World news | The Guardian
Police appeal after unidentified woman’s body found in Liverpool park 31 August 2026 at 20:58

Police appeal after unidentified woman’s body found in Liverpool park

By: Hannah Al-Othman North of England correspondent

31 August 2026 at 20:58

Body of victim thought to be in her 70s found in bin bag in walled garden area of Stanley Park on Friday

Police in Liverpool have urged members of the public to come forward with information after the body of an unknown woman believed to be in her 70s was found in a black bin bag in a popular park.

Merseyside police were contacted by a passerby who had found the woman’s body in Stanley Park, in the Anfield area of Liverpool, at about 5.25pm on Friday 28 August.

The Guardian
Costumed carnival-goers in Notting Hill – in pictures 31 August 2026 at 17:10

Costumed carnival-goers in Notting Hill – in pictures

The Guardian

31 August 2026 at 17:10

People hit the streets of west London as Europe’s largest street carnival marks its 60th year, celebrating Caribbean history and culture

The Guardian
100 ultramarathons in 100 days: former rugby pro hit by brain injury nears end of feat 31 August 2026 at 17:00

100 ultramarathons in 100 days: former rugby pro hit by brain injury nears end of feat

The Guardian

By: Steven Morris

31 August 2026 at 17:00

David ‘Jacko’ Jackson has aimed to raise awareness of brain injuries, with fellow runners sharing their stories

The key for David “Jacko” Jackson is to take each stage nice and gently. “It’s not about running fast,” he said. “It’s more like the hare and tortoise story. Slow and steady – and do it again tomorrow.”

So far, so good. Jackson, a former professional rugby player who retired after a traumatic brain injury, is nearing the end of an extraordinary bid to run 100 ultramarathons (50km, or about 30 miles) in 100 consecutive days.

World news | The Guardian
NHS to offer free high-street cholesterol tests in England 31 August 2026 at 08:00

NHS to offer free high-street cholesterol tests in England

World news | The Guardian

By: Andrew Gregory Health editor in Munich

31 August 2026 at 08:00

Checks at pharmacies for people aged 40 to 84 are aimed at identifying those at risk of heart attack or stroke

The NHS in England is to offer free finger-prick blood tests for cholesterol on the high street for the first time under plans to reduce heart disease and stroke deaths by a quarter within the next decade.

The seven-minute tests will be available at participating pharmacies as part of a national rollout to spot “ticking timebombs” earlier.

The Guardian
Properties in UK national parks command 24% premium, study finds 31 August 2026 at 07:00

Properties in UK national parks command 24% premium, study finds

The Guardian

By: Simon Goodley

31 August 2026 at 07:00

Nationwide research also shows average 14% premium for housing in national landscapes of England and Wales

Housebuyers are paying a premium of almost a quarter to own a property located within a UK national park, with the New Forest the most expensive national park to live in, according to Britain’s biggest building society.

Nationwide found that a property located within a national park cost 24% more on average than a similar property elsewhere, while buyers were also stumping up a 6% premium for homes within three miles of a national park.

World news | The Guardian
Properties in UK national parks command 24% premium, study finds 31 August 2026 at 07:00

Properties in UK national parks command 24% premium, study finds

World news | The Guardian

By: Simon Goodley

31 August 2026 at 07:00

Nationwide research also shows average 14% premium for housing in national landscapes of England and Wales

Housebuyers are paying a premium of almost a quarter to own a property located within a UK national park, with the New Forest the most expensive national park to live in, according to Britain’s biggest building society.

Nationwide found that a property located within a national park cost 24% more on average than a similar property elsewhere, while buyers were also stumping up a 6% premium for homes within three miles of a national park.

The Guardian
Women in UK arts feel they do not have equal opportunities for roles, says report 30 August 2026 at 12:00

Women in UK arts feel they do not have equal opportunities for roles, says report

The Guardian

By: Rachel Hall

30 August 2026 at 12:00

Exclusive: Research says sector is fixated with young talent, with most women experiencing unconscious bias or sexism

Women working in the arts believe they do not have equal opportunities for roles, especially as they get older, according to a report saying that the industry is fixated with “young and emerging” talent.

