A massive fire, started by Israeli settlers, destroyed approximately 50 dunams (12.3 acres) of olive trees and damaged the al-Omari aluminium factory in Ein Siniya, West Bank, amidst a broader campaign targeting Palestinian farmland and industry. The owner of the facility reported severe losses of $700,000 from a prior attack where settlers damaged heavy equipment, while another industrial facility owned by Khaled al-Zaarir suffered extensive damage from a group of about 30 settlers. In July alone, 798 settler attacks were documented, including 440 instances of property damage, contributing to an unemployment rate of 29 percent in the region and exacerbating the economic crisis in the West Bank.
Saudi Arabia's football federation has expressed support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino amidst ongoing criticism related to the collapse of the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, emphasizing the need for dialogue among football stakeholders. Infantino, who is up for re-election for a fourth term in March, faces mounting pressure and criticism from three confederations, including UEFA, which have discussed a potential vote of no confidence against him, while several countries have withdrawn their support. Despite this, the African and South American confederations continue to back Infantino, while UEFA has retracted a previous threat to boycott FIFA competitions following assurances that the failed sell-off plan will not be revived.
An 86-year-old mountaineer was reunited with his backpack and climbing gear more than 60 years after he left them in a glacier in Austria, specifically on the Sulztalferner glacier at an altitude of 2,955 meters (9,700 feet). The equipment, including an ice axe, camera, and pipe from the 1950s or 1960s, was discovered by a hiker in July, leading police to track down the owner through documents found in the backpack. This incident highlights the accelerating retreat of European glaciers driven by global heating, which has uncovered numerous relics and human remains over recent decades.
Thieves executed a well-planned heist at the Villena Museum in Spain, stealing the Treasure of Villena, a collection of bronze age gold artifacts worth at least €1.7 million, in just four minutes. The theft occurred at 5:20 am when the alarm was triggered, and by 5:24 am the thieves had departed, leaving behind a few items including three silver vessels and a prehistoric ceremonial scepter. This incident is part of a larger trend of high-profile art thefts across Europe, with recent raids indicating the involvement of new criminal networks employing increasingly violent methods.
Moscow has threatened to strike British military targets if Ukraine continues using UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles against Russia, labeling Britain as "one step away" from being complicit in terrorism. Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine have resulted in at least one death and several injuries, with air defenses intercepting seven ballistic missiles and nearly 90 percent of incoming drones. The attacks focused on key infrastructure, including ports and energy facilities, causing widespread damage and cutting power to seven settlements.
Sonal Dinusha scored 133 not out, marking his second hundred of the match and third in four innings, helping Sri Lanka reach 429-9 to secure a draw against India in the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. The match saw Sri Lanka, who resumed the day just 16 runs ahead with four wickets in hand, mount a spirited resistance led by Dinusha and Keshara Nuwantha, who contributed 46 runs and together built a crucial 112-run partnership. Although India won the series 1-0, Dinusha's performance, which included a maiden Test hundred in the first innings, was a highlight for Sri Lanka in what turned out to be a rain-affected match.
The article discusses various recent guides and news related to travel and credit cards, including a unique gift card strategy to enhance US restaurant credits while abroad. It mentions significant updates such as American Airlines expanding to three new European destinations as part of a seven-route expansion, and United's plans for ten new international destinations. Additionally, Chase Ultimate Rewards are valued at 2.05 cents per point, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business offers a 200,000-point bonus worth over $4,000.
Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladic, convicted of war crimes including genocide and crimes against humanity during Bosnia's 1992-95 war, has died in a prison hospital in the Hague at the age of 81 after suffering multiple strokes. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017 for his role in the massacre of approximately 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica, the worst single atrocity in Europe since World War II, a verdict that was upheld on appeal in 2021. Described by former UN rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein as "the epitome of evil," Mladic infamously shouted "this is all lies, you are all liars" during his sentencing.
Broadcaster Jenni Murray, 75, died on March 12 after being involved in a car crash in north London eight days earlier, where she became dazzled by headlights and collided with two stationary vehicles. The inquest revealed that her injuries included multiple rib fractures and a collapsed lung, leading to bronchopneumonia, and she was placed on non-invasive ventilation before eventually receiving palliative care. Murray was a veteran of BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour for three decades, was honored as a dame in 2011, and had raised significant awareness for breast cancer after her diagnosis in 2006.
Thieves have stolen a significant portion of the Treasure of Villena, a prehistoric gold collection in Alicante, amounting to almost ten kilos of gold, bowls, bottles, and bracelets from the Bronze Age, with police confirming that rings, bowls, and bracelets were among the items taken. The robbery occurred in just four minutes, with alarms triggering at 05:15 and 05:20 local time, during which the thieves executed a diversion by setting off alarms at a nearby sports center. The Mayor of Villena noted that the town is "devastated," as the museum's collection includes over 60 Bronze Age objects, and emphasized the cultural loss to their heritage.
