UK investigation to determine if TikTok fails to protect children from harmful content 16. July 2026 (10:29) Ofcom concerned platform’s age verification is ineffective, leaving some at risk of seeing posts about self-harm and suicideTikTok is under formal investigation over concerns it has failed to protect children from harmful content, the UK’s online regulator, Ofcom, has announced.The social media platform’s approach to checking the ages of users has sparked “particular concerns” at the watchdog, almost a year after measures to protect children from the worst of online content came into effect under the Online Safety Act. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Snake in a chain: lucky escape for Australian woman after bite from deadly reptile caught in bike chain 16. July 2026 (08:52) Woman in her 60s was riding on popular cycling trail in northern NSW when she ran over the two-metre-long eastern brown snake, one of the world’s most venomousA woman in her 60s is recovering after being bitten by a two-metre-long eastern brown snake that had become entangled in her bike chain in regional Australia.She was riding on the northern rivers rail trail near Burringbar, in the Tweed shire in northern New South Wales, when she ran over the snake. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK economy grew by 0.1% in May despite impact of Iran war 16. July 2026 (08:03) Rise in GDP follows a 0.1% decline in April, figures from the Office for National Statistics showThe UK economy grew by 0.1% in May, despite the impact of the Iran war on energy costs, official figures show.The Office for National Statistics said GDP rose, in line with economists’ forecasts, following a 0.1% decline in April. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British girl, 15, stranded in Rome for six weeks due to new passport rules 16. July 2026 (08:00) The dual national, who missed six weeks of school, is latest of several children affected by recent Home Office policyA British girl was prevented from returning to her school in the UK for six weeks after a trip to see her grandmother in Italy because of the Home Office’s new rule requiring dual British nationals to have a British passport to get back into the country.The 15-year-old, who was stranded in Rome in April, is just the latest of a number of children and young adults hit by a new Labour government rule that came into force in February. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police release images of clothes to help identify victims of alleged Sydney childcare paedophile 16. July 2026 (07:52) AFP release images of children’s clothes found on electronic devices seized as part of investigation into Hamish Tait Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA tiny dinosaur puffer jacket could lead police to more victims of a former childcare worker and alleged prolific child sex offender.Federal police have released pictures of clothing from children they want to identify, urging parents and carers who recognise the items to come forward. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian patients’ medical records could be sold on dark web after clinics’ data breach 16. July 2026 (07:46) ‘Malicious actor’ obtains sensitive data including Medicare numbers, treatment details and pathology results in cyber-attack on Partnered HealthFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians’ medical records and patient information could be sold on the hidden market, an expert has warned, after a cyber-attack at one of the nation’s biggest healthcare providers.Partnered Health revealed 21 clinics across several cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra were affected when a “malicious actor” accessed its data on 23 June. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds of refugees feared dead after two suspected shipwrecks off Myanmar: UN 16. July 2026 (07:36) Vessels believed to have departed from Myanmar in late June, with mostly Muslim Rohingya minority onboardThe United Nations has said more than 500 people are feared dead after reports of two large shipwrecks off Myanmar since late June.The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its refugee agency UNHCR voiced alarm in a joint statement at reports “that two boats carrying more than 500 people may have capsized off the coast of Myanmar in recent days”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brazil condemns US move to impose 25% tariffs next week 16. July 2026 (07:01) Trade office cites investigation of Brazilian trade practices while Marco Rubio says Lula’s policies ‘bad for Americans and bad for Brazilians’ Brazil has condemned the US decision to impose 25% tariffs on certain Brazilian products, after the Trump administration found a range of what it deemed unfair trade practices by the South American country.“The Brazilian government repudiates the decision announced today by the United States government regarding the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on Brazilian products,” the office of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said in a statement on X, denying it had engaged in unfair trade practices. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘It’s like home’: Brixton market traders fight to stop site being sold to big business 16. July 2026 (07:00) Campaign hopes to buy site for community, fearing it could go same route of corporate gentrification as Camden and Old SpitalfieldsTraders at Brixton market say they are in a battle of “people over profit” after submitting a last-minute plan to stop the site being bought by a private equity firm which they fear could price out longstanding independent businesses.Those behind the Buy Back Brixton campaign said they are through to the second stage of a bidding process, competing against multinational companies to buy Brixton Village and Market Row for community ownership. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
All newborns in England to be screened for spinal muscular atrophy from 2027 16. July 2026 (07:00) Campaigners hail ‘landmark moment’ in early detection and treatment of rare muscle-wasting diseaseEvery baby born in England will be screened for a rare muscle-wasting disease, starting next year, the Department of Health and Social Care announced on Thursday.Campaigners said the “landmark moment” should lead to babies who were found to have spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) being treated early and thus growing up without any of its debilitating symptoms. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
