Tuesday, August 18, 2026 Today's Paper

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BBC News Watch: BBC breaks down Trump's latest shift on North and South Korea Al Jazeera Vigil held in central London for late Cambridge professor Jason Arday France 24 Zambia's president Hichilema wins re-election with big economic promises BBC News Russia warns UK over supplying drones to Ukraine Al Jazeera Zambia’s Hichilema wins second term as president TUKO "KSh 4k paid to each youth": Details emerge on how Homa Bay chaos was planned Al Jazeera Trump rejects MoU extension with Iran as US claims total control of Hormuz Nation Africa 2026 Women’s Afcon: Surprise package Malawi play Cameroon in final France 24 Trump pauses controversial border construction in Texas national park BBC News UK weather: Thunderstorms could bring risk of flash flooding BBC News Ex-workers tell of 'chaotic atmosphere' at HMP Millsike BBC News The debate over young people taking prescription drugs instead of alcohol France 24 FIFA chief operating officer leaves after criticising Infantino investor plan Pulse Live Kenya How education is opening new opportunities for youth in Western Kenya Al Jazeera ‘We will not allow Gaza to be rebuilt’ until Hamas disarms, Kushner says Nation Africa Why we need a blueprint that outlasts politics Nation Africa Performance framework: Can Kenyans see results? Nation Africa Curb attacks on journalists Nation Africa Abuse of social media by teachers must stop France 24 Anti-migrants protesters gather outside SADC Summit People Daily Ndindi Nyoro proposes review of president’s wealth before exiting office K24 Digital What is extra legroom seat, and who can book one on Kenya Airways People Daily Presidential digital talent programme announces 350 internship positions Al Jazeera As rubble clears, Colombia begins focusing on recovery after the earthquake People Daily Passaris defends Wanga over Homa Bay dusty roads People Daily MP Stephen Mule: Kaluma’s remarks were a recipe for violence K24 Digital How to make creamy peanut butter at home with just a few ingredients Al Jazeera ‘Truth or fiction’: US trial of Tupac Shakur’s accused killer begins People Daily Mark Mwenje questions handling of political violence ahead of 2027 K24 Digital Could a drug designed for weight loss help athletes perform better? Standard Media Security failure? Interior chiefs on the spot over Homa Bay chaos People Daily NCIC seeks fresh power to clear candidates before elections Tech-ish Kenya Inside the China-only Honor Robot Phone: a 2.6g motor, two 200MP sensors, 7060mAh battery - tech-ish K24 Digital Nurse Judy explains why Gen Z and Gen Alpha will embrace nursing homes for parents Pulse Live Kenya The ‘Pop the Balloon’ show: See 5 brutal truths exposed about modern dating Kahawa Tungu A Buyer's Guide to Bidding Confidently at Vintage Guitar Auctions - Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu ‘It was a state-backed ambush,’ says Linda Mwananchi over Homa Bay chaos - Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu Trump threatens to bomb US ally Oman if it 'gets in the way' over Iran issue - Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu Kisii County office faces eviction over Sh2.4 million rent arrears - Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu Supreme Court again rejects Trump's bid to overturn E Jean Carroll sex abuse case - Kahawatungu K24 Digital Instagram, Facebook could change forever if Meta loses child privacy trial Daily Maverick Exploitation is species-blind, legal protections should be too Al Jazeera Trump’s approval rating sinks to new low Al Jazeera Torrential rains flood homes and roads across Lima, Peru Al Jazeera Trump loses another bid to overturn $5m E Jean Carroll verdict Al Jazeera Trump says Iran will not make the deal he believes is necessary Al Jazeera Civilians paying price as Israeli military raises stakes in Lebanon: UNIFIL Al Jazeera Palestinian American reunites with family under siege in West Bank People Daily People’s Party of Kenya: Details of Ndindi Nyoro’s new party K24 Digital The Diplomat season 4: Netflix reveals premiere date Citizen Digital Rodri arrives at Barcelona to complete 'dream' move People Daily Ledama vows to limit campaign period to 3 months if he becomes president Daily Maverick Spar and SAA lose their captains while becalmed in treacherous waters Daily Maverick The trouble with opinion polls in the run-up to the 2026 municipal elections Daily Maverick Matlala says he and Suliman Carrim âused to visitâ alleged Big Five cartel boss Daily Maverick Mining rights vs social licence â why trust is the ultimate currency Daily Maverick When food runs short, gogo Toti goes hungry so grandchildren can eat Tech-ish Kenya Airtel turns on Starlink Mobile in DRC, the first commercial satellite-to-phone service in Africa - tech-ish K24 Digital Tributes to actress Hayden Panettiere as coroner finds no signs of trauma Pulse Live Kenya New Swift Academy programme opens doors for Nairobi's emerging music talent Pulse Live Kenya PPK: Details of party Ndindi Nyoro joined after ditching UDA BBC News Jason Arday's family 'still coming to terms' with his death as supporters attend vigil K24 Digital Nilikuwa partyless: Influencer Mercy Masai speaks after joining Gachagua’s DCP Party Nation Africa Court halts extradition of three Kenyans to US over fraud case Daily Maverick Thrive by Five, the early childhood development monitor driving data-led development Daily Maverick Votersâ impossible question â how to factor in partiesâ coalition choices? Daily Maverick Gill nets galore in Kosi lakes, despite illegal fishing clampdown Daily Maverick Officers charged in R228m âCatâ Matlala fraud case resume police duties BBC News Fifa: Kevin Lamour leaves after criticising president Gianni Infantino People Daily Irungu Nyakera drops Nairobi governor bid to vie for Makadara MP seat Citizen Digital Coventry sign Nigeria