Academy school leaders in England face pay cap to curb ‘banker-style’ salaries 01. July 2026 (07:00) Nearly 100 academy chief executives earn more than £200,000 a year, and at least one more than £500,000The era of academy school leaders in England receiving “banker-style salaries” and hefty annual increases may soon be over, with the government to introduce limits on executive pay.Nearly 100 academy chief executives earn more than £200,000 a year, with pay in academy trusts equating to anything from less than £5 a pupil to more than £150. Only a quarter of the high-earners were women. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Specieswatch: How heatwaves play havoc with bees’ fertility 01. July 2026 (07:00) Study reveals extreme heat causes sharp drop with knock-on effect for pollination of food crops in following yearsWe know heatwaves have serious health consequences for humans, but what about other species? A study has shown they severely diminish bees’ fertility, with significant implications for the pollination of food crops in the following years.Prof James Gilbert of the University of Hull his and colleagues simulated a three-day UK heatwave in the lab and measured its effect on solitary red mason bees, compared with those kept under control conditions of an ordinary summer. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democratic socialist Melat Kiros defeats 15-term incumbent in Colorado House primary 01. July 2026 (06:32) Twenty-nine-year-old beat representative Diana DeGette in deep-blue Denver districtThe democratic socialist Melat Kiros unseated long-serving US representative Diana DeGette in Colorado’s primary elections held on Tuesday, the latest in a string of high-profile victories for the party’s insurgent left. The Associated Press reported that Kiros had defeated DeGette for the Democratic nomination in the deep-blue first congressional district centered on Denver. Kiros’s triumph came a week after New York voters unseated two Democratic congressional incumbents and replaced a third who was retiring with candidates who had campaigned on standing up to Israel amid accusations that it was carrying out a genocide in Gaza. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lily Allen defends length of West End Girl shows: ‘I don’t want anyone to feel ripped off’ 01. July 2026 (05:23) Singer has likened live show to theatre rather than a conventional concert but fans have criticised the performances and lack of crowd interactionLily Allen has defended the live tour of her latest album West End Girl, after fans complained about feeling short-changed by the 55-minute shows that have no crowd interaction.Allen is currently on the UK leg of the world tour for the album that was inspired by her divorce from the actor David Harbour. The show sees her perform the 45-minute album in its entirety, without speaking to the crowd or performing any of her back catalogue. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump raked in more than $1bn from crypto businesses in 2025, filing shows 01. July 2026 (02:29) President’s crypto ventures have eclipsed in revenue much of his property portfolio that took decades to accumulateDonald Trump raked in more than $1bn from his crypto businesses last year, a federal filing released Monday shows, giving a substantial boost to his annual income.In his second term, the president and his family have heavily invested in digital money and various crypto businesses with Trump announcing at the start of 2025 that he wanted the US to be the “crypto capital of the world”. Trump’s crypto earnings are in addition to profit from his legal settlements, real estate and royalty deals. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US-Iran talks over $6bn Iranian assets to restart 01. July 2026 (01:57) Two sides yet to have face-to-face meeting since signing deal to reopen strait of HormuzTalks at an indirect level between US and Iranian officials over unfreezing at least $6bn Iranian assets will recommence on Wednesday in Doha, Iran has said. The two sides are yet to have their first face-to-face meeting since signing a deal to extend the ceasefire and reopen the strait of Hormuz.US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Qatar on Tuesday for talks covering regional issues including the Iran ceasefire and Lebanon, but Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, stressed these were with Qatari mediators. “They are not here for their negotiations with the Iranians,” he said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Historic Event’: Trump announces Republican midterm convention 01. July 2026 (01:39) President unveils plans for Dallas summit, in break with tradition of conventions only in presidential election yearsDonald Trump has announced that Republicans will stage their first ever national convention ahead of the midterm elections, a move aimed at energizing voters as the party fights to hold its narrow congressional majorities in November.The two-day gathering will take place in Dallas on 9 and 10 September, marking a break from the longstanding tradition of holding national conventions only during presidential election years. Trump confirmed the plans on Tuesday in a Truth Social post, describing Dallas as “One of my favorite places in the World”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pakistan roof collapse kills 14 children at tutoring centre 01. July 2026 (01:34) Local officials said preliminary reports showed the centre was unregistered and operating inside a privately owned residential building Fourteen children died after the roof of a tutoring centre collapsed in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday, rescue officials have said, as authorities opened the way for a possible negligence investigation.Punjab’s emergency service said rescuers found children and a 30-year-old female teacher under the rubble of the private after-school facility. The children killed were aged five to 16 with most below nine. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK poll highlights fears about access to emergency contraception 01. July 2026 (01:01) Doctors say survey shows need for morning-after pill to be available at corner shops, petrol stations and supermarketsAlmost half of the UK population believe it would be difficult to access emergency contraception on a Sunday, while nearly two-thirds think they would struggle after 10pm, according to a survey.The research, carried out by YouGov, found that only 7% of people believe it would be difficult to access emergency contraception during the daytime on a weekday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Women with irregular periods should be checked for PMOS, NHS says 01. July 2026 (01:01) Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome is underdiagnosed and inconsistenly managed, according to NiceUp to 4 million women with irregular periods should be investigated for polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, according to new NHS guidance.PMOS, previously known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, is believed to affect up to 13% of reproductive age women, the World Health Organization estimates. Continue reading...(The Guardian)