Labour asks Electoral Commission to investigate claims Farage broke electoral law by not disclosing gifts – UK politics live 07. July 2026 (11:43) Parliamentary authorities are already looking into a £5m donation to the Reform Uk leader from the crypto billionaire Christopher HarborneQ: Do you think the parliamentary commissioner for standards should investigate Nigel Farage’s gifts from George Cottrell?Badenoch said that was a matter for the commissioner.[Farage is] hinting at press regulation. For all of the criticism and the attacks, and I would even say abuse that I’ve got from the press, I’ve never once recommended curbing our free press. I think this is one of the amazing things about this country.I would be very worried about a Reform government using government power to control the press. I don’t think that that would be right. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nato summit begins with focus on defence spending as Zelenskyy and Trump due to meet - Europe live 07. July 2026 (11:34) Meeting of 32 member states comes at crucial time for alliance after tensions with US over Iran and GreenlandUkraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has landed in Ankara, too.In a post on X, he said “important work lies ahead” in the Turkish capital, as he hoped for “a strong and productive Nato summit.”“Decisions are needed now that will provide greater protection for our people, more capabilities for our defence, and even stronger security cooperation between Ukraine, Europe, and the United States.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
NSW’s top prosecutor gave false evidence on media leak about young Indigenous offender, inquiry finds 07. July 2026 (10:30) Sally Dowling admits her office pitched the story but says it was not authorised by her, while her colleagues call her ‘a person of integrity’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA New South Wales parliamentary committee report has made findings accusing the state’s top prosecutor of giving false evidence under oath to an inquiry and recommended the attorney general investigate whether there are grounds to remove her from office.But the state’s attorney general, Michael Daley, has called the report a “stitch-up from the outset” and said it was “the worst … that I have seen in my nearly 21 years in parliament”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK-based couple say overseas surrogacy agency made twins using wrong sperm 07. July 2026 (10:00) Couple ‘devastated’ after DNA tests for children’s British citizenship showed no biological connection to themA British-based couple who had twins through an overseas surrogacy agency later discovered they had no biological connection to the children after the agency mistakenly used donor sperm.The couple, referred to as PP and QQ in court documents, were “devastated” after making the discovery via DNA tests while applying for British citizenship for the children. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK house prices rise for first time since start of Iran war 07. July 2026 (09:21) Typical property cost £299,330 in June, 0.2% more than the month before, says LloydsBusiness live – latest updatesHouse prices across the UK have risen for the first time since before the onset of the Iran war, leaving property values narrowly below those at the start of the year, according to a survey.The typical property cost £299,330 in June, a 0.2% increase on the month before. This came after a monthly drop of 0.2% in May, according to the latest Lloyds house price index, previously known as the Halifax HPI. The annual growth rate edged higher to 0.6% from 0.5%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Severe storms in China bring tornadoes and landslides that have killed 15 people 07. July 2026 (08:51) Chinese leader Xi Jinping calls for ‘all out’ rescue effort as death toll rises and 16 people remain buried after a landslide in the country’s westThe death toll from devastating storms in parts of China rose to 15 on Tuesday, with hundreds more injured and tens of thousands evacuated, state media reported, as the country’s leader, Xi Jinping, urged “all out” efforts to rescue people affected by the weather.Thunderstorms and gale-force winds killed at least 11 people and injured 331 in the central province of Hubei, where “severe convective weather” hit cities, while tornadoes were reported elsewhere late Monday, state news agency Xinhua said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Five charged in Liberia after more than 200kg of cocaine seized in drug bust 07. July 2026 (08:30) Shipment discovered at airport in Monrovia and valued at £14.2m had been falsely declared as seasoning cubesAuthorities in Liberia have charged five suspects over one of the largest drug seizures in the country’s history, after police found more than 200kg of cocaine falsely declared as Maggi seasoning cubes.The shipment, with an estimated value of $19m (£14.2m), was discovered at the international airport in Monrovia on 8 June, but the suspects were not named until a press briefing at the weekend. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
AI models already ‘doing things their creators never intended’, Australia’s assistant technology minister warns 07. July 2026 (08:08) Andrew Charlton says artificial intelligence ‘cheating, deceiving, going their own way’ – and time to get ahead of it is in testing labFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastArtificial intelligence models are already “cheating, deceiving and going their own way”, Australia’s assistant minister for technology, Andrew Charlton, has warned, as the federal government’s AI Safety Institute begins testing the latest models.In a speech to an AI safety forum in Sydney on Tuesday, Charlton said safety for AI matters now as “AI systems are already doing things their creators never intended”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
WiseTech shares rise after Richard White resigns as executive chair amid police investigation 07. July 2026 (07:23) Rise in share price adds nearly $1bn to tech giant’s market value while White continues on as a board director and chief innovation officerGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRichard White has resigned as executive chair of WiseTech, the Australian tech company he co-founded, denying allegations he exploited a worker’s financial and visa status for sex.White will stay on as a board director and chief innovation officer, with Raelene Murphy replacing him as chair, the company announced on Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
June heatwave in UK led to ‘mass sleep deprivation’, poll suggests 07. July 2026 (07:00) Exclusive: Record temperatures fuelled by climate crisis left 86% of homes ‘too hot’ and many people feeling unwellWith parts of England once again in the grip of a heatwave, an opinion poll shows the one at the end of June led to “mass sleep deprivation”, with two in three people struggling to sleep during the sweltering nights.Almost half of people said they had lost at least three hours of sleep each night. The results are consistent with scientific research showing that global heating is damaging sleep across the world. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
