Johnny Marr is auctioning nearly 100 guitars he has played throughout his career, including ones used with The Smiths and on Billie Eilish's song "No Time To Die." The auction will take place in London this September after the guitars are displayed in New York and London over the summer.
Key Facts
Marr owns over 100 guitars and is selling about 95 of them.
The guitars include ones played on The Smiths' "This Charming Man" and Billie Eilish's James Bond theme "No Time To Die."
A Cherry Red Gibson ES-355, given to Marr as part of The Smiths signing to Sire Records, is part of the auction.
The auction guitars range in estimated price from £1,000 to £150,000.
Some guitars highlight important moments, like the Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo used on several Smiths songs and the Cherry Gibson Les Paul Standard linked to The Smiths' album "Meat Is Murder."
Marr decided to sell after photographing his collection for his book, preferring the guitars to inspire new musicians rather than stay in storage.
Proceeds from 10 lots will be donated to Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.
The guitars will be shown at Christie's in New York and London before the auction on 17 September.
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A new prize called the Windrush Prize for British Caribbean Playwrights has been created using compensation money awarded to a Windrush victim who died before receiving it. The prize will give £10,000 and a theatre run to a UK-based British Caribbean playwright to support their work and honor the contributions of the British Caribbean community.
Key Facts
The Windrush Prize is dedicated to British Caribbean playwrights living in the UK and offers £10,000 to the winner.
The winning play will be staged for at least three weeks at the Arcola theatre in 2027 and published by Methuen Drama.
The prize was set up by Shereener Browne in memory of her father, Myron Brown, who was wrongly stripped of his British citizenship.
Myron Brown died before receiving compensation meant for Windrush victims; his family had to navigate complex legal processes to claim the money.
The prize aims to address the lack of British Caribbean voices in theatre and preserve their cultural impact in Britain.
Windrush Day marks the arrival of Caribbean passengers on the HMT Empire Windrush in 1948, a key moment in British history.
Research shows low awareness of the Windrush story among young people in the UK, highlighting the need for education about this history.
Over 50 Windrush victims died while waiting for compensation; public figures are calling for a review of the compensation scheme.
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EasyJet has turned down a £4.74 billion takeover offer from the US investment firm Castlelake. Castlelake wants to buy the airline and says its offer is good for shareholders, but EasyJet called the bid "highly opportunistic" and has rejected three offers this month.
Key Facts
Castlelake, a US investment firm, owns about 2.14% of EasyJet shares.
Castlelake made three takeover proposals to EasyJet this month, all rejected.
The latest offer values EasyJet at £4.74 billion and offers 625p per share.
The offer price is 24% higher than EasyJet's share price last Friday.
EasyJet's board described the proposals as "highly opportunistic."
Castlelake says it plans to keep EasyJet as a strong European airline under European control.
EU rules require EasyJet to be majority-owned by EU citizens.
Castlelake proposes an ownership plan that complies with EU regulations.
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The US investment firm Castlelake has made a third offer to buy the British budget airline easyJet, valued at just over £4.7 billion. EasyJet’s board has rejected all three offers, saying they undervalue the company, and Castlelake has gone public with its latest proposal to give shareholders a chance to consider it before the takeover deadline.
Key Facts
Castlelake’s third offer to buy easyJet is an all-cash bid of 625p per share, valuing the airline at around £4.7 billion.
EasyJet’s board rejected the offer on the grounds it undervalues the company and called it opportunistic.
Castlelake has partnered with two European investors to meet EU rules requiring majority ownership by EU nationals.
The EU partners include Peter Bellew, with experience at easyJet and other airlines, and Mark Breen, CEO of Oneiros Aerospace.
Castlelake’s previous offers were 560p and 600p per share, both rejected by easyJet.
EasyJet’s shares dropped about 20% earlier in the year but have risen 36% in the past month amid takeover talks.
There is a takeover deadline for Castlelake to announce an offer by 5pm on June 26.
Past takeover interest included approaches from MSC and Wizz Air, both rejected by easyJet.
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China’s Commerce Ministry has banned 10 US technology companies from receiving dual-use exports, which are goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes. This move follows recent US restrictions on Chinese tech firms linked to the military, and it also limits Chinese government purchases of products from 46 American companies.
Key Facts
China sanctioned 10 US tech companies, blocking exports of dual-use items to them.
Dual-use items can be used for both military and civilian purposes.
The sanctioned US companies include drone makers and rare earth mining firms.
