SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president said Tuesday a solid alliance with the U.S. strengthens the foundation of national security, as many South Koreans were baffled and concerned about U.S. President Donald Trump’s abrupt order to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises.

Trump made the surprise announcement in a social media post just before U.S. and South Korean soldiers began Monday’s annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which are largely designed to sharpen readiness against North Korean threats.

Trump cited what he said was a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to join the U.S. war against Iran.

Trump’s move was apparently taken without consultations with South Korea and meant to reach out to Kim, deepening concerns about the reliability of the U.S.-South Korean alliance forged in the turmoil of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Confidence in the U.S. has already eroded among many South Koreans because of Trump’s tariff war and last year’s immigration raid in the U.S. state of Georgia that led to the detainment of hundreds of South Korean workers.

Trump’s announcement “reveals the stark reality of a faltering Korea-U.S. alliance, fueling public anxiety,” South Korea’s Hankook Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial Tuesday. “It’s absurd that the U.S. appears to treat North Korea more respectfully than its ally South Korea.”

South Korean leader calls for solid US alliance

In a regular Cabinet meeting, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stressed the importance of a firm military alliance with the U.S., saying that “national security will be further strengthened when the alliance is solid.”

“When we build up our strengths, our value and importance as an ally will further grow,” said Lee, a liberal who has called for a stronger, self-reliant defense posture.

It was unclear which parts of the 11-day South Korea-U.S. exercises were being downsized. The South Korean and U.S. militaries earlier said their drills this year would be similar in scale to previous years and incorporate lessons from recent conflicts such as North Korea’s battlefield experiences in the Russia-Ukraine front. They also said the drills are defensive in nature.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused South Korea and the U.S. of plotting more provocative drills this year and vowed to respond with “a new level of a deterrent.”

Prospects unclear for reengagement between Trump and Kim

Kim has shunned any talks with the U.S. and South Korea since his earlier high-profile diplomacy with Trump fell apart in 2019.

Experts say Kim won’t likely embrace Trump’s overture and return to talks anytime soon unless he is promised bigger U.S. concessions. Kim has boosted his military and diplomatic credentials in recent years by enlarging his nuclear arsenal and aligning with Russia over its war against Ukraine.

Lee’s presidential office on Monday expressed hopes that a “friendly relationship” between Trump and Kim would lead to “meaningful dialogue” between their countries to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula. That invited a backlash from conservatives, who criticized Lee’s government for allegedly prioritizing resumption of Kim-Trump diplomacy over security concerns.

“South Korea’s security bulwark is being shaken to its very foundations,” Park Chung-kwon, a spokesperson for the main conservative opposition People Power Party, said in a statement.

A weakening of the U.S. defense commitment could shake South Korea’s national security as it has no nuclear weapons and is under the so-called U.S. “nuclear umbrella” protection, which guarantees a devastating American response in the event of an attack on its ally by nuclear-armed North Korea. The U.S. has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.

Lee’s office said South Korea and the U.S. are closely discussing practical and military contributions that South Korea can make to help restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Trump thinks of an alliance as an investment that should pay regular dividends, or a rainy-day fund he can withdraw from when another project isn’t going well,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

“South Korean leaders understand that relations with the Trump administration will be a constant renegotiation linking economic and security issues. Seoul is thus cautiously responding to recent developments within that framework,” Easley said.

A recent survey jointly conducted by South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper and the East Asia Institute, a Seoul-based research group, showed 46.4% of respondents in South Korea viewed the U.S. as “not a trustworthy partner” while 45.4% called it “trustworthy.”

It was the first time that more Koreans said they could not trust the U.S. than said they could since the East Asia Institute began asking the question in 2017, JoongAng Ilbo reported.

Alicia Moss’ post went viral, and a kind stranger took pity on her

A woman who posted a plea on Facebook to trade her horse for a car has ended up with a free Range Rover. Alicia Moss, 27, was devastated when her silver Volkswagen Golf broke down unexpectedly.

She could not afford a new car so put a cheeky post on social media offering to trade in the one asset she did have – her mare called Pizza. The post read: “Unlike Roger, Pizza starts every morning, doesn’t have an engine warning light, and has only ever left me stranded because she fancied grass.

“This is either the world ’s worst sales advert or the start of a very questionable deal… either way, my inbox is open.”

