Several homes ablaze as firefighters try to contain West Midlands grassfire 13. August 2026 (20:30) About 60 crew responding to blaze covering about 16 hectares near Stourbridge golf courseSeveral homes were ablaze and two people were receiving treatment as firefighters attempted to contain a grassfire in the West Midlands on Thursday.The region’s fire service was alerted to an extensive grassfire near Stourbridge golf course just before 1.30pm on Thursday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Behind England’s bumper A-level results lie record levels of regional disparities 13. August 2026 (20:22) Need for Burnham to tackle regional inequality could not be clearer as London becomes ‘educational outlier’Andy Burnham has put regional inequality at the top of his agenda as prime minister, and nowhere is the need for doing so clearer than in education.As England’s A-level results were published on Thursday morning, students across the country were pictured celebrating a bumper crop of results, with record rates of As and A*s. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Top Forbes editor reportedly fired after receiving $6m from business associate 13. August 2026 (20:16) Randall Lane left his job last month after accepting money from founder of firm that does business with magazineThe top editor of Forbes left his job last month and was reportedly dismissed for accepting $6m from the founder of a firm that does business with the magazine.The New York Times reported this week that Randall Lane was paid by RJ Shook, whose company, Shook Research, worked with Forbes since 2016 to publish rankings of wealth advisers. The payment was made after Shook sold a majority stake in the company to a private equity firm a year ago. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nearly 100 children detained as adults under UK-France migration deal 13. August 2026 (20:13) Figures emerge in critical letter to Home Office from organisation appointed to scrutinise detention facilitiesNearly 100 children have been wrongly identified and detained as adults under Shabana Mahmood’s “one in, one out” deal with France, the Guardian can disclose.Home Office staff said that of 304 age-disputed cases arising from the scheme over nine months, 94 (31%) – were ultimately found to be minors. Children are supposed to be excluded from the scheme, while government policy limits immigration detention of unaccompanied children to 24 hours.Had been awaiting deportation for more than six months, despite being supposed be held for up to 28 days only “in exceptional cases”.Were being readied for removal to France despite having TB or requiring hospital treatment.Faced removal after being separated from family members with whom they had travelled, which she said had a “particularly damaging impact”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Fossils show huge carbon emissions harm forests, not ‘green the planet’ 13. August 2026 (20:00) Study of 56m-year-old leaves counters claims from Trump administration members of ‘benefits’ of fossil fuel pollutionAdding huge quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is set to cause the Earth’s forests to wither and die rather than flourish, according to a new study that counters erroneous claims that fossil fuel pollution will green the planet.An analysis of fossilized leaf cells from a period known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (or PETM), which occurred about 56 million years ago, has helped reconstruct how the world’s forests responded when planet-heating gases were previously being released at a rapid rate. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Government could pay higher rents to spread asylum accommodation across UK 13. August 2026 (19:52) Greater use of private rental properties would form part of PM’s plan to spread accommodation more evenly across UKMinisters are considering paying higher prices for housing asylum seekers in private rental properties as part of Andy Burnham’s plan to spread accommodation more evenly across the country.Using more private rental accommodation, known as “dispersal”, as well as former military barracks, is cheaper than expensive hotels for asylum seekers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK universities face ‘financial crisis’ amid collapse in international students 13. August 2026 (19:49) Higher education figures call on Labour to reverse tax on fees and warn institutions at risk of ‘going under’University leaders are warning of financial turmoil in British higher education after new figures suggested a collapse in international student numbers would deprive the sector of vital income and undermine its future.The sector’s leaders called on the government to rethink the levy on international student fees imposed under Keir Starmer, as a former universities minister warned there was a risk of a university “going under” because of the financial crisis. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
BAE Systems to pay $36m penalty after 104 violations of US arms export rules 13. August 2026 (19:35) State department says it has reached administrative settlement with company’s US arm to resolve breachesThe UK defence company BAE Systems is to pay a $36m (£26.7m) civil penalty after breaching US arms exports regulations more than 100 times.The US Department of State announced on Thursday that it had reached an administrative settlement with the US arm of BAE to resolve 104 violations of the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine ‘offering Russia deal to halt attacks on civilian ships in Black Sea’ 13. August 2026 (19:13) Kyiv reportedly suggested mutual agreement in attempt to reopen crucial grain corridor Ukraine has proposed a deal with Russia for both sides to halt their attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea in an apparent attempt to reopen a crucial grain corridor, Reuters reports.Kyiv is said to have made the offer through a third party. Moscow has yet to respond, the news agency added. The busy waterway is a key export route for both Russia and Ukraine, used to transport grain and other vital foodstuffs worldwide. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit against Harvard over Jewish students 13. August 2026 (17:59) Federal court rules administration failed to plausibly show ongoing violation of civil rights lawA US federal judge has dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit that claimed Harvard University failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment in the aftermath of the war in Gaza.In a ruling on Thursday, US district judge Richard Stearns in Boston said the administration’s lawsuit – filed in March – failed to plausibly show an ongoing violation of federal civil rights law on Harvard’s campus. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