Thieves have stolen an unspecified number of items from the Treasure of Villena, which includes over 50 primarily gold objects from the Bronze Age, during a fast and professional heist on Thursday. The collection, which includes 29 bracelets, 11 bowls, and three bottles, dates back to around 1,000 BC and was discovered in 1963. This incident is part of a concerning trend of high-profile museum robberies across Europe, following thefts at places like the Louvre and a museum in Sicily earlier this month.
China has condemned new US sanctions aimed at cutting off revenue sources to Iran, which the US Treasury Secretary described as an "economic D-Day," focusing on 60 entities and individuals implicated in supporting Iran's nuclear and missile technology procurement. China purchases up to 90% of Iranian oil exports and has instructed its businesses to ignore US restrictions, while its foreign ministry emphasized that its cooperation with Iran is lawful and should not be disrupted. As US-China relations continue to evolve, particularly with an upcoming meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping, Beijing balances its strategic ties with Iran alongside its trade relationships with Gulf rivals like Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Atletico Madrid firmly rejected any negotiations for the sale of striker Julian Alvarez to Barcelona, stating there would be "zero consideration" for a transfer to the Spanish champions, which follows Barcelona's reported offer of around 100 million euros ($116 million). The Atletico board expressed unanimous support for this decision, emphasizing that they are open to other professional negotiations but not with Barcelona, which had previously been reported to FIFA for its pursuit of Alvarez. Alvarez, who joined Atletico from Manchester City in 2024 for up to 95 million euros ($111 million), did not attend training due to illness following negative reactions from fans during a recent match.
Top Gear is set to return to the BBC nearly four years after co-host Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was seriously injured in a crash while filming, with BBC director of entertainment Ed Havard confirming the show's comeback at the Edinburgh TV festival. Flintoff’s accident involved a Morgan Super 3 car flipping over and resulted in him receiving £9 million in a financial settlement from the BBC, having been deeply affected by the incident. While there is speculation around potential new hosts, including comedian Jimmy Carr and rugby player Joe Marler, the BBC has not disclosed any details regarding the new presenters.
Three UK airports—Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands—experienced a cyber-attack that compromised the data of approximately 8.7 million customers, including their email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registration numbers, and postcodes. The Manchester Airports Group (MAG) stated that passenger safety and aviation security were not affected, and bank or payment details were not accessed during the incident. MAG has taken immediate steps to contain the risk and is working with authorities while continuing normal airport operations and customer services.
The Saxony-Anhalt state election on September 6 could see the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerge as the strongest party, currently polling over 40% compared to the Christian Democrats at around 24%. The AfD promotes a restrictive immigration policy and seeks to implement a "deportation and remigration offensive," which has raised concerns among those with migration backgrounds about their safety and place in society. With a foreign national population of 7.9% in Saxony-Anhalt, significantly below the national average, people from diverse backgrounds express feelings of uncertainty regarding their future in the region amidst rising xenophobic sentiment.
Yaya Toure has made history as the first African coach to lead a team, Slovan Bratislava, into the main round of the UEFA Champions League, following a 3-2 aggregate victory over NK Celje. The team secured their spot after winning four league matches since Toure's appointment in June, beginning their Champions League journey with a 2-0 win against Saburtalo and victories against Mjallby and Celje. As a player, Toure is a joint most decorated African footballer with four African Footballer of the Year awards and significant club honors, including multiple league titles and a Champions League victory.
A near total lunar eclipse will occur Thursday night, with 96% of the moon darkened by Earth's shadow, creating a reddish appearance known as a "blood moon." The event will be visible across much of North and South America, with millions expected to witness it, and will begin around 9:23 PM EST, peaking at 10:33 PM EST. While primarily observable in the Americas, the eclipse can also be seen in some areas of Europe and Africa.
Venus Williams, currently ranked 611th in the WTA and without a singles win since July 2025, has received a wild card to compete in the 2026 US Open at the age of 46. Wild cards are often awarded by tournament organizers to promote young talent or boost attendance with famous players, but opinions on their usage vary, with critics arguing that they could be better allocated to emerging athletes. In a notable instance, Stanislas Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, also secured a wild card for the 2026 US Open after another player withdrew, allowing him to compete at the tournament he previously won in 2016.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allegedly provided false testimony during his Senate confirmation hearings, claiming that his 2019 visit to Samoa had “nothing to do with vaccines,” despite newly revealed letters indicating otherwise. In these letters, which he wrote to the Samoan prime minister, Kennedy mentioned the word "vaccine" or "vaccination" eight times, expressing a desire to assess issues related to the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine following the deaths of two children after vaccination, which he attributed to potential manufacturing problems. The controversy surrounding this visit intensified after a measles outbreak in Samoa resulted in 83 deaths, and critics argue that Kennedy's activities may have emboldened anti-vaccine sentiments on the island.
