‘Customers prefer chatbots,’ says British Gas owner as 1,300 call centre jobs axed

CEO Chris O’Shea defends Centrica’s plans as it reports rise in retail profits as it focuses on bigger marginsThe owner of British Gas has claimed that most households would rather speak with an AI chatbot than deal with the company’s staff as it prepares to cut 1,300 jobs from its call centres.Centrica, the supplier’s FTSE 100 owner, plans to cut 800 jobs as the company carries out a “targeted deployment of AI tools”, on top of the 500 cutsit confirmed last month. Continue reading...

‘Customers prefer AI chatbots,’ says British Gas owner as 1,300 call centre jobs axed

CEO Chris O’Shea defends Centrica’s plans as it reports rise in retail profits following focus on bigger marginsThe owner of British Gas has claimed that most households would rather speak with an AI chatbot than deal with the company’s staff as it prepares to cut 1,300 jobs from its call centres.Centrica, the supplier’s FTSE 100 owner, plans to cut 800 jobs as the company carries out a “targeted deployment of AI tools”, on top of the 500 cutsit confirmed last month. Continue reading...

UK politics: Burnham pauses early prisoner release scheme due to start in September – as it happened

New PM says no prisoners will be released under the policy until there is an urgent review of schemeKemi Badenoch is speaking in central London at the moment and is expected to say that Andy Burnham is “still thinking like the mayor of Manchester”.“Going by what he’s announced so far, Andy Burnham’s ambitions for Britain are too small,” she was expected to say.My message to British businesses is quite simple: to British businesses, to British innovators, to British investors: I will back you as your Chancellor, and I’ll back you in financial services, in technology, in retail, in industry, in

Минфин подготовил два новых выпуска ОФЗ-ПК на 1,5 трлн рублей

Chaos Breaks Out at Border Crossings in Iraq

Videos verified by The New York Times show border crossings in southern Iraq becoming the latest target in the hostilities in the Middle East.

Adani Power seeks reduction in ₹3,863 crore receivables from Bangladesh as monthly payments continue

Adani Power seeks to reduce ₹3,863 crore receivables from Bangladesh as monthly payments stabilise, enhancing liquidity.

Mayor shot dead in Mexico months after surviving assassination attempt

Valentín Lavín Romero is the 14th mayor to be murdered since Claudia Sheinbaum became president in 2024A mayor was shot dead on Wednesday in the Mexican state of Morelos after having survived a previous assassination attempt earlier this year. He is the 14th mayor to be murdered since Claudia Sheinbaum became president in October 2024.Valentín Lavín Romero, who was from the Green party, an ally of the ruling leftwing Morena party, was wounded at the end of January when hitmen shot him at a petrol station on a motorway. Continue reading...

Il governo pensa alla norma anti maranza: minori imputabili da 14 anni. Le opposizioni: “Vergogna”

Al vaglio del Consiglio dei ministri la proposta di abbassare la soglia dell’imputabilità

Il governo approva la “norma anti maranza”: minori imputabili da 14 anni. Le opposizioni: “Vergogna”

Via libera dal Consiglio dei ministri alla proposta di abbassare la soglia dell’imputabilità

Ok alla “norma anti maranza”: minori imputabili da 14 anni. Meloni: “Chi sbaglia paga”

Via libera dal Consiglio dei ministri alla proposta di abbassare la soglia dell’imputabilità. Le opposizioni: “Si vergognino”

ЦИК раскрыл доходы лидеров федеральных списков на выборах в Госдуму

En Tunisie, où les températures frôlent les 50 °C, la canicule met le pays sous pression

Les secteurs de la santé et de l’agriculture sont mis à rude épreuve par les coupures d’électricité et les incendies se multiplient.

« Où est-ce qu’on va comme ça ? » : en Tunisie, où les températures frôlent 50 °C, la canicule met le pays sous pression

Les secteurs de la santé et de l’agriculture sont mis à rude épreuve par les coupures d’électricité, et les incendies se multiplient.

Бумери вміли це ще до 13 років: 3 навички, які сучасні діти майже втратили

Міленіали ще встигли цьому навчитися, а зумери дедалі частіше дізнаються про ці навички лише в дорослому житті.

Meesho trims losses by half as revenue rises 48%

The e-commerce marketplace posted a net loss of ₹132.8 crore in Q1 FY27, compared with ₹289.3 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year

Teen jailed for exam cheating in Guinea dies after sickle cell complications, father says

Mamadou Djouma Bah, 17, was arrested and sentenced to prison for exam fraud earlier this month.

5.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Texas panhandle

No injuries or deaths were reported from early-morning temblor whose epicenter was 68 miles from AmarilloSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Texas panhandle, the state’s northernmost region, on Thursday, marking the strongest quake to hit the area since 1900.The earthquake struck at around 5.21am at a depth of 3.5 miles (5.7km), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Its epicenter was about 27.8 miles (38.3km) south-east of the city of Spearman and approximately 68 miles (109km) from Amarillo. Continue reading...

