Newshour

The world's oceans hit their hottest ever recorded temperatures for July, partly fuelled by developing El Niño conditions in the Pacific, according to the EU's climate monitoring service Copernicus. The average sea surface temperature outside the world's polar regions was 20.96C last month, beating the previous high of 20.89C, set in 2023.
Also in the programme: Ukraine strikes a Russian oil refinery - with at least 13 killed. And Harry Potter fans force the rerouting of a multi-million dollar cable project to preserve the mock grave of the much-loved character.
(Picture credit: Getty Images)

Prime Minister Netanyahu rules out any Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza before Hamas is totally disarmed. We ask Israeli official Fleur Hassan-Nahoum what her government's objections are to the peace plan and get an American perspective from former US special envoy for the Middle East Frank Lowenstein.
Also in the programme: we hear from a Canadian mayor, Doug Homes, about the wildfires that are devastating British Columbia, driving tens of thousands of people from their homes and leading to a state of emergency across the province; and a champion Italian spear-fisherman and free diver, Giacomo de Mola, tells us how he stumbled upon a Roman shipwreck while searching for fish.
(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends funeral service for late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington, D.C., July 28, 2026; Credit REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

The Houthis in Yemen say they've carried out a drone attack on a Saudi refinery on the Red Sea coast. The Iranian-backed group's military spokesman said the strike on the Aramco refinery in Jazan was in response to Saudi incursions into north-west Yemen.
Also in the programme: Israel accused of weaponising archaeology at ancient West Bank sites; Iran lays out a list of demands for the US to fulfill, even as it says talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz are making progress; and a Ukrainian singer on preserving folk songs of her homeland and promoting Ukrainian culture.
(Photo: Houthi soldiers. Credit: EPA)

An Irish government jet has travelled to the United Arab Emirates as part of an operation to extradite suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan. Kinahan has fought attempts to extradite him from the UAE.
Also in the programme: more controversy around Gianni Infantino; and Todd Blanche is confirmed as US attorney general.
(Photo: Daniel Kinahan pictured in 2016. CREDIT: Collins Photo Agency)

Thousands of migrant children are thought to still be in the Spanish territory of Ceuta, following the arrival of some 70,000 people there last week. Many of the migrants left of their own accord shortly after arriving in Ceuta, but at least 1,400 minors, some of them very young, are believed to still remain there.
Also in the programme: President Volodymyr Zelensky’s first official visit to Russia-friendly Serbia; Thailand’s prime minister vows to introduce stricter gun laws in the wake of a shooting on Bangkok’s outskirts; and electronic dance duo Groove Armada on why you’re never too old for the dancefloor…
(Photo: Red Cross volunteers distribute food to migrants on Trampolín beach in Ceuta, Spain, 4 August 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)