UK retail and commercial bank; part of NatWest Group
A Cairo criminal court has sentenced Sarah Khalifa, 39, and 11 co-defendants to death for forming an organised gang that imported raw materials to manufacture synthetic drugs; nine others received life terms and seven were acquitted. The ruling followed consultation with Egypt’s Grand Mufti and is subject to appeal to the Court of Cassation.
A financial expert has emphasized the importance of lasting power of attorney (LPA) to manage finances if mental capacity is lost. The Independent articles across Sep 1-8, 2026 highlight calls for both wills and LPAs, warnings about AI-driven financial guidance, and regulator reviews shaping future safeguards.
NatWest and Lloyds report higher half-year profits, with NatWest posting 4.3bn pre-tax profit and Lloyds following with 4.3bn, as AI and cost-cutting drive efficiency and expansion in wealth management and digital services.
Savers have more options as banks, fintechs and platforms offer easy-access and fixed-rate accounts above 4% in August 2026. Several products include bonuses, with some rates proving short-term; readers should compare terms and ladder strategies to shield value from inflation.
Banks report six-month profits surging across the UK, fueling calls for windfall taxes to fund cost-of-living measures. Campaigners urge government to consider a levy on profits to support households, while bank chiefs caution on lending and growth.