Rachel Reeves warns fuel retailers not to make ‘excess profits’ from oil crisis; G7 ‘stands ready’ to release crude reserves – business live
Posted on Monday March 09, 2026

Finance ministers from G7 countries resist pressure to release emergency oil stocks at video call todayIran war drives oil prices above $100 a barrel for first time since 2022UK interest rate cuts unlikely this year amid Iran war – and a rise could be aheadResearch show that poorer people are hit hardest by surging oil prices.As our economics editor Heather Stewart wrote yesterday:Recent research published by economists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst identified energy, along with food and agriculture as among the commodities that had “a disproportionate capacity to increase inequality when their prices rise”.Where there are benefits, these are narrowly shared. Another striking recent paper showed that after the 2022 oil price surge in the US, 50% of the windfall benefit from higher prices in the sector went to the wealthiest 1% of individuals, via the stock market. The bottom 50% of people received only 1%. Continue reading...

Read more...

Roman Abramovich ready to fight UK government over proceeds from £2.5bn Chelsea sale
Posted on Monday March 09, 2026

Russian oligarch says money is his to allocate despite international sanctions imposed on his assetsThe Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich has stepped up his row with the British government over the £2.5bn proceeds of his sale of Chelsea FC, insisting that the money is his to allocate despite the international sanctions imposed on his assets.The UK and EU imposed sanctions on Abramovich in 2022, freezing his assets in response to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, citing his ties to Vladimir Putin’s regime. Continue reading...

Read more...

AI firm Anthropic sues US defense department over blacklisting
Posted on Monday March 09, 2026

Lawsuits come after Pentagon labeled Anthropic a ‘supply chain risk’, a decision the company says is unlawfulSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxAnthropic filed two lawsuits against the Department of Defense on Monday, alleging that the government’s decision to label the artificial intelligence firm a “supply chain risk” was unlawful and violated its first amendment rights. The two sides have been locked in a monthslong heated feud over the company’s attempt to implement safeguards against the military’s potential use of its AI models for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous lethal weapons.The lawsuits, which Anthropic filed in the northern district court of California and the US court of appeals for the Washington DC Circuit, come after the Pentagon formally issued the supply chain risk designation last Thursday, the first time the blacklisting tool has been used against a US company. The AI firm previously vowed to challenge the designation and its demand that any company that does business with the government cut all ties with Anthropic, a serious threat to its business model. Continue reading...

Read more...

Revealed: UK’s multibillion AI drive is built on ‘phantom investments’
Posted on Monday March 09, 2026

Exclusive: Rented datacentres and ‘supercomputer’ site that’s still a scaffolding yard raise questions for Starmer’s push to ‘mainline AI into veins of economy’From press release … to scrap metal site: the Essex supercomputer that’s still a scaffolding yardA multibillion-pound drive to “mainline AI into the veins” of the British economy is riddled with “phantom investments” and shaky accounting, a Guardian investigation has found.Since 2024, successive Conservative and Labour governments have proclaimed massive deals to build new datacentres, create thousands of jobs and construct a supercomputer. Continue reading...

Read more...

AI firm Anthropic sues US defense department over blacklisting
Posted on Monday March 09, 2026

Lawsuits come after Pentagon labeled Anthropic a ‘supply chain risk’, a decision the company says is unlawfulSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxAnthropic filed two lawsuits against the Department of Defense on Monday, alleging that the government’s decision to label the artificial intelligence firm a “supply chain risk” was unlawful and violated its first amendment rights. The two sides have been locked in a monthslong heated feud over the company’s attempt to implement safeguards against the military’s potential use of its AI models for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous lethal weapons.The lawsuits, which Anthropic filed in the northern district court of California and the US court of appeals for the Washington DC Circuit, come after the Pentagon formally issued the supply chain risk designation last Thursday, the first time the blacklisting tool has been used against a US company. The AI firm previously vowed to challenge the designation and its demand that any company that does business with the government cut all ties with Anthropic, a serious threat to its business model. Continue reading...

Read more...

Why do so many people want Arsenal to fail in the Premier League title race? | Jonathan Wilson
Posted on Monday March 09, 2026

The leaders haven’t won the title in more than 20 years. Yet very few neutrals are excited about seeing them as new championsSign up for Soccer with Jonathan Wilson hereWhat was striking after Arsenal’s grim 1-0 win at Brighton on Wednesday was less Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler’s attack on the Gunners’ style than the way his criticism seemed to resonate. In England, it feels as though almost nobody, other than Arsenal supporters or anyone-but-City fans, wants them to win the title.“If I would ask everyone in the room: ‘Did you really enjoy this football game?’ I’m sure maybe one raises his arm because he’s a big Arsenal fan but, besides that, no chance,” Hürzeler said.This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition. Continue reading...

Read more...

Verdict on the start of F1’s new era: five talking points from the Australian GP
Posted on Monday March 09, 2026

Mercedes’ flying start lives up to promise, but new regulations receive scathing reviewsThe pre-season favourites had done their level best to play down their expected advantage in the buildup to the Australian Grand Prix, but it was impossible to hide. A dominant one-two by the best part of a second for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli in qualifying was followed by a similarly assured one-two finish in the race. Continue reading...

Read more...