FTC accuses Amazon of running a ‘secret ad surcharge scheme’ in new lawsuit

31 August 2026 at 23:20

Amazon is facing a new lawsuit from the FTC and 22 states for allegedly secretly charging businesses more for advertising.

Harvard Law dropout raises $6M for Blue Voice to build a ‘Harvey for police officers’

TechCrunch

By: Marina Temkin

31 August 2026 at 21:35

Blue Voice is trained on department-specific laws, local ordinances, protocols, and guidelines that general-purpose AI tools can't access on the public internet.

Trump threatens further action as US and Iran exchange fire in new flare-up

The Guardian

By: Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor

31 August 2026 at 20:13

Washington says it acted after observing Iran was planning to deploy fresh mines in strait of Hormuz

The US and Iran have exchanged fire for the first time in a month, with missiles and drones fired at Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the strait of Hormuz, and Iran targeting US military bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in response.

The US president, Donald Trump, on Monday threatened further action. The US is to trying to prise open Tehran’s grip on shipping going through the strait, which before the war accounted for a fifth of the world’s seaborne energy supply. Washington claimed that Iranian control over the waterway had been loosened by repeated US attacks on Iranian missile launchers and radars.

Trump threatens further action as US and Iran exchange fire in new flare-up

World news | The Guardian

By: Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor

31 August 2026 at 20:13

Washington says it acted after observing Iran was planning to deploy fresh mines in strait of Hormuz

The US and Iran have exchanged fire for the first time in a month, with missiles and drones fired at Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the strait of Hormuz, and Iran targeting US military bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in response.

The US president, Donald Trump, on Monday threatened further action. The US is trying to prise open Tehran’s grip on shipping going through the strait, which before the war accounted for a fifth of the world’s seaborne energy supply. Washington claimed that Iranian control over the waterway had been loosened by repeated US attacks on Iranian missile launchers and radars.

The Guardian view on Trump’s immigration crackdown: who will have fewer rights next? | Editorial

The Guardian

By: Editorial

31 August 2026 at 20:04

The president’s deportation machine is creating a class of people inside the US who have fewer protections against the power of the state

Is the Trump administration creating a group in the US with fewer protections against executive power owing to their immigration status? Its often openly racist actions suggest so. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claims to target “the worst of the worst” – undocumented migrants who commit violent crimes. Yet the Guardian reported that over half of those arrested in July had no criminal convictions or pending charges. That month, ICE made record arrests and deportations, apprehending 1,500 people and removing 1,100 daily.

When campaigning, Donald Trump falsely claimed that Haitians were “eating the pets”. In office, his administration moved to end temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitians. In June, the supreme court let the protection expire, leaving about 350,000 people at risk of deportation to a country gripped by violence and instability. The court’s decision means more than 1 million TPS holders from 13 nations previously considered too unsafe to return to are now at risk of deportation. Many have lived and worked legally in the US for years.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Andrew Griffith and Tom Tugendhat join Badenoch’s top team in Tory reshuffle

World news | The Guardian

By: Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor

31 August 2026 at 21:07

Conservative leader sacks shadow chancellor Mel Stride and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel

Conservative reshuffle: who’s who in Kemi Badenoch’s top team?

Kemi Badenoch sacked her shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, and the shadow foreign secretary, Priti Patel, in a sweeping Conservative reshuffle on Monday, replacing Stride with Andrew Griffith, and Patel with Tom Tugendhat.

Stride, who had been shadow chancellor since Badenoch became leader, was widely seen among Tories as failing to make an impression at a time when Labour had been under pressure over the economy.

House lawmakers return to Capitol Hill as Republicans hope to pass stopgap spending bill – live

The Guardian

By: Shrai Popat (now) · Lucy Campbell and Tom Ambrose (earlier)

31 August 2026 at 20:50

The US House is back after a five-week recess; government funding is guaranteed through 30 September

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Chris Hippensteel

We’re watching today as Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, and Kevin Warsh, the chair of the Federal Reserve, deliver their opening remarks at the G20 meetings in Asheville, North Carolina.

Trump’s ballroom construction can resume at White House, supreme court rules – as it happened

World news | The Guardian

By: Nick Robins-Early · Shrai Popat · Lucy Campbell and Tom Ambrose

1 September 2026 at 04:58

This live blog is now closed.

US supreme court allows Trump to keep building $400m White House ballroom

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Chris Hippensteel

We’re watching today as Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, and Kevin Warsh, the chair of the Federal Reserve, deliver their opening remarks at the G20 meetings in Asheville, North Carolina.

