My wife is out when Mark the builder is scheduled to come by to see what needs doing, so I have to show him myself. This, I know, will amount to a humiliating private tour of all the home repairs I have either left undone, or tried to do and made worse. It’s been two years since I last did this, so the tour will be extensive. Just before 11am the bell rings. It is a cold morning, but Mark, as usual, is wearing shorts. We start in the back garden. “Here is where I tried to cut back the ivy and install two trellis sections,” I say, “but instead I pulled half the garden wall down.” “You just need a bit of brickwork doing,” Mark says. “No problem.” “Yeah, it’s just a wall,” I say. “I mean, it only has to hold itself up.” Mark says nothing, leaving me time to consider quite how stupid this last remark was. “Anyway,” I say, pointing up. “Then there’s this thing.” double quotation mark ‘I fear the worst,’ I say. ‘Poorly installed insulation, no vapour barrier, mould already forming. The whole ceiling might have to come down’ I attempt to explain the dire state of the dilapidated construction before us, without resorting to the word pergola, which I don’t like saying out loud. “It was bolted to a board that was already bolted to the wall,” I say. “But not, I should stress, by me.” “And that first board is rotten, and it’s come away,” Mark says. “Exactly,” I say. “So the whole, um, thing, is just propped up with a fence post that was more or less the right size. That was me.” “No problem,” he says. “It’s a two-man job, unfortunately, but only a couple of hours.” I show him a few other outdoor issues, and then we move inside and upstairs to the attic bedroom and the cracked, drooping ceiling beneath the recently repaired roof. “I’m very worried about what’s behind there,” I say. “Why?” says Mark, prodding the loose plaster with his finger. “Because I went through a phase of watching a lot of YouTube videos about bad roofs,” I say. “OK,” he says. I explain that while the outsi...

The British government should be stockpiling food, according to a leading expert on food policy, as it is not prepared for climate shocks or wars that could cause the population to starve. Prof Tim Lang of City St George’s, University of London said the UK produced far less food than it needed to feed itself, and as a small island that relied on a few large companies to feed its giant population, it was particularly vulnerable to shocks. The first UK Food Security Report in December 2021 found the country was 54% food self-sufficient. Other rich countries such as the US, France and Australia are all food self-sufficient, meaning they grow enough food to feed their populations without imports if required. The UK is one of the least food self-sufficient countries in Europe. The Netherlands, for example, which is densely populated, is at 80%, and Spain is at 75%. “We’re not thinking about this adequately. We’re ducking it,” Lang said, speaking at the National Farmers’ Union conference in Birmingham. “The default position that others can feed us is hardwired into the British state system, and indeed into the nature of how agrifood capitalism works in Britain. Others are wiser. Other countries are stockpiling,” he said. “Other countries have much more flexibility in their systems than we do. What we glorify as efficiency is now vulnerability.” Other countries have emergency stockpiles in case of war, food contamination or climate shocks. Switzerland still has a stockpile sufficient to feed its entire population for three months and is increasing it to a year. The UK government’s advice to households is to have three days’ worth of food in their cupboards. The government has no plans to improve the UK’s self-sufficiency, and will not set a target for food production. The environment secretary, Emma Reynolds, said: “I am not going to come up with a percentage. I would like us to boost food production at home, particularly in horticulture and in poultry where I think that t...

The Israeli PM’s war on its nemesis is playing well domestically. But real safety for Israelis requires another leader altogether Aluf Benn is the editor-in-chief of Haaretz When Yitzhak Rabin became the prime minister of Israel in 1992, he debated which regional power would be the Jewish state’s stronger enemy – the Islamic Republic of Iran, or Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Baghdad had the stronger military, but Rabin decided that Tehran posed the larger threat with its combination of Islamist ideology, regional proxies and nuclear ambitions. Rabin’s response to the looming Iranian threat was negotiating land-for-peace deals with Israel’s immediate neighbours – the Palestinians, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon – following the example of the pre-existing peace with Egypt. He argued that a ring of normalisation would strengthen Israeli security and counter the rise of radical Islam, and believed there was an urgency to conclude the peace process before Iran, following the Israeli example , acquired the bomb and became a regional hegemon. Rabin predicted in early 1993 that within a decade, Tehran’s rulers could cross the nuclear threshold. Aluf Benn is the editor-in-chief of Haaretz Continue reading...