Nearly all (95%) women working in the arts thought gender inequality persisted, while three-quarters (75%) reported experiencing unconscious bias or sexism, according to a survey of 76 arts professionals. More than two-thirds (69%) felt that age negatively affected their career success – a figure that rose to 100% among those working in artistic rather than managerial roles.

World news | The Guardian
Women in UK arts feel they do not have equal opportunities for roles, says report 30 August 2026 at 12:00

Women in UK arts feel they do not have equal opportunities for roles, says report

World news | The Guardian

By: Rachel Hall

30 August 2026 at 12:00

Exclusive: Research says sector is fixated with young talent, with most women experiencing unconscious bias or sexism

Women working in the arts believe they do not have equal opportunities for roles, especially as they get older, according to a report saying that the industry is fixated with “young and emerging” talent.

Nearly all (95%) women working in the arts thought gender inequality persisted, while three-quarters (75%) reported experiencing unconscious bias or sexism, according to a survey of 76 arts professionals. More than two-thirds (69%) felt that age negatively affected their career success – a figure that rose to 100% among those working in artistic rather than managerial roles.

The Guardian
South West Water has worst environmental record in England, analysis shows 30 August 2026 at 09:00

South West Water has worst environmental record in England, analysis shows

The Guardian

By: Pippa Neill Environment reporter

30 August 2026 at 09:00

Exclusive: Friends of the Earth finds greatest sewage discharge in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset

‘Tiny bit of rain and the sewage comes’: Brighton swimmers vent fury at sea pollution

South West Water is doing more harm to the environment than any other water company in England, according to new analysis, with more sewage discharged in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset than anywhere else.

Friends of the Earth analysed water companies’ environmental performance in six categories: sewage spills, water quality at bathing sites, pollution incidents or warnings at bathing sites, severity of sewage pollution at bathing sites, the percentage of rivers rated below the standard for good ecological health, and the affordability of bills.

The Guardian
On long road back from Brexit, north-east’s recovery rides on survival of Nissan’s ‘shining star’ plant 30 August 2026 at 09:00

On long road back from Brexit, north-east’s recovery rides on survival of Nissan’s ‘shining star’ plant

The Guardian

By: Jasper Jolly

30 August 2026 at 09:00

Operating at only half its capacity, Japanese carmaker’s Sunderland factory seeks deal with China’s Chery as it battles Brexit threats

In a factory in Gateshead, engineers carefully wind metal wires around iron cores to go in electric motors. Here, workers produce a smaller “pancake motor”, which generates higher torque than conventional versions for supercars or construction equipment.

These workers form part of north-east England’s automotive industry, which has experienced a long line of political disruptions, from Margaret Thatcher’s efforts to attract international investment, through Brexit and now Andy Burnham’s reindustrialisation strategy.

World news | The Guardian
South West Water has worst environmental record in England, analysis shows 30 August 2026 at 09:00

South West Water has worst environmental record in England, analysis shows

World news | The Guardian

By: Pippa Neill Environment reporter

30 August 2026 at 09:00

Exclusive: Friends of the Earth finds greatest sewage discharge in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset

‘Tiny bit of rain and the sewage comes’: Brighton swimmers vent fury at sea pollution

South West Water is doing more harm to the environment than any other water company in England, according to new analysis, with more sewage discharged in Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset than anywhere else.

Friends of the Earth analysed water companies’ environmental performance in six categories: sewage spills, water quality at bathing sites, pollution incidents or warnings at bathing sites, severity of sewage pollution at bathing sites, the percentage of rivers rated below the standard for good ecological health, and the affordability of bills.

World news | The Guardian
Cells for arrested offenders may run out without early prison release, says Labour 29 August 2026 at 16:25

Cells for arrested offenders may run out without early prison release, says Labour

World news | The Guardian

By: Kevin Rawlinson

29 August 2026 at 16:25

Bridget Phillipson says government would not have to consider releasing prisoners early if Tories had created more capacity

Cells to hold newly arrested people could run out without the early prison release scheme, a minister has said.

Bridget Phillipson defended the plan to address the prison capacity crisis in England and Wales by releasing thousands of prisoners early, which has been criticised by domestic abuse charities, bereaved families and probation officers among others.