Her post went viral – reaching nearly one million accounts – and received over 170 comments from people with several offers. But one offer stood out: a kind stranger called Pete Wood who was willing to gift her a grey 2008 Range Rover HSE TDV8 – for free.

Alicia, a dock worker, said yes gratefully and is now the proud owner. And she says that Pete had loved her post and didn’t want her to have to part with her homebred mare.

She said: “I put the post up on a whim really. It was a bit of a laugh but also serious at the same time. I thought it could work as a good swap.

“I had nothing to lose at the time. Either way I needed some money or a car. On the post a guy commented saying he had a Range Rover that I could have free of charge so that I could keep my horse.

“I thought it couldn’t be real, but I messaged him. He didn’t want a swap, he wanted me to keep my horse and to see his car go to good use.”

The car, which the owner bought new 18 years ago, was an hour from Alicia and she went to pick it up a week later. It passed its MOT, and she says is working perfectly. It has around 95,000 miles on the clock.

Alicia says getting a 4×4 was also ideal as she can now start towing a trailer for her horses. She added: “That was a really happy ending. It has worked out really nicely for me and him and my horse.

“When we went and picked it up he was the loveliest guy ever. I am so grateful for what he offered. He just said that he absolutely loved my post. He was so genuine. He will definitely be on my Christmas card list. It is really crazy. Things like that don’t really happen to anyone let alone me.”

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Alicia has four horses and says she decided to try selling Pizza as she was the only one old enough to be of value. However, she had not wanted to part with the beloved mare, who was her first ever homebred horse.

She is called Pizza as it was a running joke when the mum was pregnant that the ‘pizza was in the oven’ rather than a bun. Alicia says she is like an “overgrown Labrador” and is very sweet.

She added: “I have no money and the only other asset I had to sell was my horse, Pizza.

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“I didn’t want to ship her off but needs must. Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to. But luckily thanks to this lovely guy I didn’t need to. I am so glad that she is safe. She is like my first child.”

Alicia says she intends to keep in touch with her heroic stranger and give him updates on the car, which hasn’t broken down yet.

She said: “In a time where there is so much going on in the world there is always someone out there just trying to do a nice thing, and it goes a long way. He has done a lot for me without probably even realising what he has done.”

By MARK DUELL, DEPUTY CHIEF REPORTER (DIGITAL) and ADAM POGRUND, REPORTER

Published: 07:53 BST, 18 August 2026 | Updated: 07:59 BST, 18 August 2026

A man will appear in court today after being charged over the death of another man who was bitten by a dog on a footpath.

Lee Ellis, 55, has been charged with manslaughter and being the owner or person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.

West Yorkshire Police were called to an altercation on the old train line footpath off Blacker Lane in the Calder Grove area of Wakefield on Saturday afternoon.

The force said a 55-year-old man was bitten by a dog, believed to be a German Shepherd, during the altercation and later died in hospital.

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Ellis, of Wakefield, was remanded in custody to appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court today. The dog seized during the investigation continues to be held in police kennels.

Detectives said they had identified and spoken to two other people who stopped to help the injured man at the scene.

The force added that the family of the man who died are being supported by specially trained officers.

More to follow 

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Lee Ellis, 55, has been charged with manslaughter and will appear in court today

Police attend the scene of the dog attack in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on Saturday afternoon

Vacancies in the UK jobs market have fallen to the lowest level since 2014, other than during Covid, with 6,000 fewer openings between May and July compared to the three months to April.

While the overall unemployment picture remains steady at 4.9 per cent, private sector pay growth has also fallen to a six-year low as the British economy struggles to escape concerns over the increase in cost of labour.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said its early estimates brings the level of job vacancies down to the lowest in more than five years, having slumped earlier in the year.

The ONS said its survey found that small firms may not be recruiting because of increased labour costs and other business expenses.

The data also revealed that regular average wage growth in the UK’s private sector fell to 2.8% in the three months to June – the lowest level since the three months to October 2020.

This is despite overall regular wage growth rising to 3.5% in the same period, from 3.4% in the three months to April.

ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said: “Vacancies remain broadly flat, though a small fall in the latest period puts them at the lowest level in more than five years.

“The latest decrease was driven mainly by smaller businesses, which cite labour and operating costs as reasons for not hiring new staff or replacing leavers.