Harry on Freya What were you hoping for? Some tasty food, and a nice evening with good company to block out the Sunday scaries. First impressions? Warm, engaging and a great listener. What did you talk about? Blood oranges. Fancy beans. May being the best month of the year. The film Hamnet. The Edinburgh fringe. Our poor timekeeping. Most awkward moment? The waiter having to come back three times before we’d finally chosen our drinks. Good table manners? They were great. Q&A Fancy a blind date? Show Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here. What questions will I be asked? We ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind. Can I choose who I match with? No, it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests, preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely to be. Can I pick the photograph? No, but don't worry: we'll choose the nicest ones. What personal details will appear? Your first name, job and age. How should I answer? Honestly but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online. Will I see the other person’s answers? No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details. Will you find me The One? We’ll try! Marriage! Babies! Can I do it in my home town? Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere. How to apply Email ...

1. ‘There is no shame in being vain’: the relentless rise of impossible male beauty standards View image in fullscreen Alexander the Great, whose profile had Aristotle’s idealised wide-open gaze and resolute jaw. Composite: Guardian Design; PHAS;Universal Images Group/Getty Images Men’s faces are under scrutiny as never before, with more men opting for cosmetic procedures than ever. What is behind this sudden and significant shift? Dr Fay Bound-Alberti, a writer and professor of modern history, drew a line from Alexander the Great to Jacob Elordi and … JD Vance. Read more 2. Where the magic really happens’: the influencers out to celebrate – and save – Britain’s ‘proper boozers’ View image in fullscreen ‘It’s better to see a busy pub than a dead set of flats’: Proper Boozers’ most popular video, shot in the Palm Tree, east London, received 1.2m views. Photograph: Andy Hall/The Observer About 366 pubs closed in England and Wales last year, and ever-increasing costs are making it increasingly difficult to run this most British of institutions. But a viral social media post can help. Last year, the owners of the Wheatsheaf in Romford, east London, took to social media to thank two accounts, Proper Boozers and London Dead Pubs, for featuring them: “The exposure it’s brought our family-run pub has been incredible.” Tomé Morrissy-Swan spoke to the Instagrammers setting out to save our boozers. Read more 3. ICE has detained this high-schooler for 10 months. Here’s what he and his classmates want you to know View image in fullscreen Since Dylan’s arrest, other students have tried to process their anger and grief about what happened, while rallying support for their friend. Composite: Ellis Prep Academy “I hope this comes to an end soon so I can be with you, and if it does not, I will carry you in my heart.” Dylan Lopez Contreras, a student at Ellis Prep academy in New York City, was taken by US immigration agents in May last year. The Guardian’s Maanvi Singh invited him and...

Kevin Pietersen has said he would “absolutely” consider becoming part of a future England cricket coaching set-up and revealed Rob Key has ­previously sounded him out a couple of times. While Brendon McCullum, along with managing director Key, is expected to get the ­backing of the ­England and Wales Cricket Board to continue despite a ­winter of overall discontent, it is ­understood that there is room to tweak the ­coaching group. “Rob Key has mentioned it on a couple of occasions, but we’ve never really got to that position where it’s like: ‘OK, what should we do here?’” said Pietersen, who won the Ashes and T20 World Cup with England. “If Rob Key called me and said: ‘I want to talk to you properly,’ then I’ll talk to him, definitely. I’m available to have the discussion.” Pietersen, who was ­speaking before England’s T20 World Cup semi-final defeat by India on behalf of the International Cricket ­Council’s official accommodation partner, ­Marriott Bonvoy, is a mentor for Delhi Capitals in the upcoming Indian ­Premier League and is enthusiastic about working with household names and homegrown talents. His fellow Ashes 2005 ­teammate Marcus Trescothick holds the ­position of England men’s batting coach and has been a key figure during McCullum’s four-year tenure. During the recent 4-1 Ashes defeat, Trescothick was duly rolled out in press conferences to defend England’s aggressive tactics with the bat. Pietersen has been a vocal critic of the approach in Test cricket but is seemingly keen to get his hands dirty and help out. “I would absolutely look at it in the longest form of the game and try to help these guys understand that there is a way that you can play,” said Pietersen. “Tactically, you’ve got to understand the situation. I know I’ve got all the credentials. I know I do. I’ve worn every single T-shirt. I’ve failed. I’ve won. I’ve done everything in the game and I would never, ever not look at helping England out.” Looking back at the Ashes defeat, Pieterse...

