Today
British PM stumps up for Taylor Swift tickets after donations furore
With his popularity in freefall, Keir Starmer has tried to make amends for his freebie frenzy by paying back $12,000 worth of gifts out of his own pocket.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Yesterday
How ‘sinister’ Fayed lied his way into the heart of British society
The businessman’s already controversial reputation has been forever sullied by the shocking claims of sexual abuse.
- Updated
- Iain Hollingshead and Ben East
This Month
- Analysis
- UK politics
‘Do you miss me yet?’ Britain’s zany ex-PMs back on centre stage
Boris Johnson and Liz Truss return to the limelight, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s travails leave Tories daring to dream of a swift resurrection.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Britain calls time on coal power, steel mills
On a single day, the UK closed its last coal-fired power plant and its largest carbon-munching steel mill.
- Hans van Leeuwen
September
- Updated
- Mergers & acquisitions
REA abandons $12b pursuit of Britain’s Rightmove
REA Group chairman Hamish McLennan’s personal touch was not enough to get the deal, which Rightmove rejected on Monday, over the line.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
Nasrallah’s funeral could coincide with IDF invasion
The Hezbollah leader’s funeral – like his speeches – is likely to garner considerable attention across the region and may be exploited by anti-Israeli forces.
- Melanie Swan, Paul Nuki and Adrian Blomfield
- Analysis
- Manufacturing
Are Chinese cars spying on you?
Security experts say there is a genuine growing fear that the West is becoming exposed to Chinese components under the hood as vehicles become more connected.
- James Titcomb
AUKUS was part of plan to punish Macron, says Boris Johnson
Writing in his upcoming memoirs, the former UK prime minister accused the French president of being a “positive nuisance” during talks to leave the EU.
- Updated
- Daniel Martin
An old London bridge? No – it’s a new housing development
In Camden borough, a row of tall brick arches gives the impression of a Victorian viaduct. But they’re something else altogether.
- Richard Conway
Swimming ponds are status symbols for UK’s wealthy home owners
Wild swimming has become the trend du jour with wellness junkies. Now there’s a safer way to do it.
- Sarah Rappaport
REA lobs $12b fourth bid at UK’s resistant Rightmove
The Murdoch-backed REA has just days left to win over the British online property listing behemoth, as a “put-up-or-shut-up” deadline looms on Monday.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Updated
- AUKUS
‘Utterly untrue’: Keating berates Marles over AUKUS defence
Paul Keating launched fresh criticism of the $368 billion agreement, part of internal Labor squabbling over the pact, which has not gone unnoticed in the UK and US.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen and Matthew Cranston
- Opinion
- World politics
Why even good politicians are unpopular these days
It’s not just Keir Starmer – political leaders are on the nose around the world, and it’s not all their fault. Decades of peace and affluence have raised expectations.
- Janan Ganesh
- Analysis
- UK politics
Why Britain’s PM faces political firefights on all fronts
A combination of bad politics and unpopular policy has left Sir Keir Starmer on the back foot. And there isn’t even a Tory opponent who can lead the attack.
- Hans van Leeuwen
UK property site Rightmove knocks back REA again
Pressure is increasing on the Murdoch-owned REA’s $11 billion-plus foray, with just five days left to get a deal across the line.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Opinion
- UK politics
Keir Starmer’s honeymoon hardly got started
The UK prime minister already has a marginally lower approval rating than the recently deposed Rishi Sunak. Even by modern standards, the fall has been swift.
- Matthew Lesh
Starmer calls for return of ‘sausages’ from Gaza in conference gaffe
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer misread his script – which called for the return of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 last year.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
Will the Rightmove ‘fortress’ fall to REA’s siege?
Rightmove so dominates the UK market that its own CEO calls it ‘unassailable’. REA is hoping to seize the keys to the castle, but without tarnishing the prize.
- Hans van Leeuwen
- Opinion
- Literature
The rise and rise of the self-help book
For as long as there have been selves, they have needed help – and books have offered it. As the genre has grown, so have its claims.
- The Economist
Digital debt collector worth $350m after big money raise
Business booms for InDebted when cost-of-living hits consumers. It has attracted new investors, including a super fund to back a rare valuation increase.
- Paul Smith