Israeli troops completed a raid on the Qalandiya Training Centre in occupied East Jerusalem, marking the sixth raid on the facility this year, during which approximately 40 staff members were expelled and significant damage was reported. The centre, which has been operating since 1952, provides vocational training for around 340 Palestinian refugees annually, and boasts a 90% job placement rate for its graduates across 16 specializations, despite the high unemployment rate of nearly one in three Palestinians in the West Bank. UNRWA expressed hope to reopen the centre quickly, as it plays a vital role in equipping Palestinians with skills necessary for gaining employment and rebuilding their lives.
Khaled Abu Madeen, a 50-year-old farmer from Sheikh Ijlin in Gaza City, has returned to his vineyards after nearly three years of war with Israel, during which over 73,000 Palestinians lost their lives and significant destruction occurred. After enduring the loss of 60% of his grapevines and facing the challenges of limited agricultural supplies due to Israeli restrictions, he estimates that restoring his vineyard will cost at least $40,000. Despite setbacks, Khaled has experienced a hopeful resurgence as new shoots have begun to emerge, indicating that his harvest this year has reached about 5,000 pounds.
Chris Cantrill won the Edinburgh comedy award for his show "Rewilding," making it his first win after three previous nominations, while Marty Gleeson received the best newcomer award for her show "Dog Ear." Cantrill, aged 42 from Bradford, aims to bring humor from rural Northumberland, and his victory marks his return after his partner Amy Gledhill won the same award two years prior. This year, the award panel received over 550 eligible shows, and Cantrill received a prize of £10,000 while Gleeson was awarded £5,000; the festival featured just over 4,200 registered shows across 299 venues.
The Upper West Side grocery store Barzini’s, which has been in operation for over 40 years, is set to permanently close at the end of the month, according to an employee. Additionally, a kosher bistro and bar, named after the "black parrot tulip," has opened on West 106th Street. The article also mentions that the Global Citizen Festival will occur on Saturday, September 26, at 4 p.m.
Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, plans to return to the UK after spending time in a Swiss chalet due to scrutiny over her ties to Jeffrey Epstein, from whom she received a £15,000 payment to settle debts. Following the scandal, Ferguson lost her royal titles, the courtesy title of the Duchess of York, and the freedom of the city of York, which was unanimously revoked by councillors; she has also seen many of her books pulped and her charity, Sarah’s Trust, closed down. Additionally, six companies associated with her were wound down earlier this year amid the fallout from the Epstein revelations.
Lando Norris has extended his contract with McLaren until at least 2030, following his recent success with back-to-back wins at the Dutch Grand Prix. The 26-year-old driver, who secured McLaren's first drivers' title since 2008 last season, aims to continue building on the team's achievements amidst a challenging season, sitting fourth in the current championship with 11 races left. McLaren's team principal, Andrea Stella, praised Norris's significant role in the team's journey, highlighting their strong partnership and future aspirations.
Niger's Ministry of National Defense reported that soldiers engaged in mutiny-like gunfire at sensitive locations in Niamey, including an attack on Diori Hamani International Airport and an attempted breach of the presidential security perimeter. The shooting started around 1 a.m. local time and led to the temporary shutdown of the national television signal, which was restored approximately one hour later. This incident poses an ongoing threat to the military junta led by Abdourahamane Tchiani, which has faced previous jihadist attacks in the capital.
German firms faced a record sick-leave wage bill of €85.6 billion ($111 billion) in 2025, more than double the €36.9 billion recorded in 2010, according to a study from the German Economic Institute. Factors contributing to this increase include wage hikes, inflation in employee costs, and a rise in recorded sick leave following the introduction of electronic medical certificates in 2022, with workers now averaging 19.5 sick days annually compared to about 13 days in 2018. In response, the government plans to ban patients from receiving sick notes over the phone starting in January.
At least 27 people were killed in a head-on collision between a minibus carrying church members and a haulage truck near Chivhu, Zimbabwe, with 23 fatalities reported at the scene. The minibus was en route to a church conference when the truck attempted to overtake another vehicle, leading to the crash. This tragic incident is part of a troubling trend of deadly accidents on Zimbabwe's poorly maintained roads, with prior incidents resulting in multiple casualties, including 18 deaths in April from a minibus fire.
At least 37 people were killed and 42 injured, including four children, after a Russian drone strike targeted a warehouse near Kyiv, which was storing munitions. The strike caused significant damage to over 50 residential buildings and led to the evacuation of more than 370 people from the area. Ukrainian officials are investigating the legality of storing explosive materials near residential areas, reflecting on past mistakes from a similar incident in July that resulted in 22 fatalities.