TV If you only watch one, make it … Vladimir Netflix Summed up in a sentence Rachel Weisz is unfailingly brilliant in this perfect adaptation of a blackly comic 2022 novel that sees her college professor falling for Leo Woodall as a hot younger colleague. What our reviewer said “Vladimir is that rare visitor to the screen – proper television for proper grownups.” Lucy Mangan Read the full review Pick of the rest DTF St Louis Sky Atlantic & Now View image in fullscreen Jason Bateman and David Harbour in DTF St Louis. Photograph: Sky Atlantic Summed up in a sentence David Harbour stars alongside Jason Bateman and Linda Cardellini in a deliciously dark dating app drama – which is uncomfortably familiar after his real-life Lily Allen fallout. What our reviewer said “You may well find yourself DTFinishing the whole thing in a single watch.” Lucy Mangan Read the full review Further reading DTF St Louis: this David Harbour whodunnit about dating apps and infidelity is close to the bone Hostage BBC iPlayer Summed up in a sentence This three-part docuseries about British war correspondent John Cantlie – who was kidnapped by IS and is believed to have died in an airstrike – is jaw-dropping stuff. What our reviewer said “This is not the reverent tribute we might expect for a man whose vocation is usually held in high esteem.” Jack Seale Read the full review You may have missed … Under Salt Marsh Sky Atlantic & Now View image in fullscreen Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall in Under Salt Marsh. Photograph: Sky UK Summed up in a sentence This Rafe Spall-starring tale of the investigation into a small boy’s death is a compelling, psychologically astute watch – which constantly pulls the rug out from under you. What our reviewer said “It’s a series that is good at subverting expectations at every turn – not least in its delicate evocation of grief and the manifold ways a landscape can affect its people.” Lucy Mangan Read the full review Film If you only watch one, make it … The Bride! In...

Going out: Cinema The Bride! Out now Maggie Gyllenhaal directs this Chicago-set gothic romance starring Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. Per James Whale’s 1935 classic Bride of Frankenstein, on which it is loosely based, a lonely monster wants a mate and taps up a scientist, Dr Euphronious (Annette Bening), to create her. Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Out now As The Rachel was to women who watched Friends in the 90s, so the Peaky Blinders mop chop was to male fans. Will the return of the Birmingham gang drama in feature film form prompt another wave of ill-advised dos? Only time will tell. Just remember, Cillian Murphy looking amazing with that haircut doesn’t mean it’s a good idea for absolutely everyone. Hoppers Out now More freaky science (see The Bride! above), this time for the family crowd. The latest animation from Disney-Pixar sees humans able to “hop” into sophisticated robot animal bodies in order to walk and talk and sing with the animals. A long-overdue animal revolution against humankind proves to be the unintended consequence of the tech. Sound of Falling Out now For her second film, German director Mascha Schilinski constructs a historical epic taking place across decades and following four different generations of women connected with the same farmhouse, as their lives unfold in war-torn 20th-century Europe and beyond into the 2020s. Winner of the Jury prize at Cannes last year. Catherine Bray Going out: Gigs View image in fullscreen Period of reflection … Kesha. Photograph: Brendan Walter Kesha 11 to 21 March; tour starts Glasgow The Yippee-Ki-Yay hitmaker brings her frenetic Tits Out tour to the UK in support of last summer’s Period album, which marked a return to joyful pop, undercut with a heavy dose of chaos, so expect a party atmosphere and wall-to-wall bangers. Michael Cragg C2C: Country to Country festival London, Glasgow and Belfast, 13 to 15 March Europe’s biggest country fest returns, headlined by Zach Top, Keith Urban and Country Hal...

My colleague Ghoncheh Habibiazad, who has been collecting voices from inside the country, says the views of some people have changed as the war has continued, as they did not expect it to go on after Khamenei was killed.

China’s international clout and economic stability are rebalancing Beijing’s relations with Europe, putting more focus on cooperation and less on rivalry, according to a former Chinese envoy. On the sidelines of China’s “two sessions” on Thursday, Wu said that fostering cooperation, rather than regarding China as Europe’s rival, would be in the best interests of both Europe and China. Advertisement European leaders have made a flurry of visits to China in recent months as the United States has upended relations with its traditional allies with tariff threats and a push to acquire Greenland. Advertisement Since 2019, the European Union has defined its relationship with China through a “tripartite” strategy, seeing China as a cooperation partner, economic competitor and a systemic rival – all at the same time.

Pakistan can ill afford to go to war. Neither can Afghanistan . Yet here they are, trading blows across one of South Asia’s most combustible borders – just as a team of International Monetary Fund inspectors arrived in Islamabad to decide on the country’s next financial lifeline. The inspectors had come for a third-round review of Pakistan’s economic recovery programme: the kind of visit that, if it went well, would unlock the next tranche of rescue funding and steady the nerves of skittish investors. But with retaliatory air and drone strikes killing dozens and no sign of fighting easing after more than a week, it is not going well. Advertisement “The timing of the recent strikes is particularly unfavourable,” said Callee Davis, senior emerging markets economist at Oxford Economics. Stockbrokers monitor share prices at the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi on Monday. Photo: AFP “IMF staff are currently in Pakistan to negotiate the third review, which is expected to unlock the next tranche of funding.” Advertisement Pakistan’s economic picture had been improving. Inflation was easing. Investor sentiment, battered for years, had strengthened. Then, late last month, the shooting started.

