2026/08/21 Daily Edition

The attack is the latest in a series of frequent and deadly aerial strikes targeting armed pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed groups in the country. The strikes often cause civilian casualties

Violence has escalated in the West Bank where at least 87 Palestinians have been killed in almost 1,500 attacks by Israeli settlers

Summerhall, Edinburgh Intertwining his diaries with Anne Frank’s gives Brine a tough job, but his passionate performance and force of will combine in a heady brew It’s a hell of a swing to make a show paralleling your first love with Anne Frank’s – the more so for that show about her to end on an uplift. But Salty Brine is nothing if not the man for a big swing. This most overbrimming of cabaret artists is in town with his Living Record Collection project, which makes shows inspired by, and featuring, the songs from beloved rock and pop albums. This one takes Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea as the launchpad for an inquiry into religious traditions, the origins of the world, the migration of souls – and the adolescent passions of Frank and Brine. Is it in poor taste, I wondered, to co-opt the horrifying story of this murdered teenager for aesthetic effect? In Brine’s defence, the album in question itself riffs dreamlike on Frank’s story, fashioning from it something deeply moving – and the same could be said, for my money, of How Strange It Is...

The actor, who plays Red Guardian in the film, made a cryptic comment to Variety that raised more Robert Downey Jr-shaped questions than answers. But was it a clanger, or expert trolling? Nobody knows exactly what solemn blood oaths Marvel uses to prevent spoilers. But we do know that Andrew Garfield spent most of the run-up to 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home – in which he would eventually turn up as one of two secret Spideys – behaving as if Kevin Feige was standing behind him, holding up a giant card saying: YOU HAVE NEVER MET TOBEY MAGUIRE. So we can imagine it’s pretty full on. Why, then, has Avengers: Doomsday star David Harbour this week apparently blurted out the biggest Marvel secret since Ben Kingsley’s Mandarin in Iron Man 3? Invited by Variety magazine to offer up a line from Doomsday “completely out of context”, Harbour thought for a moment, adopted the Russian accent of his Red Guardian character and came out with: “You … are Tony Stark.” Which is quite a thing to say about a film whose entire marketing campaign so far has depended on us accepting that Iron Man remains dead, and that the actor who used to play him, Robert Downey Jr, is playing Victor von Doom instead...

Isaac Neilson is burning through his savings to play a gig every day in 2026 in a bold bid to break through – and champion Britain’s struggling grassroots music scene In a lively pub in Oxford this week, Isaac Neilson picked up his guitar and performed live for the 231st day in a row. The singer-songwriter’s performance at the Old Bookbinders is part of a marathon effort to play a gig every day this year. The challenge has seen him put nearly 20,000 miles on the clock of his Peugeot 208 and cost him the best part of his life savings. “I was in a position where I could maybe put a deposit on a house or I could do this crazy experiment,” says Neilson, 26. “I chose to go all in on the music.”..

England wrapped up a comfortable victory but their red-ball men’s team will not be back in Leeds for a few years Harry Brook has sparkled in front of his own. The Yorkshireman ran the chase against Australia at Headingley three years ago and played a strong hand against India last year. On Thursday he was England’s top-scorer but the slightest misjudgment against Ali Usman’s left-arm spin on 91 was costly. He’s still waiting to take the helmet off at home, for Headingley to rise after he’s reached three figures in a Test match. He will have to keep waiting a few years. The ground finds itself without a men’s Test for the next two years, not part of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s allocation for the visit of Pat Cummins’s Australia in 2027. It will have to wait until 2031 for that money-spinning fixture. With Old Trafford off the list too, there will not be a men’s Ashes Test in the north next summer. Sanjay Patel, Yorkshire’s chief executive, has called the absence of men’s Test cricket over the next two years “devastating” for the club, echoing the sentiments expressed in their most recent annual report and accounts...

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German intelligence believes guns found last year were for carrying out assassinations on behalf of Moscow, reports say.

Recent surveys suggest the broader public views both of them negatively, especially in comparison to Harry’s brother, William, and his wife, Kate.

