Prince Harry and Meghan ‘moving back to Britain this month’ 19. August 2026 (23:48) Reports say Duke and Duchess of Sussex intend to relocate from US, with children to start British school in SeptemberThe Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to return to live in Britain, six years after leaving for the US, it was reported.The couple and their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, are expected to relocate later this month to a non-royal residence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mike Lindell offers to fund recount in Minnesota Republican primary for governor 19. August 2026 (23:37) MyPillow founder and Trump ally lost primary to Lisa Demuth by 11 points, but still refuses to concede defeatUS politics live – latest updatesThe pillow salesman, Trump supporter and election denier Mike Lindell has offered to personally fund a recount and audit of every paper ballot cast in Minnesota’s Republican gubernatorial primary, which he lost last week.Lindell’s announcement on Wednesday escalates his bid to challenge the results of last week’s vote, after finishing a distant second to the Minnesota house speaker, Lisa Demuth. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Taxpayers to fund clear-up of illegal dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent 19. August 2026 (23:30) Andy Burnham promises drive to tackle toxic waste, raise fines and use AI-powered drones to detect illegal activityIllegal dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey and Kent will be cleared up using taxpayer money, Andy Burnham has announced, as the prime minister promises a new drive to tackle toxic waste.Ministers have identified dumps in Bradford, Runnymede and the Isle of Sheppey, which collectively contain about 22,000 tonnes of illegal waste, to be cleared in the next phase of the government’s national clear-up effort. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US gross national debt tops $40tn for first time 19. August 2026 (23:24) Milestone marks years of government spending that grew under both Donald Trump and Joe BidenUS debt reached $40tn for the first time on Wednesday, the US treasury department said, after the government deficit doubled over the last decade.The treasury’s latest debt balance showed $40.047tn on Tuesday afternoon, the highest in US history. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Penny Wong condemns ‘insulting’ decision to clear IDF over Gaza strikes that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom 19. August 2026 (23:17) Foreign minister says Australia is ‘outraged’ after Israeli government decided not to pursue criminal proceedings over 2024 triple drone strike on humanitarian convoyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s foreign affairs minister has expressed “outrage” and will call in the Israeli ambassador over the IDF decision overnight not to open a criminal investigation into Gaza strikes that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom.In a statement released on Thursday, Penny Wong called the timing of the decision, on World Humanitarian Day, “especially insulting”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Five Americans among seven killed in safari helicopter crash in Kenya 19. August 2026 (22:17) Officials say all seven people onboard killed, including Telemundo executive and Ecuador intelligence chiefSeven people, including five Americans, were killed when a safari helicopter crashed on Wednesday morning in a remote part of northern Kenya, according to local police and the state department.Among the dead were an executive with Telemundo, the US-based Spanish-language network owned by NBC Universal, and the director of Ecuador’s national intelligence service. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Another democratic socialist victory – Angie Nixon in Florida – sends shock waves through party establishment 19. August 2026 (21:35) ‘They call us extreme, they call us radical,’ the progressive Senate candidate said. ‘But I think people see through that’US politics live – latest updatesIt wasn’t supposed to be this way.In conservative Florida, Alex Vindman – a retired army intelligence officer who blew this whistle on Donald Trump in his first term – appeared set to carry the Democratic establishment banner as the party staged a long-shot bid to topple a Republican US senator. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
London flat where boy fell to death could have had more safeguards, inquest told 19. August 2026 (20:51) Aalim Ahmed, five, fell from 15th-floor window at tower block family had asked to be moved out of, court hearsAn inquest into the death of a five-year-old boy who fell from a 15th-floor window has heard that more measures could have been taken to make it safer.Aalim Ahmed, who was autistic, died when he fell from a kitchen window at a residential block in Plaistow, east London. His father, Makail Ahmed, rushed from the top floor temporary social housing flat and discovered his body shortly before 6am on 16 May 2024. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Can Andy Burnham rewire the ‘Treasury brain’ to boost growth? 19. August 2026 (20:46) PM wants to reduce department’s stranglehold on public purse and bring long-term thinking to economic policyAndy Burnham is far from the first prime minister to dream of taming the power of the mighty Treasury.Boris Johnson all but forced the resignation of Sajid Javid by handpicking his team; Margaret Thatcher favoured her economic adviser Alan Walters over Nigel Lawson, prompting the latter’s furious resignation; and Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s power struggle was the stuff of Whitehall legend. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Compulsory GCSE resits in England harm teenagers’ mental wellbeing, study finds 19. August 2026 (20:34) UCL researchers warn repeated exam attempts may dent students’ confidence and raise risk of dropping outForcing teenagers who fail GCSEs into multiple resits has a negative impact on their mental health, according to research to be published as pupils receive their grades on Thursday.The study by academics at University College London (UCL) compared the mental wellbeing of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who failed to reach a grade 4 or equivalent in maths or English GCSEs – and found that only those in England, where resits are mandatory, showed significantly lower wellbeing. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
