Family of former Vodafone manager found drowned call for ‘Adrian’s law’ to protect franchisees 26. July 2026 (08:00) Adrian Howe’s family believe that fears his deal would be financially ruinous led him to kill himselfThe family of a former mobile phone store manager who was found drowned days before his new Vodafone franchise was to open its doors is pressing the government to introduce a new franchising law in his name.The call comes a week after Vodafone settled a long-running legal claim filed by 62 of its former franchisees who alleged that the company “unjustly enriched” itself at their expense by up to £85m. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK journalists are self-censoring stories about Trump and the right over safety fears’ 26. July 2026 (07:00) Government-backed investigation finds risks are normalised amid ‘a narrowing of the public conversation’ Journalists are self-censoring their reporting on rightwing protests, Donald Trump’s administration and trans issues because of growing concerns about their personal safety, with newsrooms accused of “normalising” the risks they face.Hundreds of journalists from across the UK have anonymously disclosed increasing nervousness over their security. Some have reported avoiding or altering coverage on certain topics due to intimidation, leading to self-censorship and “a narrowing of the public conversation”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How Trump could undermine the midterms 26. July 2026 (07:00) The president really has no power over elections – but that hasn’t stopped Trump from laying the groundwork to challenge results in NovemberWhen Donald Trump commandeered primetime US television last Friday, he delivered a familiar, but still extraordinary, message. The president argued once again that the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden, were illegitimate.US elections are “vulnerable to being rigged and stolen”, Trump alleged, claiming that “the trust of the American people was lost” when he was defeated. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Venezuela men sue aviation firms who flew them to notorious Salvadorian jail 26. July 2026 (07:00) Exclusive: CSI Aviation and GlobalX accused of violating civil rights as part of Trump immigration crackdownVenezuelan men sent last year to a notorious Salvadorian terrorism prison by the Trump administration are suing the US aviation companies that transported them there.A lawsuit filed this week in federal court in Washington DC accuses the companies CSI Aviation and GlobalX of violating the Venezuelans’ civil rights, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and other violations, for their role in flying the three planes that took the men to El Salvador. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Scandalous, irrational and irresponsible’: French beekeepers’ fury at lifting of pesticides ban 26. July 2026 (07:00) Allowing use of two neonicotinoids to combat crop-ruining disease will kill bees and reduce harvests, union saysBeekeepers and environmentalists in France have reacted furiously after parliament approved a bill reauthorising two banned pesticides scientists say can poison bees.“There are no words to describe the frustration,” said Carolyn Bouguet, a beekeeper in Essonne, greater Paris. “Bee populations have already been badly compromised by climate change, new parasites and loss of habitat. And now this.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Socialist’ teachers target eight Victorian Labor MPs including education minister – as it happened 26. July 2026 (06:16) This blog is now closed‘We’re cohesive’: PM says after muted ALP national conferenceThe prime minister, Anthony Albanese, spoke with David Speers on Insiders as Labor’s 50th national conference in Adelaide was wrapping up.Well, our government does listen to people but [there was a] broad consensus about the direction in which we’re taking government … A government that doesn’t sit idle. We don’t just occupy the space. And there’s recognition of that from delegates that we are a united party We’re cohesive. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Albanese at odds with Labor policy which now says telehealth should be allowed for euthanasia consultations 26. July 2026 (04:22) Campaigners say existing federal ban on phone or video calls for assisted dying consultations adversely affects people living in regional AustraliaFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor will come under pressure to allow Australians to access voluntary assisted dying through telehealth services, with the Greens and independent Kate Chaney to introduce legislation based on changes to Labor’s national platform.Last week’s national conference in Adelaide changed the ALP platform and committed Labor to overturn a Howard-era law banning people from having medical appointments regarding euthanasia via telehealth services. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Berlin Pride march called off after car crashes into crowd of people near route 25. July 2026 (23:20) Christopher Street Day event cancelled after incident that left several people injuredA major incident has been declared in Berlin after reports that a car has crashed into a crowd of people, with several injuries.The city’s Christopher Street Day Pride parade was called off by the organiser after the incident in the city’s Tiergarten park near the route of the parade on Saturday night. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police investigate payments to Reform UK first revealed by The Guardian 25. July 2026 (21:11) Scotland Yard is looking at two £250,000 donations to the party by Britain Means Business before the 2024 electionPayments to Reform UK first revealed by the Guardian are now being investigated by the Metropolitan police.The inquiry is scrutinising payments made to the party via a company controlled by its deputy leader, Richard Tice. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
More than 1 million children lost access to food benefits after Trump bill passed 25. July 2026 (21:07) Analysis finds more than 4 million Americans lost Snap benefits, or food stamps, from July 2025 to March 2026More than a million children across the US have lost access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) food benefits since Congress approved the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).The analysis found that more than 4 millions Americans were removed from Snap from July 2025 to March 2026, marking a significant decline in participation in the federal food assistance program. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
