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ABC News provides a live blog for the AFL’s round 24, covering four matches with significant implications for the top 10: Carlton versus Fremantle, Melbourne versus the Western Bulldogs, Geelong versus Richmond, and Adelaide versus GWS. Fremantle entered Saturday on top of the ladder, while Carlton had already qualified for the wildcard round and could finish as high as ninth. Melbourne was still pursuing a top-four position, Geelong was seeking to secure a top-six place, and Adelaide remained in contention to avoid a wildcard elimination match. At the latest update in the supplied article, Carlton led Fremantle 8.7 (55) to 6.8 (44) at half-time at Docklands Stadium. Fremantle initially led by 23 points, but Carlton produced a strong late first-quarter and second-quarter surge, kicking seven of the match’s previous eight goals. Carlton’s Sam Walsh was influential, recording 14 disposals, six score involvements and four inside-50 entries by the second term. Brodie Kemp also played a prominent role, contributing goals and creating opportunities for teammates. Frankie Evans had kicked three goals for the Blues. Fremantle’s comeback prospects were complicated by a calf injury to Brennan Cox, who left the field and was expected to miss the remaining three quarters. The Dockers also endured a scoreless period of more than 30 minutes before Michael Frederick ended their second-quarter goal drought late in the term. The blog also reports on controversy at the Sydney Swans, where five players were stood down for breaching club standards around drinking and staying out late. Former Swans assistant Josh Francou said the incident would not have occurred under former coach John Longmire, citing Longmire’s emphasis on preparation, accountability and the club’s culture. The supplied excerpt ends during the Carlton-Fremantle match, before results from the other scheduled games are provided.

A 15-year-old boy is in critical but stable condition in Gosford Hospital after allegedly being stabbed at Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast on Friday night. Emergency services were called to a home on Painters Lane at about 9:45pm after the injured teenager reportedly sought help from residents. Paramedics treated him for what police described as a single stab wound to the left side of his body, involving heavy bleeding, before taking him to hospital. He has since undergone surgery. Brisbane Water Police District officers established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Police believe two groups of teenagers met in the Terrigal area and went to Painters Lane. The injured boy was reportedly with two friends, while the other group may have included up to five people. Detective Chief Inspector John Zdrilic said investigators had not established why the groups met or whether there was a prior relationship between them. Police also believe there may not have been a confrontation between the groups at Painters Lane. A strike force has been established, but no weapon has been recovered and no person of interest has been identified. Police are seeking to speak with members of the second group and have asked anyone with information, CCTV recordings or dash-cam footage from the area to contact them. Detective Chief Inspector Zdrilic also issued a warning about young people carrying knives in public, saying police would take action against anyone found carrying a knife without a lawful reason.

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan says he feels sorry for the Sydney Swans after five players were suspended for the remainder of the AFL season for breaching club standards. The sanctions followed an incident at Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel early on Monday, with a police investigation still underway. Sydney has also disputed claims that more than five players were present in the hotel room. The suspensions of Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon have significantly weakened the second-placed Swans ahead of the finals. Club chairman Andrew Pridham said the penalties could “torpedo” Sydney’s premiership hopes. Coach Dean Cox has rejected suggestions that he was responsible for the incident, while captain Callum Mills said the five players had let the team down. Sydney is likely to meet reigning premier Brisbane in a qualifying final at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Brisbane effectively secured third place with a 63-point victory over Collingwood, although Hawthorn could still overtake the Lions on percentage. Fagan said he was satisfied that Brisbane had secured a top-four finish and a double chance, regardless of whether it faced Sydney or another opponent. Although Fagan acknowledged that the remaining Sydney players could be galvanised by the scandal and become more difficult to defeat, he said he felt sorry for the club because of its strong reputation. He described the situation as a “head-scratcher” and questioned what the suspended players had been thinking. Fagan said he had not discussed the scandal directly with his players because the extensive publicity made the consequences clear. Sydney will face North Melbourne in a dead rubber on Sunday, with James Rowbottom, Harry Cunningham, Angus Sheldrick, Caiden Cleary and Tom Hanily replacing the suspended players. The match follows Sydney’s AFLW game against Essendon as part of a double-header.

Delhi is moving to phase out petrol- and compressed-natural-gas-powered small vehicles in an effort to reduce its severe air pollution. The government will prohibit new non-electric auto rickshaws from January 2027, followed by new non-electric motorcycles and scooters from April 2028. The measures target more than six million small vehicles registered in the city, including over 95,000 auto rickshaws. The policy has alarmed many rickshaw drivers, who say electric vehicles are too expensive and could threaten their livelihoods. Drivers typically earn only a few hundred rupees a day, while an electric rickshaw costs between 250,000 and 300,000 rupees. A drivers’ welfare group led by Indrajeet Sachdeva is considering a legal challenge, arguing that the government should allow more time for the transition. The article explains that Delhi’s rickshaws were switched from two-stroke petrol engines to compressed natural gas in 2001 following a Supreme Court order. However, Delhi remained the world’s most polluted urban area in 2025, and experts estimate transport contributes between one-third and one-half of the city’s pollution. Researchers also say CNG vehicles emit nitrogen oxides that contribute to secondary particulate matter. Although electric rickshaws are expanding rapidly, the transition faces significant obstacles. Many vehicles use imported battery systems without adequate cybersecurity checks, making them vulnerable to remote disabling through malicious smartphone applications. The government recently ordered Google and Apple to remove some battery-management apps linked to such attacks. Charging infrastructure is another major concern. Most rickshaw owners reportedly lack space to charge at home, while public battery-swapping stations have experienced technical and availability problems. Experts believe smaller electric vehicles will place less strain on the grid than cars, buses or trucks, but they acknowledge that charger access, safety rules and infrastructure must improve before Delhi’s electrification policy can succeed.

The article reports that Melbourne father Khaled Malas, 37, has been missing since the evening of Wednesday, August 19, after allegedly being shot in the chest during a dispute at a home in Wildwood, in the city’s north-west. Police have launched a large-scale search for a man they have not publicly named but whom the ABC understands to be Malas, who lives in Meadow Heights. Police allege the shooting occurred at about 7:20pm. Mohammed Aboueid, 56, has been charged with intentionally causing serious injury. He appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday night and is due to return to court in November. The ABC understands the dispute may have involved a $500,000 debt. Investigators have expressed significant concern for Malas’s welfare and said it is likely he has succumbed to his injuries. His family and friends have also voiced fears for his safety. A long-time friend described Malas as a successful auto truck electrician and a humble, hardworking man who loved his young family. The friend said the news had been devastating for those close to him. Loved ones have circulated a flyer stating that Malas was last seen on August 19. Police are appealing to anyone with information about the shooting, Malas’s disappearance or his possible whereabouts to contact them. The case remains an active investigation, while Aboueid’s court proceedings are ongoing.

The article examines Próspera, a privately run libertarian enclave on Roatán, a Caribbean island belonging to Honduras. Created in 2017 under Honduras’s former ZEDE legislation, Próspera is designed as a “startup city” with minimal government oversight, low taxes and extensive legal autonomy. Businesses can select regulations modeled on those of more than 30 countries or propose entirely new rules. The zone also uses private arbitration, Bitcoin and its own building and regulatory codes. The article introduces Alice Chen, a Canadian biohacker developing a live algae drink that she claims could extend human life by 20 years. She moved to Próspera because its regulatory framework allows her to test the product with volunteers without the approvals required in Canada. Her project reflects the community’s concentration of biohackers, technology entrepreneurs and cryptocurrency supporters. Founder Erick Brimen presents Próspera as a tool for attracting investment, creating jobs and reducing poverty. The company says it has raised almost $200 million and attracted about 500 businesses, while supporters argue that privately operated jurisdictions could provide stability in countries affected by corruption and crime. Próspera’s backers include venture capital firms linked to prominent Silicon Valley figures such as Peter Thiel, Sam Altman and Marc Andreessen. However, the model has generated intense opposition in Honduras. Critics argue that Próspera operates as a “state within a state,” weakens national sovereignty and provides limited benefits to a country where more than half the population lives in poverty. The former Honduran government attempted to abolish the ZEDE framework, while opponents say the project grants a foreign company excessive control over law enforcement, taxation, courts, policing, construction and regulation. The article presents Próspera as both an ambitious experiment in governance and a controversial challenge to democratic accountability and state authority.

