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UK manufacturing growth picks up as Trump tariff chaos eases
Factories in upbeat mood despite fears over economic impact of US war on Iran, poll findsBusiness live – latest updatesUK manufacturers ramped up production last month for the fourth consecutive month and at the fastest pace in almost two years, according to a leading survey of the industry.The S&P Global...
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AstraZeneca holds talks with US cancer drug developer in $400bn merger
Bristol Myers Squibb tie-up would be one of biggest-ever pharma deals and create world’s fourth-largest drugmakerBusiness live – latest updatesBritain’s biggest drugmaker, AstraZeneca, is understood to be in discussions to take over its US rival Bristol Myers Squibb in a deal that would create a near-$400bn (£300bn) pharmaceutical group.AstraZeneca, run...
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UK economy faces recession if strait of Hormuz remains closed, EY warns - business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe yen has hit its highest level in three months after Japan and the US launched a combined operation to support the Japanese currency.The yen strengthened to ¥155 to the US dollar on Monday, its highest level since early May, after Tokyo...
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It may be easier to get your first mortgage than you think - here's why
More relaxed mortgage regulation opens the door for some first-time buyers, but it comes with risk.
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It may be easier to get your first mortgage than you think - here's why
More relaxed mortgage regulation opens the door for some first-time buyers, but it comes with risk.
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Yen hits three-month high after Trump helps prop up currency
US and Japanese governments confirm they carried out a rare joint intervention late last weekWhy has Trump stepped in to prop up Japan’s currency?Business live – latest updatesThe yen has hit its highest level in three months after Japan and the US launched a combined operation to support the Japanese...
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US and Japan take action to prop up yen in rare joint move
Both countries have said that they will not hesitate to conduct joint interventions in the future.
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Trump’s hypocritical new tariffs are a chance for the world to fight back | Joseph Stiglitz
The president’s pretext of stopping forced labour is only a ruse – he is trying to grab a share of global trade for the USHere he goes again. The US President, Donald Trump, is increasing and decreasing tariffs willy-nilly, violating international agreements that he himself signed and almost surely violating...
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I was fined £500 after putting a coffee cup in a rubbish bag next to a full bin
Reader expresses consternation after enforcement officer issues penalty notice outside station in LondonI was outside London Waterloo railway station and was looking for a bin to dispose of an empty coffee cup.The only bin I could see was completely full, but there was a plastic bag containing rubbish at the...
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New Spider-Man film sees second-biggest ever global opening weekend
The strong box office performance gives a boost to Disney ahead of the much-anticipated Avengers: Doomsday.
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Almost £200,000 of fuel stolen from UK forecourts every day since Iran war began
Incidents of fuel being taken without payment have risen by a fifth in five months, according to industry analysis.
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At least five Mohamed Al Fayed abuse survivors confirmed as human-trafficking victims
Decision comes after group of survivors claimed ex-Harrods owner’s associates must have helped facilitate his crimesAt least five victims of the former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have been confirmed by the Home Office as victims of human trafficking.A group of survivors of abuse by the deceased businessman had called...
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Britain could face food shortages as drought continues, farmers warn
Farmers battle to salvage what they can of their crops as heatwave set to continueBritain could face shortages of certain foods after punishing drought in parts of England, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has warned as a heatwave was forecast to continue into next week.The UK’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA)...
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The Guardian view on global corporate tax: a $500bn prize that states must seize | Editorial
Donald Trump may reject the negotiations, but he cannot veto a global effort to make multinational companies answer to governmentsGovernments are told that public services must shrink because money is tight. Yet a new Tax Justice Network report says that countries could capture an extra $500bn a year without raising...
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Solar powers record share of Britain’s electricity mix in July
Farms and rooftop panels contribute 14.4% to the grid – and figures reveal a surge in new installationsSolar energy supplied more power to Great Britain’s grid in July than in any previous month as households turned to rooftop panels to cut their energy bills.Solar farms and rooftop panels provided 14.4%...
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Trump is determined to pursue his trade war – and he may be difficult to stop
The president’s minions have trawled the statutes to restore roadblocks to trade. The invocation of Smoot-Hawley looks especially dangerousDonald Trump may have found the killer weapon to punish countries at will: by imposing tariffs on their exports to the United States.The president has been looking for a new tool since...
