UK rules out deporting ex-Hong Kong opposition leader after entry hiccup
SCMP

UK rules out deporting ex-Hong Kong opposition leader after entry hiccup

Former Hong Kong opposition leader Wu Chi-wai, who has been granted permission to enter the United Kingdom, will not be deported despite earlier complications in his attempt to settle in the country, the British immigration minister has confirmed. In a written reply on Thursday to former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten, UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship Jo White stressed that overseas conv...

Hegseth downplays USS Abraham Lincoln conditions amid reports of food shortages and mental health crises on board – live
The Guardian

Hegseth downplays USS Abraham Lincoln conditions amid reports of food shortages and mental health crises on board – live

US defense secretary says conditions ‘misrepresented’ on military vessel as 5,000 sailors and marines endure record-breaking deployment at sea tied to war in IranSign up for the Breaking News US emailDonald Trump’s executive order on vaccines does not change the US recommendations for the shots – but experts say it does create confusion and doubt about vaccines, which will lead to more illness and...

Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit against Harvard over Jewish students
The Guardian

Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit against Harvard over Jewish students

Federal court rules administration failed to plausibly show ongoing violation of civil rights lawA US federal ⁠judge ⁠has dismissed ​the Trump administration’s lawsuit that ⁠claimed ​Harvard ‌University failed ‌to protect Jewish ‌and Israeli students from harassment in the aftermath of the war in Gaza.In a ruling on Thursday, US district ‌judge Richard Stearns in ​Boston said the administration’s ...

Train derailment in East Sussex closes several routes

Train derailment in East Sussex closes several routes

The Guardian

Rapid emergency response under way after Southern rail service comes off tracks in Lewes areaA passenger train has derailed in East Sussex, prompting a rapid emergency response in the area.Several rail routes were closed after a Southern service came off the tracks near Lewes just before 4pm. Continue reading...

‘Birmingham Four’ lawyers hope spycops inquiry will reopen case

‘Birmingham Four’ lawyers hope spycops inquiry will reopen case

The Guardian

Undercover officers working for West Midlands’ ‘special projects team’ planted evidence to convict men, lawyers claimLawyers representing four men convicted of terror offences are increasingly hopeful that revelations from the undercover policing inquiry could boost the chances of their case being reopened.Ten years ago, Khobaib Hussain, Naweed Ali, Mohibur Rahman and Tahir Aziz were arrested and ...

UK records hottest day of year as fifth summer heatwave reaches peak

UK records hottest day of year as fifth summer heatwave reaches peak

The Guardian

Kew Gardens in London hits 38.1C and 40C-plus recorded in parts of Europe with continent trapped under heat domeEurope heatwave – latest updatesThe UK has recorded its hottest day of the year so far with a provisional temperature of 38.1C in southern England as Europe sweltered under a major heat dome.As temperatures on the continent surpassed 40C at the peak of the summer’s fifth heatwave, the th...

UK records hottest day of the year as fifth summer heatwave reaches peak

UK records hottest day of the year as fifth summer heatwave reaches peak

The Guardian

Kew Gardens in London hits 38.1C and 40C-plus expected in parts of Europe with continent trapped under heat domeEurope heatwave – latest updatesThe UK has recorded its hottest day of the year so far with a provisional temperature of 38.1C in southern England as Europe sweltered under a major heat dome.As temperatures on the continent approached 40C at the peak of the summer’s fifth heatwave, the t...

Eurovision: Winners involved in 'armed conflict' now ineligible to host contest

Eurovision: Winners involved in 'armed conflict' now ineligible to host contest

France 24

The winning country in Eurovision will be ineligible to host the contest the following year if involved in an armed conflict or a "sensitive geopolitical situation" that could impact the safety of the event, organisers said on August 12. The rules for the contest were updated following an annual review by the European Broadcasting Union.

One dead, several injured in Rotterdam port blast at Gunvor refinery

Euronews

The Netherlands is investigating an explosion at the port of Rotterdam that killed one person and injured several others on Thursday, 13 August. The blast happened at about 11:30 a.m. at an oil facility in the Europoort industrial section of Europe’s largest port.

Oklahoma man put to death in first of three US executions scheduled on same day

Oklahoma man put to death in first of three US executions scheduled on same day

The Guardian

If all executions go ahead, it will be first time in over 15 years there have been over three judicial killings in US in one dayCarlos Cuesta-Rodriguez has been put to death by the state of Oklahoma, in the first of three executions scheduled for Thursday in a rare triple procedure that underlines the renewed appetite in the US for state killings.Cuesta-Rodriguez, 70, was pronounced dead at 10:13a...

Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez put to death by Oklahoma in first of three executions scheduled on same day

Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez put to death by Oklahoma in first of three executions scheduled on same day

The Guardian

If all executions go ahead, it will be first time in over 15 years there have been over three judicial killings in US in one dayCarlos Cuesta-Rodriguez has been put to death by the state of Oklahoma, in the first of three executions scheduled for Thursday in a rare triple procedure that underlines the renewed appetite in the US for state killings.Cuesta-Rodriguez, 70, was sentenced to death for mu...

Europe heatwave live: UK sees temperatures of 38.1C, the hottest day of 2026; Greece battles gale force winds, sparking fears about wildfires

Europe heatwave live: UK sees temperatures of 38.1C, the hottest day of 2026; Greece battles gale force winds, sparking fears about wildfires

The Guardian

A former UK government scientific adviser warned amid the ‘shattering’ heat that worse is still to comeMet Office has just offered an update on temperatures across the UK, with several stations already reporting temperatures above 30C – and it’s not even 11am.It’s 30.4C in Wych Cross, 30.3C in Charlwood, 30.2C at Kenly Airfield. Continue reading...

Hong Kong public rental housing wait edges up to 4.8 years, urban allocations rise

Hong Kong public rental housing wait edges up to 4.8 years, urban allocations rise

SCMP

The composite waiting time for general applicants for long- and short-term subsidised public rental housing in Hong Kong has edged up slightly to 4.8 years at the end of June, authorities have said, adding that a higher proportion of coveted homes in urban areas was allocated in the second quarter. Despite an increase in the “composite” figure, which includes temporary flats under the light public...

Long- and short-term public rental housing wait in Hong Kong edges up to 4.8 years

Long- and short-term public rental housing wait in Hong Kong edges up to 4.8 years

SCMP

The composite waiting time for general applicants for long- and short-term subsidised public rental housing in Hong Kong has edged up slightly to 4.8 years by the end of June, authorities have said, adding that a higher proportion of coveted homes in urban areas was allocated in the second quarter. Despite an increase in the “composite” figure, which includes temporary flats under the light public...

Long and short-term public rental housing wait in Hong Kong edges up to 4.8 years

Long and short-term public rental housing wait in Hong Kong edges up to 4.8 years

SCMP

The composite waiting time for general applicants for long- and short-term subsidised public rental housing in Hong Kong has edged up slightly to 4.8 years by the end of June, authorities have said, adding that a higher proportion of coveted homes in urban areas was allocated in the second quarter. Despite an increase in the “composite” figure, which includes temporary flats under the light public...