A ‘body’ found in a suitcase was actually a sex doll. How did NSW police get it so wrong? 12. August 2026 (03:03) Officers – correctly – may not have fully unzipped the bag containing the lifelike doll to avoid destroying evidence, one expert saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRevelations that a “body” found inside a suitcase was actually a sex doll may have been embarrassing for police, but experts say officers followed the correct procedure.New South Wales police on Sunday were called to Oallen, a rural locality near Goulburn, after two members of the public found a suitcase containing what they believed to be human remains dumped on the side of the road. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Senator Darline Graham advances to runoff in South Carolina special primary 12. August 2026 (02:29) Lindsey Graham’s sister, appointed to replace the Republican, held a narrow lead in the Senate primaryUS politics live – latest updatesSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailSenator Darline Graham, appointed to complete the Senate term of her late brother, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has advanced to a runoff election for the Republican nomination of the seat. It remains unclear who she will face on 25 August.Graham held a narrow lead in the polls going into the abbreviated special primary on Tuesday, which predicted a close contest for second place. Congressman Russell Fry, Congressman Ralph Norman and former governor Mark Sanford polled within a point of each other in the most recent survey from the Trafalgar Group. Graham has loudly trumpeted her endorsement from Donald Trump, but also enjoys the support of South Carolina’s governor, Henry McMaster, and John Thune, the Senate majority leader. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cook Islands election: PM Mark Brown speaks on the diplomatic crises that defined his year 12. August 2026 (02:24) The prime minister tells the Guardian that last year’s diplomatic rift with ally New Zealand could be on voters’ minds as they head to the pollsAs voters in the Cook Islands prepare to head to the polls in a high-stakes general election, they will have much to reflect on. Over recent years, politics in this small island nation has been defined by fierce debates about deep-sea mining, diplomatic rifts with ally New Zealand and a major reshaping of the country’s foreign partnerships.In an exclusive interview with the Guardian, days before Wednesday’s poll, Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown defended his four-year term and the decisions he made that have seen this South Pacific nation of 17,000 people pushed into the international limelight, turning it into a battleground for influence between Beijing and western powers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Male redback spiders invite cannibalism through a ‘self-sacrificial somersault’ during sex – but why? 12. August 2026 (02:17) New research sheds light on the genetic basis of the venomous arachnid’s ‘weird mating behaviour’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIf you think you’ve had a bad one-night stand, spare a thought for the male redback spider, whose sole reproductive partner eats him after sex.Male redbacks appear to invite this cannibalism through a “self-sacrificial somersault”, with new research shedding light on the genetic basis of the behaviour. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
ICE to spend up to $20m on gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks 12. August 2026 (01:35) According to manufacturer, shock ‘is usually effective in bringing individuals into compliance in less than three seconds’ICE plans to spend up to $20m (£15m) to purchase thousands of gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks for officers and agents by March, according to a notice published Monday by the Department of Homeland Security.The devices, called Glove (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are manufactured by Compliant Technologies LLC of Lexington, Kentucky. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australia politics live: Bragg to outline Coalition plans to heavily cut net migration and shred 96% of house construction code 11. August 2026 (23:54) Policy comes as debate continues over causes of and solutions to housing issues. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCBA records bumper $11bn profitCommonwealth Bank has recorded a bumper $11bn full year cash profit, up 7%, after recording strong growth in home and business lending, despite recent weakness in the housing market.We’re going to present a final plan to building ministers later this year and that will streamline the code, reduce variations, improve where the provisions are too complicated, make the code relevant in an age of AI. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s Air Force One deception faces scrutiny over ‘decoy’ passengers 11. August 2026 (23:46) Journalists and others were allowed to fly on presidential jet despite security threat while Trump was spirited awaySign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email Democrats called on Tuesday for a congressional briefing over a stunning charade in which Donald Trump was secretly spirited to different plane than the one the public and press believed he was travelling on, an episode first reported by the Washington Post and also by the New York Times. Critics now question why reporters and the public had been deliberately misled.When US intelligence allegedly found a credible threat that Iran plotted to kill him last month, Trump left Air Force One in a catering truck. While the president was reportedly snuck out the side door of the plane, more than a hundred aides, officials and reporters, were kept onboard to fly towards Britain, without being told there was a threat to their lives. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Dethroned Miss North Carolina USA threatens legal action over title removal 11. August 2026 (23:40) Brittany Boltinhouse’s attorney says removal of title and crown ‘another troubling example of cancel culture’A lawyer for beauty queen Brittany Boltinhouse, dethroned as Miss North Carolina USA last week, is threatening legal action, claiming the actions of pageant organizers were “wrongful and unjustified”.The attorney, Patrick Mincey, described the removal of her title and crown “another troubling example of cancel culture”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham’s prison plans could raise risk of mistaken releases, union warns 11. August 2026 (20:48) Concerns raised over proposed changes to early release scheme as probation staff vote to strike over workloadsAndy Burnham’s plan to stop the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers and other serious offenders could increase the risk of some more dangerous prisoners being released by mistake, unions have warned.In another blow to the proposals announced by the prime minister, probation staff have voted overwhelmingly to go on strike, warning of already unrealistic workloads. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Richard Tice accused of ‘nasty tactics’ over legal threat to the Guardian 11. August 2026 (20:15) Reform deputy leader condemned for seeking disclosure of documents that could reveal reporter’s sourcesReform’s deputy leader Richard Tice has been accused of using “nasty tactics” in an attempt to intimidate journalists and deflect attention from his own financial affairs after issuing a legal threat to the Guardian.In a letter sent from his lawyers, a Guardian correspondent was singled out for her reporting on a series of Tice’s financial transactions that were referred to the National Crime Agency. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
