A continent in the Northern Hemisphere, straddling the East and West.
ONS data shows 981,000 young people aged 16-24 are not in education, employment or training (Neet) in April–June, a fall of 30,000 from January–March but 30,000 higher than a year ago. Milburn’s forthcoming review is expected to push for wide reforms to education, welfare and jobs support.
The government has announced 43 transmission projects that will qualify for a new bill-discount scheme. Households within 500 metres of qualifying overhead lines will receive up to £2,500 off electricity bills over 10 years. Payments will begin early next year, mostly applied automatically, and the scheme will be funded by a small charge on all bills.
The UK has moved away from hotels for asylum seekers, shifting them into private housing and HMOs as numbers in hotels fall sharply. Officials say the backdrop is a broader push to restore control at the border and reduce the asylum backlog, while critics warn about conditions and local disruption.
Rangers have been eliminated from European competition after a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat in Jablonec following a 1-0 aggregate deficit, marking their first August European exit since 2017. Derek McInnes accepts responsibility, adding that the performance has fallen well short of expectations.
Tottenham Hotspur has reinforced its attack with Savinho from Manchester City for up to £85m (plus add-ons) and Marmoush from City on a separate deal, as the club pushes to overhaul its attack after a disappointing 17th-place finish last season. City are open to selling both forwards as Spurs’ window spending climbs above £300m; other movements include Allan’s potential move from Palmeiras and further winger talk.
A round-up of updated deals and hands-on notes on KeySmart SmartCard Gen 3, which works with Apple Find My or Google Find, offering long battery life and slim wallet fit. Various retailer discounts are highlighted in August 2026 coverage.
European heat waves have driven a spike in excess mortality across several countries. Germany, France and Spain report thousands more deaths than usual as temperatures exceed 40°C and drought persists. Experts warn climate change is intensifying heat-related health risks.
Observers across the Americas are set to witness a deep partial lunar eclipse, with Earth’s shadow covering about 96% of the Moon’s surface. The event is visible from North and Central America through parts of South America, weather permitting, with maximum darkness near midnight EDT.
U.S. stock futures point to gains as Nvidia beats estimates and forecasts strong AI-driven growth; European markets rally on momentum from Nvidia while UK indices turn modestly higher ahead of major earnings and data surprises.
A long-running study has found that men with cardiovascular disease face a higher lifetime cancer risk than women with the same condition. The analysis, drawn from EPIC-Norfolk data, identifies smoking, obesity and heavy drinking as primary drivers, with higher risks for gastric, oesophageal and lung cancers. The research calls for targeted risk management and prevention.
A surge of water, mud, and debris from the Bhote Koshi River has killed dozens and left hundreds missing in Nepal and Tibet. The disaster, triggered near the Nepal-Tibet border, has prompted rescues, international aid, and warnings to travellers across affected districts.
European and NATO forces face shortages of Patriot interceptors as US stocks have shifted to the Middle East. Officials warn that gaps could leave NATO vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks, with Ukraine bearing the brunt and allies racing to rebound stockpiles by 2030. The issue follows recent moves by Kyiv to secure more air defense and discussions around SCALP missile support from France and the UK.
Shein is set to debut in Hong Kong with an expected price range of HK$47.60–HK$49.50 per share, valuing the company at about $27bn. The IPO follows years of regulatory scrutiny and previous failed listings in New York and London. Cornerstone investors and major firms are backing the float, while the company aims to fund technology and global expansion.
Waymo has expanded its Ojai robotaxi rollout, adding more U.S. markets and plans to accelerate fleet growth. The company is integrating its sixth‑generation self‑driving system with Zeekr’s Ojai platform, aiming to reduce cost and improve safety as deployments accelerate globally.
Anthropic has begun embedding an imperceptible, machine-detectable watermark into Claude-generated text and files to comply with the EU AI Act’s Transparency Code. The mark travels with copied text, can persist through light editing, and will be applied globally to models released after Aug. 2. Users and developers have criticised the change and tools to remove marks have appeared online.
A PanStar Acro voyage from Busan has begun testing Arctic passage to Europe, with stops in Felixstowe, Rotterdam and Gdansk. Governments see potential for shorter routes and reduced travel time, but environmental and political risks persist.
A mix of Guardian, Independent, Scotsman and other outlets feature musings on food culture, vegan cooking, coastal cuisine and personal memories. The pieces explore how British eating habits travel from seaside classics to plant-based trends, with reflections on tradition, modernity and regional flavors.
Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law as war with Russia continues. A former defence minister has called for wartime elections, prompting a presidential debate. Zelenskyy says elections during war are a risk that could split the country, while allies discuss conditions to conduct votes safely.
