Parents shocked after children’s paper hedgehogs found to contain pages from explicit novel 06. July 2026 (12:58) Handmade creations distributed to raise funds for charity prompt complaints to policeAt first, the cute paper hedgehogs seemed like a kind gesture. An older man had crafted the little creations from donated books to raise money for charity, handing them to children in local shops.But on closer inspection, some parents were horrified to discover the hedgehogs had been made from the pages of an erotic novel. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Wildfires rage across southern Europe, forcing thousands to flee homes 06. July 2026 (12:01) Tour de France spectator ban as country along with Spain, Portugal and Greece faces ‘powder keg’ after heatwaveEurope live – latest updatesWildfires raging across southern Europe have forced thousands to flee their homes and prompted officials to ban spectators from a stage of the Tour de France, amid warnings of “powder keg” conditions after a record-breaking early summer heatwave.Hundreds of firefighters are tackling blazes that have burned through almost 20,000 hectares (49,500 acres) in Portugal, Spain, France and Greece. Strong winds are forecast to fan the flames and temperatures are expected to rise again this week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pizza Express ‘held inquiry into former prince Andrew’s visit to Woking branch’ 06. July 2026 (12:00) Firm reportedly felt it was in public interest to test alibi offered by former prince after Virginia Giuffre accusationPizza Express held an internal inquiry to investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s visit to its Woking branch, as he has claimed he did on the day he is alleged to have had sex with a teenage victim of Jeffrey Epstein 20 miles away in central London, it has been reported.According to sources who spoke to the BBC, senior management at the restaurant chain held the investigation because they felt it was in the public interest to test the alibi the former Duke of York had offered. The broadcaster reported that the company had found neither evidence he had been to the restaurant in Surrey, nor evidence to definitively say he had not. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: Funeral procession for supreme leader Ali Khamenei begins in Iran 06. July 2026 (11:49) Millions join funeral procession in capital of Tehran to mourn Khamenei who was kiled in US-Israel airstrikes in FebruaryAliyah Abdel Majid al-Halaq is the mother of Mohammad, who was killed by Israeli forces last year when he was nine years old. She writes:
‘At first, you believe your tragedy is unlike any other. Then you discover that your family has become part of an ever-growing list. More mothers, each carrying the memory of the moment after which life was never the same.’Philip Goodwin, who leads UNICEF UK, writes that Mohammad’s story ‘resonated deeply’ after travelling to the West Bank to meet Palestinian families there. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zelenskyy calls for ‘strong decisions’ at Nato summit after Russia kills 14 in overnight strikes on Kyiv – Europe live 06. July 2026 (11:43) Ukraine’s president makes plea ahead of summit this week in Ankara as strikes leave 117 injured in capital cityMeanwhile, Ukraine’s military said on Monday it struck oil refineries in Russia’s Yaroslavl and Leningrad regions overnight.Explosions were recorded near the Slavneft-YANOS oil refinery in Yaroslavl region, and smoke was seen rising from the premises, the Ukrainian military’s General Staff said on Telegram, as reported by Reuters. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Europe braces for another heat surge as tropical nights return 06. July 2026 (11:40) Spain, Portugal, France and UK face spell of high temperatures, while Super Typhoon Bavi barrels through north-western PacificEurope live – latest updatesAnother surge of heat spread across western Europe at the weekend, with Spain, Portugal and France already sweltering and southern parts of the UK joining them on Monday.Temperatures are once again forecast to climb to 10-15C above average, with highs approaching 40C (104F) in the hottest parts of France and Spain, while the UK is expected to reach the low- to mid-30s celsius. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EV charger rollout in UK slows amid political uncertainty and rise in installation costs 06. July 2026 (11:00) Growth in charge points falls markedly despite surge in number of rapid-charging unitsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK’s rollout of electric vehicle chargers has slowed amid challenging cost pressures and uncertainty over government sales targets.Charger companies installed 5,100 public charge points in the first half of 2026, pushing the total to 121,171, according to Zapmap, a data company. That was a 10% increase on the same point a year before – well below growth rates above 40% in 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ocado co-founder to step down as chief executive in 2028 06. July 2026 (10:53) Online grocer says Tim Steiner will remain as CEO until December 2027 before taking on ‘founder role’ for a further yearBusiness live – latest updatesOcado’s co-founder and chief executive, Tim Steiner, will stand down in 2028 after weeks of speculation over the online grocer’s leadership.Steiner, who co-founded Ocado in 2000 with two other former Goldman Sachs bankers, will continue to serve as chief executive until the start of the 2028 financial year, which begins in December 2027, by which point the company hopes to have a successor in place. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israeli command system identified 850,000 targets in Gaza and Lebanon wars, says supplier 06. July 2026 (10:00) Elbit Systems supplied Tzayad digital army programme to map people, vehicles and other objects in real timeIsrael identified about 1,000 potential targets a day during the first two years of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon with its command and control system, according to a presentation by the country’s largest arms supplier, Elbit Systems.A total of 850,000 targets were detected in real time by the Israeli Tzayad digital army programme across all the military’s theatres of war between 7 October and the end of 2025, the company said at a military conference in London. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
China tests long-range missile in South Pacific in move Australia condemns as ‘destabilising to region’ 06. July 2026 (08:44) Australian government confirms it was informed by China of its intent to conduct the test on MondayChina has conducted a long-range missile test in the South Pacific, in a move the Australian government condemned as “destabilising to the region” and which was also criticised by other regional leaders.A test missile topped with a dummy warhead landed in “designated waters” of the Pacific, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported on Monday. The missile test was a “routine arrangement” of China’s annual military training, with prior notification to relevant countries, Xinhua said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
