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Northern Territory parliament has passed legislation legalising voluntary assisted dying (VAD), making it the last Australian jurisdiction to do so after the Territory’s pioneering 1995 law was overturned by the federal government in 1997. The bill passed on Thursday night with the support of all government cabinet members and most backbenchers. VAD will become available in 18 months, followed by a review of the legislation after three years. Dr Philip Nitschke, who helped terminally ill patient Bob Dent die under the 1995 law and now leads Exit International, welcomed the legislation but criticised it as overly conservative. He objected particularly to the requirement that applicants must be assessed by a doctor as having 12 months or less to live. Nitschke said life expectancy is difficult to predict and the rule gives doctors too much power over patients seeking assistance. He also criticised a provision preventing doctors from initiating conversations about VAD, known as a gag clause. Darwin resident Dave Collins, who has incurable cancer affecting several organs, fears he will not qualify because doctors cannot say whether the disease will kill him within 12 months. Another Territorian, Eileen, welcomed the law after seeing her sister use Victoria’s VAD system to end years of pain from multiple cancers. However, she also questioned the prognosis limit and said she would consider VAD herself if she became terminally ill. Former Chief Minister Marshall Perron, who designed the 1995 law, called the new restriction a “terrible shame” and said the legislation moved the cause of VAD backwards. The Australian Christian Lobby, which opposed the bill, expressed disappointment that it passed without any MLA voting against it. Nitschke hopes future reviews will remove some restrictions and allow approaches in which patients, rather than doctors, have greater control over end-of-life decisions.

The article examines growing frustration among Western Australia's remote tourism operators over increasingly demanding, impatient and poorly prepared travellers. Tim Meecham, who runs Quobba Station in the Gascoyne region, says visitors complain about conditions that are inherent to outback travel, including flies, dirt, weak mobile reception, non-white sand and even the sound of waves at an ocean-view campsite. Quobba Station has responded by turning some of the more unreasonable complaints into parody social-media posts. Operators say the problem has intensified as visitor numbers rise and travellers expect the comforts and convenience of cities in isolated locations. Mount Barnett Roadhouse manager Matt Hawke describes tourists as more rushed and demanding than when he arrived a decade ago, with some attempting to rapidly visit locations, take photographs and move on without understanding the realities of remote travel. He believes social media has created unrealistic expectations, allowing people to experience destinations online before visiting them and sometimes leading them to believe they already know more than local operators. The article also highlights safety and courtesy concerns. Some travellers reportedly ignore bush customs, fail to help stranded motorists, cannot change tyres and drive dangerously in dust or on blind sections of road. Hawke is particularly concerned about inaccurate or outdated information circulated by human and AI-generated social-media posts, including incorrect details about fuel stops along the Gibb River Road. He encourages visitors to consult local tourism bureaux, operators, businesses and residents instead. Despite these issues, the operators stress that most visitors appreciate the scenery and remoteness. They say only a small minority are unsuitable for this style of holiday, but that minority is becoming more noticeable as tourism expands.

Hobby astronomers in Central Queensland have been investigating mysterious orbs of light appearing near Venus in the western sky at about 8pm. The lights have attracted widespread attention and online speculation, with explanations ranging from extraterrestrial activity and min min lights to drones or defence testing. Local observer Lisa Manteit described seeing objects that looked like moving, sometimes coloured stars that appeared to swirl and move in circles. Graham Moyle and members of a Central Queensland astronomy group attempted to test the competing theories. Their analysis suggested the lights were satellite flares: sunlight reflecting off clusters of satellites in low-Earth orbit. The theory has received support from Philip Giacalone, a retired aerospace engineer who previously worked for NASA. Giacalone used real-time orbital data to verify the sightings and explained that the satellites do not need to be aligned with Venus. Instead, they become visible when they pass overhead while still illuminated by the Sun below the observer’s horizon. Giacalone has created a free night-sky simulator called Curious Pilot that predicts when satellite flares will be visible from locations around the world. He said the rapid increase in satellite launches—around 4,000 each year—is likely to make such sightings more common and confusing. Not all observers are convinced. Manteit said some of the movements she witnessed did not appear to follow the straight trajectories expected of satellites. University of Queensland astrophysicist Jonti Horner said the number of objects in orbit has tripled since 2020, with more than 16,000 active satellites and over 34,000 pieces of tracked space debris. Around 10,000 active satellites are Starlink spacecraft, while SpaceX has discussed launching many more. Horner warned that increasing satellite numbers could brighten the night sky and make astronomical observation more difficult. The Australian Space Agency said it is strengthening its focus on safe and sustainable space use, including debris mitigation and regulatory reform.

Collingwood great and AFL games record holder Scott Pendlebury is set to join the Gold Coast Suns for the 2027 season as an unrestricted free agent. The 38-year-old midfielder has played 442 games for Collingwood but was not offered a new contract to continue his career at the club. His move north is expected to involve a multi-year agreement combining playing and coaching responsibilities. Pendlebury is reportedly set to spend two seasons in a hybrid on-field and coaching role before transitioning into an assistant coaching position for a further two years. Pendlebury said leaving Collingwood had been an extremely difficult decision after 21 years with the club. In a statement, he reflected on joining as a 17-year-old, the club’s support for his family, and the friendships, challenges, successes and difficult periods that shaped his career. He said the move was the best decision for himself and his family as he entered the next stage of his football journey. The midfielder will depart Collingwood as one of its greatest players. His achievements include two premierships, a Norm Smith Medal and six All-Australian selections. His proposed role at Gold Coast is similar to Luke Hodge’s move from Hawthorn to the Brisbane Lions in 2018. Hodge served as an on-field coach for two seasons, helping guide a young Lions team that later made three grand finals and won two premierships. Pendlebury’s deal cannot be formally confirmed until the AFL free agency period opens on October 2. He was also denied a farewell finals appearance after straining his hamstring in Collingwood’s final regular-season match. He missed the Magpies’ wildcard loss to the Western Bulldogs, in which he consoled forward Tim Membrey after Membrey missed a shot after the siren.

Queensland Labor frontbencher Meaghan Scanlon has confirmed she will seek re-election in the Gold Coast seat of Gaven at the 2028 state election, ending speculation that she might move to a safer electorate. Gaven is set to undergo substantial boundary changes after the Queensland Redistribution Commission found the electorate was below quota and projected to fall further below quota. Scanlon won the seat by less than one per cent at the 2024 election, making the reshaped electorate a significant challenge. Opposition Leader Steven Miles announced Scanlon’s decision at the Labor state conference, saying there had been considerable speculation about her future but expressing confidence that she could retain the seat. Scanlon is Labor’s only MP on the Gold Coast, where the Liberal National Party holds every other electorate. Her decision is therefore strategically important for Labor’s prospects in the region and at the next state election. Scanlon, who first won Gaven in 2017, has served as environment minister and housing minister in the Palaszczuk and Miles governments. She said she was committed to the electorate where she grew up and would continue campaigning despite the difficult political circumstances. She also said she had been underestimated in every election she had contested. The LNP candidate Scanlon narrowly defeated in 2024, former television journalist Bianca Stone, said she had not yet considered whether she would contest the next election and was content in her current role as chief of staff to Police Minister Dan Purdie. Miles also said he expected to lead Labor into the 2028 election. Former Labor MP and political analyst John Mickel said Scanlon’s decision prevented the LNP’s already substantial advantage across the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast from becoming even greater. He described the decision as a signal that Labor remained serious about competing on the Gold Coast, particularly in its northern areas.

ABC News is providing live coverage of a busy Saturday of NRL and NRLW action, featuring six matches across the men’s and women’s competitions. The central storyline is a special tribute to Jai Arrow, who was forced to retire after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. The NRL has made an exception to its usual rules so Arrow can briefly take the field when South Sydney plays his former club, the Gold Coast Titans. He is expected to start the match before being replaced by Cameron Murray. The same arrangement will be used the following week so Arrow can reach 100 games for the Rabbitohs. The men’s schedule also includes a top-four contest between the Sydney Roosters and the Dolphins, followed by a match in which the North Queensland Cowboys will attempt to strengthen their finals prospects against the Wests Tigers. In the NRLW, the Gold Coast Titans play the Canberra Raiders, the Roosters meet the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, and the Cowboys face the Newcastle Knights. Reporter Jon Healy hosts the live blog, which promises scores, key events and ongoing match updates. The article also directs readers to the full NRL ScoreCentre for statistics and to ABC’s live radio coverage. The opening update welcomes readers to what is described as a “loaded Saturday” of rugby league and highlights the expected emotional significance of Arrow’s tribute. The supplied excerpt contains the preview and opening live update, but no match results or detailed play-by-play information.

