China tests long-range missile in South Pacific in move Australia condemns as ‘destabilising to region’ pred 1 uro in 58 minutami 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)
Anthony Albanese’s ‘shag, marry, date-gate’ underscores the double-edged sword of social media appearances pred 2 urama in 3 minutami Everything in Canberra is content now, from performative questions to calculated outbursts and comments about Kylie MinogueFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnthony Albanese probably didnt expect an interview with a comedian in her “Bush Barbie” character would have kickstarted the biggest firestorm of the week.But the prime minister, appearing alongside a stuffed copy of his beloved cavoodle Toto – fell victim to an entirely avoidable and regrettable controversy when he played along with a “shag, marry, date” game. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sky owner announces £1.6bn takeover of ITV’s broadcasting arm pred 2 urama in 17 minutami US telecom giant Comcast to snap up free-to-air TV channels and streaming platform to create UK’s biggest commercial broadcasterSky has announced a long awaited £1.6bn deal to buy ITV’s broadcasting and streaming arm to create the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster.Sky, which is owned by the US telecoms company Comcast, will pay £1.2bn in cash initially for ITV’s media and entertainment business, which include its free-to-air TV channels in the UK and ITVX streaming platform. It has agreed to pay a further up to £200m in the second half of 2028, depending on 2027 advertising revenues. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Turkey blocks cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and a ‘furious’ Patti LuPone, citing ‘moral values’ pred 2 urama in 28 minutami Broadway star, who is performing on the vessel, expresses shock after authorities ban Scarlet Lady from docking in Kuşadası A cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and the Broadway performer Patti LuPone has been blocked from entering Turkey after local authorities said their behaviour didn’t “align with the structure of our society and our moral values”.Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady set sail from Athens, Greece, on 5 July for what was billed as “an epic all-gay voyage” over 10 days run by Atlantis, a US company that puts on cruises and vacations for LGBTQ+ people. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Meta bosses grilled over decision to cut ‘censorship’ that has potentially unleashed more antisemitic content pred 2 urama in 30 minutami ‘Over-enforcement poses significant risk to the communities that we try to protect,’ royal commission told A decision aimed at reducing “censorship” on major social media sites including Facebook and Instagram potentially led to greater levels of hate speech, the royal commission into antisemitism has heard.Meta announced in January 2025, after the re-election of Donald Trump in the US, that it would “reduce censorship”, get rid of factcheckers and only tackle illegal and very serious violations proactively, relying on users to report less serious breaches. Its platforms include Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Millions join funeral procession for Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei pred 2 urama in 31 minutami Crowds grew as they moved through Tehran as mourners wore black and carried flags with the slogan ‘we will rise’A millions strong crowd assembled on Monday to take part in the funeral procession of Iran’s assassinated supreme leader.The scale, and depth of the march, however engineered, is an extraordinary turn around for a country that only seven months ago was gripped by street protests that saw thousands killed by government security forces. Many will say that the assembly was a monument to a misconceived war launched on Iran by Donald Trump in February. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Half of affordable new homes in rural England could be at risk if planning rules relaxed, analysis shows pred 2 urama in 42 minutami Exclusive: National Housing Federation says ending quotas for developers could cost 32,000 homes over 10 yearsHalf of all affordable housing supply in rural England could be under threat under plans being considered by ministers to relax regulations for private housing developers, according to analysis.The government has proposed ending affordable housing quotas – known as section 106 agreements – for new developments of between 10 and 49 houses in an effort to jumpstart sluggish housebuilding rates. Ministers are due to make a final decision within weeks on whether developers should be allowed to make cash payments to local authorities instead. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Likely origin of mysterious ‘space balls’ found on Queensland beaches revealed by Australian Space Agency pred 2 urama in 59 minutami Organisation says objects consistent with ‘debris from a foreign rocket body that recently re-entered the atmosphere’ The Australian Space Agency has said the six so-called “space balls” found in north Queensland were likely from a “foreign rocket body” that had recently re-entered the atmosphere after being in orbit.The six mysterious objects were found by the public washed ashore in the Forrest Beach area, north of Townsville, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and were suspected of containing hazardous chemicals. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How BT’s ‘no nonsense’ first female chief helped turn company around pred 3 urami in 42 minutami The firm’s share price has risen 80% under Allison Kirkby’s leadership – but pressure remains for her to deliver further growthIf timing is everything, then Allison Kirkby may have judged it perfectly.Since becoming BT’s first female chief executive more than two years ago the company’s share price has climbed 80%, an investor-pleasing turnaround that has seen Kirkby well-rewarded with a pay and bonus package of £5.6m last year, the largest for a boss of the telecoms company in well over a decade. However, there are questions over how much credit Kirkby can take for the apparent revival of the business. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine hopes to sign ‘drone deals’ with seven Nato countries by end of year pred 4 urami in 42 minutami Kyiv offers expertise on how to develop radar systems and ground stations as it turns from buyer to security providerUkraine hopes to sign major defence deals with at least seven Nato countries by the end of the year, according to a top official, highlighting a new aspect of Kyiv’s foreign policy intended to show it can be a provider as well as a recipient of military hardware and expertise.Kyiv has signed “drone deals” with six countries in recent months. Three are Middle Eastern states, who became eager for Ukrainian support after being targeted with Iranian long-range Shahed drones after the US-Israeli war on Iran began in spring. These are the same weapons that have targeted Ukrainian cities relentlessly over the past four years. Azerbaijan has also signed an agreement with Kyiv, as well as the Nato members Latvia and Lithuania. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
