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World News

Fresh news brought to you daily from around the world. Hot news, breaking stories as they happen.

Reflecting Pool Case Dropped as DOJ Blames Contractor

The US Department of Justice has asked a judge to dismiss the criminal case against Olympian David Hearn over alleged damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, after it concluded the harm stemmed from problems in the renovation installation work.

The department said the damage “was the result of flawed installation by the contractor”, in a court filing seeking to drop the charge. Hearn had earlier pleaded not guilty to a felony destruction of property allegation.
Charges Against Hearn
Hearn entered his plea earlier this month after the US attorney’s office for the District of Columbia, led by Jeanine Pirro, accused him of allegedly forcefully and violently ripping up parts of the pool floor.
In a Friday filing asking for the case to be dismissed, Pirro’s office said it became aware of evidence suggesting a rushed and flawed installation process only after Hearn had been indicted by a grand jury.
Pirro’s office said it had visited the Reflecting Pool on July 17, after the water had been fully drained. It stated she found significant damage across the pool area, prompting the DOJ to request further information from the US Interior Department.
Contractor Report Cited
Documents provided to the prosecutor’s office, according to the filing, indicated installation flaws by Atlantic Industrial Coatings. The filing said the contractor experienced repeated failures of the lining during installation and that extensive peeling of the lining was visible throughout the Reflecting Pool.
It also said the work had been rushed to complete the renovation project ahead of the America 250 celebration on July 4.
The filing added that the newly produced materials “significantly undermine the evidentiary basis for the indictment initially supplied” by the DOI and the US Park Police. The USAO-DC therefore moved to dismiss the indictment without prejudice, a legal step that can allow prosecutors to bring the case again.
A judge had not yet set a date for a decision on the motion, and the US attorney’s office declined to comment.
Defence Response And Renovation Background
Attorneys for Hearn said the case should never have been brought. In a statement on Friday, Norm Eisen, Mary Dohrmann and Steve Levin said the dismissal “does not erase the abuse of government power” in arresting and charging “a patriotic American who did nothing wrong”, adding that the government had taken a “ready, fire, aim” approach. They said the administration owed Hearn an apology.
The Reflecting Pool renovation had been billed as a signature project to beautify Washington, DC, under President Donald Trump. The pool had been plagued with algae and peeling paint since the $16 million renovation was completed.
Federal contracting records show Atlantic Industrial Coatings was paid more than $14.6 million to resurface the pool. The company was awarded the work after a no-bid process, in part to help the project finish in time for July 4.
Last month, Atlantic Industrial Coatings acknowledged that some areas in the Reflecting Pool required repairs. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the DOJ’s conclusions regarding the damage.


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1 August 2026
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Israel: No Gaza Withdrawal Without Genuine Hamas Disarmament

Senior Israeli officials have said troops will not pull back from their current positions in Gaza unless Hamas carries out “genuine disarmament” in the territory.

Hamas, however, said any handover of heavy weapons would depend on Israel ending all forms of aggression and withdrawing its forces from Gaza.
US Proposal And Israeli Response
The latest developments follow remarks by Donald Trump, who said the Board of Peace had reached an agreement for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
On Friday, Trump said Israel was “very happy” with the proposal, calling it a “big step for the Middle East”. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir rejected the draft, saying it was “not acceptable”.
The issue is linked to the second phase of a US-brokered ceasefire plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The full proposal, unveiled last September, outlined a 20-point framework including the creation of the Board of Peace to oversee implementation, phased disarmament by Hamas, withdrawal of Israeli troops and reconstruction in Gaza.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, Trump said he had an “understanding” with Israel over the newest disarmament proposal agreed with Hamas, adding that “Israel’s very happy about it”. He said Hamas weapons would be transferred to the Board of Peace, but he did not directly answer a question about whether disarmament would happen before Israeli withdrawals or vice versa, saying Gaza remained “a very complex situation”.
“Yellow Line” And Disarmament Demand
The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had not commented publicly on the latest proposal by the time of reporting.
A senior Israeli official said Israel’s position remained that there would be “no IDF withdrawal from the current Yellow Line” without Hamas’s genuine disarmament.
The “Yellow Line” is the demarcation point within Gaza that Israel said it would withdraw to after a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas last year. The arrangement was intended to leave Israel with temporary control behind the line, equivalent to about 53% of Gaza’s territory. However, Netanyahu has since said the IDF controls more than 60% of Gaza, and in May he said his “directive” was to move to 70%.
Related article: https://aseannow.com/worldnews/hamas-agrees-to-disarmament-after-trump-peace-plan-r1605/
In a statement, Hamas said Israel’s commitment to ending its attack on Gaza was a “fundamental prerequisite” for moving forward. It also described a right to “self-determination” and “establishing an independent Palestinian state”.
Hamas said it had negotiated “responsibly and positively” with what it called national consensus among Palestinian factions. Palestinian officials involved in the talks said the decision by Hamas’s new leadership—described by them as the most consequential in the group’s history—was influenced by the humanitarian conditions facing more than 2 million people in Gaza.
Earlier on Friday, the Board of Peace published what it called a roadmap for Gaza, reiterating a phased approach to disarmament, a gradual Israeli withdrawal and the deployment of an international stabilisation force.
Reactions In Gaza, Israel And Abroad
The BBC heard from people in Gaza and Israel about the proposed agreement. Tala, 18, who said she has been living in a tent after her home was destroyed in air strikes, said ceasefire promises raise hopes but broken commitments create fear. She said daily life remained “very challenging” and emphasised the need to stop fighting and protect civilians.
Jonny, in Israel, said he “prays” the ceasefire can work, adding that he does not see an end to the cycle of violence but hopes it will.
The Israeli UN ambassador, Danny Danon, told CNN that Israel was “looking forward to implementing” the deal while saying it would need to verify actions rather than statements from Hamas.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the proposed agreement was “the only good news in recent days”. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the priority must be implementation of the full 20-point plan, including withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza and respect for the ceasefire by all parties. He said conditions in Gaza were still appalling and said Israel must “immediately end the unacceptable restrictions on aid”, which Israel denies.
The war began after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Israel then launched a military campaign in Gaza, during which the territory’s health ministry said more than 73,290 people have died; the UN considers the figures reliable.

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1 August 2026
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British Funeral Director Jailed 20 Years Over Body Scandal

A funeral director who admitted failing to bury or cremate people properly and who gave bereaved families the remains of strangers has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Robert Bush, 48, appeared at Hull Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to offences connected to the handling of bodies and ashes by his business, Legacy Independent Funeral Directors. The court heard that police found 35 bodies and more than 100 sets of ashes during a raid on the premises in March 2024.
Bush admitted 67 offences over nearly 12 years, including denying 30 people a decent and proper burial, stealing from 12 charities, and fraudulent trading.
Ashes Given To Relatives Included The Wrong Remains
Judge Mr Justice Hilliard said Bush had caused “anguish and pain on a scale beyond comprehension”. He told the court that families who had used Legacy’s cremation services could not be certain the ashes they received were those of their loved ones, unless the remains recovered by police in 2024 were properly identified.
The judge said relatives of 46 people cremated between 2017 and 2024 were given the wrong ashes, while loved ones of 11 others never received any ashes at all. He added that some families were left with nothing, and in other cases with an empty plastic bag or only a teaspoonful of ash, which police were later able to recover.
Prosecutors said Bush defrauded nearly 200 families out of £562,117. They said his actions were driven by “financial greed”.
Hilliard described the wrongdoing as exceptionally widespread, warning that the case was among the most serious for offences affecting so many people and as he put it, as deeply.
Court Hears Of Chaotic Conditions And Misconduct
The five-day hearing, which began on Monday, heard accounts from victims who said they had been left devastated by what they read in court statements and by what the investigation revealed.
The court was also told about the conditions found inside Legacy. Prosecutors described “chaotic conditions”, including remains of a stillborn baby kept in a bag on the floor. Bodies were said to have been left to decompose, with unidentified ashes stored in mouldy boxes. The court heard that the premises had excrement and bodily fluids on the floor, along with rubbish and family photographs.
Bush’s crimes were discovered after a tip-off from two funeral directors at a different firm. Police said the offences were uncovered by chance while Bush was on holiday, and he was arrested shortly afterwards when he arrived at Heathrow Airport. Officers heard that he told them he had debts of around £90,000 and a cash flow problem.
But the court was told that between March 2017 and April 2024, more than £3m was paid into Bush’s personal accounts and into Legacy’s bank accounts.
Judge Hilliard said the issue was not cash flow but “the direction it was flowing”, adding that money that should have been used to support the business and care for the deceased was spent instead on holidays, home improvements and motorcycle racing.
He said Bush stole at least £5,540, and possibly more, from 12 charities that did not receive donations collected at the end of funeral services.
Police Say Investigation Was The Biggest In Force History
Following sentencing, a senior officer said it was “just impossible” to quantify how many people had been affected, adding that the distress and heartbreak for families was “simply unimaginable”.
Det Sup Al Curtis said the investigation was the biggest and most complex in Humberside Police’s history, involving about 300 affected victims and the seizure of 3,000 exhibits and 12,000 items of disclosure.
Outside court, relatives said they felt let down by the sentence length. Joanne Moody said Bush would be released after 10 years and questioned whether that was justified. Michaela Baldwin said she believed he should have received at least 30 years.
Government Pledges Tougher Regulation
The case prompted renewed calls for regulation of the funeral sector. The industry in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is currently self-regulating, relying on voluntary codes and inspections by trade associations.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he wanted to ensure “the highest standards” apply and that there must be a proper regulatory response to stop families experiencing similar harm. The Department of Health and Social Care said it would develop proposals for formal regulation to better protect bereaved families, and that the Law Commission would review criminal law relating to the deceased and consider gaps in legal protections.
In a statement, the National Association of Funeral Directors said Legacy had been a member for several years but resigned in 2021. It said it inspected a former premises operated by Bush in 2018 and that he met the requirements then, adding that it had not inspected Legacy at later premises and had not known he moved the business without telling the association.
Bush’s offences date back to 2012, two years after he set up Legacy. Before that, he worked for other funeral businesses in the city and oversaw 2,000 funerals.

