Storm Lala damages bridges and more than 100 homes on Hawaii’s Big Island 17. August 2026 (15:59) Lala was downgraded from hurricane to tropical storm Sunday, but could become a hurricane again by WednesdayCleanup efforts started on Hawaii after Hurricane Lala rolled past the Big Island and dumped heavy rain across the US Pacific state.Lala was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it grazed the islands, but it brought heavy rains and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Teenager charged with murder after mass shooting at Kentucky park 17. August 2026 (14:55) Sixteen-year-old dead and four others wounded including two children at community celebration in LexingtonAuthorities in Kentucky charged an 18-year-old man with murder and several counts of assault after a shooting in Lexington park left a teenager dead and four others injured – one of multiple similar cases around the US over the weekend.Jametrius Griffin was arrested less than 24 hours after Saturday night’s mass shooting at Charles Young Park in the city’s downtown. According to the Lexington police department, officers responded to reports of gunfire in the park at about 7pm and found five people shot, including two adults, a 14-year-old and a four-year-old. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Donald Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it ‘gets in the way’ of ending Iran war 17. August 2026 (14:40) President issues threat to ‘bomb the shit out of them’ after previously threatening Gulf ally in MayDonald Trump has again threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of his effort to end the US-Israel war on Iran.The US president delivered the threat of Monday as he struggles to draw the conflict to a conclusion, almost six months after it was launched. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Support for Jason Arday’s family shows ‘Britain still cares’, says Windrush campaigner 17. August 2026 (14:02) Crowdfund passes £150,000, while Cambridge chancellor criticises ‘racist feeding frenzy’ around academic’s deathA Windrush campaigner who launched a fundraiser for Jason Arday’s family has said the outpouring of support shows “Britain still cares”.Arday, who was found dead on Friday, had resigned the previous week from his post as professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge after allegations of plagiarism were made against him. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alzheimer’s research is latest casualty in Trump administration war against ‘DEI’ 17. August 2026 (14:00) Grant cancellations at leading research institutions appear to target study of impacts of racism on brain healthA new round of scientific grant cancellations has hit brain health and Alzheimer’s disease research at two leading research institutions, Emory University and the University of Pittsburgh.The latest cancellations are the Trump administration’s most recent effort to remove disfavored topics from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) $47bn scientific portfolio – and appear to target the study of the impacts of racism. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Taylor demands Albanese repeal ‘cruel tax’ in return for NDIS bill support 17. August 2026 (12:51) Coalition leader tells Anthony Albanese that delaying change to budget measure is ‘unconscionable’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAngus Taylor says the Coalition will only support the Albanese government’s proposed overhaul of the NDIS if it first removes the “widow tax” loophole from its changes to taxing investment properties.The warning comes as the Albanese government hopes to land a deal with the opposition this week in order to pass the bill in the Senate after the Greens ruled out supporting changes to the scheme that are expected to boost the federal budget’s bottom line by $37.8bn over four years. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senior Russian banker fired after scathing speech on wartime economy 17. August 2026 (12:29) Andrei Klepach of VEB said Russia’s economy was falling behind China, US and ‘in some respects Ukraine’Europe live – latest updatesThe chief economist at Russia’s second-largest bank has been fired after a series of critical comments about the state of the economy, including warnings that Moscow would not win a prolonged economic war with Ukraine.Andrei Klepach, who had served in the role at the state-controlled development bank VEB since 2014, was fired days after Russian media reported on a scathing speech he had delivered to fellow economists in May. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Rhossi, a rare sea turtle, recovers after 5,000-mile trek from Wales to Texas 17. August 2026 (12:00) Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, near death on Welsh beach in 2023, is thriving in Houston despite lingering pneumoniaA Kemp’s ridley sea turtle native to the Gulf of Mexico is largely thriving after he was found nearly dead on a beach in Wales in late 2023, nursed back to health and then flown to Houston recently to continue recovering – though scans revealed signs that the creature has been grappling with lingering pneumonia, according to his caretakers.Rhossi’s condition was detailed in a blogpost on Friday from the Houston zoo, whose veterinary team was tasked with caring for the creature – believed to be no older than age four – and giving him the best chance possible at an eventual, successful return to the wild. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Belgium tackles enormous wildfire as French PM booed on visit to affected region – Europe live 17. August 2026 (11:48) Wildfire thought to be largest in Belgium’s history creeps closer to German border prompting evacuationsMeanwhile, the head of the Belgian firefighters, Marc Gilbert, told Belgian media that the country needed more resources to be ready to fight major fires.In comments reported by VRT and Nieuwsblad, he called for urgent recruitment to the service and for greater integration of firefighting fleet across the EU. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Housebuilding near train stations to get ‘default yes’ under new planning changes – UK politics live 17. August 2026 (11:46) Thousands more houses could be built near transport hubs including on green belt sitesLoosening of planning rules in England to allow more new homes near stationsThe shadow housing secretary, James Cleverly, has told Sky News that the loosening of planning rules in England – that will allow more new homes to be built near stations – are a “smokescreen to disguise the fact that they (Labour) have catastrophically failed to get stuff built”.Cleverly said “housebuilding in the UK has collapsed” in part because Labour made the process “prohibitively expensive”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