“Regular wage growth has remained broadly stable in recent months.

“However, private sector pay growth has continued to ease, while public sector pay growth remains elevated due to the timing of the latest NHS pay awards.”

This story is being updated, more to follow…

Additional reporting by PA

Drivers are facing delays on a stretch of the M60 this morning (Tuesday, August 18) amid a crash.

One lane has been closed off on the anticlockwise side of the motorway during this morning’s rush-hour. A vehicle has ‘overturned’ in the crash, according to traffic alert service Inrix.

The lane is shut from junction 13 for Worsley to junction 12 for the Eccles Interchange. Motorway cameras show long queues building.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

Congestion is back to junction 17 for Whitefield. Traffic is also slow on the clockwise side of the motorway at the same stretch due to onlookers.

Follow our live blog below for the latest traffic updates.

Russia has accused the UK of “deliberately opting for an escalation of the Ukraine crisis” following confirmation that British-made drones had been used in strikes on targets in Russia.

“In doing so, the United Kingdom is acting as an accomplice and co-perpetrator of the bloody crimes and terrorist attacks,” the Russian Embassy to the UK wrote in a statement.

“London’s actions will inevitably carry consequences for which it will have to answer,” it said, adding that the deeper its involvement in the conflict, “the higher the price it will pay”.

In response, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) told BBC News that Britain stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine.

“Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies,” said the spokesperson in a statement.

The UK, they added, was “committed to providing the equipment Ukraine needs to defend itself against [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s illegal invasion”.

Built by two separate British companies, the drones in question have been used inside Russia in the widespread and successful targeting of military and industrial targets, including refineries and warehouses of the online retailer Wildberries.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted the company, known as Russia’s version of Amazon, and says that seven out of 10 of the largest Wildberries logistics centres have been “disabled”.

A military source confirmed to the BBC that UK drones had been used in the attacks, which are said to have caused more than £35bn in economic damage.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently controls approximately a fifth of Ukrainian territory.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said drones using UK components and configurations were used to attack Russian territory, including a fuel depot in the Kamensky District of the Rostov Region.

The developers want to “transform” part of a town and build up to 120 new homes

Locals have shared their views on plans to redevelop a Cambridgeshire town area for housing, with some claiming the plans could “kill off the high street”. Capital and Centric have proposed “big plans” for the old cattle market square and gatehouse in St Ives.

The developer says it is working with Huntingdonshire District Council to “transform” part of St Ives with new homes, resident amenities such as a gym, and green spaces. The area is currently home to a bus station and car park.

Capital and Centric seeks to build up to 120 new homes. Other proposals include wild landscaping and green space, which could be surrounded by walking and pedestrian routes to connect the new neighbourhood with the rest of the community.

The developer has submitted similar plans for St Neots and Huntingdon. The plans have upset many people who live in and around St Ives.

Reacting to the plans, 62-year-old Enora Crowe said: “I think it is a waste of time. They should put the money into more useful things, not just cut down and remove things that are already here.” The St Ives resident asked, “where else are they going to park?”

She described the plans as “nonsense”, adding “I don’t think they should build more houses”. The 62-year-old said if the plans do progress, “make more houses for people that need it and not for people who want to buy it”.

Latifat Safiu has lived in St Ives for nearly two years. The 31-year-old said: “I think this space is really good for people to come around the town for sightseeing, relaxing, and shopping. For instance, I don’t know if there would be any accessible car park for people anymore when the new neighbourhood would be built. That’s going to restrict people from doing a lot of things around the town.”

On the other hand, Latifat said “it is a two way thing” because “it is very difficult” to find new homes as “St Ives is a small town and doesn’t have so much access [to homes], most of the ones here are very old so new build houses would be a good idea”.

A spokesperson for Huntingdonshire District Council said: “At this stage, this is an engagement exercise rather than a formal consultation. The purpose is to start a conversation about the ideas being explored, give people the opportunity to understand the emerging proposals, and provide early feedback that can help shape them as they develop.

“We encourage residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders to take part in the engagement events and share their views with Capital & Centric. It is important that the people who know the town best have the opportunity to help shape its future, and that local feedback is listened to and carefully considered as plans evolve.”