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1 August 2026
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UK High Court Refuses Bid To Block Chinese Mega Embassy

A challenge brought to the High Court against plans for a large Chinese embassy in London has been dismissed, with judges upholding planning permission for the project at a former Royal Mint site near the Tower of London.

The ruling ends a legal effort by campaigners from the Royal Mint Court Residents’ Association (RMCRA), which represents families and businesses in about 100 properties in the area.
Planning Permission Upheld
The court decision confirmed that permission granted for the embassy’s construction should stand. The RMCRA said it was concerned the development could pose an espionage risk and could be used to help enforce what it described as “draconian” Chinese laws in the UK, as well as to target dissidents.
In defending the application, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the London Borough of Tower Hamlets said they had “conscientiously and carefully had regard” to the residents’ concerns during the planning process.
Fire Risk And Diplomatic Immunity Concerns
The residents’ association also argued that the Chinese government could create a fire safety risk by failing to meet obligations, and said those requirements would not be enforceable due to diplomatic immunity.
A representative for the Chinese embassy welcomed the judgement, telling the BBC that supporting and facilitating the construction of diplomatic premises is an international obligation of the host country.
The embassy spokesperson also said the proposed premises were “high-quality”, and that the planning and design process followed international practices and complied with local regulations and procedures.
No Unfairness Over Blast Assessment
The High Court hearing took place earlier this month. Two judges have now dismissed the RMCRA’s challenge: Mrs Justice Lieven, sitting with Lord Justice Dingemans.
The judge said there was “no doubt” that the government had taken into account that the Chinese government was the applicant for planning permission.
Mrs Justice Lieven also addressed a complaint that the residents were not provided with a copy of a “blast assessment” at the time the decision was made. The assessment sets out the potential impact of a possible terrorist explosion.
The judge said: “There was no unfairness to the claimant by reason of these documents not having been disclosed.”
Appeal Planned After High Court Ruling
Outside Parliament, Luke de Pulford of the Interparliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), who has supported the RMCRA, said solicitors had been instructed to appeal. He said the appeal would be funded by donations from the public.
RMCRA spokesman Mark Nygate said residents viewed the High Court outcome as the start of a longer campaign. He said they intended to pursue the case “as far as the Supreme Court”.
A further speaker, Chloe Cheung, told the BBC she is a Hongkonger and described herself as a democracy campaigner. She said she had received information about a “bounty of $HK1 million” from the Chinese Communist Party for help leading to her capture abroad. The 21-year-old said she fled Hong Kong for the UK in 2021 after being accused of breaching a national security law introduced by Beijing following the 2019 pro-democracy protests in the former British colony.
Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith, also an IPAC member and described as sanctioned by the Chinese government, said the Chinese government posed a “major threat” to the UK. Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to deny permission for the embassy, arguing that the decision could compromise national security.

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1 August 2026
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Trump Gets Conflicting Messages on Iran War Exit

President Donald Trump has received back-to-back messages from Saudi Arabia and Israel as he weighs how to step back from a widening conflict with Iran, US and regional officials said, with diplomacy stalled and military options still on the table.
Saudi Arabia Warns Against Prolonging The Conflict
On Wednesday just after 10am, a delegation from Saudi Arabia arrived at the White House carrying a warning to Trump and Vice President JD Vance, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The visit, led by Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman—on an unannounced trip to Washington—conveyed a message from his brother, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, urging de-escalation. The Saudi assessment was that continuing the war would carry major risks, the sources said.
Diplomatic pressure on Trump comes as internal and electoral concerns grow among Republicans. US officials said direct talks with Iran do not appear imminent, and while Trump has argued Iran is eager for an arrangement, others in the administration believe Tehran’s leadership is more focused on maintaining leverage over the Strait of Hormuz and sustaining strikes against American forces.
Israel Seeks Pressure, Not Diplomacy
The Saudi message followed an earlier meeting at the White House, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed Iran with Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
Israeli officials said Netanyahu voiced scepticism that diplomacy would succeed, and instead focused on ways to pressure Iran. That discussion included possible escalatory steps, including renewing a wider war effort.
The meetings were scheduled independently, officials said, but the close timing highlighted competing currents facing Trump as he looks for an exit from a conflict that has passed the point he had set.
The administration has also signalled frustration with Tehran’s position. US officials said Trump has grown angry at what he sees as reluctance from Iran to meet his demands, leading to tense internal conversations and sharp calls with allies.
Strait Of Hormuz Deal Seen As The Nearest Path
While regional intermediaries, including Qatar and Pakistan, have worked to revive talks, officials said there has been little sign of active negotiation. Instead, attention has shifted to a short-term arrangement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a focus of contention after the US and Iran gave different interpretations of an agreement reached last month.
Republican lawmakers have increasingly pressed for progress that could translate into political and economic relief ahead of midterm elections. Some party figures have privately stressed the importance of restoring the shipping route, amid concerns that higher gas prices could hurt their prospects.
The White House said Iran will continue to “pay” until it returns to talks in a way Trump considers meaningful. In a statement, Trump’s press secretary said the US had entered a memorandum of understanding with Iran that Tehran broke, adding that Iran attacked commercial ships and killed American soldiers.
Escalation Plans Face Limits
US officials said military assets have continued to flow to the region while Trump weighs options. One planning concept discussed within Central Command would involve heavy bombardment over one or two weeks to target Iran’s missile capabilities.
At a hearing on Capitol Hill last week, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, said air strikes alone have limitations. US officials also said Trump has held back, after concerns from military leadership about shrinking stocks of air defence interceptors and risks of civilian casualties if infrastructure sites—such as bridges or water desalination facilities—were targeted.
Trump has previously argued that he does not want to harm non-combatants, and he has altered aspects of his own travel plans amid perceived threats, including changing aircraft on his return from Turkey earlier this month.
Fear Iran’s Decision-Making Is Controlled Internally
Officials said fears are growing that Iran’s decision-making may be driven less by political leaders and more by the powerful Revolutionary Guards, with regional negotiations therefore less effective than expected. Within the IRGC, senior commanders are competing for control, a dynamic US officials and partners say could prolong the conflict.
Trump has also suggested that strikes against US positions may not have come from the same group his team is trying to engage, pointing to earlier messages and alleged apologies. However, his aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have said they believe a deal remains possible.
During Netanyahu’s visit, Israeli officials said the prime minister attempted to reinforce that Trump remains the ultimate decision-maker, while discussing ways to increase pressure on Iran. Netanyahu told Trump the US president would have final authority, according to one official familiar with the meeting.
The Saudi minister’s message likewise reflected Riyadh’s view of the conflict. Saudi Arabia has continued joint operations with the US against Iran-backed militias in Iraq, the sources said, while still calling for de-escalation and warning that attacks on Saudi civilian infrastructure would not go unanswered. Saudi officials said they believe Iran is seeking leverage through escalation and by using proxies in Iraq and Yemen.
What Trump takes from the competing briefings was not clear. Hours after Wednesday’s meeting, he said the broader conflict would eventually be “straightened out”, while also signalling that the US would continue retaliatory strikes as talks develop.

