‘Nature thrives when given a chance’: restored Cheshire wetland now a haven for rare grebe 28. August 2026 (06:00) Woolston Eyes in Warrington, a dumping ground for canal dredgings, has become best place in UK for black-necked grebeA dumping ground for dredgings from the Manchester Ship Canal has become the best place in Britain for the rare and beautiful black-necked grebe, hosting 64% of Britain’s breeding population.Since 2021, Woolston Eyes in Cheshire has been restored, extended and turned into a mosaic of freshwater pools, reedbeds, willow scrub and rough grassland, managed by the RSPB and Woolston Eyes Conservation Group. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘We just want them to return’: relatives of Australians missing in Nepal floods wait anxiously for news of loved ones 28. August 2026 (05:56) Family of two Sydney boys and their parents, who are among 39 Australians identified as missing after flash flooding, ‘worried, but hopeful’The family of two Sydney boys who went missing with their parents in flash flooding in Nepal say they remain hopeful they will be found safe.Shylaja Muralitharan, 42, her husband, Chandrasekaran Muralitharan, 47, and their two sons Ashwin, 14 and Aarush, 11, were taking part in a pilgrimage when the flood hit on Wednesday morning. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
South Korea to re-examine 310,000 missing person cases after fake record scandal 28. August 2026 (05:06) Renewed scrutiny comes after police officer accused of falsifying records in order to close the cases of people who were later found deadSouth Korean police will re-examine about 310,000 missing persons cases closed over the past three years, prompted by a scandal in which an officer was arrested on suspicion of falsifying records to close files on two people who were later found dead.The case has drawn national attention, with President Lee Jae Myung ordering an investigation into the police handling of it and telling the force to draw up a reform plan. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Federal judge again halts Trump’s executive order limiting mail voting in midterms 28. August 2026 (04:31) President’s directive stalls for a second time about a week before the first postal ballots are due to be sent outA federal judge on Thursday halted – at least for the moment – attempts to implement Donald Trump’s executive order limiting mail voting.The president’s directive stalled for a second time about a week before the first mail ballots are due to be sent out for the rapidly approaching midterm elections. In the US district court, Judge Indira Talwani placed a 14-day hold on the government implementing the order in a case that could be headed back to the supreme court, which on Monday overturned an earlier ruling of hers that had blocked Trump’s order from taking effect. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
FDA approves updated Covid-19 vaccines for dominant XFG variant 28. August 2026 (03:19) Decision allows manufacturers to begin shipping doses, but confusion remains about insurance coverageThe US Food and Drug Administration approved updated Covid-19 vaccines on Thursday, allowing manufacturers to begin shipping doses to pharmacies and doctors’ offices across the country.The FDA approved Moderna, Novavax-Sanofi and Pfizer-BioNTech’s updated Covid vaccines, the companies said on Thursday, after an advisory panel recommended that the shots should target the dominant XFG variant. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia news live: Greens say Labor immigration policy has ‘no principle’; gambling company calls PM’s ad reforms a ‘missed opportunity’ 28. August 2026 (02:55) Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGreens say Australia needs to ‘step up and really commit’ to aiding rebuilding in NepalDavid Shoebridge, the Greens’ spokesperson on foreign affairs, told RN Breakfast earlier the Australian commitment of $5m for affected communities in Nepal “won’t come close to touching the sides” of the calamity.I think Australia needs to step up and really commit to helping rebuild. This is a country with minimal spare resources. Life is tough in Nepal at most times, but I don’t think $5 million comes close to meeting the scale. …We also have an obligation to do what we can to meet our targets for carbon and to keep coal and gas in the ground. These things are connected, as much as we don’t want them to be. These things are connected, and unless we address that, these kinds of disasters will continue to happen at a more rapid scale. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
One Nation’s new NSW leader Mike Newman is an investment banker who wants to ‘get rid of wokery’ 28. August 2026 (01:55) Son of former ABC chair will contest seat of Cessnock in March state election and says ‘my wife’s Japanese’ so he doesn’t believe party is racistFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation has named investment banker Mike Newman as its New South Wales leader and first lower house candidate ahead of the March 2027 state election.Pauline Hanson was to hold a press conference alongside Newman on Friday morning to announce the son of former ABC chair Maurice Newman as her party’s candidate for the Hunter seat of Cessnock. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three journalists sue Pentagon after being fired from military news outlet 28. August 2026 (01:33) Three employees of Stars and Stripes, a government-funded news service, allege they were fired after reporting on USS Abraham LincolnThree journalists who were fired by the Pentagon from a US government-funded news outlet sued the Department of Defense in federal court on Thursday, arguing their dismissals were illegal and violated their first amendment rights to free speech.The three journalists were all employees of Stars and Stripes, which their court filing calls “the U.S. military’s independent news source since the Civil War with a long history of editorial independence, free from news management or censorship by military command”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham announces crackdown on rogue bailiffs and ‘cowboy builders’ 27. August 2026 (23:30) New rules are aimed at protecting people in debt in England and Wales and stopping homeowners being ripped offA clampdown on “rogue bailiffs” has been launched by Andy Burnham amid concerns that vulnerable people are being overcharged and face aggressive behaviour.In the latest in a series of “everyday fixes” to ease the cost of living and “make Britain fairer”, the prime minister said he was strengthening the rules that apply to bailiffs in England and Wales to better protect people in debt. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democrats to investigate ‘miraculous’ rise of Trump Jr’s investment firm 27. August 2026 (22:33) Congressman Jamie Raskin asks president’s son to detail firm’s recent success after he joined 1789 Capital as partnerDemocrats on a powerful US congressional committee have launched an investigation into a venture capital firm which has thrived since recruiting Donald Trump’s son.Donald Trump Jr joined 1789 Capital as a partner just days after his father won a second term in office in November 2024. Congressman Jamie Raskin, ranking member of the US House of Representatives judiciary committee, has asked the president’s son to detail the firm’s recent success. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