China’s sanctions respond to the US Pentagon’s blacklist of several Chinese tech companies with alleged military links.
China also banned government entities from buying products from 46 US companies such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
The US restrictions prevent Chinese firms like Alibaba and Baidu from getting US military contracts.
China says its sanctions protect national security and counter what it calls wrongful US expansion of sanctions.
The moves are part of ongoing tensions over military ties and trade between the US and China.
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A couple who are fans of the BBC show Gavin and Stacey bought the house used for Uncle Bryn’s character in the series. They plan to turn the house into a holiday rental where visitors can enjoy a themed stay related to the show.
Key Facts
Jaxx Nelson and Tom Bodfish from Banbury bought Uncle Bryn’s house in Barry, south Wales, for £210,000.
The house appeared in the Gavin and Stacey show, which started in 2007.
The purchase happened shortly after another fan bought Doris’s house from the same street.
The couple plans to make the house a holiday rental with decorations and surprises related to the show.
The house is known for famous scenes, including Bryn using the internet to help Gavin.
Fans often visit the house, sometimes taking photos, which the new owners find unusual.
The couple is connected with Gavin and Stacey-themed tours in Barry and wants fans to enjoy an authentic experience.
Guests will be asked not to mention a fishing trip, a notable moment from the series.
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Research shows that Generation Z workers are earning more money early in their careers than millennials did at the same age. This pay increase is partly due to rises in the minimum wage, but challenges like higher living costs and economic troubles could affect future earnings.
Key Facts
Generation Z includes people born roughly between 1997 and 2012.
Research from the Resolution Foundation finds Gen Z’s real pay at age 24 is 12% higher than millennials at the same age.
Millennials, born in the 1980s and 1990s, faced lower income growth partly due to starting work near the 2008 financial crisis.
The lowest-paid Gen Z workers saw a 36% real pay increase between 2012 and 2025, mainly due to minimum wage increases.
Median hourly pay for Gen Z workers aged 22-29 grew by 15% between 2012 and 2025.
Those aged 16-24 who are not working, studying, or training (called "Neets") number about 1 million in Britain.
Experts warn the number of Neets could grow by 25% by the early 2030s without government help.
Economic problems like higher prices and weaker growth from the Middle East conflict may lower real wages for Gen Z soon.
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Less than half of the homes put up for auction in Australia's main cities sold recently, marking the lowest rate in six years. This decline in sales comes as interest rates remain high and the government debates changes to property tax rules.
Key Facts
The overall auction clearance rate in Australian capital cities was 47.4% for the week ending June 21.
Sydney had a clearance rate of 47.4%, Melbourne 50.6%, Brisbane 33.3%, Perth and Adelaide 40%, and Canberra 47.1%.
These clearance rates are the lowest since April 2020, during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nearly 24% of scheduled auctions were cancelled, and about 48% sold before auction.
The Reserve Bank of Australia kept interest rates at 4.35%, affecting mortgage repayments.
The government plans to change capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing rules, which are currently being debated in parliament.
Some politicians criticize the proposed changes as unfair, while others say they aim to help first-time homebuyers.
A senator remarked that the housing market is struggling because many people cannot afford to buy homes.
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Toy Story 5 earned over $300 million worldwide in its opening weekend, marking the highest opening for the Toy Story series. The film made $160 million in North America and $150 million internationally but still needs to earn more than twice its $250 million production budget to cover all costs.
Key Facts
Toy Story 5 was released on June 19 and faced competition from a digital tablet in the story.
It had the biggest opening weekend ever for the Toy Story franchise.
The film earned more than $160 million in North America and $150 million internationally in its first weekend.
The movie’s production budget was about $250 million.
Films usually need to earn at least twice their production budget to cover marketing and other expenses.
The Toy Story series has made over $3 billion worldwide since 1995.
Previous Toy Story films, especially parts 3 and 4, each made over $1 billion.
The film industry faces challenges like lower box office revenue since the Covid-19 pandemic and competition from streaming services.
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Disney's Toy Story 5 had the best opening weekend ever for the Toy Story series, earning over $300 million worldwide. The movie features characters like Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear competing against a tablet computer and continues Pixar's history of successful animated films.
Key Facts
Toy Story 5 was released on June 19, 2026.
It earned more than $160 million in North America and over $150 million internationally in its first weekend.
The film's global opening weekend total was more than $300 million.
The movie's production budget is about $250 million.
To break even, it needs to earn at least twice its production budget because of marketing and other costs.