striker Awoniyi from Forest K24 Digital YouTube announces major change to how video views will be counted K24 Digital Manchester United to reject any bid for Bruno Fernandes TUKO What is Harold Ford Jr's ethnicity? All about his parents and family Daily Maverick Los Angeles gang leader masterminded Tupacâs drive-by killing, prosecutor tells jury Skift Travel News Google Scoops Up Spirit Airlines' Data in Bankruptcy Sale to Train AI People Daily Kenya's Cohesion Body Summons Homa Bay MP Peter Kaluma Al Jazeera Death toll from capsized ferry in Zimbabwe rises to 92 Al Jazeera Photos: Search for Indonesia earthquake victims continues Al Jazeera Gaza flotilla sets sail from the UK in bid to break Israeli siege Al Jazeera Why did Trump scale back war games with South Korea? Nation Africa Ndindi Nyoro joins United Opposition after UDA exit Business Daily Inside 10 firms holding 60.5pc of State tenders K24 Digital Natalie Githinji undergoes surgery, remains in ICU under observation Daily Maverick Trump approval falls to 33%, lowest of his presidency, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds Al Jazeera Russia maintains election ban on opposition Yabloko, jails deputy head Al Jazeera Russian politician sentenced to 11 years for opposing war in Ukraine Skift Travel News The Substack Renaissance in Travel Media Comes With a Catch People Daily James Orengo welcomes Ndindi Nyoro to join Linda Mwananchi shortly after ditching UDA party Nairobi Leo MP Ndindi Nyoro Announces UDA Exit, Joins New Party K24 Digital How to protect your hearing at loud political rallies and concerts TUKO Beyond Tourism: Discover what you can do on a Standard Visitor visa in the UK Citizen Digital S.African anti-migrant march gathers near southern Africa summit People Daily Ndindi Nyoro: Kenyans were central in my political journey France 24 Netanyahu, Kushner agree US general to verify Hamas disarmament before Israel withdraws from Gaza TUKO Ndindi Nyoro joins United Opposition, dumps Ruto and UDA DW News UAE economy: On the verge of collapse or on way to recovery? 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K24 Digital Kaluma Boy promises full accountability for funds Kenyans contributed Citizen Digital Scottish FA withdraws support for FIFA boss Infantino Citizen Digital Ndindi Nyoro dumps UDA, joins opposition ahead of 2027 elections Al Jazeera Netanyahu’s Likud Party holds primaries ahead of Israel’s general elections Al Jazeera Britain deploys military as wildfires spread across Europe Al Jazeera Explosion reported at school in Afghan capital Kabul Citizen Digital Police vows to pursue organisers, financiers of Homa Bay rally violence Business Daily NSSF seeks to build city on 1,000-acre Mavoko land KBC Digital Govt reaffirms commitment to strengthening cancer care TUKO Kenya stages first full HYROX-Style fitness race attracting 140 athletes TUKO Oman takes action: Nearly 3,000 workers deported amid labor law violations People Daily It was trial and error: Ndindi Nyoro says Ruto administration fell short after campaign promises K24 Digital How to keep fresh button mushrooms firm and slime-free in your fridge K24 Digital Ways to repair dark and rough elbows during the chilly August weather Al Jazeera Democrats rebuke Trump over scaling back military drills with South Korea Al Jazeera Somali army clashes with rebel forces for control of key city Baidoa Al Jazeera War on Iran: Phase II, Day 37 Al Jazeera British PM Burnham duped by White House impostor Al Jazeera Palestinians, Israelis sceptical of Gaza plan as Kushner visits region TUKO "Two ways to prove it": Germany lays down financial law for students visa K24 Digital Kenya Power lists areas in Homa Bay and 8 other counties to experience power outages on Tuesday, August 18 Business Daily Costly fuel pushes Kenya near record Sh1trn trade deficit Business Daily State plans monthly switch bonds to ease debt pressure Business Daily High Court limits use of liquidation in shareholder disputes Skift Travel News Lawsuit Against Delta Raises a Bigger Question: How Airlines Use Carbon Offsets Nairobi Leo 37 Arrested as NPS Launches Crackdown After Homa Bay Rally Violence Kahawa Tungu Ronaldo says 'probably' in last year of career - 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Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu Mats Wieffer Siblings: Meet Rens and Bente Wieffer - Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu Burnham exchanged messages with person posing as Trump's chief of staff - Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu Tijjani Reijnders Siblings: Meet Syane and Eliano Reijnders - Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu Jorrel Hato Siblings: Getting to Know Elgyn Hato - Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu 37 suspected gang members arrested in connection with Homa Bay chaos - Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu Trump envoy Kushner meets Netanyahu after Hamas talks on peace plan - Kahawatungu Kahawa Tungu Donya defends Ruto as she courts Bonchari voters with empowerment drive - Kahawatungu K24 Digital 2Mbili unveils new BMW X3 after series of accidents K24 Digital 146 pedestrians killed in July 2026, down from 178 in 2025 – NTSA credits footbridge crackdown K24 Digital HELB details how continuing students can apply for 2026/2027 subsequent loans via USSD Bizna Kenya Your flight is delayed; your opinion isn't People Daily Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it gets in the way of ending Iran war TUKO "Nilikuta amefura": Gachagua recalls wife getting angry after dancing with Nyamu TUKO Jobs and skills: Matungu TVC changes the game for Kakamega youth Citizen Digital Linda Mwananchi demands probe into Homa Bay violence, names Wanga, Kaluma Citizen Digital Migori Youth out to keep Premier League status in debut season - 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Education Global Wire Breaking

