Actor

Almost £24.4bn of government money went to private equity-run firms in year to April 2025, Guardian analysis shows‘Treating children like cattle’: what happens when private equity takes over a UK care home?Nurseries, vets and shops: the sectors where private equity plays a big roleOne pound in every £11 of UK government spending on contractors went to private equity-controlled companies last year, research shows, including key services such as transport, waste management and healthcare.Politicians and economists have raised concerns over the “financial fragility and sharp cost cutting” created by private equity-backed firms, which often have high levels of debt, and the “conflicting interests” in running public services for maximum profit. Continue reading...

• Investors are closely monitoring renewed tensions between the US and Iran as they enter the coming trading week. • A primary focus for market participants will be the potential impact of these geopolitical frictions on global crude oil prices. • These factors are among 10 key drivers identified by Moneycontrol that could influence volatility on Dalal Street.

Exclusive: Guardian analysis suggests several groups with thousands of members run by what expert calls ‘engagement farm’ operations in south-east AsiaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSome of the largest One Nation supporter groups on Facebook appear to be run from overseas by foreign digital creators who monetise content.Guardian Australia examined 14 of the largest pro-One Nation public groups with at least 8,000 members, and found most were created this year. Continue reading...

• Actor Choi Woo-shik, known for the film ‘Parasite’, is facing intense online backlash after being accused of ignoring a Black fan during an event in Paris. • The incident, reported on June 27, 2026, has sparked widespread criticism and discussions regarding inclusivity and celebrity behavior toward diverse fanbases. • This controversy highlights the growing scrutiny of global stars' interactions with international fans as their popularity expands across different demographics.

• Nebius, Azur Datacenters, and Inflect are collaborating to develop "AI factories" to enhance digital infrastructure in Northern France. • The project marks a shift from multi-billion dollar investment announcements and sovereign AI planning toward the actual execution of high-capacity data centers. • This initiative is critical for establishing European AI sovereignty by providing the necessary compute power to support large-scale AI model training and deployment.

• On June 26, 2026, reviews and netizen verdicts were released for the comedy film "Welcome to the Jungle," starring Akshay Kumar and over 30 other actors. • The film's release is part of a broader trend of high-budget ensemble comedies within the $2.83 trillion global entertainment industry. • This coverage matters as it gauges the commercial viability and audience reception of a major star-studded production.

• The South Korean Kospi index crashed over 16% during the week of June 23, including a single-day plunge of 10% that marked one of its steepest declines on record. • Market strategist Homin Lee of Lombard Odier attributes the volatility to rumors regarding IPO delays in the United States and price hikes implemented by Apple. • The severity of the crash was significant enough to trigger trading halts, reflecting extreme instability in the regional equity market.

• Spain's Council of Ministers has approved a €300 million voluntary contribution to the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC). • This funding is designed to support the development of AI factories and the establishment of AI gigafactories within the region. • The move is critical for Spain's ambition to become a leading European hub for advanced computing infrastructure and artificial intelligence.

• Bangladesh has rejected India's explanation as "unsatisfactory" after Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was detained at a Delhi airport. • The incident occurred when Rahman was flagged on a security blacklist, leading to his detention before he eventually flew back to Dhaka. • This event has sparked fresh diplomatic friction between the two nations, complicating bilateral relations during a sensitive period.

Report finds close ties between the Trump administration and Geo Group, which profits from anti-immigration crackdownJim Jordan is among the most famous names in this stretch of Ohio.The congressman and chair of the powerful House judiciary committee is considered among the most conservative and influential members in Congress, and is a longtime loyalist of Donald Trump. Continue reading...

Supplier Agratas sacks its main building contractor on the government-backed project amid a budget mismatchJaguar Land Rover faces the risk of delays to the first deliveries of electric car batteries from a £5.2bn government-backed factory in Somerset after construction problems.The British carmaker is planning to rely on the Agratas factory in Bridgwater, Somerset, to supply the batteries for its new electric models. Agratas and JLR are owned by the Indian industrial conglomerate Tata. Continue reading...

• A 60-year-old Hollywood actor claims he was fired from a classic romantic comedy because he was "funnier than Jennifer Aniston." • The actor alleges he was "castrated comedically" on set after receiving criticism regarding his comedic timing and performance. • Following the incident, his career shifted toward direct-to-video films, faith-based dramas, and appearances on reality shows like Celebrity Big Brother and The Celebrity Apprentice.

Experts cast doubt on conclusion of government-funded study of factory emitting forever chemicals near BlackpoolConcerns have been raised about the conclusions drawn by a government-funded study that looked at rates of kidney cancer in the vicinity of a factory using forever chemicals near Blackpool.Pfoa, which is a known carcinogenic forever chemical that was globally banned in 2020, was emitted from the AGC Chemicals Europe factory in Thornton-Cleveleys, a town north of Blackpool, between the 1950s and 2012. During this period, approximately 49 tonnes of Pfoa were emitted into the air. The factory, which AGC Chemicals Europe bought in 1999, stopped using Pfoa in 2012. Continue reading...

• Spain's Council of Ministers, via the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Service, has authorized the creation of an AI gigafactory to host large-scale GPU capacity. • The project will be managed by the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), which is forming a public-private consortium to lead the development. • This initiative aims to enhance European technological sovereignty by providing the necessary infrastructure for training and deploying advanced AI models.

• Spain has announced a €719 million ($834 million) investment to establish an AI gigafactory aimed at boosting local technological capabilities. • The initiative seeks to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign technology and ensure that AI development aligns with strict European Union regulations. • To further enhance its advanced computing power, the Spanish government will become a shareholder in a company bidding for additional EU funding.

