On the ground in the English seaside town rightwing influencers say is being ‘invaded’ 01. August 2026 (13:00) Some in Dover say their town is being exploited by content creators and politicians, but others claim there is a genuine problemIf you believe rightwing influencers and politicians, Dover and the wider Kent coast has been the site of an “invasion” for years now. And, for an online audience of millions, they and their camera crews have been the vanguard in the nation’s defence.Indeed, if you believe all you see on the algorithms of amateur Channel watchers, the shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, braved a hail of French gunfire as he took to the water in a fishing boat this week; an attempt by the French authorities, he suggested, to deter him in his mission of highlighting the small boats crisis. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Colorado declares town abandoned amid water and leadership crisis 01. August 2026 (13:00) Hartman residents asked for declaration after infighting exacerbated water crisis and all town leaders resignedA small town in south-eastern Colorado was recently declared abandoned after all of its local public leaders resigned amid a drinking water supply crisis.The office of Colorado’s secretary of state, Jena Griswold, announced the fate of Hartman on 29 July, a little more than a month after being advised in writing that the town “had lacked chlorine in its water for [more than] one month and the water was not potable and ‘smells horrible’”, according to public documents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Scores injured as earthquake hits near Naples in seismic swarm 01. August 2026 (12:26) At least 21 injured and more than 250 evacuated in strongest quake to hit southern Italian region in 40 yearsAt least 21 people have been injured after a 4.7-magnitude earthquake rocked a region near Naples, in southern Italy.The quake, which occurred at 7.46pm on Friday night, caused power outages, disrupted public transport and damaged buildings and a pier in Campi Flegrei, the site of Europe’s largest volcanic crater. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Boxer secures Tuvalu’s first Commonwealth Games medal without winning a bout 01. August 2026 (12:07) Tarona Taafaki makes history in women’s 75kg categoryAll boxers eliminated in semis receive bronze medalsA boxer has made history for Tuvalu by winning the tiny Pacific island nation’s first Commonwealth Games medal without winning a single fight.Twenty-year-old Tarona Taafaki, one of five entrants in the women’s 75kg category, received a bye to the semi-finals where she lost on an unanimous points decision to India’s Lovlina Borgohain on Friday. At Commonwealth Games, all boxers eliminated in the semis receive bronze medals. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
DoJ appears to ignore New Mexico deadline for key Epstein ranch files 01. August 2026 (12:00) State attorney general set 31 July deadline for documents relating to abuse of girls at Epstein-owned Zorro ranchThe US Department of Justice (DoJ) appeared to ignore a Friday deadline set by Raúl Torrez, the attorney general of New Mexico, to share information about the abuse of girls at a remote ranch formerly owned by the disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Torrez’s office asked the DoJ in February for unredacted files after he reopened a dormant criminal investigation into activities at Zorro ranch, a remote 10,000-acre property in desert scrub outside New Mexico. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sánchez condemns ‘selfish’ reaction of some EU countries to Ceuta border crisis as death toll rises – Europe live 01. August 2026 (11:34) In letter to Brussels, Spanish PM hits out at ‘polarising and illegal’ reaction after tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco to Spanish enclaveThe Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has hit back at some EU countries for what he described as their “selfish, polarising and illegal reaction” to the mass border crossings at Ceuta, as he thanked Morocco for its help in dealing with the crisis.In a letter to Brussels, he said several European states have chosen to “attack” Spain and request its temporary exclusion from the Schengen area, driven by “prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interests” that is contrary to European law, humanitarian law and the principles of EU solidarity, the Spanish El Pais newspaper reported. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Knickers in a twist: why M&S selling crotchless panties isn’t as outrageous as it seems 01. August 2026 (10:00) Some have called it ‘S&M’, but partnership with Ann Summers is less a scandal than another step in a century of evolving underwear trends, experts sayThe news that Marks & Spencer is selling Ann Summers crotchless knickers on their website has been greeted – as might be expected – with outrage online, being described as everything from “tawdry” to “S & M”.But it could be this is just the latest evolution in what the UK’s biggest underwear retailer has available for the smalls drawer. In recent years, the store has sold vastly different options through its own products, ranging from full-brief knickers to thongs, period knickers and those that can be used by women who wear stomas. The introduction of other brands in clothing came five years ago, with underwear included. Ann Summers – which is selling bras and chemises as well as knickers on the M&S website – lines up alongside lingerie brands including Pour Moi and Calvin Klein. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘MPs have had their stomachs pumped’: concerns over ‘alcohol-soaked’ culture in Westminster 01. August 2026 (09:00) Alcohol is embedded in profession where long hours, loneliness and lobbying are the norm, report findsParliament is “Britain’s last alcohol-soaked workplace” where MPs are offered free drinks as early as midday despite alcohol-related scandals, a report has revealed.Drinking is commonplace and some MPs have had their stomachs pumped after consuming so much alcohol that they ended up in hospital, one disclosed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EU relations, climate crisis and Gaza: why Ed Miliband is fired up by Foreign Office challenges 01. August 2026 (09:00) Labour veteran is said to relish role that requires careful negotiation of Trump and impending G20 leadershipExtraordinarily, given the importance of geopolitics, the office of foreign secretary has sometimes appeared a consolation prize in British politics, perhaps reflecting the transfer of responsibility to Downing Street or the Cabinet Office.That is not how Ed Miliband views the job. His allies say suggestions that he nurses resentment after he was deprived of the chance to be chancellor misunderstand his grasp of the policy challenges ahead. “Ed has an immense appetite to get things done and is relishing being in this job,” one says. “Ed will be a policy-driven foreign secretary.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
First Australian mass mortality event suspected as deadly bird flu virus rapidly escalates among native birds 01. August 2026 (08:12) Helicopter surveillance finds dead and dying greater crested terns off South Australian coast as H5 virus spreadsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMore than 80 dead and sick birds seen on rocks off the South Australian coast are suspected to be the first mass mortality event from the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, only six weeks after the disease arrived in Australia.Authorities reported on Saturday that helicopter surveillance had revealed 49 dead greater crested terns on Baudin Rocks, near Robe, as well as 35 more sick terns. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
