US employers added just 57,000 new jobs in June, lower than expected
Posted on Thursday July 02, 2026

The country’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.2% as US job growth also slowed for the month

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US job growth slowed in June as employers added 57,000 new jobs – just about half of what economists had predicted – and the Bureau of Labor Statistics revised its figures from the past two months down by a total of 74,000.

The country’s unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4.2%, but the number of unemployed people changed little, according to the latest data, as 720,000 people left the labor force. The bureau revised the unexpectedly high May figures from 172,000 new jobs to 129,000, and revised the April figures from 179,000 to 148,000.

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FCA ordered to partly suspend car finance compensation scheme
Posted on Thursday July 02, 2026

Court orders financial watchdog to halt parts of £9.1bn scheme until challenges are heard, delaying payouts

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The UK’s financial watchdog has been forced to partly suspend its £9.1bn car finance compensation scheme, delaying payouts for millions of motorists.

The Financial Conduct Authority had expected the scheme would start paying out £830 on average this year to those affected by the motor finance scandal, in which drivers were overcharged for loans as a result of commission payments between lenders and car dealers between 2007 and 2024.

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Fans in short supply as next UK heatwave approaches, says Currys
Posted on Thursday July 02, 2026

Retailer says sharp rise in fan sales over the latest heatwave weekend left stores scrambling to source stock

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The boss of Currys has said supplies of air conditioning and fans are “tight” ahead of another UK heatwave, expected next week, after a boom in sales sent retailers scrambling to source new stock.

Alex Baldock, chief executive of the electrical goods retailer, said cooling kit had been “flying off the shelves” during June’s record heat in England. Sales of fans were up nearly 3,000% over the most recent heatwave weekend compared with a week earlier, while air conditioning sales increased 330%.

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Ryanair warns of summer ‘queue chaos’ at EU airports over fingerprint checks
Posted on Thursday July 02, 2026

European Commission invites air industry to urgent meeting to discuss concerns over new entry and exit system

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Ryanair has warned of “queue chaos” this summer at EU airports because of new fingerprint checks, as the European Commission invited the air industry to an urgent meeting next Tuesday to discuss concerns over the new entry and exit system.

The airline, Europe’s largest, said passengers going on well-deserved breaks this summer should not be used as “guinea pigs” for a “half-baked” system.

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OpenAI ‘in early talks to give 5% stake to US government’
Posted on Thursday July 02, 2026

CEO Sam Altman argued move would share benefits of AI and it would involve other firms doing similar, report says

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OpenAI is reportedly in early stage talks to give a 5% stake in the ChatGPT developer to the US government as artificial intelligence companies attempt to smooth relations with Donald Trump’s administration.

The OpenAI chief executive, Sam Altman, has argued that giving the US public a financial stake in the company is the best way to share the benefits of AI, according to the Financial Times, which cited two unnamed people familiar with the discussions.

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Rapid spread of AI may worsen global inequality, UN warns
Posted on Wednesday July 01, 2026

Panel proses shared framework for responsible AI development as adoption grows unevenly across world

A new United Nations report warns that the development of artificial intelligence may exacerbate global inequality and proposes a shared framework for how to responsibly develop AI, as adoption and investment into the technology accelerates unevenly across the world.

“The more AI advances without shared rules, the less say governments and people will have in the outcome,” said António Guterres, the UN secretary general, at a press conference on Wednesday. “Our message to governments is simple: do not wait … the science is here. We can no longer say we did not know what we do.”

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Spain v Austria: World Cup 2026 last 32 – live
Posted on Thursday July 02, 2026

⚽️ Kick-off time: 12pm local/3pm EDT/8pm BST/5am AEST
⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | The full draw | Golden Boot

At the Embassy Suites on Broad Street, downtown Chattanooga, the vans have pulled out for the last time. The day before departure, like every day, a small crowd of kids had climbed barriers and trees, trying to get a glimpse of Spain’s players.

A girl stood on a ladder and held a placard in each hand, raised above the fence. One said: “I’ve been here three weeks. I know you’ve seen me!” The other ran: “Please come out!” On Wednesday afternoon, Tennessee time, they did. They won’t be back.

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England v South Africa: Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup semi-final – live
Posted on Thursday July 02, 2026

Updates from the Oval; play starts at 6.30pm BST
Mail Tanya | Australia cruise into final | Read The Spin

An early email as the flag ceremony unfurls itself at The Oval.

Hello Dean Kinsella! “Good evening Tanya. What’s the weather there in London? Lovely cricketing weather here in Mayo. This is such an exciting prospect of a game. Hard to call. Saffers have match winners in their side. England’s line-up looks so strong even without Sophie. Let’s do it!”

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