A Warrnambool pigeon racing club plans to proceed with a 320-kilometre race on Sunday, August 30, despite suspected mass bird flu deaths among wild birds in Victoria’s south-west. The race will involve 150 pigeons released at Lascelles in the Wimmera and flying back to Warrnambool. It marks the club’s centenary and is intended to raise money for prostate cancer testing equipment at Warrnambool Base Hospital. Victoria’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has exempted pigeon racing from poultry housing restrictions introduced after the H5N1 strain of bird flu reached the state. The restrictions require poultry owners with more than 50 birds in southern Victoria to keep them contained. The department’s chief veterinary officer has advised that pigeon racing can continue, including in coastal areas subject to strict restrictions. The decision has drawn criticism from David Mould of the Victorian Wildlife Alliance. He argues that, although pigeons are considered lower-risk than many other bird species, they can still contract bird flu and may spread it to other regions. He is particularly concerned that some racing pigeons may become lost, injured or abandoned and that birds could have been exposed to wild birds, droppings, scattered seed or mice before the race. The club’s vice-president, Kevin Ashworth, rejects the suggestion that the event poses a significant risk. He says the pigeons are kept in secure lofts when not racing or training and are expected to fly directly home without mixing with wild birds. However, he acknowledges that the club cannot guarantee the birds have not encountered wild birds in domestic gardens. The race will begin in an area where H5 bird flu has not been detected, while hundreds of dead birds, including many crested terns, have been found near Portland. Despite the controversy, the club remains determined to hold the event, saying cancelling its 100th-anniversary race would have disappointed the Warrnambool community.

A state funeral is being held in Bendigo for Russell Jack AM, a prominent leader of the city's Chinese Australian community and a major advocate for preserving its cultural heritage. The ceremony features a traditional Cantonese white mourning lion, a ritual believed not to have been seen in the region in living memory. The lion will accompany Mr Jack's family through Bendigo's Dai Gum San Chinese precinct before the funeral service at Ulumbarra Theatre, followed by final rites at Bendigo Cemetery. The ceremony will conclude with the ceremonial burning of the lion and traditional paper offerings. Mr Jack led the Bendigo Chinese Association for more than 30 years, established the Golden Dragon Museum and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the preservation of Bendigo's Chinese heritage and culture. His family said he devoted his life to ensuring Bendigo's Chinese traditions did not disappear. Former Victorian premiers Jacinta Allan and John Brumby attended the funeral, while current Premier Ben Carroll did not. In her tribute, Ms Allan described Mr Jack as “one of Bendigo and Victoria's greatest” and praised him as a proud Chinese Australian who shared his culture generously. She also highlighted his role in preserving the history of Chinese migrants who came to Central Victoria's goldfields in the 1850s, then stayed, worked and raised families in the region. The mourning lion is distinct from the brightly coloured lions used during celebrations such as the Bendigo Easter Parade. Two members of the local lion team performed the lion, while six others provided a low, sombre musical accompaniment. The lion was specially made in Hong Kong by the maker of Bendigo's 125-metre dragon, Dai Gum Loong. The funeral service was being livestreamed online.

A planned bronze statue commemorating former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has effectively been scrapped by his successor, Premier Ben Carroll. The statue was commissioned by the Allan government in March at a cost of $134,000, after Andrews passed the 3,000-day milestone for time served as premier. The tradition began under former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett in the late 1990s, when statues of long-serving premiers were installed at Melbourne’s Treasury Place. Carroll said an independent, bipartisan panel would instead review how Victoria commemorates former leaders, including the criteria for statues, state funerals and memorial services. He argued that while former premiers deserved gratitude, taxpayer-funded statues were not necessary. The existing contract will not be cancelled, however, to avoid unnecessary costs. The panel will recommend an alternative subject and location for the commissioned work. Kennett supported the decision to delay recognition of Andrews, who left office only a few years ago, but suggested that a statue of recently deceased country music star Dolly Parton could be installed near the Myer Music Bowl. Monash University political historian Paul Strangio agreed that postponement may be sensible because public controversy surrounding Andrews’ record could lead to vandalism. However, he criticised cancelling the project entirely, arguing that contentious political legacies should not be erased from history. The existing Treasury Place collection includes statues of former premiers Albert Dunstan, Henry Bolte, Rupert Hamer and John Cain junior. James McCulloch, another premier who served more than 3,000 days, is not represented. Andrews previously said he had not sought a statue and did not regard the 3,000-day threshold as especially meaningful. The panel will also examine the frequency and cost of state funerals and memorial services. Carroll separately announced that the Free Little Angler Kits program would not be renewed as part of a broader government savings drive.

Tasmania’s Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Guy Barnett, has criticised a Greens bill that would ban conversion practices, arguing that the proposed legislation is fundamentally flawed, overly broad and ambiguous. In a letter to Women Speak Tasmania, an anti-trans and feminist organisation, Barnett warned that the bill could potentially criminalise conversations between parents and children, discussions within families, or prayers and conversations in religious settings. He also raised concerns about unfair investigations and lengthy quasi-judicial processes resulting from misleading or false complaints. The Greens’ bill defines conversion practices as conduct intended to change, suppress or eradicate a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The party says the legislation includes exemptions for religious expression and parents discussing matters related to their children’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff rejected Barnett’s characterisation of the bill as extreme, saying it was consistent with laws already passed in other Australian states. She also said amendments were being considered in response to feedback, including concerns raised by Barnett. The proposed ban follows a 2022 Tasmanian Law Reform Institute finding that conversion practices were causing severe harm and continued to occur in Tasmania. The institute recommended that Tasmania follow most other Australian states and outlaw the practices. A Tasmanian government bill introduced in 2023 was criticised for containing too many loopholes and was not pursued further. Equality Tasmania’s Rodney Croome defended the Greens’ bill, saying conversion practices harm vulnerable LGBTIQA+ people and disputing Barnett’s suggestion that ordinary conversations or prayers would be criminalised. Women Speak Tasmania has called for a parliamentary inquiry before the bill is debated. The Tasmanian government has not yet stated how it will vote. Barnett’s position may conflict with Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who has repeatedly supported a ban and described conversion practices as harmful. Labor and several crossbenchers support the Greens’ bill, meaning it may pass without government backing. The Australian Christian Lobby opposes efforts to ban conversion practices.

Three teenage boys have been arrested and charged over a series of alleged aggravated burglaries, burglaries and vehicle-related thefts in Melbourne’s north-eastern suburbs. The arrests followed several incidents during the early hours of August 28, including two aggravated burglaries in Balwyn North, an attempted theft from a motor vehicle in Templestowe, and further aggravated burglaries in Bulleen and Templestowe. Detectives arrested the boys at an address in Darebin. One 17-year-old, from the Greater Shepparton area, faces four counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of burglary, an attempted theft from a motor vehicle and other charges. A 15-year-old and another 17-year-old, both from Manningham, have each been charged with four counts of aggravated burglary, attempted theft from a motor vehicle, theft of a motor vehicle and other offences. All three were remanded to appear before a children’s court. The arrests come as youth crime remains a major political issue ahead of Victoria’s November state election. Premier Ben Carroll, who took office after Jacinta Allan was ousted in late July, has promised to maintain a “hardline approach” to crime. The Coalition has proposed expanding Victoria’s Adult Crime, Adult Time laws to include offences such as car theft and attempted carjacking if it wins government. The article also places the alleged offences in the context of recent crime statistics. Data from the Crime Statistics Agency for the 12 months to March 2026 showed Victoria’s overall crime rate fell by just under 2 per cent. Youth crime fell by 6 per cent, with 22,654 alleged offences involving young people, marking the first decline in four years. However, adult crime rose by more than 10 per cent, driven partly by increases in bail breaches, retail theft and breaches of family violence orders.

A valuable Van Cleef & Arpels necklace has been stolen from Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) after two men allegedly entered the museum using tickets they had bought at the door. Police say the men then smashed a glass display case with a hammer, seized the necklace and fled. The suspects did not wear masks, meaning they were clearly captured by the museum’s security cameras and may be readily identifiable to investigators. The stolen piece is a 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace containing 673 precious stones. Austrian media reported that it was worth several million dollars. The necklace was part of a major exhibition dedicated to French jewellery designers Van Cleef & Arpels, which displayed approximately 500 pieces beginning in June. The MAK confirmed the theft and said it would not comment while the investigation continued. Although the exhibition was closed, the affected museum wing reopened hours later, with the damaged display case covered by a blue panel. The necklace has significant historical importance. It was designed for Egypt’s former royal family and was worn by Queen Nazli in 1939 at the wedding of her daughter Faiza to Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the future shah of Iran. Van Cleef & Arpels described it as a “triumph of white jewellery.” The theft comes amid a series of high-profile museum robberies across Europe. The article links it to the October Louvre heist in Paris, the recent theft of Bronze Age gold objects from the Treasure of Villena in Spain, and the reported theft of four valuable Renaissance paintings in Sicily. Italian police have also recovered works by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse that had been stolen from a museum near Parma.