Japan has executed Sunao Takami, 58, who was convicted of starting a fire at a crowded pachinko parlour in Osaka in 2009. Takami spread gasoline and threw a lit match, causing the building to become engulfed in flames. Five people died and 10 others were injured. He was convicted of murder, attempted murder and arson by the Osaka District Court in 2011 and sentenced to death. His appeals were rejected in 2016 when Japan’s Supreme Court upheld the penalty. The execution by hanging took place on Friday and was ordered by Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi. It was the first execution carried out under the government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Hiraguchi described the fire as having caused extremely serious consequences and said the victims would have experienced unimaginable fear and pain. He said he had ordered the execution only after careful consideration. The case has renewed scrutiny of Japan’s death-penalty system. Japan has 100 people on death row, including 43 who are seeking retrials. Along with the United States, Japan is the only G7 country that continues to carry out executions, despite most countries having abolished capital punishment. Executions in Japan are conducted in secrecy, and prisoners are generally informed only on the morning they are hanged. Although the government has disclosed the names of some executed prisoners and limited details of their crimes since 2007, Hiraguchi said he did not intend to expand disclosure, arguing that additional information could harm the mental state of death-row inmates. He also defended hanging as a legally valid method, citing Supreme Court rulings that it is not more cruel than lethal injection, electrocution or shooting. The execution occurred during a parliamentary recess, prompting criticism that the timing was intended to avoid public debate. Hiraguchi denied that this was deliberate. The article also notes that Japan has a relatively low crime rate but has experienced several high-profile mass killings in recent years.

ABC News’s live blog follows the first day of the second Test between Australia and Bangladesh in Mackay. Australia’s Mitchell Starc produced a devastating new-ball spell, taking five wickets as Bangladesh’s top order collapsed and the visitors were bowled out for just 64. The performance put Australia in a commanding position early in the match. Australia then began its reply, but Bangladesh’s bowlers struck back. Matt Renshaw, returning to Test cricket and under pressure to make a substantial score, made 8 before edging a delivery from Taskin Ahmed to the slips. Travis Head appeared to settle quickly, scoring 22 and striking several boundaries, but was then bowled after attempting to cut a ball from Shoriful Islam that seamed back into him. The dismissal was described as a familiar weakness in Head’s technique. At the latest update, Australia was 2-40, with Marnus Labuschagne at the crease alongside the surviving batter. Labuschagne endured a nervous passage against Taskin, edging one ball for four and narrowly avoiding further trouble. Head and Renshaw’s dismissals ensured Bangladesh remained competitive despite its extremely low total. The live commentary provides detailed descriptions of each over, including Bangladesh’s unsuccessful leg-before-wicket appeals against Head and the decision not to review one appeal. Umpire Menon was praised for correctly identifying that Taskin had struck Head’s pad rather than the ball. The coverage also noted an interruption caused by a Cricket Australia staff member standing in the sightscreen area, which drew criticism from the commentator. Overall, the report combines rapid score updates, technical analysis of bowling and batting, and commentary on the pressure facing Australia’s batters.

The Mundi Mundi Bash music festival near Broken Hill is proceeding with its final day after heavy rain caused major disruption to the event’s campground. Around 75 millimetres of rain fell at the festival site over 11 days—equivalent to roughly one-third of Broken Hill’s annual rainfall—turning large parts of the camping area into mud and making access difficult for vehicles. Organisers prevented thousands of ticket holders from using the campsite after cars became bogged during arrivals on Monday night. A further 2,000 people were expected the following day, but organisers determined that the campground could not safely accommodate them. Between 25 and 30 per cent of the camping area became unusable, while about 10,000 people were still able to attend the festival. Approximately 15,000 people had originally been ticketed. Improved weather has allowed the festival to continue. After two relatively dry days and sunshine on the final day, organisers opened the gates to people who had been turned away but remained in Broken Hill, allowing them to attend the day’s events free of charge. Founder and organiser Greg Donovan said the festival’s full program had been delivered, including performances by Jessica Mauboy, Troy Cassar-Daly and the Teskey Brothers. The final day’s lineup includes The Whitlams, Baby Animals, John Butler and Jon Stevens. Donovan said the restrictions were made with safety in mind, given the saturated conditions and the risk of vehicles becoming trapped. Despite the weather-related difficulties, the festival has continued, with the improved conditions enabling more music fans to take part in its concluding day.

In Renmark, a regional town in South Australia’s Riverland, groups of boys aged roughly 10 to 16 have formed informal cycling groups known affectionately as the “bike boys”. Rather than the motorcycles and antisocial behaviour associated with the term “bike gang”, these children spend their after-school and weekend hours riding pushbikes, performing tricks, racing and meeting friends around town. Eleven-year-olds Jude Clark and Christos Babaniotis are among the regular riders, and say the groups often merge as they encounter one another. They describe the activity as social rather than competitive, although some boys compare their wheelies and other skills. Jude’s parents, Daniel and Nicole Clark, were initially hesitant to allow him to ride around town without adult supervision. Over time, however, Jude’s persistence and responsible behaviour earned their trust. They say the freedom has helped him become more confident, independent and socially capable. He now makes decisions for himself, manages money while out, and spends time with friends at the Clarks’ home, where bikes and outdoor games have replaced screen-based activities. The parents believe cycling has helped their children build resilience and leadership, while also giving them a childhood involving exploration, manageable risks and social interaction. Cyber psychology researcher Jocelyn Brewer supports a balanced approach to screen use and says young boys benefit from being physically active, exploring their environment and developing communication skills with peers. She also notes that many children continue to experience the effects of social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The article suggests Renmark’s close-knit regional community is central to the arrangement. Parents feel reassured because neighbours, relatives and family friends know the children and can keep an informal eye on them. The boys understand that continued freedom depends on behaving responsibly. Despite appreciating their parents’ trust, Jude and Christos make clear that the cycling group is for children only: “Nup, no parents allowed.”

A third woman connected to an alleged sexual assault incident involving Sydney Swans players has engaged Slater and Gordon lawyer Jackson Pannam, who said potential civil legal action is being considered. According to Pannam, the woman contacted police immediately after the alleged assault at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne during the early hours of Monday, August 17. He described her as extremely distressed and said the incident had turned her “entire world upside down.” He also asked that her privacy, and that of the other women involved, be respected. The development follows an announcement by Carbone Lawyers that it represents two other women, believed to be adult entertainers, and is also examining a possible civil claim. Several adult entertainers reportedly joined Sydney Swans players at the hotel after being hired following the club’s victory over Essendon in Melbourne. Five players—Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon—have been stood down by the Swans for breaching club standards relating to drinking and staying out late. The club has stressed that no staff member is involved in the police investigation and said no player has yet been interviewed by police. It also addressed claims that other men were present in the hotel room central to the allegations. Victoria Police detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad continue to investigate. Police said the circumstances were still being established and that a number of people had been spoken to, but confirmed that no arrests had been made and no charges had been laid. Because the investigation remains active, police declined to provide further details about the circumstances, movements of detectives, or interviews and statements. The article reports the legal representation and ongoing investigation without determining the allegations’ validity.

