‘Fix that little spot’: Danish PM hits back at unsolicited beauty tip from cosmetic surgeon 24. August 2026 (18:59) Mette Frederiksen, who received message on returning from Ukraine, advises women to embrace self-acceptanceSick of getting unsolicited beauty tips on social media, the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, rebuffed a male cosmetic surgeon’s offer to “fix” her and advised women in similar situations to embrace self-acceptance.Frederiksen, a Social Democrat and Denmark’s second female prime minister, posted on Instagram that she had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, where she was subjected to air raid sirens, when she found a message proposing some help with her appearance. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rupert Lowe set to be paid as much for divisive posts on Elon Musk’s X as for being MP 24. August 2026 (18:41) Restore Britain leader paid up to £1,476 an hour by platform, which critics say is financially incentivising inflammatory contentRupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, is on course to earn as much from the social media platform X as he does from his salary as an MP, after surging income from posts that include demands for mass deportations.Lowe has earned £932 an hour for his posts on X, formerly Twitter, since the start of the year, according to his own declarations in the register of MPs’ financial interests, which detail how many hours he has spent on X for each payment he received from the platform. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham’s visit to Kyiv marks a renewal of badly needed support for Ukraine 24. August 2026 (18:33) As well as pledging military help and diplomatic backing, the prime minister could be useful in dealing with the USSince moving into Downing Street in July, Andy Burnham – a foreign policy neophyte – has expressed strong support for Ukraine. But on Monday he saw the bitter human cost of the war up close for the first time, visiting Kyiv during his first international trip as prime minister.The occasion was the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave awards to the families of fallen soldiers. Relatives wept, hugging Ukraine’s president. Photos of young men in their prime were shown on a giant screen. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Vuelta a España: giant hail forces stage three abandonment in Pyrenees 24. August 2026 (17:56) Huge hailstones prompt organisers to act 15km from endRiders seen heading into hotel on route to take coverA torrential hailstorm in the French Pyrenees forced the abandonment of the third stage of the Vuelta a España on Monday.With 15km (9.32 miles) remaining of the 174km ride from Gruissan to Font-Romeu, the skies darkened as the peloton scaled the Col de Mont-Louis and huge hailstones began pelting the riders.More details soon Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Washington Post ordered to reinstate opinion writer fired over Charlie Kirk posts 24. August 2026 (17:42) Arbitrator determined the Post improperly fired Karen Attiah, a union-protected employee, over social media postsAn independent arbitrator has ordered the Washington Post to rehire the high-profile opinion columnist Karen Attiah, abruptly fired by the news organization last September over comments she made on social media about Charlie Kirk, the then recently slain conservative activist.On Monday, an arbitrator ruled that the Post had violated her rights as a union-protected employee and ordered the newspaper to reinstate her and compensate her for lost wages. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Households in Great Britain ‘could owe energy suppliers £7bn by end of year’ 24. August 2026 (17:40) After higher prices for winter kick in, energy debt unpaid for more than 30 days likely to rise, says Energy UKHouseholds in Great Britain could owe their energy suppliers as much as £7bn by the end of the year after higher gas and electricity prices forecast for the winter kick in, an industry group is warning.Domestic energy debt and arrears climbed by about £500m over the past year to a record £6bn at the end of June as the Middle East conflict continued to stoke rising gas market prices. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘There’s a baby on the field’: Toddler invades pitch during Minnesota’s MLS win over San Jose 24. August 2026 (17:29) Child wandered on field during MNUFC’s 5-1 winMinnesota posts win was ‘Like taking money from a baby’A toddler interrupted a Major League Soccer match between Minnesota United and San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday by invading the pitch – a bizarre scene punctuated by an on-air analyst saying, “There’s a baby on the field.”With a minute and a half to play in the game that Minnesota won 5-1 at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, the small child took to the field – and the referee blew his whistle to stop play. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia has just 12,000 sea lions left – and ‘carnage’ may await them as bird flu takes hold, scientists warn 24. August 2026 (17:00) Virus has already caused catastrophic losses in pinnipeds in South America and sub-Antarctica, particularly among pupsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastScientists have warned deadly H5 bird flu could cause “carnage” for Australia’s seal and sea lion populations after detection of the virus in long-nosed fur seals in South Australia.SA confirmed Australia’s first case in a mammal on Saturday after a dead long-nosed fur seal found at Beachport on the Limestone Coast tested positive for H5N1. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Guns, axes, explosives: violent museum heists are on the rise, says Europol 24. August 2026 (16:31) EU police agency says shift could point to involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific artefactsRobberies at European museums are becoming increasingly violent, with thieves sometimes brandishing guns, assaulting staff and using sledgehammers, axes and even explosives to smash their way into buildings and display cases, according to a report by Europol.The EU police agency said that while museum thefts were generally seen as a non-violent form of organised property crime, member states had detected a recent shift “towards violent and forceful methods” that could point to the involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific cultural artefacts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man suspected of killing five people in Oregon found dead, officials say 24. August 2026 (16:27) Authorities suspect Benjamin Charles Parker, 36, died by suicide after he was found in vehicle in Washington stateA man suspected of killing five people in rural Oregon was found dead in a suspected suicide, local law enforcement officials said on Sunday.The five homicide victims were found on Saturday at a home in a rural community near Forest Grove, Oregon, about 30 miles (48km) outside Portland, when authorities responded to a report of a vehicle fire. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
