US-led drills to end six days early, South Korea says, amid Trump push for Kim Jong-un talks 19. August 2026 (04:18) South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise would end on 21 August at the request of the USSouth Korea’s military has confirmed that joint military drills with the US will be cut short, days after Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back the exercises.In a statement on Wednesday, South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said at the request of the US side, the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise – which began on Monday would end on Friday, six days earlier than originally planned. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Prepare early’: bushfire authorities sound alarm for NT, NSW and Queensland 19. August 2026 (03:00) Effects of global heating in NT worsened by ‘dangerous and fire-promoting buffel grass’, expert saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFire authorities have warned large parts of the Northern Territory are facing heightened fire danger throughout spring, with above average fuel loads leaving much of the territory vulnerable.Low soil moisture has also led to elevated fire risk for parts of New South Wales, including some areas that were badly burned during the black summer fires, and south-east Queensland as an El Niño system continues to strengthen in the country’s south-east. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Erin Patterson appeal live: mushroom murderer challenges convictions over fatal beef wellington lunch 19. August 2026 (02:52) Victorian court of appeal to consider whether triple murder and attempted murder guilty verdicts should be quashedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSequestering argument continuesEdney says the jury should have been sequestered entirely separately from all parties in the trial.If there has been no breach, then where’s the fundamental irregularity?There’s no evidence that that’s occurred here. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democratic socialist Angie Nixon clinches surprise primary win in Florida US Senate race 19. August 2026 (02:26) Nixon bested Alexander Vindman to win Democratic nomination and now faces Republican Ashley Moody in NovemberTrump-backed Byron Donalds wins Republican primary in race to succeed Florida governor DeSantisIn an upset for the Democratic establishment, progressive Angie Nixon won the party’s US Senate primary in Florida, beating former army intelligence officer Alexander Vindman.Nixon, a state representative and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, had significantly less funding going into the primary – with $975,000 to Vindman’s $16.3m at the end of July, according to Florida Politics. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump-backed Byron Donalds to face Democrat David Jolly in race to succeed Florida governor DeSantis 19. August 2026 (02:08) Congressman had pledged to implement president’s agenda if he gained governor’s seatDemocratic socialist Angie Nixon clinches surprise primary win in Florida US Senate raceByron Donalds, a congressman backed by Donald Trump, won the Republican nomination for governor on Tuesday in the race to succeed Ron DeSantis.Donalds, who has represented south-west Florida since 2021, trounced three reasonably prominent Republican rivals, including Jay Collins, DeSantis’s handpicked lieutenant governor. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US senator Jon Ossoff condemns Trump as ‘draft-dodging, crook president’ 19. August 2026 (01:32) Potential presidential hopeful running for re-election in Georgia intensifies White House feud after remarks about ‘Natalie’ drew ire of president and alliesThe Democratic senator Jon Ossoff called Donald Trump a “draft-dodging, crook president” while defending the senator Mark Kelly as a hero during a Tuesday campaign appearance in Georgia, escalating his public feud with the US president.“I don’t think anything illustrates the times more aptly than that the draft-dodging, crook president, who has plunged our nation recklessly into a war he knows not how to end or to win, tried to imprison this man, who embodies American heroism,” Ossoff said while appearing alongside Kelly and his wife, the former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Do not cut benefits for disabled young people, dozens of UK charities urge ministers 19. August 2026 (01:01) More than 40 charities write to Pat McFadden and review head Alan Milburn over fears of stricter eligibility rulesMore than 40 of the UK’s leading charities have warned ministers against imposing tougher benefit sanctions or cuts on disabled young people, as the government considers how to encourage more young people into work.The charities raised concerns that an imminent review of young people and work by Alan Milburn could bring in stricter eligibility rules for keeping disability benefits – or remove them altogether – as part of a wider plan to boost flagging youth job rates. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Poor sleep can cost over-50s nine months of career, study finds 19. August 2026 (00:30) Findings highlight importance of sleep health during middle age, particularly for those with lower socioeconomic statusSleep that is extremely disrupted or that goes on too long could mean a loss of nine months from working life after the age of 50, a study has found.It also found that women with no sleep disturbances had a longer working life from 50 to 68 than their male equivalents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
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)
