Labour rejects Zack Polanski’s call to ‘slam brakes’ on building AI datacentres 28. August 2026 (17:11) Government says Green leader’s proposed moratorium on ‘energy-guzzling’ AI projects would be disaster for economyLabour has rejected calls to pause construction of major AI infrastructure in Britain after the Green party leader, Zack Polanski, said it was time to “slam the brakes on these energy-guzzling, water-guzzling datacentres”.The government hit back at the opposition party’s proposal of a “moratorium other than [for] local-scale datacentres for the local community”, saying it “would be a disaster for jobs and national security”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Charles Perrottet becomes Icac’s main character amid claims of hidden payments and political hit jobs 28. August 2026 (17:00) The brother of former premier questioned over what, if anything, was done in return for $2m from developer turned fugitive Jean NassifGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFinally, we are hearing from one of the central characters, Charles Perrottet, in a saga that has occupied the Independent Commission against Corruption (Icac) for nearly four years.It began with the dismissal of the Hills Shire council and a late night 2022 speech in NSW parliament alleging secret payments from a developer. It pirouetted to a pressure campaign allegedly to remove the then NSW building commissioner, and ended with real world impacts: defective high-rise buildings and thousands of unhappy homebuyers, with the developer nowhere to be seen. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Egyptian queen’s 673-diamond necklace stolen in Vienna smash-and-grab raid 28. August 2026 (16:46) Police hunt two suspects after historic 200-carat piece is snatched from Austrian museum during opening hoursAustrian police are hunting two men alleged to have stolen a 200-carat platinum necklace encrusted with 673 diamonds that was on loan to a museum in Vienna and once belonged to Egyptian royalty.Authorities in the capital released pictures of the suspects captured by security cameras during the heist at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK), amid a rash of spectacular smash-and-grab thefts from European cultural institutions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham to abstain on assisted dying bill to avoid influencing debate 28. August 2026 (16:30) Exclusive: PM also warns his ministers against trying to influence vote when bill returns to Commons next monthAndy Burnham has told Labour MPs that he will not cast a vote when the assisted dying bill returns to the Commons next month to avoid influencing the debate.While the move was welcomed by supporters of the measure, No 10 officials said the prime minister had no wish to affect the process in either direction, and was just doing what he thought was best to allow MPs to reach their own collective view. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Chinese control of information hampers assessment of Tibet flood damage 28. August 2026 (16:25) Scale of devastation emerges in Nepal as reporters reach disaster area, but Chinese state media focus more on rescue effortsNepal-Tibet flash flood – latest updatesIn the days since an enormous glacier in the Himalayas snapped away from a mountaintop and cascaded into the valley below, the true scale of the devastation caused by the flash floods in Nepal and Tibet is still unfolding.But the picture is emerging far more quickly in Nepal than in China, where strict controls on the flow of information from one of its most sensitive regions are hampering the public’s understanding of events. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
French far-right leader Jordan Bardella to address Reform UK party conference 28. August 2026 (15:57) Speech part of effort to strengthen National Rally party’s international ties before Marine Le Pen’s presidential bidThe French far-right leader Jordan Bardella is to give a speech at Reform UK’s party conference in Birmingham next week as he attempts to boost international ties before Marine Le Pen’s bid for the French presidency next spring.Le Pen’s far-right, anti-immigration National Rally (RN) is high in the polls and she is predicted to reach the final round of the French presidential race in May. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Asda returns to growth after more than two years 28. August 2026 (15:00) Chair Allan Leighton says lower prices and an improved online service are attracting more shoppersAsda has heralded its first quarterly growth in more than two years as the supermarket’s boss said it was attracting more shoppers with lower prices and an improved online service.Allan Leighton, the executive chair of the UK’s third-largest grocer, said a 0.2% rise in sales at established stores, excluding fuel, in the three months to the end of June was “a huge milestone” which was “psychologically important for the business”. In the previous quarter sales had fallen 2.3%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Swift appeal likely as judge blocks Trump mail voting order – US politics live 28. August 2026 (14:55) Judge Indira Talwani temporarily blocked US Postal Service from implementing new rule restricting mail-in votingSign up for the US Breaking News emailDonald Trump said today that he will authorize cattle ranchers and farmers to process their own food.This comes after the president’s interview with conservative commentator Glenn Beck, where the radio host implored Trump to “look at “the meat processing cartel” and suggested easing regulations for ranchers to slaughter their own cattle. The president has faced backlash in recent days from his own party for suspending higher tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef to lower grocery store prices. Several Republicans and industry leaders say this is a short-term solution that will hinder cattle ranchers from building out their herd, amid a 75-year low. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
TalkTV under fire for not disclosing reporter’s ties to Reform UK in Channel crossing film 28. August 2026 (14:52) Christian Drogan’s Invading Britain shows former builder turned journalist trying to travel from France to England in small boatRupert Murdoch’s online channel TalkTV is facing criticism after it did not disclose that a journalist who travelled to Britain in a small boat for a documentary was a Reform party member and activist.The channel revealed the “world exclusive” this week, stating that the treacherous journey had made the former builder turned journalist Christian Drogan the first British man “to invade his own country”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump rollback of US forest protections could accelerate extinction of 400 endangered species 28. August 2026 (14:00) Decision to rescind ‘roadless rule’ opens more than 45m acres of national forests to roads, drilling and loggingMore than 400 endangered animal and plant species could face accelerated extinction after the Donald Trump administration’s decision to rescind a rule that has protected old-growth forests for more than two decades.According to a new report from the Center for Biological Diversity, the rollback of the Bill Clinton-era “roadless rule” could put 7.4m acres of endangered-species habitat and nearly 1,800 miles of protected rivers and streams at risk, while opening more than 45m acres of national forests to roads, drilling and logging. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