US officials are urging swimmers to exercise caution amidst a surge in drowning deaths, particularly highlighted by recent incidents in California, including the deaths of two college students in Santa Cruz and two brothers in the Trinity River. From April to September, drowning deaths typically spike, with an emphasis on understanding water conditions, as even water temperatures below 70°F can pose risks like cold shock. Authorities encourage wearing life vests and avoiding drugs or alcohol while swimming to reduce drowning risks, as well as advising against bystander rescues to prevent further danger.
Laurie Anderson has become the 13th contributor to the Future Library project, with her manuscript set to remain locked away for 88 years until 2114. This project, which includes works from notable authors such as Margaret Atwood and Ocean Vuong, features a total of 1,000 spruce trees planted by artist Katie Paterson in 2014, from which the final anthology of texts will be printed. Anderson aims to write something meaningful about love to reach readers in the future, emphasizing her lifelong passion for books, libraries, and forests.
Dolly Parton, who passed away this week, was celebrated for her brilliant artistry, having sold over 100 million records and touched millions through her movies and television appearances. Her passing elicited widespread tributes, including American flags at half-staff, a pink-lit Empire State Building, and royal guards at Buckingham Palace playing her song "9 to 5." Parton's life story, from a humble beginning as the fourth of 12 children to her philanthropic endeavors, including a program that sent books to over 300 million children, exemplifies her generosity and the American dream.
The newly constructed Cyangoga pedestrian bridge in Rwanda, spanning 230 feet, connects two settlements divided by the Mukungwa River, significantly improving access to vital services like health clinics, schools, and markets for the community. Since 2020, 96 such bridges have been built in Rwanda by the nonprofit Fika, and recent research shows notable improvements in household consumption, income, land cultivation, fertilizer use, and school attendance as a result of this infrastructure. Naomi Nibishaka, a local resident, shares that the bridge has provided her with newfound freedom to visit her family and manage her daily needs without relying solely on others.
101 East explores how Palau, a small Pacific nation, might hold the key to saving the world’s coral reefs, having avoided mass coral bleaching events due to its unusually heat-resistant reefs. Scientists in Australia are working on cultivating "super coral" technology, which they believe could be crucial for coral reef survival and plan to spread these resilient larvae on the Great Barrier Reef. The investigation highlights the potential of this approach in addressing the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.
Eve Ogden Schaub is undertaking a project to create a linen dress from flax she is growing in her 600 sq ft garden in Vermont, aiming to promote slow fashion as an alternative to fast fashion. She began the project in April 2025, harvesting her crop twice and learning traditional processing techniques, while also exploring the implications of modern clothing production, including environmental and health issues associated with fast fashion. Schaub hopes to shed light on the value of creativity and the deeper meaning behind making garments, while also engaging with her audience through her Instagram documentation of the entire process.
The Nancy Grace Roman space telescope, a $4.3 billion project that survived two rounds of budget cuts proposed by Donald Trump, is set to launch from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Sunday at 7:26 AM ET. It features a 300-megapixel infrared camera that provides a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble, aimed at revealing new insights into exoplanets and planetary formation from its destination at Lagrange point 2, one million miles from Earth. The initial five-year mission, which could potentially be extended to ten years, is expected to produce its first images by early 2027, allowing both professional researchers and amateur astronomers to analyze the data.
Meta has agreed to pay up to $17.1 billion in a settlement related to a federal lawsuit over the harmful effects of its platforms on children and teens, and will implement various changes to its services, including a default daily time limit of two hours for minors and restrictions on nighttime use from midnight to 6 a.m. Healthcare providers report that approximately 50% of kids show at least one symptom of clinical dependency on social media, which is linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. The settlement also includes a commitment for Meta to respond to 90% of harmful content reports from teens within six hours and urges other social media companies to adopt similar safety measures.
Liverpool has finalized an agreement to sign France forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for a deal worth up to £123 million ($166 million), with an initial payment of £106 million ($143 million) and potential add-ons of £17 million ($23 million). Barcola, who has made 152 appearances for PSG, scoring 39 goals and providing 37 assists since joining in 2023, is set to sign a five-year contract. This transfer adds to Liverpool's roster as they adapt to life after Mohamed Salah's departure, with the squad already featuring recent signings like Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, and Victor Munoz.
At least 27 people were killed and 42 injured after a Russian drone strike on a munitions warehouse in the Bucha district near Kyiv, damaging over 50 residential buildings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that an investigation into the legality of storing explosive materials near residential areas would be opened, following criticisms of ongoing negligence since a similar attack in July. In a broader context, Russia launched at least two missiles and 267 drones at Ukraine over the weekend, resulting in additional casualties in various regions.
