2026/08/18 Daily Edition

Interest rates on long-term US, UK, German and Japanese government debt have soared.

Jose Mourinho makes first official Real Madrid statements since returning as manager in unusually low-key ceremony.

Palestinian-American Loui Ridi expressed distress over how Israeli settlers have roamed around Qusra unchallenged.

Spain is building four temporary reception sites with 1,500 places as an estimated 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta.

Farhan al Rashaydeh lives in a cave in the occupied West Bank with his family.

The attack follows a series of military interventions in Syria over the past two years, and spurred the latest American rebuke of Israeli actions in recent weeks.

Search operations were under way Monday evening for anyone who may have been on board a yacht found adrift off a French island. The alert was raised by a passenger aboard a Brittany Ferries vessel travelling from Portsmouth in Britain to Bilbao in Spain, who spotted the yacht apparently in distress.

Weeks after some 70,000 migrants tried to cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, the ones who chose to stay have settled on El Trampolin beach. They hail from various countries, speak different languages and crossed many borders to get to this strip of sand. Europe seems very close, and yet so far.

UN nuclear watchdog head Rafael Grossi said Tuesday that his agency had found several "tons of nuclear materials" at a previously undeclared site dating from the rule of Syria's previous authorities. Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said the material was not dangerous and that Damascus had the right to keep and use it for peaceful purposes.

Bond yields in US, UK, Germany France and Japan rise after ceasefire ends and Trump threatens to bomb Oman Business live – latest updates Government borrowing costs in several advanced economies continued to rise to levels not seen in decades on Tuesday, as hopes of an end to the US-Iran war faded. Concerns about the inflation outlook worsened after the ceasefire between Washington DC and Tehran ended on Monday night without an agreement, with no progress on the reopening of the strait of Hormuz...

Lee's comments Tuesday come as many South Koreans remain baffled and concerned about U.S. President Donald Trump's abrupt order to "substantially reduce" military exercises with South Korea.

Bonnier Books will no longer publish UK’s top-selling true crime author following Guardian investigation The main publisher of the bestselling true crime writer Christopher Berry-Dee has dropped the author following a Guardian investigation into allegations of violence and sexual abuse against him, which he denies. Waterstones has also removed his books from sale. “We are shocked and appalled by the very serious allegations relating to Christopher Berry-Dee, and our thoughts are with those affected,” said the publisher Bonnier Books in a statement to the Guardian...

Following the start of the US-Israel war on Iran, the first match of the Iranian league was played last week.

Trump highlights India's voter ID rules to bolster his case for stricter US election laws.

Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency (ESA). According to Neuenschwander, this latest ISS mission demonstrates what makes the International Space Station exceptional: interdependence. European, American, Japanese, Canadian and Russian partners depend on one another to keep the station functioning, even when relations on Earth are more complicated. Replacing a 90-kilogram communications antenna is a technically demanding task in an environment where every system must function perfectly.

President ​Volodymyr Zelensky nominated ​Yevheny Khmara for parliamentary approval ​to become Defence minister. Khmara served ​as acting ‌minister following the abrupt dismissal of ‌his predecessor, Mykhailo Fedorov, in June, which ​sparked public outrage and a week-long ​political crisis ​for Zelensky. Details by FRACE 24 correspondent in Kyiv, Emmanuelle Chaze.

Former France midfielder Patrick Vieira has been appointed Senegal coach, succeeding Pape Thiaw following the team's World Cup elimination. Born in Dakar, the 50-year-old takes charge of a national team for the first time after coaching in England, France and Italy. Vieira will begin his tenure next month as Senegal prepares for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Former France, Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira replaces Pape Thiaw as Senegal coach.

UK’s largest pub company with the lowest satisfaction rating accused of entrapping landlords into financial loss situations “We’re pleased to welcome Stonegate Pub Partners as a sponsor for the Great British Pub Awards 2026” read a post on the event’s Facebook page. Within minutes it had backfired. “Must be 1st April again,” said one commenter. “This is like Pontius Pilate being appointed child welfare ambassador,” said another. Other comments about the UK’s largest pub company were significantly less polite...

We aren’t the only animals who like to take care of other species. A new study finds that the roots of keeping a pet may stretch deep into our primate past.

