Nicola Sturgeon’s memoir Frankly taps into SNP discontent over party’s future

Her critics have reacted with fury but some in party feel nostalgia and ‘sense of loss for independence movement’

Nicola Sturgeon’s month-long promotional tour for her memoir Frankly comes to an end this Friday at the Southbank Centre in London, the city, according to one of many carefully placed publication interviews, where she is considering moving to escape the “goldfish bowl scrutiny” of Scotland.

The former first minister’s political memoir has generated a blizzard of headlines since its launch on 12 August. Some were diverting but ultimately inconsequential, like her choice of future base, others rubbed salt in raw wounds, reprising two of the most divisive episodes in the SNP’s recent history – the Scottish government’s investigation into allegations of sexual harassment made against her predecessor Alex Salmond, and her flagship gender recognition law changes.

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Heatwave that fuelled deadly wildfires was Spain’s ‘most intense on record’

Country’s weather agency says 10-day period from 8-17 August was hottest since at least 1950, as fires still rage

A 16-day heatwave Spain suffered this month was “the most intense on record”, the country’s state meteorological agency (AEMET) has said.

Provisional readings for the 3-18 August heatwave exceeded the last record, set in July 2022, and showed an average temperature 4.6C higher than for previous such phenomena, the agency said on X.

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Ukraine drone hits Russian nuclear plant, sparks huge fire at Novatek’s Ust-Luga terminal – Reuters

  1. Ukraine drone hits Russian nuclear plant, sparks huge fire at Novatek's Ust-Luga terminal  Reuters
  2. Russia says Ukrainian drones hit nuclear power plant during Independence Day strikes  Fox News
  3. Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking nuclear plant, causing a fire  Al Jazeera
  4. Russia Says Novatek Fuel Terminal At Ust-Luga Port Catches Fire  Bloomberg.com
  5. Ukraine: Canada's Carney rules out Russian say on guarantees  dw.com
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Ukraine and Russia trade drone strikes on Kyiv’s independence day – politico.eu

  1. Ukraine and Russia trade drone strikes on Kyiv’s independence day  politico.eu
  2. Ukraine drone hits Russian nuclear plant, sparks huge fire at Novatek's Ust-Luga terminal  Reuters
  3. Moscow says Kyiv has struck a nuclear power plant as Ukraine marks Independence Day  AP News
  4. Russia hits Ukraine with drones as Kyiv celebrates independence day  ABC News
  5. Russia accuses Ukraine of strike on nuclear plant in wave of drone attacks  The Guardian
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Ukraine war live: Kyiv bombards Russia with major drone attack on Ukraine’s Flag Day – The Independent

  1. Ukraine war live: Kyiv bombards Russia with major drone attack on Ukraine’s Flag Day  The Independent
  2. Russia blames nuclear site attack on Ukraine as Kyiv marks independence day  BBC
  3. Moscow says Kyiv has struck a nuclear power plant as Ukraine marks independence day  AP News
  4. Ukraine Strikes Russian Nuclear Power Plant, Moscow says  Newsweek
  5. Aug. 23: One arrested at Tel Aviv anti-war protest for leading ‘inflammatory’ chant  The Times of Israel
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Labour to abolish most short prison sentences in England and Wales

Exclusive: Legislation that will include Texas-style scheme to shorten jail time expected to be rolled out this year

Ministers will legislate next month to abolish most short prison sentences, toughen up community punishments and introduce a Texas-inspired system whereby inmates can earn early release as part of an attempt to avert another prison crisis.

Government sources said the legislation, which will bring about the biggest shake-up in sentencing laws in England and Wales for three decades, would be introduced once MPs had returned to the Commons in September.

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‘Sacrificed on the altar of eternal war’: Hostage kin protest outside ministers’ homes – The Times of Israel

  1. ‘Sacrificed on the altar of eternal war’: Hostage kin protest outside ministers’ homes  The Times of Israel
  2. 'Stop the Genocide': Thousands of Jews and Arabs Rally in Tel Aviv Against Gaza War, Hunger  Haaretz
  3. At least 61 killed in Gaza, amid anti-war protests in Israel  upi.com
  4. Protesters in Israel conduct nationwide strike to demand ceasefire and release of hostages from Gaza  CBS News
  5. When even consensus in Israel is contentious  JNS.org
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Ukraine drone attacks spark fires at Russia’s Kursk nuclear plant, Novatek’s Ust-Luga terminal – Reuters

  1. Ukraine drone attacks spark fires at Russia's Kursk nuclear plant, Novatek's Ust-Luga terminal  Reuters
  2. Ukraine is stepping up attacks on Russian energy - and it’s working  CNN
  3. Fire at Russia's Novoshakhtinsk refinery burns for a fourth day after drone attack  Reuters
  4. Drone Strikes on Refineries Push Russia’s Gasoline Prices to Record Highs  The Moscow Times
  5. Putin is facing a fuel crisis as Ukraine escalates attacks on Russian refineries  Atlantic Council
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Declaration of famine in Gaza lays bare Israel’s disregard for humanitarian duty

The IPC’s findings that a quarter of Palestinians in Gaza are starving should mark an urgent turning point in this war

The declaration on Friday of widespread famine in Gaza by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) should mark a turning point in the war. The IPC, which represents a fastidious survey of available data, is regarded as the international gold standard in nutritional crises.

Long-criticised by humanitarians in other emergencies for its overabundance of caution, the IPC’s declaration of Level 5 – “catastrophic” hunger – in Gaza is a significant moment. Famine, under the IPC’s exacting criteria, requires three critical thresholds to be passed: extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition and starvation-related deaths, all of which are now visible in Gaza.

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Hundreds Languish in Pakistan’s Prisons on Blasphemy Charges – The New York Times

  1. Hundreds Languish in Pakistan’s Prisons on Blasphemy Charges  The New York Times
  2. Study Shows Pakistani Christians Endure Persecution in Prison  International Christian Concern
  3. ASIA/PAKISTAN - Discrimination and abuse in prisons: a report by the Commission for "Justice and Peace"  Agenzia Fides
  4. Prisons in Pakistan mistreat Christians, other minorities, study says  www.christiandaily.com
  5. Christian activists slam Pakistan's justice system over ridiculous blasphemy laws  IANS LIVE
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