Five key takeaways from results day 2026

BBC News Wire source
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Read original at BBC News

Five key takeaways from results day 2026
Education · The Horizon Wire

- Published

Results for A-levels, T-levels, BTecs and other vocational qualifications are out.

And this year, they've come at a time when all eyes are on what teenagers decide to do next.

Universities are keen to get them through the door. As they grapple with their finances, they know that every filled seat in a lecture hall comes with tuition fee funding.

The new prime minister, meanwhile, wants to carve out clear routes into technical jobs that can rival the well-established path of A-levels and a university degree.

For teenagers, considerations about the immediate and long-term cost of university, as well as the availability of other options, are all in the mix.

Here are the standout things you need to know.

1. Top A-level grades edge up

About 40% of 18-year-olds in England receive A-levels every summer, and this year top A-level results across the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland have risen for a third year running.

Overall, 28.5% of grades were marked at A* or A, up from 28.3% last year.

The results are still much lower than they were in 2020 and 2021, when exams were cancelled and results were based on teachers' assessments.

After that, there was a concerted effort to bring them back down. Grading in England returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2023 â prompting a big fall in top grades â while Wales and Northern Ireland followed suit in 2024.

The proportion of top grades across the three nations combined has been slightly creeping up since that drop in 2023.

The proportion of A-levels marked at A* and A was:

28.3% in England, up from 28.2% in 2025

29.6% in Wales, up from 29.5%

30.7% in Northern Ireland, up from 30.3%

You can see how results were in your local area using the look-up tool below.

2. More students taken on at most selective universities

A record number of 18-year-olds in the UK have been accepted into university, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) - with more than ever getting into their first choice.

