EV charger rollout in UK slows amid political uncertainty and rise in installation costs 06. July 2026 (11:00) Growth in charge points falls markedly despite surge in number of rapid-charging unitsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s rollout of electric vehicle chargers has slowed amid challenging cost pressures and uncertainty over government sales targets.Charger companies installed 5,100 public charge points in the first half of 2026, pushing the total to 121,171, according to Zapmap, a data company. That was a 10% increase on the same point a year before – well below growth rates above 40% in 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ocado co-founder to step down as chief executive in 2028 06. July 2026 (10:53) Online grocer says Tim Steiner will remain as CEO until December 2027 before taking on ‘founder role’ for a further yearBusiness live – latest updatesOcado’s co-founder and chief executive, Tim Steiner, will stand down in 2028 after weeks of speculation over the online grocer’s leadership.Steiner, who co-founded Ocado in 2000 with two other former Goldman Sachs bankers, will continue to serve as chief executive until the start of the 2028 financial year, which begins in December 2027, by which point the company hopes to have a successor in place. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israeli command system identified 850,000 targets in Gaza and Lebanon wars, says supplier 06. July 2026 (10:00) Elbit Systems supplied Tzayad digital army programme to map people, vehicles and other objects in real timeIsrael identified about 1,000 potential targets a day during the first two years of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon with its command and control system, according to a presentation by the country’s largest arms supplier, Elbit Systems.A total of 850,000 targets were detected in real time by the Israeli Tzayad digital army programme across all the military’s theatres of war between 7 October and the end of 2025, the company said at a military conference in London. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
China tests long-range missile in South Pacific in move Australia condemns as ‘destabilising to region’ 06. July 2026 (08:44) Australian government confirms it was informed by China of its intent to conduct the test on MondayChina has conducted a long-range missile test in the South Pacific, in a move the Australian government condemned as “destabilising to the region” and which was also criticised by other regional leaders.A test missile topped with a dummy warhead landed in “designated waters” of the Pacific, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported on Monday. The missile test was a “routine arrangement” of China’s annual military training, with prior notification to relevant countries, Xinhua said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anthony Albanese’s ‘shag, marry, date-gate’ underscores the double-edged sword of social media appearances 06. July 2026 (08:38) Everything in Canberra is content now, from performative questions to calculated outbursts and comments about Kylie MinogueFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese probably didnt expect an interview with a comedian in her “Bush Barbie” character would have kickstarted the biggest firestorm of the week.But the prime minister, appearing alongside a stuffed copy of his beloved cavoodle Toto – fell victim to an entirely avoidable and regrettable controversy when he played along with a “shag, marry, date” game. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sky owner announces £1.6bn takeover of ITV’s broadcasting arm 06. July 2026 (08:25) US telecom giant Comcast to snap up free-to-air TV channels and streaming platform to create UK’s biggest commercial broadcasterSky has announced a long awaited £1.6bn deal to buy ITV’s broadcasting and streaming arm to create the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster.Sky, which is owned by the US telecoms company Comcast, will pay £1.2bn in cash initially for ITV’s media and entertainment business, which include its free-to-air TV channels in the UK and ITVX streaming platform. It has agreed to pay a further up to £200m in the second half of 2028, depending on 2027 advertising revenues. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Turkey blocks cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and a ‘furious’ Patti LuPone, citing ‘moral values’ 06. July 2026 (08:13) Broadway star, who is performing on the vessel, expresses shock after authorities ban Scarlet Lady from docking in Kuşadası A cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and the Broadway performer Patti LuPone has been blocked from entering Turkey after local authorities said their behaviour didn’t “align with the structure of our society and our moral values”.Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady set sail from Athens, Greece, on 5 July for what was billed as “an epic all-gay voyage” over 10 days run by Atlantis, a US company that puts on cruises and vacations for LGBTQ+ people. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Meta bosses grilled over decision to cut ‘censorship’ that has potentially unleashed more antisemitic content 06. July 2026 (08:12) ‘Over-enforcement poses significant risk to the communities that we try to protect,’ royal commission told A decision aimed at reducing “censorship” on major social media sites including Facebook and Instagram potentially led to greater levels of hate speech, the royal commission into antisemitism has heard.Meta announced in January 2025, after the re-election of Donald Trump in the US, that it would “reduce censorship”, get rid of factcheckers and only tackle illegal and very serious violations proactively, relying on users to report less serious breaches. Its platforms include Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Millions join funeral procession for Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei 06. July 2026 (08:10) Crowds grew as they moved through Tehran as mourners wore black and carried flags with the slogan ‘we will rise’A millions strong crowd assembled on Monday to take part in the funeral procession of Iran’s assassinated supreme leader.The scale, and depth of the march, however engineered, is an extraordinary turn around for a country that only seven months ago was gripped by street protests that saw thousands killed by government security forces. Many will say that the assembly was a monument to a misconceived war launched on Iran by Donald Trump in February. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Half of affordable new homes in rural England could be at risk if planning rules relaxed, analysis shows 06. July 2026 (08:00) Exclusive: National Housing Federation says ending quotas for developers could cost 32,000 homes over 10 yearsHalf of all affordable housing supply in rural England could be under threat under plans being considered by ministers to relax regulations for private housing developers, according to analysis.The government has proposed ending affordable housing quotas – known as section 106 agreements – for new developments of between 10 and 49 houses in an effort to jumpstart sluggish housebuilding rates. Ministers are due to make a final decision within weeks on whether developers should be allowed to make cash payments to local authorities instead. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