Iceland is holding a closely contested referendum on whether to restart negotiations to join the European Union, with economic pressures, sovereignty concerns, the future of the fishing industry and changing geopolitical conditions shaping the debate. A recent Gallup poll found voters evenly divided, with 46 per cent supporting renewed talks, 46 per cent opposed and 8 per cent undecided. Other polling suggests that although negotiations may attract support, a majority currently opposes actual EU membership; a second referendum would be required to approve any final agreement. Supporters argue that EU membership could create economic opportunities and improve living standards by providing greater monetary stability. Iceland has high wages but also high inflation, interest rates and housing costs. Economics student Óðinn Freyr Baldursson believes adopting the euro could reduce borrowing costs and inflation, making home ownership more attainable. Supporters also see closer European cooperation as valuable amid uncertainty around the Arctic, US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and his threats involving Greenland. Opponents reject the idea that EU membership would automatically solve Iceland’s economic problems and argue that domestic policymakers should address inflation and interest rates. They fear losing control over national decisions, natural resources, agriculture and fisheries, while questioning how much influence Iceland would have as a small EU member. Fishing is the most contentious issue. Iceland’s economy and national identity depend heavily on sustainable management of its waters, where only Icelandic ships can currently fish and foreign companies cannot own fish-processing facilities. Industry representatives fear the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy could open Icelandic waters to larger European companies and damage small coastal communities. Supporters say exemptions might be negotiated, but former president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson argues that the EU’s common rules make such protections unlikely and that membership would transfer sovereignty to European institutions. The referendum therefore reflects a broader choice between closer integration and preserving Icelandic independence.

This Al Jazeera NewsFeed report highlights a warning from Nikolay Mladenov, described as the top envoy for the US-led Board of Peace, about the future of Gaza. Mladenov says the territory could be “gone for good” if urgent political, security and reconstruction measures are not implemented. The report identifies three central conditions that he believes are necessary: rebuilding Gaza, an Israeli withdrawal from the territory and demilitarisation. Mladenov also warns that the worsening conditions faced by Palestinians could contribute to another security crisis. His comments link the humanitarian situation to broader regional stability, suggesting that continued deterioration would not only deepen suffering among Palestinians but could also create renewed security threats. The report therefore frames reconstruction and political change as both humanitarian necessities and measures intended to prevent further conflict. The brief article does not provide details about the Board of Peace’s structure, the proposed reconstruction plans, the timeline for Israeli withdrawal or how demilitarisation would be carried out. It also does not report specific casualty figures, damage estimates or responses from Israeli or Palestinian officials. Instead, it focuses on Mladenov’s assessment of the risks facing Gaza and his warning that failure to act could result in the territory’s permanent disappearance or destruction as a viable place for its people. Published on August 29, 2026, the report presents the situation as urgent and precarious. Its central message is that Gaza’s future depends on a combination of physical reconstruction, changes in military control and the removal of weapons or armed forces from the territory. Without those steps, Mladenov believes the humanitarian crisis could worsen and potentially trigger another cycle of insecurity.

Cambodia says it has eliminated all large-scale online scam compounds from its territory, but rights groups, analysts, and Reuters have questioned whether the claim can be independently verified. Senior Minister Chhay Sinarith, who leads the government’s Commission for Combating Online Scams, told foreign diplomats and international officials that scam activity had been brought fully under control and that no compounds remained. The government attributed the development to the eradication of major operations, legal action against criminal networks and complicit officials, and the creation of a cybersecurity legal framework. The official statement nevertheless acknowledged that criminal groups are adapting by moving into less conspicuous locations, including guesthouses, condominiums, rental properties, vehicles, and coffee shops. Scam compounds, many of them reportedly operated by Chinese criminal syndicates, have expanded across Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and areas along the Myanmar-Thailand border since the COVID-19 pandemic. Amnesty International expressed strong skepticism, arguing that the key measure of success should be whether those responsible are investigated, prosecuted, and prevented from restarting operations. Anti-trafficking consultant Mark Taylor similarly said there were credible indications that substantial scam activity and recruitment of foreign workers for such operations were continuing in Cambodia. Cambodian authorities reported investigating 793 suspected locations and raiding 624 sites between July 2025 and August 20, 2026. They said nearly 30,000 suspects from 39 nationalities were detained, 58,266 foreign nationals were rescued and deported, and 3,477 suspects from 29 nationalities were arrested and jailed pending trial. However, the article notes that neither Reuters nor outside observers have independently confirmed the government’s assertion that the compounds have been eradicated.

An Ecuadorian court has convicted former President Lenin Moreno of bribery in a corruption case linked to the construction of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric plant, the country’s largest. Moreno, who served as president from 2017 to 2021 and previously as vice president from 2007 to 2013, was sentenced to five years in prison and permanently prohibited from holding public office. The investigation, opened by Ecuador’s attorney general in March 2023, allegedly uncovered a corruption network involving Moreno’s family, Ecuadorian and Chinese businesspeople, and the state-owned Chinese company Sinohydro. Prosecutors said Sinohydro paid approximately $76.1m in bribes from 2009 to 2018 through fraudulent consulting contracts connected to the hydroelectric project. The Coca Codo Sinclair facility began operating in 2016 but has suffered technical problems since then. According to investigators, the money was transferred through overseas bank accounts and shell companies in tax havens before reaching Moreno’s relatives and associates. Prosecutors alleged that Moreno and close family members received more than $1m while he was vice president. His wife, daughter, two brothers, and their wives were also convicted and given two-and-a-half-year prison sentences. Cai Runguo, China’s former ambassador to Quito, received a five-year sentence. Judge Manuel Cabrera said Moreno’s actions matched the prosecution’s bribery charges against a public official. Moreno has consistently denied wrongdoing, arguing that he did not sign or supervise the project’s contracts. During the hearing, he said investigators should focus on those who signed the contracts and allegedly demanded kickbacks. Moreno returned to Ecuador from Paraguay to face trial.

Guinea-Bissau will hold a referendum on August 30, 2026, to decide whether to adopt a new constitution before presidential and legislative elections scheduled for December 6. The vote follows a military coup on November 26, 2025, when the armed forces seized power shortly before election results were due to be announced and installed army chief Horta Inta-A Na Man as transitional president. A National Transitional Council (CNT), created under the transition charter, approved the proposed constitution on January 13, 2026. The proposed charter would significantly strengthen the presidency and reduce the authority of the prime minister. The president would appoint and dismiss the prime minister and other government members, chair the Council of Ministers, and create or abolish ministries. The parliament would be reduced from 102 seats to 65, while electoral constituencies would fall from 29 to 12. The constitution would also introduce a Constitutional Court and impose new eligibility requirements for presidential candidates, including five years of permanent residence before an election and a 50 million West African CFA franc deposit. Parties sponsoring candidates would need at least 5,000 members, with a minimum of 300 in each region. Supporters say the reforms would clarify executive authority, improve decision-making and address Guinea-Bissau’s long history of institutional disputes and political instability. Critics, including the opposition PAIGC and civil society groups, argue that the changes would concentrate excessive power in the presidency, weaken parliament and reduce political representation. They also question the inclusiveness and legitimacy of a constitution drafted under military rule rather than by an elected parliament. The PAIGC has rejected the referendum and called for a boycott. The referendum is not formally a vote on Horta’s political future because the transition framework bars him and the transitional prime minister from contesting the next elections. Instead, it will determine the powers of the next elected president and the institutional rules under which the country returns to civilian government. A yes vote would enact the new constitution; a no vote would leave constitutional reform unresolved.

