Extreme heat continues in central and eastern Europe with temperatures of 38C expected – Europe live 29. June 2026 (11:50) At least 130 million Europeans will see temperatures of 35C and above todayWhile some readers in western Europe may be thinking that the worst of the heatwave is gone, the latest AFP analysis shows that at least 130 million people are set to experience temperatures of 35C and above today.It is (way) more than mid last week, when the heatwave peaked in Britain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
BT and Verizon to create joint global business in $625m deal 29. June 2026 (11:32) UK telecoms group’s 50/50 venture ends more than 18-month search for a buyer of its international operationsBusiness live – latest updatesBT and the US mobile company Verizon are to combine their international businesses, ending the British telecom group’s more than 18-month search for a buyer.Verizon will pay a $625m (£473m) “equalisation” fee to BT to guarantee equal voting rights in the new 50/50 joint venture, the companies announced on Monday. The deal is expected to create a company with more than 3,000 customers across about 180 countries and $4bn in combined annual revenue. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump renaming fiasco fuels jokes as Maher takes Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain prize 29. June 2026 (11:09) Punchlines on president’s thwarted bid to have building named after him come thick and fast at Washington DC galaOutside the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a giant tarpaulin remained in place to conceal Donald Trump’s humiliation.Guests entering the national arts complex on Sunday night could not see the section of its marble facade where Trump’s name was recently erased to comply with a court order. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British American Tobacco to slash 9,000 jobs as it turns to AI 29. June 2026 (10:53) Dunhill maker to cut about a fifth of workforce, aiming to reduce costs and become more ‘technology enabled’Business live – latest updatesBritish American Tobacco (BAT) will cut about a fifth of its 47,000-strong workforce this year, as the cigarette-maker looks for ways to push down costs and become more “technology enabled”.BAT, which is one of the biggest tobacco groups in the world, has announced it will cut 5,500 jobs by the end of the year and outsource a further 3,500, affecting a total of 9,000 employees. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
White working-class children failed by England’s school system, inquiry finds 29. June 2026 (10:40) Report says once-in-a-generation changes needed to tackle why such children are lowest-performing large demographicUK politics live – latest updatesThe education system is “not set up to serve white working-class children and families”, an independent inquiry has concluded.The Independent Inquiry into White Working-Class Educational Outcomes also determined that once-in-a-generation changes were needed to tackle why such children were the lowest-performing large demographic in England’s school system. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
London cafe in legal battle with restaurant chain over ‘Eat Drink Work’ slogan 29. June 2026 (10:00) Subsidiary of FTSE 250 company says Coffee Studio’s phrase too similar to its ‘Eat Drink Meet’ trademarkWhen Tahir Mehmet, the owner of an independent coffee shop, tried to register “three simple words”, Eat Drink Work, as its slogan, he had little idea it would pitch him into a legal battle with one of the UK’s largest hospitality groups.The application in relation to the Coffee Studio, which has two London cafes, has been opposed by a subsidiary of Mitchells & Butlers, whose brands include Toby Carvery, Harvester, All Bar One and O’Neill’s, which says it is too similar to its Eat Drink Meet trademark. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Liberal frontbencher calls for party ‘rebrand’ after drop in polls, prompting ridicule from Labor 29. June 2026 (09:52) Melissa McIntosh’s comment comes after Angus Taylor’s claim Morrison government ‘breached trust’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLiberal frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has said the party might need a “rebrand” to win back voters who continue to desert the opposition, with the Coalition hitting a new historic polling low.Her comments came after the opposition leader, Angus Taylor, claimed the Morrison government – of which he was a senior minister – had “breached trust” with the electorate during the Covid pandemic by supporting “big government”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bruce Lehrmann loses bid to get footage from documentary featuring Brittany Higgins ahead of rape trial 29. June 2026 (09:49) Judge says ‘no legitimate forensic purpose’ to former Liberal staffer’s subpoena requesting footage, ahead of his Queensland trialGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFormer political staffer Bruce Lehrmann has lost a legal bid to access copies of all footage from a documentary featuring Brittany Higgins.Lehrmann had subpoenaed the producers of the documentary Silenced and signalled a possible attempt to ban its broadcast before his Queensland trial for rape. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One person a week in England dies with undiagnosed TB, study finds 29. June 2026 (08:00) British-born, older men among those most likely to have disease found only postmortem, say researchersOne person a week dies with undiagnosed and therefore untreated tuberculosis in England, a study has found.British-born, older men were among those most likely to have TB diagnosed only after death, researchers said, suggesting healthcare workers could be overlooking the possibility of the disease in these patients. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We were broke, but fascinated by freedom’: exhibition showcases East German artist Gabriele Stötzer 29. June 2026 (08:00) Show at Martin Gropius Bau gallery in Berlin is biggest ever celebration of an East German female artist in a state museumGabriele Stötzer remembers the days when she had to decide: “Am I buying a sausage, or film for my Super 8 camera?”Stötzer was one of the most radical artists in communist East Germany, and her desire to create was born in defiance of and in spite of the material conditions and oppressive restrictions of the GDR regime. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
