Washington Post ordered to reinstate opinion writer fired over Charlie Kirk posts 24. August 2026 (17:42) Arbitrator determined the Post improperly fired Karen Attiah, a union-protected employee, over social media postsAn independent arbitrator has ordered the Washington Post to rehire the high-profile opinion columnist Karen Attiah, abruptly fired by the news organization last September over comments she made on social media about Charlie Kirk, the then recently slain conservative activist.On Monday, an arbitrator ruled that the Post had violated her rights as a union-protected employee and ordered the newspaper to reinstate her and compensate her for lost wages. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Households in Great Britain ‘could owe energy suppliers £7bn by end of year’ 24. August 2026 (17:40) After higher prices for winter kick in, energy debt unpaid for more than 30 days likely to rise, says Energy UKHouseholds in Great Britain could owe their energy suppliers as much as £7bn by the end of the year after higher gas and electricity prices forecast for the winter kick in, an industry group is warning.Domestic energy debt and arrears climbed by about £500m over the past year to a record £6bn at the end of June as the Middle East conflict continued to stoke rising gas market prices. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘There’s a baby on the field’: Toddler invades pitch during Minnesota’s MLS win over San Jose 24. August 2026 (17:29) Child wandered on field during MNUFC’s 5-1 winMinnesota posts win was ‘Like taking money from a baby’A toddler interrupted a Major League Soccer match between Minnesota United and San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday by invading the pitch – a bizarre scene punctuated by an on-air analyst saying, “There’s a baby on the field.”With a minute and a half to play in the game that Minnesota won 5-1 at PayPal Park in San Jose, California, the small child took to the field – and the referee blew his whistle to stop play. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia has just 12,000 sea lions left – and ‘carnage’ may await them as bird flu takes hold, scientists warn 24. August 2026 (17:00) Virus has already caused catastrophic losses in pinnipeds in South America and sub-Antarctica, particularly among pupsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastScientists have warned deadly H5 bird flu could cause “carnage” for Australia’s seal and sea lion populations after detection of the virus in long-nosed fur seals in South Australia.SA confirmed Australia’s first case in a mammal on Saturday after a dead long-nosed fur seal found at Beachport on the Limestone Coast tested positive for H5N1. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Guns, axes, explosives: violent museum heists are on the rise, says Europol 24. August 2026 (16:31) EU police agency says shift could point to involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific artefactsRobberies at European museums are becoming increasingly violent, with thieves sometimes brandishing guns, assaulting staff and using sledgehammers, axes and even explosives to smash their way into buildings and display cases, according to a report by Europol.The EU police agency said that while museum thefts were generally seen as a non-violent form of organised property crime, member states had detected a recent shift “towards violent and forceful methods” that could point to the involvement of new criminal networks focused on specific cultural artefacts. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man suspected of killing five people in Oregon found dead, officials say 24. August 2026 (16:27) Authorities suspect Benjamin Charles Parker, 36, died by suicide after he was found in vehicle in Washington stateA man suspected of killing five people in rural Oregon was found dead in a suspected suicide, local law enforcement officials said on Sunday.The five homicide victims were found on Saturday at a home in a rural community near Forest Grove, Oregon, about 30 miles (48km) outside Portland, when authorities responded to a report of a vehicle fire. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Video shows hundreds held captive after Nigeria mosque kidnapping 24. August 2026 (16:19) Gunmen attacked worshippers in Dekara village on Friday taking women, children and older peopleAn armed group has posted a video showing what residents said were about 600 women, children and older people abducted in an attack on a mosque in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State last week.The video, posted on Facebook and WhatsApp, showed large groups of people seated in a forested area surrounded by armed men. Several children could be heard crying in the background. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
About 90,000 urged to evacuate as fast-moving wildfire threatens Reno, Nevada 24. August 2026 (16:15) ‘Human-caused’, wind-driven fire in Reno leaves thousands of homes and businesses without power, officials sayAbout 90,000 residents of Reno, Nevada, and the adjacent North Valley are under evacuation orders as a fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire bears down on the city.The Hawk fire began on Saturday to the north-west of the city, and quickly grew, showing “extreme fire behavior”. It stood at a little more than 15,000 acres burned on Monday morning, and was 0% contained. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott found guilty of sexually abusing children 24. August 2026 (16:11) Five-day trial at high court in Glasgow heard Dott subjected a girl and a boy to multiple incidents of abuseThe former world snooker champion Graeme Dott has been found guilty of sexually abusing two primary school age children. The 49-year-old subjected a girl and a boy to multiple incidents of abuse, with the girl targeted between 1993-96 and the boy between 2006-10.A five-day trial at the high court in Glasgow heard Dott exposed himself in front of both children, touched them inappropriately, and kissed them. On Monday, he was found guilty of two counts of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour towards them. In both cases the abuse happened in the Glasgow area. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Twelve people arrested after A66 crash that killed seven including two police officers 24. August 2026 (16:02) Nine men and three women aged between 19 and 61 arrested as part of investigation into events leading to deadly collisionTwelve people have been arrested on suspicion of offences including being involved with organised crime as part of the investigation into events leading to a crash on the A66 that killed two police officers and five others.Cleveland police confirmed that nine men and three women were detained by officers investigating the events that led up to PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough dying when a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way on the A66 near Middlesbrough collided with their marked armed response vehicle. All five men who were in the second car, aged between 17 and 23, were pronounced dead at the scene. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