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1 August 2026

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57 Dead After 60,000 Reach Spain's Ceuta Enclave

Guardia Civil and Maritime Rescue said autopsies will be carried out on the bodies to establish the cause of death.

Authorities did not provide further medical details, but said the investigations are part of efforts to determine what happened during the mass arrival.
Border Crossings And Current Situation
Footage of the border crossings has circulated online, with many of those who entered Ceuta described by authorities as swimming.
A similar surge of arrivals occurred in 2021, according to the information provided alongside Friday’s figures.
Morocco is located across the Strait of Gibraltar. Authorities said at least 48,000 people have already crossed back into Morocco, although they added that the border is still not under control.
In Ceuta, stores remained closed and about 80,000 residents were confined to their homes, as officials worked to manage the situation.
Statements From Ceuta And Spain
Juan Jesús Vivas, president of Ceuta, told Spanish media that the government had reacted too late.
The Spanish government said diplomatic relations between Spain and Morocco remain “excellent”.
Related article: https://aseannow.com/worldnews/almost-50000-migrants-flood-spanish-enclave-of-ceuta-r1607/
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said late Thursday that the government was “fully committed to providing an immediate response to the situation in Ceuta”. In a post on X, he said Spain was mobilising “all necessary resources”, working with Moroccan and international authorities, and preparing measures to restore normality as soon as possible.
Sánchez added that “now is the time to build solutions, with responsibility and cooperation”.
Situation In Melilla
On the same day, authorities in Melilla, Spain’s other enclave bordering Morocco, reported that between 300 and 400 people crossed or attempted to cross the border by land or sea on Thursday.


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1 August 2026
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Iran Hits Tankers as Trump Cabinet Discusses War

Iran said it struck two oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz while travelling under US military escort, as President Donald Trump met his cabinet to discuss the war and the economic impact of renewed fighting.

In a statement on Friday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the “non-compliant oil tankers … were struck and brought to a halt”. It said four other oil tankers changed course quickly and returned to their previous positions. The Guards said the ships tried to pass through the strait via an “undeclared route” and under US aerial escort.
Iran and the United States have issued competing accounts of how shipping should move through the narrow waterway. Iran has said it will strike vessels that take a southern route close to the coast of Oman. The US has said it will target ships that it considers to have breached its blockade of Iranian ships and ports.
Hormuz Traffic Disrupted By Renewed Fighting
The Strait of Hormuz has been almost closed to traffic since Iran and the US resumed fighting about two weeks ago, a disruption that has pushed energy prices higher.
On Thursday, crude oil rose above $90 a barrel after the US carried out a strike against Iran in retaliation for attacks Iran said it carried out against US bases in Jordan.
Further incidents were reported on Friday. Kuwait’s defence ministry said it shot down Iranian drones aimed at “vital and military facilities”, adding that there were no casualties.
Regional Conflict Continues In Lebanon
Elsewhere in the region, the Israeli military carried out a large detonation overnight near the ancient Beaufort Castle in Lebanon, according to the Israeli armed forces. It said it was targeting Hezbollah tunnels and related infrastructure.
The blast was heard across south Lebanon, where photos showed damage in the affected area. Lebanese officials accused Israel of violating a ceasefire by carrying out the operation.
The Israeli military said the action was intended to ensure the security of residents in northern Israel.
US Strikes, Rising Prices And Cabinet Meeting
Trump has tried to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by force, but the impact of US strikes on Iran has been limited. The conflict has left prices for gas and groceries elevated in the US, a development that could affect Republicans as midterm elections approach in November.
On Friday, Trump convened his cabinet at the Camp David retreat in Maryland to seek a path forward for the war. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing last week that the meeting would be “a lot of fun and something different for the cabinet to experience together”.
Top of the agenda was the Iran war. Trump had previously promised it would last only a few weeks, but it has now continued for five months. A Reuters-Ipsos poll published this week found that one in three Americans supports the war, the lowest level since the conflict began.
Support in Congress has also weakened. The US Senate narrowly rejected a symbolic vote to express disapproval of the war, and a war powers resolution asking the president to stop the conflict failed 49-50.
With inflation linked to the fighting, Democrats are seeking to gain control of the House from the Republicans in the midterms. Energy companies have reported record profits during the disruption, including ExxonMobil, which has seen profits double, and Chevron, which said profits were more than five times those reported in the same period last year.

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1 August 2026
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Italy's Meloni Calls for Spain Suspension From Schengen

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged Spain to be suspended from the EU’s passport-free Schengen travel zone after thousands of migrants entered the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco.

Speaking hours after Italy’s foreign minister made a similar request, Meloni said the Italian government was coordinating with relevant authorities and could move towards “exceptional measures”, including suspending Spain from Schengen.
Meloni cited footage and accounts from Ceuta, where migrants, including children, swam to reach the enclave. The prime minister said the images were “shocking” and added that Italy would not “stand idly by”.
According to Spain’s delegation in Ceuta, at least nine people died during the sea crossing. Meloni said the scale of the attempt raised serious concerns for Italy.
Tajani Pushes suspension Over Irregular Migration
Before Meloni’s comments, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had also called for Spain to be excluded from Schengen. He argued that irregular and uncontrolled migration created risks to national security.
Tajani criticised Madrid’s decision to grant Spanish citizenship to more than 500,000 irregular immigrants, saying the move encouraged human trafficking. He said images from Ceuta showed why, in his view, the Spanish government’s approach was wrong and fuelled exploitation of people attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
The foreign minister’s remarks followed Spain’s handling of the situation at Ceuta, where people arrived after crossing from neighbouring Morocco.
Spain Rejects The Criticism
Spain rejected the allegations and dismissed the call for punitive measures. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Luis Albares accused Tajani of using migration issues for political purposes, and said his comments were improper for a partner and “friendly country” that should offer European solidarity rather than “partisan demagoguery”.
The Spanish government’s response came as Italy stepped up pressure inside EU discussions over migration and border policy.
Schengen Rules And Italy’s Broader Position
The Schengen Area is Europe’s passport-free travel system. It allows people to travel across the internal borders of 29 participating countries without routine border checks.
While Meloni and Tajani focused on suspending Spain specifically, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini went further, calling for the suspension of the entire Schengen system.
The dispute reflects wider disagreement within the EU on how to manage irregular migration, shared border responsibilities and the conditions for operating passport-free travel between member states.



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31 July 2026
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BP Puts 60-Year North Sea Oil Business Up for Sale

BP has said it is putting its North Sea business up for sale, a move it says would bring an end to 60 years of oil and gas production in the region.

The decision follows a review of the group’s operations as BP looks to slim down its wider portfolio. The North Sea business includes five production hubs—two in the central North Sea and three west of Shetland—and employs about 1,100 people.
Sale Linked To BP’s Portfolio Review
BP said the sale is part of efforts to refocus capital and direct investment towards what it calls its highest-value opportunities. The company did not name potential buyers, but it said it expects the assets to be better positioned under new ownership.
BP chief executive Meg O’Neill, who became CEO in April, said earlier this year that the North Sea still had “untapped potential”. Announcing the sale on Friday, she said BP believes the operation’s assets and workforce could attract an owner willing to support the next phase of the business.
BP said it is seeking an outcome that recognises what it called the value of the North Sea operation, describing it as having world-class staff, resilient assets and a long heritage.
Jobs And Safety During The Sale Process
BP said it will continue to run the North Sea operations safely and reliably throughout the sale process. The company said it remains committed to maintaining production and operational standards while the transaction is progressed.
The North Sea business produced 117,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025. That output is a small share of BP’s total production, which the company reported at 2.3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.
The sale could potentially generate £2bn for BP. The Financial Times reported last month that BP had been in talks with Ithaca Energy about selling its North Sea assets for about that amount, but the discussions ended without a deal.
Political Backdrop In The UK And US
The move comes as political debate continues over the pace of North Sea drilling. Earlier this week, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he had told US President Donald Trump he would take a “pragmatic approach” on North Sea oil and gas.
Trump, some trade unions, industry figures and some Labour MPs have backed plans for increased drilling in the region.
BP said the UK has been part of its business for more than 100 years and will continue to play a significant role in its future. The company also said it is proud of the jobs it supports and its contribution to the UK economy.
BP employs about 13,960 people in the UK.

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31 July 2026
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Almost 50,000 Migrants Flood Spanish Enclave of Ceuta

More than 49,000 migrants have entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in the past 24 hours, Spanish officials said, with arrivals coming both by land and by sea.

