Burnham offers 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs and live music in England – UK politics live 23. July 2026 (11:41) The prime minister said the £100m package would mean the typical pub would save around £1,100 in the next financial yearChancellor John Healey has promised to back UK businesses that have “felt really squeezed”.Addressing business leaders in central London on Thursday, Healey said:My message to British businesses is quite simple: to British businesses, to British innovators, to British investors: I will back you as your Chancellor, and I’ll back you in financial services, in technology, in retail, in industry, in all parts of the economy.I’m just as concerned about the cost of business as I am about the cost of living. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Oil prices near $100 a barrel after US attacks Iran and Houthis hit tankers in Red Sea – business live 23. July 2026 (11:28) Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as traders fear attacks from Yemen and Iran creating ‘two-chokepoint problem’The Houthi attacks off the coast of Yemen targeted Saudi Arabian tankers, but two Chinese vessels carrying Saudi oil appear to be trying to exit the Bab el-Mandeb strait, Reuters reports.From Reuters:Two Chinese supertankers carrying a combined 4 million barrels of Saudi Arabian oil are exiting the Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Thursday, shipping data showed, even as a Saudi vessel came under attack in the region.The ships’ attempt to transit the strait will clearly test how tightly the Houthis will impose the naval blockade on Saudi Arabia they announced on Monday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Marco Rubio says ‘new ideas’ needed to end war in Ukraine after meeting Russia’s Lavrov – Europe live 23. July 2026 (11:09) The US secretary of state said proposals put forward so far were ‘not acceptable to Ukraine’in DniproOver in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains under growing pressure to reinstate his sacked defence minister on Wednesday, after campaigners said they would continue indefinite nationwide protests until Mykhailo Fedorov got his job back. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Palestine Action barrister’s prosecution criticised as ‘chilling’ 23. July 2026 (10:52) CBA chair says contempt charge over closing speech by Rajiv Menon KC has left lawyers fearful of doing their jobThe prosecution of a leading human rights barrister for contempt of court over his closing speech during a trial of Palestine Action activists has left lawyers fearful of doing their job, the chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has said.Rajiv Menon KC is due to stand trial next week, accused of breaching the judge’s directions in the trial of six people for a direct action protest at an arms factory of the Israeli subsidiary Elbit Systems UK in Filton, near Bristol, in 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pride organisers vow to march in Romanian city that has blocked event four years in a row 23. July 2026 (10:36) Oradea is only major city in EU where local authorities have repeatedly blocked Pride plansCampaigners in a Romanian city have vowed to go ahead with a Pride march after local authorities denied permission for the fourth consecutive year.Since 2023, campaigners in the western city of Oradea, which has a population of about 180,000, have sought permission to hold Pride events. However, each year they have faced opposition, making Oradea the only major city in the EU where local authorities have repeatedly blocked Pride marches. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EasyJet profits plunge 70% as fuel costs soar amid Iran war 23. July 2026 (10:24) Budget airline, which has two US investment firms vying to buy it, also affected by passengers booking laterThe low-cost airline easyJet has revealed a 70% slide in profits because of soaring fuel costs and later bookings as a result of the conflict in Iran, only weeks after it agreed to a £5.7bn takeover.The carrier reported a pre-tax profit of £85m between April and June compared with £286m during the same period a year earlier, as its fuel costs increased by £105m after the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East in late February sent energy prices rocketing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Husic says Labor ‘allergic to dissent’ as he breaks ranks on key government positions at party conference 23. July 2026 (10:08) Criticism comes as prime minister frames unity as point of difference to political opponents, saying ALP chooses ‘progress over protest’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOutspoken Labor MP Ed Husic claims the party has become “allergic” to dissent and dispute, warning the unity on show at its tightly controlled national conference could backfire.The former industry minister broke ranks with the government on the first day of Labor’s 50th party conference to support a gas export tax, endorse Indigenous truth-telling and press for more criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Scottish police officer was rapist who attacked women over 14 years 23. July 2026 (09:29) Alan Greer, who killed himself after officers visited his home, could be ‘Police Scotland’s Wayne Couzens moment’A police officer who took his own life in May was a rapist who attacked at least nine women over 14 years.PC Alan Greer’s offending came to light when his first known victim, a woman he raped in her home in Glasgow in 2012 after she had called the police to report being the victim of a crime, reported the attack late last year. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Personal and banking details among customer data stolen in Origin Energy hack 23. July 2026 (09:18) Hackers access Australian customers’ names, addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers and some bank account details, company saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOrigin Energy customers’ addresses, phone numbers and partial bank account data have been accessed in a hack, the company has confirmed.The firm has 4.8m customer accounts in Australia, providing electricity, fossil gas, LPG and internet services to homes and businesses. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Politician’s claim Earth’s magnetic poles could flip if NT doesn’t use more groundwater criticised by experts 23. July 2026 (09:10) NT minister for trade and business Robyn Cahill makes scientifically inaccurate claims while pushing to make territory ‘datacentre capital of the globe’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Northern Territory minister has been criticised for scientifically inaccurate claims that groundwater in the Northern Territory needs to be used to prevent the Earth’s magnetic poles from flipping.The NT minister for trade and business, Robyn Cahill, made the claim while speaking in Darwin last week about the government’s push to make the territory “the datacentre capital of the globe”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