Mission to ‘eradicate scourge of drowning’ after deaths surge across England

Strategy will tackle ‘public health disaster’ that claims more lives than fire, flooding or knife crimeA national strategy to address the “public health disaster” of drowning has been launched in England – hours after two women died at an Essex beach, the latest in a surge of water-related tragedies.Among the measures being considered are: providing every child in England with water safety education and swimming lessons; establishing how climate change can increase risks; and media campaigns to inform bystanders how to respond to a potential drowning. Continue reading...

Цей фільм провалився у кінотеатрах, а тепер став №1 на Netflix у 67 країнах

Картина очолила світовий рейтинг найпопулярніших неангломовних фільмів платформи.

Цей фільм провалився у кінотеатрах, але став №1 на Netflix у 67 країнах

Картина очолила світовий рейтинг найпопулярніших неангломовних фільмів платформи.

Trump considering ‘massive attack’ on Iran, says report – Middle East crisis live

US president tells Axios ‘they haven’t received enough pain yet’ and he is ‘close to a decision’Earlier in the US day, before Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had stopped three oil tankers from passing through the strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump issued this threat on his Truth Social platform:From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of T

Фанатам "Відьмака" сподобається: на ПК безкоштовно роздають незвичну карткову гру

Акція триватиме до 30 липня, після чого гра знову стане платною.

Yemen faces a new challenge amid prospects of confrontation

What is the military balance of power in Yemen and the likelihood of confrontation between the government and Houthis?

Elevate Campuses plans to raise ₹2,550 cr via IPO in August

Elevate Campuses to use ₹1,100 crore of IPO proceeds to acquire portfolio of 14 K-12 school assets and campuses from affiliates of its promoters

SpiceJet inducts three Airbus A320 aircraft on damp lease

New aircraft to support network expansion plans and enable it to enhance connectivity across key domestic routes.

Teacher and daughter die after trying to help boy, seven, on Essex beach

Shalina Rahman, 42, and daughter Sameeha, 15, were on holiday in West Mersea and boy is believed to be family memberThe teenage girl and woman who died in the waters off an Essex beach were trying to help a seven-year-old boy who had got into difficulties, police believe.Family members identified the pair as Shalina Rahman, a 42-year-old British-Bangladeshi teacher who is married to a Bangladeshi politician, and her 15-year-old daughter, Sameeha. The boy, believed to be a family member, was also said to be on life support in a hospital in London after the incident. Continue reading...

Tropical Storm Bertha heads for Texas after Louisiana landfall

Forecasters warn of US coastal flooding, heavy rain and dangerous surf as the storm tracks westTropical Storm Bertha made landfall in Louisiana on Wednesday afternoon, and is moving westward toward the Texas coast, where it is expected to reach later on Thursday, bringing rainfall, winds and rising water levels.In a Thursday morning update, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Bertha was moving west and that the center of the tropical storm was expected to move near or along the Louisiana and upper Texas coasts over the next several hours before moving inland over Texas on Thursday

Росія готує китайську армію до вторгнення на Тайвань, - The Economist

Тайвань покладатиметься на асиметричну тактику, які і Україна. Тому для Пекіна є корисним досвід російського агресора.

Закриття портів коштуватиме Україні до мільярда доларів щомісяця, - аналітик

Україна щомісяця експортує через морські порти аграрну продукцію та сировину на понад 2 млрд доларів.

Lobbying firm pressed for details about payments to journalists for favourable stories

MPs and others condemn behaviour of CT Group, which offered cash for positive coverage of clientsA political lobbying firm secretly paying journalists for articles favourable to its clients is facing calls to reveal full details of the payments, after the practice was denounced as a dangerous “attack on democracy”.MPs, senior lobbyists and transparency campaigners all condemned the behaviour of CT Group, the firm co-founded by the campaign strategist Lynton Crosby, an election guru previously hired by both David Cameron and Boris Johnson. Continue reading...

ITC’s agri business becomes India’s largest private-sector agri enterprise, doubles revenue in five years

ITCMAARS has onboarded over 2.6 million farmers across 11 States and aims to reach 10 million by 2030 through digital advisory, precision agriculture and climate-smart farming

Ousted Ukrainian defence minister refuses any other role in Zelenskyy’s government – as it happened

Mykhailo Fedorov says only in his former post could he ‘combat procurement corruption and complete the army’s transformation’EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has offered a bit more detail on the new package of sanctions, saying they are “the largest round in four years,” and will “hit Putin where it hurts most.”In a statement, she said:“We have agreed on the 21st sanctions package against Russia. It delivers sweeping measures targeting Moscow’s financial system, its military-industrial complex and energy sector, that keep Russia’s war economy running. Continue reading...

