Mechanical fault suspected in helicopter crash that killed British newlyweds in Greece 18. August 2026 (13:37) Marie Ebert, Alexander Cromie and their pilot died when their aircraft crashed on island of SifnosGreek police believe a mechanical fault may have caused a helicopter to crash moments before it was due to land on the island of Sifnos, killing a British couple on honeymoon and the pilot.Authorities were focusing on Tuesday on the “strange noise” the aircraft, a privately chartered Bell 206, is reported to have made before falling to the ground and exploding on impact. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Migration has been weaponised’: Italy’s security law criticised after death of Moroccan man in police restraint 18. August 2026 (12:55) Case of Abderrahim Fakir is first in which legal shield giving police greater protection from prosecution has been invokedIf, before 19 July, few people in Italy beyond his family and friends knew who Abderrahim Fakir was, by the late afternoon of that day the final moments of his life were being watched across the country.Video footage widely shared online showed him being handcuffed and forcibly restrained by police on a street in Pilastro, a neighbourhood in the north-east of Bologna. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zelenskyy says Ukraine will respond after 10 killed in overnight Russian attack – Europe live 18. August 2026 (12:08) Ukraine launched over 600 drones at Moscow and surrounding areas overnightSome first pictures from this morning’s earthquakes in Granada are emerging on social media…Andalusian president Juanma Moreno urged residents to maintain “maximum caution” as more seismic movements and aftershocks may happen. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
AFL chief breaks silence over ‘deeply concerning’ Sydney Swans sexual assault allegations 18. August 2026 (12:07) Andrew Dillon says the AFL ‘will consider the broader conduct of the players as more information comes to light’The AFL has declared it is prepared to act over “deeply concerning” sexual assault allegations involving Sydney Swans players.Victorian police on Tuesday confirmed the sexual crimes squad was investigating a reported sexual assault at Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel early on Monday morning. No arrests have been made and no charges have been laid. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
WA police appeal for help to find 10-year-old girl missing from Perth suburbs 18. August 2026 (12:03) Lyndel Ningella was last seen leaving home in Butler on Saturday evening prompting concerns about her safetyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWestern Australia police have appealed for help in finding a 10-year-old girl who went missing from Perth’s outer northern suburbs on Saturday.Lyndel Ningella has not been seen since early Saturday evening when police said the young girl was seen leaving a home in Butler at about 5:45pm on 15 August. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump 2.0 has deleted or altered nearly 400 US datasets, endangering public health, education and more 18. August 2026 (12:00) Health data appears to be most affected by administration’s attempt to wipe findings that don’t align with its priorities, tracker showsA database of federal law enforcement officer misconduct records. A survey measuring physical, sexual and emotional violence against children and youth. Real-time pollution readings collected by air quality monitors from US embassies around the world.These are among the hundreds of federal datasets that the Trump administration has taken down or altered as part of its aggressive campaign to wipe all mentions of data findings that do not align with the administration’s priorities. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Family of missing 18-year-old hiker ‘absolutely devastated’ as search continues in rugged NSW terrain 18. August 2026 (11:51) Lily Hooper has not been seen since leaving for a hike in Nattai national park, south-west of Sydney, on 12 AugustGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe family of missing 18-year-old bushwalker Lily Hooper say they are “absolutely devastated” that she has not been found after a multi-agency search.On Tuesday, search efforts for the teenager continued through the dense tree canopy and rugged terrain of Nattai national park, about 90km south-west of Sydney, for a seventh day. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Disabled people in England to get 24-hour free bus travel – UK politics live 18. August 2026 (11:47) Burnham has announced a range of policies aimed at relieving pressure on financially squeezed households and businessesAfter Labour came into power in July 2024, legislation was passed to renationalise all passenger trains when contractually allowed, a process that is due to conclude by the end of 2027.However, the major “rolling stock” companies (Eversholt, Porterbrook and Angel Trains) – who own and lease carriages and engines – remain privately run. They typically lease rolling stock to the train operating companies who then deploy it on their services.Huge sums of money are being taken out of our railway in profits and dividends by private rolling stock companies. A lot of it ends up in offshore tax havens. We need to keep that money on the track, not send it offshore. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Controversial NDIS bill undergoes ‘substantial’ amendments as Labor and Coalition strike deal 18. August 2026 (11:33) David Pocock says legislation still includes ‘indiscriminate cut’ impacting hundreds of thousands of participants The government’s controversial NDIS bill will undergo “substantial” amendments after Labor and the Coalition struck a deal, with some of the changes attracting heavy criticism from the Greens, the ACT senator David Pocock and the disability community.Sixty-three government amendments across both houses will be introduced as part of backroom deals to pass the bill on Tuesday night, the NDIS ministers, Mark Butler and Jenny McAllister, revealed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Civil service chief got record £500,000 payout after Starmer dismissal 18. August 2026 (11:32) Chris Wormald received unprecedented payment after serving as cabinet secretary for just 14 monthsThe former head of the civil service Chris Wormald received a record payout, in the region of £500,000, when he was forced out of the top job in Whitehall by Keir Starmer, it has emerged.The unprecedented payment was made after Wormald served just 14 months in the role of cabinet secretary before being replaced by Antonia Romeo. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