Jackie Tarr, 67, said: “I think 120 [homes] is too many and if they are going to develop it, maybe use a smaller portion of the car park because where is everyone going to park close enough to the town.”

She added: “Fewer people will come into the town because there’s no parking and there’s not many facilities anyway so they need to put something in to encourage people to come into the town if they take half the car park away. Maybe the back of the car park, right at the other end might be suitable but not for 120 properties.”

Jackie described the proposals as “over-ambitious”. She asked: “What are they going to give this town?”

A woman, in her 40s, who wished to remain anonymous, said the proposals have been very “cloak and dagger”. She feels as though, if they progress, it would “kill off the high street”. The woman, who lives in St Ives, added: “It is such a shame that they want to do it. It has been kept hidden. There could be other places it can go but it is only recently that people found out.

The developer said that if approved, the proposals would also create a “spill out space” with bars, cafes, and restaurants, to “encourage the community to come together”.

Catherine Edwards, 52, has lived in St Ives for around 25 years. She said: “I think it would be really sad to lose a very well-used car park. I don’t see it as underused in any kind of way. I would worry about the infrastructure as in supermarkets, schools, other provision as well as just general domestic maintenance. I was surprised by it, I am not delighted.”

She added: “I think that because it is so central, everybody would know its location. It is going to be right in the middle of the town. I think that the location actually probably had a lot to do with the amount of attention it has got.”

The 52-year-old questioned whether the proposals would be “in fitting with the town”. She described the proposals as “mismanaged” and “not well communicated”.

Teresa Jones, 61, said that if approved, the development would be an “eyesore”. She feels it is an “inappropriate place for a development like that”.

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The Fenstanton resident continued: “I just think it will cause a lot of problems for everybody – even developing it is going to take years. So, we are literally going to be living in the middle of it. It will be a building site.

“And, the knock on effect of that: traffic congestion, diversions, people trying to get to school.” Ms Jones recognised that new homes are “needed”, especially if they are affordable but questioned the potential site location. She said she was “quite shocked that they’d even consider it” because it is “a haven of tranquillity”.

Capital and Centric is seeking people’s opinions on the proposals before they submit a planning application towards the end of the year. People are asked to share their views here before September 4.

Martin Crews, development director at Capital and Centric, said: “We’re really pleased to see so many active and engaged comments from the community. People clearly care passionately about St Ives and its future, and that’s exactly why we’re holding the public event on Wednesday.

“We’ve heard quite a lot about what people don’t want, but now we really need to understand what they do want. What is St Ives missing? What would help the high street, support local businesses and make the town a better place to live? What problems and challenges should we be trying to solve?

“We want people to come along, challenge us, ask questions and, most importantly, share their ideas. Good regeneration shouldn’t be done to a town, it should be shaped with the people who know it best, and that’s what Wednesday is about.”

Having lost her father to skin cancer, she is urging people to get skin changes checked and practise sun safety

A skin cancer survivor is encouraging people across Ireland to take a more proactive approach to protecting their skin, as she believes early detection helped save her life.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, with over 11,000 new cases diagnosed every year. The National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) expects this number to double by 2040.

Liz Farrell, 46, from Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny was diagnosed with skin cancer after she noticed some small red bumps appearing on her forehead in May 2021.

Around the same time, her father, who worked outdoors as a builder and frequently ran outdoors, was living with advanced skin cancer which he later passed away from.

Seeing what her father went through motivated Liz to document and check the skin changes she noticed.

Commenting on her dad’s skin cancer and her own diagnosis, Liz said: “Because of my dad’s skin cancer – his was so severe that he ended up dying from it – I decided to keep an eye on the spots that appeared on my forehead.

“I went to my GP who referred me to a dermatologist and they removed the spots. It turned out that I had basal cell and squamous cell cancer removed from either side of my forehead. It was a shock.

“Dad’s skin cancer was so severe, it was an eye-opener. Only for my dad, I wouldn’t have been so vigilant about my skin, and it could’ve been a worst-case scenario for me.”

After this experience, Liz, who works as an early years educator, continued to pay close attention to her skin and in 2023 noticed another change that she decided to get checked and, more recently, a mole on her arm.

Liz revealed how being SkinSmart helped her to detect pre-cancerous growths on her skin after she was successfully treated for skin cancer.

“I noticed red spots appeared on my forehead where they’d been before,” Liz recalled.