Pixar’s sequels like Toy Story 3 and 4 have each made over $1 billion worldwide.
Some recent Pixar movies like Elio and Lightyear did poorly at the box office.
Overall movie ticket sales have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic partly because more people watch movies at home on streaming services.
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Germany currently gets about 20% of its electricity from coal and plans to stop using coal by 2038, with lignite coal phased out by 2030. However, rising gas prices and energy supply concerns have led some German leaders and companies to reconsider the timeline for coal use.
Key Facts
Germany gets 20% of its electricity from coal-powered stations.
Germany plans to end coal power by 2038 and phase out lignite coal by 2030.
Over half of Germany’s electricity (59% in 2023) comes from renewable sources like wind and solar.
Germany wants to replace coal with natural gas power plants, which produce less carbon dioxide.
Germany imports 95% of its natural gas but has large, cheap reserves of lignite coal.
Rising global gas prices, partly due to conflicts involving the US, Israel, and Iran, have made coal more attractive again.
German energy company LEAG supports keeping coal as a backup to ensure energy security.
Some experts and industry groups want clearer energy plans, balancing reliable supply and the transition to renewables.
Lignite: A type of soft coal that causes more pollution than harder coals.
Phase-out: Gradually stopping the use of something, in this case, coal for power.
Natural gas: A cleaner-burning fossil fuel used for electricity, producing less pollution than coal.
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Fraud cases in the UK reached a record high last year, with scammers using various tricks like fake messages about missed deliveries, romance scams, and false investment offers to steal money. Experts advise people to be cautious by avoiding clicking on suspicious links, verifying identities, and checking financial firms with official regulators.
Key Facts
Over four million fraud cases were reported in the UK last year, with many more unreported.
Scammers send fake messages pretending to be family members or delivery companies to get bank details.
Nearly £423 million was lost to remote-purchase fraud, where criminals use stolen card details to buy goods.
Romance scams often involve fake profiles on dating sites asking for money after building trust.
Victims of romance scams usually make about 10 payments to fraudsters.
Scammers use AI technology to create fake celebrity endorsements or imitate voices for investment scams.
Genuine financial firms should be checked on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) website to avoid fraud.
People are advised to type web addresses themselves and be cautious with one-time passcodes (OTPs).
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The last bank in Lochgilphead, Scotland, is closing, forcing residents to travel about an hour to the nearest branch. Many people, especially older residents, are worried about using online banking and the limited services available at the local post office.
Key Facts
The Bank of Scotland branch in Lochgilphead is closing because most customers now use online banking.
The nearest bank branch after closure is in Oban, about 37 miles away.
Older residents like Maggie Dodd feel anxious about banking online due to fear of scams and making mistakes.
A buddy system was created to help elderly people use banking services at the post office.
The local post office has limits on how much cash can be withdrawn or deposited, which frustrates some customers.
Local businesses worry about the closure, as problems with card payments and cash deposits affect daily operations.
Since 2015, 742 bank branches have closed across Scotland, impacting many communities like Lochgilphead.
Efforts to create a shared Banking Hub in Lochgilphead were rejected, but the area has free ATMs and a post office for some services.
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The last Bank of Scotland branch in Lochgilphead is closing because most customers now use online banking. This has worried elderly residents and local businesses who rely on face-to-face banking and cash services.
Key Facts
The Bank of Scotland branch in Lochgilphead is closing due to low in-person usage.
The nearest bank branch after closure is 37 miles away in Oban.
Elderly people, like Maggie Dodd, feel anxious about online banking and scams.
A local buddy scheme pairs people to help each other use the post office for banking.
Local businesses worry about cash handling and risks from fewer bank services.
Since 2015, 742 bank branches have closed in Scotland, affecting rural areas significantly.
Argyll and Bute Council’s plan to create a shared banking hub was rejected.
Post office services have limits on cash and cheque transactions compared to banks.
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A survey shows that most UK taxpayers want the government to raise taxes on big global tech companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon. The current digital services tax charges 2% on certain revenues, but many people think it should be higher to make these companies pay more taxes in the UK.
Key Facts
67% of people surveyed support higher digital services taxes on multinational tech firms in the UK.
The UK introduced a 2% digital services tax in 2020 for tech companies with significant UK or global sales.
This tax raised about £800 million for the UK government in 2024-25.
The tax applies only to a few companies and targets revenues from search engines, social media, or marketplaces.
Some critics say the tax causes higher prices for users.