What to know about the new Gaza working groups conditioning reconstruction on immediate disarmament.

Hakainde Hichilema’s second term will test whether economic recovery can deliver real change for Zambians.

Fighting intensifies across Yemen as Houthis clash with internationally recognised government forces across many fronts.

One of the UK’s best fossil collections has been sold overseas in what experts have called a loss to the nation. The collection, which is now on display at the Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi, was gathered on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. As dinosaur fossils sell to private collectors for increasingly large sums, scientists are worried that domestic museums are being priced out of the market, and in turn scientists are missing out on the opportunity to make new observations. To find out how fossils became big business and what it could mean for research, Madeleine Finlay hears from science correspondent Nicola Davis..

Bridget Phillipson writes to watchdog asking it to look into claims Tether.bet and Fispay operated without a licence The Gambling Commission has been urged to investigate claims that companies linked to Reform UK donors and allies of Nigel Farage have been operating without a licence. The Labour party’s chair, Bridget Phillipson, has written to the watchdog asking it to look into Tether.bet, a Montenegro-based gambling company, and Fispay, a UK company owned by Reform’s data protection officer, Mowbray Jackson. Whether Tether.bet, and its operators, provided or advertised remote gambling facilities to consumers in UK without the required licence Whether Fispay Ltd, or any other UK company, provided or supported gambling facilities or services to consumers in the UK without the required licence.”..

Platform set to launch later this year will enable loyalty card members to sell preloved Billy bookcases and Poäng chairs Business live – latest updates Ikea is taking on eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Vinted with its own secondhand selling site in the UK. The new platform, which will enable shoppers signed up to the Swedish company’s membership scheme to connect directly to one another to buy and sell pre-owned Ikea items locally, is due to launch in the next few months...

An increased demand in wool has meant prices have increased more than 70% in the last year.

Country’s second fatal school shooting in two months took place in southern city of ⁠Zamboanga A student livestreamed himself shooting and killing another pupil in a classroom in the southern Philippines before taking his own ⁠life, ​the second school attack in the country in less than two months. The shooting took ⁠place at a school attached to Ateneo de Zamboanga University in the southern city of ⁠Zamboanga, a Catholic private institution in western Mindanao. Zamboanga city’s mayor, Khymer Adan Olaso, told the DZMM radio station that the ‌shooter “managed to enter carrying a high-powered firearm and a.45-calibre pistol”...

Government assessment warns of supply shock that could leave homes and businesses without gas within a decade Great Britain risks running out of gas in the 2030s despite its growing clean energy sources, unless ministers take “unprecedented” action to guard against a future gas supply shock, according to an official assessment of the country’s gas security. The government is considering plans to provide direct financial support to safeguard the country’s ageing gas infrastructure after a consultation found that a “high stress scenario” could mean homes and businesses run out of gas within the next decade...

Christian leaders and religious figures in the West Bank say difficult living conditions are pushing an increasing number of Christian families to leave their homes. The reality is threatening the historic presence of Christians in Palestinian territories. France 24's correspondent Majed Saeed reports.

Qatar says Iran’s claim it is holding missing aircrew is untrue and a “media ploy”, with Tehran yet to verify it.

Tech Transparency Project’s report shows whenever governments mull platform regulations, company recruits influencers to promote its safety features In July 2025, Meta gathered parenting influencers from all over Australia at a waterfront venue overlooking the Sydney Opera House. It was a camping-themed event and in many ways was like any other influencer affair. There were Instagram-branded tents to take pictures in, an Instagram-branded step-and-repeat, a custom-tote making station and Instagram-branded snacks and coffee cups. But this “screen smart” event wasn’t about the photo op...

Funding boost worth $100,000 has recently materialized in form of new marmot-themed cryptocurrency Scientists who turned to OnlyFans to help save long-running research into marmots have raised more than $100,000 after harnessing the support of another, very modern, funding avenue – cryptocurrency. The 60-year project of continuous study of marmots – stout, ground-dwelling rodents that are the largest members of the squirrel family – across the US west was facing termination following science funding cuts imposed by Donald Trump’s administration...

A Syrian court has sentenced Wassim al-Assad, cousin of Bashar al-Assad, to death for murder, torture and war crimes.

