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The Iran war is threatening to disrupt shipping of crucial parts manufactured in the Gulf, potentially delaying large offshore wind projects in Europe. Industry sources are concerned that components ordered from suppliers in the United Arab Emirates could become trapped if shipping remains effectively blocked through the strait of Hormuz.These projects include two giant offshore windfarms planned for UK waters, as well as a series of projects that will supply offshore wind power to Germany and the Netherlands. The UK windfarms, which will lie off the coast of Norfolk, were each awarded a 20-year support contract from the British government just a month before Iran effectively closed the strait of Hormuz.The developer behind the plans, the German renewables group RWE, has contracted a Dubai-based company to deliver more than 180 components from its UAE fabrication yard while the windfarms are constructed. The windfarms are expected to supply the equivalent of about 4m UK homes before the end of the decade, meaning they would play an important part in supporting Britain’s aim to quadruple offshore wind capacity by 2030.A spokesperson for RWE said it had begun liaising closely with its supply chain partners amid the Middle East conflict, which has included airstrikes against key infrastructure. “Our primary focus is the safety of those working in the area,” they said. “To date there has only been a limited effect on our supply chain partners’ activities, but we are monitoring the situation closely and putting mitigation plans in place should the situation continue for a prolonged period.”The shutdown of the strait may also have an impact on a large project by the transmission operator TenneT that will link offshore wind projects in the German North Sea to mainland Germany. The company has contracted a UAE fabrication yard to deliver structural steel components, including a 5,461-tonne jacket foundation built for the BorWin6 high-voltage transmission project.

The UK government has taken a significant step in its ongoing efforts to counter Russia's attempts to evade Western sanctions. Armed forces have been authorized to board Russian oil tankers in British waters, a move aimed at disrupting Moscow's 'shadow fleet' of vessels.This fleet, comprising over 600 vessels targeted by sanctions from the EU, UK, and US, uses tactics such as false national flags and opaque ownership structures to export Russian crude oil while avoiding Western sanctions. The new rules apply specifically to vessels sanctioned by the UK.The Royal Navy has previously collaborated with allies to take action against these vessels. For instance, last week it helped track a sanctioned Russian oil tanker in the Mediterranean, which was subsequently boarded by the French navy.The UK's move is part of a broader strategy to hamper Russia's economy and, consequently, its war efforts in Ukraine. Prime Minister Starmer emphasized that the goal is to 'starve Putin's war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine.'However, Russia has warned that direct action against shadow fleet vessels could lead to direct conflict. A senior Russian official, Nikolai Patrushev, suggested that Moscow could deploy its navy to protect Russian-linked vessels from potential European seizures.The UK's defense secretary, John Healey, previously suggested using 'military options' against sanctioned vessels, with any seized oil potentially being sold and the proceeds sent to Ukraine.Before any ship is boarded, its situation will be examined by law enforcement, military, and energy market specialists, with a recommendation made to ministers. Seizure could be followed by criminal proceedings against the owners, operators, and crew for breaches of UK sanctions legislation.

The traditional cold war diplomacy of brinkmanship, characterized by carefully balanced standoffs and rules-based international order, has given way to a world in freefall. This shift is exemplified by the ever-widening conflict in the Gulf where strategic objectives remain as unclear as the potential endpoint of hostilities.Approaching a month since the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, the stated objectives of removing the country's nuclear threat and destroying its ballistic missile capability appear increasingly disconnected from the disproportionate impact on civilians and neighboring Gulf nations. Despite these consequences, the Iranian regime's willingness to escalate the conflict shows no signs of diminishing.The Guardian Weekly's coverage examines this critical juncture through multiple perspectives. Patrick Wintour recounts the pivotal week when global tensions reached a tipping point, while Richard Partington analyzes the long-term economic implications of a prolonged conflict, from oil price fluctuations to inflationary pressures and economic growth impacts. From South Lebanon, William Christou reports on healthcare professionals caught in the crossfire of Israeli airstrikes, highlighting the human cost of the escalating violence.Emma Graham-Harrison provides insight from Jerusalem, examining Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy of attempting to rehabilitate his image through what he frames as destruction of an 'axis of evil.' Meanwhile, Simon Tisdall poses a critical question: when US President Donald Trump eventually seeks to halt the conflict, will any parties be willing to heed his calls for de-escalation?Beyond the primary geopolitical focus, this week's Guardian Weekly edition explores several significant developments across different sectors. The UK political landscape features an examination of the upcoming local elections, where voter sentiment appears increasingly focused on rejecting established parties rather than actively supporting alternatives. The scientific section explores innovative approaches to addressing snoring disorders through CPAP machines, while the culture section features an in-depth interview with Dave Grohl discussing Foo Fighters, personal challenges, and grief following the loss of bandmate Taylor Hawkins.In sports, the publication celebrates the remarkable achievement of British athletes Keely Hodgkinson, Georgia Hunter Bell, and Molly Caudery, who each secured gold medals at the world indoor athletics championships in Poland, showcasing British excellence in track and field events.

