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)
What chaos? Farage tries to distract with immigration plans – podcast 03. August 2026 (17:46) Nigel Farage has promised that Reform UK would call in the navy to tackle small boat Channel crossings. Will this familiar-sounding immigration policy distract from the party’s internal problems? Plus – as we learn more about Andy Burnham’s plans for devolution, is this the biggest rewiring of the UK state since the second world war?Read about Richard Tice being investigated by parliament’s standards watchdog hereYou can read Alexandra’s report on Andy Burnham’s trip to Dover here and about constitutional reform herePlease keep sending your comments and questions to politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.comYou can watch Politics Weekly on our YouTube channel here Continue reading...(The Guardian)
July was driest month in southern England since records began 03. August 2026 (17:44) England and Wales provisionally record driest July in nearly 200 years, Met Office saysJuly 2026 was the driest month in southern England since records began nearly 200 years ago, the Met Office has said.England and Wales also provisionally recorded their driest July since records began in 1836. Wales had its joint warmest July on record for mean temperature, and England recorded its second warmest July. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Vampire-obsessed man detained after dumping animal corpses outside churches in New Forest 03. August 2026 (17:32) Benjamin Lewis, who believed drinking blood would prolong life, will be kept in hospital for treatmentA man fascinated with vampires and graveyards who apparently believed he would live for ever if he drank blood has been detained in hospital after being caught dumping animal corpses outside churches in a British forest.Benjamin Lewis, 48, left the bodies of sheep and deer on the doorsteps of churches in the New Forest in Hampshire, frightening parishioners and upsetting farmers whose livestock he stole and slaughtered. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
John Oliver on police surveillance: ‘Big Brother on steroids’ 03. August 2026 (17:22) The host tore into ‘wildly invasive’ cameras, microphones and license plate readers that police use to track AmericansJohn Oliver discussed the tools that police are using to keep track of Americans on the latest episode of Last Week Tonight.In recent years, the use of surveillance technology has exploded among local police forces due to decreasing prices and federal funding, with one local mayor comparing modern systems to “Big Brother on steroids”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Paris prosecutor investigates alleged bullying in government departments after suicide attempt 03. August 2026 (17:06) Internal inquiries also opened after two suicides and two attempted suicides of staff in departments connected to PM’s officeThe Paris state prosecutor has opened a preliminary inquiry into alleged workplace bullying after the attempted suicide of a staff member in a department connected to the French prime minister’s office, France Inter radio has revealed.The public radio station reported on Monday that two government workers in different departments had ended their lives in the past year, and two others had attempted suicide. The radio station said complaints of alleged workplace bullying had been made. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Kmart sells out of low-cost rival to Meta camera glasses across Australia amid warnings of ‘privacy nightmare’ 03. August 2026 (17:00) Expert says people face being filmed without their consent as $89 Anko smartglasses sell out in stores and onlineGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastKmart has sold out of Anko-branded $89 camera glasses across Australia, which a digital rights expert says presents a “privacy nightmare” as people face being filmed without their consent.As of Monday, the clear-lens, black-rimmed glasses, which can capture images and record high-definition videos, were sold out at Kmart stores across Australia and online. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Most Sydney road tolls to keep rising after Transurban accused of blocking reforms 03. August 2026 (17:00) Handful of tollroads to get one-off price cuts but WestConnex toll to keep rising at least 4% a yearGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe cost of using Sydney’s biggest toll road will continue to rise at least 4% a year after the multinational private operator was accused of blocking the state government’s push for sweeping reforms.Only a handful of Sydney’s motorways will receive one-off toll cuts under a deal announced by the state Labor government on Monday, as the tolling bill footed by taxpayers surpasses $1bn. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alan Jones argues ‘rivalry’ and ‘treachery’ but after decades wielding the sword of public opinion, he’s the one on trial 03. August 2026 (17:00) His legal strategy was apparent from the very first. Jones will, it was explicitly stated, seek to undermine the ‘credibility and reliability’ of his accusersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlan Jones has enjoyed decades as the centre of attention, as the wielder of power.The booming voice, the vast radio audience, the bully pulpit of an eponymous TV show, the great and the good on speed-dial, a staffer in the prime ministerial office dubbed the “minister for Alan Jones”: these were not ancillaries peripheral to the Jones empire, they were central to it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Romania blasts rock to divert water from drought-hit Danube to nuclear reactor 03. August 2026 (16:40) Hungary and Romania face energy crisis as record-low river levels force atomic power plants to reduce outputEurope live – latest updatesRomanian naval forces carried out a controlled explosion to help redirect vital cooling water from the drought-hit Danube to the country’s last working nuclear reactor, while neighbouring Hungary said it may be able to eke out two more days of power from its only atomic plant.Hungary and Romania have been forced to shut down nuclear reactors cooled by the Danube for the first time, as record-low water levels deepen fears of an energy crisis across the region. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