Canadian negotiators were in Washington to finalize a deal that would stave off new tariffs and improve the terms of existing ones, but Mark Carney faces a tough sell back home.

The prime minister is right to think that taking Manchester’s model national could widen opportunity, clean the air and rebuild state capacity. Other public services could be next Barely a month into his premiership, Andy Burnham is already taking the lessons of Manchester’s buses national. This week his government backed the West Midlands mayor Richard Parker’s move to bring the region’s main bus operation into public control. In July, he announced that he would reinstate a £2 national bus fare cap from January 2027. He’s also expanding free bus travel for disabled people to all hours. Transport affordability is clearly part of Mr Burnham’s cost of living programme. That is to be applauded, as is the emphasis on public transport, which – importantly for Labour – reduces social exclusion, boosts local economies, and is better for the environment. Yet buses may matter to Mr Burnham for another reason: they offer a blueprint for how he wants to govern. This is because Mr Burnham seems to have a worked-out model. He told the Times this week that the prescription for services such as water, housing and energy isn’t yet clear, “with the exception of buses”. Public control, Mr Burnham reasons, gives government the power to make provision cheaper and more reliable – and to shape it around the public interest. For buses, that means the government determining the shape of the network even where private companies run the services. Municipal ownership this is not. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please..

Three Argentina players have been banned for a number of games for their role in a brawl at the World Cup final - with the country's football association fined £235,000 over a Falklands Islands banner.

Funerals have been held for two teenagers killed when the car they were in drove the wrong way down a motorway and crashed into another vehicle.

In order to create an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a leader beloved by his people, pro-Russia social media users have been claiming that he travels without a security team, unlike other heads of state. To illustrate this claim, they shared a video of his latest trip to Siberia. The footage, however, shows him with a large security contingent.

The president says the 147-lap race will be an event 'like no other' as drivers zip through Washington, DC.

World No 1 makes ‘difficult decision’ to miss slam ‘New York has a special place in my heart’ Jannik Sinner will miss the US Open with a right knee injury. The world No 1 has not played a match since beating Alexander Zverev last month to successfully defend his Wimbledon title, missing the Masters 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati. The news comes a day after his great rival Carlos Alcaraz, whom the Italian lost to in the final in New York 12 months ago, revealed he will make his comeback at Flushing Meadows after four months out with a wrist injury...

Jockey Juan Hernandez dashes to airport after victory ‘He’s just so fast that it doesn’t matter what he runs on’ His name is the Italian for a kiss but there is little delicacy or tenderness about Bacio, the front-running winner of the Nunthorpe Stakes here on Friday. He was headstrong and belligerent on the way to post and simply brutal once the race was under way, tearing down the five-furlong strip without seeing a rival on the way to a one-and-a-quarter length success. Juan Hernandez, Bacio’s jockey, had a plane to catch later on Friday – he has booked rides in California on Saturday afternoon – and his mount did all he could to ensure that he got to Heathrow on time, producing a carbon copy of his win in a five-furlong handicap at Royal Ascot in June...

The young Italian has a substantial lead but his rivals will not see him as being out of reach going into the Dutch GP The Dutch Grand Prix may be hosting its final meeting on the Formula One calendar this weekend but its farewell heralds the opening of a championship run-in that is far from over. Rested, reset and ready to rumble, there is an anticipatory air among the title contenders in Zandvoort as they enter the sharp end of a fight which, as last season demonstrated, could yet be taken to the finale. Resuming after F1’s summer break there is, as always, a sprightly atmosphere to the sport. Team members have had time with their families and drivers have had a chance to decompress, assess, heck, even have a bit of fun, with Mercedes’ George Russell becoming engaged to his partner Carmen Montero Mundt and Lando Norris out and about in Ibiza with pals. Lewis Hamilton got his head down and trained hard, proclaiming himself fitter then ever, energised and refreshed, while Max Verstappen emerged at his home race to announce a new contract with his Red Bull team...

An eagerly anticipated gathering of women will not be taking place following recent aerial strikes.

