Electronic tagging system unprepared to monitor thousands of early-release prisoners, watchdog warns 04. August 2026 (16:14) Probation inspector for England and Wales says ‘clunky’ system needs huge increase in staffUK politics live – latest updatesThe electronic tagging system that will be relied upon to monitor thousands of offenders released early from prison is failing to alert the authorities of potential breaches of conditions, a watchdog has warned.Martin Jones, HM inspector of probation in England and Wales, said the current system relied upon hard-pressed police and probation officers looking up individual cases and then deciding whether potential breaches need to be investigated further. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US federal judge blocks New York’s ban on ICE officers wearing masks 04. August 2026 (16:10) Judge puts hold on mask ban while allowing state law prohibiting cooperation between police and ICE to standA New York law banning US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring that they wear visible identification has been put on hold by a federal judge. But a state law prohibiting cooperation between local police departments and ICE has been allowed to stand.The mask ruling comes after federal judges have blocked similar laws in California, Virginia and Pennsylvania that sought to ban federal immigration agents from covering their faces. They are still required to wear agency identification badges and badge number. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Peter Gill, playwright who turned ordinary lives into extraordinary drama, dies aged 86 04. August 2026 (15:53) Beginning his career as an actor, Gill went on to write plays including The York Realist as well as directing for the Royal Court and National TheatreTributes have been paid to the director and playwright Peter Gill who died on Monday at the age of 86. His agent Mel Kenyon said Gill’s work had a “rare emotional delicacy” and was “beautifully observed and finely tuned” while the director Michael Grandage said Gill’s “contribution to the British theatre will come to be regarded as quietly seismic”.Gill began his career as an actor at London’s Royal Court in 1958 when still in his teens. Over the next six years, he played Silvius opposite Vanessa Redgrave as Rosalind in Michael Elliott’s lauded RSC production of As You Like It, as well as several roles in the British premiere of Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man charged in Washington state with starting largest wildfire in the area 04. August 2026 (15:25) Suspect had a prior conviction for reportedly shooting his father in Arizona, after he told his son to do the dishesAuthorities on Monday charged a man in Washington state with starting a wildfire that has consumed almost 4,000 acres and forced tens of thousands from their homes.Aaron F Farinacci, 37, of Spokane, was arrested and charged with first-degree arson for setting the Old Trails fire, the largest of three devastating wildfires burning through the region. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Jerusalem’s most important Muslim religious site facing ‘imminent’ threat of Israeli takeover, says Jordan 04. August 2026 (15:15) Country convenes emergency meeting of ministers from Arab and Islamic world, fearing such a move could ‘trigger a religious conflict’Middle East crisis live – latest updatesJordan is convening an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from the Arab and Islamic world over what it says is an “imminent” threat of an Israeli takeover of the most important Muslim site in Jerusalem, with the potential to “trigger a religious conflict”.The meeting on Wednesday – and the Jordanian warning – follow an escalating pattern of government-backed incursions by Jewish religious extremists on the compound around al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock, in violation of a status quo treaty overseen by Jordan’s Hashemite monarchy, by which only Muslims can pray at the site. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Middle East crisis live: Bessent claims US could reach Hormuz deal with Iran by tomorrow 04. August 2026 (14:48) Comments from US Treasury secretary come despite statements from Iran denying that any negotiations are taking placeThe US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said Washington could reach a deal with Iran by tomorrow to reopen the strait of Hormuz.“We are in talks with the Iranians, and I think there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalised position in this conflict,” Bessent said in an interview with CNBC. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kemi Badenoch defends selection of man jailed for harassing Jewish MP in council election – UK politics live 04. August 2026 (14:46) Conservative leader tells press she stands by decision to select Joshua Bonehill-Paine as a candidate for local election in SomersetFormer neo-Nazi activist selected as Tory candidate for Somerset council electionSome 86,495 people were in prison in England and Wales as of 3 August, according to the latest data published by the Ministry of Justice.This is 2,026 below the record high of 88,521 reached on 6 September 2024, just before the current early release scheme began. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UN experts urge Canada to protect Sikh activist amid credible threats to his life 04. August 2026 (14:17) Special rapporteurs say ‘transnational repression by Indian authorities’ has put Moninder Singh in dangerUN rights experts have urged Canada to take all feasible measures to protect the Sikh activist Moninder Singh, who has been repeatedly warned by the Canadian authorities of credible threats to his life.In a letter to the Canadian government, the five UN experts raised “concerning allegations of foreign intimidation and reprisals” against Singh, a Canadian national. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Gatwick airport to open second runway after legal challenge fails 04. August 2026 (14:09) £2.2bn project will allow about 100,000 more flights a year to use Britain’s second busiest airportBusiness live – latest updatesGatwick airport is to start development of its second runway after campaigners lost a legal challenge to the plans.The court of appeal on Tuesday dismissed a bid by local campaign groups to challenge an earlier high court ruling that the scheme could proceed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Washington state Democrat who flipped pro-Trump district faces tough primary 04. August 2026 (14:08) Incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a moderate who owns an auto repair shop, hopes to retain congressional seatThe two-term Democratic congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is heading into one of the country’s most closely watched contests on Tuesday after national recognition for flipping a Republican seat in 2022.Representing Washington state’s third district, Gluesenkamp Perez finds herself squeezed between Democrat and progressive Brent Hennrich and Republican state senator John Braun on her right. There are six other candidates on a single crowded ballot and the top two finishers will advance to the November general election regardless of party. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
