GMB warns Labour MPs that cap on political donations could endanger party funding 10. July 2026 (14:17) Exclusive: Sources say Labour whips are calling MPs urging them to heed union’s warning and not vote for capOne of Britain’s biggest trade unions has told Labour MPs not to vote for a cap on political donations next week, saying it could endanger union funding for the party.The GMB union has written to its affiliated MPs urging them not to vote for amendments to the representation of the people bill that would cap donations at either £100,000 or £1m. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mahmood’s cutting of protections to enable ‘one in, one out’ asylum deal with France ruled unlawful 10. July 2026 (14:13) Asylum seekers win ruling against home secretary’s reduction of safeguards for potential victims of traffickingUK politics live – latest updatesThe British home secretary’s decision to reduce protections for potential trafficking victims to allow the “one in, one out” asylum returns deal to proceed was unlawful, a high court judge has ruled.The legal challenge was brought by five small boat asylum seekers earmarked for return to France – four from Eritrea and one from Sudan. It related to a change in guidance on the one in, one out scheme, which meant that those denied trafficking protections no longer had the right to ask for it to be reconsidered. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pressure mounts on Texas to address brutal heat crisis in prison cells 10. July 2026 (14:00) State hit by new wrongful death lawsuit by family of Jason Wilson, who died in ‘brutally hot, un-airconditioned’ cellTexas, the state with the largest prison population in the US, is coming under mounting legal pressure to address the ongoing crisis of brutal heat in its cells, as extreme summer temperatures expose inmates to suffering, illness and even death.The Texas department of criminal justice (TDCJ), the state agency that runs dozens of prisons, has been hit by a new wrongful death lawsuit by the family of Jason Wilson. The inmate was found dead in his solitary confinement cell at the Coffield unit in July 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU accuses Meta of failing to tackle mental health risks of ‘addictive design’ 10. July 2026 (13:38) Regulators say Facebook and Instagram features such as autoplay and infinite scroll contribute to ‘compulsive use’EU regulators have accused Meta, the company behind Facebook and Instagram, of failing to tackle the risks of its “addictive design” on the physical and mental health of users.In an official charge sheet against Meta released on Friday, the European Commission said features such as video autoplay and infinite scroll, which provides an endless stream of content, “shift the brain into autopilot mode, contributing to unhealthy habits and compulsive use”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘He’s forcing higher bills’: Trump spends billions to kill clean energy and keep coal alive 10. July 2026 (13:30) Critics accuse president of ‘fattening the wallets of his cronies’ as working Americans face higher energy ratesThe Trump administration has directly spent $2.7bn of taxpayer money on its crusade against wind power while pouring $1.125bn into boosting coal, which critics say is pushing up Americans’ bills.They say the moves are evidence that the president aims to serve fossil-fuel companies like those which donated record sums to his presidential campaign, rather than the working-class Americans to whom he pledged to lower energy bills and other costs. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French billionaire becomes Vodafone’s largest shareholder with £4.4bn stake 10. July 2026 (13:05) Xavier Niel buys 16% through investment vehicle Vega after Emirati telecoms group sells shareholdingThe French telecoms billionaire Xavier Niel has become Vodafone’s largest shareholder after buying a 16% stake for £4.4bn.On Friday, the Emirati telecoms group e&, which first took a stake worth £3.3bn in Vodafone in 2022, announced the sale of its entire shareholding for 112.5p a share. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
New York City to become first in US to ban deceptive subscription practices 10. July 2026 (13:00) Rule from Mamdani administration bans companies from trapping customers into paying recurring charges and also targets ‘junk fees’New York City has adopted a new rule that bans companies from using deceptive subscriptions to trap customers into paying for gym memberships, streaming services and other recurring charges, the city’s consumer protection office said.The new rule, which will start 1 October, promises hefty fines and aggressive enforcement for violators. Companies that do not provide a simple way to cancel could pay $525 per user subscription, back fees and additional fines. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Completely nuts: Dutch gallery covers floor in peanut butter to honour late artist 10. July 2026 (12:48) Wim T Schippers asked that his 800lb sculpture be spread smoothly and without ‘educational purpose’A museum in Rotterdam has paid tribute to the idiosyncratic character of one of the most influential figures in the Dutch arts by spreading 800lb of peanut butter across the floor of one of its galleries.The hexagonal floor installation, called Pindakaasvloer (Peanut Butter Floor), is a recreation of a work by Wim T Schippers conceived of in 1962 and first exhibited in 1969. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Typhoon leaves people stranded on rooftops in China 10. July 2026 (11:18) Eleven reported dead as flooding also brings danger of snakes, while buildings collapse in Mumbai amid heavy rain As the first typhoon to make landfall in China for the 2026 season, Maysak has caused devastating damage in southern and central regions. The Guangxi region received intense downpours of up to 280mm in 12 hours, causing rivers to swell and dam walls to break. By Monday morning, flooding across the city of Nanning and surrounding areas had resulted in many people being stranded on rooftops.Flood waters pose additional threats in China because of the presence of wild and farmed snakes. On Thursday local media reported that hundreds of snakes, including cobras, had escaped from flooded breeding farms. Typhoon Maysak also aided the development of two destructive tornados that swept across central China later on Monday evening. This occurred when warm air from the south, brought up by Typhoon Maysak, collided with cold air in the north. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘AI accountability agenda’: US senator unveils package of bills to curb tech’s harms 10. July 2026 (11:00) Exclusive: Senator Ed Markey on why he has proposed legislation aimed at curbing datacenters, automated hiring systems and harm to childrenUS senator Ed Markey is worried about the perils of unregulated artificial intelligence.What part? All of it: the costs associated with thirsty, energy-guzzling datacenters, intrusive workplace surveillance, bias in discriminatory algorithms, AI overriding workers’ judgments, and deepening economic inequality – as those who profit most from AI rake in extraordinary windfalls. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
