A House vote makes it clear: Israel’s support among Democrats is starting to buckle 16. July 2026 (20:19) More than 100 Democrats voted to cut military aid to Israel as US public opinion shifts – Republicans are noticing tooSomewhere in the days before Wednesday’s vote, Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, sat down and wrote his caucus a letter urging Democrats to reject an amendment that would strip security assistance to Israel. For most of his tenure as Democratic leader, that kind of internal whipping operation would have been unnecessary, because the outcome would have been assumed.His own second-in-command voted the other way anyway. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Vodafone settles legal claim brought by 62 former franchisees 16. July 2026 (20:15) Agreement, without admission of liability, ends 19-month high court dispute that small-business owners said left them with large debtsVodafone has settled a long-running legal claim filed by 62 of its former franchisees who alleged the mobile phone group “unjustly enriched” itself at their expense by up to £85m.The small-business owners – some of whom said they had suffered suicidal thoughts because of the pressure exerted by the telecoms group – launched the high court claim in 2024 after running up large personal debts they said had been caused by their deals with the company. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Uber driver who killed dog walker is also found guilty of trying to murder his landlord 16. July 2026 (20:10) Dawood Safi, 28, mounted a ‘frenzied’ and deadly rampage while in the grip of a psychotic episodeAn Uber driver who stabbed a dog walker to death in a “frenzy of violence” while in the grip of a psychotic episode has also been found guilty of trying to murder his landlord.Dawood Safi, 28, killed 49-year-old Wayne Broadhurst in the random knife attack last October, just minutes after attacking his landlord, Shahzad Farrukh, and a boy of 14. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Largest landlord in the US accused of civil rights violations 16. July 2026 (20:09) Fair housing complaints accuse Greystar of refusing to take tenants who use federal rent vouchersGreystar, the largest owner and manager of apartments in the US, systematically flouts local laws designed to make housing affordable to the poor, according to civil rights complaints filed with authorities in six states and the District of Columbia.The complaints – filed this week with government agencies in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Virginia and Washington DC – accuse Greystar of 114 violations of state and DC fair housing laws. They allege that the company refuses to accept federal housing choice vouchers (also known as Section 8) in places that require landlords to accept them. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Disorderly’ intruder removed from NBC’s Today show after security breach 16. July 2026 (20:06) Unauthorized interloper was arrested after reportedly hurling racial slur at host Craig MelvinA man was arrested after breaking on to the set of NBC’s Today show on Thursday morning and allegedly hurling a racial slur at a host.NYPD officers at New York’s midtown north precinct responded to a report of a disorderly person at the show’s 30 Rockefeller Center studios shortly after 9am. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
General Mills recalls 736,000 Pillsbury rolls over glass contamination fears 16. July 2026 (20:03) FDA notice warns of ‘potential foreign material’ as recall covers two types of frozen bread roll doughGeneral Mills is recalling nearly 736,000 Pillsbury bread rolls over concerns they could contain glass, according to a notice issued by the US Food and Drug Administration earlier this week.The recall covers two frozen bread roll products: 3,080 cases of Hard Roll Dough, with 180 rolls in each case, totaling 554,400 rolls, and 1,260 cases of Kaiser Roll Dough, with 144 rolls per case, totaling 181,440 rolls. The FDA notice states the products may contain “potential foreign material (glass)”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Amnesty UK self-reports to watchdog after calling JK Rowling women’s centre ‘anti-rights’ 16. July 2026 (19:37) Beira’s Place in Edinburgh, founded by the author, says claim was ‘deeply offensive’ as it considers legal actionAmnesty International UK has referred itself to the charity regulator over a report it published that described a sexual violence support centre founded by JK Rowling as “anti-rights”.The UK branch of the global human rights charity listed Beira’s Place in Edinburgh among more than 100 organisations it said were part of an anti-rights movement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former boss of Italian motorways sentenced to 12 years over Genoa bridge tragedy 16. July 2026 (18:25) Giovanni Castellucci among 32 people convicted over the 2018 Morandi Bridge collapse, which killed 43Thirty-two people, including the former chief executive of Italy’s motorway operator, have been convicted over the 2018 collapse of a Genoa bridge in which 43 people died.In a hushed courtroom on Thursday in the north-western Italian city, Giovanni Castellucci, a former boss of Autostrade per l’Italia, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, the highest in the case. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Drugmaker Merck announces approval of new cholesterol-fighting drug 16. July 2026 (17:28) Lipfendra can be taken in conjunction with or an alternative to statins, the most prescribed medication in the USSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The drug giant Merck on Thursday announced it had received FDA approval for a daily pill that can be an alternative to statins for treating high LDL levels, or so-called bad cholesterol. The new pill, Lipfendra, is a version of a drug called a PCSK9 inhibitor.For decades the go-to therapy to treat high cholesterol levels has been statins, the most prescribed medication in the US. But statins come occasionally with side-effects like muscle aches and they sometimes don’t drop cholesterol levels enough to meet recommended levels. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK aid cuts ‘reduce bilateral support to some African countries by 90%’ 16. July 2026 (17:20) Critics say Foreign Office figures send ‘global message about the role the country wants to play on international stage’Labour’s foreign aid cuts mean reductions of as much as 90% in the bilateral support the UK will give to some African countries, Foreign Office figures show.The department’s annual report includes a long-awaited breakdown of how the reduction in the aid budget will affect individual countries for the next three years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