Spain has asked the European Union for assistance in processing approximately 5,000 migrants who remain in Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on Morocco’s northern coast, after a mass border crossing one month earlier. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska requested help from Frontex, the EU’s Border and Coastguard Agency, and asked for 10 additional officers to accelerate screening procedures. Spanish authorities must identify the migrants and determine whether they qualify for international protection or should be returned. Between 5,000 and 8,000 migrants, including unaccompanied children, are believed to remain in Ceuta. They are among roughly 72,000 people who crossed from Morocco on July 30. Official figures say 82 people died on the Spanish side of the border and 14 on the Moroccan side, although human rights groups have reported higher totals. The Spanish request comes as tensions rise between local residents and migrants. Protests have demanded that migrants leave the territory, and camps at Trampolin Beach have been attacked and set on fire. On Thursday, 12 migrants were arrested after stones were thrown at an army vehicle, injuring one soldier and four migrants. Eleven of those arrested were reportedly expelled from Ceuta. Spain has also formally requested emergency EU funding to manage the situation. The demands for Frontex personnel and financial assistance reflect the scale of the administrative, humanitarian and security challenges facing the territory. The unrest has added urgency to efforts to move migrants from informal camps, process protection claims and determine returns while authorities respond to violence and public opposition.

The Al Jazeera Newsfeed item reports that Norway’s King Harald V has died at age 89, prompting farewells across Norway. It presents him as “the whole country’s grandfather,” a phrase that conveys the monarch’s familiar, widely cherished public image and frames the report as an obituary rather than political analysis. Harald is identified as Europe’s oldest reigning monarch at the time of his death. According to the article, he died on Friday after spending several days in hospital. The report also describes the succession that followed. His son succeeded him immediately and is now known as King Haakon VIII. The wording emphasizes the continuity and speed of the transfer of the Norwegian crown: the death of one monarch was followed immediately by the accession of the next. No further details are supplied about the cause of death, the illness that led to his hospitalization, the funeral, or public and governmental ceremonies. The central focus is therefore the end of Harald V’s reign, Norway’s collective farewell, and the beginning of a new reign under Haakon VIII. The brief item uses a respectful, somber tone, combining concise factual reporting—Harald’s age, death, hospitalization, and successor—with the emotionally resonant description of him as a grandfather figure to the nation. It was published on August 29, 2026, and is presented as a short video/newsfeed obituary. Because the supplied text is brief, it does not provide background on Harald’s reign, his public duties, the circumstances of his death, or the planned succession ceremonies.

Tuareg rebels have released approximately 60 Malian soldiers in exchange for the freedom of Inkinane Ag Attaher, a former Malian army officer who defected and became a prominent leader in the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). Ag Attaher was arrested by Nigerian security forces near the Niger-Nigeria border in 2025 and accused of organizing drone training, coordinating deadly attacks in Mali, and serving as an international liaison. A Malian security source told AFP that the soldiers were transported to Niger for exchange with Ag Attaher and people allegedly connected to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated armed group. A second source said the deal was overseen directly by Niger’s government. An FLA spokesman welcomed Ag Attaher’s release, while the rebels said some of their members held in Malian prisons were also freed. The exchange is part of a broader series of prisoner releases involving al-Qaeda-linked fighters, Tuareg rebels, Russian mercenaries and Malian soldiers captured in northern Mali. Algeria is reportedly helping mediate the release of additional Malian soldiers. The development follows a visit by Mali’s Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga to Algiers intended to restore high-level talks after disagreements over regional security. Although Mali’s government has publicly rejected negotiations with groups it labels terrorists, the prisoner exchanges indicate that communication channels remain open. JNIM and the FLA have claimed responsibility for attacks on Bamako’s airport, other locations and army positions, including an April bombing that killed Defence Minister Sadio Camara. Mali’s military chief warned insurgents that the army would continue pursuing them but said Malians could still return through the country’s peace process. The article places the prisoner swap within Mali’s long-running conflict, which began with a Tuareg rebellion in 2012 and expanded through campaigns by al-Qaeda- and ISIL-linked groups. Since the 2021 coup, the military government has expelled French and United Nations forces and relied on Russian paramilitary support. Despite ideological differences, the secular nationalist FLA and al-Qaeda-linked JNIM have cooperated against the Malian government.

A US federal judge has rejected Donald Trump’s attempt to move his New York hush-money criminal case from state to federal court, denying the petition for a third time. Judge Alvin Hellerstein ruled that Trump’s arguments were neither new nor legally sufficient and rejected the claim that the case should be dismissed under the US Supreme Court’s 2024 expansion of presidential immunity. Trump became the first US president convicted of a crime when a New York jury found him guilty in 2024 on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Prosecutors said he concealed a $130,000 payment made through his former fixer, Michael Cohen, to adult film actor Stormy Daniels, who alleged that she had an affair with Trump. Trump denies the affair and has consistently disputed the conviction. His lawyers argue that evidence connected to the case involved actions taken during Trump’s first presidential term and is therefore protected by the Supreme Court’s ruling, which grants presidents presumptive immunity for official acts. Hellerstein rejected that reasoning, saying discussions about hush-money payments and covering up an alleged affair could not be considered official presidential acts or responsibilities. The decision follows a November order from the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit directing Hellerstein to reconsider the case in light of the Supreme Court ruling, without dictating the outcome. Hellerstein also rejected the suggestion that he was required simply to certify the appeals court’s decision, writing that federal district courts are not “certifying clerks”. Trump’s legal team called the ruling “baseless and lawless” and said it would appeal. His conviction remains in place, although Judge Juan Merchan imposed an unconditional discharge in January 2025, meaning Trump faced neither imprisonment nor a fine. The New York prosecution was the only one of four criminal cases against Trump to reach trial; the others were dropped after his 2024 re-election.

The US Department of Justice has revised a statement concerning an alleged Chinese state-sponsored hacking campaign against US government agencies. The original August 26 release described agencies including the US Senate, Federal Reserve and NASA as victims of the campaign. The revised statement says they were “among the targets” of QTFY, but clarifies that only some targeted organizations were successfully compromised. The Justice Department said the correction was necessary because the government’s supporting affidavit distinguished between entities that were targeted and those where intrusions were confirmed. This distinction narrows the scope of the breaches that the government has directly established. An FBI affidavit says Chinese hackers have targeted US federal networks since at least 2018, including NASA, the Federal Reserve, the Department of Energy, the Justice Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health and the US Senate. The affidavit alleges that intrusions occurred in September 2024 at three Department of Energy national laboratories, the NIH, an HHS agency and a US security-device manufacturer. It also says an attempted breach of NASA was unsuccessful because the agency had patched the targeted software. A separate cybersecurity advisory from the FBI, NSA and US Cyber Command reported successful data theft from unnamed defense contractors, financial institutions and universities in May 2024, as well as unsuccessful attempts to access the Senate and a hospital in March 2026. The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency did not immediately respond to requests for clarification. China’s embassy in Washington also did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. Previously, an embassy spokesperson rejected the US claims, accusing Washington of using cybersecurity allegations to smear China and justify discriminatory restrictions on Chinese companies.