The article reports on testimony from Lindsay Clancy’s family during her triple-murder trial in Massachusetts. Clancy, a former labour and delivery nurse, is accused of killing her three children—Cora, Dawson and eight-month-old Callan—in January 2023 before attempting suicide by jumping from a bedroom window. The killings themselves are not disputed at trial; the central issue is whether Clancy was criminally responsible for her actions. Her defence attorney, Kevin Reddington, argues that Clancy was suffering from postpartum psychosis, a serious condition associated with childbirth, sleep deprivation and hormonal changes. The defence says she repeatedly sought medical assistance, was prescribed several psychiatric medications and received fragmented care from doctors who did not adequately communicate with one another. Family members testified that she had become anxious, paranoid, suicidal and afraid to sleep alone. Her mother and former mother-in-law described her as repeatedly asking for help and expressing fears that she had become dependent on benzodiazepines. Prosecutors have challenged the defence’s portrayal of Clancy’s mental state. They highlighted that she performed ordinary activities on the day of the killings, including taking one child to a medical appointment, playing with the children in the snow and sending photographs to her husband. Her doctors testified that they had not observed signs of mania or psychosis, although she had repeatedly reported suicidal thoughts. Prosecutors also questioned the seriousness of her suicide attempt and challenged the objectivity of defence psychologist Paul Zeizel. Zeizel testified that he found no evidence Clancy was faking or exaggerating psychiatric symptoms and said psychosis can fluctuate while a person continues to perform routine tasks. Clancy has not testified, but has reportedly broken down in court during the proceedings. If convicted, she faces life in prison without parole. If found not criminally responsible, she would be committed to a state mental health facility.

Russell Goldfield (Louey Yeung Man) Jack AM, founder of Bendigo’s Golden Dragon Museum and a long-serving leader of the Bendigo Chinese Association, will be honoured with a Victorian state funeral on Saturday, August 29. The service will begin at 11am at Bendigo’s Ulumbarra Theatre, with doors opening at 9:45am, and will be live-streamed through the Victorian government website. Mr Jack died on August 11. The funeral will include a traditional Cantonese mourning lion ceremony, believed by the Jack family to be the first publicly observed in Bendigo in more than a century. A white mourning, or filial, lion will accompany Mr Jack from a private family ceremony and an altar blessing at the Golden Dragon Museum to the public funeral service and then to Bendigo Cemetery. Unlike the colourful imperial dragons and celebratory lions associated with Bendigo’s Easter Festival, the white lion represents mourning, filial piety and respect for a deceased elder or community leader. Its bows and kneeling movements will be an act of solemn remembrance rather than entertainment. Mr Jack established the Golden Dragon Museum to preserve and share the traditions brought to the Bendigo goldfields by generations of Chinese Australians. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1993 for his service to Bendigo’s Chinese heritage and culture. Former premier Jacinta Allan and Premier Ben Carroll paid tribute to his influence and lifelong service to Bendigo and Victoria. The mourning lion was made by Hong Kong dragon maker Hui Ka Hung, whose company also created Dai Gum Loong, Bendigo’s newest imperial dragon. Members of the public will be invited to attend the cemetery ceremony, light a joss stick and participate in the farewell. The family will offer mourners a coin and sweet, following Cantonese funeral custom, symbolising a safe return from grief and bitterness to everyday life. The ceremony is intended to revive a living tradition and connect Bendigo’s present-day Chinese community with the generations who settled in the region during the gold rush.

Australia’s Wallaroos are set to face New Zealand’s Black Ferns in Auckland in a significant women’s rugby union Test match. The fixture marks Australia’s 100th women’s rugby Test, making it a landmark occasion for the Wallaroos. However, the team faces a formidable challenge: Australia has not defeated New Zealand in 30 previous meetings. The article previews the match and provides the announced starting lineups and replacements for both sides. New Zealand will be captained by Ruahei Demant, while Siokapesi Palu Sekona leads Australia. The Black Ferns’ starting team includes Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Elinor-Plum King, Maia Joseph, Ayesha Leti-l'iga, Amy du Plessis and Mererangi Paul, among others. Their replacements include Vici-Rose Green, Maddi Robinson, Ariana Bayler and Hannah King. The Wallaroos’ starting lineup features Brianna Hoy, Tania Naden, Eva Karpani, Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard, Piper Duck, Tia Hinds, Waiaria Ellis, Desiree Miller, Cecilia Smith, Maya Stewart and Faitala Moleka. The Australian replacements include Brittany Merlo, Allana Sikimeti, Bridie O’Gorman, Pia Tapsell, Emily Chancellor, Samantha Wood, Bienne Terita and Maddison Levi. Desiree Miller is highlighted as a player who will be hoping to find space to run against the Black Ferns. The ABC presents the match as a live text commentary event, allowing readers to follow the Test as it unfolds. The article is primarily a concise match preview and team announcement, emphasizing the historical significance of Australia’s milestone while acknowledging New Zealand’s dominance in the rivalry.

California state Senator Aisha Wahab has won a special election to represent California’s 14th Congressional District, defeating moderate Democrat Melissa Hernandez in a race that tested the influence of pro-Israel political spending. Wahab, a progressive who was raised in the district and is expected to become the first Afghan American member of Congress, will serve the remainder of former Representative Eric Swalwell’s term, which ends in January. She and Hernandez will face each other again in November for a full two-year term. The election was closely watched because pro-Israel groups spent millions of dollars supporting Hernandez and attacking Wahab. The United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, spent nearly $2.5m, while BOLD America reportedly spent another $1.9m. One attack advertisement accused Wahab of weakening laws against sex trafficking involving minors, a claim she called misleading and countered by highlighting legislation she authored that made trafficking or soliciting minors a felony. The article links the race to broader debates over US policy toward Israel and the war in Gaza. Wahab had co-authored a California resolution condemning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and said at a candidate forum that she believed Israel’s actions constituted genocide. Hernandez said Israel had a right to defend itself but that the destruction in Gaza had gone too far. The article notes that public support for Israel has declined amid the war and that other progressive candidates have also overcome significant pro-Israel spending during the 2026 election season. Wahab’s legislative record has focused on economic and social justice, housing affordability, and a vetoed bill addressing caste-based discrimination. Her victory was praised by progressive Representative Ro Khanna, who said he looked forward to working with her on economic and foreign-policy issues.

The United Nations Security Council has held its second informal straw poll to assess candidates seeking to become the next UN secretary-general. Guyana’s ambassador, Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, emerged as the leading candidate, receiving eight “encourage” votes, three “discourage” votes and four members expressing no opinion. Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan and Rafael Grossi, the Argentine head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, followed with seven “encourage” votes each. Grynspan had led the first round of voting in July, while Grossi received a relatively high number of “discourage” votes in the latest poll. The remaining declared candidates are former Senegalese President Macky Sall, former Ecuadorian UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu and Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki. The election is being held because current Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will complete his second five-year term on December 31. Although the UN Charter does not formally limit the number of terms, no secretary-general has served more than two. The confidential straw polls are designed to measure support among the Security Council’s 15 members and gradually reduce the number of candidates before the council makes a formal recommendation to the General Assembly. A nominee requires at least nine votes in a formal council vote, and any of the five permanent members—the United States, China, France, Russia or the United Kingdom—can veto a candidate. Future rounds may provide more information about whether a candidate is opposed by a permanent member. The eventual successor will inherit an organization facing declining credibility and major geopolitical challenges. Critics argue that the UN has failed to prevent or resolve conflicts, including the war in Gaza and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, increasing the difficulty of restoring the institution’s standing.