Iranian president says he still wants diplomatic end to war after US strikes on Hormuz – Middle East crisis live

The Guardian

By: Martin Belam (now) · Yohannes Lowe and Adam Fulton (earlier)

31 August 2026 at 15:31

US targets Iran’s Larak Island in first exchange of fire in more than a month as Masoud Pezeshkian says America ‘has not fulfilled its commitments’

First US military attacks on Iran in a month prompt retaliation

Coinciding with this week’s G20 meeting, the EU has issued a statement saying it will work with the US and other allied countries to maintain economic pressure against Iran.

“The ‌EU welcomes efforts at ensuring that Iran ceases its destabilising activities and engages in peace negotiations with good ‌faith, also through additional economic pressure, including through the US-led Operation Economic Outcast,” it said in reference to the pressure strategy the White House describes as “an unprecedented campaign to sever every remaining economic lifeline sustaining” the Islamic republic.

Trump says US will ‘hit Iran hard’ as hostilities resume – as it happened

World news | The Guardian

By: Tom Ambrose (now) · Yohannes Lowe, Martin Belam and Adam Fulton (earlier)

31 August 2026 at 20:17

Iran responded to an assault on its Larak Island by targeting US bases in Jordan

Trump threatens further action as US and Iran exchange fire in new flare-up

Coinciding with this week’s G20 meeting, the EU has issued a statement saying it will work with the US and other allied countries to maintain economic pressure against Iran.

“The ‌EU welcomes efforts at ensuring that Iran ceases its destabilising activities and engages in peace negotiations with good ‌faith, also through additional economic pressure, including through the US-led Operation Economic Outcast,” it said in reference to the pressure strategy the White House describes as “an unprecedented campaign to sever every remaining economic lifeline sustaining” the Islamic republic.

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.

Rejoining the EU, Burnham’s donors and the bedroom tax: Politics Weekly answers your questions – podcast

World news | The Guardian

By: Presented by Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker, produced by Maz Ebtehaj and Ned Carter Miles, music by Axel Kacoutié · the executive producer is Frankie Tobi

31 August 2026 at 07:00

Will the UK ever rejoin the EU? Who is funding Andy Burnham? And will the bedroom tax be scrapped? In a special episode, Kiran Stacey and Peter Walker answer some of your questions

Please keep sending your comments and questions to Pippa and Kiran at politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com

US strikes Iranian launchers in strait of Hormuz, sparking reprisal attack on airbases in Jordan and UAE

The Guardian

By: Guardian staff and agencies

31 August 2026 at 08:25

US says it attacked Larak Island to prevent launch of sea mines, prompting reprisals against airbases used by US forces, with tanker fire also reported in strait

Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on airbases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates after the US attacked Iranian rocket launchers in the strait of Hormuz, the first such hostilities in a month.

Hours later, Iranian state TV later reported that a supertanker had caught fire after hitting two naval mines while attempting to pass through the southern side of the strait. It ‌did not identify the vessel or provide information about its crew.

Qantas ground crews vote for right to strike amid pay dispute – as it happened

World news | The Guardian

By: Achol Arok and Nick Visser

31 August 2026 at 10:48

This blog is now closed

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The Australian government is working with Russian officials in a bid to secure the release of Australian Oscar Jenkins, Matt Thistlethwaite says.

Speaking to ABC news breakfast, the assistant minister for foreign affairs declined to answer whether a prisoner swap was on the table.

Obviously, we try and negotiate as best we can on behalf of all Australians who find themselves in difficulties such as this. We obviously have to abide by international laws and we always uphold them. But the Australian officials on the ground will work with their counterparts to ensure that, hopefully he’s returned to Australia safely.

First US military attacks on Iran in a month prompt retaliation

World news | The Guardian

By: Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editor

31 August 2026 at 12:37

US attacks Iranian rocket launchers on island in strait of Hormuz and Tehran targets US bases in Jordan and UAE

The US has reverted to military attacks on Iran for the first time in a month, firing missiles and drones at Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the strait of Hormuz, prompting the Iranian military to attack US military bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

US Central Command said it acted late on Sunday after it detected the Iranians planning to fire fresh mines into the strait. Last week Donald Trump claimed the US navy had cleared the strait of mines for the first time since the conflict started on 28 February, a claim the Iranians rejected as lies.

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