‘They’re selling the safety of the traveling public’: TSA workers decry Trump privatization push 05. August 2026 (13:00) Union exploring options to oppose program that would put US airport screening into hands of private contractors The labor union representing workers at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is raising alarms over a new program that will expand privatizing security checkpoints at three airports.The agency informed the union last month of plans to enact the TSA Gold+ program, which would shift security and control of the screening technology into the hands of private contractors at airports in Tampa, Charleston and Des Moines. Union workers are expected to lose their union contract and benefits once a contractor takes over. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Peruvian cardinal hails $150m lead poisoning settlement for 1,300 people as a ‘historic milestone’ 05. August 2026 (12:40) Cardinal Pedro Barreto received death threats and harassment during his almost 20-year campaign against a US mining company’s operations in the AndesA Peruvian cardinal who received a barrage of death threats when he challenged the firm behind a toxic smelter has called a $150m (£111m) out-of-court settlement to more than 1,000 people who were allegedly poisoned by the plant as children “a historic milestone”.Cardinal Pedro Barreto, 82, was in Rome meeting Pope Leo XIV and other cardinals in June when he received news that the firm that ran the smelter, the Doe Run Company, a subsidiary of Renco Group, would pay $150m to 1,373 Peruvians who have suffered health impacts since childhood. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Michigan Senate Democratic primary race remains too close to call as El-Sayed holds narrow lead – US politics live 05. August 2026 (11:59) The former public health official has slight lead over congresswoman Haley Stevens, but vote count could continue well into the dayEl-Sayed holds narrow lead in Michigan Senate primary but race too close to callUS representative Haley Stevens, who is currently trailing in the Democratic primary for Senate in Michigan, has cast herself throughout her campaign as a pragmatic problem-solver and workhorse.Stevens, who has represented Michigan’s 11th House district since 2019, after flipping the seat, has a long list of high profile endorsements from within the Democratic party that include the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, the Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer, and Gary Peters, the retiring senator who holds the seat she is now running for. Her campaign had also been boosted by tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, including from groups affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), the pro-Israel lobbying organization. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Justice minister defends early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers amid possible legal challenge – UK politics live 05. August 2026 (11:56) Jake Richards acknowledges ‘unimaginable pain’ of Harper’s family but says government faces an ‘unenviable position’BP’s chief executive has urged Andy Burnham to make use of the UK’s oil and gas resources even as the oil company prepares to sell its North Sea business after 60 years in the ageing basin.In a conversation with the new prime minister, Meg O’Neill said the country should prioritise using energy produced in the UK, “where we generate jobs, we generate tax revenue, we generate all those additional positive impacts”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zelenskyy rails at lack of anti-missile defences amid deadly Russian attack on Kyiv – Europe live 05. August 2026 (11:42) EU’s von der Leyen warns ‘Russia must pay’ and condemns ‘horrible atrocities’ after Kyiv strikes kill at least 17 peopleRussian attack on Kyiv kills at least 17 as Zelenskyy calls for better air defencesLithuanian foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys called Russia “a terrorist state” when responding to the latest round of attacks on Kyiv.“At least 17 people were killed and 44 injured. Pure terror. Ukraine needs more air defence – now. Every intercepted missile means lives saved. The only language the Kremlin understands is strength. The world must increase pressure on Russia and force it to the negotiating table.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump administration has refunded 60% of $165bn taken in illegal tariffs 05. August 2026 (11:34) Government has so far returned $100bn to companies from levies that US supreme court struck downBusiness live – latest updatesThe Trump administration has refunded about $100bn from the tariffs it collected before the US supreme court ruled them illegal, according to reports.The $100bn (£74bn) figure, which represents 60% of the total $165bn collected from Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs, was reported by customs officials to the US court of international trade (CIT) on Tuesday, according to the Financial Times. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mexico’s top university orders 58,000 students to resit entrance exam after suspected cheating 05. August 2026 (11:00) National Autonomous University of Mexico says applicants must take test in person after online debacleMexico’s largest and most prestigious university has announced that about 58,000 students will have to resit their entrance exam after abnormally high test results raised suspicions of widespread cheating.The National Autonomous University of Mexico (Unam) said the exam would take place in person after its first attempt at a fully remote online version led to a debacle and thousands of annulled results. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham considering public inquiry into UK activities of Jeffrey Epstein 05. August 2026 (10:42) Minister says PM has agreed to meet victims of sex offender and could launch separate inquiry into Mohamed Al FayedAndy Burnham is considering launching a public inquiry into the UK activities of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a minister has said.The victims minister, Alex Davies-Jones, said the prime minister had agreed to meet Epstein’s victims, was “looking into” an inquiry and was “taking this very seriously”. A separate inquiry into the alleged actions of the former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed is also being considered. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
OpenAI and Anthropic models ‘went rogue’ during UK cybersecurity test 05. August 2026 (10:40) AI Security Institute says tools engaged in potentially harmful activity and incident reveals new type of riskAdvanced AI models developed by OpenAI and Anthropic went rogue during a cybersecurity test and showed a new type of risk posed by the technology, according to the UK’s AI Security Institute.AISI described the actions carried out by the agents – the term for AI systems that can perform tasks without human help – as a “serious incident”. In one example, an agent powered by Anthropic’s Mythos model sent targeted emails to people. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Badenoch defends decision to allow man jailed for antisemitism to stand as councillor 05. August 2026 (10:37) Tory leader praises Joshua Bonehill-Paine’s ‘contrition’ but says she has higher thresholds for MP candidatesUK politics live – latest updatesKemi Badenoch has defended her party’s decision to allow a former neo-Nazi who was jailed for subjecting a prominent Labour politician to antisemitic abuse to stand as a councillor.Badenoch said her party was not giving Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who is standing for election in Somerset, a “national platform”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
