Ulez led to better lung size and function among London children, study finds 19. August 2026 (00:30) Researchers find capacity stunted by pollution was restored after introduction of ultra-low emission zoneChildren’s lungs grew bigger and stronger after the most polluting vehicles were restricted from entering London, a study has found.Examinations of London schoolchildren before and after the introduction of the city’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) found a restoration of lung capacity that had been stunted by exposure to pollution. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukraine’s dismissed defence minister calls for wartime presidential election 19. August 2026 (00:21) Mykhailo Fedorov’s appeal is most direct challenge to Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russian invasion in 2022Ukraine’s recently dismissed former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called for a wartime presidential election in the most direct political challenge to Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.The politician, whose abrupt sacking last month triggered a wave of protests, said that Ukraine had to “restore a full democratic process even amid a prolonged war” in a video address released online late on Tuesday evening. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
GPs’ advice service is causing cancer diagnoses to be missed, inquiry finds 19. August 2026 (00:10) Advice and guidance services for doctors in England found to be creating risk of missed or late detection of illnessCancer diagnoses have been missed or delayed because of a system designed for GPs to seek specialist advice before referring patients to hospital, according to an investigation.The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) identified patient risks linked to how advice and guidance (A+G) services have been implemented across England. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Harvard to pay $53m over theft and sale of human remains from medical school 18. August 2026 (23:44) Cedric Lodge, 58, sentenced in December to eight years in prison for stealing and selling body parts in national schemeHarvard University has agreed to pay a $53m settlement to resolve civil lawsuits stemming from the illegal theft and sale of human remains that had been donated to its medical school for scientific research.A former Harvard medical school morgue manager, Cedric Lodge, 58, was sentenced in December last year to eight years in prison after he had pleaded guilty in May to stealing and selling human body parts in a nationwide scheme. Prosecutors said this had involved the theft and sale of organs, skin, brains and dissected heads from cadavers donated to Harvard from 2018 through at least March 2020. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Second major fire at south London recycling centre in under three months 18. August 2026 (23:32) Fifteen fire engines tackling blaze at Landmann Way in Deptford involving 50 tonnes of household wasteFifteen fire engines and about 100 firefighters are tackling a blaze in a south-east London recycling plant for the second time this summer.London fire brigade said the blaze on Landmann Way in Deptford involves about 50 tonnes of household waste stored at a recycling facility. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham launches ‘national drive’ to get rough sleepers off streets by Christmas 18. August 2026 (23:30) Prime minister urges local leaders to act as homelessness campaigners welcome move but say more needs to be doneI won’t abandon anyone to sleep rough on our streets. That’s my £442m promiseAndy Burnham has urged local leaders to offer all rough sleepers in England a route off the streets by Christmas, as he pledges another £100m to end street homelessness.Arguing in the Guardian that rough sleeping has become so common it now “feels like part of the scenery”, Burnham promised he would mount a Covid-style campaign to get everyone off the streets this winter. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Three dead after family get into difficulty in water off Shoreham-by-Sea 18. August 2026 (22:58) A man, woman and teenage girl have died, while a younger girl is in a critical condition, say Sussex policeA couple and their teenage daughter have died after getting into difficulty in the sea off the West Sussex coast, police said on Tuesday.A man, a woman and a teenage girl died after the incident in Shoreham-by-Sea, the chief superintendent of Sussex police, James Collis, said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man accused of attacking duo at New York City synagogue charged with federal hate crimes 18. August 2026 (22:25) Larry Montes, already facing state charges, allegedly attacked 63-year-old woman and security guard on FridayThe man accused of attacking a woman and security guard at a New York City synagogue during Shabbat services Friday has been charged with hate crimes in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors said.Larry Montes, who is already facing state-level hate crime charges, allegedly struck a 63-year-old woman as security was trying to boot him from Central synagogue. He allegedly spat at, and head-butted, a security team member and damaged synagogue property, authorities said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dies aged 77 18. August 2026 (22:20) Tributes paid to ‘great friend and collaborator’ who played with band for 56 years and died in hospice care in TexasThe ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has died at the age of 77.A spokesperson for the band confirmed that Beard died on 17 August in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas. His family were by his side. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump administration to rescind rule protecting old growth forests 18. August 2026 (20:51) Almost 45m acres of national forests could be potentially opened to road construction, drilling and loggingThe Trump administration said on Tuesday it plans to rescind the “roadless rule” that has protected old growth forests in the US for 25 years, potentially opening up almost 45m acres of national forests to road construction, drilling and logging.Conservationists had feared the announcement was coming since last summer after Brooke Rollins, Trump’s secretary of agriculture, targeted a rule brought in by Bill Clinton’s administration, describing it as “overly restrictive” and an “absurd obstacle” to development. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
