The proposals include a huge shop alongside a drive-through Starbucks and a DIY store

Developers have unveiled plans for a new Tesco in a Wiltshire town – and in a description more reminiscent of one of the county’s grand country estates, claiming it will be built in a ‘parkland setting’.

Should it receive planning permission, the Tesco would be surrounded by natural lakes, trees, and other landscaped features – a vision that English gardener Capability Brown would have applauded.

Robert Cort Properties is seeking to build a Tesco superstore, alongside a drive-through Starbucks and a DIY store, on land on the outskirts of the Devizes urban area, within the parish of Bishops Cannings.

The 7.4-hectare site sits next to a plot earmarked by Aldi for a new store. Its development partner, PRZM Real Estate, has already lodged a planning application for a £10m, 1,800 square metre store, along with a drive-through coffee shop, on the stretch of land running alongside the A361 London Road.

Also nearby is the former Cannings Hill filling station. Despite no longer operating as a fuel retailer, the site currently houses a car dealership, motor workshop, and hand car wash.

Last month, fast food giant McDonald’s announced its intention to build a drive-through restaurant on the site.

While Robert Cort Properties is headquartered in Reading, its managing director Jonathan Skull is no stranger to Devizes, having previously played cricket for the town. He also has family ties to Marlborough.

He told an online public meeting on Thursday: “I feel it could be a lovely plot that the community could benefit from.”

He revealed that his company had previously sought planning permission to construct a business park on the former MoD land, situated a mile and a half east of Devizes town centre.

Having been turned down by Wiltshire Council, the firm secured approval at a 2024 planning appeal. However, with little demand for a business park, the company has shifted its focus to retail, with the hope that the employment opportunities generated by the scheme will strengthen its planning case.

He said the development would provide a significant boost to the local economy, creating jobs and apprenticeships in the process. “A lot of young people, especially, are struggling to find jobs,” he said.

Architect Robert O’Reilly acknowledged the proposed site was just 400 metres from the boundary of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.

“We want to integrate a strong parkland look, with lakes and trees,” he said. “It won’t be boring grey boxes in a boring grey landscape.”

He also assured those present that sufficient parking would be provided to ensure shoppers did not spill over into surrounding residential streets.

Transport consultant Paul Greatwood argued that the new development was unlikely to generate additional traffic. On the contrary, he suggested it would allow residents in the rapidly-growing eastern part of the town to carry out their shopping without having to navigate through the town centre.

Lee Nicoll, from the property acquisition team at Tesco, confirmed the retailer had been “actively looking for a site for a large store” in Devizes for some time. He explained that at 40,000 sq ft, or 1,800 sq m, the supermarket would be “slightly larger than Marlborough, slightly smaller than Calne, and around a third of the size of the Trowbridge supermarket.

“The store will have a new look and feel. It will look really fresh,” he said.

Customers could anticipate fresh produce, an in-store bakery, a health and beauty section, clothing, and cash machines. Both click and collect, and home delivery services will be available.

What it won’t feature is a filling station. Approximately 75 to 80 new jobs would be created. The trading hours are expected to be 7am to 11pm.

Mr Greatwood indicated there would probably be four HGV deliveries daily, with one fresh produce delivery in the morning.

Devizes currently has a town centre Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s, as well as an edge-of-town Lidl. However, Mr Nicholl commented: “We’re confident there’s a place for us. We want to be in Devizes and believe the public will enjoy our products.”

He noted that the local economy in Devizes was losing £4m annually to Tesco at Trowbridge. The proposed store would retain more revenue within the local economy, he added.

The developers were questioned about whether there would be a coordinated approach to the area’s future development. “We’ve reached out,” said Mr Skull.

“The Aldi application and this one are likely to be considered together by Wiltshire Council, who will want us to take a holistic approach to deliver something that is right for the community.”

The partnership will be seeking public feedback until July 21. A planning application is set to be submitted to Wiltshire Council in September, with a decision anticipated in early 2026, paving the way for construction to commence in 2027.

A public consultation event will take place in person at Devizes Corn Exchange on Tuesday, July 7, running from 1pm until 7.30pm.

