‘Immense drop-off’ in support contributing to care leaver deaths in England, review says 25. August 2026 (01:01) Death rate three to four times higher than among general population blamed on isolation of those leaving care‘He was left on his own’: the care-leaver lives lost to a system that abandons them at 18Profound isolation contributed to the deaths of more than 100 care leavers in England in a year, with a dramatic drop-off in support from social services at 18 leading to catastrophic consequences, a review has found.A government-commissioned report into the early deaths of young people who left care described the problem as a national tragedy and said many were left on their own “at the height of vulnerability” before they died. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lindsay Clancy trial: psychologist says he doubts claim she was hallucinating 25. August 2026 (01:00) Dr Kirk Heilbrun says he believes Clancy took children’s lives so they wouldn’t ‘suffer’ after she killed herselfWith just days to go before the murder trial for Lindsay Clancy concludes, a forensic psychologist called by the prosecution testified on Monday that he did not believe she was experiencing acute psychosis when she killed her three children.Kirk Heilbrun, who reportedly performed psychiatric tests on Clancy in April, told the court that he questioned her claims that a hallucinated voice commanded her to commit the act, and that he believed she took their lives so they wouldn’t “suffer” after she killed herself. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US supreme court rules Trump can proceed with crackdown on mail-in voting 24. August 2026 (23:53) Justices’ ruling comes after lower courts had blocked president’s election order ahead of November midtermsThe US supreme court has sided with Donald Trump in his effort to crack down on mail-in voting, though it remains unclear if his administration can take action ahead of the midterm elections in November.Justices on the court voted 6-3 along ideological lines to lift an injunction from June that a judge in Massachusetts placed on an executive order issued by the president. But a second injunction remains in place and the ruling leaves room for legal challenges. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US strikes a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing 2 people in first attack in months 24. August 2026 (23:40) US Southern Command has struck another vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two accused of trafficking drugsThe US military has launched a deadly strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing two people accused of drug trafficking.On Monday, US Southern Command (SouthCom) announced it “executed a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham backtracks on spending housing fund only on building social homes 24. August 2026 (23:30) About 40% of £10bn from Affordable Homes Programme will now go on types of housing such as sheltered and shared ownershipAndy Burnham has backtracked on his proposal to rip up the government’s housing plans and boost social home building.Ministers laid out plans on Monday to spend an initial £10bn from the 10-year Affordable Homes Programme on a mix of subsidised housing types in England, in line with the Starmer government’s policy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Target apologizes for ‘offensive’ Halloween costume after backlash 24. August 2026 (23:29) Retailer removes kid’s clown costume after people said it resembled a racist caricature used in minstrel showsTarget, the US retail corporation, said it pulled a controversial Halloween costume off its shelves after criticism across social media that it resembled a racist caricature.The ad image for the costume, sold as the “Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume,” depicted a Black child in a bright orange and black top with solid black gloves and a mask with a wide, toothy smile. Both the child’s pose and the costume’s gloves and mask were likened to caricatures of Black people used in minstrel shows. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nevada files lawsuit challenging federal plan for Colorado River revival 24. August 2026 (22:56) In Trump administration’s plan, California, Arizona and Nevada face about a 20% cut to water supply over two yearsNevada filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging the Trump administration’s new plan for the imperiled Colorado River, launching what could become the first of many court battles over the waterway that supplies 40 million people, dozens of tribes and 5.5m acres of farm land across the American west.The federal plan, issued Friday, cut roughly 20% from the water supplied to lower basin states – Nevada, Arizona and California – over the next two years, with a potential for harsher cutbacks in the future, based on conditions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man arrested on suspicion of arson after fire at car park used by Gatwick passengers 24. August 2026 (21:04) Blaze near Crawley destroyed 140 vehicles, damaged nearby businesses and led to power cuts on Saturday nightA man has been arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire tore through a car park used by people flying from Gatwick airport, destroying about 140 vehicles.The blaze erupted at Caldyne business park near Crawley, about eight miles from the airport just after 9pm on Saturday. Images showed vehicles on fire and enormous plumes of smoke rising close to overhead power lines. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Victorian premier Ben Carroll pushes ahead with SRL spend despite hinting at pause 24. August 2026 (21:00) A day after suggesting other projects were more important to Victorians, Carroll has committed to pushing ahead on train lineGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, has made an about-face, committing to pushing ahead with the first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop while promising to reduce its total cost by about 6%.Carroll will on Tuesday announce changes to the scope of the first stage of the project, known as SRL East – a 26km stretch of tunnels between Cheltenham and Box Hill – estimated to save $1bn. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alfalfa sprouts linked to food-poisoning outbreak in 15 states, US officials say 24. August 2026 (20:58) Everything Sprouts recalls products after CDC says agency is aware of dozens of food-poisoning cases nationallyUS healthcare officials recently said a food-poisoning outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts and involving multiple germs had sickened people in at least 15 states.Officials announced the outbreak after documenting more than three dozen cases in Minnesota and Wisconsin. On Friday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the agency was aware of at least 55 cases nationally, including four people who had been hospitalized. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