The steepest growth has been in acceptances to what Ucas calls "higher tariff" universities. These are the most selective institutions, like those in the Russell Group.

They have taken on 5.5% more UK 18-year-olds than last year, and many are still advertising courses in Clearing.

Nick Hillman, chief executive of the Higher Education Policy Institute, said a fall in the number of postgraduate international students had freed up resources for universities to teach more UK undergraduates, and the Russell Group stressed its members would "only admit students who show evidence of being able to succeed".

Still, four in 10 universities in England are expected to report a financial deficit in 2025-26, squeezed by a long-term freeze in domestic tuition fees and a fall in international student numbers. Taking on more UK students may offer some financial stability for those selective universities, but other institutions will be hoping to recruit more students through Clearing.

Jo Saxton, chief executive of Ucas, told the BBC the sheer amount of courses listed in Clearing meant teenagers could "absolutely still go to university in the autumn if that's what they would like to do".

That might be welcome news for some. While the raw number of 18-year-olds getting into their first choice has risen, there are more of them in the population than in previous years - and the actual percentage of 18-year-old offer-holders in England, Wales and Northern Ireland getting into their first choice has fallen from 82% to 79%.

Universities aren't the only ones worried about their finances. Teenagers, too, are concerned about the cost of going to university, and Saxton said many were using Clearing to find courses closer to home.

But ultimately, the percentage of UK 18-year-olds applying to university has remained stable, and worries about the long-term costs - with rising tuition fees and widespread criticism of the student loans system - do not appear to have put teenagers off.

3. Teenagers are keen on technical skills

This is the fifth year of T-level results in England, and the number of students getting grades has rocketed as their rollout continues.

More than 19,600 students received grades in 21 subjects this year, up from 11,900 students across 18 subjects last year.

This will be welcome news for the new prime minister, who says he wants pupils in England to be able to study technical subjects in addition to core academic learning from Year 10.

The pass rate increased slightly from 91.4%, according to last year's provisional results, to 92.6%. And the percentage of students achieving a merit or above grew from 65.3% to 68.9%.

The dropout rate remains high, though â and some students take longer than the standard two-years to complete the course. Around 77% of students who started their T-level in 2024, and were therefore expected to complete it this year, have received results.

T-levels are among the 300,000 grades for vocational and technical qualifications released today.

That's still much smaller than the number of A-level grades given out (more than 800,000 among 18-year-olds alone).

But there are indications that interest in technical education is on the rise. According to Ucas, engineering and technology subjects saw the biggest growth in university acceptances, up 16% from last year.

4. Regional gap grows in England

Technical education won't be the only thing standing out to Andy Burnham and his ministers today, especially after their recent meeting in No 10 North.

The gap between the highest- and lowest-performing regions in England has grown again.

In London, 32.7% of A-level grades were marked at A* or A. In the North East and the East Midlands, it was 23.1%.

That's a 9.6 percentage point gap â up from 9.2 last year, when the North East alone was the lowest-performing region. It's also the largest gap on record since the A* was introduced in 2010.

In fact, the gap between London and all other regions has widened since last year.

Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said the regional gaps were driven by "persistent long-term disadvantage".

Chris Zarraga, director of Schools North East, said schools in different parts of England were "not operating on a level playing field".

He pointed out that the percentage of A* and A grades in the North East had grown, but London had "moved significantly further ahead", adding: "There is a structural divide in the circumstances and opportunities surrounding them."

But Myles McGinley, managing director of Cambridge OCR, said there were also "severe inequalities within the capital itself" between Richmond and Hounslow, for example, as well as between areas in the North East like Durham and Hartlepool.

5. Gap between boys and girls widens

More A* and A grades went to girls than boys this year â 137,000 compared to 120,900.

But more girls sit A-levels in the first place, and looking at the percentage of boys and girls getting these top grades suggests that boys are actually doing better.

This year, 28.9% of all grades given to boys were A*s and As, compared to 28% of grades given to girls.

It used to be the other round, and last year was the first year boys overtook girls in this respect since 2018. Now, that gap has widened.

Girls are still outperforming boys when you look at a broader range of grades, though.

For example, 79.8% grades given to girls were marked A* to C, compared to 76.8% of boys' grades.

Additional reporting by Phil Leake, Libby Rogers, Rob England, Isobel Cottam and Jess Carr

Reporting originally appeared via BBC News. Read the full source for additional context.