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Business · 27 September 2026

Ube‑Uproar: London’s Purple Yams in Crisis, City’s Finance Broke into a Colourful Panic

Iris Quay, London desk

A sudden Philippine export ban on ube has sent London’s culinary and financial circles into a scramble, as the City’s love for the purple yam hits a supply‑chain snag. Bankers now debate whether to hedge in coconut…

Finance · 27 September 2026

Home Loan Rates Slip Below 5% – Borrowers Celebrate While Banks Play Catch‑Up

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

New Zealand banks have nudged home‑loan rates below the 5% mark, sparking a brief wave of relief for borrowers, but many lenders keep their two‑year terms in limbo. Amid the rate shuffle, the cash rate hangs in the b…

Business · 27 September 2026

Meat Merchant Operates on Vibes and a Faint Memory of Paperwork

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Federal auditors discovered that a popular meat distributor had been running its operation for years on nothing but optimism and a lack of required permits. The Agriculture Department has stepped in to replace the compan…

Politics · 27 September 2026

Court Halts Orange Order Parade; Politicians Await Next Train

Reginald Penny, London desk

In a late‑morning twist, a High Court judge has temporarily banned an Orange Order march down Garvaghy Road, prompting a flurry of counter‑marchers and a chorus of politicians pleading for calm—while commuters wond…

Business · 27 September 2026

eBay Pulls the Plug on Airbags, Declares No More Fake Cushioning

Helen Pell, Washington desk

eBay has decided to stop selling airbags and related parts after a flurry of concerns about counterfeit and defective components, turning the e-commerce giant into a reluctant safety watchdog.

Finance · 27 September 2026

Fuel Prices Surge, Kiwi Drivers Brace for Stovepipe Inflation

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

The cost of pumping petrol has climbed again, leaving Auckland commuters wondering if they’ll ever see a price tag as low as a single coffee cup.

Business · 27 September 2026

U.N. Releases New List of Companies That Do Business With Israeli Settlements, Prompting a Global Search for ‘Settlement‑Friendly’ Firms

Noor Hale, World desk

In a move that feels like a spreadsheet‑sized political statement, the United Nations unveiled a database of corporations tied to activity in the West Bank. Israeli officials blasted the list as a smear campaign, while…

Business · 27 September 2026

Retirement's New Budget: Seniors Find Their Nest Eggs Shrinking Faster Than a Savings Account

Noor Hale, World desk

A fresh survey shows that while the general poverty rate slips, the senior segment is catching a lift, proving the economic squeeze has a special place in the wallet of those on the brink of retirement.

World · 27 September 2026

Heathrow’s third runway staggers into a four‑year time‑warp, leaving ministers to polish their ambitious timetables

Celia Marsh, London desk

Heathrow Airport announced its third runway will not be ready until 2039, pushing the government’s 2035 target back by four years amid a maze of planning corridors and cold tea.