Keir Starmer's attempts to placate big tech were a disaster. Andy Burnham must take a stand | Beeban Kidron
Labour came to power promising to tackle Silicon Valley. But from workers’ rights to online privacy it has failed at almost every turn
Policy
Comcast to spin off NBCUniversal and Sky into separate media business
Comcast is to spin off its media operation, which includes the Hollywood film studio, TV and theme park business NBCUniversal and Sky, into a separately publicly listed company.
‘A very good gadget’: taking delivery from the robots of Milton Keynes
Driving down an endless string of identical roundabouts in the dead heat with hardly a human in sight, you see robots roving around on grassy pavements, whizzing past obstacles to hurriedly reach their final destination…
New campaign urges public to reduce water use as UK emerges from heatwave
Exclusive: £75m publicity drive will ask people to treat water as precious resource and cut daily use by 28 litres
BT and Verizon to create joint global business in $625m deal
UK telecoms group’s 50/50 venture ends more than 18-month search for a buyer of its international operations
London cafe in legal battle with restaurant chain over ‘Eat Drink Work’ slogan
Subsidiary of FTSE 250 company says Coffee Studio’s phrase too similar to its ‘Eat Drink Meet’ trademark
Non-UK business removed from Consumer Duty scope to reduce burdens on wholesale businesses
Wholesale financial businesses involved in retail markets will find it easier to comply with the Consumer Duty, following proposals from the FCA.
‘Buy the haystack’: how tracker funds beat searching for shares
Designed to mirror the stock market, they are an easy and cheap way to save. Here’s how to start investing in them
British American Tobacco to slash 9,000 jobs as it turns to AI
Dunhill maker to cut about a fifth of workforce, aiming to reduce costs and become more ‘technology enabled’
Bank of England chief economist warns against ‘complacency’ in fight against inflation – business live
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy.
Good for business – or profit at any cost? The controversial side of private equity – a visual explainer
While it can transform firms for better or worse, the use of private equity in essential services is attracting scrutiny. Here we examine some of its more contentious elements in the UK veterinary sector
Holidaymakers warned over social media scams for fake accommodation
Research suggests travel scams are on rise as experts advise doing some detective work to make sure holidays are real
‘Meet me at the dancing dogs tent!’ What’s behind Britain’s festival frenzy?
They used to mean crusties, hippies, all-male lineups, near riots and burning toilets. Now, from Dorset to Inverness, there’s a festival – and a costume – for everyone. What caused this boom? And is there a dark side?
‘We’re up against forces that have all the money in the world’: Erin Brockovich on her battle against AI datacentres
In 1993, she squeezed a $333m settlement from a Californian energy company in a scandal over contaminated water. Three decades later, she has a new target in her sights – and it’s global
Shares in chipmakers underpinning AI boom rocket in first half of 2026
Value of some chip manufacturers have tripled, or more, driving Asia Pacific stock markets sharply higher
Pause HS2 reset until you are confident it can be delivered, NAO tells ministers
Revised plans for HS2 should not be put into action until the government is confident they can be delivered, according to the public spending watchdog.
London mayor to override opposition to outdoor dining in Soho next summer
Exclusive: Sadiq Khan plans to use new powers after local council opposes city scheme for seasonal pedestrianisation
‘Financial pandemic’: £1 in every £11 spent on UK public contractors goes to private equity
‘Treating children like cattle’: what happens when private equity takes over a UK care home?
England players using drink developed by Brownlee to help beat World Cup heat
England’s players are using a sports drink developed by the double Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee to help control their body temperatures at the World Cup.
Feeling bored and disconnected for your job? You may be facing workplace 'rust-out' | Gene Marks
The latest work buzzword describes feeling under-stimulated at your job – but you can break free from workplace monotony
Complaints filed to police watchdog over Met’s handling of Al Fayed abuse allegations
Survivors of abuse at the hands of the late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed have complained to a watchdog about how the Metropolitan police handled allegations.
Sir Geoffrey Whalen obituary
One of the heroes of the British motor industry in the late 20th century, Sir Geoffrey Whalen, who has died aged 90, was bloodied in the interminable, but ultimately futile, battle to make British Leyland succeed, yet h…
Ministers urged to curb energy costs as Great British homes face 13% bill surge
Quarterly Ofgem price cap rises to equivalent of £1,862 a year from 1 July amid growing consumer energy debt
Ed Miliband as chancellor would benefit every part of the UK – and the bond markets | Josh Ryan-Collins
If Andy Burnham chooses the energy secretary, Labour could fully use the benefits of net zero to promote growth and jobs