‘Riot of colour’: Gillian Ayres show in Devon just the tonic for gloomy times 02. July 2026 (15:00) Plymouth retrospective of artist, who died in 2018, aims to ‘champion and celebrate the power of the imagination’She spoke about indulging in colour, feasting on beauty, feeling a little giddy when drinking in glorious hues and textures – and not searching too deeply for meaning.So in these gloomy times, a major retrospective of the work of the artist Gillian Ayres in her adopted Devon homeland may be just the job. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anger as report says Trump hijacked US anniversary to serve own agenda – US politics live 02. July 2026 (14:58) Top House Democrat on committee that issued report says president ‘tries to steal the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and turn it into something that’s all about Trump’Full report: Trump hijacked US’s 250 anniversary to serve ‘political ideology and pet projects’Sign up for the Breaking News US emailMy colleague, Gaya Gupta, notes that the latest jobs numbers make it all the more likely that the US Federal Reserve will continue to focus on inflation at its next meeting in late July.Last month, the Fed’s new chair, Kevin Warsh, emphasized “price stability” in his first press conference since taking office and said the central bank will continue to pursue its longstanding goal of a 2% inflation rate. But this week, he told a conference of central bankers that “inflation risks have come down”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Birth tourism’ in Trump administration’s sights after supreme court setback | First Thing 02. July 2026 (14:47) Federal prosecutors to focus on issue despite court backing constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship. Plus: Greek priest whose metal music has become cult smashGood morning.The acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, has said federal prosecutors and law enforcement officers will focus on combating so-called “birth tourism” – which involves tourists, temporary visitors, or undocumented immigrants traveling to the US primarily to give birth and and secure birthright citizenship for their children.What did Blanche say? “There’s other things … the federal government can do in the visa process, and the application process, to try to minimize or limit the opportunity of folks coming here not to visit, and not to do what they’re saying they’re doing on the tourist visa, but just to have a baby that can then be a US citizen. What we have to do as Department of Justice is make sure our agents … and the FBI are focused on stopping that.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
MPs seek to end UK broadcast of Russian cartoon Masha and the Bear 02. July 2026 (14:46) Cross-party group writes to ministers of concerns children’s show contains unsubtle ‘propaganda content’UK politics live – latest updatesA cartoon for preschoolers depicting the adventures of a small girl and a retired circus bear may seem an unlikely source of parliamentary concern.Yet a cross-party group of MPs has written to ministers urging them to examine whether they can stop the globally popular Masha and the Bear from being broadcast in the UK, alleging it amounts to a cuddly form of Russian propaganda. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
No 10 shares ‘public’s shock’ at reports of convicted people smuggler living in UK 02. July 2026 (14:41) Downing Street urgently looking into BBC report that ‘godfather’ of Calais migrant camps is living in LeicestershireDowning Street has said it shares “the public’s shock” at a report that a convicted people smuggler is living in Britain and is urgently looking into the circumstances.The man, once labelled “the godfather” of the Calais migrant camps, was tracked down by the BBC to Leicestershire, where he reportedly changed his name from Twana Jamal and was working illegally while attempting to claim asylum. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Vatican excommunicates all members of ultra-conservative rebel group SSPX 02. July 2026 (14:32) Schism caused by Society of Saint Pius X ordaining four bishops without consent presents first crisis for Pope LeoEurope live – latest updatesThe Vatican has excommunicated a rebel group of ultra-conservative Catholics who defied Pope Leo by ordaining bishops without his consent, creating a schism in the Roman Catholic church.In a statement on Thursday, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, who heads the Holy See’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the group from the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), founded in the Swiss village of Ecône in 1970, had “committed an act of a schismatic nature” which, under canon law, is punishable with automatic excommunication. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Papua separatists kill American pilot in ‘message’ to US and Indonesia 02. July 2026 (14:18) Rebels shoot pilot and set his civilian plane on fire amid long-running low-level battle for independence in regionSeparatist rebels in Indonesia’s restive easternmost region of Papua have shot dead an American pilot and set a civilian plane on fire, in what a spokesperson for a local militant group described as a “message” to the US and Indonesian governments.Sebby Sambom, a spokesperson for the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), named the pilot as Nicholas F Gosselin and said separatist fighters had set his plane on fire after it landed in the Yahukimo region of Highland Papua province. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nippon Steel takeover doesn’t mean safer, cleaner conditions, US workers and residents say 02. July 2026 (14:00) Pennsylvania families note promised investment has yet to deliver safer mills or cleaner air in the Mon ValleyIt was two days before Father’s Day, and Trisha Quinn was wondering how her six, 12 and 17-year-old nieces and nephews would handle the first of many without their dad.Timothy Quinn, 39, worked at the Clairton Coke Works plant south of Pittsburgh, one of US Steel’s biggest production sites and the largest of its kind in the western hemisphere, for 18 years. Last August, he and colleague, Steven Menefee, were killed there in an explosion. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Social media platforms ‘monetise gore and fringe content’, eSafety regulator tells antisemitism commission 02. July 2026 (13:41) Julie Inman Grant singles out X when giving evidence to royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMainstream platforms are fighting to distribute and monetise “gore” and “fringe” content, the eSafety watchdog has told the antisemitism royal commission.Australia’s eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, on Thursday singled out X, telling the inquiry her office has to fight its billionaire owner, Elon Musk, to try to keep footage – including some posted of the Bondi terror attack – restricted or off the platform. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Forecasters warn of record-breaking US summer heat amid intense El Niño 02. July 2026 (13:30) More than 100 million people could be affected in week leading to 4 July, with increased risks of droughts and wildfiresMeteorologists are anticipating a tumultuous summer that could rank as one of the US’s hottest ever.New data released on Tuesday showed the first six months of the year were the hottest ever measured for parts of eight western states. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