1st Test, D3: England, 409, bt Pakistan, 171 & 135, by inns & 103 Archer, Robinson and Tongue all take three wickets The sounds heard emanating from the Headingley area at 3.38pm on Friday were not simply the belching roars of the Western Terrace as England wrapped up a one-sided victory over Pakistan. A pressure valve had also been released. One win against a team as ragged as this Pakistan might not have been reason for Joe Root to hang bunting off the Dickie Bird balcony at his home ground. But given events this year – events that have thrust Root back into the Test captaincy under an interim head coach – the alternative outcome was unthinkable...

Five-time major champion Sinner, who won the US Open in 2024, will not be competing at Flushing Meadows this year.

Israeli settlers entered a stone quarry in Wadi Al-Rakheem near Hebron overnight and set fire to heavy machinery

Several Argentina players including midfielder Leandro Paredes have been slapped with bans and fines for taking part in scuffles during the World Cup final against Spain in July. Paredes, who was banned for 10 international matches, was also fined $90,000.

Japan's farmers are opting for more nocturnal schedules as daytime summer heat makes working conditions dangerous. North of Tokyo, Motoaki Iijima harvests flowers in his illuminated greenhouse long after sunset. The farmer was pushed to make a dramatic change after a worker suffered heatstroke picking sunflowers in the greenhouse three summers prior. A few towns away, poultry farmer Tetsuya Usuba has also adopted a nocturnal schedule, waking his flock at 2:30 am to eat.

In Cuba, seven months of an effective oil blockade imposed by the Trump administration has not only increased power outages but is also leaving more and more people without running water. In August 2025, 2.6 million people on the Caribbean island nation had difficulty accessing water, according to the Cuban Institute of Hydraulic Resources. Today, that figure has risen to 3.5 million – around a third of the population. FRANCE 24’s Ed Augustin reports on the health risks rippling through the island.

Leandro Paredes banned for 10 games as FIFA suspends three Argentina players for World Cup final scuffle with Spain.

The United Nations Security Council meets Friday for a second informal straw poll to gauge the popularity of candidates seeking to succeed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who will complete his second five-year term at the end of the year. Eight candidates are currently vying for the position against a backdrop of deep divisions within the organisation.

If ‘lifespan’ is the time you’re alive and ‘healthspan’ the years you’re disease-free, then ‘hotspan’ is the period you’re attractive and vibrant. Want to increase yours? Experts share their tips Forget 12-step skincare routines, red light therapy and injectables – the single most important thing you can do for your skin is wear UV protection. “Not just sun protection, but UV protection, every single day, regardless of weather or season,” says Dr Jennifer Owens, resident aesthetic expert at the Reborne Longevity clinic in London. “Up to 90% of visible skin ageing is caused by UV exposure – nothing else comes close in terms of impact.”..

Audio recording of US vice-president apparently made at New York fundraiser and shared with Canadian Press Leaked audio from a private event has reportedly captured the US vice-president, JD Vance, mocking Canada for apparently capitulating in a trade deal and taunting the prime minister, Mark Carney, for trying to “out-tough” Donald Trump. The recording, which was apparently made at a fundraiser and shared with the Canadian Press, comes in the last stretch of a difficult negotiation in which the US president has threatened to impose 50% tariffs on Canada...

Harry and six other high-profile figures lost a privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers. They may eventually have to pay more than twice the initial sum, a judge said.

Putin's forces continue to bring horror to Ukrainian civilians as Kyiv destroys key sections of Russian infrastructure.

Could changing the school holidays give pupils and teachers a break in largely unconditioned buildings?

China’s regulator ordered changes after vehicle occupants sometimes had difficulty exiting electric cars with retractable door handles after crashes.

Premier Wab Kinew's comments signal a tough battle for Prime Minister Mark Carney to get buy-in from Canadians on a possible trade deal with the US.

This year's El Nino is on track to be the strongest on record, threatening to unleash extreme weather across the globe and make 2027 the hottest recorded year by far. It is expected to be the most "intense" El Nino in more than a century, the head of long-range forecasting at the UK's Met Office warned on Friday. Stacked on top of long-term human-caused climate change, the temporary jolt will offer a glimpse of the heat the world can expect by the late 2030s, experts say.

