The Guardian

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey gives UK poetry sales an epic boost

Poetry sales surpassed £8m in the first 30 weeks of 2026 and are expected to reach a record high this year thanks to blockbuster adaptation of Homer’s 2,700-year-old poemUK poetry sales are on course to reach a record high this year, buoyed by the success of Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey.Poetry sales surpassed £8m during the first 30 weeks of 2026, an increase of 13.3% on the same period last year, according to data from market researchers NielsenIQ. Cont

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Reading and writing worsens in Australian schools as one in three students fail to meet Naplan benchmarks

Education minister Jason Clare says the results showed ‘real challenges’ but numeracy scores were hearteningFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastReading and writing scores are going backwards for almost every age group in Australia’s national standardised school tests, with one in three students still failing to meet Naplan benchmarks.This year’s tests were taken in March by 1.2 million students across years 3, 5, 7 and

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

‘Did you send that report?’ The Icac bombshell that came late for Damien Tudehope

The former Liberal finance minister was questioned by Icac counsel assisting, Peggy Dwyer, on TuesdayGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe bombshell came in the last five minutes of former finance minister and rightwing powerbroker Damien Tudehope’s examination before the Independent Commission Against Corruption.At 3.30pm on Tuesday, Tudehope was shown an email which he sent in February 2023, attaching a leaked draft parliamentary report into branch stacking in the Hill

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Melbourne anti-weapons protest being investigated as terrorist act by ‘far-left extremists’

Federal police say those who vandalised a defence manufacturer and torched nearby cars could face life imprisonmentGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAnti-weapons protesters who vandalised a defence manufacturer and set nearby vehicles alight could face life imprisonment after police said the incident was being investigated as an act of terrorism by “far-left extremists”.The Australian federal police, their Victorian counterparts and spy agency Asio are examining whether

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Mentions of ‘gender’ scrubbed from Queensland Office for Women website amid alleged effort to ‘dewokify’

Comparisons of live and archived pages show more than 20 mentions have been removed, including in reference to the gender pay gapGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastReferences to “gender equality” have been removed from the Queensland Office for Women’s website amid claims by former staffers that the Liberal National party government wants to “dewokify” the public service.Guardian Australia has seen an email from a manager, sent in January, tasking staff with scanning the

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Aboriginal community police officers sue NT authorities over alleged racial abuse and discrimination

Class action claims Indigenous staff were called slurs, exposed to racist language and paid less for doing the same workWarning: This article contains racist and offensive language directed at First Nations peopleGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAboriginal community police officers are suing the Northern Territory government and the NT police force alleging systemic discrimination and underpayment, the widespread use of racist slurs against Indigenous colleagues and com

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Star Wars dubbed into Welsh for first time for S4C broadcast

Rhys Ifans, Matthew Rhys, Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Mark Lewis Jones among actors voicing characters from 1977 blockbusterThere are a few links between the Star Wars franchise and Wales, including the secretive building of the Millennium Falcon in an old hangar in the far south-west of the Celtic nation.But until now speakers of Welsh – Cymraeg – have not been able to hear the words of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia spoken in their own language. Continue reading...

general  Aug 4, 2026

BBC World

Oil prices fall on hopes Strait of Hormuz could reopen

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent both announced talks had progressed to allow shipments to resume.

general  Aug 4, 2026

NY Times World

Stressed by Heat, 3 Lions Die at Tokyo Zoo

The female lions died within five days of each other despite zookeepers’ efforts to shelter them from Japan’s blistering summer temperatures.

