UK inflation rises to 2.9% as Iran war fuels living costs squeeze 19. August 2026 (08:01) Higher energy costs push up CPI but jobs slowdown could deter Bank of England from raising interest ratesBusiness live – latest updatesUK inflation rose to 2.9% in July as the impact of the Iran war on energy prices triggered a renewed cost of living squeeze for British households.Underscoring the challenge for Andy Burnham’s government to give “breathing space” to hard-pressed consumers, the Office for National Statistics said inflation rose from 2.6% in June. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
In cutting joint drills, Trump has given South Korea’s president what he wants. So why does Seoul look so uneasy? 19. August 2026 (07:40) President Lee Jae Myung has long pushed for stronger homegrown defences, yet Donald Trump’s move has sparked alarm in some quartersAt their first summit, in August last year, South Korean president Lee Jae Myung told Donald Trump: “If you, Mr President, become the peacemaker, then I will assist you as the pacemaker.”The remark at the Oval Office captured the thrust of Lee’s approach to the North: dial down the military posturing and make repeated peace overtures to revive dialogue, even if they have been consistently rejected by Pyongyang largely over Seoul’s insistence on denuclearisation. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Catholic schools chief denies wiping critical evidence after performing factory reset on phone, Icac hears 19. August 2026 (07:36) Dallas McInerney tells inquiry he wiped data from his devices over the weekend after receiving a security warning from his bankFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW has denied he performed a factory reset on a work phone and iPad to wipe critical evidence for an investigation into allegations of corruption in the New South Wales Liberals, an inquiry has heard.On Wednesday, Dallas McInerney revealed he had performed the factory reset over the weekend after giving evidence to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) last week. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK relies on heat-stressed countries for fruit and veg it could grow itself – report 19. August 2026 (07:00) Food Foundation sounds alarm over supply risks and price shocks as about 40% of Britain’s food is importedThe UK is vulnerable to food price shocks because of its dependence on imports of fruit and vegetable from countries even more exposed to the climate crisis, researchers say.Much of Britain has sweltered under a record five heatwaves this year and endured drought and wildfires, with the hot, dry conditions damaging crops and reducing yields of domestic produce. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
John Irvin, British film-maker who directed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, dies aged 86 19. August 2026 (06:31) The director’s BBC hit opened the door to Hollywood action films including Hamburger Hill, The Dogs of War and Raw DealJohn Irvin, the British film-maker who directed the Bafta-winning BBC miniseries Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, as well as films including Hamburger Hill, The Dogs of War and Raw Deal, has died aged 86.Irvin died “peacefully at home” on 11 August, surrounded by his family, his producer Claire Evans confirmed to the Guardian. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Camilla found it ‘difficult’ keeping king’s cancer diagnosis private before announcement 19. August 2026 (06:01) In video celebrating Maggie’s cancer charity, queen recalls ‘longing to let it out’ on visit to centre in 2024The queen has spoken for the first time of how difficult she found it to keep King Charles’s cancer a secret before it was announced publicly.Camilla found herself “longing to let it out” during an official visit to a Maggie’s cancer support centre in 2024, after Charles had received his diagnosis but before the news was released. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Tourists on pastry quest overrun scenic spot in Italian mountains 19. August 2026 (06:00) Alpine communities hit out after influencer videos draw huge queues to Friedrich August refuge in DolomitesHundreds of people overwhelmed a mountain hut in the Italian Dolomites, not for the panoramic views but in search of a creamy pastry, reigniting the debate about social-media-driven tourism.The visitors ventured en masse to the Friedrich August refuge – perched at 2,300 metres (7,500ft) above sea level, between Col Rodella and Passo Sella in Val di Fassa – some reportedly waking up at dawn or camping overnight, just to ensure they could buy a freshly baked krapfen, a traditional German pastry similar to a doughnut, before they ran out. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump hits pause on Canada tariffs threat, and hints at revival of Keystone XL oil pipeline project 19. August 2026 (05:47) US president delays 50% tariffs by three days, and says contentious oil project ‘may be awoken from the grave’Canada has temporarily avoided a bruising 50% US tariff, reaching a Tuesday-evening agreement with Trump administration officials hours before a hike that would have affected $20bn worth of goods was set to take effect.Donald Trump posted late on Tuesday on social media that he had paused the tariffs for three days “based on the fact that Canada and the USA, subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Erin Patterson argues mushroom murder convictions should be quashed due to ‘catastrophic’ failure of justice 19. August 2026 (05:37) Allowing jurors to stay in same hotel as police and prosecution denied Patterson a fair trial, lawyers tell Victorian court of appealLawyers for Erin Patterson argue that allowing jurors to stay in the same hotel as police and the prosecution while they deliberated over their verdicts in the triple murder trial represented a “catastrophic” failure of the justice system.On Wednesday, three judges of Victoria’s highest court started hearing two appeals – by Patterson herself and the state’s director of public prosecutions (DPP) – into the conviction and sentence in the case. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
First Nations MP resigns from NT parliament, accusing government of passing laws which are ‘dehumanising, oppressing and destroying’ Indigenous people 19. August 2026 (04:46) Yolngu independent Yiŋiya Guyula accused the CLP of ‘contributing to the breakdown of our culture and people, in what is becoming a slow genocide’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA First Nations MP from the Northern Territory has resigned from parliament, accusing the ruling Country Liberal party of introducing laws that are “dehumanising, oppressing and destroying our communities and our people”, and contributing to a breakdown of culture that he says is “becoming a slow genocide”.Yiŋiya Guyula, a Yolngu man from the Djambarrpuyŋu clan in east Arnhem Land, was elected as the independent member for Nhulunbuy, now known as Mulka, in 2016. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
