Bank of England holds interest rates at 3.75% as inflation fears mount
Posted on Thursday July 30, 2026

Split vote comes as Iran war is rekindled and oil price climbs close to $90 a barrel

• Business live – latest updates

• Only Middle East crisis is preventing drop in UK interest rates

The Bank of England has kept UK interest rates on hold as it warned that a further escalation in the Iran war could drive inflation above 4% next year, adding to cost of living pressures on households.

Against a volatile backdrop in the Middle East conflict, the Bank’s monetary policy committee (MPC) voted by six to three to keep its key base rate at 3.75%.

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Profits boost for UK defence firms as governments increase spending
Posted on Thursday July 30, 2026

Shares in Rolls-Royce jump by 5% after it lifts earnings guidance, while BAE Systems also upgrades profit forecasts

Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems are expecting higher profits as governments around the world increase their defence spending.

Both companies lifted their earnings guidance on Thursday morning, citing commitments from governments to raise investment in defence systems.

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Raids across UK in crackdown on nuisance car finance texts
Posted on Thursday July 30, 2026

Laptops, phones and documents seized as information commissioner acts on messages about mis-selling scandal

Laptops, mobile phones and documents have been seized after officials carried out search warrants in a crackdown on claims companies plaguing people with spam text messages about the car finance mis-selling scandal.

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) executed warrants at homes and businesses linked to five companies in London, Liverpool, Bolton, Burnley and Swansea on Wednesday.

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Lloyds Bank to cut £2bn in costs as part of AI-powered strategy
Posted on Thursday July 30, 2026

Chief executive says the four-year plan will lead to greater efficiency but gives no details of potential job losses

• Business live – latest updates
  
  

Lloyds Banking Group will cut another £2bn of costs as part of a four-year plan under which its chief executive will use new tech and AI to drive growth.

Charlie Nunn said the strategy, which the UK’s largest high street lender will launch in January, would involve investing £13bn into the business by 2030, including for “pioneering technology” to lure new business, improve efficiency and increase payouts for shareholders.

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Raids across UK in crackdown on nuisance car finance texts
Posted on Thursday July 30, 2026

Laptops, phones and documents seized as information commissioner acts on messages about mis-selling scandal

Laptops, mobile phones and documents have been seized after officials carried out search warrants in a crackdown on claims companies plaguing people with spam text messages about the car finance mis-selling scandal.

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) executed warrants at homes and businesses linked to five companies in London, Liverpool, Bolton, Burnley and Swansea on Wednesday.

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Excessive time spent online linked to stress and worse mood – study
Posted on Wednesday July 29, 2026

German study surveyed adults who engage in gaming, pornography and online shopping

Spending excessive time online is associated with higher stress levels, worse mood, and greater neglect of other activities, according to analysis.

The new study by academics at the University of Duisburg-Essen published in the journal PLOS One, surveyed 900 German adults in 2025 who reported engaging in gaming, pornography use, social network use, or online shopping at least once in the last year.

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Uefa agrees to boycott Fifa competitions if World Cup sell-off plans proceed
Posted on Thursday July 30, 2026

• Uefa vote passes 55-0 at emergency meeting on Thursday

• Boycott would begin with Under-20 Women’s World Cup

European countries have agreed to boycott all Fifa competitions if Gianni Infantino pushes forward with his proposals to sell chunks of the World Cup to US-based private investment.

In an extraordinary development all 55 Uefa members resolved not to participate in future World Cups or other Fifa-run events, saying in a statement that they “unanimously and unequivocally reject” the proposals. An emergency meeting that lasted just short of two hours ended with a united front despite earlier fears that smaller countries, attracted by the money on offer through Infantino’s scheme, would be swayed in favour.

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Commonwealth Games 2026: track cycling, athletics, weightlifting and netball on day seven – live
Posted on Thursday July 30, 2026

• Women’s 1500m wheelchair race to be restaged

• Medal table | Day six in pictures

Hi everyone, good afternoon (or evening or morning, depending etc). Netball! Cycling! Athletics! Bowls! It is all happening on my shift today. Although Scotland might be wishing the netball wasn’t happening as the hosts are 54-41 down to Uganda in the fourth quarter. P.S. do my quiz!

It’s time for Martin Belam to run the show.

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