Ebola outbreak in DRC the fastest growing in the history of the virus 31. July 2026 (10:00) As the death toll rises to almost 1,500, and with a vaccine against the Bundibugyo strain potentially still months away, health workers face a battle to slow the outbreakThe latest numbers of confirmed cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has made this latest outbreak the fastest growing in the known history of the virus.At 3,360 confirmed cases, the disease is now affecting people in five provinces in the east of the DRC, with 1,487 deaths recorded, representing an overall case fatality rate estimated at about 45%, according to Congolese health officials. Health responses to the outbreak have been badly hampered by conflict in many of the affected areas. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK house prices up 0.1% in July as buyers remain cautious on interest rates 31. July 2026 (09:56) Price of average home now £277,542, up from £277,484 the previous month but lower than in May, says NationwideBusiness live – latest updatesEconomic uncertainty dampened UK house price growth in July as prospective buyers remained cautious about interest rates during the Iran war in what should be the peak housebuying season.House prices rose by only 0.1% in July from a month earlier, according to the lender Nationwide, while annual price growth slowed to 1.8% this month, down from 2.2% in June. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gina Rinehart threatens ABC with legal action over Race Around the World program 31. July 2026 (09:19) Hancock Prospecting says chair Kim Williams among those ‘on notice’ for failing to remove program that joked about turning Rinehart’s insides into a sausage rollGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGina Rinehart has threatened the ABC with legal action over crude comments aired on the national broadcaster, including a joke about mixing her guts into a sausage roll.The four-minute film, titled A Very Relaxing Video, aired on the Race Around the World program on 12 July and concluded with the film-maker, Kate McGuinness, making crude and offensive comments about Rinehart. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
BP puts North Sea oil and gas business up for sale 31. July 2026 (09:18) Move will end six decades of production in area, as new CEO tries to simplify firm and cut debtBusiness live – latest updatesBP has put its North Sea oil and gas business up for sale as it looks to end six decades of production from the region.The firm announced on Friday morning that it had launched a formal process to market its North Sea business for a potential sale. The move comes as BP’s new chief executive, Meg O’Neill, tries to simplify the company and cut its debt levels. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Extremely scary findings’ show climate crisis is supercharging Europe’s wildfire weather 31. July 2026 (09:00) Latest study says global heating has made hot, dry and windy conditions in Spain at least 20 times more likelyThe extreme heat and drought stoking huge wildfires in Spain and France were made far more likely by the climate crisis, a scientific analysis has found.Global heating made hot, dry and windy weather at least 20 times more likely in Spain and twice as likely in France, experts from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) consortium calculated. The finding is the latest to pin the blame for the continent’s sweltering and deadly summer firmly on the heating caused by the burning of oil, gas and coal. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: Trump claims Gaza deal reached; Iran targets US bases in Kuwait 31. July 2026 (08:22) Response from Hamas and Israeli officials suggest Gaza deal still faces obstacles; Tehran launches drone strikes at Kuwait in retaliation for recent US attacksTrump claims agreement for ‘complete disarmament’ of Hamas in Gaza but support uncertainSaudi Arabia prepares sea and possible land offensive against HouthisMore now on Iran’s military saying it launched drone strikes targeting US military facilities in Kuwait on Friday, as fighting between Washington and Tehran resumed after a nearly week-long lull.The army said it targeted “fighter aircraft shelters, satellite communications systems and equipment storage facilities at Ahmad al-Jaber air base in Kuwait”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour hire firm paid Mick Gatto more than $1m to secure work on Big Build, CFMEU inquiry told 31. July 2026 (08:11) M Group’s lawyer tells inquiry while the firm’s directors ‘may have done business with Gatto’ they were not ‘frontmen’ for himFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA labour hire company accused of being a front for underworld figure Mick Gatto paid him more than $1m over nine years, with its lawyer telling an inquiry it did so to secure work on Victorian government Big Build sites where the construction union had influence.Integrity expert Geoffrey Watson SC appeared before the Queensland inquiry into the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) on Friday, defending his Rotting from the Top report, which alleged Gatto controlled several M Group companies through “dummy directors” Michael Portia and Tony Paragalli. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Rob has the bucks cash’: NSW Liberals used Reformers funds to pay for ‘personal expenditure’, Icac hears 31. July 2026 (08:03) Robert Assaf separately tells anti-corruption inquiry money funnelled through lobbying firm to create ‘maximum benefit from a tax perspective’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA group of young conservative Liberal power brokers accused of soliciting illegal donations used some of the funds to pay for a bucks night, one of its members has told a corruption inquiry.The Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Friday heard again from Robert Assaf, who this week was the first witness from the conservative right Liberal factional group the Reformers to give evidence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Calls grow ‘to flunk’ Portugal’s education minister amid exam marking fiasco 31. July 2026 (08:00) Fernando Alexandre’s push to digitise marking process deemed a failure with some students and parents contemplating legal actionPressure is growing on Portugal’s education minister to resign amid student and teacher protests over his handling of this year’s national school exams.Fernando Alexandre is accused of failing to take responsibility for what critics say is an unprecedented and chaotic school exam season affecting children aged 14 to 18, prompting student protesters to call for him “to be flunked”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Medical colleges condemn scrapping of NHS placements for overseas doctors 31. July 2026 (08:00) Scheme brought in up to 500 foreign-trained doctors a year and was seen as example of British ‘soft power’The NHS has scrapped a longstanding scheme that let overseas doctors boost their skills in UK hospitals and was seen as an example of British “soft power”.Senior doctors have criticised NHS England’s decision to axe the Medical Training Initiative, under which 400 to 500 foreign-trained doctors were given placements in Britain every year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
