2026/08/23 Daily Edition

A survey on attitudes towards accents suggests that so-called "accent bias" is still an issue in many workplaces.

Roehampton University offers students £2,000 a year to play esports alongside their studies.

The review of how rates are calculated in England and Wales could lead to reform of the system.

Lillian Smart of Ruston infected with fatal Naegleria fowleri, likely after swimming in Lake Claiborne, health officials say An eight-year-old Louisiana girl has died after contracting a rare, typically fatal brain-eating amoeba after a swim in Lake Claiborne. Lillian Smart, of Ruston, died on Saturday, one day after celebrating her birthday, her family announced in a public Facebook post on the “Love for Lillian” page...

Dump site in Conakry, which minister had just promised to move, collapsed after heavy rain in west African state A ⁠landslide at a huge waste dump in Guinea’s capital has killed 30 people, the government said on Sunday, after heavy rains overnight prompted it to ⁠collapse, engulfing nearby tents and shacks. The incident occurred less than a week after the government announced plans to close the ⁠site and relocate the waste because of the threat it posed, especially during the rainy season, which causes landslides and fatal flash ⁠floods each year in crowded, underdeveloped cities across parts of West Africa...

Barcelona ‌begin their La Liga title ⁠defence ⁠and bid for a third successive crown with a 5-0 ⁠victory at Elche.

Serbia requested assistance from the European Union and Russia to help bring intense wildfires under control.

In a recent article for Foregin Affairs, Mark Leonard makes that argument that America's leading role in the world order is fading. He discusses his argument with NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben.

Ambassador to Turkiye says US policy of recognising Israel's claimed sovereignty over Syrian territory is 'unchanged'.

A landslide at a waste site in Guinea has killed 30 people after a mound of rubbish collapsed on to nearby homes.

Iran on Sunday said it had discovered more than 200 billion cubic metres of natural gas in the southern Fars province, with more than 160 billion cubic metres potentially recoverable. The find comes as the country’s energy sector faces disruption after months of US-Israeli strikes on gas facilities, oil depots and transport routes.

Israel is moving forward with its ‘E1’ plan. What is it and why could it threaten the future of a Palestinian state?

The owner of a Swiss bar where a New Year’s fire killed 41 people has been placed in pre-trial detention over alleged violence against his wife, local media reported Sunday. Jacques Moretti and his wife, Jessica, are already under criminal investigation over the deadly blaze at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana.

Winds reaching around 120 km/h swept through Forlì in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, overturning four light aircraft.

The US special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey on Sunday walked back his comments from two days ago that Israel “still” occupies the Golan Heights in violation of UN resolutions, remarks that went against US President Donald Trump’s position on the disputed territory. Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981. The United Nations and most of the international community consider the territory occupied Syrian land and does not recognise...

Gaza’s hospitals face oxygen shortages, putting the lives of premature babies and critically ill patients at risk.

Two people were killed after a massive Ganesha idol fell onto a crowd during a procession in Mumbai, India.

Centre-left politician Raphaël Glucksmann on Sunday launched his bid for the French presidency, aiming to unite moderate left-wing voters and challenge Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s influence ahead of France’s 2027 election. With Marine Le Pen leading first-round polls, Glucksmann is seeking to position himself as a pro-European, pro-Ukraine alternative to both the far right and hard left.

Senior Colonel Zhou Bo and Sreenivasan Jain discuss China's vision of a fairer, multipolar world and work towards that.

Gvardiol’s stoppage-time strike gives City points ‘I’m looking for solutions. When you win games it helps’ Enzo Maresca said Manchester City remain a “work in progress” after Sunday’s last-gasp win over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. Marc Guéhi’s 85th-minute equaliser and Josko Gvardiol’s 91st-minute winner gave City’s new manager victory in his first game, after Marcus Tavernier’s first-half strike for the visitors...

The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was declared 100 days ago and is spreading faster than any on record, officials said.

Political scientist Stephen Walt says Trump promised to make US stronger, but many of his policies are making it weaker.

A migrant boat carrying 15 Tunisians sank off the country's southeastern coast while heading to Italy, killing eight.

A state of emergency is declared in the US state of Nevada as rampant wildfire spurs evacuations.