Japanese activist keeps protesting against Israel’s genocide in Gaza

Majed al-Ansari says the Iranian planes 'violated Qatar’s sovereignty' and were dealt with in accordance with the law.

How Myanmar stripped the Rohingya of citizenship, leading to mass expulsions and a genocide case at the ICJ.

Rain has returned to parts of the UK this week but is it enough to end the drought some regions are facing?

The senior FIFA executive sacked for criticising Gianni Infantino's abandoned World Cup sell-off plan told colleagues "it's about doing what's right".

Rapper Tupac Shakur was shot dead in an act of gang revenge ordered by a mobster who later boasted of it, jurors heard Monday, as one of America's most anticipated trials got under way, 30 years after the murder.

The US president threatened to bomb Oman over Hormuz, with US-Iran peace negotiations in a deadlock.

Russia summons Japan's ambassador to Moscow over Prime Minister Sanae ⁠Takaichi's 'anti-Russian' remarks.

The U.S. and Iran missed a deadline to begin peace talks this week. The monthslong war has depleted U.S. resources. And, what to know about Alaska's U.S. Senate seat primary.

Social media giant Meta, is set to defend itself in a landmark trial. They are accused of knowingly and deliberately designing features which get children under the age of 13 addicted to its platforms. Story by Delano D'Souza.

The succession of heatwaves in France this year has played havoc with plants and husbandry, including in Claude Monet's celebrated home and gardens at Giverny, in Normandy. Some of the garden's most famous attractions have been damaged by the heat, as our colleagues at France 2 and Oliver Farry explain.

Parkour may conjure images of rowdy teenagers swinging from building to building in urban landscapes, but since 2017, coach Tan Shie Boon has been using these techniques to improve Singaporean seniors’ strength and agility. Tan’s Movement Singapore classes have gone viral online, showing people in their 60s and 70s climbing structures, vaulting over railings, rolling down slanted surfaces and jumping off platforms.

A race that once received little attention has seen outside spending from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Matchday 1 fixtures, title predictions, where to watch and latest transfer news ahead of the new Premier League season.

Eve Irvine is pleased to welcome WHO Spokesperson Tarik Jašarević. His central concern is that we do not yet know where all the places the Ebola virus is circulating: infected people remain outside treatment centres, transmission chains go undetected, and patients who seek care too late face much poorer chances of survival. Conflict, population mobility and other humanitarian pressures make surveillance more difficult, but community engagement is equally crucial. Without trust and cooperation, testing, contact tracing, safe burials and early treatment cannot work effectively.

The artificial intelligence start-up announced a chatbot mode that will automatically limit some conversations to better protect young users.

AI can generate songs in seconds. But behind every AI track is a complicated question: Who should get paid? And, how? The fights have started.

Former gang boss Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis stands trial over Tupac Shakur’s 1996 murder, the first prosecution in the case.

Ukrainian families mourn their loved ones as experts lament Washington's elusive promises of military support.

Hakainde Hichilema says he was “truly humbled” by the victory and promised to work for all Zambians.

In Kenya, wildlife experts are pushing back over the theory that blames 20 mysterious elephant deaths on cyanide poisoning from pesticides used on nearby farmland. Laurent Berstecher explains.

Consumers also turn to supermarket deals to save money, helping slow grocery price inflation Business live – latest updates Shopping baskets took on a decidedly summery complexion during last month’s heatwaves as consumers filled up on a British picnic staple: picky bits, and grocery inflation slowed. Spending rose on foods such as potato salad, olives and coleslaw, while ice-cream sales also increased, according to new data from Worldpanel by Numerator, a market research company...

Al-Ahli and Al Ain, who will also face Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr, are the pick of the match-ups in AFC's Elite draw.

South Africa hosted a gathering of leaders from the southern African regional bloc amid xenophobic violence and anti-migrant protests. As the continent’s wealthiest country, South Africa has long attracted migrants, but it faces an unemployment rate of over 30 percent and deep-seated inequalities. Pretoria has called for a continent-wide conference on the issue of migration. Details by Eunice Masson, FRANCE 24 correspondent in Cape Town.

Cockroach leaders asked supporters to audit their nearest government-run schools. But it has started with a killing.

Syrian state TV quotes military source as saying Israeli forces carried out attack, causing damage and no casualties.