Musk
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/18/sam-altman-trial-victory-elon-musk-openai
Published: May 18, 2026 17:37
OpenAI CEO and president found not liable for breaking contracts made with Musk when founding the startupA jury ruled in favor of Sam Altman in the culmination of a long and bitter legal battle that pitted the richest person in the world against a leader…
New bill will downgrade the role of the Financial Ombudsman Service | Letter
Published: May 18, 2026 17:00
Iain Ramsay draws attention to the enhancing financial services bill and the influence of finance industry lobbying in proposed reforms that could be affect consumersPress reports on the king’s speech, including in the Guardian (The king’s speech: what is…
Andy Burnham’s change in tack on fiscal rules and bond markets is understandable
Published: May 18, 2026 16:58
Bookies’ favourite to replace Keir Starmer tones down stance on government borrowing to assuage City investorsUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has always faced a narrow path to replace Keir Starmer as prime minister: a tricky byelection, a…
Whitbread’s reset is slow. But angry US hedge fund doesn’t have a better idea | Nils Pratley
Published: May 18, 2026 16:56
Demand for ‘formal sale’ is odd for slew of reasons including five-year plan analysts say is ‘sensible, credible and material’The big strategy reset a fortnight ago from Whitbread, the owner of Premier Inn, got a ho-hum response from the stock market for…
NextEra to buy Dominion in $67bn deal creating US utility giant
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/18/nextera-dominion-merger-us-energy
Published: May 18, 2026 16:25
Deal would create largest regulated US utility, serving 10 million customers as AI-driven demand for power surgesNextEra, a US energy giant, announced on Monday that it will buy Dominion Energy in a $67bn deal, creating what the companies say will be the…
Could the UK really rejoin the EU? – The Latest
https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2026/may/18/could-the-uk-really-rejoin-the-eu-the-latest
Published: May 18, 2026 16:18
The Brexit debate has been reignited after Labour leadership contender Wes Streeting called it a ‘catastrophic mistake’ and said the UK should rejoin the European Union. His comments put pressure on rival Andy Burnham, who has previously advocated for…
HS2: Heidi Alexander to set out true cost of rail project – and when trains will begin to run
Published: May 18, 2026 16:04
Transport secretary to give budget details of troubled high-speed line, which backers hope will stay well below £100bnThe latest estimate of the cost of HS2 and a timetable to complete construction of the high-speed railway will be set out by the…
How realistic is threat of Iran charging to use internet cables under strait of Hormuz?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/18/iran-threat-internet-cables-strait-hormuz
Published: May 18, 2026 15:58
Plan floated in Iranian media to extract revenues from US tech firms would rely on intimidation and is legally dubiousCould undersea cables – the sinews of the global internet – become the next frontier in the US-Israel war against Iran?Last week, two…
It’s byelection bingo! Get ready for the Brexit arguments you heard 10 years ago, only louder | Zoe Williams
Published: May 18, 2026 15:26
Makerfield will be a test of what Labour would have to look like to beat Reform – so prepare yourself for regrets, broken promises and baffling assertions about ‘red wall’ votersIt is a gruesome shock and yet was entirely predictable: we stand on the brink…
Trump moves to dismiss $10bn lawsuit against IRS amid reports he’s considering settlement
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/18/trump-dismiss-10-billion-dollar-irs-lawsuit
Published: May 18, 2026 15:23
Settlement with the US government would create $1.7bn fund to compensate allies for supposed persecutionSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump moved to dismiss a $10bn lawsuit against the IRS on Monday, dropping his claims amid…
Starmer says he wants closer relations with EU but dismisses talk of rejoining – video
Published: May 18, 2026 15:19
The prime minister said he had 'completely reset our relations with our EU partners' but dismissed talk of rejoining as a debate that may or may not happen 'years down the line' Continue reading...
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