Fishermen and market

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Wall Street had one of its worst days in recent weeks on Monday as a worse-than-expected US inflation figure last Friday fuelled concern about more aggressive rate hikes to come from the Federal Reserve. Cryptocurrencies also continued to tank after a lender froze withdrawals. Plus, as Europe looks to bolster the continent's energy security, France's TotalEnergies signs a deal with Qatar on a major gas field project.

Two studies indicate that COVID-19 emerged from an animal-to-human spillover at a market in China's city of Wuhan. Both papers bolster the theory that the virus emerged naturally, rather than escaping from a Chinese lab.

An explosion at a market in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, has killed at least one person and injured many more. The initial blast sparked a fire.

Dealers and consumers alike are lamenting the galloping spike in the landing cost of automotive spare parts that has increased by at least 40 to 100 percent in the last couple of weeks. The upsurge in prices, on account of the protracted foreign exchange crisis, port charges, and logistics, robbed consumers of purchasing power and deprived dealers of patronage.

The condition that home buyers across China has been so dire that, they started collective disobedience in June, threatening to halt mortgage payments if the construction did not resume. Till July, homebuyers in 80 Chinese cities had refused to pay their mortgages, affecting the future of over 200 projects.

There is a run on the pound and panic in the markets over the UK's biggest tax cut for the rich in half a century. New Prime minister Liz Truss taking the concept of 'going for broke' to a whole new level with an almighty gamble that the deficit will take care of itself once all the investment pours in.

The Bank of England has launched a £65 billion emergency bond-buying programme, in an effort to calm the markets and avert a financial crisis. The "unprecedented" support comes amid mounting criticism of the government's plan to slash taxes.

Sitting outside her restaurant at the heart of Souq Waqif, Qatari woman Mariam Al Mansour proudly says that her traditional meals are among the most sought after by locals and foreigners alike.

After taking over their huge domestic market, Chinese e-vehicle manufacturers want to crash Europe. Can their wide range of electric cars make a breakthrough splash in Germany?

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Thursday.⁣

The EU's competition watchdog has accused tech giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, of breaching antitrust rules. An early analysis says the firm distorted competition in the online classified ads business.