-
Iranian rial hits record low before fresh US sanctions
Iran’s rial has slumped to a record low against the US dollar, coinciding with a warning from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of an approaching “economic D-day” for Tehran ahead of fresh US sanctions. The currency collapse formed part of a broader bout of global market turbulence, which also took in a flare-up in US-Canada…
-
‘It’s absolutely criminal’: US tipping culture has reached the UK – and is causing chaos
US-style tipping culture is spreading across the UK, with service charges and tip prompts now appearing in settings where they were previously rare or non-existent, such as pubs, coffee shops and self-service card machines. Customers increasingly feel obliged to tip even before any service has been provided, and the amounts expected are creeping upwards, with…
-
Fast-fashion giant Shein lowers value to $27bn for Hong Kong IPO
Shein, the China-founded fast-fashion retailer, has cut the valuation it is seeking for its long-delayed Hong Kong stock market listing to around $27bn (£19.8bn), a sharp drop from the near-$100bn it was worth at its 2022 private funding peak. The reduced price reflects mounting pressure on the company, which reported a $99m loss in the…
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Plan UK Return After Six Years, Prompting Royal Realignment and Security Debate
Prince Harry and Meghan have been preparing to move back to the UK after six years based in Montecito, California, a shift that reignited a political row over whether taxpayers should fund their security, potentially costing around £5 million a year. Former home secretary David Blunkett proposed a “middle-ground” compromise: limited, temporary protection involving one…
-
UK permits Ukraine to manufacture Scalp missiles domestically
Andy Burnham has visited Kyiv on his first foreign trip as prime minister, announcing that the UK will let defence firm MBDA declassify information on UK components used in the long-range Scalp missile, enabling Ukraine to produce them domestically. The move, made alongside a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” he now chairs, marks…
-
How to spot a Brit abroad! The tell-tale holiday habits that give us away – from packing teabags and downing airport pints to always getting sunburnt
A light-hearted travel feature runs through the habits and quirks that reveal British holidaymakers abroad, from constant apologising to distinctive food, drink and clothing choices. It reflects on how Britons often assume they blend in with locals while abroad, but in reality display a range of unmistakably national traits, much as other nationalities are known…
-
Burnham in Kyiv as Russia tensions escalate, government targets pub tax rates
Ministers promise to overhaul business-rate valuations for pubs and hotels as Burnham travels to Kyiv amid escalating Russia tensions and Reform UK unveils a social housing pledge. Also: Iran’s sanctions warning, a Nevada wildfire and Maradona’s ball sells for £2.5m.
-
Football transfer rumours: Alvarez set for Arsenal after being booed at Atlético?
The Guardian’s football transfer rumour column rounds up speculation across Europe, with Julián Álvarez central after being booed by Atlético Madrid fans during their draw with Villarreal; he is reportedly now weighing a move to Arsenal, with Barcelona said to lack the funds to compete for the Argentina forward. Elsewhere, Barcelona’s decision to leave Alejandro…
-
Premier League: 10 talking points from opening weekend of the season
The Guardian’s round-up of the Premier League’s opening weekend covers several separate storylines from across the division, including transfer tensions, tactical struggles and standout individual performances. It highlights how early-season squad decisions and player availability are already shaping narratives at several clubs before the transfer window closes. – Arsenal’s Ian Wright criticised the club for…
-
UK graduate job vacancies plunge to lowest in a decade
UK graduate job vacancies have fallen to their lowest level since records began a decade ago, with recruitment website Adzuna reporting just 8,383 university-leaver positions advertised in July, a 45% drop compared with the same month last year. The slump coincides with a record 262,820 students preparing to start university in September, deepening concern about…