Local videos and images showed thousands of people swimming into the city on Thursday, while local media reported that crossings continued overnight.
Deaths Reported during Recent Crossings
Officials said at least 18 people have died in recent days while trying to reach the territory.
The influx comes after Spain’s Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that migrants stopped at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla, another Spanish enclave, cannot be summarily returned to Morocco.
Chaotic Scenes at Borders
Spanish local officials had asked Madrid for support following a rise in attempted crossings. On Thursday, chaotic scenes were reported as border controls appeared to break down.
Spain later deployed its armed forces to strengthen security in Ceuta and at its sister city of Melilla. Officials said between 300 and 400 crossings were also reported overnight in Melilla.
Spanish officials said the estimated number entering Ceuta could amount to more than half of the enclave’s population. Ceuta’s population is put at around 83,600 in the latest local figures.
Officials also said that at least 7,000 of those who entered illegally into Ceuta during the last 24 hours were minors.
Spain Says It Is Working With Morocco
Spain’s interior ministry said it was working with Morocco to ensure the return of all people who crossed illegally into Spanish territory “as soon as possible”.
Related article: https://aseannow.com/worldnews/1500-migrants-swim-from-morocco-to-spains-ceuta-in-days-r1597/
If the current figures are accurate, the number entering Ceuta in the past day or so would be the largest since May 2021, when more than 10,000 people crossed into the city.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is due to visit Ceuta later on Friday, as authorities assess the scale of the arrivals and the operational response at the border.


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31 July 2026
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US Map Mislabels Every African Country at AIDS Event

A US government map of Africa that labelled every country incorrectly appeared during a State Department presentation at the AIDS 2026 conference in Rio de Janeiro, prompting screenshots to be shared widely online.

Reuters reviewed a video of the session showing the erroneous map being displayed partway through a talk about the State Department’s new health agreements. Conference attendees circulated images of the slide after spotting the mistakes.
State Department Says Full Responsibility Was Taken
In a statement, the State Department said it took “full responsibility” for the confusion and misrepresentation caused for attendees, including its African partners.
The department said the map had been produced by a team member who made last-minute changes to the slide deck before the event.
The mislabelled map placed Nigeria, where the United States has several hundred troops deployed, as landlocked in the Sahara desert. Mozambique, in south-eastern Africa, was shown in the Horn of Africa. Côte d’Ivoire was also placed on the wrong side of the continent.
Reuters said screenshots of the image first appeared in a Substack post by AIDS expert Emily Bass and were subsequently shared on LinkedIn. One post attracted about 40,000 views.


Picture courtesy of Reuters
Map Included AI Watermark, OpenAI Says It Is Checking
Reuters found that the version of the map shown in the presentation included an artificial intelligence watermark indicating it had been generated using OpenAI tools. OpenAI said it was investigating the report.
The conference speaker was Jeff Graham, the top US health envoy who oversees the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief, known as PEPFAR. Graham did not respond to requests for comment.
In an online post, Matt Petit, who covers AI and geopolitics for the Atlantic Council, said the slide that was used and approved did not reflect correct knowledge of where African countries are located.
US Aid Discussion Continues, Department Says
Despite the map, the State Department said discussions at the conference were substantive and constructive, and that it remained focused on tackling HIV and Aids with what it described as real results.
The Trump administration paused funding last year pending a review, disrupting aid programmes worldwide. PEPFAR’s core work, including supplying life-saving drugs, has largely resumed, the State Department said. It added that the US is scaling back other areas of spending, including prevention and surveillance, and plans to fully phase out the programme in South Africa.
The episode drew attention to an apparent failure in the preparation of conference materials, after attendees shared the incorrect map and its displayed country placements.

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31 July 2026
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Hamas Agrees To Disarmament After Trump Peace Plan

US President Donald Trump said a new “Board of Peace” framework has agreed terms for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza.
A senior Hamas official told the BBC that the group had accepted the Board of Peace’s plan to carry out disarmament across Gaza, adding that an official statement would follow soon. Israel has not yet commented on the claim.
Trump Links Disarmament to Gaza Withdrawal
Trump said Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza “as disarmament is completed”. He also described the agreement as a key step towards Gaza being administered by a new Palestinian government.
The US president said the second phase of a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire plan includes disarmament by Hamas. He said the same phase also covers reconstruction in Gaza.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the agreement would be implemented in “carefully structured phases”. He added that, as disarmament progresses, the International Stabilization Force would work with a new Palestinian police force to help ensure Gaza remains safe for residents and for neighbouring communities.
Trump thanked mediators Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for their role in the process.
Mediation Meeting in Cairo Planned
Agence France-Presse, citing Egyptian state media, reported that Cairo is expected to host a meeting of Gaza mediators to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire plan.
Earlier on the day of Trump’s announcement, Reuters reported that talks between mediators and Hamas leaders in Cairo on implementing the US-brokered plan had made rare progress. It also said an Israeli official told Reuters that the proposed terms were not satisfactory.
After Trump’s comments, The Times of Israel, citing an unnamed source, reported that an agreement had been signed by Hamas negotiators, the Board of Peace and the mediating countries.
However, it said “an Israeli office” issued a statement saying the disarmament proposal did not meet Jerusalem’s demands. Earlier, Israeli media reported that Israel opposed a deal being discussed with Hamas.
Hamas Leadership Change and Past Rejection
In April, a senior Palestinian official told the BBC that Hamas had rejected a disarmament plan put forward by a leading figure in Trump’s Gaza peace efforts.
Earlier this month, Hamas elected a new leader, Khalil al-Hayya, replacing Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by the Israeli military in Gaza in October 2024. As Hamas’s chief negotiator, Hayya led the group’s delegations at indirect ceasefire talks and met mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
The BBC reported earlier this year that the Board of Peace was initially seen as a mechanism to help end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and oversee reconstruction. It said the board’s proposed charter does not mention Palestinian territory and appeared to be intended to replace functions carried out by the United Nations.
War Background
Hamas carried out an attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel responded with a major military campaign in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 73,290 people have been killed in the fighting, including 21,280 children.

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31 July 2026
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US Hiker Impaled by Trekking Pole Walks 10 Miles

David Cifaldi and two hiking companions were crossing Montana’s Froze-to-Death Plateau as they approached the summit area of the state’s highest peak when Cifaldi slipped and was impaled by his trekking pole, according to rescue officials and Cifaldi.

The pole, with a steel tip about 44 inches long, passed through flesh beneath his left arm, missed vital organs, and protruded from his back. Cifaldi, 32, said he quickly assessed his condition with the support of his companions.
Deciding on Self-Rescue
Cifaldi, a nurse who works in wound care at a hospital in Billings, Montana, checked whether he was in immediate danger. He reported being alert, with limited pain and little blood, and that the pole was not moving.
To coordinate next steps without immediately involving a helicopter, the group used a satellite communication device, a Garmin inReach, to contact local authorities and explain they would attempt to reach help on foot.
They began descending from the plateau along an unmarked route, picking their way through boulders and snowfields before bushwhacking to an established trail. Over more than six hours, they travelled about 10 miles and dropped roughly 5,000 feet before reaching a trailhead.
Cifaldi’s friend Jesse Ross had parked a vehicle there. Ross later said Cifaldi’s judgement made the plan possible, adding that the others were there to provide support once the decision had been made.
Granite Peak’s Risks
Cifaldi had long planned to climb Granite Peak, which rises to 12,800 feet. Authorities note that the mountain can bring sudden weather changes, including lightning storms and extreme cold.
Many climbers attempt the rocky summit each year, with many turning back before reaching the top. In 2019, authorities said a 65-year-old man from Minnesota, described as an experienced climber, died after falling about 150 feet near the summit while he was with his son.
Search And Rescue Monitors Calls
As the group started its descent with the pole still protruding, Stillwater County Search and Rescue commander Ty Williams monitored their progress through a dispatcher who fielded calls from the hikers.
Williams said the first call came at 9:44 a.m. on July 20, shortly after the impalement. By 1:30 p.m., the trio told rescuers they were nearing the trailhead and asked that the nearest hospital be informed of their expected arrival, Williams said.
Williams said rescuers did not interfere with Cifaldi’s plan because he did not want assistance and there was no danger to others. By around 3:30 p.m., the hikers were in Ross’ vehicle heading to a nearby clinic, Cifaldi said.
At the clinic, staff told them Cifaldi needed more advanced treatment in Billings. The group then drove to St. Vincent Regional Hospital, where doctors removed the trekking pole, treated the wound and bandaged him. Cifaldi returned to work this week, he said.
Speaking from Ross’ home in Billings, Cifaldi said he would make the same choice in most circumstances, noting that while search and rescue is free, helicopter transport is not. He also said having experienced friends with him and the ability to contact search and rescue if the situation worsened helped him decide.