A military air strike reportedly killed 14 people and injured 20 others at a Buddhist monastery in Swel Le Oh village, Myaung Township, in Myanmar’s central Sagaing Region. The attack, reported by the opposition-aligned Civil Defense and Security Organization of Myaung Township (CDSOM) and a local resident, occurred about 75km west of Mandalay. A fighter jet allegedly dropped two bombs on the monastery compound 15 minutes apart while more than 100 people were staying there for a weeklong Buddhist Lent retreat. Three of those killed were women. The local resident, who spoke anonymously to the Associated Press, said his mother-in-law died in the attack. BBC Burmese and local media reports placed the death toll between 10 and 14. Myanmar’s military did not immediately comment, although it has previously said its operations target only legitimate military objectives. The reported strike took place amid Myanmar’s civil war, which began after the army seized power from the elected government in February 2021 and violently suppressed nationwide protests. Opposition forces now include numerous ethnically and politically divided armed groups, while resistance forces and ethnic armies reportedly control a substantial portion of the country. Sagaing Region, where Myaung Township is located, is a major stronghold of armed resistance. The article also describes the conflict’s broader humanitarian consequences. More than 100,000 people have reportedly been killed and 5.2 million displaced, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s detained former civilian leader, remains under house arrest after being detained in the 2021 coup. The United Nations-established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar said aerial attacks escalated before elections held in December and January and have continued afterward. Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected that assessment, asserting that security forces target only “terrorists” and exercise restraint to limit civilian harm.

Authorities in Andhra Pradesh, India, are investigating the death of a six-year-old boy who reportedly collapsed after being slapped by a female teacher in a school classroom in Visakhapatnam. Security-camera footage, verified by Al Jazeera and later circulated by local media, appears to show the teacher holding the child by his clothes and striking him in the face before he falls.

A six-year-old Palestinian-British girl, Saja el-Khawas, has died in hospital several days after her parents and teenage sister drowned off the coast of Shoreham in Sussex, England. Sussex police said Saja was taken to hospital in critical condition on Tuesday after getting into difficulty in the water, but died on Friday. Her father, Hassan El-Khawas, 55, her mother, Zeina Alayn, 37, and her 14-year-old sister, Sara El-Khawas, 14, died at the scene. The family lived in London and had travelled to Shoreham for a beach visit while the United Kingdom was experiencing another heatwave. Police said their investigation remains open, although the current theory is that the incident was a tragic accident with no third-party involvement. The Daily Telegraph reported, citing the Palestinian embassy, that the family originally came from the Rashidieh refugee camp in southern Lebanon. Hassan reportedly arrived in the UK as a refugee and had previously lived in the camp, which is one of the largest Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the incident as a “terrible family tragedy.” The Palestinian Forum in Britain held a gathering on Thursday to commemorate the family. The report also places the deaths within a broader pattern of drownings across Europe, where people have sought relief from record heat. Incidents have been reported in France, Germany and the UK, highlighting the dangers associated with swimming or seeking respite in unfamiliar waters during extreme heatwaves.

Peruvian authorities have started helicopter evacuations in the Arequipa region after heavy rains triggered landslides that destroyed sections of the Southern Coastal Highway. The damage left dozens of people and vehicles stranded on the route for six days, or nearly a week, according to the report. The rescue operation is focused on reaching those cut off by the landslides and moving them to safety by air because sections of the highway have been destroyed or rendered inaccessible. The incident highlights the effects of severe weather and landslides on transportation infrastructure and travelers in southern Peru. The article, published on 22 August 2026, provides a brief news update on the emergency response but does not give further details about casualties, the exact number of people affected, the locations of evacuation points, or the extent of additional property damage. It also does not identify the government agencies or emergency services coordinating the helicopter operation. The central development is that rescue efforts are now underway after nearly a week of people being trapped along the damaged highway. The report frames the situation as an urgent response to weather-related destruction and prolonged isolation, with helicopters being used to evacuate stranded civilians and possibly their vehicles or passengers where road access is no longer possible.

The article reports that the United States’ national debt has surpassed $40 trillion, marking the first time in history that the debt has reached this level. It emphasizes that the total is increasing rapidly and frames the development as a significant financial issue for Americans, who ultimately bear the costs associated with government borrowing. Presented as an Al Jazeera NewsFeed video, the report is hosted or explained by journalist Emma Withrow. It promises to examine how the United States accumulated such a large debt, identify the creditors to whom the country owes money, and explain why the milestone matters. These questions suggest that the report is intended to provide context about the structure and consequences of US government debt rather than merely announce the total. The supplied article text does not provide detailed figures about the debt’s composition, name specific creditors, explain the causes of its growth, or describe possible policy responses. Instead, it functions primarily as a concise introduction to the accompanying video. Its central message is that the $40 trillion threshold is historically unprecedented, that the debt is growing quickly, and that the consequences are relevant to the American public. The wording creates a sense of urgency through phrases such as “officially surpassed,” “for the first time in history,” and “growing fast.” The reference to Americans being “left with the bill” presents the debt as a burden that may ultimately affect taxpayers and the broader public. Overall, the piece informs viewers about a major economic milestone while signaling that the video will analyze its origins, creditors, and implications.

US Vice President JD Vance returned to his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, for his first visit there since taking office, using a rally at the Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works steel plant to mobilize Republican voters ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections. The site was personally symbolic because Vance’s late grandfather worked there. Vance highlighted a $1bn Cleveland-Cliffs investment backed by $500m in government awards, presenting it as evidence that President Donald Trump’s administration is rebuilding American manufacturing and revitalizing the economy. He acknowledged that the process would take time but argued that economic progress was already underway, including efforts to make homeownership more affordable. The rally comes as Republicans seek to retain control of both chambers of Congress. A loss of either chamber could allow Democrats to block Trump’s legislative priorities during the final two years of his presidency. Economic conditions and affordability are central concerns for voters, but recent polling indicates that Democrats have gained an advantage over Republicans on economic issues. Pew Research Center polling in July showed 37 percent of respondents favoring the Democratic approach to the economy, compared with 36 percent favoring the Republican approach. Reuters-Ipsos polling also found a slight Democratic edge. Vance’s message contrasted with Trump’s recent dismissal of affordability concerns as a partisan “hoax.” He also used the event to attack Democrats, including former Senator Sherrod Brown, accusing him of failing to oppose Joe Biden’s immigration and economic policies. Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted, who was appointed to Vance’s former Senate seat, appeared with him at the rally. The article also reports that Vance repeated a false claim about Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and “Sharia law.” Ohio’s special Senate election and the governor’s race are viewed by Democrats as opportunities to regain ground in the increasingly conservative Rust Belt state. Trump’s approval rating stood at 33 percent in Reuters-Ipsos polling cited in the article.

A federal judge in Manhattan has struck down a Trump administration policy that suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to applicants from 75 countries. Judge Jeannette Vargas of the Southern District of New York ruled that the policy exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statutory authority and conflicted with federal immigration law. She described the policy as “patently unlawful,” emphasizing that Congress had explicitly denied the secretary of state authority over consular officers’ decisions on immigrant visas. The policy, introduced in January 2026, categorically blocked immigrant visa issuance based on applicants’ nationalities. It affected people from a broad range of countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Bosnia, Albania, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as nations across Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean. The State Department had justified the suspension by arguing that applicants from those countries posed a high risk of becoming a “public charge” and relying on government resources in the United States. Vargas issued her ruling in response to a lawsuit brought by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, African Communities Together, immigrant visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring family members. The plaintiffs argued that the policy unlawfully interfered with the visa process and harmed families. The ruling comes amid a broader immigration crackdown pursued by President Donald Trump. The Center for Constitutional Rights said the visa freeze followed a wider travel ban affecting 39 countries and a pause in diversity visa issuance. Civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups have raised concerns that the administration’s restrictions violate due process and free speech protections and encourage racial profiling, particularly against minorities. The State Department had not commented on the ruling at the time of publication.

