Reform councillors told to describe donations inquiry as establishment stitch-up 24. July 2026 (17:35) ‘Daily routine of hit jobs and smears will not deter us from winning next general election,’ party briefing notes sayReform UK has instructed its councillors to describe a police investigation into donations from the mother of George Cottrell as an establishment stitch-up, as polling showed the party’s popularity plummeting.Internal briefing documents circulated to the party’s councillors included instructions to respond to questions about a Metropolitan police investigation into party donations with: “It is now clear that the establishment will try anything to stop us”, the Times revealed on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Was Keir Starmer’s leaving party the boozy birth of a new Labour force? 24. July 2026 (17:33) A £10,000 bar tab was drunk, there was a ‘lot of anger’, and now ex-ministers are thinking how to cooperate in future Keir Starmer’s leaving party had been planned for some time. But in years to come it might be seen as the birth of a new Labour movement.Dozens of ministers, aides and Starmer himself headed to the Grafton pub in Kentish Town on Monday night to drown their sorrows, hours after the former prime minister left Downing Street for the last time. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Guyanese authorities confirm death of 72 people in sinking of coastal ferry 24. July 2026 (17:28) Of the estimated 179 people aboard, 76 were rescued as efforts continue to salvage the ship and recover all bodiesThe confirmed death toll from the recent capsizing of a state ferry off Guyana’s coast has risen to 72, with more bodies recovered as a multinational team struggle to salvage the partially submerged vessel.Of the estimated 179 people aboard, 76 people were rescued. The government has estimated that 100 may have died in the accident, which would make it the worst marine tragedy on record for the South American nation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis latest: US carries out strikes across Iran as Tehran targets American bases in region 24. July 2026 (17:27) Latest attacks come after Trump vowed ‘major military punishment’ for Tehran and its Houthi alliesAn Omani delegation has arrived in Iran to discuss a framework “to establish appropriate mechanisms for managing ship traffic in the strait of Hormuz,” Iranian state news agency IRNA reports.Tehran has maintained that it’s open to managing the strait in coordination with Oman, though the US and Gulf states have rejected the idea. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US cyclosporiasis outbreak expands to nine states as CDC investigates 7,400 cases 24. July 2026 (17:02) Over 11,500 people this summer are suspected to have been sickened by disease that can cause explosive diarrhea, CDC saysInvestigations into the largest cyclosporiasis outbreak on record expanded to nine states this week, as more than 11,500 people are suspected to have been sickened this summer, according to reports and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Data released by the CDC this week said the agency is looking into 4,173 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of the disease and investigating an additional 7,400. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian households face prospect of interest rate hike and petrol prices rising above $2 a litre 24. July 2026 (17:00) Economists’ warning comes as escalating Middle East crisis pushes global crude oil back above $US100 a barrelGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian households face the prospect of a Reserve Bank interest rate hike and petrol prices above $2 a litre over the coming weeks, economists warn, as the escalating Middle East crisis pushes global crude back above $US100 a barrel.Financial markets now see an even chance the RBA board will deliver a fourth cash rate increase at the next meeting on 11 August. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pauline Hanson’s domestic violence comments were no stumble 24. July 2026 (17:00) The One Nation leader has allied herself with men’s rights activists for years, consistently suggesting women routinely make false allegations of violence Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFor a decade, Pauline Hanson has been beating the same drum.Her comments this week – suggesting domestic violence was a “two-way street” and questioning why women did not simply leave abusive relationships – have caused significant concern and been labelled “dangerous” by experts and other commentators. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How dangerous are wildfires and how can we stop them from getting worse? 24. July 2026 (16:47) The conditions for ferocious fires are expected to worsen as the planet heats up, putting more people at riskFierce wildfires after back-to-back heatwaves have forced tens of thousands of people across southern Europe to flee their homes, while powerful infernos across Canada and the US choke big cities with thick smoke. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Confusing product recall adds to US cyclospora outbreak uncertainty 24. July 2026 (16:31) Explosive diarrhea infection detected in 41 states with at least 72 sickened by new, as yet unknown source of parasiteConfusion abounds in the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands in at least 41 states, as officials identify a new cluster of cases and more potential products come under scrutiny.The recall of products during this outbreak of explosive diarrhea has been an unusual one, complicated by poor communication, politicization and the delay of a new regulatory rule could have helped trace the cyclosporiasis outbreak faster. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Parts of England under heat alert with 30C possible 24. July 2026 (16:14) Warning in place until Sunday morning in southern and central regions after drought declared in parts of WalesHeat alerts are in place across parts of England, with officials saying temperatures are likely to have an impact on health and wellbeing.The yellow heat health alerts issued for the East Midlands, east of England, London, south-east, south-west and West Midlands are in place until 9am on Sunday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