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31 July 2026
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French Teen Fined in Singapore Over Straw Lick Video

A Singapore court fined a French student S$600 ($465/£348) after he licked a straw from an orange juice vending machine and put it back into the dispenser.

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance. The case drew attention online after a video of the incident circulated on social media.
Guilty Plea Over Vending Machine Incident
Maximilien, who is studying in Singapore, uploaded the video to Instagram. In the post, he captioned the clip “city is not safe”.
He admitted to the offence after the action was recorded at a vending machine in Goldhill Centre on 12 March, in one of the city-state’s more affluent neighbourhoods, Channel News Asia reported. The report said he had licked the straw after a boxing workout.
Online Backlash And Video Sharing
After the video was posted, many social media users reacted with disgust. The clip was later reposted on a community page and picked up by local news outlets, prompting further scrutiny of the incident.
Both the prosecution and the defence sought a fine for Maximilien during the court proceedings, according to the report.
Company Said It Replaced Straws
iJooz, the company that owns the vending machine, said it replaced all 500 straws in the machine’s dispenser after the stunt.
A defence lawyer was quoted by The Straits Times as saying Maximilien was “truly sorry for having caused all this trouble and he realises that what appeared to him at that time as something perhaps playful has turned out to be something very consequential”.
iJooz vending machines sell freshly squeezed orange juice for S$2 per cup. The machines are commonly found in shopping districts, train stations and housing blocks across Singapore.
Sentencing Range for Public Nuisance
In Singapore, public nuisance offenders can face up to a S$2,000 fine, three months in jail, or both. The court’s decision therefore imposed a lower end of the potential penalty range, using a fine as the punishment.

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31 July 2026
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US School Shooter's Father Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

The father of a Georgia teenager who carried out a mass shooting at his high school has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, after a jury found him criminally liable for the attack.

Colin Gray, 55, was sentenced on Thursday in Barrow County, Georgia, by Judge Nicholas Primm after being convicted in March on 27 counts, including second-degree murder. Prosecutors said Gray admitted providing the assault rifle used by his then-14-year-old son in the 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School, which left four people dead, including two students and two teachers.
Son Sentenced To Life Without Parole
Colt Gray, 16, pleaded guilty to all 55 counts against him in the case. On Tuesday, Judge Primm sentenced the teenager to life in prison without parole for the murders and aggravated assault connected to the September 2024 attack.
Colin Gray was convicted earlier this year. The jury deliberated for fewer than two hours before returning guilty verdicts.
During the sentencing hearing, the court was told the father’s prison term reflects how his charges were assessed in connection with the harm caused by his son’s actions, rather than treating them as identical to the teen’s intent.
Judge Cites Failure To Act As Warnings Mounted
Judge Primm said the case reflected a “new phenomenon” in which parents are charged alongside crimes committed by their children. He said the Apalachee matter was the first such school shooting case of its type in Georgia and the second he was aware of nationwide.
Primm said Gray was convicted because “the warning lights were flashing brighter and brighter” and that he failed to seek help for his son or limit his access to guns. The judge added that if Colin Gray had used gun locks or removed ammunition from his home, “you wouldn’t be here today.”
Primm sentenced Gray to 15 years’ confinement for each second-degree murder count. Those sentences, along with lesser penalties on other convictions, will run concurrently, resulting in a total prison term of 15 years.
In handing down the sentence, the judge said the loss was “profound” while distinguishing Colin Gray’s conduct from the “malignant heart” and actions attributed to Colt Gray.
Court Hears Competing Sentencing Requests
The defence sought a 10-year term, describing it as the first case of its kind tried in Georgia. Defence attorney Chris Hobbs said Colin Gray knew his son was struggling but misread the warning signs.
Prosecutors asked for a far longer sentence, telling the court that Colin Gray gave Colt Gray a rifle months after law enforcement asked him to restrict his access to firearms. They also referred to evidence that a shrine to the Parkland shooter, associated with the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre, was kept in the teen’s bedroom. Barrow County District Attorney Brad Smith said prosecutors viewed the risk as “staring him in the face” and that the father enabled the attack by providing the “exact tool” needed for a mass shooting at a school.
Related article: https://aseannow.com/worldnews/us-high-school-shooter-16-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-r1576/
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Colt Gray had an affinity for mass shooters and that Colin Gray was aware of the teen keeping the shrine. They said Colin Gray did not arrange psychological help, but instead bought an AR-15-style weapon as a Christmas present that Colt Gray later used at Apalachee High School.
Colin Gray testified during the trial and said he struggled with what happened. He confirmed giving his son the rifle, saying it came with conditions and that the weapon would be his when he turned 18, graduated and followed rules.
After the verdict, Smith said there were “multiple warnings over a lengthy period of time” and that removing the rifle would have prevented the attack.


Picture courtesy of Maryland Daily Record
Other Parental Liability Cases In The US
Several similar cases have been brought in the United States in which parents faced criminal charges after their children carried out shootings. In 2024, Jennifer and James Crumbley were convicted in connection with the 2021 Oxford High School attack in Michigan. Both were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 15 years, while their son, Ethan Crumbley, pleaded guilty and received a life sentence without parole.
In 2023, Robert Crimo Jr. pleaded guilty to misdemeanour reckless conduct related to the Highland Park parade shooting in 2022 and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and probation. His son later pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder charges and received life imprisonment without parole.
In an ongoing case, Jeffrey Rupnow, the father of a 15-year-old girl who shot and killed a student and teacher at a Wisconsin school in 2024, faces trial next year on charges including intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a minor.


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31 July 2026
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US Economy Slows as Iran War Fuels Inflation

The US economy expanded more slowly than expected in the second quarter, with an inflation surge that began in the early months of the Iran war weighing on activity, a government report showed on Thursday.

The economy grew at an annualised rate of 1.5% over the three months ending in June. That marked a slowdown from 2.1% growth in the previous quarter and came in below economists’ expectations.
Slower Growth after Earlier Momentum
Despite the cooling, the latest reading was stronger than the 0.5% annualised growth recorded in the final three months of 2025.
The report covered a period that followed a historic global oil shock triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. Gas prices and broader inflation pressures rose during the run-up to and during the initial stages of the Iran war.
The national average price for a gallon of gasoline reached as high as $4.56 in May, according to AAA data. The figure then eased somewhat after a preliminary peace agreement was reached last month.
Inflation Above Target, Hiring Still Solid
Annual inflation has risen to 3.5%, putting it more than a percentage point higher than the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Even with prices elevated, hiring has remained more resilient than many economists feared, despite higher costs for businesses and consumers.
In recent quarters, the pace of economic growth has also been supported by investment in artificial intelligence. JPMorgan Asset Management said a surge in AI spending accounted for roughly two-thirds of gross domestic product growth over the first half of 2025.
The report noted that the boost from AI spending has outpaced the contribution from hundreds of millions of US consumers. It also said several of the country’s largest companies have directed funds into the chips and data centres needed to run AI systems.
Fed keeps Rates, Futures Hint at Possible Hike
The combination of higher inflation and a still-strong labour market has increased the likelihood of an interest-rate rise, futures markets indicated. Economists warned that a rate increase would raise the risk of weaker economic activity over the coming months, as companies could face higher borrowing costs.
The Federal Reserve said on Wednesday afternoon that it would keep interest rates steady, hours before the release of the GDP data. The benchmark policy rate is set at between 3.5% and 3.75%.
That range is down from a recent peak reached in 2023, but borrowing costs remain well above the near-zero level of 0% set at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who took charge this summer, has said he intends to bring inflation down.
“Persistently high prices are a burden for the American people,” Warsh told reporters in Washington, D.C., last month. “This committee will deliver price stability.”

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31 July 2026
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UEFA Pledges Boycott Over World Cup Sell-Off Plans

European football’s governing body Uefa has agreed to boycott all Fifa competitions unless proposals backed by Fifa president Gianni Infantino to sell parts of the men’s World Cup to private investors are withdrawn.