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Electronic tagging system unprepared to monitor thousands of early-release prisoners, watchdog warns

Probation inspector says ‘clunky’ system needs upgrade and huge increase in staff to monitor offenders effectivelyThe electronic tagging system that will be relied upon to monitor thousands of offenders released early from prison is failing to alert the authorities of potential breaches of conditions, a watchdog has warned.Martin Jones, HM inspector of probation in England and Wales, said the current system relied upon hard-pressed police and probation officers looking up individual cases and th

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

US federal judge blocks New York’s ban on ICE officers wearing masks

Judge puts hold on mask ban while allowing state law prohibiting cooperation between police and ICE to standA New York law banning US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring that they wear visible identification has been put on hold by a federal judge. But a state law prohibiting cooperation between local police departments and ICE has been allowed to stand.The mask ruling comes after federal judges have blocked similar laws in California, Virgi

general  Aug 4, 2026

BBC World

Mass funeral in Gaza for 112 Palestinians killed in 2023 Israeli strike

The bodies - belonging to members of two extended families - have only recently been recovered from under rubble in Gaza City.

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Peter Gill, playwright who turned ordinary lives into extraordinary drama, dies aged 86

Beginning his career as an actor, Gill went on to write plays including The York Realist as well as directing for the Royal Court and National TheatreTributes have been paid to the director and playwright Peter Gill who died on Monday at the age of 86. His agent Mel Kenyon said Gill’s work had a “rare emotional delicacy” and was “beautifully observed and finely tuned” while the director Michael Grandage said Gill’s “contribution to the British theatre will come to be regarded as quietly seismic”

general  Aug 4, 2026

WSJ World News

Deep U.S. Ties With Taiwan Are Surviving Pressure From China—and Trump

The island opens up about American role in training troops for self-defense.

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Man charged in Washington state with starting largest wildfire in the area

Suspect had a prior conviction for reportedly shooting his father in Arizona, after he told his son to do the dishesAuthorities on Monday charged a man in Washington state with starting a wildfire that has consumed almost 4,000 acres and forced tens of thousands from their homes.Aaron F Farinacci, 37, of Spokane, was arrested and charged with first-degree arson for setting the Old Trails fire, the largest of three devastating wildfires burning through the region. Continue reading...

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Jordan convenes emergency meeting over Israel’s potential to ‘trigger religious conflict’

Israeli takeover of al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock compound in Jerusalem said to be ‘imminent’ threatMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesJordan is convening an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from the Arab and Islamic world over what it says is an “imminent” threat of an Israeli takeover of the most important religious site in Jerusalem, with the potential to “trigger a religious conflict”.The meeting on Wednesday – and the Jordanian warning – follow an escalating pattern of gove

general  Aug 4, 2026

BBC World

World's oldest president reshuffles army as his absence stokes unease

Cameroon's president has been absent for two months while his team denies rumours about his health.

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Middle East crisis live: Qatar says diplomatic efforts ‘ongoing’ as Iran insists it does not seek to expand war

Foreign ministry says efforts to reach resolution between the US and Iran were continuing despite conflicting statements from Trump and TehranHello and welcome to our live coverage of the Middle East.Qatar’s foreign ministry said efforts to reach a diplomatic solution between the US and Iran were “ongoing”, despite conflicting statements from Tehran and Washington over whether negotiations had resumed. Continue reading...

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

UN experts urge Canada to protect Sikh activist amid credible threats to his life

Special rapporteurs say ‘transnational repression by Indian authorities’ has put Moninder Singh in dangerUN rights experts have urged Canada to take all feasible measures to protect the Sikh activist Moninder Singh, who has been repeatedly warned by the Canadian authorities of credible threats to his life.In a letter to the Canadian government, the five UN experts raised “concerning allegations of foreign intimidation and reprisals” against Singh, a Canadian national. Continue reading...

general  Aug 4, 2026

The Guardian

Gatwick airport to open second runway after legal challenge fails

£2.2bn project will allow about 100,000 more flights a year to use Britain’s second busiest airportBusiness live – latest updatesGatwick airport is to start development of its second runway after campaigners lost a legal challenge to the plans.The court of appeal on Tuesday dismissed a bid by local campaign groups to challenge an earlier high court ruling that the scheme could proceed. Continue reading...

general  Aug 4, 2026