Australia’s Sigma drops out of talks to buy UK’s Boots 15. June 2026 (08:52) End of discussions on takeover estimated at $10bn extends uncertainty for 177-year-old British chainBusiness live – latest updatesThe Australian pharmaceutical group Sigma Healthcare has dropped its pursuit of the UK retail chain Boots, abandoning a takeover estimated to be worth $10bn (£7bn).Sigma, a wholesaler and retailer, said on Monday that a deal to by the high street pharmacy business – which has 1,800 UK stores – would not meet its strategic and capital investment objectives. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Oil prices tumble amid hopes strait of Hormuz will soon reopen 15. June 2026 (08:33) Donald Trump posts ‘Let the oil flow’ as US-Iran peace deal sparks immediate drop for Brent crudeMiddle East crisis: live updatesPeace deal between US and Iran announced, with strait of Hormuz expected to reopenWhat do we know about the US-Iran peace deal – and what questions remain?Global oil prices have tumbled amid fresh hopes that a US-Iran peace deal may end the greatest energy supply crisis in the history of the market.The price of Brent crude dropped 4% to below $84 (£62) a barrel as the new trading week began in financial centres across Asia-Pacific, amid optimism that the strait of Hormuz could reopen shortly and bring a return of Gulf oil exports to the market. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Photographer Don McCullin to focus on Vietnam for his final book 15. June 2026 (08:00) Exclusive: The work will feature some of the photographer’s most powerful images from his 70-year careerAfter more than seven decades of covering conflicts around the world, Don McCullin will return to Vietnam and his best-known images for his final book.The photographer, who got his start aged 23 when his image of a gang in Finsbury Park was published in the Observer, has decided to revisit the war and his 12-day stint with US marines during the battle of Hue in 1968. Continue reading...(The Guardian)