WASHINGTON — Anthony Davis has yet to play a single game for the Washington Wizards, but the 10-time All-Star has already become one of the most talked-about names of the NBA offseason, with multiple teams reportedly circling the veteran big man even as Washington insists it has no intention of trading him.

The Wizards acquired Davis from the Dallas Mavericks in an eight-player trade at the deadline in February, a deal that also brought guards Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum to Washington in exchange for forward Khris Middleton, guard AJ Johnson, guard Malaki Branham, center Marvin Bagley III and a package of draft picks. Davis never suited up for the Wizards last season, and questions about his long-term future in Washington have persisted throughout the summer as the team works to build around its young core.

Those questions intensified after the Golden State Warriors emerged as a serious suitor, driven in part by a desire to reunite Davis with LeBron James, his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate and the player with whom he won an NBA championship in 2021. According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors explored the possibility of trading for Davis as part of a broader offseason plan that also included pursuing James in free agency. ESPN’s Shams Charania later reported that Golden State’s roster ambitions extended beyond James alone, describing the team’s larger vision. “The Warriors going into free agency dreamt up a grand plan of Draymond, Steph, LeBron,” Charania said, adding that the franchise viewed pairing James with Davis as a potentially decisive move in its pursuit of the four-time MVP.

Any Golden State package for Davis would likely have required including forward Jimmy Butler to satisfy salary-matching rules, a complication that several reports suggested made the scenario unlikely to materialize. Both Butler and his longtime agent, Bernie Lee, have indicated that the Warriors have consistently communicated their desire to keep Butler with the organization as he continues recovering from a torn ACL, according to multiple outlets covering the situation.

Skepticism about the Warriors-Davis rumors grew further after ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suggested the speculation may have been driven more by negotiating leverage than genuine trade interest. Windhorst indicated that people around the league increasingly viewed the situation as a tactic benefiting multiple parties, saying it could ultimately lead to new contracts for several of the players involved rather than an actual trade. His comments came shortly after Golden State forward Draymond Green declined his $27.6 million player option, a move that added financial flexibility for the Warriors as they explored their options across free agency and the trade market.

Washington, for its part, has been unambiguous in shutting down the speculation. According to ESPN’s Marc Spears, a source told the network that the Wizards have no interest in trading Davis and are not entertaining offers involving him. Spears also reported that an unnamed NBA team executive described Wizards general manager Will Dawkins as a strong admirer of Davis’ game and presence within the organization. Dawkins himself addressed the rumors directly following the conclusion of the 2026 NBA Draft, telling ESPN that the team’s stance on Davis remains straightforward. “With AD again, he wants to be here and we want him here,” Dawkins said, adding that further conversations about his long-term future would take place in mid-August once contract extension eligibility rules allow for formal talks.

That timeline matters significantly for both sides. Davis has one guaranteed season remaining on his current contract, worth $58.5 million for 2026-27, along with a $62.8 million player option for the following season. Beginning August 6, he becomes eligible for a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million, a detail that has shaped much of the speculation about his future. Should he be traded before then, that extension eligibility resets, a factor that complicates any team’s motivation to pursue a deal in the near term.

Despite Washington’s public stance, additional trade proposals have continued to surface. One report floated by Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor detailed a Warriors framework built around Jimmy Butler, in which Washington would receive Butler’s expiring $56.8 million contract, along with two future first-round picks and four first-round pick swaps in exchange for Davis. Separately, NBA reporter Sam Quinn proposed a hypothetical package involving the Cleveland Cavaliers, in which Cleveland would send center Jarrett Allen, guard Max Strus, guard Dennis Schroder and a first-round pick to Washington for Davis, tying into broader rumors linking Davis to a possible reunion scenario involving James in Cleveland rather than Golden State.

The Wizards’ broader offseason moves have added context to their stance on Davis. Washington used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft to select forward AJ Dybantsa out of BYU and signed guard Trae Young to a four-year, $212 million contract extension shortly afterward. Those moves, combined with a young core that includes Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and Kyshawn George, suggest a franchise focused on methodical, long-term development rather than pursuing immediate results through a marquee veteran. Washington finished with a 50-196 record over the past three seasons, a stretch that has shaped the front office’s current approach to roster building.