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Why Andy Burnham’s devolution pledge will be tricky to deliver | Richard Partington
Sharing income tax with England’s regional mayors could tackle inequality but many councils are ill-equipped for an enlarged roleOn the road to Downing Street, Andy Burnham promised to transfer power from Westminster to every postcode in the country. After his first two weeks in office, the size and complexity of...
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Inside M&S’s swanky Oxford Street revamp, the blueprint for its £700m growth strategy
As boss Stuart Machin unveils a new-look Pantheon the retailer has fashion and overseas challenges aheadOn a hot summer’s evening on London’s busy Oxford Street, a crowd of fashion influencers, models, journalists and the odd City analyst gathered for a first look at the upmarket revamp of Marks & Spencer’s...
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Stock market turmoil sheds stark light on the opaque AI economy
Investors scramble to make sense of a shock Chinese challenge to the dominance of western chipmakersEven for the rollercoaster world of AI, last week was particularly volatile as investors scrambled to keep up with developments that threatened the dominance of the largest western chipmakers.It began with a double whammy. On...
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‘You owe parking fees’: experts warn of fake RingGo text scam
Criminals hope by using threats of enforcement action, people will panic and click link to bogus parking app siteYou use parking apps a lot – you have several on your phone – but it is not always straightforward. Sometimes there is a lack of reliable mobile signal, or the app...
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Kremlin connections: the Russia links to a £600m UK theme park
Exclusive: French company Puy du Fou worked with a sanctioned oligarch on plans for a Crimea resort longer than disclosed, and later courted Iran and ChinaIn February 2014, thousands of “little green men” – Russian soldiers in unmarked uniforms – flooded into Crimea, seizing control of military bases and infrastructure.Their...
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Callas, Beethoven, bee-eaters or storks: competition seeks to redesign euro notes
The EU is using a currency revamp as an opportunity to be less neutral and try some finely balanced identity-buildingIs Europe best represented by the bold intellect of Marie Curie, the sprawling imagination of Miguel de Cervantes and the intense musical genius of Ludwig van Beethoven? Or by a migrating...
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‘We cannot magic up more water’: the supply problems putting housing targets in England at risk
Council leaders say crumbling infrastructure and lack of water are jeopardising government’s plans for new homesThe government’s housebuilding agenda is hitting the stark reality of a lack of water and crumbling infrastructure across the east and south-east of England.Half the country was declared to be in serious drought this week,...
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UK’s state investments agency hit by data breach
Security lapse leaves sensitive information and contact details of 51 government officials exposed for 40 hoursThe public body in charge of the UK’s state investments has been pushed to improve its internal security after a data breach left “high-level management information” publicly accessible for nearly two days.UK Government Investments (UKGI),...
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Parents save on school uniforms at city swap shop
Parents take home school uniform for free at a pop-up that organisers hope can become a regular event.
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California announces minimum wage increase as governor taunts Trump
Gavin Newsom says new pay floor of $17.40, set to become highest of any US state, will go into effect on 1 JanuaryCalifornia governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state’s minimum wage will rise to $17.40 next year, a pay floor set to become the highest of any US state.The...
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Ultra-processed food companies hindering health drives by suing countries, says WHO
Exclusive: Director general accuses corporations of obstructing efforts to tackle obesity crisis after investigation by Guardian and othersThe world’s biggest ultra-processed food corporations are hindering global efforts to tackle the obesity crisis by suing governments that try to promote healthier diets, the head of the World Health Organization has said.Tedros...
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New York City’s Flatiron building enters new era with $58.5m apartments
Manhattan’s triangular building will open this fall to wealthy residents, with 36 apartments exposing Flatiron’s ‘steel skeleton’New York City’s Flatiron building has had many lives: as a structure seen as a deathtrap; as a nuisance which created a deadly, petticoat-lifting, wind current and, mainly, as a commercial space.Now, the triangular...
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Faisal Islam: Four reasons why Fifa's World Cup plan never stacked up
The actual presentation of FIFA's plan to part-privatise the World Cup raises many more questions than it answers.
