The Guardian view on high-street decline: a symbol of failure in a discontented nation
Editorial: Decaying town centres are fuelling a sense of disillusionment with mainstream parties. Labour’s regeneration strategy must be bolder
‘Finally got him to go’: how Epstein was given inside track on events that rippled through global markets
Apparent leak by Peter Mandelson gave advance notice of Gordon Brown’s resignation and €500bn eurozone deal
EU has ‘open mind’ on UK customs union talks, says official
Valdis Dombrovskis says bloc is ‘ready to engage’ amid meetings with ministers including Rachel Reeves
Student loans: why is Martin Lewis clashing with Rachel Reeves?
MoneySavingExpert founder has said changes that will lead to some graduates in England and Wales paying more are ‘not moral’
Ultra-processed foods should be treated more like cigarettes than food – study
UPFs are made to encourage addiction and consumption and should be regulated like tobacco, say researchers
UK hospitality firms demand more help with business rates amid questions over Heathrow discount
Airports identified as biggest winners of government’s £4.3bn support package with Heathrow alone taking £900m discount
Betfred brothers top list of UK’s biggest taxpayers with £400m bill
Harry Styles is highest-contributing celebrity and Erling Haaland the youngest entry in Sunday Times tax list
The long-term cost of high student debt is not just for graduates
Labour’s changes to the student loan system have turned frustration into full-blown fury, which is likely to benefit its opponents at the ballot box
Trump says ‘very dangerous’ for UK to do business with China, after Starmer hails progress in Beijing
US president warns against closer ties with China during British PM’s trip to secure lower tariffs and better market access
Friday briefing: How Britain’s high streets became a barometer of national decline
In today’s newsletter: As boarded‑up units spread from coastal towns to former industrial centres, a new Guardian investigation reveals how our high streets have become a litmus test for public frustration and political choices
What agreements have been made during Starmer’s trip to China?
Several deals have been struck so far but there does not appear to be a big bundle of investments worth billions
Chinese state media views Starmer’s visit as act of economic pragmatism
PM praised for not pressuring Xi over his ties with Putin on a trip seen as business ‘taking precedence over politics’
Xi-Starmer meeting: Chinese leader tells PM he hopes both countries can ‘rise above differences’
China agrees visa waiver for British citizens as countries sign agreements on closer economic cooperation
‘My kids buy me food’: civil service pensioners offered emergency loans as nearly 90,000 face delays
Government to lend up to £10,000 to worst-affected new retirees as minister admits there is ‘unacceptable’ backlog
Doom loop of decline: how struggling high streets fuel far-right sympathies in UK
Retail accounts for 5% of the UK economy – but its visibility gives it an outsize influence on public perception