The American Express Times
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Starmer leaves £5bn defence black hole
The UK government has unveiled its Defence Investment Plan, pledging an additional £15 billion over four years to bolster nuclear capabilities, fighter jet development, naval upgrades, and munitions stockpiles. However, with an unresolved £4.7 billion funding shortfall and reliance on departmental budget cuts and efficiency savings, the incoming government faces significant challenges in fully delivering…
★ Featured Stories
'Tipp' ing election scales
William Henry Harrison won the 1840 U.S. presidential election, defeating incumbent Martin Van Buren with the support of innovative campaign tactics and a memorable slogan…
Oxbridge diversity plans exclude white working class
An analysis found that diversity scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge primarily benefit ethnic minority students, often excluding white working-class applicants who are also under-represented in…
Axel Springer completes Telegraph takeover
Axel Springer has finalized its £575 million purchase of The Telegraph, ending years of ownership uncertainty and appointing new leadership to guide the historic British…
Awry way code: fewer than half say they would pass driving theory test
A recent survey reveals that fewer than half of British drivers believe they could pass the increasingly difficult driving theory test, which has seen pass…
★ All Stories
James Blood Ulmer: Revered Guitarist Who Fused Jazz, Blues, Funk and Rock
James Blood Ulmer, a pioneering guitarist known for blending jazz, blues, funk, and rock, died at age 86. His innovative style and collaborations with figures…
PM offers EU students cut-price fees
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer agreed to reduce tuition fees for European students in the UK from £38,000 to the domestic rate of £9,535 to…
UK families hit by biggest global drop in wealth
British households have seen their wealth decline by over 20% since the pandemic, the largest drop among 37 advanced economies, driven by high inflation and…
Move over Pimm’s, the drink to relish this summer is pickle juice
Pickle juice is rapidly gaining popularity in the UK as a beverage, securing shelf space in 192 Waitrose stores and expanding into gyms and bars…
Lily Allen defends charging £86 for one-hour concert performance
Lily Allen defended her £86 ticket price and one-hour concert format at London’s O2 Arena, explaining the late start was due to a wardrobe change…
Starmer’s parting shot: smaller, cheaper warships and cuts across MoD workforce
The UK Ministry of Defence will implement a new investment plan that increases overall defence spending by £15 billion by 2030 while requiring £10.7 billion…
British hopes with German and Frenchman
Only four British players remain in Wimbledon after the highest number of first-round losses for the nation in nearly four decades left 15 home competitors…
Wimbledon fashion statements can end up 'looking really stupid'
Taylor Fritz, ranked seventh in men’s tennis, expressed doubts about elaborate on-court fashion after wearing a bespoke white suit at Wimbledon, warning that flashy outfits…
BBC’s new tennis man is one of the old ones
Andrew Cotter will take over from Andrew Castle as the BBC’s lead commentator for next year’s Wimbledon men’s final, as Castle steps down after more…
Burnham ally used AI to make case for tax rises
Louise Haigh, a potential Cabinet candidate and ally of Andy Burnham, acknowledged using AI tools extensively in drafting an article advocating higher capital gains taxes…
Licence to thrill: Jude has ambition to be Bond
England midfielder Jude Bellingham revealed plans to pursue acting after his football career, specifically expressing a desire to play James Bond. With the Bond franchise…
Objection! Alito not done yet
NPR mistakenly reported that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito had announced his retirement, a claim quickly retracted and denied by both the broadcaster and the…
Ebola-hit Congo bans World Cup parties... except for England game
The Democratic Republic of Congo has banned mass public gatherings in several provinces to contain an Ebola outbreak, but has allowed events related to the…
Developer tells residents to buy a house if they want to use coastal path
Developer Séamus Redmond has blocked public access to a coastal path around Newquay’s Glendorgal headland, claiming it is private property linked to his holiday home…
Psychic loses £450k inheritance case after judge rules father's will was valid
A Central London County Court dismissed Gary Pammen’s challenge to his father Terrance Pammen’s 2016 will, which left the estate primarily to his daughter Tracy…
Ukrainian oligarch in Monaco bomb attack