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China’s tech advances are causing chaos from Silicon Valley to the White House
New AI models, advanced robots and specialty computer chips are unsettling markets and the US tech industryOver the past month, a series of advancements in China’s artificial intelligence, chip manufacturing and robotics technologies have rattled financial markets, caused divisions among US tech moguls and left the Trump administration scrambling to...
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Lost income, energy fears and a woolly mammoth: what Europe’s dried-up rivers have yielded
Heat and drought have affected shipping, power plants and tourism across eastern Europe – as well as unearthing some surprisesBaking temperatures and drought across large swathes of central and eastern Europe have driven water levels on the Danube and Rhine rivers to record lows in some areas, hitting shipping, energy...
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In the battle of Elon Musk v the press, we can’t let truth be the loser | Jane Martinson
The trillionaire Tesla owner has called the editor of the Economist a ‘traitor to the west’ after a clash-filled interview. How should the media respond?Elon Musk’s long interview with the editor of the Economist is as good a representation as any of the current clash between two worlds. In one...
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From Ozempic to eye creams: demand for bathroom mini fridges is heating up
Sales soar as consumers seek maximum convenience, though experts say most products don’t need to be kept coolWhen it comes to essential fixtures and fittings for bathrooms, the most common are tubs and taps. But now there is a new must-have emerging: a mini fridge.Used to store everything from beauty...
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‘We didn’t feel safe’: Booking.com users face battle to get money back
From melted electric sockets to shabby alternatives, readers tell of dealings with platform when things go wrongJane Ripley* spent some time researching the best apartment to stay in for her family’s trip to Batumi in Georgia, eventually settling on one with an “exceptional” rating on Booking.com.But when the Ripleys arrived...
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Stick to spending limits, PM and chancellor tell ministers in joint memo
The Chancellor said the Budget on 28 October would “meet our fiscal rules” and give families "stability" to plan for the future.
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Turn failing water firms into not-for-profit cooperatives, MPs and mayors tell PM
Labour politicians say mutualised model puts public in control without adding debt to government’s balance sheetMPs and mayors close to Andy Burnham have told the prime minister there is a “third way” to gain more control of failing companies, as the row over whether or not to nationalise Thames Water...
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The tangled financial web at the heart of Reform UK
Nigel Farage’s £5m gift, the Cottrell family’s links and donations, and Richard Tice’s business dealings form part of an increasingly clear nexus of relationshipsIt has been three months since the Guardian revealed that Nigel Farage had accepted a £5m gift from Christopher Harborne, a billionaire donor to Reform UK.This was...
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‘Proteinmaxxing’ could lead to higher prices for infant formula, say experts
Whey protein, a key infant formula ingredient, is in growing demand, partly linked to rising use of weight-loss drugsThe rise of “proteinmaxxing” – a trend in which consumers try to eat as much protein as possible – could lead to higher prices for infant formula, experts warn.Whey protein, a key...
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Snapchat joins other popular platforms in fight against 'AI slop'
Snapchat, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Substack are trying to combat the proliferation of fake AI content.
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‘It ain’t the same’: inside the bitter battle to free Ben & Jerry’s
Ben Cohen says his ice-cream company has been silenced by corporate ownership – and a boycott of Magnum brands could force a saleBen & Jerry’s ice-cream in the tub is still great, but the brand’s newest chocolate-covered ice-cream bar on a stick?“It ain’t the same,” Ben Cohen, the company co-founder,...
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AI firms must answer for rogue bots, says boss of hacked company
Clement Delangue said he didn't want cyber attacks on other companies to become "normalised".
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The Guardian view on England’s centralised state: Andy Burnham must unbundle it | Editorial
Devolution should finance transport, skills and industry, not become a rightwing contest to promise the largest tax giveawayThat England is among the rich world’s most centralised countries underpins Andy Burnham’s critique of the economic history of the past 40 years. Only post-communist Europe deindustrialised as rapidly as Yorkshire and the...
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BP puts North Sea business up for sale
The decision follows a review of BP's operations and is set to end 60 years of production in the region by the oil giant.