“They were very small spots with a rough texture, and I noticed they were changing. They were removed and they were pre-cancerous, so I was treated with a chemo cream to be on the safe side.

“There was also a mole on my shoulder that I’d had all my life, but I noticed it started to change shape, and it got bumpier – that was removed last February and was pre-cancerous.

Liz is urging the public to document any skin changes they notice and take pictures of them as early detection is also vital. If spotted early up to 90 per cent of cases are curable. In the case of melanoma skin cancer spotting it early can save your life.

“My skin changes were small, but I took photos so I was able to document how rapidly they were changing and I could see the changes happening and could show my GP,” Liz said.

“They were all caught at an early stage. I’m very lucky. The only reason I’ve been so vigilant about my skin is because I saw what my dad went through with his skin cancer, and I was afraid that if I ignored anything it would grow to that extent.

“I truly believe that being aware of and proactive about skin changes has saved me from the worst-case scenario that my dad went through with skin cancer.”

Liz said she believes her skin cancer may be linked to sunburn she experienced as a child, as sunburn during childhood can increase your risk of developing skin cancer in later years.

Talking about her sunburn in childhood and the importance of being SunSmart, Liz said:”I’m very pale, I was outdoors all the time as a child and using sunscreen wouldn’t have been as regimented then as it is now, so I definitely got sunburnt a few times.

“My son is 20, and I’m always drumming into him the importance of wearing sunscreen, even on cloudy or overcast days. I wear sunscreen throughout the year now, and I’m cautious about being out in the sun.”

Kevin O’Hagan, Cancer Prevention Manager at the Irish Cancer Society, said: “As Liz’s powerful story shows, it’s important to check your skin regularly and go to your GP if you notice any skin changes, even if these changes are painless.

“These can be a new or changing mole, a flat red spot, a firm red lump, an ulcer or spot that is tender to the touch or rough and scaly patches.

“Early detection is vital – the sooner skin cancer is diagnosed, the more treatment options there are and the better the chance of cure. We want to ensure that the public are aware of the signs and symptoms of skin cancer and take action by contacting their GP if they notice any symptoms or have any concerns.”

Symptoms of skin cancer:

• A small lump
• Flat, red spot
• Firm, red lump
• A lump or spot that is tender to touch
• An ulcer that will not heal
• A lump with a scaly or horny top
• Rough, scaly patches
• A new or changing mole

Anyone with questions or concerns about skin cancer can contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700 or supportline@irishcancer.ie, or drop into their nearest Daffodil Centre.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Welcome to our Five in Five game.

The rules are simple. Each day we want you to give us five correct answers inside five minutes.

Will you beat the clock? Take part and return for more tomorrow.

Today’s question is set by BBC Sport’s Joe Rindl.

After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.

Researchers from Northumbria University are working alongside Bolton Council and Bolton NHS Foundation Trust to evaluate the impact of the Making Every Contact Count (MECC) programme across the borough.

MECC is an approach that encourages health, care and council staff to use everyday interactions with residents to support positive changes to physical and mental well-being.

The idea is that brief conversations during routine appointments and encounters can help people access support, improve their health, and prevent longer-term problems.

As part of the project, a dedicated training programme is being developed for NHS, council and social care staff in Bolton.

The training aims to build confidence in having conversations about health and well-being and ensure staff can make the most of every contact with residents.

Researchers are now seeking feedback from local residents, service users, and stakeholders to better understand how the programme is working and what improvements could be made.

People taking part will be able to share their views and lived experiences through individual or group feedback sessions lasting around an hour.

Sessions can be attended either online or in person.

The information gathered will form part of a wider evaluation of the MECC programme in Bolton and help identify what is working well, where changes may be needed, and how support for staff can be strengthened in the future.

Organisers say the findings could contribute to more effective training, better long-term support for frontline workers, and improved quality of care for local people.

For more information visit https://www.bolton.gov.uk/directory-record/7196/nhs-making-every-contact-count

All information provided as part of the study will be anonymised and securely stored, with a summary of the findings used in the final evaluation.

Residents interested in taking part are encouraged to come forward and help influence how health and well-being support is delivered across Bolton in the future.

For more information visit https://www.bolton.gov.uk/directory-record/7196/nhs-making-every-contact-count