Dolly Parton, country star, actor and philanthropist, dies aged 80 25. August 2026 (19:59) Songwriter of I Will Always Love You, Jolene and 9 to 5 also invested millions in child literacy, Covid-19 vaccine development and other causesAlexis Petridis on Dolly Parton’s peerless career which turned country music cliches inside outDolly Parton – a life in picturesCountry music legend Dolly Parton dies aged 80 – latest updatesDolly Parton, one of the greatest singer-songwriters in country music who was also much cherished for her philanthropy, has died aged 80.Her death was announced by nephew Brian Seaver on Instagram. “I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now,” he said. “It is an honour, an honour that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump-backed Ken Paxton unveils ‘Texas first’ datacenter plan aimed at ‘negative impact’ 25. August 2026 (19:54) The Republican Senate candidate announced the plan with a graphic X flagged as ‘Made with AI’US politics live – latest updatesKen Paxton, a Republican candidate for the US Senate in Texas, has unveiled plans to tackle the “negative impact” of datacenters amid a growing backlash across the political spectrum.Paxton, endorsed by Donald Trump but facing a close contest against Democrat James Talarico, posted a “Texas first” datacenter plan on X with a graphic that the social media network flagged as “Made with AI”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
At least 47 killed and dozens kidnapped in gang attack near Haiti capital 25. August 2026 (19:35) Gang leader threatens to kill hostages after attack in Kenscoff in which homes were also set alight‘A massacre’: Haiti gangs carrying out mass killingsAt least 47 people were killed and more than 50 others kidnapped when armed men attacked a once peaceful community near Haiti’s capital at the weekend, the UN has said.A gang leader has threatened to kill the hostages if authorities kill any gang members as they try to secure the community of Kenscoff, nestled in the hills above Port-au-Prince. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK to warn citizens to stock up on food amid threat from climate crisis and hostile states 25. August 2026 (18:55) Government resilience campaign aims to ensure people can cope in a national disaster, in order to free resources for most vulnerableUK citizens will be told to stock up on tinned food and take steps to ensure they are prepared for national emergencies as part of a new government campaign to improve the nation’s resilience.The new campaign from the Cabinet Office will set out ways people can prepare for extreme weather events and potential attacks from hostile states, including stocking up on bottled water, sources told the Guardian. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
CIA director John Ratcliffe reportedly on Moscow visit 25. August 2026 (18:00) Unannounced trip reported by US media is said to be Ratcliffe’s first known visit to Russia as CIA chiefThe CIA director, John Ratcliffe, has made an unannounced visit to Moscow, US media reported, after flight data showed an American military aircraft flew to the Russian capital, where a US diplomatic motorcade was later spotted.CBS News quoted sources familiar with the situation as confirming Ratcliffe’s trip, saying it was his first known visit to Russia as CIA chief. Axios separately confirmed the visit, quoting a US official. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
London bus drivers resume strike over heatwave working amid fears over air con deal 25. August 2026 (17:59) Drivers fear bus operator’s offer to retrofit cabs on 730 buses will not be complete by next summerLondon bus drivers have resumed strike action over having to work in high temperatures, amid fears that proposed improvements to air conditioning will not be complete by next summer.About 1,500 members of the Unite union working across north London and Essex are taking part in the four-day strike from Tuesday to Friday, after industrial action earlier this month. Further stoppages are planned for the coming weeks. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US consumer confidence falls in August as gas prices remain above $4 per gallon 25. August 2026 (17:56) Confidence index drops to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July amid frustration after five years of elevated inflationAmericans’ confidence in the economy declined again this month as the ongoing conflict in Iran continued to push US gasoline prices above $4 per gallon.The Conference Board said on Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dipped to 89.4 in August from 90.2 in July. That was the lowest level in seven months but was essentially within the same lukewarm range it has been in since the beginning of the year. In late 2024 and early 2025, readings were consistently above 100. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
VW workers boo boss as he urges them to ‘pull together’ amid job cuts 25. August 2026 (17:47) Oliver Blume faces workforce at German HQ as carmaker struggles against Chinese competition and US tariffsThe chief executive of Volkswagen has faced boos and whistles of protest at the company’s headquarters after telling thousands of workers that a comprehensive reorganisation, which could include job losses and factory closures, is vital for its future.As Oliver Blume urged more than 10,000 workers on Tuesday to “pull together”, saying drastic restructuring measures at the struggling manufacturer were essential, they held up banners and shouted slogans, including: “Our jobs are not your balance sheet adjustments”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Judge rejects Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex-trafficking appeal, calling claims ‘demonstrably meritless’ 25. August 2026 (17:46) Maxwell sought to vacate Epstein-related conviction, alleging hidden trial evidence and juror’s abuse historySign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA federal judge has rejected Ghislaine Maxwell’s legal effort to throw out her 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges and 20-year prison sentence, calling her claims “demonstrably meritless, and generally based on speculation, distortions, and/or outright falsehoods”.In a 67-page decision filed on Tuesday, US district judge Paul Engelmayer for New York’s southern district denied the former British socialite’s petition for relief, finding that Maxwell had failed to make a substantial showing that her constitutional rights were denied when she was convicted for her role in crimes linked to late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Badenoch plotted to remove Sunak as PM months before election, book claims 25. August 2026 (17:05) Anthony Seldon’s book alleges Badenoch asked fellow Tory ministers ‘if anyone was interested in changing the captain’Kemi Badenoch plotted with fellow Conservative cabinet ministers to remove Rishi Sunak as prime minister months before the general election, it has been claimed.Anthony Seldon, who has written political biographies of every prime minister since John Major, has alleged in a new book that Badenoch, who was business secretary at the time, phoned several other cabinet ministers to ask “if anyone was interested in changing the captain”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
