The Guardian

Alaska athlete uses bear spray to fend off animal attack: ‘nightmare come to life’

Klaire Rhodes was attacked by a brown bear in state park but spray helped her escape with ‘relatively minor injuries’An Alaska marathon athlete used a repellant spray to fend off an attacking bear that officials say injured her while she ran on a popular trail recently – an encounter that she has since described as “a nightmare come to life”.The particularly harrowing episode unfolded on 13 August, when a woman who later identified herself online as marathon winner Klaire Rhodes, 28, was running

general  Aug 19, 2026

BBC World

US charges 17 Iranians over 'massive' cyber theft campaign

Many of the alleged cyber attacks were carried out for the Iranian government, the Department of Justice says.

general  Aug 19, 2026

NY Times World

Ukraine’s Ex-Defense Minister Calls for Election, Cementing Break With Zelensky

Mykhailo Fedorov, a popular young leader who was fired last month, said Russia should not be allowed to dictate when Ukrainians can choose their next government.

general  Aug 19, 2026

NY Times World

Kyiv’s Dormition Cathedral is Revived after Russian Drone Strike

Volunteers and priests rallied to clean up Kyiv’s Dormition Cathedral, still smelling of smoke from a massive blaze, for an anniversary celebration.

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Labour ‘could lose up to 50 seats’ to Greens if new drilling in North Sea approved

Greens say analysis shows government failure to take bold climate action could lead to big gains for party at electionUK politics live – latest updatesLabour could lose dozens of seats to the Green party if the government allows new drilling in the North Sea, according to internal research shared with the Guardian.Green party analysis suggests up to 50 Labour MPs – including key Andy Burnham ally Louise Haigh – could lose their seats at the next election if the government fails to make urgent cl

general  Aug 19, 2026

NY Times World

Chinese Comic Investigated After Singing a Riff of a Patriotic Song

Guo Degang, one of the country’s best-known comedians, was reported to the authorities, as the arts continue to be a focus for ideological crackdowns.

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Activist forced out of US after criticising Trump-aligned Colombian politician

Beto Coral held up banners in Florida warning fellow Colombians to not vote for Abelardo de la EspriellaIn the week before Colombia’s presidential election, Beto Coral, a well-known activist living in the United States, travelled to Florida to persuade fellow Colombians not to vote for the far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella.Coral held banners outside polling stations in Miami warning that the millionaire lawyer, whose candidacy was endorsed by Donald Trump, would “help deport all of yo

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and Red Driving School investigated over hidden ticket fees

UK competition watchdog investigation is part of broader clampdown on illegal ‘drip pricing’Business live – latest updatesThe UK’s competition watchdog has launched investigations into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and Red Driving School over concerns that all three companies displayed misleadingly low prices to their customers.The Competition and Markets Authority’s investigations are part of a broader clampdown on “drip pricing”, an illegal practice that makes a product appear cheaper by not incl

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Rising inflation underlines scale of Andy Burnham’s cost of living challenge

PM’s plan to shield households from more pressure risks being overwhelmed by wider price risesUK inflation rises to 2.9%Business live – latest updatesJuly’s increase in inflation, to 2.9%, is likely to be the first of several, underlining the challenge facing Andy Burnham in shielding consumers from a fresh cost of living squeeze this autumn.Rising energy bills, as an increase in Ofgem’s quarterly price cap came into force, were the main driver of the jump in inflation, from 2.6% in June. Contin

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Virgin Australia apologises to disability advocate removed from flight over wheelchair motor

Shane Hryhorec’s viral video showing the interaction with flight staff has already garnered 16 million viewsVirgin Australia has apologised to a disability advocate who said he was “humiliated” by his removal from a flight over his wheelchair motor.The airline called Shane Hryhorec on Wednesday afternoon to offer an apology, two days after the Adelaide-based man published a viral video showing the incident on board a flight from Sydney. Continue reading...

general  Aug 19, 2026

BBC World

Mushroom murderer trial undermined by 'catastrophic' hotel mix-up, court told

Erin Patterson's defence team appeal against her conviction for killing relatives with a beef Wellington laced with toxic mushrooms.