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UK petrol price hits Iran war high, adding to pressure on households
Average pump price reaches 160p a litre, while diesel is up 14.5p to 179p and forecast to increase to 185p soonThe price of petrol has hit a new Iran war high at UK forecourts, adding to the financial pressure on millions of households about to embark on their annual holiday.The...
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Andy Burnham to give regional mayors share of income tax
The prime minister says the move will give power to "every postcode" but critics say the plans lack detail.
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Sainsbury's agrees to sell Argos for £120m
Under the terms of the deal, Argos will still operate in Sainsbury's shops, sell Habitat products, and offer Nectar points.
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Passenger on British Airways mayday flight describes fear and shout of 'I don't want to die'
Edward Killiwick was on the flight that issued a distress call, before it landed safely at Heathrow earlier this month.
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UK petrol prices hit highest level since Iran war began
The price of unleaded hits 160p a litre, according to motoring group the RAC, as oil prices remain elevated.
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UK petrol prices hit highest level since Iran war began
The price of unleaded hits 160p a litre, according to motoring group the RAC, as oil prices remain elevated.
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Anthropic's Claude AI escapes to hack into three organisations
It comes just days after rival OpenAI said rogue AI agents had breached other firms' networks.
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'I will miss my shop tremendously after six decades'
Meredith's DIY Hardware and Ironmongery has been at Yate Shopping Centre, near Bristol, since 1965.
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South Korean shares soar after chip stock rout
It comes after a three-day rout that wiped hundreds of billions of dollars off the value of the country's stock market.
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Charming homes for sale with family gardens in England – in pictures
From the heart of the Peak District to the Kent Downs, houses with outside space to suit all ages Continue reading...
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Hospital parking hike adds stress, patients say
From 31 July hourly parking charges will increase by about 50% at several hospitals in the county.
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Group's mission to appreciate every piece of food
Food in Community takes unwanted and surplus produce from growers and farmers.
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Soy sauce refills and reused jars: can Philippines’ tingi culture hold back deluge of plastic waste?
A zero-waste shop set up by a district council provides plastic-free products at affordable prices in a country that gets through 164m sachets a dayJust after classes finish for the day in Malabon City, in the Philippines, a corner shop begins to fill. Mothers arrive with their children, handing over...
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‘It makes your heart sing’: can a pioneering project show that rewilding really works? – podcast
Intensive farming has all but destroyed England’s ancient woodlands and freshwater wetlands. On a farm in Lincolnshire a radical aristocrat hopes to show there’s money in protecting natureBy Patrick Barkham. Read by Dermot DalyRead the text version hereSupport the Guardian today: theguardian.com/longreadpodThe summer issue of the Long Read magazine is...
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Could AI take your job? Some workers in China already know the answer
Across the country, workers are fearful about the impact of AI on their livelihoods in an increasingly fragile labour market On the tree-lined streets of Wuhan, where cars jostle for space with mopeds and cargo trucks, the malfunctioning of a new type of vehicle has recently been causing chaos on...
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Amazon and Apple just told us more about their AI plans - here are three things we learned
Billions of dollars are being poured into a new wave of AI technology. But will it pay off?
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Apple warns of future 'supply constraints' for Mac, iPhone, iPad
Shares of Apple plunged on a warning of slower sales in the coming months.
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Thames Water boss says leakage targets 'not realistic'
Chris Weston said Thames wanted "to do better" but some of its targets were not achievable.
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'I pay £580 a month to live in a disused care home': Property guardians show us around
Could you live communally in a disused building in exchange for a heavily discounted rent? Property guardians show us around.
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Record low water levels across Europe reveal mammoth skeletons and forgotten shipwrecks – video
Water levels across several of Europe’s major waterways have dropped to exceptionally low levels, setting new records in some areas.Extreme heat exacerbated by the climate crisis is intensifying the drought hitting the continent as record-breaking heatwaves means the hot atmosphere is evaporating water from rivers, lakes, soils and plants quickly.The...
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India wants to join the strawberry superpowers
Indian strawberry farmers rely on varieties imported from the US and Europe, but that could change.
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Virtual interviews don't show bosses your personality, says Burnham
Interviews online may not allow young people to "shine" and communicate their "passion", the prime minister says.
