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Conservatives vow to reverse Labour’s EU reset; Marquez cuts MotoGP title gap
The Conservatives pledge to reverse Labour’s EU approach as Marquez cuts the MotoGP championship gap. Concerns raised over fish slaughterhouse inspections.
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The Guardian view on trapped leaseholders: Labour must keep its promise to set them free | Editorial
The Labour government has announced reforms to regulate the leasehold system, including plans for an independent regulator and consultation on capping “rip-off” administrative fees. However, these measures fall significantly short of Labour’s manifesto promise to “finally bring the feudal leasehold system to an end”. The leasehold system, which turns homes into income streams for freeholders,…
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Detectorist finds Anglo-Saxon gold talisman near Highclere Castle
A metal detectorist has discovered a rare 1,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon golden pendant in a field near Highclere Castle in Hampshire, the real-life setting of Downton Abbey. Nick Berry, 58, unearthed the unique hand-shaped artefact during an organised metal detecting rally in Ashmansworth, finding what experts believe symbolised the hand of God and was worn as a…
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Manchester council gave Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi firm ‘sweetheart’ first offers on development land under controversial 2015 deal
Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group secured preferential access to council-owned development land through a controversial 10-year contract signed in 2015. The arrangement granted the company “right of first refusal” on sites around Ancoats and New Islington, drawing criticism from other British developers who claim the council gave them unfairly preferential treatment.…
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Carpet seller’s pricing strategy shows how easier returns can protect loyalty
Retailers are making returns more difficult with fees, shorter deadlines and extra questions, risking customer loyalty and negative publicity. Gene Marks argues that businesses should treat returns as a predictable cost and include it in their prices rather than burden customers at the point of return. Marks recalls carpet wholesaler Jerry Crawford, who set aside…
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UK carmakers weigh Chinese investment against EU access; Baltimore shooting kills girl
UK carmakers face critical choice between Chinese investment and vital EU market access amid protectionist threats. A 12-year-old girl was killed and three adults wounded in a Baltimore shooting near a youth football game.
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Accused Sydney murder plot organiser awaits trial on bail after businessman pays bond
Jade McCaskie, 35, is awaiting trial on murder charges related to the death of Nathan Hill, 44, who fell from an apartment block in western Sydney in May 2024. She is accused of orchestrating a “honey trap” scheme involving intimate images to lure Hill to his death. Whilst three of her four co-accused remain in…
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Women hold just a quarter of new jobs in high-paying AI sector
Women are dramatically underrepresented in the booming artificial intelligence sector, holding just a quarter of new AI jobs despite these positions offering some of the highest salaries in the global economy, more than twice what traditional roles pay. This development undermines the narrative that AI would equalise opportunities for women in tech, instead positioning them…
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The demands of Welsh devolution are simple: just give us what Scotland has | Will Hayward
Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has submitted a formal request to Prime Minister Andy Burnham for greater devolved powers, including control over policing, justice, rail infrastructure, the crown estate and welfare. This matters because Burnham is perceived as more receptive to Welsh devolution than his predecessor, potentially creating an opportunity to increase Wales’s autonomy.…
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The Undertones bring punk urgency to Edinburgh anniversary show
The Undertones brought their anniversary tour to Edinburgh, playing 30 songs in 90 minutes in a fast-paced set that revisited their early punk and new-wave catalogue. Their performance showed how songs such as “Teenage Kicks” still connect with fans, while the band’s urgency and humour kept the show from becoming a purely nostalgic exercise. The…