Hong Kong police have been granted the authority to require individuals suspected of violating the city's national security law to provide passwords to their mobile phones or computers. This measure, which took effect on Monday, is part of the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. The new provisions empower police to require a person under investigation suspected of endangering national security to provide any password or decryption method for electronic devices and to provide the police “any reasonable and necessary information or assistance”. Refusing to comply could lead to up to one year’s imprisonment and a fine of up to 100,000 Hong Kong dollars ($12,768), while providing false or misleading information could bring up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to 500,000 Hong Kong dollars ($63,840). The imposition of the 2020 national security law, supplemented by a second component in 2024, has led to a marked decline in civil liberties in the former British colony returned to China in 1997, according to human rights advocates. The new amendments have sparked concerns over the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy and its status as an international financial and business centre. Urania Chiu, a law lecturer in the UK researching Hong Kong, said the new provisions interfered with fundamental liberties, including the privacy of communication and the right to a fair trial. “The sweeping powers given to law enforcement officers without any need for judicial authorisation are grossly disproportionate to any legitimate aim the bylaw purports to achieve,” Chiu told the Reuters news agency. A Hong Kong government spokesperson said the amended rules conform to the city’s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, and its human rights provisions, and “will not affect the lives of the general public or the normal operation of institutions and organisations”. According to the Security Bureau, a total of 386 people have been arrested for national security crimes so far, with 176 people and four companies convicted.

The UK's green energy landscape is experiencing a significant shift as Jürgen Maier, the boss of GB Energy, joins other prominent renewable energy leaders in advocating for increased North Sea oil and gas production. This move comes as the UK government faces mounting pressure to address an impending energy cost crisis. Maier, in a social media post on LinkedIn, emphasized that while more North Sea oil and gas may not directly reduce energy costs, which have surged due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, it could bring substantial economic benefits, including more jobs and higher tax revenues. He described himself as “a supporter” of a well-managed energy transition that includes “all energy,” later clarifying in a separate post that he fully supports the government’s ban on new oil and gasfield exploration licences. Maier suggested that utilizing existing fields and tiebacks—allowing new deposits to be extracted from existing infrastructure—aligns with an 'All Energy' approach. This strategy, he argues, would give supply chain companies sufficient time to transition while renewables remain the long-term goal. The comments from Maier follow similar endorsements from other green energy leaders, such as Greg Jackson, the Octopus Energy boss, and Tara Singh, the new chief executive of RenewableUK. Jackson, who sits on the Cabinet Office board, told the Daily Telegraph that the UK needs more “sovereign energy,” which requires practical decisions, including leveraging North Sea resources. Singh argued that Britain should produce more energy “of every kind” and called for taking energy out of the culture wars. Despite these calls, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has ruled out new licences for the North Sea, though decisions on the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields, which were licensed under the previous government, are still pending. Industry sources expect these fields to be approved soon, potentially beginning production by the end of the year, which could provoke backlash from green groups. The government recently dismissed warnings from Offshore Energies UK that failing to produce more North Sea oil and gas would increase the UK's reliance on imports amid rising global instability. A government spokesperson stated that new licences would not enhance energy security or reduce bills, highlighting that oil and gas prices are set internationally. A Great British Energy spokesperson reiterated the company's focus on driving the clean energy transition to deliver a more secure and independent energy system. They emphasized that oil and gas will remain part of the energy mix for decades, and preserving the skills of oil and gas workers is crucial for a clean energy future.

The estate of late British tech tycoon Mike Lynch has been ordered to pay £920m to the technology company Hewlett-Packard (HP) two years after he died in a superyacht disaster.The ruling by London’s high court said the estate was liable to pay the sum as compensation, costs, and interest for HP’s acquisition of Lynch’s firm Autonomy, after a UK legal ruling in 2022 that he duped the US firm into paying £8.2bn for his software firm Autonomy.The deceased entrepreneur’s estate has been estimated to be worth about £500m, so the damages could leave it bankrupt.Lynch and six others, including his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, died in August 2024 on a trip with friends and family celebrating his acquittal on US fraud charges relating to HP’s $11bn takeover of Autonomy in 2011.HP accused Lynch and Autonomy’s former chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, of inflating the firm’s value before the takeover. HP wrote down Autonomy’s worth by $8.8bn (£6.5bn) within a year of the purchase.The US tech company has sought damages in UK civil proceedings of up to $4.55bn from the estate of the late tycoon, who was once hailed as Britain’s answer to Microsoft founder Bill Gates.However, the level of the claim was ruled last year by the high court to be “always exaggerated”, as it concluded that Lynch’s estate owed £700m in compensation. The £920m figure includes costs and interest.Lawyers for Lynch’s estate sought permission to appeal against Tuesday’s ruling, which was refused. However, the estate can apply directly to the court of appeal.HP welcomed Tuesday’s decision, which it said in a statement “brings us another step closer to resolution of the dispute”.A spokesperson for the Lynch family said: “We are disappointed by the court’s refusal and believe an application to the court of appeal should follow in the interests of justice. HP’s $5bn damages claim has already been shown to be vastly exaggerated.“Today’s judgment describes the exaggeration as ‘without foundation’ and the purposes for which it was ‘calibrated, publicised and pursued’ as objectionable, misleading shareholders and extending the litigation unnecessarily.“Dr Lynch’s acquittal in the US, where witnesses were properly cross-examined, exposed the truth. The damage to Autonomy was the result of HP’s own actions and failures, not wrongdoing at Autonomy.”

