Rapists, child abusers and groomers will not leave prison early, says PM 03. August 2026 (23:30) Andy Burnham will also delay release of thousands of prisoners across England and Wales a month, until OctoberRapists, child sexual abusers and groomers will be excluded from early release plans to ease critical prison overcrowding in a major intervention by Andy Burnham.The prime minister said on Tuesday that he will delay the planned early release of thousands of prisoners across England and Wales by a month until October. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Far-right Republican accused of stiffing student debate champion of $8,000 03. August 2026 (23:21) Briana Whatley sues Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback for unpaid scholarship from company he foundedA far-right Republican candidate in Florida’s governor’s race has been accused of stiffing a high school debate champion over the better part of $11,000 in scholarship money she won from a company he founded.Student Briana Whatley landed the awards as regional and national champion of Incubate Debate, a league-style competition set up by the candidate, James Fishback, to encourage youth to engage in political discourse. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US House ethics panel recommends censuring North Carolina’s Chuck Edwards 03. August 2026 (23:06) Republican congressman was investigated for untoward and inappropriate advances toward two female staffersThe US House of Representatives ethics committee on Monday recommended that Chuck Edwards, a Republican congressman, face censure after determining he “fostered a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment” by giving gifts and lavishing attention on two young female staffers.The bipartisan panel began investigating the second-term North Carolina congressman earlier this year, after receiving complaints about his conduct. In their report, they determined Edwards broke House rules by singling out the two unidentified aides for special treatment that made them uncomfortable and harmed relations with other employees. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Completely hollow’: critics denounce Blanche deal to halt Trump slush fund 03. August 2026 (22:44) Democrats say agreement – which clears way for Blanche’s confirmation – makes promises president can easily reverseA compromise between Todd Blanche and two Republican senators that potentially cleared the way for Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general is weak, Democrats and several experts said, as it makes promises Donald Trump can easily reverse.Blanche, the acting attorney general, posted two documents on Sunday evening showing he was withdrawing an 18 May order allowing for the creation of a $1.8bn weaponization fund and clarifying that broad tax immunity the justice department granted to Trump only applied retroactively to the president, his sons, and businesses. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Athens suitcase death: suspect admits hiding body but denies murder 03. August 2026 (21:36) Police are focusing on Elisabeth-Jane Ross’s final hours in hope of discovering motive for her killingGreek authorities are investigating what may have motivated a 26-year-old Afghan man to kill a Scottish charity worker found dead in a suitcase in an abandoned building in Athens last month.Inquiries have focused increasingly on Elisabeth-Jane Ross’s last few hours alive and police believe they hold the key to revealing why the 38-year-old was targeted. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US cyclosporiasis outbreak kills two people in Michigan, officials say 03. August 2026 (20:49) US sees first fatalities due to intestinal illness, though both had significant underlying health conditionsTwo people have died from cyclosporiasis in Michigan, the state’s health department said on Monday, marking the first fatalities in the largest US outbreak of the intestinal illness.“According to medical records, both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration,” a spokesperson for the Michigan health and human service department told the Guardian in a statement. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former neo-Nazi activist selected as Tory candidate for Somerset council election 03. August 2026 (20:45) Joshua Bonehill-Paine, creator of satirical Crewkerne Gazette, has convictions including harassment of a Jewish MPA former neo-Nazi activist with convictions including the harassment of a Jewish MP has been selected as a Conservative candidate for a local election in Somerset.Joshua Bonehill-Paine, the creator of the viral Crewkerne Gazette series of AI clips, is due to stand for election to Somerset council next year in a new Crewkerne South district. He told the Guardian he was an executive member of the Tories’ Yeovil branch, working as an events organiser. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rupert Lowe’s ‘olive branch’ to Farage piles more pressure on Reform leader 03. August 2026 (20:37) Restore leader has countered charges he’s splitting the right while showing his party is a very real obstacle for ReformEven by the standards of their rivalry, the speed at which Rupert Lowe’s olive branch to Nigel Farage morphed into fresh recriminations between the two was swift.It began with a softly lit 12-minute video posted on Sunday by the Restore Britain leader, looking straight to camera and referring to “Nigel” as he suggested his party could be willing to cast aside its differences with Reform UK and work together. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump meets his obstinate match in Iran’s hardball regime 03. August 2026 (20:27) US president reduced to bemoaning Tehran’s ‘unbelievable duplicity’ as he struggles to find solid negotiating groundMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesThe Donald Trump doctrine has always contained a tenuous relationship with the truth. It was his mentor, the infamous New York lawyer Roy Cohn, who taught the young real estate mogul always to claim victory and never to admit defeat. Unfortunately for Trump, in Iran the US president has found a counterpart just as stubborn as himself.As Trump claims new negotiations are to begin with Tehran this week, Iran has shown it can also reignite the conflict by lobbing ballistic missiles at US bases in the region and maintaining a stranglehold on the strait of Hormuz, effectively taking initiative in the stalled peace process. And time is of the essence for Trump as the clock ticks toward a global energy crisis and a painful midterm elections for him and his Republican party. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Raging Washington state wildfires destroy homes and force 60,000 people to evacuate 03. August 2026 (20:23) Hundreds of structures damaged as firefighters battle to contain 15 major wildfires amid extreme heat and droughtFirefighters in Washington state are battling wildfires that have forced 60,000 people to flee and destroyed hundreds of buildings as drought and extreme heat fuel an “extraordinary” fire season in the Pacific north-west.Fifteen major blazes are raging across the state, David Upthegrove, the head of Washington’s department of natural resources, told reporters over the weekend. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
