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Chinese made robots are playing an increasingly important role in Britain’s retail industry as major companies turn to automation to improve efficiency, speed up online orders, and tackle ongoing labour shortages. From supermarkets to clothing retailers, robotic systems are becoming a common sight inside warehouses that process thousands of customer purchases every day. Many online orders in the UK now begin with small autonomous robots moving beneath storage shelves, lifting them, and transporting them to warehouse workers. These machines are produced by Chinese robotics company Geek+, which manufactures and tests its equipment at a factory in Hefei before exporting it to customers around the world. Several leading British retailers, including Tesco, Asda, and Next, have adopted the company’s technology. According to Geek+, the robots help businesses process orders faster, improve storage capacity, and reduce mistakes by automating repetitive tasks that would otherwise require significant manual labour. Unlike traditional warehouse automation systems that depend on fixed conveyor belts and expensive infrastructure, these mobile robots move independently using floor markers and safety barriers. This allows companies to introduce automation more quickly and with less disruption to existing warehouse operations. Geek+ has grown into the world’s largest supplier of autonomous mobile robots and expanded its international presence after listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange last year. Britain has become the company’s biggest European market, with its UK partner MotionTech deploying more than 2,000 robots across 10 warehouse sites. MotionTech says demand for automated warehouse technology continues to rise as businesses seek faster order processing while dealing with persistent labour shortages. Company representatives say customers want solutions that increase storage capacity, improve picking speeds, and reduce reliance on large workforces without sacrificing efficiency. The growing use of robotics comes as the United Kingdom continues to struggle with weak productivity growth. Economists have argued that wider adoption of automation will be necessary if businesses are to remain competitive in the years ahead. A recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development found that Britain has been slower than many other advanced economies in adopting robotics, despite its long industrial history. While British companies have embraced many digital technologies, the report said automation and robotics remain underused across much of the economy. Labour organisations have urged businesses to introduce new technology responsibly. The Trades Union Congress has argued that automation should improve working conditions and productivity rather than simply reduce employment. It has called for workers to be involved in decisions about automation and for companies to provide retraining opportunities as technology changes the workplace. China’s rapid progress in robotics reflects a broader national strategy aimed at strengthening advanced manufacturing. President Xi Jinping has identified robotics as one of the country’s key future industries, with automation expected to offset the effects of a shrinking working age population and support long term economic growth. Analysts say China’s leadership in robotics has benefited from its success in electric vehicle manufacturing. Many of the same technologies used in electric cars, including batteries, motors, cameras, sensors, and semiconductors, are now being applied to robotic systems, creating a strong industrial network that accelerates development. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer XPeng is among the companies expanding into robotics. The company has introduced a humanoid robot called Iron as part of its strategy to transform from a traditional carmaker into a broader technology company. Industry experts believe China’s robotics industry could follow a similar path to its electric vehicle sector by combining large scale manufacturing with rapid innovation. At the same time, competition in robotics has become increasingly tied to global politics. This week the United States announced restrictions on imports of new advanced foreign made robots, citing national security concerns. China criticised the decision, accusing Washington of using trade measures for political purposes. Looking ahead, Geek+ says it wants to move beyond transporting goods and eventually create fully automated warehouses where robots handle picking, moving, and packing products with minimal human involvement. While companies across China are investing heavily in humanoid robots capable of performing more complex tasks, experts believe these machines are still several years away from widespread commercial use. For now, wheeled warehouse robots remain the most practical solution for retailers. As British businesses continue searching for ways to improve productivity and overcome staffing shortages, warehouses across the country are becoming an important testing ground for China’s rapidly expanding robotics industry.