Breakdown shows Washington now prioritises its own interests over any semblance of shared economic ground ‘No more!!!’: Trump lashes out after US-Canada talks devolve into trade war The calamitous collapse of trade negotiations between Canada and the United States is a warning to nations worldwide that pursuing any kind of dialogue with the current US administration is doomed at the outset, according to observers who say this recent episode indicates seeking a fair deal is futile. Andrea Lawlor, an associate professor of political science at McMaster University in Ontario, said: “No matter the closeness of the historical relationship, the American administration has signalled that it now prioritises its interests above those of some sort of global economic coordination or harmony...

Firefighters in Nevada are struggling to contain a fast-growing wildfire which has already forced the evacuation of nearly 14,000 people. A state of emergency has been called, meaning federal responders are working alongside local firefighters to try and keep it from residential areas. Details by Camille Knight.

The president took a ceremonial lap of the track before the race, which is the culmination of a summer of events to mark the country's 250th birthday.

A mountainous heap of refuse collapsed at Dar es Salam, the largest landfill in Guinea’s capital Conakry, early on Sunday killing at least 30 people, according to a provisional death toll from the country’s civil protection service. Heavy rains, which started at around 3am, washed over the refuse, triggering a landslide that buried nearby shacks. Lancine Sylla, the head of the suburb where the incident happened, said he feared a heavy death toll. Guinea’s minister for territorial administration,...

The six Nordic football associations have announced they have lost confidence in Gianni Infantino - intensifying pressure on the FIFA president.

Follow updates as Barcelona kick off their La Liga campaign - including the build-up, analysis and live text commentary.

Abolishing the role of statutory governors is ill-advised, says Jean Flanagan. Plus a letter from Jonathan Phillips on the abolition of Healthwatch I wonder how many members of the public are aware that the latest health plan for England, due to be ratified by parliament this autumn, abolishes the role of statutory governors on all of its constituent health trusts? For a number of years I have volunteered to act as a governor at two hospital trusts in Yorkshire. As a former health professional and principal nursing educator, I have brought years of experience to the role, for which I have been elected locally. For any organisation to wilfully remove hundreds of such skilled and committed activists from their supportive scrutiny seems ill-advised...

England fast bowler released without charge Incident happened in Derby as Durham celebrated win Brydon Carse was handcuffed by police in Derby on Saturday as he became the latest England cricketer to become involved in a late-night incident. A brief video on social media shows the fast bowler being apprehended by several police officers outside a nightclub as he celebrated Durham’s County Championship win over Derbyshire...

Both countries will suffer from the trade war with steeper tariffs raising business costs and consumer prices.

Ekperikpe Ekpo says the US-Israel war on Iran has pushed Nigeria to expand its gas production.

In the town of Gary, where a third of residents live in poverty, people say they have been living in "survival mode".

Families in Gaza continue searching for children and relatives missing in the war.

Prices for food and other items are soaring, and there is a history of unrest, so any increase is being considered.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran has stood firm despite what he calls a full-scale war.

Michael Jeffries is ruled mentally competent to stand trial after being hospitalized for months for dementia symptoms The former CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch has been ruled mentally competent to stand trial as he faces sex-trafficking charges after being hospitalized for months for dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms. Michael Jeffries, who is 82 and free on bond for now, is scheduled to be tried in late October, alongside two co-defendants: his partner Matthew Smith and staffer James Jacobson. A pretrial hearing was slated for Thursday...

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the prospect of wartime elections, saying it would be highly dangerous. The remarks come in response to a call from the former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov to organise a vote, after he was fired by Zelensky last month. Analysis by FRANCE 24 international affairs editor Matthew-Mary Caruchet.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that holding elections during wartime would pose a threat to the country, following a controversial call by his former defense minister to pave the way for an election. According to the latest opinion poll by the Kyiv Institute of Sociology carried out this summer, only 15 per cent of those surveyed want an election to be held at this time. Details by Eliza Herbert.

A government minister says people have been taking risks by going into the water, with 301 deaths since 19 June.

Some 10,000 people rallied in Stockholm on Sunday to demand stronger action on climate change, weeks before Sweden’s general election. Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg joined the rally, as organisers accused the government of weakening emissions policies and urged politicians to act faster to meet Sweden’s climate targets.

