Reader Q&A: ask Ajit Niranjan anything about Europe’s hellish week of heat 30. June 2026 (10:00) Our European environment correspondent has been reporting on the shocking heatwave that continues to scorch its way across Europe, covering everything from the lack of preparation to ways to deal with the heatPost your questions now – Ajit will be here at 1pm BST (2pm CEST) to answer themMany European countries, including Germany, France, Czechia, Poland and Hungary have experienced their hottest days ever. The UK and others have suffered their hottest ever day in June.
Over the past week Ajit, alongside the rest of our environment team and network of reporters, has been following this extreme heat wave as it headed east across the continent. Today, Budapest is expected to hit 40C and other parts of eastern Europe have issued red warnings for extreme heat.We have looked at how the heatwave has been used as a political football; the best ways to stay safe in the heat and how these kind of temperatures disproportionately impact women and low-income families. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EY sacks graduate employee after he allegedly accessed Australian PM’s bank account 30. June 2026 (09:39) Two men – including one who worked for EY – appear in court after being charged over accessing restricted dataGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn employee at one of Australia’s big four accounting firms has been sacked after he and another man allegedly accessed the prime minister Anthony Albanese’s personal banking account.The men, aged 21 and 25, faced court on Tuesday over the breach, which Australian federal police alleged occurred when the EY graduate was on secondment at the Commonwealth Bank. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How I survived the record Paris heatwave while seven months pregnant 30. June 2026 (09:00) It feels as if we are being abandoned to our fate by those in power, with further extreme heat expected next weekIn the summer of 2019, I had a “fun” idea for a piece. Paris was due to experience its hottest day in history, and I proposed travelling around the city trying out its various cooling-off strategies to see if they would help. Reader, it was not fun and they did not help.Last week, Paris experienced its worst period of catastrophic heat on record, worse than that day in 2019, and worse than in 2003, when a sustained heatwave killed nearly 15,000 people. I now live in a neighbourhood in Seine-Saint-Denis, the poorest département in mainland France and one of the most exposed to extreme heat, and, to add to the complications, am seven months pregnant. So how did my week go this time? Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nearly 25% of UK pubs and restaurants lose money, research shows 30. June 2026 (09:00) Hospitality trade bodies’ data published as celebrity chefs and restaurateurs launch campaign for VAT cutNearly a quarter of UK pubs, bars and restaurants are losing money, according to new survey data that came as a group of celebrity chefs and business owners stepped up their campaign for a sector-specific VAT cut.Spearheaded by chef Tom Kerridge, leading figures in the hospitality sector are calling for VAT on the industry to be cut from 20% to 10%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Queensland government admits vulnerable children slept on floor of public service offices 30. June 2026 (08:29) LNP denies claims that recent changes to child safety practices have led to an increase in the use of office spaceFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Queensland government has rejected claims its policies have further strained an under-pressure child protection system, after revelations that vulnerable children were made to sleep on the floor of public service offices.The premier, David Crisafulli, confirmed on Monday that the approach had been used under his LNP government, but his government said it would typically be done only in the early morning, when other options weren’t available. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cost to rewire Great Britain’s electricity network could reach £90bn in 2030s 30. June 2026 (08:00) Energy system operator says sum needed to deliver clean power targets while meeting rising demand is up by 50%The cost of rewiring Great Britain’s electricity networks through the 2030s is now 50% higher than before the Labour government came to power, and could reach almost £90bn in the next decade, according to the energy system operator.Building new high-voltage transmission lines and infrastructure to connect low-carbon energy to the grid in the 2030s was initially forecast by the energy system operator to cost £58bn. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Unite boss to face leadership challenge amid concerns over rise of Reform 30. June 2026 (08:00) Simon Dubbins to announce he has secured required number of nominations to challenge Sharon GrahamSharon Graham, the leader of the UK’s second biggest union, Unite, is to face a challenge as general secretary over claims the union is not doing enough to challenge the rise of Reform UK.Simon Dubbins, who started out as a print worker and has been an international director with the union since 2008, will announce on Tuesday that he has secured the required number of nominations to mount a challenge. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Millions of Britons urged to submit meter readings before energy price cap rises on Wednesday 30. June 2026 (08:00) Estimated 5.3m households on standard tariffs without smart meters risk being overcharged for some of June usageMillions of Britons could pay higher energy bills than they need to if they do not submit a meter reading before the price cap rises on Wednesday.The estimated 5.3 million households on standard tariffs who do not have a smart meter have been urged to take action before the new unit rates for gas and electricity take effect. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brompton sells stakes to Decathlon and Chinese Labubu backer 30. June 2026 (07:00) British bike maker says cycling market is recovering from sales slump and investments will add new expertiseThe French sports gear retailer Decathlon and a Chinese investment group that was an early backer of Labubu soft toys have bought stakes in the British folding bike maker Brompton, as its boss said the cycling market was recovering from a slump in sales.Decathlon has acquired a 10% stake in the manufacturer while BA Capital has bought 5% in a deal understood to collectively be worth about £18m. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui sentenced to 30 years in US prison for fraud 30. June 2026 (06:22) Guo Wengui, who gained fans for criticising China’s Communist party, was found guilty in 2024 on nine charges including money launderingA US federal court has sentenced exiled Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui to 30 years in prison, after he was convicted of defrauding thousands of people out of more than $1bn.In July 2024, a jury unanimously found Guo, also known as Ho Wan Kwok and Miles Guo, guilty on nine of 12 charges, including securities offences, wire fraud and money laundering. The FBI arrested Guo, who is in his fifties, in March 2023 at his luxury Manhattan apartment overlooking Central Park. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