At an emergency meeting on Thursday, all 55 Uefa member associations resolved not to take part in future Fifa World Cups or other Fifa-run events if the plan remains active. The decision was reached after discussions that lasted just under two hours, with Uefa describing the outcome as unanimous.
Threat Of Boycott To Be Formalised
Uefa said the stance will be communicated to Fifa this week through formal notification from its national associations. The message will set out that participation in future competitions will be blocked unless the World Cup sell-off is dropped entirely and Fifa provides binding guarantees that competitions and governance will not be opened to private ownership again.
Infantino’s scheme was initially due to be signed up to by 19 September. Uefa’s move raises the likelihood that Fifa will face pressure to either make major changes or reverse the plan altogether.
Uefa’s statement said no Uefa national teams would participate in any Fifa competition for as long as the proposals remained in play, unless the plan is abandoned and assurances are given that Fifa will never again allow private ownership of its competitions.
The meeting was introduced by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, with the executive committee and Uefa’s Fifa council representatives also speaking to delegates. Further remarks were then delivered by around 20 heads of member associations. One attendee described the atmosphere as one of unity, after earlier concerns that smaller countries might be persuaded by the financial incentives linked to Infantino’s proposal.
Which Tournaments Would Start The Boycott
Following the approach set out by Uefa, the boycott would begin with next year’s Women’s World Cup. The first age-group Fifa tournament expected to be affected is the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, scheduled in Poland from 5 September.
Uefa nations will be represented by six of the 24 competing teams, including England. The stance also creates a potential test for England later in the qualifying cycle, with the women’s national team scheduled to play a two-legged World Cup qualifying playoff against Greece in October.
Sources said Uefa also invited other confederations to follow its lead. The European body is understood to believe several Asian associations, in particular, could take a similar view. Fifa’s president has traditionally drawn the strongest support outside Europe, meaning a wider collapse in backing could further weaken his position.
Other Confederations React, Fifa Faces Election Pressure
Uefa said other associations worldwide were being presented with an ultimatum over whether to accept private involvement in football’s top competitions or face consequences. It added that the decision was not a “democratic decision” but governance by intimidation, describing the approach as coercion.
Concacaf, which oversees North and Central America and the Caribbean, also rejected Fifa’s proposal unanimously after an emergency meeting chaired by its president Victor Montagliani. Concacaf’s leadership, however, stopped short of announcing a boycott.
Even so, it is understood that most of Concacaf’s 41 members have lost confidence in Infantino’s leadership for the first time since he took office in 2016, raising the possibility that his position could now be genuinely at risk, after years in which he was expected to face little opposition.
In Europe, several national associations were also said to have held discussions with their respective governments, with many backing a boycott privately. In the UK, the prime minister Andy Burnham was the first politician to criticise Fifa’s plan on Tuesday, writing on X that the World Cup “was never anyone’s to sell”, and backing what he described as a principled decision to protect football from billionaire investors.


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31 July 2026
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Saudi Arabia Plans Major Offensive Against Yemen's Houthis

Saudi Arabia is preparing for a major military offensive against the Houthis by sea and possibly by land in central Yemen, Yemeni sources said, as Riyadh seeks to relieve pressure on oil exports through the southern Red Sea.

The sources said Saudi forces have been pulled back from the east of Yemen, a move they linked to preparations for a land operation. At the same time, Riyadh is trying to assemble a naval coalition to shield shipping from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab strait.
Maritime Coalition Backed by Multiple States
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said on Thursday that 14 states, including Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan and Djibouti, had issued a joint statement supporting a multinational maritime defence coalition.
Riyadh has also asked the United States and several European governments, including Germany, France, the UK and Italy, to take part in a Red Sea coalition. The European Union already has a naval protection mission, Aspides, operating in the region, and it was unclear whether the Houthis are mounting a broad blockade or one aimed specifically at Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis, an Iran-aligned movement that controls Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, and much of its Red Sea coastline, said on 20 July that they were implementing a blockade against Saudi ships. They later denied they planned to impose tolls on all vessels.
The group said it would lift its blockade if Saudi Arabia ended its blockade of Yemen, framing the dispute as a fight over Yemen’s future rather than as a direct confrontation involving Iran. Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen’s civil war in 2015, backing Yemen’s UN-recognised government against Houthi rebels.
Strikes Inside Saudi Arabia and Yemen Focus
Houthi forces said on 25 July they had struck “sensitive” oil transport sites inside Saudi Arabia, linking eastern province oilfields with a Red Sea export hub.
Analysts and officials have warned that closing the Red Sea route to Saudi shipping, alongside a blockade of the strait of Hormuz on the other side of the Arabian peninsula, would sharply limit the kingdom’s oil exports. Before the Iran war began, up to 80% of Saudi crude exports were shipped through Hormuz. The Red Sea has since become more significant, with more than half of Saudi oil now moved overland to loading terminals at the port city of Yanbu.
The widening confrontation has also involved strikes beyond Yemen. Saudi air and missile attacks on Wednesday in Iraq killed at least 20 people, according to reports, after Saudi action against Iraqi militia units that struck Saudi oil facilities. Donald Trump said the joint US-Saudi strikes were carried out with the agreement of the Iraqi government, a claim Baghdad did not confirm.
Saudi defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held an urgent meeting with Trump and JD Vance on Wednesday to discuss next steps. Riyadh has signalled it wants to show it can defend itself and its industry, while arguing it does not seek wider escalation against Iran and that US-Iran differences can still be resolved through diplomacy.
Possible Target in Al-Bayda
The Yemeni sources said troop movements inside Yemen appear to involve concentrating forces for what could be an attack on al-Bayda, a governorate in central southern Yemen. The Houthis captured al-Bayda in 2020-21.
Fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has intensified over the past fortnight, with the Houthis mounting attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities. Hours after Saudi airstrikes hit Houthi-controlled sites in the port of Hodeidah, a third Saudi commercial vessel was attacked in the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have competed for control of Yemen for more than a decade, and an uneasy status quo has unravelled over the past month.
Tensions could ease if Gulf states and Iran reach an agreement to reopen the strait of Hormuz, with talks between Oman and Iran continuing. Iran has demanded that all shipping enter the strait via a northern route close to Iran’s coast.


Graphic courtesy of The Guardian

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31 July 2026
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Three Children Among 8 Dead in Russian Strikes on Ukraine

Ukrainian officials said eight people, including three children, died in Russian missile and drone strikes overnight across Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched more than 70 missiles and over 280 drones during the attack. He said the worst impact was near his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, where civilian homes, businesses and infrastructure were destroyed or damaged.
Kryvyi Rih Area Hit As Families Were Caught
A six-year-old girl and two boys, aged 11 and 17, were among six people killed when a Russian ballistic missile struck the village of Radushne, several kilometres from Kryvyi Rih, local defence council chief Oleksandr Vilkul said.
Vilkul said the missile hit a home occupied by a large family. Zelensky said the house had been “blown into smithereens”. He added that two private homes were completely destroyed and that another eight people were wounded.
Officials said the injured included an 84-year-old woman taken to hospital, and two children who were pulled from the rubble alive.
Zelensky said earlier that Ukraine was expecting a major Russian offensive, warning just hours before the strikes that Moscow was preparing a “massive attack”.
Kyiv And Other Regions See Fires And Injuries
In Kyiv, one person was killed and fires broke out in three non-residential buildings during the night, Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
Poltava’s mayor also reported a death, following an attack on a Nova Poshta postal terminal. In Lviv, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said residential buildings were damaged and that multiple people were injured, with some trapped under debris. He said residents were helping rescuers clear rubble.
Poland Says Russian Missile Hit Field After Nato Airspace Claim
In neighbouring Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said a crater in a field in the east of the country was likely caused by a Russian missile, though investigations were ongoing.
Ukrainian acting foreign minister Andriy Sybiha earlier said a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile had crossed into Poland as part of Russia’s “massive strike” on Ukraine, violating Nato airspace.
Polish armed forces said they had mobilised on-duty fighter jets after detecting at least a dozen missiles travelling over western Ukraine that could threaten Polish airspace. The closest was observed about 5km from the border at 03:29, before changing direction and heading east.
Military officials later located a 10m-wide crater with debris on Polish soil in a field about 2km from the village of Tarnawa-Kolonia in Lublin province. The site was secured after police received reports of a powerful explosion.
US Talks On Patriot Licensing Amid Calls For More Air Defence
The strikes came as Zelensky met US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday and urged the United States to grant Ukraine a licence to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, which he said were crucial for the country’s defence.
Zelensky has repeatedly called for stronger air defence, writing on X on Wednesday that the protection of people’s lives depended on whether air-defence missiles are provided.
Patriot is one of the few systems able to intercept ballistic missiles, which Russia has increasingly used to bombard Ukrainian cities.
Russia Reports Attack On Retail Warehouse In Penza
In Russia, a regional official said an overnight attack hit the warehouse of a retailer in Penza. Regional governor Oleg Melnichenko reported that one person was injured at a Wildberries facility.
Wildberries is often compared to Amazon, and its sites have been targeted in recent Ukrainian attacks, according to public reporting.

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30 July 2026
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1,500 Migrants Swim from Morocco to Spain's Ceuta in Days

Hundreds of migrants have been swimming from Morocco to the Spanish territory of Ceuta at the country’s northern tip, overwhelming border and reception arrangements, local authorities said on Wednesday.

