Nigel Farage wins Clacton byelection in contest boycotted by every other major party 14. August 2026 (07:07) Reform UK leader does not appear for the result, despite beating nearest challenger, Count Binface, in byelection he caused amid deepening scandal over £5m giftClacton byelection – UK politics liveNigel Farage has seen off Count Binface to win the Clacton byelection in a contest boycotted by every other major political party.The Reform UK leader in July triggered the byelection in an attempt to shake off a deepening scandal over a £5m gift he received from the cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Searches for UK homes with air conditioning more than double 14. August 2026 (07:00) Most owners would consider installing aircon as heatwaves lead buyers to focus on ability to stay cool, Rightmove saysSearches for homes for sale in the UK with air conditioning have more than doubled this summer as heatwaves push staying cool up the list of priorities for homebuyers, alongside nearness to good schools and transport links.In the week of the UK’s fifth heatwave, in which temperatures in parts of England hit 38C, the property website Rightmove said the heat was influencing how Britons thought about their homes, with more people paying attention to how comfortable a property would be during hotter weather. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hot topic: why is Burnham so reluctant to talk about the climate crisis? 14. August 2026 (07:00) Extreme heat is harming the wellbeing of the ordinary people the PM champions, yet he has ignored the subjectFrom the first day Andy Burnham came into office, climate scientists, campaigners and some of the ordinary people surviving through this summer of extreme heat began to wonder when he would start to talk about the climate crisis.Up until this week, many held back from criticism. After all, he had only been in power for a couple weeks; it felt far too early to start to judge and call him out on it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Unprecedented’ rain kills four in Japan as thousands stranded at airport 14. August 2026 (06:14) Evacuation orders issued for 400,000 as torrential rains hit Chiba prefecture as flooding risks remain high despite rainfall easing At least four people died in eastern Japan after “unprecedented” heavy rain that left nearly 7,000 stranded at Tokyo’s Narita airport, and forced thousands to take refuge in government buildings.The torrential rains hit Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Thursday night, triggering landslide warnings and power outages. Evacuation orders were issued for more than 400,000 people in Chiba and other areas, and about 45,000 homes lost power, as 115mm of rain fell hourly, approximately the same amount usually recorded for the whole month of August. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Morrison-era GST deal with WA a multi-billion dollar mistake that should be reversed, Productivity Commission finds 14. August 2026 (06:00) Interim report calls for carve-up deal that has only benefited Western Australia to be ‘reshaped’ as it has achieved almost none of its objectivesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Productivity Commission (PC) has criticised the controversial GST deal with Western Australia as a costly mistake that should be reversed, saying tens of billions of dollars of taxpayer money has since gone to the country’s richest state.An interim report from a PC review of the deal said the reform – requested by WA and implemented under the former Morrison government with Labor’s support – had achieved almost none of its objectives and had made the system less equitable. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Indonesia wildfires threaten orangutans rescued from animal traffickers 14. August 2026 (06:00) Blaze fuelled by hot, dry and windy conditions comes within metres of West Kalimantan rehabilitation centreOrangutans rescued from wildlife traffickers face a new threat from the record number of fires that have broken out in Indonesia in recent weeks.Flames have come within metres of an animal rehabilitation centre in West Kalimantan as hot, dry and windy conditions have been amplified by a powerful El Niño and the human-driven climate crisis. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney airport incident involving Virgin and Qantas flights didn’t have to be reported, Airservices Australia says 14. August 2026 (05:32) Airservices boss says planes remained 1km apart so runway incursion ‘didn’t meet mandatory reporting requirements’ but safety bureau is ‘concerned’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe organisation that manages Australian skies has defended its decision not to immediately report a fresh safety incident at Sydney airport when a Virgin plane aborted its take-off.The chief executive of the commonwealth-owned Airservices Australia, Rob Sharp, said he did not believe the incident met the reporting threshold given the substantial distance between the Virgin plane and a Qantas aircraft crossing the runway in front of it on Sunday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alleged victim of Alan Jones made broadcaster soft-boiled eggs with soldiers and ironed his underpants, court told 14. August 2026 (03:54) Former 2UE and 2GB radio broadcaster is facing 22 indecent assault and sexual touching charges. Jones, 85, has pleaded not guiltyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA driver for Alan Jones felt violated and trapped when the broadcaster kissed him but didn’t complain due to the "extraordinary” power dynamic between them.Complainant C detailed the escalating interactions between him and Jones at the 2GB host’s indecent assault trial on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Romania shuts its last nuclear reactor as drought-hit Danube river drops to record low 14. August 2026 (03:20) Cernavoda shutdown poses immediate problems for Moldova, which relies on Romanian power to cover its own electricity shortagesRomania has been forced to shut down the last working reactor at its only nuclear plant after drought caused the Danube river to fall to record lows – a rare move that will immediately affect power supplies in neighbouring Moldova.Drought and record-low water levels have deepened fears of an energy crisis across Europe, which is facing a new summer heatwave. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia has been galvanised by ‘melon-gate’. So what is the luxury fruit at the centre of the PM’s controversy? 14. August 2026 (02:58) Shizuoka Crown melons are part of an important cultural gifting practice in Japan, where they are hand-patted by growers to achieve an even shape and textureThe melons at the centre of a national imbroglio involving the Australian prime minister have the sweetness of a watermelon, the snap of a honeydew and the perfume of a peach, according to fruit sellers.Anthony Albanese maintains he has nothing to apologise for, after a joke he made regarding a gift he received from Japan’s prime minister. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