Walmart has settled a lawsuit brought by the United States Department of Justice alleging that the retailer’s pharmacies contributed to the country’s opioid epidemic by unlawfully dispensing opioid prescriptions and other controlled substances. The settlement was confirmed by both Walmart and the Justice Department, but neither disclosed its financial or other terms. Walmart did not admit liability and described the amount involved as “immaterial” in a regulatory filing. The company reported $11.7bn in net income for the six months ending July 31. The Justice Department said the settlement resolved allegations that Walmart pharmacies failed to meet their obligations under the Controlled Substances Act. The department’s original complaint, filed in December 2020, accused Walmart of repeatedly failing since 2013 to identify, track and report suspicious opioid prescriptions. Prosecutors had warned that the company could face billions of dollars in civil penalties. The case was narrowed in March 2024 by US District Judge Colm Connolly, who dismissed claims concerning Walmart’s alleged failure to report suspicious prescriptions to the Drug Enforcement Administration and pharmacists’ failure to document warning signs. Claims that Walmart compliance officials knew certain prescriptions were invalid, and that pharmacists knowingly dispensed invalid prescriptions, remained pending until the settlement. A joint stipulation dismissing the case was filed in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware. The settlement is separate from Walmart’s 2022 agreement to pay $3.1bn to resolve thousands of lawsuits brought by state and local governments over its pharmacies’ role in the opioid crisis. CVS and Walgreens reached similar, larger settlements. The article places the case within a broader epidemic that caused more than 905,000 opioid-overdose deaths in the United States between 1999 and 2025, although annual deaths began declining after 2022. Walmart shares rose 46 cents to $103.09 after the announcement.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has changed its editorial policy on describing the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States as “terrorism.” The policy shift was announced on Aug. 28, ahead of the attacks’ 25th anniversary. Basem Boshra, CBC’s senior director of journalistic standards, said the broadcaster had previously required journalists to attribute the term to a source. Under the revised policy, direct attribution is no longer necessary when describing the historic 9/11 attacks as terrorism. The change follows criticism after an excerpt from CBC’s internal language guide circulated publicly. The excerpt reportedly instructed staff not to use “terrorism” to describe 9/11 without attribution. Senior officials from the administration of US President Donald Trump criticized the policy. FBI Director Kash Patel called it an insult to those killed in what he described as the largest terrorist attack in US history. The US ambassador to Canada also criticized the broadcaster, amid broader trade tensions between the two countries. Canadian Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre urged CBC to apologize and withdraw the directive, arguing that describing 9/11 in any other way would distort history. Boshra defended the broadcaster’s previous approach, saying CBC had consistently applied an attribution-based principle in its terrorism coverage. He stressed that CBC News had never denied that the attacks were terrorism and had reported on their causes and motivations based on findings from police, governments and an independent commission. However, he said the attribution requirement had become an obstacle to clarity and public understanding in the specific context of 9/11. CBC will continue to require attribution when reporting on the causes and motivations of new politically or ideologically motivated violence, which Boshra described as a sound journalistic practice.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has ordered Gabriel Perez, a former White House teleprompter operator, to pay US$172,539 (S$219,900) for using advance access to President Donald Trump’s speeches to make trades on the prediction-market platform Kalshi. Under a settlement announced on Aug 28, Perez must repay US$107,539.02 in profits and pay a US$65,000 civil penalty. The CFTC said Perez traded presidential “mention market” contracts between December 2025 and February 2026 while he was working at the White House. These contracts pay out depending on whether a president uses particular words or phrases during speeches. Because Perez could view Trump’s speeches before they were delivered, the agency said he possessed material, non-public information that he used for personal financial benefit. In addition to the financial penalties, Perez agreed to a three-year trading ban and to cease and desist from further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC regulations. He could not immediately be reached for comment. The article states that he was placed on unpaid leave and is no longer employed by the federal government. The CFTC said the US$65,000 penalty was significantly reduced because Perez provided “exemplary cooperation” during the investigation. The agency also credited KalshiEX with assisting in the case. The enforcement action highlights regulatory concerns surrounding prediction markets and the use of confidential government information to trade event-based contracts.

ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China’s leading maker of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips, has sued the US Department of Defence over its designation as a “Chinese military company.” The lawsuit, filed on Aug 28 in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks to overturn the designation and remove CXMT from the Pentagon’s list of companies considered linked to China’s military. CXMT says it is not affiliated with the Chinese military and produces DRAM chips solely for civilian and commercial applications, including smartphones, personal computers, servers and artificial-intelligence systems. The company argues that the Pentagon’s decision was arbitrary, lacked evidentiary support and violated its due-process rights. CXMT said the designation has caused continuing reputational and commercial harm since it was first imposed in January 2025, potentially affecting business opportunities and future efforts to enter the US market. According to the complaint, CXMT spent more than a year providing information to the Defence Department in an effort to challenge its inclusion. The department published a notice in February 2026 indicating that CXMT would be removed from the list, but withdrew the notice later that day. CXMT alleges that it was relisted in June without an adequate explanation for the reversal. The Pentagon declined to comment on the pending litigation. The designation was made under the Biden administration and retained by the Trump administration in a June update. The case forms part of a broader pattern of Chinese companies challenging similar US government designations. Alibaba sued in June after being added to the list, while Xiaomi successfully secured its removal in 2021 through a US court action. CXMT’s revenue rose 874 per cent in the first half of the year, and the company reportedly hopes to enter the US market over the longer term.

Icelanders are voting on Aug 29 on whether to reopen negotiations over membership in the European Union, in a closely contested referendum shaped by concerns about the cost of living, economic stability, national sovereignty, fishing rights and security. A Gallup poll conducted on Aug 28 showed a narrow majority opposing the reopening of talks, reversing earlier surveys that had given supporters a slight lead. Supporters argue that closer integration with the EU could help Iceland address persistently high inflation and interest rates, potentially including eventual adoption of the euro. Iceland’s central bank rate is 8 per cent, compared with 2.25 per cent at the European Central Bank. They also say that the war in Ukraine, growing geopolitical instability and US President Donald Trump’s threats involving Greenland demonstrate the security risks faced by small nations acting alone. Opponents say EU membership would undermine Iceland’s sovereignty and weaken its control over its fishing waters. Fishing is especially contentious because EU quotas are based partly on historical fishing patterns. Some Icelandic officials believe Iceland could retain control because other EU members have not fished in its waters for decades, but opponents doubt that any concessions would be permanent. They also argue that Iceland’s economic problems should be addressed by domestic politicians rather than Brussels. The referendum would not decide whether Iceland joins the EU. A “yes” vote would only authorize the reopening of negotiations, with a second referendum on actual membership likely several years later. Iceland applied to join in 2009 during a severe financial crisis, but talks were suspended in 2013 by a Eurosceptic government. If negotiations resume, they could begin by the end of 2026 and last 18 to 24 months. A general election due by November 2028 could add further uncertainty.

A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration’s use of immigration laws to revoke visas and pursue deportation proceedings against non-citizen student activists for pro-Palestinian advocacy was unconstitutional. US District Judge Noel Wise, sitting in San Jose, California, found that the policies violated First Amendment free-speech protections and Fifth Amendment guarantees when applied to constitutionally protected speech. The ruling arose from a lawsuit filed by The Stanford Daily in August 2025. The student newspaper argued that writers with student visas had refrained from covering pro-Palestinian protests and Middle East-related issues because of the administration’s actions. Beginning in March 2025, the government had revoked visas and detained non-citizens involved in campus advocacy, including Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, whose separate deportation case remains ongoing. Wise criticised the State Department and Department of Homeland Security for targeting non-citizens based on their political viewpoints. She said the government had singled out speech for disfavoured treatment because of its content or viewpoint, and warned that citizens and non-citizens could be forced to self-censor if they feared retaliation. The judge particularly challenged provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act that gave Secretary of State Marco Rubio broad authority to declare a non-citizen deportable when he determined that the person’s actions compromised a compelling foreign-policy interest, as well as his discretion to revoke visas. The decision follows a similar 2025 ruling by Boston-based Judge William Young. Wise warned that government suppression could expand beyond pro-Palestinian advocacy to anyone expressing opinions officials dislike, describing that prospect as incompatible with the Constitution and democratic values. The State Department and DHS did not immediately comment. A free-speech organisation representing The Stanford Daily welcomed the ruling, calling free speech an inalienable right rather than a privilege.

The Shanghai Cooperation Group (SCO) will hold its 25th summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Aug 31, bringing together leaders from Russia, China, Iran, India, Pakistan, Belarus and four Central Asian countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif are expected to attend a plenary session chaired by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov. The summit is taking place amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have used previous SCO meetings to promote a multipolar international order and criticize Western influence. The gathering comes more than four years after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine and amid conflict between Iran and the United States, as well as growing trade tensions involving US tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods. Russia and Iran, both among the world’s most heavily sanctioned countries, have expanded their military and economic cooperation during the Ukraine war. Iran joined the SCO in 2023, partly in the hope that membership could help it bypass US and European sanctions, although analysts say the bloc has provided limited practical assistance during crises. China, a major buyer of Iranian oil, has pledged to defend its interests against US sanctions affecting Iran’s trading partners. Although the SCO focuses officially on economic cooperation and says it is not an alliance directed against other states, the organization has become increasingly associated with anti-Western rhetoric from Moscow and Beijing. It represents about 40 per cent of the world’s population and 25 per cent of global GDP, but its members have competing interests. Russia and China vie for influence in resource-rich Central Asia, while China’s relations with India and Pakistan remain periodically strained. Putin is expected to hold bilateral discussions with Xi and Pezeshkian, and potentially other leaders, during the summit.

Brazilian senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the leading opposition candidate in Brazil’s presidential election, has pledged to accept the outcome of the October vote. In an interview with TV Globo’s Jornal Nacional, the country’s most-watched newscast, he said he would respect both the electoral process and its results, adding that he intended to seek office under Brazil’s current electoral rules. Flavio Bolsonaro is the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted by a panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court for attempting to overturn his defeat in the 2022 election. Jair Bolsonaro lost that vote to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The former president had also spent years questioning the reliability of Brazil’s electronic voting machines. Despite his pledge to respect the election result, Flavio Bolsonaro said that, if elected, he would grant amnesty to people convicted over the January 2023 riot in Brasilia. Bolsonaro supporters invaded and ransacked the presidential palace, Supreme Court and Congress during the unrest. The proposal could benefit individuals prosecuted for attacks widely viewed as an attempt to undermine Brazil’s democratic institutions. Flavio Bolsonaro also distanced himself from the U.S. government’s July decision to impose tariffs on Brazilian goods over alleged unfair trade practices. The article notes that the Trump administration had previously imposed levies on Brazil, claiming Washington was responding to what it described as a “witch hunt” against Jair Bolsonaro during his trial. Those earlier tariffs were subsequently removed.