Ceuta officials said the scale of the sea crossings is unusual for this time of year. They said good weather typically leads to more crossings by sea during the summer months, but the current situation has accelerated far beyond normal levels.
More Than 1,500 Arrivals By Sea
The head of Ceuta’s government, Juan Jesús Vivas, told reporters that more than 1,500 migrants, including adults and minors, had reached Ceuta by sea in the previous few days. He said reception facilities were “collapsed and saturated”.
Vivas also said that in earlier attempts to cross, migrants had died. He cited the discovery of 60 bodies at sea over the last year.
Spain’s interior ministry, which oversees borders and irregular migration reporting, did not confirm the number of crossings or how many people had arrived via swimming. The ministry directed journalists to its bimonthly migration report, with the next one due on 3 August.
Rescue Operations And Overcrowding
Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spain’s interior minister, said authorities were dealing with “an extraordinary, exceptional situation” and that Spain had deployed the resources already in place permanently.
Spain’s Civil Guard and maritime rescue services have been using boats to pick up people in the water before transferring them to Ceuta. The Red Cross has also been involved in the rescue effort.
Authorities said hundreds of migrants are sleeping outside a reception centre that is beyond capacity.
Activists in Morocco and Ceuta said most people trying to cross are Moroccans, with a smaller number of Algerians, who had been living in Morocco while attempting to reach Europe.
It was not immediately clear what prompted the surge in sea arrivals.
Legal Ruling And Possible Link To Previous Crisis
Vivas pointed to a ruling from Spain’s Supreme Court earlier this month, which established that migrants arriving by sea cannot be immediately returned across the border without due process. He said that differs from procedures for those who enter Spain by land, such as by climbing over the border fence.
However, some activists questioned whether the court decision explains the current pattern. Omar Naji, president of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights in Eastern Morocco, said many Moroccans were likely unaware of such legal developments.
Naji added that the timing of the crossings, occurring after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune last week, reminded him of the border crisis in May 2021. At the time, more than 8,000 migrants reached Ceuta in just two days, following allegations that Morocco had reduced border controls and allowed crossings into the enclave after Spain permitted Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali to receive medical treatment in a Spanish hospital.
The pro-independence Polisario Front, a decades-long participant in the Western Sahara dispute, has said it is the legitimate representative of the indigenous Sahrawi people.
Morocco Cooperating, Interior Minister Says
On Wednesday, Grande-Marlaska said Spain had praised Moroccan cooperation. In an interview with Spanish television channel laSexta, he said the relationship with Morocco was “close and based on loyalty” and that Moroccan authorities were limiting irregular departures.

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30 July 2026
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UK PM Burnham Backs £8.4bn Nuclear Submarine Investment

Andy Burnham said ongoing investment in the UK’s next generation of nuclear submarines will help protect Britain for decades and support jobs and apprenticeships, as he visited Barrow-in-Furness where new vessels are being built.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the prime minister said security depends not only on what the UK builds, but also on who is responsible for delivering it and who benefits from the work. He linked the programme to economic activity in towns and regions where defence spending has long been a key employer.
Funding For The Dreadnought Replacement
The government’s plans to replace the current fleet are set to receive £8.4bn to keep the programme moving towards bringing the new submarines into service.
The Dreadnought-class submarines are intended to replace the four Vanguard-class vessels currently in service since 1992. Those Vanguard submarines carry Trident missiles and provide the UK with a nuclear deterrent. The Vanguard boats are due to be retired in the 2030s, while the Dreadnoughts are expected to enter service at the same time.
The programme has taken 20 years to reach its current stage. It was first announced in 2006 by then Labour prime minister Tony Blair, and MPs formally approved the construction in 2016.
Thursday’s announcement of £8.4bn was described as the start of what is being called the fourth phase of the project. The spending is said to have been planned in advance and included in the Defence Investment Plan published in the final days of Sir Keir Starmer’s government.
That plan sets out £63.6bn over the next four years for the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, with £47bn earmarked for work to sustain the nuclear submarine force. This includes continuing with the Dreadnought programme, beginning preparation for what may replace it in around 30 years, upgrading naval dock facilities, and supporting manufacturing activity.
Jobs, Apprenticeships And Skills
Burnham used the Barrow visit to argue that defence spending can deliver economic returns. He said submarines produced in the town will protect the UK “for decades to come”, adding that 47,000 jobs and apprenticeships associated with the work would affect employment beyond Barrow.
The government says the current nuclear defence spending supports around 47,000 British jobs, and that this is forecast to rise to 65,000 by 2030. It also forecasts 22,000 apprenticeships by 2035.
Since becoming prime minister, Burnham has said he wants to reduce the number of young people not in employment, education or training, and he has announced funding to support people beginning apprenticeships.
Defence Spending Targets And Procurement Changes
Burnham also pointed to wider defence spending commitments. He said he wants to meet the UK’s obligations, including a Nato target of spending 3.5% of national income by 2035. He also faces pressure over a separate pledge to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP.
John Healey resigned as defence secretary under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership after frustration that there was no clear timeline for meeting the 3% target. Healey is now chancellor, leaving Burnham and the Treasury tasked with finding the extra funding required to fulfil the pledges.
The prime minister also said the government’s public procurement process will place more emphasis on firms offering 45-day work placements. He told the Jimmy’s Jobs of the Future podcast that contracts would include “more social value weighting”, with a specific focus on those placements, citing experience as Greater Manchester mayor when he oversaw growth in such offerings by private companies.
However, the announcement did not set out how far the procurement changes would go, how they would be implemented, or how many firms would be expected to take part.
Opposition Response
Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge welcomed progress on the submarine programme but accused Burnham of failing to commit to fully funding defence.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson James MacCleary called for defence bonds to raise dedicated funding to rebuild capabilities across the armed forces.
Reform UK’s Danny Kruger dismissed the announcement as a “rehashed spending plan” and said it did not address what he described as a crisis in the UK’s nuclear programme. Green Party Westminster leader Ellie Chowns questioned spending billions on “weapons that must never be used”.

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30 July 2026
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US Strikes Iran After Missile Attack Attempt

The US military says it has completed a “heavy wave” of strikes against Iran in retaliation for an attempted ballistic missile attack on American forces on Tuesday.

US Central Command (Centcom) said it struck “dozens” of targets linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after Iran fired at US bases in Jordan and at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Centcom said all of Iran’s missiles were intercepted and that the operation began at 20:00 ET on Wednesday (01:00 BST on Thursday) and lasted about an hour.
Targets Hit By The US
Centcom said the strikes targeted military command centres, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defence sites, and maritime capabilities. The command said the attacks were a “powerful response” to what it described as attempted Iranian actions against US forces based in the region.
Iranian state media reported casualties from the latest attacks. Iran’s Irib said three people, including a two-year-old child, were killed on Qeshm island, while other locations were hit across the south and west of Iran. Another Iranian outlet, Fars, said the deaths occurred after a US strike hit a residential home in the Chah Tangu neighbourhood of Qeshm.
Jordan Reports Missile Interceptions
Jordan’s armed forces said air defence systems successfully shot down five Iranian missiles targeting the kingdom on Thursday. On Tuesday, the IRGC said it had targeted a US air base and a command centre in Jordan, describing the action as retaliation for what it called aggression by the “American child-killing army”.
The IRGC also said its naval units attacked three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after they “ignored warnings” and moved, in its description, along an “unsafe and illegal route” through the Gulf waterway.
Wider Conflict As Talks Resume Then Halt
The renewed exchange comes after a week in which the conflict appeared to widen. The first publicly announced joint US-Saudi strikes targeting Iranian proxies in Iraq were carried out earlier in the week.
The BBC has reported that Axios cited an unnamed US official on Wednesday as saying President Donald Trump had met Saudi defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, who conveyed that Saudi Arabia wants to de-escalate tensions. The BBC said it contacted the White House for comment.
Hostilities had eased for several days as both sides paused strikes amid talks, according to reports. Trump described the discussions as “very friendly negotiations”, while Tehran denied any talks were under way. After the missile attack on a US base in Jordan on Tuesday, Trump said he would retaliate, telling reporters: “We’re going to be hitting them very hard because it’s our turn to hit them.”
US-Saudi Strikes In Iraq
Last Friday, Trump suspended an intensive US bombing campaign that had run for 13 consecutive nights, with the US saying it targeted Iranian weapons and military sites and that scores of people had died. On Tuesday, Centcom said joint US-Saudi strikes hit multiple logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in response to more than 30 IRGC-directed aerial drone attacks in the previous 72 hours.
Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a coalition dominated by Iran-backed Shia militias, said at least 20 of its members were killed in US-Saudi strikes on its bases. The Iraqi presidency said it condemned the attacks as unacceptable and a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty. Trump told Fox News the strikes were coordinated with the Iraqi government.