Davis’ injury history remains a relevant factor in any evaluation of his trade value. Over the past five seasons, he has appeared in just 243 of a possible 410 regular-season games, a durability concern that Washington and any potential trade partner would need to weigh carefully. When healthy last season with Dallas, Davis averaged 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game across 20 appearances, shooting 50.6 percent from the field, numbers that continue to make him an attractive target for teams seeking immediate frontcourt production.

For now, Washington appears content to let the speculation play out without making a move, betting that Davis’ value could climb further if he performs well to open next season. Whether that patience holds through the coming months, particularly once his extension eligibility opens in August, remains one of the more closely watched storylines as the NBA heads toward the start of training camps later this year.

Two of the biggest fuel providers in the Channel Islands have said pump prices are steadily falling.

Both Rubis and ATF Fuels said recent drops in wholesale costs were now filtering through to local forecourts in Guernsey and Jersey.

The price of petrol and diesel reached an Iran war peak in May, before starting to fall.

A spokesperson for Rubis said if wholesale prices continued to fall it expected “to see further reductions passed on over time”.

In the last fortnight, global oil prices have returned to levels not seen since before the Iran war.

The RAC also reported the fastest monthly fall in diesel prices since 2000 in June with the cost falling by 17p a litre.

Petrol prices have also fallen, although with a more modest drop than diesel.

In an online post, external, the Jersey Consumer Council welcomed a reduction in prices but encouraged islanders to “shop around”.

It also told islanders not to expect prices to drop as quickly as they had risen.

“When wholesale prices rise, retailers typically pass these increases on swiftly. In contrast, when wholesale costs fall, reductions at the pump tend to happen more gradually”.

“This is partly due to consumer behaviour, as drivers are more likely to actively compare prices when costs are rising than when they are falling” it said.

The fall in prices comes after one Jersey politician proposed reducing fuel duty for three months to help islanders with the cost of living.

Shares of Shakti Pumps rose more than 8% on Monday after the company announced it had received an order worth nearly Rs 354 crore to supply 15,000 solar photovoltaic water pumping systems from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL).

Shakti Pumps shares jumped as much as 8.3% to Rs 621.9 on the NSE in Monday morning trade after the company announced a new order win.

In an exchange filing released on Saturday, Shakti Pumps stated that it has received the Letter of Empanelment from MSEDCL for 15,000 off-grid solar photovoltaic water pumping systems (SPWPS) for the entire state of Maharashtra under Magel Tyala Saur Krushi Pump Yojana.

The total value of the 15,000 pumps said to be delivered as part of the contract was estimated at around Rs 353.89 crore, including GST. The domestic order, which includes the design, manufacturing, supply, transport, installation, testing and commissioning of the off-grid solar photovoltaic water pumping systems, is expected to be executed within 60 days from the issuance of the work order/NTP, the company said.

The Magel Tyala Saur Krushi Pump Yojana was announced by the Maharashtra government in 2024. It aims to provide 10 lakh agriculture solar pumps for new connections to the farmers. With the deployment of the scheme, the state government expects more than 10 lakh acres of land to come under irrigation.

Also read: Bonus issue alert! Last day to buy this Ashish Kacholia-backed multibagger stock for 5:1 bonus reward. Do you own?

Shakti Pumps share price

With today’s gains, Shakti Pumps shares are on track to post their sharpest single-day rise of the year.
The stock has gained around 4% over the past week and more than 13% in the last month. However, it remains down over 17% so far in 2026 and has declined 35% over the past year. Despite the recent weakness, Shakti Pumps has delivered multibagger returns of 523% over the last three years and 373% over the past five years.After hitting a 52-week high of Rs 979 apiece in July last year, the stock sharply tumbled over 53% in eight months to hit a 52-week low of Rs 456.35 apiece in March this year. The stock has so far recovered 36% since then. The company currently has a market capitalisation of nearly Rs 7,606 crore.

