Disability benefits system ‘not working’ Timms review finds 09. July 2026 (01:01) Interim report into Pip found process had systematic and deep-rooted problems and required bold and radical overhaulA landmark government review of disability benefits has warned “challenging discussions” remain on how to overhaul and pay for a system it concludes is unfit for purpose and too often leaves vulnerable claimants dehumanised and degraded.The Timms review of the personal independence payment (Pip) concluded the benefit, claimed by nearly 4 million people in England and Wales, suffered from systematic and deep-rooted problems that had undermined public trust in the benefits system. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ambassadorial appointments should be subject to veto by MPs, committee recommends 09. July 2026 (01:01) Foreign affairs select committee says Peter Mandelson episode was ‘nothing short of disastrous’ for governmentPolitical selections for ambassador posts should be subject to a veto by MPs, a parliamentary committee has recommended, as it made damning criticisms of how Peter Mandelson became Britain’s top diplomat in Washington.The foreign affairs select committee concluded that Mandelson’s appointment was “nothing short of disastrous”, “highly damaging” for the British government and “painful and offensive to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham promises Labour MPs he will not use party discipline to ‘stifle debate’ 08. July 2026 (23:44) Prime minister in waiting looks to address frustrations backbenchers had with Keir Starmer’s style of party managementAndy Burnham has promised MPs that he will never use party discipline to “stifle debate” and says they should raise problems and policy ideas “without fear or favour”.Nominations for the Labour leadership will open on Thursday, and Burnham is expected to be the only candidate. On Wednesday night the former armed forces minister Al Carns confirmed he would not seek to enter the race to replace Keir Starmer. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: Telstra warns of ‘secondary issue’ after network outage; ABC stands by reporting ahead of royal commission hearing 08. July 2026 (23:42) Telstra says triple-zero issue reduced by 90%, while regional trains are still disrupted in Victoria and NSW. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe ABC issued a statement last night in which it rejected claims “that its journalism has contributed to antisemitism or social division”.It comes ahead of appearances today by senior executives from the corporation and SBS executives at the royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion.The ABC reporting has consistently centred on the experiences of Jewish Australians while providing context regarding broader social and political issues. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US stock markets fall amid Iran strikes and potential higher interest rates 08. July 2026 (23:19) Dow down 1.09%, or 500 points, as S&P 500 sees a small loss and tech-heavy Nasdaq rises slightlyMiddle East crisis liveUS stock markets fell on Wednesday as the US continued strikes on Iran and the Federal Reserve flagged concerns that would warrant higher interest rates.Donald Trump’s declaration at the Nato summit in Ankara that the Iran-US ceasefire is over sent oil prices sharply higher Wednesday. Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumped more than 5% to crest $80 a barrel. US stocks fell in step, with the Dow down 1.09%, or 500 points, at closing Wednesday afternoon. The S&P 500 saw a small loss while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose slightly. Global stocks had fallen earlier in the day, with the UK’s FTSE 100 down 1% as Japan’s Nikkei fell 2.1%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Fourth person killed by agents from Trump’s Memphis anticrime taskforce 08. July 2026 (22:00) Shooting death at an extended-stay motel is fourth officer-involved death since initiative began in SeptemberFederal agents killed a man at a Memphis motel on Wednesday morning in a Drug Enforcement Administration operation with the Memphis Safe Task Force, the fourth officer-involved death since the anticrime initiative began in September.Donald Trump established the federal taskforce by executive order last year, amid a surge of troops and federal law enforcement agents to Democratic-run cities that he claimed were overrun with crime. All four of the deaths have occurred in the last two months. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
White House’s World Cup head defends Trump lobbying Fifa over red card 08. July 2026 (21:56) Andrew Giuliani claims actions of referee Raphael Claus over US player Folarin Balogun ‘very, very highly suspicious’Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House’s World Cup taskforce, has defended Donald Trump’s lobbying of Fifa to lift the suspension of US player Folarin Balogun for Monday’s game against Belgium.The US president claimed that Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, who showed Balogun a red card in the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, was “a little bit suspect, if you check his past”. This was apparently a reference to a match-fixing investigation by Brazil’s senate in 2024 that examined how referees were assigned to games but did not accuse Claus of wrongdoing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mahmood to close loophole blocking deportation of Rochdale grooming gang ringleader 08. July 2026 (21:50) Home secretary expected to amend Immigration Act but hurdles remain if Pakistan continues to refuse to take Shabir Ahmed backShabana Mahmood is planning to change the law so the government can move towards deporting the ringleader of the Rochdale grooming gang.The home secretary is expected to amend the 1971 Immigration Act, which prevents Shabir Ahmed from being removed from Britain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police investigate £37,500 donation to Jenrick leadership campaign 08. July 2026 (21:42) Met confirms inquiry after elections watchdog referred allegations that donations in 2024 were from foreign sourcePolice have launched an investigation into £37,500 of donations to Robert Jenrick’s campaign to become Conservative leader in 2024 after a referral from the elections watchdog.The Metropolitan police confirmed on Wednesday they were undertaking an inquiry after the Guardian revealed in April that they were assessing the evidence about donations to Jenrick, who has since joined Reform UK. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Atmosphere in Iran remains highly charged after Ayatollah’s funeral and escalation of grievances with US 08. July 2026 (21:05) World is witnessing a turning point, says ministry spokesperson, as Iran seeks to assert independence amid rising tensionsBefore a foreign ministry press briefing at the Grand Hotel Tehran, the assembled reporters were asked to stand for the national anthem that duly blared from fuzzy speakers.At the podium, the ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, claimed the world was witnessing a turning point in the history of Shia Islam. A century from now, he claimed, the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be revered as a second Imam Hussain, the martyred grandson of the prophet Muhammad. Donald Trump, meanwhile, would be seen as a latterday Yazid, the tyrannical 7th century caliph. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
