The events at Ceuta show how Europe’s hard right now set the tone on immigration 05. August 2026 (16:30) The narratives of the right are seeping into mainstream EU policy, and Spain finds itself increasingly isolated in its humanitarian stance on borders• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereIt was over almost as quickly as it began. But the human cost of the mayhem in Ceuta over the last seven days, and the disunity it exposed within the EU, will take a lot longer to fix.To recap: more than 70,000 people swam or waded into the tiny Spanish enclave in north Africa from neighbouring Morocco in a matter of hours at the end of last week. The exact circumstances in which the heavily securitised border came suddenly to be open are still unclear. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gene-edited beagles may offer a future option for people with dog allergies 05. August 2026 (16:17) Scientists at a biotech company have used gene editing to create two hypoallergenic beagles that don't trigger allergiesMatt Walker couldn’t pet a dog without sneezing – until he and other scientists used a gene editing technique to produce a hypoallergenic beagle named Bailey.Now, he can feed Bailey spoons of peanut butter while she lies on his lap and play fetch with her in Central Park. His allergies didn’t go away: Bailey’s saliva and hair no longer contain a key allergy-causing protein. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FAA investigates air ‘safety incident’ involving Trump’s Marine One 05. August 2026 (14:58) Controllers allegedly failed to halt flights, leading to a ‘loss of separation’ with a departing passenger jetAn air “safety incident” in which Donald Trump’s Marine One helicopter came closer than permitted to another aircraft over Washington DC is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).Air traffic controllers are believed to have mistakenly failed to halt commercial flights at Ronald Reagan national airport in northern Virginia on Tuesday afternoon when the military helicopter lifted off from the White House with the president on board. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Leicester Square, please guv’: Self-driving taxis cleared for London streets ‘later this summer’ 05. August 2026 (14:45) Wayve Uber wins first minicab licence for autonomous cabs from TfL but vehicles will have a safety driver (at first)The taxi app company Uber and the autonomous technology developer Wayve have been granted the first minicab licences in London, allowing them to offer self-driving taxi rides to paying customers – but with a human safety driver in place, for now.The companies said they would start trips in the UK “later this summer” before the full public launch. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: US and Iran signal hope for Hormuz deal but terms unclear 05. August 2026 (14:35) While Trump suggests deal could come as soon as today, Iran indicates that ongoing talks with Oman would not lead to its immediate reopeningAfter oil prices fell sharply in the last couple of days on hopes of an interim deal that would allow safe traffic through the strait of Hormuz, crude is on the rise again.Brent crude is back above $80 a barrel, rising 1% to $80.2 a barrel. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican Chuck Edwards drops bid for re-election after report finding sexual harassment of staffers 05. August 2026 (14:34) Congressional ethics panel had recommended Edwards face censure over its findings on ‘hostile work environment’US politics live – latest updatesChuck Edwards announced he would not run for re-election after the US House of Representatives ethics committee determined the US congressman “fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment” by giving gifts and lavishing attention on two young female staffers.Edwards, a Republican for North Carolina, said he would complete his current term, which is due to end in January. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Head of drone manufacturer critically injured in car bomb in Russia 05. August 2026 (14:10) Assassination attempt demonstrates Ukraine’s ability to continue clandestine operations deep inside Russian territoryEurope live – latest updatesThe head of a leading Russian drone manufacturer has been critically injured in a car bomb near Ekaterinburg, in what appears to be the latest in a series of assassination attempts targeting figures linked to the country’s war in Ukraine.Vladimir Tkachuk, the founder of the private drone manufacturer Uraldronzavod, was rushed to intensive care on Wednesday after a bomb planted beneath his Mercedes exploded, according to Russian state media, citing emergency services. His bodyguard was killed in the explosion. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Italy to place all 27 of its major cities on highest heat alert 05. August 2026 (14:01) Move comes as fourth heatwave of summer intensifies, edging temperatures in some areas close to 40CItaly is to place all of its 27 major cities, from Trieste in the north to Palermo in the south, under the highest heat alert as the fourth heatwave to hit the country this summer intensifies.A red alert means there is a higher chance of an emergency owing to the health risk posed by prolonged extreme temperatures to the entire population. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Drone found at German airport after cargo plane collides with object mid-air 05. August 2026 (13:37) Investigators looking into whether incidents at Leipzig are linked after DHL plane forced to make emergency landingA DHL cargo plane was forced to make an emergency landing after colliding with an unknown object as it was climbing away from Germany’s Leipzig airport, where police later found a drone on the ground.The German government on Wednesday confirmed the incident, which led to serious disruption of air traffic. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former Pakistani minister arrested over alleged child rape in 1990s Manchester 05. August 2026 (13:30) Exclusive: Rukhsar Ahmed was re-elected as an MP in Pakistan last week despite being on police bail in the UKA former Pakistani state minister has been arrested on suspicion of raping vulnerable young girls in Manchester in the 1990s, the Guardian can reveal.Rukhsar Ahmed, who was re-elected as an MP in Pakistan last week after five years out of office, is on police bail in the UK after his arrest in July 2024 on suspicion of rape and trafficking children in care as part of a grooming gang. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