Ukrainian businessman Vadym Iermolaiev was seriously injured in a backpack bomb explosion near his residence in Monaco, with his wife and son also critically wounded.…
Rebel Catholics consecrate four bishops
A traditionalist Catholic faction linked to the Society of St Pius X is consecrating four bishops in Switzerland today without papal approval. This act defies…
E-bikes are a corrupting force, ruining cycling for everyone
Rentable e-bikes operated by companies like Lime have increasingly cluttered London’s sidewalks and roads, leading to safety hazards, injuries, and complaints about improper parking and…
Doctors’ pay deal consequences discussed
The British Medical Association accepted the government’s pay and conditions offer for junior doctors in England, ending recent strike action that threatened NHS stability. While…
Labour threatens to intervene over Paramount’s Warner takeover
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has indicated possible government intervention in Paramount’s $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros due to concerns about media plurality and…
Bank of England considers AI 'kill switch' to stop bots triggering a market meltdown
The Bank of England is investigating the use of an AI “kill switch” to prevent automated trading algorithms from causing sudden, widespread market disruptions. This…
House sales increase by 17pc on a year earlier
Home sales in the UK rose by 17% in May 2026 compared to the same month last year, with approximately 98,450 properties sold. This growth…
A karst of thousands
A group of travelers on a seven-day trip aboard the catamaran Cataleya recently explored Maya Bay and surrounding protected sites in Thailand’s Andaman Sea, highlighting…
German chancellor’s tone-deaf message to knocked-out team
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised Germany’s football team after their historic early World Cup exit following a penalty shootout loss to Paraguay, sparking widespread domestic…
Delivery firms face fines for illegal workers
The UK government will introduce new laws this autumn imposing fines up to £60,000 on delivery firms that employ illegal workers, expanding mandatory right to…
Russians sentenced for up to seven years in prison over drag shows
A gay bar owner and two employees in Orenburg, Russia, were sentenced to prison terms of two to seven years for hosting drag shows, marking…
Venezuelan rescue dog helps save 13 people from earthquake rubble
A Venezuelan rescue dog named Tsunami helped locate at least 13 survivors trapped under rubble after two powerful earthquakes devastated the country. This mission marks…
Labour refuses to do the one thing that would fix the asylum system
The UK government has introduced a new Immigration and Asylum Bill requiring asylum seekers to pay £10,000 toward accommodation before settling in the country. Critics…
Wimbledon is a source of national pride
Wimbledon continues to be celebrated for its tradition and quality but faces criticism over its broadcasting style and the early elimination of British players. The…
Carmakers warn Burnham over EU tariffs
The British automotive industry has urged Andy Burnham to take immediate action to prevent severe disruptions from new EU trade rules that could impose tariffs…
Burnham is Boris Johnson with a Northern accent
Andy Burnham's recent speech outlined a focus on regional devolution and fiscal reform, emphasizing continuity with existing policies rather than proposing radical changes. His approach…
Kitchen retailer Magnet to close 15 shops in CVA
Magnet announced it will close 15 underperforming stores and propose a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) to restructure debts and reduce property costs. This plan aims…
Ramiro Valdés: Diehard Cuban Revolutionary and Enforcer of State Security
Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, a key Cuban revolutionary and longtime Communist Party leader, died at age 94 on June 21, 2026. As a founding figure of…
The curtain has risen on a true Cretan icon
Grecotel’s Creta Palace resort in Rethymno, Crete, has completed a major renovation featuring new luxurious accommodations, expanded dining, wellness facilities, and a culturally inspired Village…
Heathrow offers therapy for runway residents
Heathrow Airport has introduced a mental health support program offering therapy and a 24-hour helpline to residents facing home demolitions due to the proposed third…
Mahmood ‘must ensure foreign rapists are deported’
Shabana Mahmood is under pressure to close a legal gap that stops Shabir Ahmed, a convicted Rochdale grooming gang member, from being deported despite his…
Blair’s friend jailed for using donated $1bn to buy yacht, car and mansion
Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui was sentenced to 30 years in a U.S. federal prison for racketeering and fraud after unlawfully using nearly $1 billion in…