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet oil refining executives on Sept 1 to discuss persistently high gasoline and diesel prices, which have risen amid disruptions linked to the war in Iran. Representatives from at least 10 refiners and fuel distributors are expected to attend, including Marathon Petroleum, Delek US Holdings, Chevron, PBF Energy and Valero Energy. The meeting will allow the administration to hear industry views on market conditions, measures to reduce fuel prices and ways to expand US refining capacity. Fuel costs have become a political problem for Trump ahead of the November midterm elections. Although the average US gasoline price fell to US$2.79 a gallon in January, it later climbed above US$4, while diesel prices approached US$6 a gallon. Gasoline prices have declined from a May peak above US$4.50 but remain about US$1 higher than before the Feb 28 start of the war. The administration is also examining ways to increase oil flows from Venezuela, whose crude is used by refiners including Chevron and Valero. Refiners may ask for policy changes to address constraints on domestic production and operations. The US refining fleet has shrunk since 2020, even as facilities are processing near capacity to meet domestic and international demand. Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to potentially support energy projects and temporarily relaxed Jones Act restrictions on foreign ships transporting oil and other commodities. Refiners may argue that the administration’s August reduction of the waiver has limited its effectiveness. The meeting is also expected to cover biofuel-blending mandates under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Environmental Protection Agency is considering exemptions for some small refineries, but the issue is divisive because it affects both oil companies and agricultural interests. Record-high blending requirements have increased costs for refiners and raised the value of possible exemptions.

The Trump administration is considering adding robotic dogs to the enforcement technology used by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as the agency seeks to increase arrests and deportations nationwide. ICE issued a market-research notice on August 28 seeking information about “quadruped unmanned ground vehicles,” commonly known as robot dogs, and included a draft set of specifications. The notice does not guarantee that the government will eventually purchase the systems or issue a formal contract. The proposal comes as ICE faces scrutiny from civil liberties groups and other observers over the use of force during President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign. The agency has indicated that it intends to increase spending on enforcement technology. That spending could include as much as US$20 million for electric shock gloves, which are designed to deliver a debilitating shock when applied directly to a person’s skin. NBC News, which first reported ICE’s interest in the quadruped robots, said the government was looking to spend at least US$2 million on them. The potential purchase reflects the administration’s broader effort to expand the technological tools available to immigration officers, but it also raises questions about surveillance, accountability, and the escalation of force in immigration enforcement. The Department of Homeland Security had not immediately responded to a request for comment at the time of publication. The report was published by The Straits Times and attributed to Bloomberg, with NBC News identified as the first outlet to report on the robot-dog proposal.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored in Al Nassr’s 2-1 comeback victory over Al Taawoun on Friday, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer in the Saudi Pro League. His goal was his 104th for Al Nassr in the competition, surpassing the previous record held by Mohammed Al Sahlawi. The achievement also moved the 41-year-old Portuguese forward to 978 career goals, bringing him closer to the landmark of 1,000. Al Nassr fell behind in the 11th minute when Bassam Mohammed Al Hurayji converted a rebound after Nawaf Al Aqidi had deflected Mohammed Al Aqel’s shot onto the crossbar. The champions equalised shortly before half-time through Samu Costa, who scored after a lay-off from Sadio Mane. Five minutes into the second half, Ronaldo flicked a goalbound effort from Mohammed Simakan into the net to complete the comeback. The victory at Al Awwal Park preserved Al Nassr’s perfect start to the season. The Riyadh club have won all four of their matches and sit three points clear of rivals Al Hilal, who are due to face Al Ahli Saudi. The result also extended Ange Postecoglou’s 100 per cent record since replacing Jorge Jesus as head coach during the summer. Ronaldo described the record as a “great achievement” but credited his teammates and supporters. The milestone came days after he had declined to sit on the bench following a substitution during another comeback win, against Al Ettifaq. Postecoglou praised the team’s resilience but warned that the players were struggling with a demanding schedule of five matches in 13 days. He said the upcoming break would allow the squad to recover and prepare for its next match against Al Ittihad.

Egyptian writer, DJ and radio host Nihal Al Aasar is using music and broadcasting to challenge simplistic Western perceptions of Arab and Middle Eastern culture. Raised in Cairo and now based in London, Al Aasar combines writing about geopolitics, war and socioeconomic issues with DJ sets that showcase underground artists from across the region. Her transition into DJing began unexpectedly in 2022, when someone at a dinner party suggested she contact NTS Radio. She was invited to host her own live show despite having no previous DJ experience, learning on air. She later became an NTS resident and launched Nile to Bank, a program combining traditional DJ sets, experimental music and conversations about politics and regional affairs. Al Aasar rejects the idea that there is a single “Arab sound.” She points to the wide range of music emerging from different countries and scenes, including Egyptian industrial breakbeat, techno and Mahraganat, Moroccan rap, and electronic and rap music from Palestine and Jordan. Her aim is to counter the tendency to reduce Middle Eastern music to familiar commercial or celebratory styles. Her work also extends into the art world. At the Serpentine Gallery in 2025, she created an immersive selection of traditional Arabic music for Peter Doig’s House of Music. More recently, at the Vima Art Fair in Limassol, Cyprus, she performed an experimental set incorporating hip-hop, drill, drum and bass, indie and electronic music. Nile to Bank reflects Al Aasar’s belief that art and politics cannot always be separated, especially for people from the Arab world. The show features musicians, writers, activists and researchers, including Mohammed El Kurd and Mohammed “Siko” Tatour. Al Aasar argues that people can engage with politics while also pursuing creative or seemingly frivolous interests, and describes her own practice as existing across multiple dimensions.

In this property-advice column, Mario Volpi addresses two questions from Dubai homeowners about whether to sell, repay debt or continue holding property. The first couple, based in Arabian Ranches, have been making additional mortgage payments and are considering whether they would be better off investing the money in another property. Volpi explains that neither strategy is universally correct. Paying down the mortgage can provide security, reduce debt and offer peace of mind, while retaining the mortgage and investing elsewhere may be sensible if the borrowing is affordable and another property offers strong rental income and long-term capital-growth potential. He emphasizes that the decision depends not only on financial calculations but also on the homeowners’ comfort with debt, family circumstances and future plans. He recommends consulting both an independent mortgage adviser and a financial adviser and comparing the two scenarios side by side. The second reader owns a villa purchased nearly eight years ago that has appreciated substantially. Although brokers are contacting the owner with potential buyers, the family enjoys living in the property, there is no financial pressure to sell and there is no immediate alternative use for the proceeds. Volpi says rising prices and surrounding market enthusiasm alone are not sufficient reasons to sell. A property is more than a tradable financial instrument; it can remain a useful long-term asset and a home. Selling may make sense if it allows the family to move to a better-suited home, diversify investments or fund another important goal. However, if the money would simply remain in the bank while the owner decides what to do next, selling may be counterproductive. Volpi concludes that good properties can be difficult to replace, and advises homeowners to consider their practical objectives and future circumstances rather than acting solely on market excitement.

Archaeologists excavating Karahantepe, a Neolithic archaeological site in southeastern Türkiye’s Şanlıurfa province, have discovered an unusual 70-centimetre-high stone sculpture depicting a human figure seated on a leopard. Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, announced the find on August 25, 2026, under the country’s Heritage for the Future archaeological programme. The sculpture was found in situ on a stone bench inside a circular structure approximately three metres wide, whose floor was paved with flat stones. Its arrangement is especially significant because three previously discovered Karahantepe sculptures depicted humans carrying leopards on their backs. The newly found piece reverses that relationship by placing the leopard beneath the human figure. Excavation director Professor Necmi Karul said this composition had not previously been documented at the site. Leopards feature prominently in Karahantepe’s artistic record, appearing alongside human figures in sculptures and reliefs. However, archaeologists caution against assigning a definitive religious or mythological meaning to the new statue. It may have had symbolic, social or ritual importance, but there is currently no direct evidence identifying the story or belief it represented. Karahantepe forms part of the Taş Tepeler network of prehistoric sites in the Şanlıurfa region, which includes Göbekli Tepe and Sayburç. Dating mainly to the 10th and 9th millennia BCE, these sites demonstrate that early Neolithic communities created monumental architecture, carved stone figures and sophisticated animal imagery long before the rise of cities. The new sculpture adds another variation to this regional artistic tradition and gives researchers further evidence with which to study early human-animal relationships, although its precise meaning remains unknown.

