Scots College trio who allegedly sexually assaulted teen girl have faced ‘repercussions’, judge says 25. August 2026 (05:25) Three boys, two aged 14 and one aged 13, on bail and yet to enter a plea after alleged assault in Sydney’s eastFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThree teenage boys from a prestigious Sydney private school who allegedly raped a 14-year-old girl in an alleyway in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have faced court for the first time.On Tuesday the three boys, two aged 14 and one 13, all pupils at Sydney’s Scots College, had their matter heard in Surry Hills children’s court but remained outside the courtroom. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump administration plans to revoke 200,000 visas of asylum seekers 25. August 2026 (03:45) The state department will revoke B1 and B2 visas issued between 2016 and 2026, whose holders have sought or are now seeking asylumDonald Trump’s administration said on Monday it planned to revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have applied for or are currently seeking asylum status in the US, marking its latest step in a sweeping immigration crackdown.A state department spokesperson said it was coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security “to identify and revoke the non-immigrant visas of foreigners who have come to the United States claiming to be short-term visitors, but then file for asylum to stay here permanently”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Japan enlists 1,800 people to drag a 360-tonne castle keep using ropes and rollers 25. August 2026 (03:10) After repairs to Hirosaki Castle in Aomori prefecture, officials employed a technique known as hikiya to move the structure more than two metresTo chants of “so-re, so-re”, about 1,800 people came together in northern Japan over the weekend to pull a 360-tonne castle keep a little more than two metres closer to its original resting place as part of ongoing renovations.The keep – a fortified tower within a castle – had to be moved to repair a wall that was damaged in a major earthquake. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella announces immigration crackdown 25. August 2026 (02:34) Far-right leader echoes ally Donald Trump and says operations to ‘track down illegal immigrants’ should begin this week, amid earthquake aftermathColombia’s far-right president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has announced a crackdown on immigrants, ordering authorities to detain and deport people who are in the country irregularly or have committed crimes.In office for just over two weeks, the millionaire former lawyer made the announcement on Sunday as the country continued to grapple with the aftermath of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake on 10 August that killed more than 300 people and destroyed more than 30,000 homes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Massachusetts woman suspected of killing police officer husband found dead 25. August 2026 (01:56) Karen Solomon had been missing for six days after her husband Kurt Solomon was found dead at their homeA mental health advocate suspected of killing her police officer husband was found dead on Monday, six days after she disappeared from her Massachusetts home, authorities said.Karen Solomon, an advocate who called for improvements and greater awareness of police mental health issues, had disappeared after Worcester police officer Kurt Solomon was found dead at their home just before 5.30am on 18 August. Officials had named Karen Solomon a suspect and said she was believed to be armed. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Immense drop-off’ in support contributing to care leaver deaths in England, review says 25. August 2026 (01:01) Death rate three to four times higher than among general population blamed on isolation of those leaving care‘He was left on his own’: the care-leaver lives lost to a system that abandons them at 18Profound isolation contributed to the deaths of more than 100 care leavers in England in a year, with a dramatic drop-off in support from social services at 18 leading to catastrophic consequences, a review has found.A government-commissioned report into the early deaths of young people who left care described the problem as a national tragedy and said many were left on their own “at the height of vulnerability” before they died. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lindsay Clancy trial: psychologist says he doubts claim she was hallucinating 25. August 2026 (01:00) Dr Kirk Heilbrun says he believes Clancy took children’s lives so they wouldn’t ‘suffer’ after she killed herselfWith just days to go before the murder trial for Lindsay Clancy concludes, a forensic psychologist called by the prosecution testified on Monday that he did not believe she was experiencing acute psychosis when she killed her three children.Kirk Heilbrun, who reportedly performed psychiatric tests on Clancy in April, told the court that he questioned her claims that a hallucinated voice commanded her to commit the act, and that he believed she took their lives so they wouldn’t “suffer” after she killed herself. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US supreme court rules Trump can proceed with crackdown on mail-in voting 24. August 2026 (23:53) Justices’ ruling comes after lower courts had blocked president’s election order ahead of November midtermsThe US supreme court has sided with Donald Trump in his effort to crack down on mail-in voting, though it remains unclear if his administration can take action ahead of the midterm elections in November.Justices on the court voted 6-3 along ideological lines to lift an injunction from June that a judge in Massachusetts placed on an executive order issued by the president. But a second injunction remains in place and the ruling leaves room for legal challenges. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US strikes a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing 2 people in first attack in months 24. August 2026 (23:40) US Southern Command has struck another vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two accused of trafficking drugsThe US military has launched a deadly strike on a vessel in the Pacific Ocean, killing two people accused of drug trafficking.On Monday, US Southern Command (SouthCom) announced it “executed a lethal kinetic strike on a low-profile vessel operating along established narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham backtracks on spending housing fund only on building social homes 24. August 2026 (23:30) About 40% of £10bn from Affordable Homes Programme will now go on types of housing such as sheltered and shared ownershipAndy Burnham has backtracked on his proposal to rip up the government’s housing plans and boost social home building.Ministers laid out plans on Monday to spend an initial £10bn from the 10-year Affordable Homes Programme on a mix of subsidised housing types in England, in line with the Starmer government’s policy. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