At least 13 Tunisians are missing after a migrant boat sank off Tunisia while attempting to reach Italy, according to Mostafa Abdelkebir, head of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights. Two people were rescued. The boat reportedly departed early on Thursday, and one survivor said the passengers had been stranded at sea for hours after the vessel capsized. The second survivor was in critical condition. The incident occurred against the backdrop of major changes in migration from Tunisia. Once a principal departure point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean, Tunisia has seen departures fall sharply over the past two years. The decline has followed a government crackdown and tighter maritime controls, supported by European funding and modern border-monitoring equipment, particularly from Italy. The article also highlights criticism of the EU-Tunisia migration agreement. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and dozens of other humanitarian and human rights organizations said last month that the deal had contributed to serious abuses against migrants and asylum seekers in Tunisia. They called on the European Union to suspend funding for migration and border-control operations involving Tunisian security forces. Tunisia has not responded to that statement but has repeatedly argued that it is bearing the brunt of a significant migration influx. President Kais Saied said in 2023 that the influx was intended to alter the country’s demographic composition. The central Mediterranean route remains one of the world’s most dangerous migration corridors. It is used by migrants from Africa and the Middle East seeking to reach Europe, often in overcrowded or unseaworthy boats, exposing them to a high risk of capsizing, disappearance and death.

Boeing engineers and technical workers represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) have rejected the company’s proposed four-year contract, increasing the risk of a strike after the existing agreement expires on Oct 6, 2026. Engineers voted 64 per cent against the tentative agreement, while approximately 72 per cent of technical workers rejected it. The union’s 17,000 members also voted to authorize its negotiating team to declare a strike if necessary, although a walkout has not yet been called. The dispute centers largely on pay. Boeing’s offer included inflation-linked increases capped at 3 per cent, along with raises based on individual performance and other company-determined measures. Several workers told Reuters that the cap would leave their salaries behind the cost of living in the Seattle area, where the Consumer Price Index rose 4.5 per cent over the year through July. They also said the proposal compared unfavorably with compensation offered by competing companies. Boeing described the offer as the largest wage increase SPEEA members had received in 40 years. Boeing said it has begun implementing a strike contingency plan and will redirect funds originally intended for SPEEA employees toward preparations for a potential work stoppage. The company said it must protect production progress and meet customer commitments. SPEEA said its members want sustainable careers rather than merely jobs at Boeing and plans to survey them about what changes would be needed for contract approval. A strike could further delay certification campaigns for Boeing’s 737 Max 10 and 777-9 aircraft, both of which are already several years behind schedule. The engineers and technicians negotiate jointly but vote separately. SPEEA has not reached a new contract for its Northwest members since 2012, and its members last struck for 40 days in 2000. The dispute follows a seven-week strike by Boeing machinists in 2024 that halted commercial-airplane production in the Seattle area.

A six-year-old Palestinian-British girl, Saja El-Khawas, has died in hospital several days after her family got into difficulty in the sea off Shoreham on England’s southern coast, according to Sussex police. Saja was taken to hospital in critical condition on Aug 18, after emergency responders found that her father, Hassan El-Khawas, 55, her mother, Zeina Alayn, 37, and her 14-year-old sister, Sara El-Khawas, had died at the scene. The family lived in London and had travelled to Shoreham for a visit. They entered the water from a beach on the afternoon of Aug 18 before encountering difficulties. Police said their investigation remains open, but the current theory is that the deaths resulted from a tragic accident and that no third party was involved. The Daily Telegraph reported, citing the Palestinian embassy, that the family originally came from the Rashidieh refugee camp in southern Lebanon. The deaths occurred amid a period in which authorities and media were highlighting a rise in drownings and water-related incidents in Britain and Europe, although the article does not directly link this specific incident to those wider trends.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva remains ahead of Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in Brazil’s presidential election race, according to a Datafolha poll released on Aug. 21. In a simulated second-round run-off, Lula leads Bolsonaro by 47 per cent to 43 per cent. The one-point narrowing of Lula’s lead from July—when he led 48 per cent to 43 per cent—is within the poll’s two-percentage-point margin of error. Lula also leads the first-round field, with 39 per cent support, followed by Bolsonaro at 33 per cent. Ronaldo Caiado has 5 per cent, Renan Santos 4 per cent and Romeu Zema 3 per cent. If no candidate secures more than 50 per cent of valid votes, the top two candidates will proceed to a run-off, a scenario that has occurred in every Brazilian presidential election since 2002. The poll showed some deterioration in Lula’s public standing. His approval rating fell from 49 per cent in July to 47 per cent, while disapproval rose from 48 per cent to 50 per cent. The survey was the first Datafolha poll since Brazil’s official campaign period began, allowing candidates to actively seek votes. It was also conducted after the Supreme Court authorised the Federal Police to investigate Lula’s eldest son over suspected illicit business dealings involving the federal government. Bolsonaro’s support had previously declined after reports in May that he asked a now-jailed banker to finance a film about his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro. Datafolha surveyed 2,058 people beginning on Aug. 18.

Karoline Leavitt, the outgoing White House press secretary, will return to MAGA Inc., a pro-Donald Trump political fundraising group, after leaving the administration at the end of August. Leavitt, 28, previously worked for MAGA Inc. from 2022 to 2024 before joining Trump’s campaign and later becoming White House press secretary. MAGA Inc. is described as a pro-Trump super PAC. Such political action committees can raise unlimited funds and spend money to influence elections, including through advertising, provided they do not directly coordinate with candidates or their official campaigns. Leavitt said she would continue to appear alongside Trump at a Republican convention in Dallas, Texas, in early September, ahead of the November midterm elections. Leavitt was the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary. When reporters asked Trump about the search for her successor, he said he had received an unusually large number of job applications. Leavitt announced on Aug 12 that she would leave the post to spend more time with her family after giving birth to her second child in early May. The move represents a return to a political role for Leavitt and places her back within Trump’s campaign and fundraising network as Republicans prepare for the midterm elections. Her departure also begins a search for a new White House press secretary, while she remains connected to Trump’s political activities through MAGA Inc. and planned appearances at Republican events.

A US federal judge has invalidated a Trump administration policy that suspended immigrant-visa processing for applicants from 75 countries. US District Judge Jeannette Vargas, sitting in Manhattan, ruled on Aug 21 that the policy announced by the State Department in January exceeded Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s legal authority. She described the policy as “patently unlawful,” arguing that it conflicted with federal immigration law, which specifically limits the secretary of state’s authority over consular officers who process immigrant visas. The policy applied to applicants from a wide range of countries, including Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay in Latin America; Bosnia and Albania in the Balkans; Pakistan and Bangladesh in South Asia; and numerous countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean. The State Department had justified the suspension by saying applicants from those countries faced a high risk of becoming a “public charge” and relying on government resources in the United States. Judge Vargas issued the ruling in a lawsuit brought by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, African Communities Together, immigrant-visa applicants and US citizens sponsoring relatives from the affected countries. The groups challenged the suspension as unlawful. Vargas was appointed by former Democratic president Joe Biden. The State Department had not immediately commented on the decision. The ruling comes amid President Donald Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, which his administration says is intended to improve domestic security. Rights groups have accused the administration of violating free-speech and due-process rights and creating an unsafe environment for ethnic minorities, including through concerns about racial profiling. The decision could restore or require the resumption of immigrant-visa processing for applicants from the 75 designated countries, although the article does not specify the administration’s next legal steps.