Russian authorities have announced that they are seeking the arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov, accusing him of allowing the messaging platform to be used for activities linked to terrorism. The move marks the latest escalation in Moscow’s long running dispute with the tech entrepreneur, who has repeatedly clashed with Russian officials over internet freedom and user privacy. Russia’s Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, said it had launched international search proceedings against Durov, alleging that Telegram was being used by Ukraine’s security services to recruit Russian citizens for sabotage and other attacks. The agency claimed that Durov failed to remove a dating bot that it says played a central role in these recruitment efforts. According to the FSB, an international wanted notice has been issued for Durov, who serves as Telegram’s chief executive. However, Russian authorities did not clarify the type of notice issued or whether foreign governments or international law enforcement agencies would recognise or act on the request. Durov’s legal representatives declined to comment on the allegations, while Telegram said the company would not make any public statement at this stage. The FSB alleged that a bot known as Leo Match Bot, which is banned in Russia, was used by individuals posing as young women to contact Russian teenagers and young adults. Authorities claimed these fake identities were created by Ukrainian intelligence agents to persuade users to attack police officers and carry out acts of sabotage against transport and energy infrastructure. Russian officials said that since July 2025, 46 people between the ages of 12 and 22 have been arrested in connection with attacks allegedly organised through the messaging bot. Ukraine has not publicly responded to these specific accusations. Since the beginning of the war, both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of using online platforms and social media to recruit supporters and gather intelligence. The internet has become an increasingly important part of the conflict, with governments closely monitoring digital communication and online activity. Durov, who was born in Saint Petersburg, left Russia years ago and now holds French and United Arab Emirates citizenship. He first gained prominence after creating VKontakte, Russia’s largest social networking platform, before losing control of the company as government pressure increased. He later founded Telegram, which has grown into one of the world’s most widely used encrypted messaging services. Telegram has remained especially popular in Russia despite repeated attempts by the government to restrict access to the platform. Officials have long criticised the company for refusing to provide user data and have encouraged citizens to use state backed communication services instead. Durov also faced legal challenges in France last year, when he was arrested as part of an investigation into the distribution of illegal content through Telegram. He was later released on bail, and French authorities eventually lifted restrictions on his travel, allowing him to leave the country. The latest action by Russia comes as state controlled social media company VK continues promoting its government backed messaging application Max as an alternative to Telegram and WhatsApp. Russian authorities have increasingly supported domestic digital platforms as part of broader efforts to strengthen control over online communications. The announcement adds another chapter to the long standing conflict between the Russian government and Durov, whose commitment to encrypted communication and user privacy has repeatedly placed him at odds with Moscow’s efforts to regulate internet platforms. The outcome of Russia’s international arrest request remains uncertain, particularly given Durov’s residence outside the country and his foreign citizenship.

Russia has criticised a proposed new package of US sanctions, warning that additional restrictions would hurt American interests more than Moscow and further complicate global economic and energy stability. In a statement, the Russian Embassy in Washington reacted to a sanctions bill that received preliminary approval in the US Senate on July 28. The embassy argued that the legislation would restrict the White House’s diplomatic flexibility while increasing economic pressure on the United States itself. The statement criticised the bill’s supporters, particularly Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, accusing them of pursuing an aggressive anti-Russia agenda. It claimed the proposed legislation included sweeping measures, such as imposing tariffs of up to 500% on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy products. According to the embassy, the US administration had previously sought to slow congressional efforts to introduce additional sanctions, maintaining that the president already possessed sufficient authority to impose economic measures without further legislation. Russia also linked the sanctions debate to broader geopolitical developments, arguing that growing tensions in the Middle East and Washington’s involvement in regional conflicts have increased the risk of disruption in global energy markets. It warned that higher energy prices could fuel inflation in the United States and place additional pressure on American consumers ahead of the country’s upcoming midterm elections. The embassy further claimed that political divisions in Washington were undermining the administration’s foreign policy, arguing that some lawmakers were prioritising political objectives over economic realities. Reiterating its long-held position, Russia said years of sanctions had failed to change its policies or weaken its economy in the way Western governments had anticipated. It maintained that further punitive measures would produce limited results against Russia while creating greater economic challenges for the United States. The statement also referred to the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), enacted during President Donald Trump’s first term. Russia argued that the law significantly reduced the executive branch’s flexibility by requiring congressional approval before any sanctions could be lifted or eased. Concluding its remarks, the Russian Embassy expressed hope that the US administration would carefully assess the potential political and economic consequences before moving forward with any new sanctions package.

Britain is edging dangerously close to matching one of its deadliest summers on record, and the peak heat month of August hasn’t even fully arrived yet. The UK Health Security Agency reported that an estimated 2,877 people have already died from heat-related causes this year. That number is nearly twice the total seen throughout all of 2025, and it’s steadily approaching the historic high recorded back in 2022. This latest update comes as the country deals with its fourth heatwave of the year. A string of unusually intense hot spells has already driven temperatures to record-breaking levels in parts of Britain during May and June. The extended dry spell has also worsened conditions on the ground, contributing to a rise in wildfires across several regions. Breaking the numbers down further, most deaths occurred across two distinct periods. Late May accounted for 753 fatalities, while a particularly severe June heatwave saw that number jump sharply to 2,124, prompting authorities to issue a rare red heat-health alert. Even though these figures only cover a two-month window, they already surpass the total number of heat-related deaths recorded across the entire previous year. Experts studying the data believe that roughly 42 percent of these deaths can be traced back to the effects of human-driven climate change. That estimate has reignited concern among scientists and public health officials, who warn that healthcare systems and at-risk populations are facing mounting pressure as extreme heat becomes more frequent. The crisis is not confined to the UK alone. Neighboring countries have also been hit hard, with wildfires sweeping through parts of France, Spain, and Greece. These fires have claimed the lives of several firefighters, forced thousands of residents to evacuate, and caused major disruptions to businesses and travel throughout the affected areas. France’s national health agency confirmed on Wednesday that the country recorded 5,764 excess deaths between June 17 and July 2 alone. Germany has faced a similarly troubling situation, with its national health body, the RKI, reporting on Thursday that around 9,800 people have died from heat-related causes so far this year. As temperatures remain stubbornly high across Europe, health officials continue urging caution, particularly for elderly individuals and those with existing health conditions who face the greatest risk during prolonged heat events.