Reform UK-led council fails to attract any sponsors for union flag scheme 03. July 2026 (19:15) Party had justified plan to hang flags in Nottinghamshire on basis that local businesses would foot £75,000 billA £75,000 scheme by a Reform-led council to hang union flags at sites across the county, which the party said would “not cost the taxpayer a single penny” as it would be sponsored by local businesses, has failed to attract a single sponsor, it has emerged.The plan to attach the flags to brackets on about 180 lamp-posts and other places was agreed in the autumn by Nottinghamshire’s council, won by Nigel Farage’s party in last year’s May elections. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pope praises US history of welcoming immigrants in implicit rebuke to Trump 03. July 2026 (18:26) Pope Leo urges Americans to live up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence in his first major address to the USPope Leo has used his first major address to his home country to praise the US history of welcoming migrants, urging Americans to live up to the ideals put forward in the Declaration of Independence.In his latest implicit rebuke to Donald Trump, the first US leader of the Roman Catholic church said the word “America” had become a “byword for freedom” across the world because of the way the country welcomed migrants. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hundreds join global support group for survivors of drug-facilitated rape 03. July 2026 (18:22) Zoe Watts and Amanda Stanhope launched network after being repeatedly assaulted by partners while unconsciousTwo women who were drugged and raped by their partners while they were unconscious have said hundreds of people – including about 80 in the UK – have come forward to an international support group for victims of the crime.Zoe Watts and Amanda Stanhope, who were both repeatedly assaulted by their partners while unconscious, are calling for tighter laws to stop men sharing images and videos of sexual assaults and rape online. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
