The American Express Times
Friday, June 19, 2026
Stay Out of EU and Cut Taxes to Back Global Britain
A UK survey shows most voters support maintaining independence from the EU while pursuing lower taxes and expanded global trade to boost economic competitiveness. This sentiment signals public backing for government policies aimed at reshaping Britain’s economy around sovereignty and international market integration rather than rejoining European frameworks.
★ Featured Stories
Sheer evil of baby killer
A 13-month-old boy named Preston Davey died after suffering severe abuse, sparking public outrage and renewed demands for justice. The case has intensified calls for…
HSBC fined A$35mn over Australian scam failures
HSBC has agreed to pay a A$35 million fine after admitting to significant failures in preventing scam-related fraud against Australian customers. This penalty highlights increasing…
Diageo boss orders job cuts in turnaround plan
Diageo’s CEO Sir Dave Lewis has ordered senior executives to cut jobs and reduce costs as part of a restructuring plan to address the company’s…
China drags its drone makers down to earth
China's government has introduced strict regulations on civilian drone use, requiring registration, real-time flight data, and advanced approvals, leading to a sharp decline in consumer…
★ All Stories
Tehran offered access to $6bn of frozen funds if it buys goods from America
The Trump administration has agreed to release $6 billion of Iran's frozen oil revenues held in Qatar, conditional on Iran purchasing humanitarian and non-sanctioned goods…
Wartime jolt adds impetus to renewable power push
The conflict in Iran has highlighted the strategic importance of developing domestic renewable energy sources, though experts warn the current surge in clean energy investment…
Albanian PM blames Iran for resort protests
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama claims recent protests against a $4 billion luxury resort on Sazan Island are driven by Iranian cyberattacks rather than local…
Hegseth unveils review of US forces in Europe
Pete Hegseth, a senior U.S. defense official, criticized NATO allies for limiting U.S. access to European bases for potential strikes against Iran and threatened to…
Ambani’s Jio moves towards $4bn IPO as India hopes for end to listings drought
Reliance Jio Infocomm is set to launch its initial public offering, potentially raising around $4 billion in India’s largest-ever IPO. This move comes amid market…
US equity markets rise after sign of Iran-US peace deal
US stock markets rose sharply after the Trump administration and Iran electronically signed a peace agreement extending a ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.…
Shipping industry struggles to source bunker fuel after Iran war hits supplies
The ongoing conflict involving Iran has caused severe disruptions in bunker fuel supply, forcing shipping companies to endure lengthy delays and reroute vessels to alternative…
Burnham and the search for hope
Labour politician Andy Burnham has emerged as a hopeful figure ahead of the UK’s regional elections, offering a more relatable and optimistic alternative amid criticism…
Is the world becoming more predictable?
AI-driven forecasting platforms like Vico Technologies are improving predictions of geopolitical events by combining advanced models with diverse human and data inputs, exemplified by their…
Robinhood is well placed for the casino-ification of sports, stocks and more
Robinhood Markets has seen a surge in retail trading and prediction market activity following SpaceX’s $75 billion IPO and major global sporting events, with event…
Fed chair Warsh reveals hawkish side and desire for brevity
Kevin Warsh, in his first meeting as Federal Reserve chair, emphasized a hawkish approach focused on fighting inflation while signaling broad institutional reforms and a…
Gold industry warns illegal trade is driving war and crime
Gold industry executives have warned that a sharp rise in illegal bullion trade, fueled by soaring gold prices, is financing armed conflicts and criminal networks,…
How to party in New York like you’re . . . 44
People in their forties in New York City are embracing a variety of nightlife options that balance lively entertainment with comfort, influenced by biochemical changes…
Austrian chancellor urges EU to push ahead on Putin talks
Austria’s Chancellor Christian Stocker urged EU leaders to build on recent diplomatic efforts to reopen peace talks with Russia over the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing dialogue…
VW board member in surprise exit ahead of AGM
Volkswagen supervisory board member Susanne Wiegand resigned unexpectedly, citing her limited influence on key decisions and stepping down ahead of the company’s annual general meeting.…
Palantir and the fight for the NHS’s future
Senior British officials opposed Palantir’s £330 million, seven-year contract to develop the NHS’s Federated Data Platform but were unable to prevent its implementation amid concerns…
