(Sharecast News) - British farmers have been warned of potential fertiliser shortages as turmoil in the Gulf threatens global supply chains, according to The Sunday Times. An industry briefing circulated to producers said disruption following Donald Trump's attack on Iran had reduced market flexibility, with product from key origins no longer guaranteed on usual terms. While fertiliser remains available in the UK, the note cautioned that smaller markets could face tighter supply and higher replacement costs if major buyers compete for alternatives, creating a possible logistical chokepoint for farms.
Loungers chairman Alex Reilley said Germany could become as large an opportunity as the UK for the hospitality group, The Sunday Times reported. The firm will open its first site in Essen this October and believes it could eventually roll out hundreds of venues across the country if the concept proves successful. Reilley, a vocal advocate for stronger high streets, said Germany's urban centres offer a more supportive environment than the UK, where he previously quit a government taskforce in protest at tax policy.
Alex Gerko paid himself a record £895m in 2025 after his trading firm XTX Markets delivered £1.7bn in profits, The Telegraph reported. The remaining £833m was shared among 23 staff, averaging more than £36m each. XTX's revenue jumped 44% to £3.9bn amid volatile markets, lifting Gerko's pay by 31% year‑on‑year. HMRC collected £331.4m in tax from him last year, making him the UK's second‑largest taxpayer, according to The Telegraph. Gerko has previously criticised the tax authority for "gloating" over high UK tax levels.
More than one in ten delivery riders stopped during a police immigration crackdown were found to be working illegally, The Telegraph revealed. Officers checked around 1,482 couriers last summer, arresting at least 151 for working without authorisation, with 17 subsequently deported. Delivery apps such as Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats face tougher penalties from 1 October, when fines of £60,000 per illegal worker will be introduced under new legislation.
South West Water has been identified as England's worst‑performing water company for environmental impact, The Guardian reported. Analysis by Friends of the Earth found the utility ranked among the bottom three in four of six categories, including sewage spills, bathing‑site pollution and river health. The company recorded the highest total duration of sewage spills since 2024, averaging 574,323 hours annually - almost 200,000 hours more than Severn Trent and Yorkshire Water.
France risks edging towards a debt downgrade as government spending continues to outpace economic performance, according to The Telegraph. Fitch reaffirmed the country's A+ rating but warned deficit projections had worsened due to weaker growth, rising interest costs and additional defence spending. The agency said political fragmentation ahead of the 2027 election remained a key constraint on fiscal progress. France lost its double‑A rating in 2025, though the euro's reserve‑currency status continues to provide a buffer by ensuring strong investor demand.