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30 July 2026
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French Police Watch as 1000 Illegal Migrants Head for UK

A fresh flotilla of migrants set off for Britain from northern France, with provisional estimates overnight suggesting up to 1,000 people may have attempted the crossing on one of the busiest Channel days this year.

The move came a day after Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Labour’s approach to illegal migration was “working”, as figures for daily crossings were expected to be published later.
Gendarmes Told People Not To Intervene
Footage and reporting from the Opal Coast near Neufchâtel-Hardelot, south of Calais, described chaotic scenes after a dinghy carrying about 60 migrants, including children, ran aground close to shore.
Some passengers pushed at the boat to get it into deeper water, and fighting broke out as people struggled for space. Videos and witnesses said men pulled each other’s hair, and one person whipped others using a belt. Several migrants were also described as becoming aggressive towards journalists and members of the public.
Reporters said around ten to 12 gendarmes watched from the shallow area without moving into the water to intervene. One officer was recorded saying: “Our order is to let them go”, while another reportedly told those nearby that officers could only warn people that it was dangerous.
Labour ministers have previously said they persuaded French authorities to ease rules to allow officers to seize migrants in the shallows, and the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has linked further funding to new enforcement tactics. Under a payment-by-results agreement announced for France, UK payments can be withheld if police fail to deliver value.
Crossings Drop But Volume Remains High
The last time the daily number of Channel crossings reached four figures was last October, when 1,075 people crossed. More than 13,007 migrants have reached the UK by small boat this year, down 45% on the same period in 2025, according to official totals cited in reporting.
In addition to Neufchâtel-Hardelot, other attempts were described elsewhere along the coast. At Wimereux, reporters said around 100 migrants arrived at about 05:30 local time to try to board a larger vessel waiting offshore after being taken out by smaller RIBs; roughly 80 then got on board while others, including two women and three children, were forced back to shore.
At Gravelines, reports said about 100 migrants scrambled along the sand to board a dinghy, with French authorities in a rescue lifeboat appearing to hand out life jackets.
Further north, at Berck-sur-Mer, the day’s attempt followed days after a Sudanese man was stabbed to death near Berck-sur-Mer before a separate dinghy carrying a record 165 people sailed for Kent. Prosecutors in France have not confirmed a motive for the stabbing, and a murder investigation continues.
Home Office Response To Claims Of Weak Enforcement
Reacting to a video posted by Conservative shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, the UK Home Office said it was aware of claims that French law enforcement had failed to prevent crossings.
It said UK-French co-operation had stopped more than 46,000 attempted Channel crossings since the election and that in May 65% of small-boat events were prevented despite higher temperatures. The Home Office added that removals of small boat migrants were at record levels and that asylum claims were down 12%.
It also said almost 70,000 people who were in the UK illegally had been removed or deported, an increase of 41% year-on-year, and that the Government was “going further” to remove incentives drawing migrants to Britain.
The Home Office said a landmark payment-by-results deal has been signed with France to boost enforcement on beaches and target people smugglers.


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30 July 2026
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Saudi Arabia Seeks To Stay Out Of Iran Conflict

Saudi Arabia has largely tried to keep out of the conflict between the United States and Iran that began on 28 February. But after attacks attributed to multiple Iranian-aligned groups from different directions, Riyadh has moved to respond directly, including by carrying out joint strikes with the US.

This week, Saudi forces conducted strikes alongside US forces against Iranian proxy militias in Iraq that the kingdom says have been firing drones at Saudi Arabia. The measures underline a growing dilemma for Riyadh: whether to continue escalating as deterrence, or to seek ways to reduce attacks, potentially through inducements or other forms of pressure on adversaries.
Parties And Areas Of Attack
The regional conflict has broadened over five months, drawing in Iran and a network of allied or aligned groups. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) backs several actors, including the Houthis in Yemen and Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces.
The Houthis took control of Yemen in 2014 and have also been involved in attacks beyond their territory. In Iraq, the Popular Mobilisation Forces have been accused of carrying out about 30 drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, prompting Saudi and US retaliatory action.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah remains a significant force but is currently described as staying low.
On the other side, the United States has been conducting operations through its Central Command (Centcom), alongside varying contributions from Gulf Arab states and Jordan. Israel is described as a close US ally, but not an active participant in the fighting.
Iran’s recent campaign of drone and missile attacks has been concentrated on Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. It has also targeted commercial shipping attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, while seeking to enforce new routing rules.
The addition of Iraqi militias and the Houthis—on top of longer-running confrontations—reflects how, without a durable US-Iran peace arrangement, the region risks becoming increasingly enmeshed in a wider war.
Why Riyadh Is Trying Not To Get Pulled In
Saudi caution is tied to the kingdom’s domestic transformation agenda led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “Vision 2030” is intended to reduce dependence on oil revenues by building new industries and jobs for large numbers of young people entering the labour market.
Attracting foreign investment is central to the plan, as is the development of infrastructure such as data centres. Riyadh argues that the strategy becomes harder to sustain if the kingdom faces a long-term pattern of threats, including drones launched from the Houthis across its southern border and ballistic missiles fired directly by Iran.
Saudi planners also point to earlier experience of vulnerability. In September 2019, drones linked to an Iranian proxy militia in Iraq hit two of the kingdom’s most important oil facilities—Abqaiq and Khurais. The attack disrupted about half of Saudi oil exports for several days, serving as a warning about how exposed critical national infrastructure can be to cross-border strikes.
Monday’s satellite images, the article notes, showed the Abqaiq facility being struck again by drones launched by Iranian proxy militias in Iraq.
Oil Routes And Pressure From Multiple Fronts
Energy and shipping routes are a further driver of Saudi restraint. Iran retaliated against US and Israeli attacks in February by effectively restricting passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping channel that accounts for about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.
Saudi Arabia responded by pushing oil volumes through its east-west pipeline to its Red Sea export terminal at Yanbu, reaching around five million barrels per day. From there, oil shipments were loaded onto tankers bound for markets in Asia via the Arabian Sea.
However, attacks on Yemen have added another layer of risk. On 13 July, Saudi Arabia bombed Sanaa airport, with the strike described as carried out by Yemen’s Saudi-supported government and aimed at preventing an Iranian plane from landing. The Houthis retaliated by attacking Saudi airports at Abha and Jizan.
More recently, the Houthis have also attacked shipping in the Red Sea, increasing the danger for vessels attempting to pass through the narrow Bab El Mandeb strait at the southern end of the sea. That threatens to choke oil exports to Asia and shifts pressure from the Gulf to Saudi maritime routes.
Saudi Arabia has previously spent years trying to force the Houthis into submission but failed. The war in Yemen was described as one of the worst humanitarian disasters, and in 2022 Saudi Arabia agreed to an uneasy truce with the Houthis, with reports of payoffs. Now, Riyadh faces the prospect of renewed drone and missile pressure from the south at the same time as attacks from Iraq to the north—developments not envisaged under “Vision 2030”.

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30 July 2026
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Trump Repeats Threat To Strike Iran 'Very Hard'

Donald Trump reiterated on Thursday that the United States would strike Iran “very hard”, speaking to reporters from the Oval Office.

The president said he had been briefed on a drone attack on tankers off Egypt, describing it as part of an ongoing pattern of incidents. He did not provide additional details about the briefing, but said the situation was “going to be straightening out”.
Oval Office Remarks
Trump told reporters that Washington would assess whether there was an agreement with Iran “at some point”. He added that, regardless, the United States would carry out further action.
“It’s a little more of the same, but it’s going to be straightening out,” Trump said, referring to the drone attack on tankers off Egypt.
He then returned to his main message, saying the United States was prepared to act again against Iran. Trump framed the next steps as retaliation, saying it was “our turn to hit them”.
“Our Turn To Hit Them”
According to Trump, the United States would “be hitting them very hard” because Iran would face additional pressure following the latest incident he described.
“They know it’s coming,” he said, referring to Iran’s expectation of further action by the United States.
Trump also repeated that the possibility of a negotiated arrangement remained under consideration, but stressed that a strike would still take place. He said the federal government would see whether an agreement could be reached “at some point”.
Agreement Considered, Strike Threat Stands
In his comments, Trump linked his threat to both the prospect of discussions and the immediate intention to respond. He reiterated the central point of his earlier statements, saying that the United States would strike Iran “very hard” regardless of whether talks progress.
The remarks were made as Trump addressed reporters following the briefing he said he received about the drone attack off Egypt.

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30 July 2026
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