VW faces protests in Germany over proposed job cuts and factory closures 09. July 2026 (11:19) Demonstrations at 18 sites set up as radical transformation plan put to board of Europe’s biggest carmakerVolkswagen’s proposal to slash up to 100,000 jobs and close factories faces a major test on Thursday as formal proposals are put to the supervisory board at Europe’s biggest carmaker, with protests planned at all plants in Germany.IG Metall, the influential staff union, has organised demonstrations involving shop stewards and union council members at 18 sites, including the company’s headquarters. It warned the chief executive, Oliver Blume, that he cannot “pass the buck for failures of recent years on to the workforce”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bonnie Tyler, 80s pop legend known for Total Eclipse of the Heart and more, dies aged 75 09. July 2026 (11:15) Welsh singer and Eurovision entrant’s other hits included Footloose soundtrack smash Holding Out for a Hero• Alexis Petridis on Bonnie Tyler: She totally eclipsed her power-ballad peers, and created an astonishingly wide variety of pop• From Swansea clubs to worldwide fame: Bonnie Tyler – a life in picturesBonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer whose husky yet commanding voice made songs such as Total Eclipse of the Heart into 1980s classics, has died aged 75.A message on her Facebook page reads: “Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham calls for ‘more open’ public debate about defence spending – UK politics live 09. July 2026 (11:08) Next Labour leader, who is set to be elected unopposed, outlines foreign policy principles largely in line with StarmerBurnham promises he will not use party discipline to stifle debateThere is an urgent question in the Commons at 10.30am. Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, has asked for a statement about the “Iran’s violation of the ceasefire”.And there will be two ministerial statements after business questions.An estimated 7.28 million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of May, relating to 6.16 million patients, NHS figures show.This is up from 7.22 million treatments and 6.11 million patients at the end of April. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform activists urged to switch focus from Manchester to Farage’s Clacton contest 09. July 2026 (11:06) Exclusive: Party hoped to mount serious challenge in mayoral race but attention has been diverted to EssexUK politics live – latest updatesReform UK activists have been urged to divert from the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection to support Nigel Farage’s “fake” contest 250 miles away in Clacton.A WhatsApp message shared with party members in north-west England said: “The message could not be more clear. We now need all of our fantastic activists, branch officers and councillors to come and help us in Clacton.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
France national team uses ICE deportation planes for World Cup travel 09. July 2026 (11:00) The plane that French team used after match with Paraguay flew 44 deportation-related flights this year aloneThe French men’s national soccer team, whose star Kylian Mbappé is one of the world’s most outspoken athletes against far-right politicians, has been using a charter airplane company that is at the heart of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.Images of the team posted on social media and flight tracking data show the French team have used Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) for at least three domestic flights between their World Cup games and base camp in Boston. That same airline charter company has operated more than half of ICE’s removal flights in 2024 and 2025. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Venomous snakes escape breeding farms in southern China during flooding 09. July 2026 (10:08) Local media in Hengzhou report king ratsnakes and cobras among hundreds in flood waters caused by typhoon MaysakHundreds of snakes, including cobras, have escaped from flooded breeding farms in southern China as severe storms continue to batter parts of the country.State media reported that a snake farm in Hengzhou, in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, was hit by flood waters after days of heavy rainfall caused by typhoon Maysak, prompting warnings for nearby residents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Great Britain’s grid operator issues another warning over power supplies in heatwave 09. July 2026 (09:48) Neso asks for extra supplies from electricity generators to cope with added demand on Thursday nightGreat Britain’s energy system operator has warned that “extreme temperatures” could hit power supplies on Thursday night, as the UK entered its third heatwave of the year.The National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued a notice overnight asking for extra supplies from power generators to cope with the added demand from households turning on fans and air conditioners to cope with the high temperatures. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Frump well and truly dumped: M&S to celebrate 100 years at London fashion week 09. July 2026 (08:44) Reputation for frumpiness is over as M&S wins over younger audience with shows at Silverstone, Ibiza and now LFWThis autumn’s London fashion week boasts plenty of familiar labels, from Burberry to Alexander McQueen, ready to show off their wares. But on Wednesday there was an unexpected addition: Marks & Spencer is joining the luxury lineup.The British high-street retailer will celebrate its 100th anniversary in the fashion industry by staging a catwalk show in September highlighting its latest women’s and menswear collections. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Taylor defends Sarah Henderson’s triple-zero calls amid questions about claimed Telstra-outage death in SA 09. July 2026 (07:02) South Australian police say they’re unaware of death despite claim by Liberal senator Kerrynne LiddleFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAngus Taylor says his shadow communications minister Sarah Henderson was “doing her job” when she “tested” the triple-zero system by making unnecessary calls to it during Telstra’s nationwide outage.The opposition leader has also dismissed concerns about Liberal senator Kerrynne Liddle’s claim that an elderly person died as a result of the outage on Wednesday, after South Australian police said they were unaware of any such death. In a statement, she said her office had advised the family to inform police about the incident. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘They said: wear angelic white’: British women who accused US airman of rape tell of American military trial 09. July 2026 (07:00) Two women who alleged they were raped by Tyrion Davis in Suffolk had to testify at an invasive court martial on a US baseMinutes after fleeing the home of an American airman, Rebecca called 999 in tears to report that he had raped her. She recalls vomiting at a police station in Suffolk as she described being repeatedly and violently attacked.Officers took her to a sexual assault referral centre for an intimate examination. There, a nurse measured and photographed her injuries, including bruises and bite marks on her neck. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
