Morning Digest

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

35 stories from 8 sources, 53 more held back.

RT

Croatia arrests second ‘suspect’ in Nord Stream blasts

Second ‘suspect’ in Nord Stream blast case arrested. Croatian police have arrested a Ukrainian man suspected by Germany of taking part in the operation behind the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, following a request from Berlin.

RT 6:47 PM

Zelensky fires senior aide after reports linking her to graft probe

Zelensky fires senior aide amid anti-corruption scandal. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has fired Irina Mudraya, deputy head of his office, after media reports indicated that her home was raided as part of anti-corruption probe over alleged money laundering scheme.

RT 6:25 PM

Is Erdogan ready for war with Israel? What Türkiye’s new pact changes

In a recent interview, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in response to a question about the aggressive attitude of Israeli politicians towards Türkiye, stated that Ankara will not shy away from war if attacked. While these words cannot be considered a direct declaration of war against Israel, they certainly served as a stern warning.

RT 6:08 PM

Trump and Canada have a deal*

Trump said just before midnight Washington time that he has a deal with Canada to avoid 50% tariffs, and thus the tariffs are on pause for three days. Although that may not be the case a few more seconds from now. Canada has already disputed the existence of any deal.

RT 4:28 PM

Russia develops new approach to treating Alzheimer’s

Russian doctors pioneer new Alzheimer’s treatment strategy. Russian doctors have developed and tested what they describe as the first treatment strategy of its kind for Alzheimer’s, using a new blood-filtering technique to target chronic inflammation – one of the processes believed to drive brain-cell damage. Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease and the most common form of dementia.

RT 3:52 PM

Death penalty sought in ChatGPT-linked murder case

South Korean prosecutors have sought the death penalty for a woman accused of killing two men with drug-laced drinks after allegedly consulting ChatGPT about potentially lethal combinations and dosages. Kim So-young is accused of giving beverages spiked with benzodiazepines to three men between December 2025 and February this year. Two died, while the third survived, according to Yonhap.

RT 2:59 PM

Palestine envoy says Gaza desperately needs India’s artificial limb facility

Palestine envoy on where India’s help is ‘badly needed’. India has finalized the paperwork to start constructing a hospital in the West Bank, Palestine’s ambassador to New Delhi has said. But he added that it is Gaza that badly needs the artificial limb facility that his government has discussed with New Delhi about building.

RT 2:32 PM

Libya power crisis sparks fresh protests over blackouts

Protests broke out in western Libya, including in its capital Tripoli, on Tuesday after three widespread power outages in two days left residents without reliable electricity. Demonstrators took to streets and public squares, blocking roads and setting tires on fire.

RT 2:22 PM

The Robot Report

Raw America

Revealed: Natalie Harp’s Brazen Move Against Melania

A new book claims Trump White House staffer Natalie Harp was perhaps the biggest driving force behind the destruction of the East Wing of the White House, which houses the First Lady’s office. New FCC documents show Chairman Brendan Carr has been in constant contact with right-wing media executives and White House officials while refusing to discuss any of it in public.

Raw America 3:51 PM

Breaking: GOP Congressman Caught Committing Federal Felony on Camera

A far-right Florida congressman was just caught on video rifling through a voter’s mailbox, which is a textbook federal felony. A Republican congressman in South Carolina is turning on Donald Trump for endorsing his primary opponent, accusing the president of abandoning his MAGA base.

Raw America 11:03 PM

ESPN

Source: Seahawks to sign former Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs

The move addresses one of Seattle's biggest question marks and offers Diggs a chance for a fresh start with the reigning Super Bowl champions after a tumultuous ending to his tenure in Dallas last season. The Seahawks still plan to sign cornerback Terrion Arnold, but with no word on when he will be available to play amid his ongoing legal case, Diggs gives them more immediate help at the position.

ESPN 2:52 PM

McIlroy questions value of LIV players returning to PGA Tour

But reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy isn't sure what value the LIV Golf stars would bring to the PGA Tour if they came back. "I mean, I would argue, have they brought value to LIV? McIlroy said Wednesday, during his news conference ahead of this week's BMW Championship at Bellerive Country Club.

ESPN 2:52 PM

Sources: Texans' Jayden Higgins has torn ACL, out for season

The season-ending injury occurred Tuesday during the Texans' joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders when the 2025 second-round pick ran a route in the end zone and fell awkwardly during red zone 11-on-11 drills. Higgins couldn't get back up immediately, but he eventually limped off on his own power. Coach DeMeco Ryans said after practice that they were evaluating the severity of the injury.

