The curse of Donald Trump: where he goes, sporting defeat follows 08. July 2026 (18:29) The USMNT’s World Cup crashout is the latest episode to suggest the support and intervention of Donald J Trump brings bad luckThis was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every WednesdayBreaking a mirror. Walking under a ladder. Spilling salt. A black cat crossing one’s path.After the events of this week, it feels safe to add one more item to the list of things said to bring bad luck: the support and intervention of Donald J Trump. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Oil prices rise sharply after Iran launches attacks on tankers near strait of Hormuz 08. July 2026 (17:45) Brent crude benchmark rose to more than $78 a barrel, its steepest increase since ceasefire beganOil markets have recorded the sharpest price rise in nearly two months after a series of attacks on fossil fuel tankers near the strait of Hormuz led Donald Trump to declare that the ceasefire deal with Iran was “over”.Brent, the global crude benchmark rose by 5% on Wednesday to more than $78 (£58) a barrel, the highest price since the US and Iran agreed the ceasefire while negotiating an end to the war last month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Treasury yet to do due diligence on finding extra money for UK’s Nato spend 08. July 2026 (17:30) How to hit the 3.5% of GDP defence spending promise would be a matter for ‘the next prime minister’, MPs told The Treasury has as yet carried out no analysis of the trade-offs necessary for the UK to hit the 3.5% of GDP defence spending promise made to Nato, chief secretary Lucy Rigby has said.Under robust questioning in a joint session of the Treasury and defence select committees on Wednesday, Rigby repeatedly said that how to fund additional defence spending would be a matter for “the next prime minister”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US judge throws out Trump’s $3.8bn defamation lawsuit against Washington Post 08. July 2026 (17:18) Suit stemmed from 2023 Post article that said bank with ties to the porn industry helped fund Trump’s media operationA federal judge in Florida has thrown out Donald Trump’s $3.8bn defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post over an article that said a bank with links to the pornography industry helped fund his fledgling social media operation.In a brief order granting summary judgment to the newspaper, Tampa district court judge Thomas Patrick Barber, a Trump appointee, said the Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) had “failed to present evidence that would allow a jury to find by clear and convincing evidence” that the Post acted with actual malice, the benchmark for such an action to succeed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Minister ‘appalled’ as ex-data watchdog prepares to sue woman who raised harassment concerns 08. July 2026 (17:13) John Edwards resigned in June after independent investigation following claims of sexual harassment and bullyingThe UK information commissioner who resigned over sexual harassment and bullying claims is understood to be taking legal action against a woman who flagged his conduct.The science and technology secretary, Liz Kendall, said she was “appalled” by the fact that John Edwards was preparing to serve legal papers on one of the “incredibly brave” women at the ICO who had raised concerns about his behaviour. Edwards resigned from his post as the UK’s data regulator in June after an independent investigation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Contaminated children’s play sand sold in Australia can release toxic airborne asbestos, research finds 08. July 2026 (17:00) Exclusive New study contradicts statements that play products removed from shelves because of asbestos concerns were ‘low risk’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastColourful children’s play sand that was sold in Australia while contaminated with asbestos can release hazardous airborne fibres of the toxic mineral, researchers have discovered.The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the lead researcher of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) study, which found 90% of craft sand samples released asbestos into the air when played with, confirmed the products had been sold in Australia. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australians with cancer are living longer but diagnosis rates on the rise for younger people, report reveals 08. July 2026 (17:00) Flagship health report also shows vaccine rates for children are falling, prompting concern from expertsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralians with cancer are living longer than ever, a flagship health report has revealed, but falling childhood vaccination rates and increasing rates of measles, diphtheria and whooping cough have given experts cause for concern.The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) biennial report card, released on Thursday, shows the five-year relative survival rate for people with cancer has increased from 50% to 72% in 30 years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Photo of bound Palestinian detainee corroborates Israeli torture reports, say rights groups 08. July 2026 (16:23) Image of man in underwear, blindfold and bound to iron rod has been widely shared on social mediaMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesAn Israeli soldier’s photo of a Palestinian man from Gaza stripped to his underwear, blindfolded and bound face-down to an iron rod corroborates extensive reporting on Israeli torture of Palestinians in detention and itself may constitute a war crime, rights groups have said.The image was shared on a now-deleted personal social media account, with the Hebrew-language caption “good morning”. It was brought to wider public attention by a Palestinian writer and activist who goes by Tamer. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bank of England governor says he is ‘able to spot’ lobbying after Farage crypto meeting 08. July 2026 (16:08) Exclusive: Andrew Bailey says no policy changes were made as a result of pressure from crypto tycoon-backed Reform leaderUK politics live – latest updatesThe governor of the Bank of England has broken his silence about the pressure Nigel Farage put on him to drop a cryptocurrency policy that could be costly for Reform UK’s billionaire backer, saying he is “able to spot” and resist lobbying.Andrew Bailey’s comments, in a letter seen by the Guardian, come as Farage’s decision not to disclose a £5m gift from the Thailand-based crypto tycoon Christopher Harborne has triggered the biggest crisis of his political career. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Wyoming tightens wastewater rules after Meta datacenter contractor flushed contaminated water 08. July 2026 (16:08) Meta said it was working with officials to be a ‘good neighbor’ and drinking water supplies were not affectedOfficials in Wyoming said a contractor for Mark Zuckerberg’s tech company, Meta, flushed bacteria-contaminated water into public sewers during construction of a controversial new AI datacenter.The incident prompted water authorities in Cheyenne to implement strict safety regulations on how wastewater from such projects is disposed of, according to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, which first reported the incident. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