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British Airways flight called mayday on approach to Heathrow
The call was made on an Airbus A320 flying from Dusseldorf airport in Germany on 6 July following two stall warnings.
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Hundreds of jobs to go at Jaguar Land Rover
The car giant says it expects fewer than 300 people will lose their jobs.
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Bank holds interest rates but says it is ready to raise them if Iran war escalates
The Bank also expects the economy to grow more than previously forecast this year, although uncertainties remain because of the Iran war.
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Burnham says he told Trump UK will be pragmatic about North Sea oil
Andy Burnham says he told the US president he couldn't ignore North Sea resources when people are struggling.
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US economic growth sees surprise slowdown in second quarter
The economy grew at an annual rate of 1.5% in the three months to June, down from 2.1% seen in the previous quarter.
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Will we pay more tax to fund social care? – podcast
Andy Burnham gave a major speech on Wednesday on his plans for a national care service. He sought cross-party consensus on the issue by speaking to the Tories and Lib Dems. But not Reform UK or the Greens. On Thursday, Reform’s Robert Jenrick claimed at a press conference that the...
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Are British graduates being conned? | Opinion
Thousands of students are graduating into an employment crisis, leaving them feeling hopeless and overqualified, as well as dealing with enormous debts from tuition fees. When higher education was transformed, teenagers were offered a deal - pay £9,000 a year and secure a ‘bright future’. But as the Guardian’s economics...
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Shell profits double as oil prices rise due to Iran war
Disruption to global supplies of oil and liquid natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz has pushed up prices.
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The Chinese robot army transforming the UK's retail industry
Britain's weak productivity growth and labour shortages are creating an opportunity for China's robotics firms.
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What happens here has a big impact on your money
BBC business reporter Dearbail Jordan explains how it works from inside the Bank of England.
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How cow showers and fans help farmers keep cattle cool
Dairy farmers are using cow showers and fans to protect cattle as hotter summers hit milk production.
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1975: The world's first shop for left-handers
A London shop selling goods designed for left-handed people was doing a brisk trade.
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Shabaz Asks: Are Billionaires Bad?
Shabaz Ali turns author to see if the internet's favourite villains deserve the hate.
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Is it time to stop using glue and labels on paper?
Labels and adhesives can prevent paper from being recycled but there's new tech aimed at changing that.
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The 20-somethings betting big on tech stocks
The BBC hears from people about the risks and rewards of investing in technology shares.
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This farmer wanted to quit the cocaine industry - he couldn't
Colombians who grow cocaine's raw material bemoan a lack of support to help them switch crops.
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Is tracking your food purchases good for your health?
Food tracking apps are popular, but are they a good way to make us eat a healthier diet?
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AI and artists can click – a new manifesto for modern creativity
The UK is both an epicentre of global creative industries and a budding AI powerhouse. Here’s how it can balance support for creatives while also embracing technological changesWhat does it mean to be a creator in today’s modern world when artificial intelligence is reshaping relationships between humans and technology?That’s one...
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New era for Gibraltar with removal of 118-year-old border controls with Spain
It is hoped that free movement between the UK territory and Spain will provide an economic boost.
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Wealthy AI workers send San Francisco house prices soaring
The median cost of a home in the city is now $1.7m, a record high, according to the latest figures.
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Robots available for rent: But what can they do?
Robotics tech is changing fast, so for many it makes sense to rent a robot.
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AI is 'not smart' so what's next in artificial intelligence?
Leading AI researcher Yan LeCun has a start-up which is developing a more flexible AI system.
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Why Gen Z are planning for life without a state pension
Many younger people do not believe the state pension will exist when they are older
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The furious dispute over what caused Air India flight 171 to crash
The final conclusions of the investigation have yet to be published, although more could become apparent in the coming days.
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How the High Street became a window on our political instability
High Streets have declined in recent years. What does this tell us about the UK?
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The £5 coffee that tells a story of global economic turmoil
Coffees at some city centre outlets now cost £5. It's a story of tariffs, the climate, Gen Z cultural tastes, and savvy coffee farmers playing the market, writes Faisal Islam
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The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages
What impact might shortages have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?