ESPN 2:01 PM

Howard, Allar to get all of Steelers' QB reps vs. Jets

PITTSBURGH -- Mike McCarthy is turning the keys of the Pittsburgh Steelers' offense over to his young quarterbacks Friday night. Second-year signal-caller Will Howard will start against the New York Jets, while 2026 fourth-round pick Drew Allar will follow. Neither Aaron Rodgers nor Mason Rudolph will play in the second preseason game.

ESPN 2:01 PM

Shedeur Sanders not feeling pressure about Browns' QB decision

BEREA, Ohio -- With a decision at starting quarterback looming, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders said Wednesday he's not feeling pressure ahead of joint practice with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday and his start in the second preseason game at home Saturday.

ESPN 2:01 PM

Who is on the bubble to make the Tour Championship?

LOUIS -- It seemed to be only a matter of time before world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was lifting a trophy again on the PGA Tour. It came in last week's FedEx St. Jude Championship, in which Scheffler ran away from the field for an eight-stroke victory in the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.

ESPN 1:31 PM

Sophie Cunningham: WNBA needs 'bold' commissioner who wants best for players

Sophie Cunningham said the WNBA needs a "bold" commissioner "who wants the best for the players and not maybe for themselves," indicating Cathy Engelbert's current vision does not align "with where our league is trying to go." Cunningham discussed WNBA leadership and Engelbert's future as the league's commissioner as part of a wide-ranging profile published Wednesday by USA Today.

ESPN 12:31 PM

Cubs — Sun-Times

Alex Bregman gives Cubs another walk-off win over White Sox with ninth-inning base hit

Another night, another dramatic Crosstown finish at Wrigley Field. After center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong won the Cubs the series-opener with a walk-off homer in extra innings Monday, third baseman Alex Bregman delivered a two-out, walk-off single to give the Cubs a 4-3 win over the White Sox, the 13th walk-off win at the Friendly Confines this season.

Cubs — Sun-Times 11:38 PM

Dansby Swanson’s presence will be part of Cubs’ efforts to weather his absence: ‘He turns into another coach’

The Cubs will spend the next four weeks without their starting shortstop, no small thing in the middle of a playoff race. Dansby Swanson is a critical part of the Cubs’ championship puzzle, playing Gold Glove defense at one of the sport’s premier positions and, if at times quietly, providing ample offensive production. He came into Tuesday fourth on the roster with 18 home runs.

Cubs — Sun-Times 6:02 PM

Man charged with sucker-punching fan at Cubs-Sox game at Wrigley Field

The fight, which Chicago police say is not connected to an eighth-inning brawl in the stands captured in a widely shared video, happened outside a restroom as the game was wrapping up, according to court records. The 26-year-old victim told police that a man “sucker punched” him with his right fist, causing his nose to bleed, according to a police report.

Cubs — Sun-Times 3:09 PM

Manufacturing Dive

Bristol Myers Squibb to build $2.3B manufacturing campus in Houston

The project, slated for Generation Park in Houston, is part of Bristol Myers Squibb’s larger plan to invest $40 billion in the United States through 2030 across research and development, technology and domestic manufacturing. The company said it designed the Houston campus to be modular and multimodal, allowing for flexibility as demand shifts to certain medicines over others.

Manufacturing Dive 11:34 AM

Nearly 60 members of Congress call for aluminum pricing investigation

Many regions across the world have physical premiums over the global benchmark price of aluminum. Despite its name, the Midwest Premium functions as the nationwide premium for aluminum in the U.S. market. Premiums are broadly viewed as surcharges to account for factors including regional transportation costs and tariffs.

Manufacturing Dive 10:14 AM

Cubs — MLB.com

Gausman exits after 4 1/3 innings with left hand cramp

CHICAGO – Kevin Gausman removed his glove and inspected his left hand, while Cubs manager Craig Counsell emerged from the dugout and made his way to the mound. It was the second time the veteran starter had to pause due to the issue and Counsell opted against pushing Gausman any further.

Cubs — MLB.com 2:21 AM

PCA, again! Cubs star follows up walk-off blast with another leadoff HR

CHICAGO – In the hours leading up to Tuesday night’s game, Pete Crow-Armstrong flipped his hat around backward and headed to the dugout wearing a vintage Cubs jersey and shorts. A group of kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago was waiting in the dugout. The Cubs star center fielder took a seat, chatted them up and had the group smiling and laughing as he answered an array of questions.

Cubs — MLB.com 1:12 AM

Simon Willison

Mojo🔥 is now open source

Mojo🔥 is now open source (via) Mojo🔥 is now open source. The Mojo programming language has been promising an open source release since May 2023. Last week they shipped their 1.0 and today they have followed through on that original promise, releasing the compiler and toolchain under an Apache 2 license.

Simon Willison 9:39 PM