The Guardian - 2026-08-27 - Newspaper digest

Aug 27, 2026

A news digest capturing key UK and international developments around 27 August 2026, including political controversy over capping political donations, the human impact of Nepal and Tibet flash floods with reported deaths and missing people, and a major settlement involving Meta’s Instagram and Facebook following allegations of harms to children. It also covers UK energy price cap changes from October, potential limits on further bill support, and renewed calls for windfall taxation on bank profits to fund household assistance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages44

Reading Time1 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

News

PM drops support for donations cap

Hundreds feared dead in Nepal flash floods

Meta to pay $17bn to end social media lawsuit

Gas and electricity prices rise under new price cap

The hottest ticket Wouldyou goto the UK's first saunatheatre? Thursday The 27August2026 Fromf240for subscribers uarC1an # PM dropS support for donationscap after lobbying from unions Kiran Stacey Policyeditor Andy Burnham hasdroppedhissup-portfor capping political donations,sparking anger among campaignersandLabourMPswhohavelong cam-paigned for major reform to the wayparties are funded. The prime minister has decidednot to back amendments to next Hundredsfeared deadin Nepalflash floods week's elections billthat would capthe amount that aperson or organi-sationcould giveina single donation,according to government sources. ing campaign from Labour's tradeunion backers,which warned themove could undermine their abilityto donate to the party. It also marks a retreat from thesupport he gave to the idea just afew weeks ago,when he emailed a Hannah Ellis-Petersen More than 150 people had been con-firmeddead last nightandhundredswere missing after flashfloodshit theHimalayan borderareasof NepalandTibet in China,with oficials sayingareasof Indiawere alsoat risk. The disaster was caused by a tor-rent of mud,water and debris that campaigner for electoral reform tosayhe wouldsupportadonationscapof E500,000. Stella Creasy,one of the Labourbackbenchers who has tabled anamendment calling for a cap,said;"Millionaires are increasingly treat-ing Britishpolitics as their playthingsplashing the cash to get the out-cometheywantandthenextelectionas their cup final.The public won'tforgive us if we miss this chance to burst from the banks of a river thatruns between China and Nepal.Homes,roads,bridges and powerplants were swept away in Nepal,while officials in Tibet said theyfeared“major casualties”. Officials in Nepal said403people,including 341 from other countriesincludingIndia,the US,theUK,Aus-tralia,South Koreaand Malaysia,hadbeen reported missing in the coun-try.Thirty-three British citizens are clean upWestminster becausewearesquabbling witheach other.” Shaun Bowler,the campaigner towhom Burnham promised his sup-port in May,said:“Andy Burnhampromisedmeaproper caponpoliticaldonations and a'wholesale culturechange'in Westminster.Ifhis govern-mentnowrefusestobackadonationscap,then hehas broken thepromisehe made to me-and to voters. "Iwanted to believe the positive ▲A woman rescued from acare homein Trishuli Bazar,Nepal.Many foreigners are among the missing PHOTOGRAPH:NARENDEA SHRESTHA/EPA amongthose missing.Theages ofthemissing British citizens range from13to 65. Police in Nepal said that157bodieshad been recovered so far and moreing treatment in hospital. message he gave me.I wanted tobelieve that someone was finallygoingto take on the culture tha hasleftsomanypeople feeling that theirvoices don'tmatterand that wealthypeople can buy influence over ourgovernment. "But words mean nothing ifthey disappear the moment poweris won.Large political donationsare not democratic.They 8→create influence,whether Meta to pay$17bn to endsocial medialawsuit Blake Montgomery Dara Kerr Meta agreed to make significantchanges to its Instagram and Face-bookappsin asettlement that endeda landmark lawsuit yesterday. Dozens of US states had accusedthetechnology company ofaddictingand harming children with danger-ous products. The settlement,which curtails amajor trialin California,will requirethe social media company topay upto$17bn(E12.5bn).Metaagreed tosetupsafeguards for teenagers,includ-ing daily usage limits and blocks onnight-time use across the US. Thisisthefirst time that Meta hasbeen forced to change key featuresforeveryday usersin the US. Thejury trial,whichtookplace inafederalcourtinOakland,beganwithopening statementsjust last week. Californiaand28otherstateshadsued the $1.36tn company over alle-gations that it deliberately designedaddictive products that hookedyoung people,leading to mentalhealth problems including anxiety,depression and suicide.The statesalso claimed

FAQs

What decision did the UK prime minister make about capping political donations?

The prime minister dropped support for amendments that would cap political donations in a single donation, angering campaigners and Labour MPs seeking major reform.

What were the main reported impacts of the Nepal flash floods?

More than 150 people were confirmed dead, hundreds were missing, and officials warned additional areas were at risk, with deaths and disappearances reported across Nepal and among foreigners.

What did Meta agree to do after the US states’ lawsuit?

Meta agreed to make significant changes to Instagram and Facebook, including safeguards for teenagers such as daily usage limits and blocks on night-time use, and it will pay up to $17bn in the settlement.

Aug 27, 2026

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