The News - Monday, 31 August 2026

BBC News

Prisoners freed early are returning to jail at rapid rate, governors tell BBC

PM Andy Burnham on Sunday announced changes to the next early release scheme - scheduled to start in October - which mean PC Harper's killers will stay in jail.

US and Iran trade strikes for first time in weeks

Iran says the attack on Larak Island, the first known US strikes since late July, killed two people and injured two others.

Patel to be replaced by Tugendhat as shadow foreign secretary

Kemi Badenoch is expected to carry out a wider reshuffle of her front bench team following high-profile departures.

Parents of seriously ill children should get paid leave, says commissioner

Children's commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has backed called for more support for parents and carers.

This actor was told he had Alzheimer's, now he's performing a one-man show

Peter Marinker is taking on one of Samuel Beckett's most famous plays alone on a London stage.

Russian strikes destroy 12 million books ahead of Ukraine's first week back at school

Ukraine says Russia is deliberately attacking its culture, after strikes on publishers and churches.

The mystery of why so many black Britons still can't swim

For decades, swimming ability has been lower in the black community. Our writer asks why.

Jewish community in harder position than immediately after synagogue attack, says rabbi

Rabbi Daniel Walker says members of the Jewish community are feeling increasingly vulnerable.

Eight killed and 18 missing after ferry capsizes off northern Cyprus

A search and rescue operation is under way after a ferry carrying nearly 270 people turns over after leaving port.

UK raises case of British activist detained by settlers in West Bank with Israel

Finn Joughin, a 22-year-old student activist, was arrested in the Palestinian village of Umm Al-Kheir.

Seven arrested after death of newborn baby girl

The baby was pronounced dead at a property in the Wincobank area of Sheffield.

The Millennials swapping doom-scrolling for gardening

Young people say gardening offers joy, serenity and a sense of community.

How the US-Canada trade war is being felt on both sides of the border

The US-Canada trade war is being felt on both sides of the border.

'My parents won't lend me £10k but helped my brother': When families play financial favourites

So-called financial favouritism can cause jealousy and resentment long into adulthood. Here is how experts say you can avoid it

What will Sonia Gandhi's memoir reveal about India's most powerful dynasty?

Sonia Gandhi’s memoir may finally answer questions about power, loss and the Gandhi family’s political legacy.

The Papers: 'Killers blocked from early release' and 'Harry should fund security'

Monday's papers are dominated by changes to the government's early release scheme for prisoners in England and Wales.

'A giant leap forward': Nasa launches powerful new space telescope

The US space agency's telescope is starting a multi-year mission to create a new map of the universe and learn more about dark energy and dark matter.

Head teacher evacuated 900 children minutes before Nepal floods hit school

Rajendra Dawadi leapt into action after receiving warnings over waters heading towards his school.

'Like fighting a dinosaur': Sydney woman recalls how she punched shark during attack

Leah Stewart, 34, was mauled by a great white shark in June during a morning swim at Coogee Beach.

Emergency measures needed to stop teachers quitting, say Lib Dems

A survey by the party suggested almost half of teachers reported considering quitting the classroom in the next five years.

Police release one of two men arrested over fatal house fire

Police continue to question a 23-year-old man over the fire in which a girl, 7, and her aunt died.

Lola Young surprises Reading Festival with final day set

The singer has been slowly returning to performing after taking a break last year to "work on myself".

British woman killed in stabbing at German railway station

A 27-year-old German man was arrested immediately after the incident in Rosenheim, Bavaria.

Bournemouth Echo

Golden days at the lido - pictures taken poolside from the 2006 heatwave

tep back into a sweltering 2006 summer day with these pictures of locals enjoying Lymington Saltwater Baths in New Forest, Hampshire.

'Prisoners in our own homes’ - Disabled residents trapped by broken lift

Residents at an independent living accommodation say they feel like ‘prisoners in their own home’ due to a broken lift keeping them confined to their rooms for more than a week.

New Forest rallies behind 1,000-mile tiger conservation challenge

Paul Goldstein and local civic leaders gathered at Kingfishers on Thursday 27 August to support conservation challenge.

Bus driver 'left bleeding' after allegedly being 'throttled' by a passenger

A bus driver was ‘left bleeding’ after he was assaulted by a passenger in a ‘rare but troubling incident’.

Police investigating woman's 'sudden and unexplained' death

Police are investigating the ‘sudden’ death of a woman which is being treated as “unexplained”.