A five-year study has found that some elite members of Minoan and Mycenaean society wore rings made partly from meteoritic iron more than 3,000 years ago. Matthieu Gounelle of France’s National Museum of Natural History and Eleni Mantzourani of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens examined 105 Bronze Age and Early Iron Age artefacts from 33 archaeological sites in 19 museums. Using non-destructive portable X-ray fluorescence, they analysed 91 iron objects in detail. Thirteen rings or ring fragments contained significant nickel levels, a chemical signature commonly associated with iron meteorites. The researchers concluded that nine were very likely made from meteoritic iron, one was quite likely to have been, and three need further investigation. The concentration of nickel varied from approximately 1% to 50%, suggesting that the rings may have originated from different meteorites. Since nickel can be lost through corrosion and burial, even low concentrations may indicate an extraterrestrial source. All 13 nickel-bearing objects were rings, many of them elaborate pieces combining iron with gold, silver or bronze. Several were discovered in richly furnished elite tombs at sites including Mycenae, Vapheio, Kakovatos, Aidonia and Dendra, indicating that meteoritic iron was regarded as a prestige material rather than a practical one. The study proposes that some meteoritic iron may have reached the Aegean through long-distance trade, potentially from Egypt, where meteorite iron was also used. However, the researchers did not establish a specific trade route or prove an Egyptian origin. The rings disappear from the archaeological record after the 12th century BCE, around the time of the Late Bronze Age collapse and the growing importance of smelted terrestrial iron. They therefore represent a short period when iron was rare, mysterious and associated with elite power before it became an everyday material during the Iron Age.

The article recounts Holly Ratchford’s first public discussion of her encounters with Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi national accused of assisting 9/11 hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar while they lived in San Diego. Ratchford managed Parkwood Apartments, where Bayoumi moved with his family in September 1999. She remembered him as a cheerful, sociable and friendly resident who regularly attended pool parties. In February 2000, Bayoumi brought Hazmi and Mihdhar to Ratchford’s office while they were seeking an apartment. Although the men did not meet the complex’s income requirements, Bayoumi co-signed their lease and helped them open a bank account. The two men later became members of al-Qaeda’s 19-person team that hijacked four US passenger planes on September 11, 2001. Hazmi and Mihdhar were aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon. Ratchford said she saw nothing suspicious at the time and described the pair as polite and unremarkable. She learned of their identities after the attacks, when a woman asking for a rental reference told her they were terrorists responsible for flying a plane into the Pentagon. The FBI interviewed Ratchford on September 14, 2001, and obtained Bayoumi’s guarantor form. Former FBI investigator Richard Lambert later said investigators identified a network led by Bayoumi. In an August 2025 ruling, a New York federal judge found that the evidence supported a reasonable inference that Bayoumi and a Saudi diplomat had coordinated with the Saudi government while assisting the hijackers. Saudi Arabia and Bayoumi deny the allegations, and Saudi Arabia is appealing. Ratchford has provided a sealed declaration to the court and says the connection has haunted her for 25 years.

Maya Higa, the popular streamer and online creator, has announced her engagement to her longtime partner, Caleb. The announcement came through posts on X and Instagram featuring photographs of the proposal, her engagement ring, and the couple celebrating. Higa described the moment as the “best surprise” of her life and said accepting the proposal was the easiest decision she had ever made. Despite the public announcement, Caleb remains largely outside the spotlight. Unlike Higa, he does not appear to have a major public profile as a streamer or content creator, and Higa has generally kept their relationship private. She has occasionally featured him in videos, including posts about celebrating his birthday and visiting a zoo, but has avoided making their relationship a central part of her online presence. During a 2023 episode of the podcast “Wine About It,” Higa revealed that she and Caleb had been together for about a year at that time. She said they met through mutual friends at a bar and that she made the first move after finding him attractive. The engagement also caused temporary confusion among some fans, who mistakenly wondered whether fellow streamer FaZe Adapt was Higa’s fiancé. That speculation appears to have been influenced by Higa and Adapt’s recent Alaska wildlife expedition, during which they streamed together for several days. Their public interactions led some viewers to question whether Adapt appeared in the proposal photographs. The article clarifies that Higa is engaged to Caleb, not Adapt. The milestone offers fans a rare glimpse into a relationship that has developed privately while Higa’s professional life has remained highly public.

Canada is recruiting dozens of prominent researchers from universities around the world, with 48 of the 64 academics selected for a new government-funded programme coming from the United States. The initiative provides C$504m ($362m; £268m) over several years to support research in areas including climate change, medicine and other fields. The recruitment drive comes as relations between Canada and the US deteriorate amid an escalating trade dispute and growing political tensions. The article attributes the movement of US-based researchers partly to uncertainty created by the Trump administration’s approach to higher education and scientific research. The administration has criticised universities over alleged left-wing bias, diversity policies and campus antisemitism, while freezing or cutting federal research grants that it considers wasteful. Researchers and higher-education leaders say these policies have made the US funding environment more difficult and politicised. Seth Guikema, a climate-resiliency researcher leaving the University of Michigan for the University of Western Ontario, said climate-related funding had become increasingly challenging in the US. He will receive C$8m over eight years to study ways of preparing for natural hazards such as storms and wildfires. Other recruits include Peter Caravan, a biopharmaceutical researcher formerly associated with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and academics from Harvard and the University of Southern California. Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly welcomed the researchers while rejecting the suggestion that the programme represented an escalation of the trade conflict. Some recruits are American, while others are Canadians returning after working abroad. Although US universities remain among the world’s highest-ranked institutions, the American Association of Colleges and Universities warned that sustained funding cuts could make the country less attractive for pursuing knowledge. The article presents the programme as both a Canadian investment in research and a potential sign of a longer-term US brain drain.

The article examines Holly Ratchford’s previously undisclosed connection to Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi national who lived at the Parkwood Apartments in San Diego, where she was property manager in the late 1990s. Ratchford says Bayoumi appeared to be a friendly, sociable family man who attended her pool parties and welcomed her into his home. In February 2000, he introduced her to Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar, two Saudi men who later became hijackers aboard American Airlines Flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon during the 11 September 2001 attacks. Bayoumi is accused of helping the two future hijackers settle in San Diego and supporting them before the attacks. The article places these allegations within a lawsuit brought by thousands of 9/11 victims’ families and survivors against Saudi Arabia. A federal judge found that the evidence created a “reasonable inference” that Bayoumi and a Saudi diplomat had coordinated with the Saudi government while assisting the hijackers. Saudi Arabia and Bayoumi deny the allegations and are appealing the ruling. Ratchford has provided a sealed declaration to the New York court but had never spoken publicly about her experiences until agreeing to BBC interviews. Her account reportedly challenges Bayoumi’s explanations of his activities. Declassified FBI documents and court filings indicate that his studies had largely stopped, while he became involved in religious organizing, filmed Muslim community activities, and received substantial annual payments. A former FBI investigator says there was a widespread belief that Bayoumi was a Saudi intelligence operative. The article also discusses video footage showing Bayoumi behaving like an ordinary family man, alongside footage of him filming the US Capitol from multiple angles and referring to a “plan.” Lawyers for the 9/11 families argue this may have been surveillance, although Saudi Arabia calls it a tourist video and a judge said the footage alone only establishes that Bayoumi visited and filmed Washington. The provided article ends as Ratchford begins explaining what documentation the two men needed to rent an apartment.

Icelanders are voting in a closely contested referendum on whether to restart negotiations over joining the European Union, 13 years after the country suspended its accession process. Opinion polls have shifted between the two sides, with the latest survey giving the No campaign a narrow lead of 51.6%. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir’s centre-left government brought the vote forward amid growing international uncertainty, although the campaign has focused more heavily on fisheries, sovereignty and economic conditions than on security. The referendum question concerns only whether Iceland should resume accession talks; a Yes vote would not commit the country to EU membership. Any eventual agreement would require approval in a second referendum, by Iceland’s parliament and through constitutional changes, as well as ratification by all 27 EU member states. Iceland is already linked to the EU through the European Economic Area and the Schengen zone, but membership would bring participation in the customs union and potentially adoption of the euro. Most of the previous negotiating chapters had already been opened before talks were halted in 2013. Fishing is the central obstacle. The industry accounts for almost 40% of Iceland’s exports, and No campaigners fear that EU membership would undermine national control over fishing grounds through the Common Fisheries Policy. Memories of Iceland’s successful Cod Wars with the United Kingdom reinforce the importance of maritime sovereignty. Supporters argue that negotiations would allow Iceland to determine what deal it could obtain before making a final decision. Economic concerns also shape the debate. Iceland has high GDP per capita but faces elevated interest rates, inflation and living costs. Yes campaigners say EU membership could improve economic stability. Security has received less attention, despite Iceland’s NATO membership, lack of a standing military, concerns about Russian activity and uncertainty surrounding US policy. The result is expected early Sunday after voting closes.