Anthropic is preparing to take its artificial-intelligence business public, potentially in one of the largest initial public offerings ever, as public opposition to AI and data-center construction intensifies. According to people familiar with the matter, the company’s IPO prospectus is expected to identify negative sentiment toward AI and data centers as a material risk factor. Anthropic has confidentially filed to go public and has been conducting preliminary “test-the-water” meetings with bankers and investors in San Francisco. During those meetings, Chief Financial Officer Krishna Rao has reportedly faced questions about competition, pressure on margins from open-source AI models, and the possibility that data-center construction could slow. Anthropic, which develops the Claude AI system, is valued at nearly $1 trillion in private markets and could be valued at approximately $2 trillion when it floats, according to the sources. The company recently surpassed a $65 billion annual revenue run rate. The article places Anthropic’s plans within a broader infrastructure race involving OpenAI and major technology companies. Hyperscalers are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on data centers and graphics-processing units to support demand for advanced AI models and services. Because compute capacity is closely tied to revenue for AI companies, any slowdown in infrastructure development could undermine Anthropic’s rapid growth. Public resistance is significant: a May Gallup survey found that 70% of Americans opposed building AI data centers in their communities, while nearly half were strongly opposed. The issue is also becoming politically prominent ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has proposed data-center restrictions, while Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order imposing stricter development standards. Anthropic declined to comment. The company’s prospectus will be required to disclose such risks for investor transparency and legal protection.

President Donald Trump announced that the United States will temporarily allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef trimmings used for ground beef to enter the country over the next three months without the usual out-of-quota tariffs. He said importers had committed to selling the beef at 25% below current market prices and that he would sign an executive order formalizing the tariff waiver within two weeks. The administration has not identified the participating companies or foreign exporters. Trump framed the measure as a way to reduce grocery prices for working families while giving the U.S. cattle herd time to recover. The announcement comes as beef prices have risen sharply in 2026 because of drought, elevated feed costs and years of herd liquidation. The national cattle herd is reportedly at its smallest size since the 1950s. Republicans are increasingly concerned that high food prices could hurt their candidates in November’s congressional elections. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Republican senators Tim Sheehy of Montana and Deb Fischer of Nebraska criticized the policy. They argued that increasing foreign beef supplies could weaken cattle markets, harm domestic ranchers and undermine the longer-term goal of rebuilding the U.S. herd. Industry representatives described the tariff waiver as a short-term measure that does not address underlying supply problems. Under existing rules, beef imports within country-specific quotas face a small tariff, while imports above quota face a 26.4% tariff. However, economist Altin Kalo said imports are already arriving in record amounts and that the out-of-quota tariff has not been a major obstacle. He also noted that imported grinding beef is generally frozen and is used heavily by food-service companies, while many grocery stores primarily sell fresh ground beef. The policy’s effect on consumer prices therefore remains uncertain.

Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, defended President Donald Trump’s energy and economic policies during a campaign appearance with Vice President JD Vance at the Cleveland-Cliffs steel plant in Middletown, Ohio. Husted is seeking reelection this November and faces a potentially competitive challenge from former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Republicans are increasingly concerned that public backlash over data centers and their effect on electricity prices could threaten Husted’s Senate seat, which is important to the party’s effort to retain its majority. The National Republican Senatorial Committee recently described data centers as a “sleeper issue” in the election, warning that opposition could spread beyond Ohio. The state is home to several major data center proposals, including a planned 10-gigawatt campus in Pike County that could cost more than $500 billion. While voters have expressed concern about rising utility bills, Husted argued that higher electricity prices are primarily the result of Democratic energy policies and the closure of 23 Ohio power plants under the Obama and Biden administrations. The article notes, however, that aging plants have been closed under both Democratic and Republican administrations. Brown’s campaign countered that Husted helped secure tax breaks for data centers while serving as Ohio’s lieutenant governor, making him partly responsible for higher utility costs. Husted’s campaign did not immediately respond to that criticism. Husted also promoted the Trump administration’s support for Ohio manufacturing, citing a $500 million Department of Energy grant to Cleveland-Cliffs. The grant, originally awarded during the Biden administration for a hydrogen-powered furnace, will instead fund upgrades to the company’s blast furnace and artificial intelligence systems. Cleveland-Cliffs said it would match the grant, creating a $1 billion investment and employing more than 1,500 workers during construction. Husted characterized the project as a source of job, economic, and national security.

Two people were killed when a small ultralight plane flying from the Czech Republic crashed in the mountainous terrain of Croatia’s Paklenica National Park, approximately 60 kilometres northeast of the coastal city of Zadar. The victims were discovered late Friday by members of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, who located the wreckage after an hours-long search. Croatian police said the search for the missing aircraft ended at around 10 p.m., when rescuers found both the plane and two deceased occupants. Authorities have not released the nationalities of the victims. The aircraft’s destination was not specified, and officials have not yet provided information about the identities of those on board or the possible cause of the crash. The operation began after air traffic control raised an alarm at approximately 4 p.m. local time when the aircraft’s signal was lost. Rescue teams were subsequently deployed to the rugged, mountainous area and eventually located the wreckage. Police said the crash site would be secured for an on-site investigation early Saturday. The investigation is expected to examine the wreckage and surrounding area in an effort to determine the circumstances of the accident. No further details about weather conditions, the aircraft’s route, or whether any distress call was made were provided in the report. The incident was reported by The Associated Press, citing Croatian authorities. The fatalities and ongoing investigation are the only confirmed details available at the time of publication.

The article examines how fabricated polling data from an obscure organization called Median Strategies spread through the US political information ecosystem before being exposed as fake. The incident began when Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who is seeking reelection, shared a purported poll showing her leading fellow Democrat Nithya Raman by approximately 12 percentage points. The Bass campaign later deleted its post after Median Strategies admitted that the results were fabricated. Median Strategies had published at least three false polls covering Democratic primary or general-election contests in Wisconsin, Nevada, and Los Angeles. Before closing its website, the organization described itself as a short-term social experiment intended to test whether unverified polling information could spread online. However, it did not identify who conducted the experiment or explain its purpose. The Guardian later reported that Rahil Prakash, a 21-year-old recent college graduate, was behind the website, and quoted him saying he wanted to see whether fake polls could easily penetrate the political information system. The episode highlights the difficulty of evaluating political surveys in an environment crowded with polls produced by campaigns, super PACs, outside groups, and organizations using unclear methodologies. Experts noted that the Median Strategies polls lacked basic information, including who operated the firm, how respondents were selected, and the source of the voter file. Because of these omissions, major election-data organizations did not include the results. Republican pollster Chris Wilson said the problem extends beyond this single case because fabricated numbers can easily be made to appear credible, while campaigns and political groups have incentives to promote favorable findings before verifying them. The article notes that fraudulent polling admissions are rare but have occurred before, including a 2010 case involving Research 2000 and the Daily Kos blog.

A Myanmar military airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Swel Le Oh village, Myaung township, in the central Sagaing region, killed 14 people and injured 20 others, according to an opposition group and a local villager. The monastery was hosting more than 100 people attending a weeklong meditation retreat during Buddhist Lent. The attack occurred approximately 75 kilometres west of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. Nway Oo, a spokesperson for the Civil Defence and Security Organisation of Myaung Township, said a fighter jet dropped a bomb inside the monastery compound. A villager, whose mother-in-law was among those killed, said the aircraft dropped two bombs about 15 minutes apart. The second explosion damaged a nearby house. Three of the dead were women. After the attack, residents fled to a nearby community after cremating the victims’ bodies. The strike is the latest in a series of deadly air attacks carried out by Myanmar’s military against armed pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed groups. Such attacks frequently cause civilian casualties. It came one week after the UN-established Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar reported a “notable escalation” in military airstrikes in the months before elections held in December and January, adding that the attacks had continued unabated afterward. Myanmar’s foreign ministry rejected the UN mechanism’s findings. It said airstrikes and counterterrorism operations were limited to military targets, conducted in response to insurgent and terrorist groups, and carried out under rules of engagement designed to prevent civilian deaths. Myanmar has been embroiled in civil war since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Following a violent crackdown on protests, many opponents took up arms. The military has increasingly used airstrikes against resistance groups, including the People’s Defence Forces in Sagaing, while those groups have few effective means of defending against aerial attacks.

