Senators accuse Republican ‘gelatinous blobs’ of caving to Trump on Iran war 31. July 2026 (11:00) Democrats Warren and Van Hollen attack Republican ‘rubber stamps’ in Congress for ceding authority to TrumpSenior Democrats accused Republicans in the US Congress of becoming “gelatinous blobs” who won’t stand up to Donald Trump and “rubber stamps” for his war on Iran.Elizabeth Warren, a US senator for Massachusetts, and Chris Van Hollen, a US senator for Maryland, argued that the Republican-controlled Congress had surrendered its constitutional authority to the president. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
British-Azerbaijani man arrested in Cyprus over alleged spying on UK airbase for Iran 31. July 2026 (10:58) Rashad Sultanov, from London, suspected of conducting hostile surveillance and passing information to Revolutionary GuardsA British-Azerbaijani national has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on a British airbase on the Mediterranean island and passing information to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Metropolitan police said.Rashad Sultanov, 44, from Islington, north London, was arrested on 17 July by Cypriot authorities and is being held in custody as extradition proceedings continue, the police said in a statement on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: Wisconsin battered by rare tornado and meteotsunami 31. July 2026 (10:40) Unusual atmospheric phenomena causes widespread damage in US state, while heat continues to grip EuropeA rare and powerful tornado developed over north-east Wisconsin on Monday, lasting 26 minutes and carving a 12-mile path of destruction in western parts of Appleton and Menasha before dissipating over Lake Winnebago.The US National Weather Service classified the tornado as an EF3, making it the fourth of that strength to strike Wisconsin in 2026. EF3 tornadoes are relatively rare in north-east Wisconsin, and this year’s total is already the state’s highest since 1984. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Suffolk wildfire near Sizewell nuclear plant ‘stabilising’ after 24 hours 31. July 2026 (10:22) More than 100 firefighters remain at scene after Dunwich Heath blaze spread across 150 hectares and forced evacuationsFire crews tackling a large wildfire burning for more than 24 hours near Britain’s biggest nuclear power station have said the situation is “stabilising”.More than 100 firefighters have been battling the blaze in Dunwich Heath, near Leiston, on the Suffolk coast since Wednesday evening. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
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)