A small plane, a Piper PA-24, crashed into shallow waters near Seldovia, Alaska, on Wednesday, killing all four passengers on board. The aircraft was submerged in approximately 15 feet of water after departing from Anchorage, which is about 136 miles (219 km) away from Seldovia. This incident follows another recent plane crash in Alaska that claimed the lives of eight people, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding aviation safety in the region.
A Himalayan glacier collapse has resulted in at least 359 confirmed deaths and over 1,300 people missing in Nepal and China’s Tibet region, as rescue efforts face challenges due to destroyed infrastructure, including 19 bridges and around 40 km (25 miles) of road. The disaster occurred when a large glacier section broke away around 8:40 am local time, creating a surge that flooded settlements in Nepal’s Rasuwa district and raised the Trishuli river's water level by 9 meters (30 feet) within 30 minutes. Although initial reports linked the collapse to a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, further analysis identified it as a landslide that registered a force comparable to a magnitude 5.2 seismic event.
Fuel shortages in Russia are exacerbating daily life disruptions, with reports of queues up to 100 cars at stations, and individuals traveling up to 40 kilometers (24 miles) to find gasoline. The oil refining capacity has decreased by nearly one-third, as revealed by Alexander Shokhin, head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and escalated fuel prices have increased by 7.4% this year, surpassing the overall inflation rate of 4.19%. Despite low official unemployment rates at 2.2%, recruitment platforms indicate a rise in CVs and a drop in job postings, reflecting a challenging labor market with many workers facing reduced hours and wage delays.
Russia has issued warnings to Britain about potential retaliation for its support of Ukraine, particularly after UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that the UK would assist Ukraine in producing Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles. Maria Zakharova, Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson, accused Britain and France of "playing with fire" and the Kremlin suggested it could target military assets in the UK and Ukraine. Meanwhile, concerns about Russia's military aggressiveness have grown, with countries like Poland enhancing their military readiness and preparing for a possible full-scale conflict amid increased incidents of Russian hybrid warfare across Europe.
Meta has agreed to implement major changes to its Instagram and Facebook apps in a settlement requiring it to pay up to $18 billion, following a lawsuit by California and 28 other states over the addictive design of its products aimed at teenagers. As part of the agreement, Meta will establish default safety features for teen accounts, including daily usage limits and night-time blocks, moving away from its previous opt-in approach. The settlement is being presented as a precedent for other social media companies, even as concerns remain about the overall safety of such platforms, with nearly 1,400 people reported missing in a recent catastrophic flood in Nepal and Tibet, where the death toll stands at 165.
Birmingham city council is seeking an injunction to prevent an anti-migrant group from erecting flags on public infrastructure, following local accusations of allowing the display of England flags, which have become controversial. The "Raise the Colours" campaign has led to thousands of St George's crosses being flown, with residents expressing concerns about intimidation towards minority ethnic individuals. The council's legal action is based on evidence of harassment and obstruction faced by staff tasked with removing flags, and it has named the campaign's co-founder Ryan Bridge and seven others in its application.
The Spokane Complex Fires have destroyed over 900 structures and more than 10,000 acres, marking one of Washington State's largest wildfires in history, and recent investigations have shown that over three-quarters of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by human activity. The arrest of 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci, who allegedly started multiple wildfires including the destructive Old Trails Fire, highlights the increasing risks associated with human-caused ignition sources as more people inhabit fire-prone areas. Despite a downward trend in global human-caused ignitions, certain outlier incidents like the recent fires illustrate the ongoing challenges posed by climate change and growing populations near wildland urban interfaces.
An Israeli court acquitted Yona Schreiber, a 36-year-old man who attacked a nun in Jerusalem, citing his mental health condition as he was experiencing a psychotic episode during the incident. Schreiber was ordered to be sent to a psychiatric hospital for up to six years, and video footage of the attack, where the victim suffered a bruised face and leg, sparked widespread condemnation. The incident reflects a rise in harassment against Christian clergy and pilgrims in the Old City, with a 2025 report noting a "recent surge in overt animosity towards Christianity" linked to ultra-nationalist political trends.
Meta has agreed to pay up to $17 billion in a settlement for a federal child safety lawsuit, where states accused the company of designing addictive features on Facebook and Instagram for children while concealing associated risks. As part of the settlement, Meta will implement changes such as a default two-hour daily time limit for users under 18 and a block on nighttime use to address youth mental health concerns. This settlement is one of the largest ever for a U.S. company and includes funding for youth mental health programs, after-school activities, and crisis intervention services.
The average CEO of the 100 lowest-paying corporations in the US earned 614 times more than their average worker, with CEO compensation increasing by 41.4% from 2019 to 2025 while median worker pay rose only 20.7%. In 2025, the average CEO compensation at these firms reached $17.5 million, compared to a median worker salary of $36,571, and the total spending on stock buybacks among these companies amounted to $718 billion during the same period. The report highlights that at least 36 billionaires benefit from these low-wage corporations and offers proposals such as a corporate tax on excessive CEO pay and increased taxes on stock buybacks.