The Guardian

Redistricting scrambles Florida primary as Alaska awaits Dan Sullivan v Dan Sullivan – US politics live

Today’s contests will help shape the fiercely contested midterms this fall to determine control of CongressSign up for the US Breaking News emailThe White House launched a personal attack against a CNN reporter on Monday with a social media post that mentioned her children and accused her of asking a “disgusting and inhumane question”.A White House post targeted Kristen Holmes, a senior White House correspondent for the network, after she asked Donald Trump to respond to a widely shared comment

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

Mechanical fault suspected in helicopter crash that killed British newlyweds in Greece

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...

general  Aug 18, 2026

WSJ World News

German Investor Confidence Rises for Fourth Straight Month

Sentiment climbed again on a bumper earnings season, while the economy overcomes some of the shock of the war in Iran.

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

‘Picky bits’ on the menu as British shoppers snap up picnic food in heatwave

Consumers also turn to supermarket deals to save money, helping slow grocery price inflationBusiness live – latest updatesShopping baskets took on a decidedly summery complexion during last month’s heatwaves as consumers filled up on a British picnic staple: picky bits, and grocery inflation slowed.Spending rose on foods such as potato salad, olives and coleslaw, while ice-cream sales also increased, according to new data from Worldpanel by Numerator, a market research company. Continue reading.

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

AFL chief breaks silence over ‘deeply concerning’ Sydney Swans sexual assault allegations

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...

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

WA police appeal for help to find 10-year-old girl missing from Perth suburbs

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...

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

Trump 2.0 has deleted or altered nearly 400 US datasets, endangering public health, education and more

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

general  Aug 18, 2026

NY Times World

How Israel’s Financial Chokehold Is Stifling the West Bank Economy

Intensifying restrictions have hit every part of the territory’s dealings, spurring worries about whether the Palestinian Authority can remain solvent.

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

Civil service chief got record £500,000 payout after Starmer dismissal

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...

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

England’s children’s commissioner says Prevent failing to help young people ‘fixated with violence’

Report by Rachel de Souza finds 71% of children referred to UK anti-terror programme do not have a clear ideologyThe children’s commissioner for England has warned of a group of children “intoxicated by extremism” who need help the UK government’s anti-terror programme cannot provide.Referrals to Prevent – the programme designed to safeguard vulnerable people from being radicalised or drawn into extremism – involving children have risen in the past decade, from 2,918 in 2016-17 to 4,715 in 2024-

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

Controversial NDIS bill undergoes ‘substantial’ amendments as Labor and Coalition strike deal

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, th

general  Aug 18, 2026

NY Times World

Childhood Friends, Adopted From India, Discover They’re Sisters

Meena Geltink and Minal Tijssen were adopted from India by families in the Netherlands and grew up less than 100 miles apart.

general  Aug 18, 2026

NY Times World

Six Years in Provence: An Ancient Castle and a Feud Over a Troublesome Bridge

In a picturesque village, the mayor closed a road, setting off a storm with residents and the owners of a castle that once belonged to his family.

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

Top Democrats tussle in Florida primary but progressive liberalism not on menu

Politics that worked for Democratic candidates in New York, Minnesota, Michigan won’t cut it in red Florida, analysts sayIf primary elections elsewhere this summer were tussles between progressives and moderates for the direction of the Democratic party’s political future, Tuesday’s contests in Florida could not be more different.In a former swing state that has in recent years become reliably red, moderate Democratic candidates Alex Vindman and David Jolly are heavily favored to become the part

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

Virginia teacher and firefighters feud over whether a python started schoolhouse fire

Authorities blamed Nanner for knocking over a heat fixture, but Brittany Jacobs contends it was trying to escape blazeThe snake didn’t start the fire. So says a Virginia science teacher who owns a python that was found outside its enclosure in a middle school classroom that caught fire recently.Authorities, meanwhile, have publicly blamed the fire on the snake, named Nanner, alleging the python knocked over a heat fixture in her owner’s classroom, igniting a blaze that caused damage at Bedford c

general  Aug 18, 2026

NY Times World

A Mother’s Quest to Rescue Her Son From Russian-Occupied Ukraine

They made a risky bid to reunite after three years of separation, illness and deprivation — the kind of ordeal suffered by many thousands of families torn apart by the war in eastern Ukraine.

general  Aug 18, 2026

Washington Post World

Russians pull billions from banks, fearing Kremlin will seize deposits for war

Russians are withdrawing billions, causing liquidity problems for banks and undermining the Kremlin’s ability to issue bonds to finance the fight in Ukraine.

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley tightens hold on Hugo Boss

Frasers Group increases stake in German fashion house to 48%, after buying Harvey Nichols chain last weekThe retail billionaire Mike Ashley has given the latest indication that his summer shopping spree may be far from over, after he increased his stake in the luxury giant Hugo Boss to nearly half. Ashley’s Frasers Group, which last week bought Harvey Nichols department stores for a reported £40m, increased its shareholding in the German fashion house to 48%, falling short of taking full contro

general  Aug 18, 2026

BBC World

Hayden Panettiere's ex Wladimir Klitschko says family in 'profound shock and grief'

The former heavyweight boxing champion shares a child with the Heroes actress, who died on Sunday.

general  Aug 18, 2026

The Guardian

Family of missing 18-year-old hiker ‘absolutely devastated’ as search continues in rugged NSW terrain

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 hasn’t 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

general  Aug 18, 2026