Sopranos actor Vincent Pastore, known for playing mobsters and tough guys, dies aged 80

Veteran actor best-known for playing Salvatore ‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero, friend of Tony Soprano who becomes FBI informant

Vincent Pastore, a veteran actor who played mobsters and tough guys, and was best-known for playing Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on The Sopranos, has died. He was 80.

Bob McGowan, who had managed Pastore since his run on The Sopranos, told the Associated Press that he learned of his death Saturday from another client and actor on the show, Vincent Curatola.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/01/sopranos-actor-vincent-pastore-dead-80

How Australia combines modern tech and Indigenous knowledge to fight fire

As Europe faces its worst wildfires in decades, Australia offers lessons in disaster preparedness.

Spain Installs Floating Barrier in Ceuta #wanitaxigo

Labour wins decisive victory in Greater Manchester mayoral byelection

Bev Craig, the city council leader, succeeds Andy Burnham as mayor, reversing Reform gains in May local elections

Labour has stormed to a decisive victory in the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection, seizing back areas that recently fell to Reform UK and the Greens.

Labour’s Bev Craig, the Manchester city council leader, will now succeed Andy Burnham and hold one of the most powerful political positions outside Westminster.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/31/labour-wins-decisive-victory-in-greater-manchester-mayoral-byelection

F-35B jet crashed near Marine Corps in San Diego, pilot ejected safely – officials

Pilot of stealth fighter jet, who has not been identified, was treated for non-life threatening injuries sustained in crash

An F-35B fighter jet crashed near a US Marine Corps base in San Diego on Friday morning, sparking a small fire that first responders doused.

The pilot, who has not been publicly identified, sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to a statement from the Marine Corps Miramar air base. Officials say the pilot is in stable condition and received treatment at a local medical facility.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/31/f-35b-jet-crash-san-diego

Burnham to free mayors from ‘Treasury death grip’ with new devolved powers

Local leaders say plan will transform funding so English regions no longer rely on Whitehall handouts for projects

England’s regional mayors will be able to break out of the “death grip of the Treasury” by borrowing to invest in big projects under “transformational” plans to shift power out of Whitehall.

For the first time, mayors will keep a share of income tax generated in their area from 2028, as well as business rates totalling tens of millions of pounds by April 2027.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jul/30/burnham-mayors-income-tax-business-rates-devolution

New survey reveals fears of US farm workers amid Trump’s immigration raids

Vast majority of farm workers say raids and deportations have affected their jobs and 61% report shopping less

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Farm workers in the US are reeling from the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, including increased raids and deportations, according to a new survey conducted by the United Farm Workers Foundation released on Thursday.

The survey features responses from 2,250 farm workers, many of whom are undocumented, about their experiences with immigration enforcement that has intensified under the second Trump administration.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/30/farm-workers-survey-trump-immigration