A growing global craze has seen foreigners flock to malatang restaurants to celebrate birthdays and go on dates. The trend has sparked widespread online sharing and lively discussions on mainland social media. Malatang, which literally means “numbing, spicy and hot”, is a popular Chinese street food originating from Sichuan province in southwestern China. A portion of the spicy, ingredient-packed soup pictured inside a thermal container. Photo: ifeng.com It consists of various self-selected meats, vegetables and noodles boiled in a broth. Advertisement Often described as a “personal hotpot”, diners choose their ingredients by weight or skewer, making it a quick, affordable and comforting meal. Since 2025, malatang has been going viral worldwide, taking over streets across the globe. Advertisement In Japan, visiting malatang shops has become a trendy activity among young women.

Professor25/iStock via Getty Images The February employment report delivered significantly weaker-than-expected job losses, challenging the notion that the labor market was stabilizing after last month’s robust gains. Total non-farm payrolls fell by 92,000, the second-worst monthly print in roughly three years and a stark reversal from January’s 126,000 revised gains. While one-off factors such as healthcare-related strikes, bad weather, and the BLS’s changes in methodology may have contributed to the weakness, structural forces, including reduced immigration, rapid AI advancement, government budget cuts, and demographic headwinds, continue to suppress job creation. 1 Still, the unemployment rate’s small uptick (+0.1ppt from last month) underscores a labor market that remains in a low-hiring, low-firing equilibrium, despite the disappointing payrolls print. Therefore, market participants should be cautious about interpreting today’s report as a clear recession signal. Rather, it adds another layer of uncertainty for policymakers to navigate. Report details Total non‑farm payrolls declined by 92,000, significantly below the expected +55,000 gain and a sharp reversal from January’s revised +126,000. The two‑month net revision of –69,000 (vs. prior –17,000) and weakness in private payrolls, declining by 86,000 versus expectations of +60,000, further reinforced the softness after last month’s report had indicated some firmer footing. Industry dynamics revealed broad-based softness. The healthcare & social assistance industry - the consistent bright spot amid 2025’s labor market weakness - posted a modest decline, largely due to strike activity reported in the healthcare sector. After averaging roughly 80,000 gains per month in healthcare and social assistance from 2023 up until last month, February’s 34,000 decline marked the first negative print in four years. Cyclical and immigration-heavy industries, including leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and construction,...

Stocks were down for the week as uncertainty over war, oil, and jobs overtook investor confidence; investors get the latest inflation data next week

Microsoft (MSFT) needs a refresh, says Jim Cramer MSN

格隆汇3月7日｜马斯克：只有Grok说得是真话。只有诚实的AI才是安全的。

外汇储备余额连续第7个月增加。 中国外汇储备余额继续增加。 3月7日，国家外汇管理局发布数据显示，截至2026年2月末，我国外汇储备规模为34278亿美元，较1月末上升287亿美元，升幅为0.85%。 “外汇储备余额连续第7个月增加，主要反映了主要经济体货币政策及预期、宏观经济数据等因素影响下，汇率折算和资产价格变化带来的正估值效应。”中银证券全球首席经济学家管涛称。 2月份，随着美伊对峙加剧、地缘政治风险上升，全球投资者避险情绪上升，资金开始从美股、商品等风险资产转向美债和美元，美债长端收益率下行，美元指数上行，全球资产价格涨跌互现。 管涛表示，美元指数（DXY）结束了此前月度“三连跌”，累计上涨0.6%至97.6，非美元货币总体下跌。以美元标价的已对冲全球债券指数上涨1.4%，标普500股票指数下跌0.9%。 2026年《政府工作报告》强调要“进一步扩大高水平对外开放”，释放了以开放促改革的决心和信心。 中国民生银行首席经济学家温彬认为，在国家战略的大力支持之下，出口将继续发挥稳定跨境资金流动的基本盘作用。贸易伙伴多元化、出口结构优化升级、贸易新业态快速发展等优势凸显，有助于出口规模保持在较高水平。跨境资本流动方面，我国资本市场回稳回暖、外商投资促进体制机制改革不断深化，境外投资者对人民币资产的长期配置意愿持续提升，证券投资维持合理规模净流入，外商直接投资保持平稳。我国经济将继续保持质的有效提升和量的合理增长，为外汇储备规模基本稳定奠定坚实基础。

