Three dead after family get into difficulty in water off Shoreham-by-Sea

• Tensions remain high across the Middle East as the conflict between Iran, the United States, and their respective regional allies remains unresolved. • Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran has not yet made a decision regarding the resumption of formal negotiations with Washington.

• Tensions are escalating in the Middle East as Iran threatens a new offensive following the expiration of its Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S., while the U.N. warns of an "alarming" surge in violence due to increased Israeli attacks on Lebanon. • Diplomatic efforts continue as Jared Kushner and Benjamin Netanyahu discuss a U.S.-backed 15-point plan for Gaza, though internal Israeli friction persists with Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanding a "kill quota."

• UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported an alarming intensification of violence in southern Lebanon over the weekend of August 16-17, 2026. • The surge in hostilities has resulted in significant civilian casualties on the Lebanese side, according to humanitarian and peacekeeping officials.

• Global oil markets are shifting their expectations to account for a potentially prolonged crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, rather than a brief geopolitical shock. • Analysts are evaluating whether persistent disruptions in this critical shipping lane could sustain elevated oil prices through 2027.

• Following a January 2026 attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro, Donald Trump has announced plans for military intervention in Mexico. • The report, authored by Prof Michel Chossudovsky on August 18, 2026, alleges a connection between Trump's policies and drug cartel activities.

• The author argues that the policy of isolating the Taliban has failed, resulting in severe humanitarian crises and increased security risks. • A proposed "pragmatic engagement" framework suggests opening diplomatic channels to address urgent stability and human rights issues without granting formal recognition.

Advice and guidance services for doctors in England found to be creating risk of missed or late detection of illnessCancer diagnoses have been missed or delayed because of a system designed for GPs to seek specialist advice before referring patients to hospital, according to an investigation.The Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) identified patient risks linked to how advice and guidance (A+G) services have been implemented across England. Continue reading...

National Trust for Historic Preservation filing comes after president made emergency bid for construction to continueA historic preservation group that sued to block construction of Donald Trump’s White House ballroom urged the US supreme court on Tuesday to suspend the project while it considers whether the work can continue.The National Trust for Historic Preservation filed its request less than a week after the Trump administration asked the nation’s highest court to allow the White House to continue construction on its $400m ballroom project during the appeals process. Continue reading...

Cedric Lodge, 58, sentenced in December to eight years in prison for stealing and selling body parts in national schemeHarvard University has agreed to pay a $53m settlement to resolve civil lawsuits stemming from the illegal theft and sale of human remains that had been donated to its medical school for scientific research.A former Harvard medical school morgue manager, Cedric Lodge, 58, was sentenced in December last year to eight years in prison after he had pleaded guilty in May to stealing and selling human body parts in a nationwide scheme. Prosecutors said this had involved the theft and sale of organs, skin, brains and dissected heads from cadavers donated to Harvard from 2018 through at least March 2020. Continue reading...

Fifteen fire engines tackling blaze at Landmann Way in Deptford involving 50 tonnes of household wasteFifteen fire engines and about 100 firefighters are tackling a waste fire in south-east London.London fire brigade said the blaze on Landmann Way in Deptford involves about 50 tonnes of household waste stored at a recycling facility. Continue reading...

Prime minister urges local leaders to act as homelessness campaigners welcome move but say more needs to be doneI won’t abandon anyone to sleep rough on our streets. That’s my £442m promiseAndy Burnham has urged local leaders to offer all rough sleepers in England a route off the streets by Christmas, as he pledges another £100m to end street homelessness.Arguing in the Guardian that rough sleeping has become so common it now “feels like part of the scenery”, Burnham promised he would mount a Covid-style campaign to get everyone off the streets this winter. Continue reading...