Meta bosses grilled over decision to cut ‘censorship’ that has potentially unleashed more antisemitic content 06. July 2026 (08:12) ‘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 06. July 2026 (08:10) 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 06. July 2026 (08:00) 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 06. July 2026 (07:42) 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 06. July 2026 (07:00) 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)