The article argues that Taiwan’s handling of Grenada’s defaulted loans demonstrates that debt can be used as a geopolitical weapon by actors other than China. It challenges the dominant Western narrative that portrays Chinese bilateral lending as uniquely dangerous, presenting Grenada’s experience as an overlooked counterexample. Grenada suffered severe economic and physical devastation after Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and another hurricane in 2005. More than 90 per cent of homes were damaged or destroyed, half the population became homeless, and the total damage was estimated at more than twice the country’s gross domestic product. Facing an urgent need for liquidity and infrastructure reconstruction, Grenada shifted diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 2005, believing Beijing was the only partner able to provide immediate assistance. Taiwan interpreted the diplomatic switch as a betrayal. As Grenada’s largest bilateral creditor at the time, Taipei chose not to participate in debt restructuring efforts and instead sued Grenada in a New York court to recover the full outstanding balance. The resulting legal dispute lasted a decade. Taiwan reportedly invoked a sovereign-immunity waiver in the loan contract and attempted to seize Grenada’s income from cruise lines, shipping companies and international arbitration awards. The author presents this episode as a warning to Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners, particularly Caribbean countries such as St Vincent and the Grenadines that still hold Taiwanese debt. The broader implication is that small island nations may face serious financial and legal consequences if they change diplomatic allegiance. The article is therefore both a critique of Taiwan’s debt-collection strategy and a challenge to the selective way international discussions frame “debt traps.”

The Trump administration is considering transferring a roughly 400-metre strip of Yosemite National Park to a private developer, prompting criticism over the possible weakening of protections for public land. An investigation by NOTUS reported that the government had spent more than a year working quietly on the proposed land exchange. The strip would be transferred to a company connected through several entities to Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a Nevada-based real estate firm. The proposal is linked to Kingsbarn CEO Jeff Pori, whose company controls an 83-acre property outside Yosemite that it purchased in 2024. According to people familiar with the discussions cited by NOTUS, Pori wanted to build a road connecting the property to one of Yosemite’s main thoroughfares. That connection would provide the private land with what the report described as “exceptionally rare private access.” Under the proposed arrangement, the National Park Service would receive land of equal value elsewhere in California, although the replacement site had not yet been identified. The article does not say that the transfer has been finalized, emphasizing that the administration is considering the deal. The proposed Yosemite exchange is presented as part of a broader rollback of conservation protections under President Donald Trump. The article notes that Trump reduced two Utah national monuments by more than 90 per cent in July. It also reports that the administration moved in August to end a rule restricting logging and road construction in national forests. The account highlights concerns about the use of public parkland to facilitate private development while portraying the possible transfer as the latest in a series of administration decisions affecting protected public lands. Yosemite, including landmarks such as El Capitan, is one of the United States’ most renowned national parks.

Former White House teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez has agreed to surrender more than US$100,000 in betting profits and pay a US$65,000 fine after federal authorities determined that he used information from his job to place wagers on President Donald Trump’s speeches. The settlement, announced by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), also prohibits Perez from trading for three years. Perez reportedly earned US$107,500 by betting on Kalshi, a prediction-market platform offering contracts tied to whether a president would use particular words or phrases in public remarks. According to the CFTC, he traded these presidential “mention market” contracts between December 2025 and February 2026, while he was still working at the White House. The case emerged after reports that Perez had used his access to information about upcoming presidential speeches to wager on what Trump would say. He was placed on unpaid leave after the reports became public and has since left his White House position. A White House official said in July that Perez was no longer employed there but did not clarify whether he had been dismissed or had resigned. The settlement resolves the federal authorities’ action without further details about Perez’s intentions or the specific trades that generated his winnings. The White House did not immediately comment on the agreement. The case highlights concerns about the use of privileged workplace information in prediction markets, particularly when employees have advance knowledge of statements that can determine whether event-based contracts pay out.

The article reports that Leila Abolhasani, a 43-year-old Iranian mother of two, has been sentenced to death by hanging after being arrested during anti-government protests in Iran in January. According to IranWire, Abolhasani was detained in Shahin Shahr on January 8 after photographing or filming a fire at an Ofogh Koorosh grocery store. Iranian authorities accused her of participating in the store’s arson and charged her with “Moharebeh,” or “enmity against God,” a crime that can carry the death penalty. Her family disputes the accusation, saying she only documented the fire. Details about the prosecution’s evidence, the trial, and her legal representation have not been released. Abolhasani has been held at Dowlatabad Prison in Isfahan. In late May, Vahid Hemmatnejad, presiding judge of Branch 5 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court, sentenced her to death. She appealed, and Iran’s Supreme Court is reportedly reviewing the case. The article presents the case as part of a broader campaign of repression following January’s anti-government demonstrations. An Iranian refugee interviewed by NewsNation said the planned execution was intended to intimidate citizens, discourage documentation of abuses, and suppress criticism of the regime. The article cites estimates that approximately 50,000 people were arrested during the protests. It also reports a source’s claim that about 50,000 people, including 250 children, were killed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, though that figure is attributed rather than independently verified in the article. United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk reportedly said Iran had executed at least 56 people on national-security charges since March 19, including 27 cases connected to the January protests. He added that more than 100 others faced charges that could result in execution and condemned the death penalty as incompatible with human dignity.

The supplied content is not a standalone news article or a specific AP Top 25 ranking release. It is primarily a website shell for an AP News hub page titled “NCAA College Football Rankings: AP Top 25 Football Poll.” Most of the text consists of AP News navigation menus, section links, newsletter promotions, unrelated headlines, and sitewide categories covering world news, U.S. news, politics, sports, entertainment, business, science, health, technology, lifestyle, and other topics. The relevant sports navigation identifies NFL, college football, the Top 25 Poll, MLB, NBA, WNBA, soccer, tennis, golf, and auto racing as sports categories. The page also promotes “AP Top 25 Poll Alerts,” inviting readers to receive email notifications for every college football Top 25 Poll release. However, the supplied extract does not contain an actual ranking table, poll date, ranked teams, first-place votes, records, changes from the previous week, voting results, or commentary from AP journalists. Because the substantive ranking content is missing, it is not possible to identify the current No. 1 team, explain movement within the poll, compare teams, or summarize a particular week’s college football rankings. The only reliable conclusion is that AP News maintains a dedicated hub for its college football Top 25 poll and related updates. The page appears informational and navigational rather than argumentative or analytical in the supplied form. Any claims about specific teams or rankings would require the missing article body or a dated poll release.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dealt a significant setback to prediction-market platforms by ruling that sports-related event contracts are not “swaps” regulated exclusively by the federal Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The decision rejected requests from Kalshi, Crypto.com and Robinhood for injunctions preventing Nevada regulators from stopping their sports-related offerings, which Nevada and 44 other states characterize as gambling rather than financial products. The platforms and the CFTC maintain that event contracts are derivatives, and that the CFTC has exclusive authority to regulate them under the Commodity Exchange Act. The CFTC has also sued nine states in an effort to protect its claimed jurisdiction. The 9th Circuit rejected that position, stating that the contracts in question were sports bets and therefore not swaps. Nevada officials called the ruling a major victory for state gaming authority. The decision conflicts with an April ruling by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which held that sports-related event contracts are swaps subject only to CFTC oversight. Legal experts describe the conflicting decisions as a classic circuit split, making Supreme Court review increasingly likely. Kalshi and the CFTC criticized the 9th Circuit’s interpretation, while Robinhood said it plans to appeal. Crypto.com did not comment. The ruling also affected financial markets. Shares of DraftKings and Flutter Entertainment, FanDuel’s parent company, rose sharply because both companies have faced concerns that prediction markets could disrupt traditional sports betting. DraftKings gained 7%, while Flutter rose more than 6%. Both firms are developing their own prediction-market exchanges. CNBC disclosed that it has a commercial relationship with Kalshi, including customer acquisition and a minority investment.