Trump administration drive to seize election powers sparking ‘chaos’ despite pushback 24. July 2026 (13:00) US courts, state officials and Democrats warn that moves are endangering voting rights and the rule of lawThe Trump administration continues to expand its authoritarian and radical drive to revamp voting rules and seize state election powers, though it faces growing resistance from US courts, state officials and Democrats, who warn the moves are sparking “chaos” and endangering voting rights and the rule of law.Donald Trump’s unprecedented drive to change election rules, which states legally set, is fueled by his obsession with his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden, which he falsely attributes to voting fraud, coupled with his fear that Democrats will “find a reason to impeach me” if they take control of the House in November’s midterms elections, say former election officials and legal experts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Four Palestinians and one Israeli killed during West Bank settler attack 24. July 2026 (12:45) Several others seriously injured in attack that residents of Palestinian village say also involved Israeli militaryFour Palestinians and one Israeli have been killed in a shooting in the northern West Bank, health officials have said, during what residents described as a settler attack also involving the Israeli military. Several more people were seriously injured.The serious incident in the Palestinian village of Tell, near Nablus, is the deadliest attack in the West Bank this year and has the potential to lead to a series of reprisals between Israeli-backed settlers and Palestinian communities. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham to spend first working day at new No 10 North in Manchester – UK politics live 24. July 2026 (11:55) PM will chair the inaugural meeting of the national economic council that will aim to shift economic decision-making away from LondonAny Burnham was probably feeling left out of this “Celtic alliance”, after apparently telling John Swinney that Scottish independence was “off limits”.That’s according to the Scotland secretary Douglas Alexander, who spoke about a meeting he attended yesterday between the prime minister, Scottish first minister and others ahead of the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The issue of Scottish independence came up during the meeting. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Record heat sends online retail sales to five-year high in Great Britain 24. July 2026 (11:54) Soaring temperatures fuel demand for air conditioners and outdoor goods, helping retailers beat expectations in JuneBusiness live – latest updatesOnline sales reached their highest share of retail spending in five years last month as record heat fuelled demand for air conditioners, outdoor products and clothing.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the volume of retail sales in Great Britain rose 1% month on month in June, beating analysts’ expectations of a 0.3% decline, helped by hot weather and World Cup spending. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
France evacuates Cap Ferret peninsula and Spain’s Sanchez warns of ‘dramatic situation’ as wildfires spread – Europe live 24. July 2026 (11:40) Evacuees have been told to leave using hundreds of mobilised boats or the only road linking the area with the mainlandOver in France, it’s not just the south-west that gets affected, but the country’s south-east regions are also being hard hit, AFP noted.Dozens of fires flared up and are being fanned by the mistral wind around the historic village of Cotignac – officials saying around 25 houses had been destroyed since Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
France orders total evacuation of Cap Ferret peninsula as wildfire spreads 24. July 2026 (10:54) ‘Intense and highly unpredictable’ blaze forces more than 40,000 people to flee popular holiday spotEurope live – latest updatesAuthorities in south-western France have ordered the total evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula on the Atlantic coast by land and sea as an “intense and highly unpredictable” wildfire advances on one of the country’s best-known holiday spots.The fire had burned more than 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) by Friday morning, the French interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, said, with 40,000 people already or about to be evacuated, including thousands of tourists from campsites and rental homes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
University courses covering Israel-Palestine should be audited, Julian Leeser tells royal commission 24. July 2026 (10:30) Inquiry’s focus this week is on security for the Jewish community, with the MP telling the commissioner his son is afraid to attend synagogues and eventsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe shadow education minister, Julian Leeser, has called for universities to undertake an audit of any classes that teach about the Jewish community, Israel or Palestine.Appearing before the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion on Friday, Leeser said he had been “very concerned” about antisemitism on university campuses and was not satisfied with how vice-chancellors had addressed the issue after the 7 October 2023 Hamas terrorist attack. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Forced labour’ rationale for Trump tariffs met with bewilderment 24. July 2026 (10:22) Measures effectively replace blanket 10% tariffs Trump imposed in February that were struck down by US supreme courtDonald Trump has once again inspired anger and confusion in US allies and trading partners as he imposed a wave of tariffs on more than 80 countries, replacing an expiring global duty introduced earlier this year.The new measures effectively replace blanket 10% tariffs that Trump imposed in February. The US supreme court ruled many of those were illegal. The new levies come in at between 10% and 12.5% on countries including the UK, Mexico, Canada, Australia, India, China and the 27 countries that make up the EU. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Weather tracker: More than 900 wildfires rage across Canada 24. July 2026 (10:11) Fires remain out of control in Northwest Territories and Ontario, while Argentina endures record night-time heatRecent hot, dry weather in Canada has triggered hundreds of wildfires across the country. As of Wednesday, more than 900 were burning, scorching about 3m hectares of land. While fires have broken out in several provinces, the greatest concern is in the Northwest Territories and Ontario, where several remain out of control.Poor air quality has been reported across affected regions, with wildfire smoke carried by winds into the US and even across the Atlantic to northern Europe. The risk of further blazes remains high as North America enters the peak of fire season. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian regulator TGA warns of ‘rare but severe’ eye disorder linked to GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic 24. July 2026 (08:39) TGA says product information for some diabetes and weight loss drugs updated with warning of NAION disorderFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s medicines regulator has issued warnings for several type 2 diabetes and obesity-related treatments – including Ozempic and Mounjaro – over the potential to cause a “rare but severe” eye disorder that could lead to blindness.The Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) warning came after several GLP-1 RA medicines, marketed in Australia as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro among other products, have been linked to 36 cases of the condition. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
