No evidence for ‘witches’ marks’ claims at old English buildings, historian says 09. July 2026 (07:00) Author argues symbols such as daisy wheels are no more than the working marks of stonemasonsOver the years, English Heritage and Historic England have claimed to have identified large numbers of “witches’ marks” or “ritual protection symbols” on the walls of historic buildings, including medieval churches and houses.Now a leading architectural historian has said there is “absolutely no evidence” that these marks have anything to do with witches or any “mystical meanings”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Modi and Albanese to ink major uranium deal as Indian leader’s visit expected to draw 30,000-strong crowd 09. July 2026 (06:58) Ahead of Modi’s Marvel Stadium event, Anthony Albanese credits Indian PM’s ‘leadership and personal engagement with Australia’ for strength of bilateral relationshipFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese has announced a major uranium deal with India that could end decades of delays to regular shipments of the fuel.The prime minister said the agreement would enable uranium exports to flow to India for “peaceful purposes,” with Modi hailing it as vital to help expand his country’s nuclear energy sector. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Western Europe records hottest-ever June as heatwaves intensify 09. July 2026 (06:00) Temperatures across ravaged region 3C above average as scientists warn of risks for people, ecosystems and infrastructureRecord wildfires in Europe show failure to adapt carries a mounting costWestern Europe has been scorched by its hottest June on record, scientists have said, as the UK enters its third heatwave of the year and wildfires ravage France and Spain.Inflamed by carbon pollution, the deadly June heatwave helped push surface air temperatures for the region 3.06C above their average from recent decades, according to the EU’s Copernicus climate monitoring service. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ABC and SBS need ‘oversight’ committee to vet Israel coverage, Jillian Segal tells royal commission 09. July 2026 (05:35) Antisemitism envoy says public broadcasters, which currently have ombudsman to handle complaints, need independent oversight committeeFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, wants a new “oversight” committee to vet the ABC and SBS’s Israel coverage, she told the royal commission on Thursday morning.Both the ABC and SBS have an independent ombudsman to handle complaints. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US launches strikes on Iran for a second day after Trump says agreement to end the war is ‘over’ 09. July 2026 (04:42) Attacks on three locations across Iran came after three tankers in the strait of Hormuz were targeted on TuesdayThe US military carried out strikes on Iran for a second day, hours after president Donald Trump said that an interim agreement to end the war was “over”.Late on Wednesday Iranian state media reported explosions in the port city of Bandar Abbas in the strait of Hormuz; in Sirik, another southern coastal city; and the south-western Bushehr province, home to Iran’s nuclear-power-plant complex. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Graham Platner ends Maine Senate campaign after sexual assault allegation 09. July 2026 (02:47) Democratic nominee, dogged by controversy since entering contest, says ‘for the movement to continue, it can’t be me’Woman accuses Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner of sexual assaultGraham Platner, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maine, is suspending his campaign following sexual assault allegations.Platner announced his decision in an 11-minute video posted to social media on Wednesday evening, in which he accused the Democratic establishment and corporate media of “using these allegations to take away all of the things we need to run a campaign”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump to ask US supreme court to reconsider birthright citizenship ruling 09. July 2026 (02:38) Request for rehearing comes after Fox News report of Texas hospital advertising maternity services in MexicoDonald Trump said on Wednesday he would ask the US supreme court to reconsider its ruling that the 14th amendment to the US constitution guarantees birthright citizenship in light of what he described as shocking new evidence: a hospital in Texas advertising its services to expectant mothers in Mexico on a pair of billboards.“Signs and Billboards are being put up all over our Southern Border, and Mexico, advertising BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, with ‘Deliveries starting at $4000’, the president wrote on his social media platform, in what appeared to be a wild exaggeration of a Fox News report on just two billboards. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Telstra outage: glitches continue as ‘secondary’ outages hit triple-zero calls and regional trains remain stranded 09. July 2026 (02:35) Carrier says some still unable to connect to emergency hotline a day after initial mobile network outageFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTelstra customers are still having trouble calling triple zero on Thursday morning as the telecommunications giant confirmed a secondary issue stemming from Wednesday’s national outage continued to impact calls.Some who tried to call the emergency hotline were receiving an error message and their phones would try to connect to an alternative network, Telstra said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pet prescriptions could be capped at £21 under proposed vet sector reforms 09. July 2026 (01:01) Ministers also considering licence requirement and regulator to try to cut bills and increase choice UK vets may have to have a licence and cap prescriptions for pet medicine at £21 under plans being considered by the government.Ministers are also considering establishing a regulator for the veterinary sector, including inspections, a mandatory licensing system and published compliance reports to improve accountability and choice. Every vet practice could need an official operating licence – similar to GP surgeries and care homes – under proposals in a white paper. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
All lobbying should be publicly declared in transparency laws shake-up, watchdog says 09. July 2026 (01:01) Ethics and integrity commission chief says overhaul is crucial to help restore trust in standardsAll lobbying of government ministers, aides and senior officials should be publicly declared – from WhatsApp chats to party conference meetings – in a fundamental shake-up of transparency laws, the government’s ethics watchdog has said.A review led by Doug Chalmers, the head of the ethics and integrity commission, has called for a new register to highlight who is lobbying, which policies they are seeking to influence and who in government they are meeting. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
