Republican holdouts say they will back Todd Blanche for attorney general 03. August 2026 (20:01) Move comes after Blanche gives senators written assurance he will drop Trump’s $1.8bn anti-weaponization fundTwo Republican senators who threatened to block Todd Blanche’s bid to permanently become US attorney general announced they will advance his nomination after he said in writing that a planned $1.8bn slush fund for Donald Trump’s allies was dead.The US Senate judiciary committee is due to vote on Tuesday on whether to approve the nomination of Blanche, who is already acting attorney general, and send it to the wider Senate for a vote. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Judge orders return of alleged victim of trafficking sent to France under ‘one in one out’ scheme 03. August 2026 (19:52) Ruling quashes Home Office policy to refuse asylum seekers’ right to have trafficking claims reconsidered after initial rejectionA high court judge has ordered the Home Office to bring an alleged victim of trafficking forcibly removed to France under the “one in one out” scheme back to the UK.It is the first ruling of its kind and could lead to more people affected by the “one in one out” policy being brought back to the UK. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Stronger EU borders needed after Ceuta crisis, von der Leyen says 03. August 2026 (19:44) European Commission president says work needed in five areas of migration control including returning more peopleThe president of the European Commission has called for action to strengthen Europe’s borders after tens of thousands of people arrived and quickly left the Spanish territory of Ceuta, triggering a furious row between Madrid and other European countries.In a letter to Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, on Monday, Ursula von der Leyen said: “From this incident, it is clear that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points, including vigilant monitoring and the use of physical barriers where needed.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Apple launches legal challenge against UK government demand to access data 03. August 2026 (19:35) The Home Office has made a fresh request for ‘back door’ access to encrypted iCloud data belonging to British usersApple has launched a new legal challenge against a UK government demand to access its customers’ highly encrypted data, a year after the Home Office agreed to abandon its previous request.The US tech company launched the legal complaint last month at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT), an independent court that has the power to investigate claims that the UK intelligence services have acted unlawfully. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Author of Democrats’ 2024 election autopsy report says chapter was left out 03. August 2026 (19:33) Paul Rivera says missing section included questions on Biden’s decision to run for re-election, the Times reportsThe author of an infamous internal Democrat party report on the 2024 presidential election loss has claimed that an entire section that included a discussion of generational wealth established by high-ranking elected officials was cut from the draft version leaked and later released earlier this summer.Paul Rivera, the author of the autopsy, told the New York Times that a section titled “What Happened in 2024” was missing from the published version but had been included in the version he personally handed to embattled party chairman, Ken Martin, in January. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Farage admission over timing of Reform leadership talks raises fresh doubts over £5m gift 03. August 2026 (19:28) Nigel Farage admits he discussed returning as Reform leader months before election, appearing to undermine previous claimsNigel Farage has made his clearest admission that he was in talks to return to lead Reform UK months before the 2024 general election, casting fresh doubt on previous claims that he was not involved in politics when he received a £5m gift.The admission will reopen questions about the nature of the gift – Farage has repeatedly insisted it was not linked to his political career since the Guardian first revealed it in April. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kay Granger, first Texas Republican woman elected to House, dies aged 83 03. August 2026 (18:06) Representative who did not seek re-election in 2024 died of Alzheimer’s disease, her son saidKay Granger, who served in the US House for almost three decades as the first elected Republican woman from Texas, died on Sunday, her family said. She was 83.The cause of death, according to her son JD Granger, was Alzheimer’s disease. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
How Ceuta migrant crisis exposes divisions within Europe - The Latest 03. August 2026 (18:05) Dozens of people died attempting to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta after an estimated 50,000 crossed from Morocco last week. The incident has led to a political crisis in Spain and criticism from EU countries.Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s European community affairs correspondent, Ashifa Kassam – watch on YouTube Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French boy thrown from Tate balcony has ‘smile back’ after hospital release 03. August 2026 (17:53) Family update on GoFundMe page says child, who was six when badly injured in 2019 incident, is now back at school A boy thrown from the viewing balcony in the Tate Modern art gallery has a “smile back on his face” after being discharged from hospital, his family have said.The French youngster, who name remains undisclosed for privacy reasons, was six when he was badly hurt in an attack by then teenager Jonty Bravery at the London attraction on August 4 2019. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anti-war politician flees Russia amid pre-election crackdown on dissent 03. August 2026 (17:49) Boris Nadezhdin, who gained prominence after standing against Putin in 2024, says he is now in FranceThe prominent Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin has fled to Paris as Moscow tightens its grip on dissent before parliamentary elections later this year.Nadezhdin, a veteran liberal politician, gained international prominence during Russia’s 2024 presidential election when his long-shot campaign against Vladimir Putin unexpectedly gathered momentum before electoral authorities barred him from running. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
