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·20 August 2026 · 20:09 UTCBreaking

Missing hiker Lily Hooper found dead after eight days; family mistakenly told she was alive, prompting police apology and investigations

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon apologized for the miscommunication, saying it was 'born out of elation that Lily had been found.' Her father Jim had brought her guitar and Tim Tams to the search, vowing he would never give up.

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 19:53 UTCBreaking

Lindsay Clancy murder trial in Massachusetts draws 300 supporters, many women, who say 'nobody takes us seriously'

The defense argues Clancy suffered from postpartum psychosis, a rare condition affecting one to two per 1,000 women, and her lawyer says she had repeatedly sought help. A chaplain testified Clancy said 'I'm so glad my children are safe' after the killings.

·20 August 2026 · 19:53 UTCBreaking

Ecuadorian designer Stephany Hollihan and Telemundo executive José Alberto Suárez among seven killed in Kenya helicopter crash; investigation underway

The crash occurred in Samburu County near Mount Ololokwe, with the helicopter operated by Lady Lori Helicopters carrying guests of &Beyond. Hollihan's husband, Michele Sensi-Contugi, director general of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center, also died, prompting condolences from President Daniel Noboa's office.

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 19:33 UTCBreaking

Fedorov's gamble against Zelenskiy backfires as Ukraine protests end; Parliament appoints Khmara as defense minister

The protests were a first in Ukraine, explicitly supporting a politician for his past results, not promises. Fedorov's audit exposed $7.2 billion in defense overspending, and his drone campaign struck targets 1,300 kilometers inside Russia, buoying public morale.

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 19:13 UTC

Portugal bans face coverings in public under new 'burqa law'; President Seguro says 'the face must be considered a central element of human identity and communication'

The law, introduced by the far-right Chega party, passed with a two-thirds majority in July, backed by the right-wing coalition and far-right parties, while left-wing parties opposed it. Violators face fines up to €3,000, with exemptions for health, professional, artistic, or weather-related reasons, and human rights groups like Amnesty International argue it disproportionately targets Muslim women.

·20 August 2026 · 19:01 UTC

Jennifer Hegseth travels with Pete to keep him in check amid alcoholism claims; insider says she recruits staff, makes DoD videos

Former Fox News colleagues said they smelled alcohol on Pete before live broadcasts, with one noting 'everyone would be talking about it behind the scenes.' Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot called it 'bonkers' that a defense secretary would involve his wife in sensitive duties, including sharing details of an impending military operation.

·20 August 2026 · 19:01 UTC

Teen killed in M9 crash was in Tusla's care; funerals set for two victims as fundraiser for other family tops €500,000

Tusla confirmed two other teenagers who died were known to the agency, and staff are liaising with An Garda Síochána. The agency will share information with the National Review Panel, which independently reviews deaths of children in State care.

+2 sources·20 August 2026 · 18:59 UTC

Ghent University suspends Nathan Cofnas, the academic who accused Jason Arday of plagiarism, as a precautionary measure pending a disciplinary investigation

Cofnas, a self-proclaimed 'race realist', had previously been dismissed from a Cambridge college in 2024 after writing that black people would 'disappear from almost all high-profile positions' in a meritocracy. Ghent's rector and vice-rector said Arday's death 'should prompt reflection' on how academics treat each other during public controversies.

·20 August 2026 · 18:00 UTC

GCSE results across England, Wales and Northern Ireland bring much to celebrate and much to reform; language take-up falls sharply again

Only 18.8% of 17-and-over students passed English, down from last year, and London schools again outpaced the north and Midlands in top grades. The government plans a new qualification to build confidence ahead of resits, with 1 million 16- to 24-year-olds not in education, employment or training.

+2 sources·20 August 2026 · 17:34 UTC

Evergrande founder Hui Ka Yan sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to fraud; court confiscates all personal property

The Shenzhen court found Hui violated state laws from 2016 to 2021 through sustained, large-scale financial fraud to inflate assets and conceal liabilities. Evergrande Group was fined 8.8 billion yuan, and more than 50 linked individuals received prison terms ranging from 20 months to 18 years.

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 17:18 UTC

Mallorca braces for thunderstorms and 39C heat as orange warning covers island; 60mph winds and heavy rain expected through Friday

Aemet warns of possible hurricane-force gusts on Friday, especially in Mallorca and Menorca, with up to 40 litres of rain per square metre falling in one hour. Rough seas already wrecked four boats in Calvia, causing oil spills that an environmental group says pose a serious risk to the coast.

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 09:32 UTC

Andy Burnham announces crackdown on illegal waste dumping; three dumps in West Yorkshire, Surrey, Kent to be cleared with taxpayer money

Fines for waste offences will rise from £300 to £5,000, and the Environment Agency gains powers to seize assets bought with crime proceeds. A new waste crime crackdown group, chaired by Environment Secretary Angela Eagle, will coordinate regulators and law enforcement to dismantle criminal operations.

·20 August 2026 · 07:56 UTC

Devon and Cornwall students receive GCSE results as City College Plymouth celebrates 98% pass rate; Oscar, a South Devon UTC student, feels 'a little nervous'

In England, pupils who do not achieve at least a grade 4 in GCSE English and maths must continue studying them alongside their next course. Oscar, who sat exams in English, maths, sciences and Cambridge Nationals engineering, hopes to get a 4 to continue the subject in sixth form.

+3 sources3 updates

20 August 2026 · 10:37 UTCStudents receive GCSE results as over 6,000 more 16-year-olds hit grade 7+ in maths, the largest ever uptick; technical award passes climb by 7,965 20 August 2026 · 08:43 UTCGCSE results: almost one in four boys in England get top grades in maths; overall results for 16-year-olds improve slightly

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 07:56 UTC

Travelodge boss Jo Boydell quits amid backlash over chain's handling of guest sexual assault and security failings; finance chief Ray Reidy takes over on interim basis

The victim of the 2022 Berkshire assault was offered a £30 refund, which she called 'insulting'. In October 2025, another woman was attacked at a London Travelodge after staff gave her abuser a key without checking with her, prompting her to say 'I thought someone would protect me'.

·20 August 2026 · 06:55 UTC

Penny Wong condemns Israel's decision not to prosecute over Zomi Frankcom's killing, calling it 'outraged' and 'insulting' on World Humanitarian Day

Wong stated that the decision 'falls far short of the accountability we expect' and emphasized that Australia would continue pressing Israel 'for justice for Zomi and her colleagues.' The military investigation's findings were criticized for 'conflating different timelines and events' and shifting blame for the IDF's illegal conduct.

·20 August 2026 · 06:32 UTC

Sydney Swans stand down five players amid police investigation; Isaac Heeney's name removed from 5th Quarter Camp promotions

A commercial recalibration has begun, with brands distancing themselves from Isaac Heeney, who has been barred from promotions. Colgate has suspended its partnership with Heeney pending the investigation's conclusion, while his children's book series has been withdrawn from sale at major bookstores.