Wall St pushes US regulators to further ease Basel capital requirements
Wall Street trade groups have urged US regulators to revise the upcoming Basel Endgame capital rules, warning that the proposed changes could significantly raise banks’…
Traders shrug off Iran crisis as oil prices remain becalmed
Despite heightened tensions around Iran, global oil prices have fallen sharply from their peak and remain below initial worst-case forecasts following a preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement.…
Governments face a huge risk if Anthropic gets hacked
Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview, an AI model detecting software vulnerabilities, has been widely adopted by major institutions but raises cybersecurity risks if Anthropic is compromised.…
Trump follows Beijing’s lead on sovereign AI playbook
At the World Economic Forum, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang highlighted a five-layer AI framework that has influenced U.S. and Chinese government strategies involving direct investments…
Bain buyout of Kioxia among most lucrative in history amid AI boom
Bain Capital is set to earn over $15 billion from its 2018 buyout of Japanese memory chipmaker Kioxia, whose stock has surged more than 5,000%…
Jet fuel sinks on hopes of Gulf export resumption
Jet fuel prices have dropped significantly as a tentative US-Iran ceasefire deal raises expectations for resumed Middle Eastern exports through the Strait of Hormuz. This…
Reaching a nuclear deal with Iran will be much harder than in 2015
The United States and Iran have entered a critical 60-day negotiation period to address nuclear program disputes, sanctions relief, and regional security concerns amid high…
Nintendo and Sony need a game plan for the age of AI
Nintendo and Sony have experienced significant stock declines in 2024 due to rising costs and component shortages driven by increased demand for AI technology, leading…
South Africa’s anti-migrant backlash
Many African fans supported Mexico over South Africa in the World Cup opener, highlighting tensions fueled by rising anti-migrant sentiment within South Africa. This divide…
A football manager gives the G7 a pep talk
At the G7 summit, leaders failed to effectively address persistent global economic imbalances, with key players like China and the U.S. showing limited engagement, leading…
Asics attempts to run faster by unshackling Onitsuka Tiger brand
Asics is establishing Onitsuka Tiger as a wholly owned subsidiary with greater operational independence to capitalize on its fashion appeal and expand beyond its traditional…
Peak Perfection at Royal Ascot
The third day of the Royal Ascot festival, Ladies' Day, featured a royal-led carriage procession and high-profile attendees alongside competitive horse racing at Ascot Racecourse.…
‘Ungrateful’ PM Johnson told off by Farage mum
Barbara Farage criticized Boris Johnson for not personally acknowledging Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party for withdrawing candidates in over 300 constituencies during the 2019 election, a…
Brexit frustrations and hopes in political landscape
A June 2026 survey of over 2,000 British adults found widespread dissatisfaction with how Brexit has been managed but strong opposition to reversing the decision…
Labour’s civil war played out at crunch by-election
Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election, returning to Parliament after Labour MP Josh Simons resigned to make way for his candidacy. His victory intensifies the…
Tories battle SNP with future of oil and gas the crux
Voters in Aberdeen South participated in a by-election contested mainly between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP, with control of this economically strategic seat at…
Teacher who murdered and abused adopted baby Preston will die in prison
Jamie Varley was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, and his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley received a 25-year sentence for the sexual abuse and murder of…
More names on the roll call of tortured children
Ten-year-old Sara Sharif from Surrey died in August 2023 after prolonged abuse by her father and stepmother, exposing widespread failures in the UK’s child protection…
Iran war will push prices even higher
The Bank of England kept interest rates at 3.75% but warned that inflation will likely rise due to sustained higher energy costs stemming from the…
Sextortion teenager jailed after online plot
An 18-year-old from Sheffield, Elijah Palmer, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for coercing a girl into self-harm and sharing explicit images as…
Rape gang survivor’s horror at abusers’ early jail release
Fiona Goddard, a survivor of child sexual abuse, has raised alarm after learning that her convicted abusers could be freed early under new government sentencing…