Female US rower completes historic solo journey from California to Hawaii 04. July 2026 (23:06) Kelsey Pfendler set out to become first US woman, youngest woman and fastest woman to solo over 2,400-mile journeyA Grand Canyon river-rafting guide who aimed to become the first US woman to row solo across the mid-Pacific has completed a record-breaking journey from California to Hawaii.Hundreds of people gathered to cheer on Kelsey Pfendler as she pulled into a Honolulu harbor on Friday night on her 21ft rowboat, Lily, after nearly a month-and-a-half at sea, local media reported.Guardian staff contributed Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Archaeologists uncover ancient Byzantine city in Egypt’s western desert 04. July 2026 (22:32) Well-preserved fourth-century quarters reveal details of daily life, urban development and economic activitiesArchaeologists in Egypt have uncovered a well-preserved Byzantine-era city in the western desert.The fourth-century quarters had residential and religious structures, including a basilica-style church in the Dakhla oasis. Archaeologists also found coins, pottery fragments and tools. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Norfolk Island’s unique corals under triple threat from disease, El Niño and now government-approved dredging 04. July 2026 (22:00) Exclusive: Most of the island’s corals are likely to be species that have not been formally described by science, researcher saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastScientists fear unique corals that fringe Australia’s remote Norfolk Island could disappear because of a triple threat of disease, El Niño and a federal government plan to dredge a neighbouring shipping channel.A failure to manage sediment and pollution washing into bays from cattle farming, cleared land along with wastewater has been blamed for widespread disease and outbreaks of algae over the corals. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Doctors’ soaring use of AI scribes prompts Australian government warning over privacy 04. July 2026 (22:00) Exclusive: With the technology fast becoming popular in GP surgeries, regulators are monitoring its implementation and potential pitfallsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal health department has raised concerns about the use of AI scribes by doctors as the health regulator considers the need for safeguards around the technology.AI scribe tools record, transcribe and summarise conversations between doctors and patients for medical notes, and have boomed in popularity in the past 18 months. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Neo-fascist group Patriot Front parades Confederate flag in Washington DC on Fourth of July 04. July 2026 (21:47) Hundreds of masked members of the white supremacist organization marched and chanted in the US capitalHundreds of masked men carrying banners, including the Confederate flag, marched through Washington DC on the Fourth of July, the 250th anniversary of the US’s inception.The group appeared to be led by Thomas Rousseau, founder of the neo-fascist, white supremacist organization Patriot Front. Members of the group wore white masks and gathered in front of DC’s Union Station. They later marched towards Capitol Hill, WTOP reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukrainian drones hit St Petersburg oil terminal and nearby port 04. July 2026 (21:09) St Petersburg governor reports no victims after ‘large-scale’ overnight attack that also hit Baltic port of VysotskUkraine launched a big overnight drone attack on St Petersburg and the surrounding area, hitting the city’s oil terminal and port infrastructure in the wider region.The St Petersburg governor, Alexander Beglov, said the city had been subjected to a “large-scale” drone attack that had hit its oil terminal. He said there were no casualties and the aftermath of the attack had been dealt with. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tens of thousands march in London for annual Pride parade 04. July 2026 (20:06) More than 35,000 people from about 600 groups made their way from Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall via PiccadillyTens of thousands of people marched through central London for the annual LGBT+ Pride parade.Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, joined the crowd as they proceeded through the capital on Saturday afternoon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
In a pickle: US pickle company pulls out of DC fair over Confederate flag 04. July 2026 (19:21) Mt Olive Pickle Company says it was unaware image of flag was included in exhibit, and cites value of ‘human dignity’A leading vendor of the US delicacy that is the pickle has withdrawn from the Great American State Fair in Washington DC after North Carolina’s booth displayed a video containing a Confederate flag.The Mt Olive Pickle Company, which is located in eastern North Carolina and bills itself as the “#1 bestselling brand of pickles, peppers and relishes in the US”, told local news station WNCT it had been unaware that an image of the flag would be included in a video as part of the state’s exhibit. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three children dead after boat capsizes during storm in Wisconsin 04. July 2026 (18:04) Officials rescued seven other people after a sudden storm led to a boat sinking on Geneva LakeThree children died after a boat capsized on Wisconsin’s Geneva Lake during inclement weather on the eve of the US’s semiquincentennial celebrations, and seven other people had to be rescued by emergency responders, according to officials.A recreational motor boat with 10 passengers, including four children, sank on Friday afternoon as the boat “attempted to navigate to safety as weather conditions deteriorated” amid an intense, sudden storm, the city of Lake Geneva police department said in a statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Elon Musk posted twice as often on UK race and immigration as about SpaceX in IPO run-up 04. July 2026 (17:00) Guardian analysis of X feed shows how keen world’s richest person was to air his views and ‘interfere’ in British politics Elon Musk posted about race and immigration in the UK on his social media network X twice as often as he did about SpaceX, which he also owns, in the run-up to the aerospace and AI company’s initial public offering.A Guardian analysis of Musk’s posts, replies and reposts between 31 May and 12 June has shown the extent to which the social media activity of the world’s richest person, who lives primarily in the US, has focused on UK politics. Continue reading...(The Guardian)