Criminal Cases Review Commission told to urgently improve after Malkinson failings 02. July 2026 (01:01) Watchdog criticises ‘lack of proactive, effective casework quality assurance’ but says CCRC ultimately fit for purposeThe Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) must urgently improve its investigations to avoid a repeat of failings such as those in the Andrew Malkinson scandal, a watchdog has found.Anthony Rogers, the chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service, delivered the warning after carrying out an independent inspection of casework by the body that investigates potential miscarriages of justice. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
AI summaries of Tripadvisor hotel reviews downplay serious complaints, investigation finds 02. July 2026 (01:01) AI-generated overview found to gloss over allegations of sexual harassment and describes hotel being sued over hygiene as ‘spotless’A hotel being sued for mass food poisonings was described as “spotless” and a resort where guests complained of sexual harassment by staff was praised for “friendly” service by an AI intended to summarise millions of Tripadvisor reviews.The overviews of customer feedback downplayed serious complaints, ranging from the stench of mould to a lack of mains water, according to an investigation by the consumer campaign organisation Which? Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Student drowns in River Wye while on Duke of Edinburgh’s Award trip to Wales 02. July 2026 (00:33) Body of 18-year-old man located after search involving Mountain Rescue, police and the fire serviceA student has drowned while on a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) trip in Wales, police have said.Emergency services were called to the River Wye in Glasbury, Powys on Tuesday evening after it was reported an 18-year-old male had entered the water and could not be found. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US-UK drug deal could result in 229,000 excess deaths in England, analysis suggests 02. July 2026 (00:30) Analysis reveals extent of impact on NHS of placating Donald Trump over price of British medicine exportsThe NHS will have to divert £45bn from essential services to pay for new medicines under the terms of the UK-US trade deal agreed last December, leading to more than 200,000 avoidable deaths of patients, analysis has found.Ministers have defended the deal as a way of helping British drug exports to the US avoid tariffs, and giving patients in England access to potentially life-extending drugs that would otherwise be denied. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Authorities arrest 10 people accused of facilitating sex trafficking in Los Angeles 02. July 2026 (00:07) Prosecutors said members of the a gang targeted about 51 underage girls and women along LA’s Figueroa corridorTen people accused of facilitating a sex-trafficking operation that targeted about 51 underage girls and women have been arrested as California authorities conducted their latest operation to curb trafficking along the Figueroa corridor in Los Angeles, according to a Wednesday news release.Prosecutors said on Wednesday that members and associates of the south Los Angeles-based gang the Hoovers acted as pimps, recruiting minors and women, some of whom were runaways or foster kids, with the “false promise” of a better life or with violence into sex work between February 2021 and June 2026. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Teenager seriously injured in shooting near Birmingham mosque 02. July 2026 (00:04) Boy, 16, in hospital with gunshot wounds after incident in Alum Rock areaA teenage boy sustained “potentially life-threatening” gunshot wounds in a shooting near a mosque in Birmingham, police have said.Officers were called to reports of an incident on Bowyer Road, near St Saviours Road in the Alum Rock area, shortly before 5.30pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia politics live: Labor makes partial u-turn on controversial automated aged-care assessment tool 01. July 2026 (23:43) Meanwhile, Pat Conroy to tell National Press Club that Labor is the true party of defence and national security. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnika Wells criticises Coalition and Greens for punting social media bill to inquiryAnika Wells is having a crack at the opposition and Greens, accusing them of delaying the social media bill to an inquiry for examination.It is a craven and trivial decision for Angus Taylor to push this off for eight weeks … Until yesterday this was a bipartisan measure proudly vetted across the world and it’s on Angus Taylor to explain why a 500-word, four-page bill needs eight weeks of inquiry. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Maltese businessman paid hitmen €150,000 to kill Daphne Caruana Galizia, jury hears 01. July 2026 (22:28) Yorgen Fenech, heir to property empire, on trial for alleged involvement in murder of journalist, which he deniesOne of Malta’s wealthiest businessmen plotted to kill the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, paying €150,000 (£130,000) for three hitmen to carry out the murder, a jury has heard.Yorgen Fenech, the 44-year-old heir to a property empire that includes the Hilton Malta hotel and casino, is on trial for the 2017 murder. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democratic socialists ride wave of momentum in primaries from New York to Colorado 01. July 2026 (22:11) Surging membership and pro-Palestinian activism reshape debate on how campaigning movement governs in officeInside a Brooklyn industrial garage turned underground event venue, local leaders of the Democratic Socialists of America urged hundreds of mostly young people last month to avoid complacency. Sure, New York City had a socialist representative in the US Congress, and just elected a socialist mayor. But they had so much more to do.“If we only elect Zohran, we only elect AOC, our project will have been a failure,” Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the city’s DSA chapter, told the assembled crowd. “Our ambitions are so much higher than just a position in government. We want to transform the world.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Scientists fear seabird die-off as El Niño looms: ‘We don’t know how bad this will get’ 01. July 2026 (21:37) Many seabirds are starving to death as a marine heat wave lingers off California and fish seek deeper, cooler watersWithin minutes of walking on a San Diego beach, marine ornithologist Tammy Russell found the feathered carcasses – one after another.Some were mixed in with washed up kelp. Others were under rocks. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