Two people were injured in a stabbing at the Nanaksar Gurdwara, a Sikh temple in Edmonton, Canada, early Friday morning. Edmonton police said they received a report at about 04:49 local time of a man walking in traffic on a highway. Approximately 15 minutes later, they received calls reporting a stabbing inside the temple. Police said a 27-year-old man entered the gurdwara and attempted to access the prayer area. Staff confronted him, and the confrontation escalated, resulting in the stabbing of two male worshippers. Witnesses intervened and detained the suspect until police arrived. The victims, aged 75 and 51, were taken for medical care and were not seriously injured; both were in stable condition. The suspect was known to police and has an extensive history of violent attacks dating back to 2015. Officials said he had been released from a federal prison in Alberta the previous day but failed to report to his designated halfway house in Edmonton. Charges had not yet been filed, and investigators were examining whether the attack was motivated by hateful ideology. The incident occurred amid concern about rising anti-Sikh hate in Canada. Police had recently confirmed investigations into threatening calls made to two Sikh gurdwaras in Calgary. The World Sikh Organization called the Edmonton attack deeply troubling and said a copy of Sikh scripture inside the temple had also been desecrated. Police said they were aware of the report and were investigating it. Edmonton Police Chief Warren Driechel cited rising political tensions and polarization as factors contributing to local concerns about hate crimes. The gurdwara was closed while the investigation continued. Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas condemned the earlier threats and emphasized that gurdwaras are welcoming places open to everyone.

Canada and the United States were racing to finalize a tentative trade agreement before a Friday-night deadline set by the Trump administration. Canada’s Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said negotiators still had work to do after spending approximately eight hours meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and other officials in Washington. Failure to reach an agreement could trigger a new wave of US tariffs on Canadian products. Although President Donald Trump said negotiations were “moving along,” the full framework had not been released. Leaked details indicated that the United States might reduce tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium from 50% to 25%, and on Canadian automobiles from 25% to 15%. In return, Canada was reportedly considering restoring sales of American alcohol, expanding access for US dairy producers, and removing retaliatory tariffs on US goods. The proposed arrangement has generated opposition in Canada. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre warned that one-sided tariffs would damage Canadian industry and contribute to de-industrialisation. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew urged the federal government not to rush into concessions, while Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette said she was assessing the effects on the province’s dairy farmers. Premiers in Nova Scotia and Yukon were more willing to restore US alcohol sales, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford had not commented. Businesses and local officials were pressing Prime Minister Mark Carney to secure a deal and avoid threatened additional tariffs of up to 50% on products including hockey equipment, wine and cement. Economist Trevor Tombe estimated that Canada could lose 90,000 jobs if those tariffs were imposed. The negotiations pose a political challenge for Carney, who campaigned on an assertive approach to Trump. Polling suggested that 56% of Canadians preferred a hardline stance, while leaked comments from US Vice-President JD Vance portrayed Carney as backing down on important issues.

Two-year-old conjoined sisters Heloísa and Helena Batista da Silva, who were joined at the head and shared brain tissue and blood vessels, died in Brazil shortly after undergoing their fifth and final separation surgery. The 15-hour operation took place at Hospital das Clínicas in Ribeirão Preto on Saturday, August 15, and involved more than 50 medical staff members. According to the report, both girls experienced severe haemodynamic instability, meaning inadequate blood flow to vital organs. After the twins were separated, one developed low blood pressure while the other suffered high blood pressure. Helena reportedly had a heart attack at 11:12 p.m., followed by Heloísa at 11:26 p.m. Doctors attempted to resuscitate the sisters for 25 minutes, but they were pronounced dead soon afterward. Plastic surgeon Jayme Farina Júnior said the children’s bodies had already been weakened by repeated bouts of pneumonia, a tracheostomy, a gastrostomy for feeding, and other medical complications. He said they could not withstand the instability caused by the final separation and subsequently suffered cardiac arrest. The sisters had undergone four earlier procedures during the previous year. The first three surgeries separated approximately 75% of their shared brain tissue and blood vessels. In the fourth operation, doctors inserted tissue expanders to create enough skin to close their skulls during the final procedure. Their father, Amarildo Batista da Silva, thanked the doctors and hospital staff despite the tragic outcome. Heloísa and Helena were buried on August 16 in São José dos Campos, near their family home.

Portuguese President António José Seguro has enacted a law that largely prohibits people from covering their faces in public. The measure has been described by Portuguese media as the “burqa law” because it is widely seen as targeting Muslim women who wear garments such as the burqa or niqab, although the law is written more broadly as a ban on coverings intended to conceal a person’s face or prevent identification. The Portuguese parliament adopted the final version of the measure in July, according to AFP. Violations can result in fines ranging from 150 euros to 3,000 euros, equivalent to approximately $175 to $3,500. The law also prohibits forcing another person to cover their face because of gender, religion, age or origin. The legislation includes several exemptions. Face coverings are permitted for health-related reasons, professional activities, artistic expression and protection from weather. They are also allowed in places of worship, diplomatic missions and on aircraft. The article notes that the law’s provisions are connected to broader European debates over public identity, religious expression, gender equality and security. A statement from the president’s office said that an uncovered face is a defining element of social trust and Portuguese society. It cited social integration, gender non-discrimination and security, as well as decisions by the European Court of Human Rights, in support of the measure. The statement argued that the face is central to human identity and communication and is necessary for mutual recognition among citizens. It also said that requiring women, but not men, to conceal their entire faces would conflict with gender parity and equal dignity—values associated with European democracies.

Gulf states are investing heavily in desalination and water-management infrastructure to support ambitious plans for artificial intelligence, data centres, population growth and industrial expansion. The article highlights the UAE’s particular push to become a regional AI hub, including Abu Dhabi’s planned Stargate UAE supercomputing and data-centre project, expected to cost more than $30 billion. UAE AI-related investments announced for 2024 and 2025 exceeded Dh543 billion, with Microsoft and KKR among the global companies committing capital. Water is essential for cooling data centres and industrial facilities. A typical data centre can use 300,000 gallons of water per day, while the largest facilities may consume as much as 5 million gallons. Companies such as Khazna, DataVolt and Alfanar are adopting liquid-cooling systems that could reduce data-centre water use by up to 90 per cent. The Gulf is among the world’s most water-stressed regions. The Middle East contains only 2 per cent of global renewable freshwater, while 83 per cent of the region faces severe water scarcity. The World Resources Institute estimates that the entire regional population could face acute water scarcity by 2050. Population growth in Saudi Arabia and the UAE is expected to increase pressure on water supplies further. Desalination is the region’s principal response. Between 2006 and 2024, the Middle East spent $53.4 billion on desalination capacity, approximately 47.5 per cent of global capital expenditure. An additional $26 billion is expected to be spent by 2028, when regional capacity could reach 41 million cubic metres per day. Gulf countries obtain between roughly 40 per cent and 90 per cent of their water from desalination, depending on the country. Abu Dhabi officials say new plants, multiple water sources and environmental protection measures can maintain supply reliability. However, the article also notes vulnerabilities, including pollution, marine-ecosystem damage and attacks on desalination facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait during the Iran war. Protecting seawater sources and improving wastewater reuse and resource efficiency will therefore be crucial to the Gulf’s AI and industrial ambitions.