Fears of a datacenter buildout debt crisis are exaggerated. The risks are different than in the past and they are recoverable Some experts are warning of a looming “debt bomb” crisis because big datacenter builders such as Meta, Oracle, xAI and CoreWeave are not only raising billions to construct these facilities but are also not recognizing these long-term debt obligations on their balance sheets. Should we be concerned? No. I know because I’ve seen this movie before...

India and Bangladesh have not been able to move past the contentious question of Sheikh Hasina, living in New Delhi.

China has postponed its Chang’e-7 lunar mission, which was due to launch in the coming days and search for water ice near the Moon’s south pole, a government agency said Saturday. Officials said the mission did not meet launch conditions, without providing further details.

The Ukrainian president repeated his long-held position that elections in the middle of war would tear his country apart.

Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands back calls for Infantino's resignation amid FIFA crisis.

Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha breaks the men's half marathon world record in a time of 56 minutes 51 seconds in a World Athletics road race in Buenos Aires.

In the latest episode of Al Jazeera’s new podcast, Deja Vu looks at how oil, shipping and war shape the Gulf.

Europe this summer has had to face record breaking temperatures, which caused droughts, deaths, and caused devastating wildfires. While the latest heat dome has dissipated, the damage remains – the continent continues to be the fastest warming globally. Will this summer serve as a global climate reckoning? Answer with Stefan Eye-cot, professor of sociology at the University of Hamburg.

Greece's most famous islands have spent this year fighting to keep tourists out... with Santorini and Mykonos now capping cruise arrivals and charging steep entry fees just to manage the crowds. But on one small island, they're hoping for the opposite problem. Ithaca, the legendary home of Homer's Ulysses, is banking on a Hollywood boost, as Christopher Nolan's Odyssey draws new attention to a corner of Greece that's largely stayed off the tourist map. Story by Camille Knight.

In remarks on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke out against holding war time elections. He believes it would be too dangerous for the country, that would ‘split’ Ukraine. The remarks came after his former defense minister publicly called for a vote. Details and analysis by FRANCE 24 correspondent in Kyiv, Emmanuelle Chaze.

Russian drones carry out deadly strikes in Ukraine, astronaut Sophie Adenot becomes the first French woman to spacewalk, fires rage in Belgium and across Europe, and torrential rain hits the Philippines: FRANCE 24 takes a look at the week's most striking images.

Andy Burnham hopes we’ll forget the big stuff if he sorts out our minor frustrations and low-level gripes. Pothole politics hasn’t won me over yet, but I know some changes that could This is a vulnerable confession, but I spend way too much time on the social media of the New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani. Whether he is seemingly effortlessly speaking Mandarin, hanging out with kids or charmingly accepting that he should wear a cycle helmet, the man with the million-watt smile is my antidepressant. (Even more vulnerable confession: I believe, irrationally, he is looking after my elder son, who lives there.) This means that I know all about Mamdani’s fight against what Business Insider recently deemed the “annoyance economy” – daily frustrations that make you poorer or drive you slowly, miserably mad. These include the absurd complexity of cancelling subscriptions; hidden fees; getting charged more for something you looked up last week, because of cookies; never being able to find a public toilet; and potholes. He has taken to responding when he gets tagged in people’s “Mamdani, fix this” posts to the point where Britons online are even jokily asking him to take on their problems...

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions probes an intriguing scientific question in relation to the climate emergency Readers reply: Is it inevitable that consumerism will literally fill up the planet? If all the vehicles on the planet had their tyres pumped up with CO2, would this lock up enough carbon to lower the amount in the air significantly? Would there be other issues, such as the carbon cost of trapping it all into the tyres? Chris Coldwell, Lancaster Post your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com. A selection will be published next Sunday...

Deepfake scams are becoming harder to spot as criminals use AI to impersonate officials and public figures.

Many local government offices and several vehicles were damaged or destroyed in the 51 attacks late on Saturday.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland reveals his new buzz cut on social media.

Iran’s new hard-line national security adviser, Mohsen Rezaei, vowed to prevent “a single drop of oil” from leaving the region.