Fintel reports that on March 5, 2026, Evercore ISI Group upgraded their outlook for Southern Company - Corporate Bond (NYSE:SOJF) from In-Line to Outperform. Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 5.55% Upside As of February 24, 2026, the average one-year price target for Southern Company - Corporate Bond is $27.42/share. The forecasts range from a low of $20.60 to a high of $31.02. The average price target represents an increase of 5.55% from its latest reported closing price of $25.98 / share. See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside. The projected annual revenue for Southern Company - Corporate Bond is 30,927MM, an increase of 4.65%. The projected annual non-GAAP EPS is 4.73. What is the Fund Sentiment? There are 12 funds or institutions reporting positions in Southern Company - Corporate Bond. This is an decrease of 17 owner(s) or 58.62% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to SOJF is 0.40%, an increase of 16.47%. Total shares owned by institutions decreased in the last three months by 75.38% to 1,350K shares. What are Other Shareholders Doing? FPE - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income ETF holds 822K shares. No change in the last quarter. SPFF - Global X SuperIncome Preferred ETF holds 106K shares. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 75K shares , representing an increase of 29.58%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in SOJF by 37.39% over the last quarter. TASHX - Transamerica Multi-Asset Income (formerly Transamerica Strategic High Income) A holds 100K shares. No change in the last quarter. HSNCX - THE HARTFORD STRATEGIC INCOME FUND Class C holds 89K shares. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 116K shares , representing a decrease of 29.96%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in SOJF by 25.81% over the last quarter. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund Iii holds 73K shares. No change in the last quarter. Fintel is one of the most comprehensive investing research pl...

Veronique D/iStock Editorial via Getty Images Investment Thesis Postal Realty Trust, Inc. ( PSTL ) leases properties primarily to the US Postal Service "USPS" There are three things I like about this REIT. First, the clarity of its growth path. USPS rents thousands of properties from thousands of property owners. PSTL is the largest among USPS landlords and is on a mission to consolidate the market. The current ownership of properties leased to the USPS is highly fragmented, with the overwhelming majority of owners holding a single property. PSTL Annual Report Secondly, the market doesn't seem crowded, unlike data center or prime office real estate markets. PSTL has been buying properties at cap rates exceeding 7%. A cap rate is rent income divided by property price. A 7% cap rate is a high figure for a triple-net contract, the type of contract used by PSTL that shifts the cost burden (most of it at least) to USPS. Finally, USPS has been paying 100% of rent 100% of the time, as PSTL's CEO puts it. They're a structurally risky government-sponsored entity, which alienates many investors, but they have been paying the bills. Market Size PSTL acquisitions are its main growth engine. So far, these acquisitions have been accretive because the cap rates on the acquired properties are higher than PSTL's cost of capital. A typical lease carries a cap rate of ~7.5%, versus an average interest rate of 4.38%. This healthy spread is what makes PSTL unique. Secondly, there is a long growth runway. USPS lists 30,972 managed sites, from offices, stations, and branches ( p.19 ). Separately, it records 22,734 leased properties ( p.32 ). As of February 2026, PSTL was the landlord on 1,943 of those properties, or just 8.5% of the leased sites. The remaining properties are owned by smaller, often single-property owners. In other words, the market penetration is low, and the acquisition runway is long. Management also states that 75% of its recent acquisitions were done off-the-market. T...

白宫当地时间3月6日确认，美国总统特朗普将于7日出席6名美军士兵的遗体移交仪式。白宫发言人莱维特称，“明日他（特朗普）将前往多佛联合基地，参加在伊朗对我们军队发起的袭击中丧生的六名军人遗体移交仪式。”报道称，这一仪式将在特拉华州的多佛空军基地举行。该基地负责接收在海外身亡的美军士兵遗体。（环球网）

随着地区空域逐渐开放，阿联酋迪拜机场航班运行正在加快恢复。迪拜机场方面6日表示，过去84小时内，已在地区航空运行受扰背景下、保障超过1140架次航班运行，帮助旅客返回各自目的地。据介绍，这些航班主要由迪拜国际机场和阿勒马克图姆国际机场运行。航班数量目前仍在持续增长。（央视财经）

一图速览>> 系列报道： AI hua 两会丨经济主题记者会要点来了！ AI hua 两会丨首场“部长通道”要点来了！ AI hua 两会丨2026发展主要预期目标来了！ AI hua 两会丨人大会议首场发布会要点来了 AI hua 两会丨今年两会首场发布会要点来了