• Europe has launched the "AI Factories" initiative, establishing 19 operational supercomputing hubs to modernize the continent's manufacturing sector through artificial intelligence. • The project is supported by 30 billion euros in funding, aimed at integrating AI into industrial processes to increase efficiency and competitiveness. • Additionally, a 20 billion euro InvestAI fund has been created to facilitate the development of up to five larger-scale "AI Gigafactories."

Prime minister says country needs to resist those who seek to ‘exploit division’ and ‘destabilise democracy’The trial of two Russian-linked arsonists who targeted property connected to Keir Starmer shows that the UK is under attack from bad actors who want to “exploit division” and “destabilise our democracy”, the prime minister has said.Roman Lavrynovych, 22, from Ukraine, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, from Romania, were found guilty on Monday of conspiring to carry out arson attacks on property linked to the prime minister, and appear to have operated under the instruction of an online handler with links to Russia. Continue reading...

Firm becomes latest carmaker to roll back on move away from fossil fuels with push for US sales growth and making more hybrid petrol modelsJaguar Land Rover has U-turned on plans to shift one of its factories to making only electric cars as part of an effort to focus on growth in the US, as Britain’s largest carmaker further rowed back on the transition away from fossil fuels.The manufacturer told investors on Wednesday it would offer petrol and hybrid versions of new models, including smaller SUVs that had been planned to shift to all-electric sales. Continue reading...

• Pop star Harry Styles began his residency at Wembley Stadium, using the occasion to reminisce about his 2010 X Factor audition held near the venue. • To honor his musical roots, Styles used an Elvis Presley cover of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" as his walk-on music for the performance. • This choice serves as a tribute to his first-ever recording, which was Elvis Presley's "The Girl of My Best Friend."

• The Indian stock market saw a massive rally, with the Sensex zooming 1,700 points and the Nifty closing above 23,600, adding approximately Rs 10 lakh crore in market capitalization. • This surge was driven by a 2% increase in both indices, fueled by easing crude oil prices, hopes for US-Iran peace, a stronger rupee (gaining 72 paise to 95.13 against the USD), and a global rally in Asian, US, and European markets. • The rally reflects a broad-based recovery in investor sentiment, mirroring gains in the Nasdaq (3%) and Nikkei (3%), though analysts warn that geopolitical risks remain a concern.

Four found guilty will face tougher conditions as judge says actions were ‘designed to intimidate the UK government and a section of the public’Four Palestine Action activists who smashed up drones and other equipment at an Israeli arms manufacturer’s UK factory will be sentenced as terrorists, a judge has ruled.Mr Justice Johnson made the ruling at a sentencing hearing on Friday for Samuel Corner, 23, Charlotte Head, 30, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21, who were all found guilty of criminal damage last month in relation to a 2024 break-in at the Elbit Systems UK site in Gloucestershire. Corner was also convicted of grievous bodily harm without intent for striking Sgt Kate Evans with a sledgehammer. Continue reading...

Whistleblowers from Mitie allege some employees have made offensive remarks or liked abusive social media postsOne of the government’s key contractors has launched an investigation into allegations of racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and hate speech among staff working in immigration removal centres, the Guardian has learned.Whistleblowers from the company, Mitie, have alleged that some staff members working in immigration removal centres and deporting migrants have made offensive comments at work and in social media posts. Continue reading...

Star, 59, of 2000 blockbuster X-Men seeks to raise awareness of condition as he undergoes chemotherapyThe actor and former professional wrestler Tyler Mane has revealed he has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and is undergoing chemotherapy.Mane, 59, a star of the 2000 superhero blockbuster X-Men, posted the news to Facebook in an attempt to raise awareness of a condition he said was rarely talked about. Continue reading...

• India needs to urgently improve its "meta-economic factors," specifically focusing on governance and implementation issues across sectors like agriculture and education. • Despite the successful adoption of digitalization, the overall economic impact of these initiatives remains limited and inconsistent across different states. • The current state of these institutions suggests they are not yet positioned to be key drivers of rapid national economic progress.

• The Milky Way and thousands of neighboring galaxies are being pulled toward a mysterious gravitational anomaly known as the Great Attractor at a speed of 1.3 million miles per hour. • Located in the direction of the Centaurus constellation, this massive region of space exerts a powerful pull that overrides the general expansion of the universe in our local sector. • This phenomenon is significant because it challenges current understandings of cosmic movement and helps astronomers map the distribution of dark matter and large-scale structures.

• British actor Anthony Head, known for his roles in *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* and *Ted Lasso*, has died at the age of 72. • The actor passed away due to complications resulting from pneumonia. • Head was a versatile performer with a prolific career that included appearances in *Merlin* and the sketch comedy series *Little Britain*.

Handy, 81, died after being stabbed, allegedly by Michael Gledhill, whose mother was in relationship with HandyA man has been charged with murder in the stabbing of Jumanji and Top Gun: Maverick actor James Handy, who was in a relationship with the suspect’s mother.Michael Gledhill, 44, was charged after police say officers found the 81-year-old Handy stabbed in the chest and unconscious outside his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Handy was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead. Continue reading...

• Portugal and Spain have submitted a joint proposal to the European Commission to develop a massive AI gigafactory infrastructure network. • The project involves a total investment of €12 billion (approximately $13.7 billion), with funding to be split equally between the two nations. • Portugal's portion of the network will be centered in Sines, with additional facilities planned for Lisbon and Abrantes.