Millions in England face longer waits for mental health care as NHS providers plan cuts 07. August 2026 (20:00) Exclusive: Seven in 10 survey respondents expect services to be reduced or shut, while more than half anticipate job lossesMillions of adults and children in England face being forced to wait longer for mental health care, with more than two-thirds of NHS providers planning to cut services and half expected to axe jobs, the Guardian can reveal.With mental health services already under extraordinary pressure amid soaring demand for support, experts warned the proposed cuts – drawn up by trusts to plug holes in their finances – would also have “significant” consequences for the wider NHS, the economy and public services. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French officers halted small boats at sea 10 times since spring 07. August 2026 (19:46) Disclosure challenges Conservative and Reform claims that police are refusing to interveneThe French authorities have halted small boats at sea in the Channel on 10 occasions since the spring, officials said on Friday.Despite claims from the Conservatives and Reform that the French were refusing to intervene in small boat crossings, maritime prefect officers were using “intervention tactics” to board or control vessels at sea and take asylum seekers back to France. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Businessman was ‘preparing champagne’ to celebrate Caruana Galizia murder, court hears 07. August 2026 (19:40) Taxi driver says he acted as middleman between Yorgen Fenech and three men already convicted of €150,000 contract killingThe businessman accused of paying for hitmen to murder the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was impatient for the killing to take place, and once texted from his boat to say he was “preparing champagne” to celebrate, a jury in Malta has heard.Yorgen Fenech, the 44-year-old heir to a property empire that includes several Hilton hotels, is on trial in Malta for complicity in the murder of Caruana Galizia. She died in a car bombing in October 2017 after publishing a series of revelations about senior politicians that were so damaging they triggered a snap general election. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cambridge academics reject university’s attempt to end row over Jason Arday 07. August 2026 (18:49) Group calls for ‘thorough and transparent investigation’ of hiring of professor who resigned after his claims came under scrutinyThe University of Cambridge has announced a review into the way it vets and hires senior academic staff in an effort to fend off external and internal criticism of its appointment of Jason Arday as a professor.But a group of Cambridge academics quickly rejected the university’s response, saying: “We strongly believe that a thorough and transparent investigation into the wider circumstances of this damaging episode is essential.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Police and prosecution errors left proven sex offender free to murder two women in London 07. August 2026 (17:41) Delays to sexual assault charges and failures to report past convictions in court hearings gave Simon Levy chance to attack more women• Violence against women: has anything changed in policing since Sarah Everard’s killing?Catastrophic errors left a persistent and proven sex offender free before he murdered two women in London, it can be revealed.On Friday, an Old Bailey jury found Simon Levy, 40, guilty of murdering Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo in March 2025 and Sheryl Wilkins five months later. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kemi Badenoch’s weird week: defence of ex-neo-Nazi raises questions over Tory direction 07. August 2026 (17:36) Some in party are delighted by leader’s tack rightwards but opponents have savoured latest Conservative controversyThere was a moment in the middle of this week when a news alert raised eyebrows among the politically committed. It read: “Kemi Badenoch: Former neo-Nazi candidate would just be sorting out bins.” It was a collection of words that might prompt palpitations in the most sanguine of communications professionals, followed by panicked advice that retreat was necessary. But as a deeply weird week for the Conservative party came to a close on Friday, its leader appeared adamant she would hold the line.With Badenoch accused of aping Reform UK on policy and purging centrists from her party in recent weeks, her decision to stand by a man who was jailed after creating sexualised images of a Jewish MP and calling her a “rodent” has prompted concerns about the leader of the opposition’s political antennae and the Tories’ wider strategy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s attorney general pick Todd Blanche appears to clear last hurdle for confirmation 07. August 2026 (17:18) Bill Cassidy, Republican who had been seen as a decisive holdout, announced that he is prepared to back BlancheUS politics live – latest updatesBill Cassidy, the US Republican senator seen as the decisive holdout on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general, announced on Friday that he will support the pick, setting the stage for a major win for Donald Trump.Confirmation that Cassidy, of Louisiana, is prepared to back Blanche – Trump’s former personal lawyer, and a loyal ally of the president – appeared to clear the last hurdle of his confirmation process, which had been challenged by the defections of the Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ICE will not reveal body-camera footage unless in agency’s ‘best interests’ 07. August 2026 (17:08) Much-delayed devices to be deployed by end of month after immigration agents involved in deaths or serious injuriesOfficers for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be equipped with much-delayed body cameras by the end of next month, it was reported on Friday. But experts have questioned the transparency of a policy that allows the ICE director to restrict the public release of footage unless “it is in the best interests of the agency”.Pressure has mounted on the Trump administration to provide body cameras after people caught up in encounters with federal immigration personnel suffered death or serious injuries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russia-linked accounts spread far-right narrative online during Ceuta migration crisis, analysis finds 07. August 2026 (16:48) Counter-disinformation group says social media channels connected to Pravda network helped amplify messageAccounts with links to the Russian military promoting far-right messages reached more than 500,000 people in the early days of the Ceuta migration crisis, according to an analysis done by 411, a counter-disinformation group.Russia-linked social media accounts frequently spread destabilising narratives in Europe, often promoting far-right talking points about immigration. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tate brothers’ lawyers urge US judge to release the two from Miami jail on bail 07. August 2026 (16:35) Andrew and Tristan Tate remain in jail as they fight extradition to UK to face charges of rape, assault and moreLawyers for Andrew and Tristan Tate urged a US judge on Friday to release the brothers from a Miami jail as they fight the British government’s efforts to extradite them to face charges of rape, assault and facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation.In a filing in Miami federal court, the Tate brothers’ lawyers said their “extraordinary public visibility” would make it impractical for them to try to flee, meaning there was no need to keep them behind bars until the extradition proceedings end. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