US House votes to limit Iran war for first time since ceasefire breakdown

The Senate was also expected to vote on War Powers resolution, in largely symbolic move attempting to reign in Trump.

Евросоюз утвердил 21-й пакет санкций против России

Под ограничения попали 70 организаций, 48 физлиц и 94 банка

Французи представили новий ЗРК, який може збивати "Бандеролі": чи допоможе він Україні

Комплекс оснащуватиметься новою спеціально розробленою ракетою з інфрачервоною головкою самонаведення.

The missing half of mediation

The future of diplomacy between the US and Iran depends on giving mediators the backing needed to make agreements stick.

US-Saudi nuclear deal ‘is off’ if Saudi Arabia does not join Abraham accords, says White House – Middle East crisis live

Nuclear deal is ‘contingent’ on kingdom joining accords, says press secretary Karoline LeavittHouthis claim strikes on two Saudi tankers as US attacks on Iran widenEarlier in the US day, before Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had stopped three oil tankers from passing through the strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump issued this threat on his Truth Social platform:From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER

Ex-governor convicted of murdering a pregnant student in Kenya

Okoth Obado was found guilty of killing Sharon Otieno with whom he had had an affair.

How India’s weight-loss drug market grew into ₹2,000-crore business

Wider availability of affordable generics and a growing burden of obesity has established GLP-1 medicines as one of the fastest-growing segments

At least two people missing in West Virginia after torrential rain caused flash floods

State’s governor had declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties, and deployed 500 national guard membersPatrick Morrisey, West Virginia’s governor, said on Thursday that at least two people are unaccounted for in Upshur county, after torrential rain caused flash floods in parts of the state this week.Speaking at a news conference on Thursday morning, Morrisey said that during the search and recovery operations state police located an overturned vehicle in Upshur county that’s believed to be “connected to two individuals who were reported missing”. Continue reading...

At least two people missing in West Virginia after torrential rain causes flash floods

State’s governor had declared a state of emergency for all 55 counties, and deployed 500 national guard membersPatrick Morrisey, the West Virginia governor, said at least two people were unaccounted for in Upshur county, after torrential rain caused flash floods in parts of the state.Speaking at a news conference, Morrisey said that during search-and-recovery operations state police found an overturned vehicle in Upshur county believed to be “connected to two individuals who were reported missing”. Continue reading...

DRDO conducts successful maiden flight-test of ‘Kusha’ long-range surface-to-air missile

The ‘Kusha’ missile system is billed as an import substitute of Russian-made S-400 AD System

Без ТЦК: в Україні змінили порядок призову добровольців

Нові контракти зокрема передбачатимуть чіткі терміни служби.

Letters to the Editor dated July 23, 2026

AP Cabinet approves Vishnu Women’s University as the first private university for women

The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, cleared a proposal to promulgate an ordinance amending the Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2016.

Під Покровськом у 6 разів більше російських штурмовиків, ніж оборонців, - командувач НГУ

Покровський напрямок лишається найважчим на Донеччині, але захисники утримують позиції.

Trump adds condition to Saudi nuclear deal: Normalizing relations with Israel

The president laid out the new requirement a day after the agreement was signed, casting the future of the pact into doubt.

Editorial. Launching pad

Vikram-1 can be turned into a commercial success

Trump seizes on New Jersey election error to boost misleading fraud claims

Republicans have latched on to the announcement after Trump’s lie-laden speech, but experts say DHS’s data is ‘designed to create a false argument’Donald Trump and his allies quickly seized on an announcement from Mikie Sherrill, the New Jersey governor, on Tuesday that 6,600 noncitizens had registered to vote because of a software error, and fewer than 400 of them voted, using thedisclosure to escalate false claims that there are scores of noncitizens on the voter rolls.Trump seized on the news days after he said in a primetime speech that the Department of Homeland Security identified 278,00

Трамп пригрозил Ирану самым мощным ударом

К атаке может присоединиться Израиль

ЦБ: максимальная ставка по вкладам в крупнейших банках выросла до 12,83%

Oil-Rich Saudi Arabia Isn’t Short on Energy. Here’s Why It Wants to Go Nuclear.

Opponents warn that a U.S.-Saudi deal could be a step toward the kingdom building an atomic bomb. But there are other reasons for the world’s largest oil exporter to diversify its energy mix.

Pitfalls of FCNR (B) scheme

 In trying to attract capital inflows, we may end up undermining external account stability

NCLT stays Byju’s insolvency till Aug-end, marginal relief for founders

The Bengaluru bench of NCLT directed the resolution professional not to proceed with the issuance of Form G or to finalise the list of prospective resolution applicants until further orders

Nicaragua's legislature debates barring opposition from elections

The move comes days after President Daniel Ortega demanded 'a wall, a blockade' against opposition parties.