CEUTA, Spain – Moroccan families are searching for loved ones who left last month for the Spanish enclave of Ceuta during a large wave of migration. Many of them are camping outside the Tarajal border post on the Moroccan side in hopes of obtaining information. Spain has set up a special office for missing persons.

Former Brazil football star Ronaldinho, who had retired in 2015, said on Thursday that he was making a comeback 11 years later with Italian third-division club Ravenna to try and score "a 300th goal".

Decentralised power can give communities the means to sustain themselves rather than wait for change to come from above.

The United Nations on Wednesday said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was alarmed by reports of illegal Israeli settlement outposts in the West Bank, warning that development in the E1 area threatened a two-state solution. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the E1 settlement would sever the connection between the northern and southern West Bank and have severe consequences for the territory’s integrity.

Enzo Maresca replaced Pep Guardiola between seasons but says Man City may need patience before more trophies arrive.

The all-British, much anticipated boxing showdown between Fury and Joshua was scheduled for November.

Officials had faced charges over the appointment of a civilian to a top post within crime intelligence.

About half of the 2,500 recorded deaths from Ebola happened in the last 20 days, the WHO says.

Researchers hope contest – similar to Fat Bear Week – starting Monday will be latest wildlife watching craze Monday sees the start of what researchers hope will be the latest wildlife watching craze – Fat Marmot Week. Last winter was tough for marmots living high in the Colorado mountains, where researchers say two-thirds of one population died while hibernating because of insufficient snow cover...

Tornadoes swept through New York and Delaware as severe storms brought torrential rain to the Mid-Atlantic.

FIFA and CAF provides more than $1m a year to Djibouti's federation, which faces corruption allegations over misuse.

Mauritian rider bursts clear on final climb of Great Orme Le Court leads GC standings with two stages remaining Mauritius’s Kim Le Court powered to victory in stage three of the Tour of Britain in Llandudno and moved top of the general classification. The 30-year-old AG Insurance-Soudal rider attacked with 2.5km to go on the 104.7km-route from Mold to cross the summit finish on Great Orme 13 seconds ahead of Germany’s Liane Lippert (Movistar)...

Paris Saint-Germain remains the team to beat in Ligue 1, with back-to-back Champions League triumphs bolstered by an influx of new arrivals this season. The team's opening match against Stade Rennais this Sunday has been moved to Rennes after their Parc de Prince pitch was deemed unsafe to play on after weeks of sweltering heat in Paris.

Beijing can squeeze U.S. critical mineral supplies and has enough oil to withstand the loss of Iranian crude, Chinese analysts say.

The US Treasury Secretary, has indicated a change in US strategy towards Iran, focusing on economic isolation.

Palestinian and Israeli authorities offered divergent accounts of the incident, which came as settler violence has surged across the Israeli-occupied territory.

Liverpool's new Spanish boss is tasked with making the club title challengers again, but he faces a number of issues.

One person has been taken into custody after the attack at a high school in Fagersta, local authorities said.

In Gaza, weddings offer Palestinian families a brief escape from Israel’s genocidal war.

The US and Israel's war on Iran has upended global financial and energy markets.

The Hollywood star who was born in Port Talbot says his thoughts bring him back to Wales every day.

UKHSA says imported eggs eaten in restaurants are source of outbreak that has infected more than 200 people Contaminated eggs have infected 207 people with salmonella across the UK, killing one and hospitalising 34. Eggs imported into Britain and eaten in cafes and restaurants were the source, the UK Health Security Agency has said. The outbreak has prompted public concern. But what is salmonella, and are eggs safe to eat?..

BJP national secretary says that the delay in implementing the PM SHRI project in the State was a clear example of the extremist forces at work

While Congress leaders staged a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in the Vidhan Soudha premises, BJP legislators staged a protest in front of Maharshi Valmiki’s statue in the nearby Legislator’s Home premises

South Korea professional football association urges stronger heat protections in face of rising temperatures.