Forecasters have confirmed a very strong El Niño that has pushed Pacific sea-surface temperatures well above typical thresholds. The Met Office and other agencies say the event is unprecedented in modern records, will raise global average temperatures and is already changing weather patterns — bringing wetter, stormier conditions to parts of north‑west Europe and increasing drought risk across the tropics.
Liberian authorities have charged former vice president Jewel Howard-Taylor and three foreign nationals in a widening case tied to alleged transnational cocaine trafficking. Prosecutors say the network used Liberia as a transit hub to Europe, with Howard-Taylor facing multiple charges as the investigation expands. Her lawyers call the case politically motivated as the government pursues a sweeping drug crackdown.
Elbridge Colby travels to Brussels to brief NATO allies on the six‑month review of the US military footprint in Europe, with a year‑end conclusion expected to reshape basing and deterrence. Bloomberg notes the briefing follows a questionnaire and reflects urgency about maintaining credibility amid Russia’s assertiveness.
Kazakhstan has moved to a single-chamber Kurultai under a new constitution. A snap election has brought seven parties into the 145-seat parliament, with most observers expecting Tokayev's allies to dominate. Turnout is high as voters weigh reforms linked to Just Kazakhstan.
France and Saudi Arabia have signed a €6bn agreement to build three theme parks near Cergy‑Pontoise, northwest of Paris, led by Qiddiya Investment Company. One park has been described as manga‑themed and inspired by Dragon Ball Z. The project has been presented as creating about 22,000 jobs and will open in stages over several years.
Canada has vowed dollar-for-dollar retaliation as U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods take effect, extending beyond industrial products to everyday items. Ottawa says the response will target hundreds of products, with tariffs set at 15%, 25%, or 50%. The move follows Washington’s 50% tariffs and escalates a long-running trade dispute that is reshaping North American economic ties.
UK pharmacies are now able to offer orforglipron (Foundayo), the second GLP-1 pill for weight loss, following MHRA approval. The pill, manufactured by Eli Lilly, is available initially by private prescription while NICE assesses a potential NHS rollout in England. It targets BMI thresholds (30+, or 27-30 with weight-related conditions) and is taken daily with no food or water restrictions.
The Fairphone 6+ has launched in the US, bringing a longer-lasting, repairable Android phone built with recycled and fair-trade materials. It uses a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip, 12GB RAM, 6.31-inch 120Hz OLED display, and is supported until 2033 with software updates. The device ships with Android 16 and offers a modular ecosystem and a repair-friendly design.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged Britain to deepen ties with the European Union, as he travels with European leaders to Kyiv. He has spoken of a future summit with the EU and plans to strengthen defence, security, and cultural links. He has also agreed to provide Blueprints for long-range missiles to Ukraine.
The Coalition of the Willing has convened in Kyiv to reinforce Ukraine’s defence with air-defence supplies and long-range missiles. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, joined by France and Germany, chairs the meeting, with leaders stressing continued steadfast support amid intensified Russian missile strikes. EU funds are released to bolster Kyiv’s defences as battles continue around Kharkiv and in other fronts.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service has announced that global sea surface temperatures reached 21.1C, surpassing the 21.09C record set in March 2024. El Niño is adding heat, but decades of warming are the underlying cause. Scientists warn of broader impacts on weather, ecosystems, and coastal communities.
Lego has reported a 21% rise in revenue to 41.9 billion Danish kroner for the first half of 2026, with pre-tax profit up 33% to 11.3 billion. The company introduced 330+ new sets, including World Cup-themed releases and a Smart Play line, while expanding renewable energy and moving toward paper bags across packaging. Executives say demand remains robust despite higher oil costs for plastics.
Pennsylvania health officials have confirmed two measles deaths in Lancaster County, the first US measles fatalities reported in 2026. Both people were unvaccinated. The state has recorded 393 cases this year and the US has logged 2,777 cases, the highest national total since 1991; officials are urging vaccination.
Hyundai Motor Group has accelerated its U.S. expansion, unveiling plans to scale up production in Georgia and to increase domestic output for the American market as part of its Bold 2030 strategy. The plan includes expanding the Metaplant to 700,000-800,000 units by 2028 and boosting U.S.-made share of vehicles toward 80% by decade’s end, while rolling out 18 new segments globally.
The FDA has approved daraxonrasib, sold as Rasonque, for metastatic pancreatic cancer in patients who have received prior therapy or cannot take combination chemotherapy. Clinical trial data show median survival of 13.2 months versus 6.7 months with chemotherapy. Revolution Medicines has priced a 30‑day supply at about $39,800 and is offering patient assistance.