‘It didn’t need to end this way’: mother of US teen trafficked and killed decries police failures 07. August 2026 (15:00) Robyn Cory says daughter Kristen was not protected, amid questions about why it took six years to identify remainsThe family of Kristen Galvan, a 15-year-old Houston girl who was sex trafficked and murdered, says law enforcement failed her twice by not protecting her after she gave forensic interviews about her traffickers, and later by taking more than six years to identify her remains.The Texas attorney general’s office announced on 28 July that Kristen’s remains had been positively identified using advanced DNA testing conducted over the past year. Parts of her skull, clothing and an earring were found beneath a bridge beside a jogging trail in Missouri City, about 10 miles outside Houston. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The White House’s plan to vet potentially dangerous AI is cloaked in secrecy 07. August 2026 (15:00) A Trump administration framework on AI testing leaves a lack of transparency – and plenty of open questionsAfter months of talking with tech industry leaders, the Trump administration finalized a framework this week for how it will test new artificial intelligence models for safety and cybersecurity risks. So far, the White House is keeping details of the framework private, in a blow to transparency and potential boon for secretive AI companies.On Tuesday, staff from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Google, Nvidia and Microsoft attended a private meeting with White House officials to review the AI framework. Multiple outlets have since reported that although the volunteer vetting process for new AI models has been settled, the White House does not plan to release its policy publicly and will only share testing criteria with a select few tech companies. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Scramble to house hundreds camping in Rome heatwave after squat eviction 07. August 2026 (14:35) Officials try to find homes for residents as talks to save social assistance hub collapse amid government crackdownRome authorities are scrambling to find homes for hundreds of people sleeping in tents in extreme heat after talks aimed at saving Italy’s most high-profile centre for housing and social assistance collapsed amid a crackdown by Giorgia Meloni’s government on squatted buildings.The approximately 400 evicted residents of Spin Time Labs, located in a 10-floor building in Rome’s Esquilino district occupied by grassroots groups since 2013, will not be allowed to move back in after its private owner refused Rome council’s offer to buy the property. The residents were forced out at the end of last month. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
William Orbit, pop producer for Madonna, All Saints and more, dies aged 69 07. August 2026 (14:01) Musician’s projects included Madonna’s Ray of Light, Blur’s 13 and All Saints’ chart-topping singles Pure Shores and Black CoffeeWilliam Orbit, the British music producer whose dreamy yet propulsive style invigorated work by Madonna, Blur, All Saints, U2 and more, has died aged 69.A statement on his social media, attributed to family and friends, said he died at home on 23 July. “He will be greatly missed by us and by so many whose lives he touched through his music, friendship and kindness,” the statement read. No cause of death was given. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Iran plots to deal Trump a blow in midterms by keeping him entangled in war 07. August 2026 (13:47) By dragging out talks, Tehran aims to damage the US president politically – but some fear a bruised and weakened Trump could lash backTehran has set out a protracted negotiating timetable designed to keep Donald Trump embroiled in the Iran conflict until the midterm elections, in the hope of inflicting the same ruinous blow on his presidency as Jimmy Carter suffered over the 1979-81 US embassy hostage crisis.For many inside Iran, inflicting meaningful revenge on Trump is a legitimate and self-standing war aim, reflected in the mood of those attending the funeral of the supreme leader Ali Khamenei where demands for retribution were ubiquitous. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Black barrister was told ‘it’s not for defendants’ at London court car park 07. August 2026 (13:01) Stephen Akinsanya says being mistaken for defendant shows lack of progress on racism within legal systemA black barrister has said a security guard told him he could not park in a court’s car park in London because “it’s not for defendants”.Stephen Akinsanya, who in June was awarded an OBE for raising awareness of youth knife crime and its prevention, said the incident, at an east London court about four weeks ago, illustrated the lack of progress on racism within the criminal justice system. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Haitians face arrest and deportation after US removes TPS protections 07. August 2026 (13:00) DHS secretary Markwayne Mullin says ‘We’re going after them right now’ despite threat of violence in home country Hundreds of thousands of Haitians are faced with the prospect of imminent risk of arrest and deportation – to a home country racked with crime, violence and political unrest – after the Trump administration officially stripped them of humanitarian protections that had allowed them to live and work legally in the United States for years.US district judge Ana Reyes confirmed on Wednesday that her order blocking the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from ending temporary protected status (TPS) for Haiti was no longer in effect. This followed the controversial supreme court ruling in June that upended judicial review of the program and opened the door for immigration enforcement to track down and detain Haitians en masse. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Boeing 737 Max operators told to check fuselages for cracks 07. August 2026 (12:25) Inspections ordered by US regulator will affect about 470 aircraft, after reported problems in earlier modelsBusiness live – latest updatesThe US aviation regulator has ordered inspections of the fuselages of Boeing 737 Max planes for possible cracks in a component.The Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive will affect an estimated 471 aircraft and follows reports of cracks in earlier Boeing models. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
England striker Ivan Toney charged with assault after Soho nightclub incident 07. August 2026 (11:40) Met police say charge relates to alleged assault that reportedly took place in December at venue in LondonThe England striker Ivan Toney has been charged with assault after an incident at a nightclub in Soho.The Metropolitan police said Ivan Toney, 30, of Northampton, was charged on 31 July with assault causing actual bodily harm. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK house prices flat in July, says Lloyds, as buyers struggle with affordability 07. August 2026 (11:32) Property prices in ‘suspended animation’ owing to higher mortgage rates and uncertainty in Middle EastBusiness live – latest updatesUK house prices were broadly stagnant in July as prospective buyers were squeezed by higher mortgage rates, uncertainty around the Middle East and stretched affordability, according to the lender Lloyds.The average property cost £299,253 in July, down by £143 compared with June, the bank’s monthly index found. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