In this advice column, Mario Volpi, a senior investment manager at Eva Real Estate, explains how UAE property owners can determine whether their homes are fairly priced. The reader, based on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, is concerned because online valuation portals and three brokers have produced significantly different estimates. Volpi says online tools are useful for establishing a broad market range, but they rely on data and algorithms and cannot fully account for factors such as views, natural light, renovations or the condition of an apartment. Differences between brokers are also normal because some price optimistically while others seek a quicker sale through a more conservative valuation. Volpi recommends focusing on completed transactions rather than current asking prices. Actual sales, which brokers can review through a business-to-business portal, show where buyers have committed real money. He also advises owners to observe market feedback after listing: many viewings without offers may indicate that the property is overpriced, while immediate competition could suggest it was priced too low. The goal is not to select the highest possible figure, but to find the price at which buyers recognise genuine value. The column also addresses whether investors should buy completed Dubai properties or off-plan developments. Volpi says the appropriate choice depends on the investor’s objectives. Completed properties may suit buyers seeking immediate rental income because they can inspect the asset, assess the building and compare existing rents. Off-plan properties may appeal to investors who can wait and believe a location has strong long-term potential, particularly when the developer has a reliable delivery record and nearby infrastructure investment supports the area’s growth. His broader advice is to assess a property independently of its marketing. Investors should ask whether they would still want the property without the showroom, brochures and sales presentation, based on its location, developer and likely surroundings over the next decade.

The supplied content is not a standalone news article containing college football rankings. Instead, it is primarily a scraped AP News webpage consisting of navigation menus, section links, newsletter promotions, and unrelated headline listings. The page title identifies the subject as the NCAA College Football Rankings and the AP Top 25 Football Poll, but no actual poll results are included in the extract. The directly relevant material appears in the Sports section, which links to NFL, college football, the Top 25 Poll, MLB, NBA, WNBA, soccer, and tennis coverage. The page also promotes “AP Top 25 Poll Alerts,” inviting readers to receive email notifications whenever a new college football Top 25 poll is released. However, the supplied text contains no ranking table, team names, records, votes, ranking movement, release date, analysis, or quotations from AP reporters or coaches. Most of the remaining content is unrelated sitewide material, including headlines about international affairs, U.S. politics, business, health, entertainment, technology, climate, lifestyle, and other sports. These items appear to be navigation or homepage recommendations rather than content belonging to the AP Top 25 poll page. Consequently, the current rankings and any conclusions about the college football season cannot be determined from the provided text. The extract identifies AP News as the publisher and the AP Top 25 Poll as the relevant coverage area, but it functions primarily as a portal to that coverage rather than as a report about the rankings themselves.

Cuban immigrant Yasmany Moreno de Armas and Eritrean national Zena Gebrgzabher told CBS News they are stranded in the Central African Republic after the Trump administration deported them there from the United States without prior notice. The men are among dozens of detainees from countries including Ecuador, Honduras, Serbia, Russia and Vietnam who were sent to Bangui, the Central African Republic’s capital, despite having no documents, local ties or ability to leave. The Central African Republic is one of the world’s poorest and most dangerous countries. It faces armed conflict, political instability and the presence of Russian mercenaries, and the U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4 advisory warning Americans not to travel there. The country is among more than 30 nations that have agreed to accept deportees whose home governments resist repatriation or whose legal protections prevent their return to those countries. Moreno de Armas said he fears returning to Cuba because he was previously imprisoned there for attempting to leave the country. He entered the United States in 2016 under parole associated with the former “Wet Foot, Dry Foot” policy and later sought permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act, but his application was denied. He was arrested by immigration officials in May 2025 and held for roughly a year before being deported to Africa. Gebrgzabher, who worked as a truck driver and has a U.S.-citizen wife and 5-year-old son in Maryland, had previously received protection under the Convention Against Torture barring his deportation to Eritrea. His protection did not prevent removal to a third country. His wife described the deportation as unfair and inhumane, while the couple’s son has been deeply affected by his father’s absence. Neither man described a criminal record beyond immigration or traffic violations. Both said they are effectively stateless and unable to leave the Central African Republic. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to CBS News questions about the deportations or the terms of the agreement with the country.

The page is a curated Science & Technology news and analysis index from The Economist. It presents a wide range of recent stories spanning medicine, climate science, physics, evolution, human health and scientific debate. Medical coverage includes promising—but still inconclusive—results suggesting that vaccination against cancer may become possible, as well as research into treatments that mimic the biological system responsible for keeping people awake. Another health-related item examines whether people can deliberately alter their gut microbiome, while questioning whether doing so is advisable or whether the subject is being overcomplicated. Climate and environmental topics form a major part of the selection. Oliver Morton’s Simply Science newsletter considers whether modifying clouds could influence climate change, while another newsletter discusses how Europe’s unusually hot and dry summer is testing infrastructure. The page also highlights research into contrails, including a proposed trial over the Atlantic intended to assess whether contrail-free flying could benefit the climate. A separate NASA-focused report examines fire storms—intense atmospheric phenomena generated by wildfires that can worsen the fires themselves. The index also features stories about the origins of birds, using stones found in dinosaur stomachs to illuminate avian evolution; methods for studying Antarctic ice without using dynamite; and physicists’ efforts to detect the elusive glueball. Finally, it points to a paper challenging the claim that scientific progress is slowing and a study suggesting that standing desks may provide little health benefit over sitting. Overall, the page reflects The Economist’s characteristic combination of scientific reporting, skepticism, explanatory analysis and occasional humor. It provides headlines, short descriptions and estimated reading times rather than the full text of the linked articles.

The article examines how the world’s three largest economies are responding to the growing need for climate adaptation as extreme weather becomes more frequent and destructive. It opens with a severe drought in Europe that has pushed the Loire, Danube and Rhine rivers toward historically low levels. At Germany’s Kaub gauging station, a critical reference point for Rhine shipping, water levels reached just 17cm, the lowest recorded since measurements began in 1880. At the same time, wildfires across southern Europe forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate, making climate-related disasters feel like a recurring feature of summer. The article places Europe’s crisis within a broader global pattern. Smoke from Canadian wildfires affected air quality along the US east coast, including New York, while China experienced an extended heatwave and continuing floods. The country is also preparing for a potentially exceptionally strong El Niño cycle, which could intensify weather risks. These overlapping emergencies have renewed debate over how governments and societies should adapt to a rapidly changing climate. The article contrasts three approaches: China’s state-led, “top-down” model; Washington’s greater reliance on private-sector action; and Brussels’ attempt to develop a middle path. China is portrayed as having advantages in setting long-term goals, mobilizing public funds and implementing policy at scale. A Chatham House analyst argues that the green transition has become a core part of China’s national development strategy rather than a response to foreign pressure. The article suggests that the outcomes of these different approaches are likely to vary substantially. However, the supplied excerpt ends before providing the full comparison of the US, European and Chinese models or reaching a final judgment on whether China’s approach offers a broadly applicable way forward.

The United States has imposed 50% tariffs on some Canadian products after Washington and Ottawa failed to finalize a trade agreement before the new duties took effect. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Canada declined to accept the deal under terms negotiated earlier in the week, despite US offers to reduce tariffs in sectors including steel and aluminum. The tariffs began at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Saturday. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada would retaliate by matching the US tariffs, describing last-minute changes to Washington’s proposed terms as unfair, economically damaging and harmful to confidence in future agreements. Canada’s trade minister, Dominic LeBlanc, said negotiations were continuing until the deadline but that more work remained. The escalation followed a temporary pause announced by President Donald Trump in July after what he described as significant progress in negotiations. A possible agreement reportedly would have reduced US tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles from 25% to 15% and cut duties on Canadian steel and aluminum to 25%. The dispute poses a serious risk to Canada because the United States accounts for approximately 70% of Canadian exports. Carney also faces domestic political pressure: a Leger poll found that 56% of Canadians favored taking a hard line and making no further concessions to Washington. He has urged provinces to reconsider a retaliatory boycott that removed US alcohol products from store shelves. Quebec Premier Christine Frechette said she would review any deal, while Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew argued that Canada should continue to resist US demands. The failed negotiations represent a major deterioration in US-Canadian trade relations.