The recent developments in the Iran-US conflict have sparked concerns about the potential for a prolonged and devastating war. Iranian barrages have targeted Israel, Gulf Arab states, and northern Iraq, while Israeli and US warplanes have struck across Iran. The US has considered deploying troops on the ground, further escalating tensions.British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned that the conflict may endure, and the economic risks are already crystallizing. Business activity growth in Britain has slowed, manufacturers' input costs have seen their sharpest rise since 1992, and home loans are becoming dearer as the war feeds into energy and inflation fears.The UK government is drawing up contingency plans, such as lowering speed limits to cut fuel use. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has ruled out universal household support for any 'Trumpflation' and insists help will remain within her 'iron-clad' fiscal rules. This approach has raised concerns about the government's ability to mitigate the economic impact of the conflict.The conflict has significant implications for global energy markets. Disruptions to oil and gas flows could lead to a structural shift in global energy use, with Europe potentially accelerating its green energy transition and Asia opting for increased coal use. The UK's clean energy transition may be impacted, with higher costs and disrupted supply posing challenges.In conclusion, the Iran-US conflict poses significant risks to global economic stability and energy markets. The UK government must navigate these challenges carefully, balancing the need for economic support with the imperative of maintaining fiscal discipline.

A recent study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology has revealed that small changes to daily habits can have a significant impact on cardiovascular health. The research, conducted by experts from Australia, Chile, and Brazil, examined data on more than 53,000 middle-aged UK adults taking part in the Biobank study.The study found that sleeping for 11 minutes more each night, doing 4.5 additional minutes of brisk walking, and eating an extra 50g of vegetables each day can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, by about 10%. These small behavior changes were found to be more "achievable and sustainable" compared to attempting major changes in a single behavior.According to the study, the "optimal" way to avoid cardiovascular incidents includes getting eight to nine hours of sleep each night, a good diet, and a minimum of 42 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day. Combining these measures leads to a 57% lower risk of heart attacks and strokes.Dr. Nicholas Koemel, the study's lead author, noted that "making a few small, combined changes is likely more achievable and sustainable for most people when compared with attempting major changes in a single behavior." He encouraged people to make small changes to their daily routine, as they can have a surprisingly large positive impact on cardiovascular health.Prof Emmanuel Stamatakis, a senior author of the study, plans to build on these findings to develop new digital tools that support people in making positive lifestyle changes and establishing sustained healthy habits.Commenting on the study, Emily McGrath, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said that "small tweaks – like getting a little more sleep, adding a few extra minutes of activity to your day or eating a bit more veg – can work together to have a meaningful positive impact on your heart health."

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has taken a significant step to address concerns over the rising costs of veterinary services. Following a two-and-a-half-year investigation, the CMA has found that the £6.7bn market lacks strong competition, with large chains dominating the industry. As a result, pet owners have faced huge price rises and been left in the dark about bills.The CMA has ordered vets to cap prescription fees at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for any additional drugs. This move is expected to save pet owners hundreds of pounds. Additionally, vets must now inform pet owners that medicines may be cheaper online and provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more.Public satisfaction with the cost of services was found to be low, with the CMA noting that average prices of vet services had risen sharply, by 63%, between 2016 and 2023. The watchdog also found internal documents from some large veterinary groups that linked price increases to an expectation that pet owners would not react by purchasing less or switching away.The CMA has also proposed a cost comparison website to increase competition and drive down costs. Large groups will be required to make clear that individual vet practices are part of a chain, and pet owners can expect to see changes before Christmas, including standard price lists.The measures have been welcomed by some in the industry, with CVS and Vets for Pets expressing their support for the changes. However, the British Veterinary Association president, Rob Williams, noted that delivering highly skilled veterinary medicine is costly and that prices have risen sharply in recent years due to various factors, including higher costs experienced by all businesses.