Also read: A pail of water may unleash India’s Rs 20 lakh crore opportunity

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Shares of Diamond Power Infrastructure jumped 10% to its day’s high of Rs 218 crore on BSE after the company received a Rs 435 crore order for Hyderabad data centre projects.

According to a filing with the exchange, the company received a supply order valued at Rs 435.71 crore (exclusive of GST) for High Tension (HT) and Low Tension (LT) power cables for the 310 MW HYD22 to HYD26 Data Center Projects at Hyderabad.

The project is to be executed by L&T, Sterling & Wilson, and Blue Star. According to the filing, the total project cost includes packing & forwarding and freight & transit insurance, but excludes GST. Price is on a variation basis per the IEEMA PV formula, using April 2026 IEEMA indices as the base.

The scope covers the supply of approximately 21.35 lakh meters (over 2,100 km) of cables, with deliveries commencing from the first week of August 2026 and completing in a staggered manner by March 2027.

The filing with the exchange stated this is among the largest single cable supply orders in India’s data center segment and reinforces the Company’s position as a preferred supplier of power cables for mission-critical digital infrastructure.

The order was received in the ordinary course of business and at arm’s length and the transaction does not fall within related party transactions.
“Data centers are emerging as one of the most significant demand drivers for the Indian cable industry. This order for the 310 MW Hyderabad campus validates our manufacturing capability, quality systems and delivery reliability for mission-critical infrastructure. This is among the largest Data Center orders for Power Cables in the Country. We look forward to executing it to the highest standards within the committed timeline.” Says Umesh Chayya, Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing.Diamond Power Infrastructure is an integrated manufacturer of power transmission equipment, offering LV, MV, HV and EHV power cables, control and instrumentation cables, fire-resistant and flame-retardant cables, solar DC and EV charging cables, and conductors, serving sectors including power, infrastructure, oil & gas, renewables, real estate and data centers.

In the last one year, the shares went up 56.56% and in the last two years, they went up 72.77%. In the last three months and six months, the shares of Diamond Power Infrastructure were up 69.04% and 53.32% respectively.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

The temporary organization behind the Department of Government Efficiency reached its scheduled termination date Saturday, July 4, 2026.

President Donald Trump’s executive order last year creating the U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization set a July 4, 2026, termination date for that temporary organization.

“A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence,” Trump said when he announced the initiative.

DOGE claims it saved $215 billion, including by slashing duplicative software licenses, canceling diversity, equity and inclusion grants and terminating leases for underused office space. The figure has been disputed, and DOGE’s public receipts do not fully document the headline savings claim. The webpage showing DOGE’s savings listed $215 billion in estimated savings as of Sunday.

ELON MUSK LOSES TRILLIONAIRE STATUS AFTER TECH SELL-OFF ERASES BILLIONS FROM FORTUNE

Billionaire tech executive Elon Musk, who led DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts when Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, stepped down from the department in May of last year.

“The final step of @DOGE is to delete itself,” Musk said in December 2024.

DOGE initially aimed to save $2 trillion in government cuts before reducing its goal to $1 trillion.

In its final social media post, DOGE said: “While the formal mission of DOGE has come to an end, the mission to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse will continue.”

“Good stewardship of taxpayer dollars and accountable government are not temporary initiatives,” the July 4 X post reads. “We hope those principles endure long into America’s next 250 years. It has been our greatest honor to serve the American people. Happy 4th!”

The White House praised the administration’s efforts to cut government spending through DOGE.

“President Trump was given a clear mandate to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse from the federal government,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said in a statement to Politico. “He has made significant progress in making the federal government more efficient to better serve the American taxpayer.”

No final DOGE review is expected, according to Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought.

NUMBERS SHOW HOW MUCH TRUMP HAS SLASHED GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE

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“We have no plans to do kind of a closing DOGE report,” Vought said at a hearing on Tuesday. “We’re always happy to give you our assessment of that work. I think it made some really important strides.”

The White House budget proposal released in April asked for $35 million for the U.S. DOGE Service. But Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, pointed out that DOGE “was pretty much eliminated.”

DOGE Service acting Administrator Amy Gleason has also taken on a new role, leading a health technology office at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Healthcare Dive reported last month.