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Burnham pledges to get thousands of rough sleepers off streets for Christmas – UK politics live

PM promises to mount ‘Covid-style campaign’ to get homeless people off streets in winter Hello and welcome to the UK politics live blog.Andy Burnham has pledged to work to “get everyone in for Christmas” as he continues to build on his policy to end rough sleeping.We see people bedded down in doorways and sat outside stations, carrying their lives in rucksacks and sleeping bags on their backs. And I think most people have the same reaction: this isn’t right.It shouldn’t be happening here. But we

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Fresh Ukraine corruption probe adds to pressure on Zelenskyy ahead of key vote – Europe live

Investigation into unnamed lawmakers comes hours before parliament is due to to vote on successor to Mykhailo Fedorov as he calls for electionsUkraine’s anti-corruption agencies opened an investigation into unnamed lawmakers and presidential advisers just hours before a key vote in parliament, adding to pressure on president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.The Nabu and Sapo agencies released no further details, Reuters noted, but their announcement comes just hours before the Ukrainian parliament is due to

general  Aug 19, 2026

NY Times World

Iran war: Trump tries economic pressure — again

Iran has survived decades of sanctions. Faced with more, it is likely to escalate rather than surrender, analysts said.

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

David Shrigley London exhibition will find the funny side of old masters

Dulwich Picture Gallery show to feature British artist’s work hung next to paintings by Dutch and Flemish greatsThe contemporary UK artist David Shrigley will apply his trademark arch humour and distinctive artistic practice “in dialogue” with old masters of Dutch and Flemish painting in a major new solo exhibition in London.The celebrated visual artist will explore the 17th-century paintings with his own new works “responding to” and hung alongside original masterpieces by artists including Jan

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Shares in humanoid robot firm Unitree surge 600% on Chinese stock market debut

Company’s robots have gained global fame via videos of them performing martial arts and as dancers for pop starsUnitree, the world’s biggest humanoid robot maker, has made a spectacular entry on to China’s stock market, with its shares surging by more than 600%.The Chinese company’s robots have gained global fame via viral videos of them performing martial arts, running at Olympic speeds and serving as backup dancers for pop stars. Continue reading...

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Peta Murphy called for gambling reform three years ago. Her husband says Labor’s changes fall ‘well short’

The government’s gambling ad changes are expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday night or Thursday morning with the Coalition’s supportThe husband of late Labor MP, Peta Murphy, said the government’s gambling reform “falls well short” of what she called for in 2023, lamenting that its shortcomings were due to the “considerable lobbying power” of the wagering, sporting and media industries.Rod Glover said he had “mixed emotions” about Labor’s reforms which are expected to pass parliament by Thur

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican Dan Sullivan lead in Alaska primary for US Senate – US politics live

Incumbent Sullivan is running for third term while Peltola is fighting to flip seat and aid Democrats retake control of CongressThe Guardian’s Chris Stein has more on the Alaska primary:Dan J Sullivan is a retired schoolteacher and US Forest Service employee living in the town of Petersburg in south-eastern Alaska, who is running as a Republican for the US Senate. Dan S Sullivan is a Republican US senator, who has represented Alaska since 2015.Both candidates will appear on the ballot, one name

general  Aug 19, 2026

BBC World

Alleged sexual assault by local official and businessman sparks outrage in China

Both men are arrested after the alleged assault on a woman at a karaoke bar during a business event.

general  Aug 19, 2026

The Guardian

Labor thinks it can win elections defending super. For Hanson, it’s just another way to deprive Taylor of political oxygen

Despite leading in the polls, Hanson is allowed to offer thought bubbles instead of actual policyFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAll sides of politics are feeling the heat from Pauline Hanson.On Tuesday, the One Nation leader pulled the rug out from under the Coalition by announcing a policy to slash tobacco excise by 75%, to deal with surging illegal sales. The policy was remarkably similar to one Liberals and Nati

general  Aug 19, 2026