The US, led by President Donald Trump, opposes the tax and has threatened tariffs if the UK does not remove it.
Three-quarters of Britons prefer to work for or buy from companies that pay their fair share of tax.
The Fair Tax Foundation has polled about 2,000 UK adults annually and finds consistent strong support for fair tax policies over the past decade.
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Wowcher, a discount voucher website, apologized after sending an email with a subject line referencing a toddler’s crocodile attack at a zoo. The company said the message was unacceptable, unapproved, and they are reviewing their marketing process to prevent such errors.
Key Facts
Wowcher sent an email saying, “Snap up these deals quicker than a croc can catch a kid!”
A three-year-old boy was seriously injured in a crocodile attack at Old Hurst zoo.
The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s hospital and is in critical but stable condition.
Wowcher called the email wording “unacceptable” and apologized to the family.
The company is checking all upcoming marketing content and improving approval procedures.
A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but later released and bailed.
Police are reviewing zoo CCTV footage to decide on further action.
The arrested man is not known to the toddler and is currently considered unfit for interview.
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“Toy Story 5” earned $160 million in ticket sales during its opening weekend in the U.S., making it the biggest debut of the year and the highest for the series. Worldwide, it made $312 million, continuing the strong success of the “Toy Story” franchise for Disney and Pixar.
Key Facts
“Toy Story 5” made $160 million in domestic ticket sales over its opening weekend.
The film earned $152 million internationally in its first weekend.
Globally, the movie brought in $312 million during its opening weekend.
This is the best launch in the “Toy Story” series, beating the previous record of $120 million from “Toy Story 4.”
The franchise had earned over $3 billion from past films and merchandising before this release.
“Toy Story 5” cost $250 million to make, not counting marketing expenses.
The movie features voice actors Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack returning to their roles.
The film was directed by Andrew Stanton, known for other Pixar hits like “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E.”
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An energy expert said it may take some time for gas prices to go back to the levels seen before the conflict with Iran. The expert mentioned that this delay is due to uncertain situations and lower oil supplies. Another adviser talked about how a deal between the U.S. and Iran might affect how much money Iran earns from selling oil.
Key Facts
Gas prices rose because of the conflict involving Iran.
It could take a long time for prices to drop back to normal.
Oil supplies are currently low, adding to the price problem.
Uncertainty about the situation makes price changes slower.
A deal between the U.S. and Iran is being discussed.
This deal might change how much oil Iran sells and earns money from.
Experts discussed these topics on a CBS News program.
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Coal companies in Australia could receive an extra $6.2 billion in taxpayer refunds for diesel fuel used at mines if new projects are approved by the Albanese government. The fuel tax credit scheme refunds part of the diesel excise tax, and critics say it encourages coal mining while supporters say it helps businesses that use fuel off public roads.
Key Facts
The fuel tax credit scheme refunds 52.6 cents per liter of diesel and petrol used for mining and farming.
Treasury estimates the scheme will cost taxpayers $47 billion over four years, rising to $12.8 billion in 2029-2030.
Over $1 billion a year from the scheme goes to coal mine operators.
An analysis found that 11 proposed coal mine developments could receive $6.2 billion in diesel subsidies over their operational lives.
One large project, Hunter Valley expansion by Glencore and Yancoal, could get $1.7 billion in refunds.
Mining vehicles use around 35% of Australia's diesel, with coal mines accounting for about 15%.
Supporters say the tax credit prevents businesses from paying a tax meant for public roads on fuel used elsewhere.
Critics argue the scheme subsidizes fossil fuel use and reduces incentives to switch to cleaner technology.
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Australia is experiencing a large increase in datacentre construction, with many new facilities planned to support growing digital services and artificial intelligence. However, there are concerns about the high use of electricity and water, the impact on local communities, and whether the economic benefits justify the costs.
Key Facts
A large datacentre is planned on Mamre Road in western Sydney, with six big buildings and many cooling and backup power units.
The total investment planned in Australian datacentres over the next decade is about $155 billion.
Currently, there are around 160 datacentres in Australia, with 90 more proposed.
Datacentres use a lot of electricity; on Australia’s east coast, they now use 2.8% of power, expected to rise to over 10% by the mid-2030s.
The Mamre Road datacentre would use more electricity than a large aluminium smelter nearby.
Datacentres also need significant water for cooling servers and take up large areas near cities.
These facilities create many jobs during construction but only a few once they are operating.
Some experts say clear rules on energy, water, and location can help Australia gain benefits while avoiding problems seen in other countries.
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