‘Cheap travel is not a defence’: the parents facing court for school absences in England
The Guardian

‘Cheap travel is not a defence’: the parents facing court for school absences in England

In one court in Kent, most cases relate to term-time holidays, but non-attendance is a complex issue and post-pandemic rates remain highAs the long school summer break approached its mid-point recently, Margate beach was crowded with families enjoying the brief reprieve between the year’s fourth and fifth heatwaves. For most, thoughts of the classroom were probably not at the forefront of their mi...

Why US Indo-Pacific ‘burden sharing’ risks deepening polarisation and big power rivalry
SCMP

Why US Indo-Pacific ‘burden sharing’ risks deepening polarisation and big power rivalry

The US push to promote “burden sharing” among its allies in the Indo-Pacific has seen it focusing on increasing its military capacity while lowering the political temperature in an effort to reassure its allies. But some analysts have questioned its chances of succeeding, arguing that this deterrence strategy has intensified great power rivalry and polarisation in the region, while driving deeper ...

Beijing issues ecological report to solidify South China Sea claims amid US row

Beijing issues ecological report to solidify South China Sea claims amid US row

SCMP

China has published ecological assessment reports on nine disputed South China Sea features, amid an escalating row with Washington over Beijing’s establishment of a “national nature reserve” in the contested waters. On Friday, the Ministry of Natural Resources’ South China Sea Bureau issued its 2025 marine ecological early-warning and monitoring bulletin, alongside a separate marine ecological pr...

Jellyfish became a threat to France's Gravelines plant after clogging cooling systems

Jellyfish became a threat to France's Gravelines plant after clogging cooling systems

Times of India

In a striking environmental incident, a massive jellyfish swarm has compelled the shutdown of reactors at France's Gravelines nuclear plant. The clogged seawater cooling systems have brought significant disruption to power generation. Following a related incident in 2025, the plant introduced enhanced monitoring and fishing strategies. This occurrence underscores the vulnerabilities faced by coast...

Lindsay Clancy murder trial: prosecutors revive theory of faked suicide attempt

Lindsay Clancy murder trial: prosecutors revive theory of faked suicide attempt

The Guardian

Prosecutors pointed to internet searches made on the family computer in the months before the killings to make their caseProsecutors revived a theory in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial case this week, suggesting she had faked a suicide attempt after allegedly strangling her three children.While prosecutors have been arguing that Clancy acted intentionally and should be held criminally responsible,...

US navy veterans and military health experts express concern over USS Abraham Lincoln sailors

US navy veterans and military health experts express concern over USS Abraham Lincoln sailors

The Guardian

Prolonged deployment is coupled with reports of water shortages, plumbing issues and attempts to jump overboardUS navy veterans and military health experts are expressing concerns about the strain on sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has spent nearly nine months at sea supporting US operations in the Middle East, amid reports of poor living conditions and worsening mental health among ...

Double jeopardy could spell end of state case after Luigi Mangione’s guilty plea

Double jeopardy could spell end of state case after Luigi Mangione’s guilty plea

The Guardian

Defense argues New York cannot try Mangione over same act or offense as federal case – the killing of Brian ThompsonLuigi Mangione’s plea to federal stalking charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s death has spurred questions about the fate of the separate Manhattan murder case against him, with experts saying New York’s double-jeopardy law could derail that trial.Mangione pleaded guilty ...

UK’s biggest EV battery gigafactory shelves expansion as Jaguar Land Rover talks stall

UK’s biggest EV battery gigafactory shelves expansion as Jaguar Land Rover talks stall

The Guardian

Chinese-owned AESC has pushed back plans in sign of slowing transition from petrol and diesel to electric carsAndy Burnham moves to cut new EV sales targetsThe UK’s biggest gigafactory has shelved plans to expand production in Sunderland because of stalled talks on a deal to supply electric car batteries to Jaguar Land Rover.Chinese-owned AESC produces batteries for Nissan at its gigafactory next ...

8/15: CBS Saturday Morning

CBS News

Rain floods the Midwest as Lala looms over Hawaii. We look inside a spy satellite company. Plus, Putin's meeting with President Trump, a year later.

US readies Iran penalties as Trump downplays midterms impact

US readies Iran penalties as Trump downplays midterms impact

SCMP

The US is readying unprecedented economic measures against Iran, as President Donald Trump seeks to intensify efforts to force Tehran to capitulate after almost six months of war. The president said in a brief interview with Fox News that the US was planning to hit Iran’s economy hard, and that he did not care if the conflict were to end before the November US midterm elections, which would hinge ...

UK searches for homes with air conditioning jump 104% as heatwaves intensify

UK searches for homes with air conditioning jump 104% as heatwaves intensify

Times of India

Searches for homes with air conditioning in the UK have more than doubled this summer. Repeated heatwaves prompt buyers to pay greater attention to property cooling capabilities. Many households are making practical changes to keep cool during hotter weather. Britain's housing stock faces concerns about coping with increasingly hotter summers. This shift influences buyer priorities and what they a...

Northern Metropolis and AI vital to Hong Kong’s 5-year plan: business chambers

Northern Metropolis and AI vital to Hong Kong’s 5-year plan: business chambers

SCMP

Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan should prioritise the Northern Metropolis mega development, strengthen the city’s position as an international financial centre and advance its artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, major business chambers have said. In submissions for the city’s first five-year plan, groups including the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham) and the Federation of...