A Russian drone strike on a warehouse near Kyiv has resulted in at least 37 deaths and over 40 injuries, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack occurred in the Bucha district, leading to a significant fire and explosions, which prompted the evacuation of more than 370 people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the damage to nearby infrastructure and announced that criminal proceedings had been initiated for official negligence regarding the storage of ammunition near residential areas.
A Russian drone strike on an ammunition depot near Kyiv killed at least 37 people and injured dozens, making it one of the deadliest attacks in Ukraine this year. The attack sparked major fires and explosions, forcing more than 370 people to evacuate and damaging at least 50 residential buildings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the negligence of storing explosives near residential areas and indicated that criminal proceedings had been initiated regarding the incident.
A Russian drone strike on a warehouse near Kyiv has resulted in the deaths of at least 27 people, with the figure potentially rising, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack led to a major fire and caused over 370 people to evacuate the Bucha district, while President Zelenskyy highlighted significant damage to nearby infrastructure and opened criminal proceedings for official negligence. This drone strike followed two days of continuous air raids in the region, marking an escalation in attacks on civilian infrastructure during the ongoing conflict.
Iran's leaders have reported a more than 35 percent decline in foreign trade due to US sanctions and a naval blockade amid ongoing conflict, with President Masoud Pezeshkian highlighting a central focus on addressing economic challenges such as inflation, which recently reached 66 percent. Despite the turmoil, Iran managed to sell approximately 90 million barrels of oil during a brief period of reduced sanctions in June. Iranian officials, while promoting a message of unity and diplomacy, have pledged to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz and indicated that the military remains ready to respond fiercely to threats.
Ninety-nine guerrilla fighters recently disarmed in Colombia, marking the only success of the previous government's "total peace" plan amid an estimated 30,000 armed combatants in the country. The new hardline president, Abelardo De la Espriella, who opposes peace agreements, has left these former fighters uncertain about their fate as they remain in a government-controlled zone under potential threat of military action. While De la Espriella’s government has not yet revoked protection for these individuals, there is anxiety that they could face arrests or violence once the transitional period ends on December 25.
Chinese rescuers found the Gyirong border crossing complex in ruins after reaching it for the first time since devastating floods, which have claimed at least 626 lives in Nepal and 7 in Tibet, with nearly 3,000 people reported missing. Nepal is seeking foreign assistance in areas such as bridge reconstruction, identification of the dead, and specialized rescue operations, while India has already sent about 60 tons of relief materials including a tunnel rescue team. The situation remains precarious with concerns over two barrier lakes that could pose ongoing flood risks, as monitoring efforts increase in response to the disaster.
After Hurricane Helene in 2024, Latinos Aventureros covered over 4,300 miles and dedicated 650 volunteer hours to assist approximately 1,700 people in Western North Carolina, providing essential supplies in stark contrast to the few federal disaster aids received. While the Trump administration heralds Asheville's recovery, many residents still face damaged infrastructure, ongoing displacement, and a fear of using outdoor spaces due to recent ICE operations that led to 13 arrests, including a father in front of his children at a popular recreation site. The G20 summit, representing 85% of global economic output, will take place at the luxury Grove Park Inn, a stark reminder of the economic disparities and the ongoing struggles faced by local communities affected by the hurricane.
Netia McCray, who joined the federal advisory committee on long COVID in 2025, had hoped to contribute her experiences to help others suffering from the condition, but the committee was terminated just months after its formation. Over 100 science-focused federal committees have been dissolved under the Trump administration, leading to the closure of more than a quarter of the country’s healthcare-related committees as of March 2026, according to Public Citizen. The loss of these advisory groups is expected to have lasting implications on federal health and science initiatives, with experts expressing concerns about the impacts on urgent health problems like long COVID.
Norwegians are mourning the death of King Harald, who passed away at 89 after 35 years on the throne, with thousands gathering at the Royal Palace to pay their respects. His son, now King Haakon VIII at 53, will officially take the oath before parliament soon, marking the beginning of a new reign amid recent scandals affecting the monarchy. King Harald, remembered for his unifying leadership and inclusivity, died from haemolytic anaemia after being hospitalized since August 17.
A recent survey by the Forsa research institute found that 67% of German residents believe US influence has increased since Donald Trump's return to the White House, with only 11% feeling it has decreased. In related news, a Taliban delegation of three members has arrived in Germany to assist with the deportation of Afghan nationals, with 15,343 Afghans in Germany currently required to leave, including over 1,500 children. Additionally, the youth wing of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has diverged from the party's leadership by stating they do not support leaving the euro but instead seek reforms to address its structural flaws.