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2026 News Archive

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sportsAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Retail sales in Great Britain fall despite heatwave increasing food and drink demand

Volume of goods sold in stores and online dropped 0.5% in July, ONS says Business live – latest updates Retail sales across Great Britain weakened last month despite the men’s football World Cup and record temperatures boosting the demand for food and drink. The Office for National Statistics said the volume of goods sold in stores and online fell 0.5% in July. That is down from 0.7% rise in June – revised down from initial estimates of 1% – and a 1.3% rise in May...

powerAugust 21, 2026South China Morning Post

China’s drone production capacity can only meet 60% of war demand: study

Even when fully mobilised, China’s industrial system would only be able to meet 60 per cent of the country’s military demand for drones in a conflict, according to a rare study looking into the expected effects of a sudden war. The estimates were produced by an artificial intelligence model that covered a multilevel supply chain linking drone assembly plants with subsystem and component suppliers. The study also accounted for inventories, production capacity, order backlogs, budgets and civilian...

powerAugust 21, 2026The Hindu

How sustainable is India’s E20 push? | Explained

In August, the government told the Lok Sabha that the ethanol blending programme had helped save around ₹2 lakh crore in foreign exchange. However, Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, have launched campaigns against E20, saying it harms vehicles and that the government is forcing it on people

businessAugust 21, 2026France 24

In Senegal's Saint-Louis, traces of slave-trading past fade away

A dilapidated two-century-old building in Saint-Louis, Senegal bears testament to the island's little-known past as part of the transatlantic slave trade, the traces of which are quickly and quietly disappearing from view. Located in the country's north, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Senegal River, the island is rarely mentioned in the history of the slave trade, even though it was a hub through which tens of thousands of Africans passed.

powerAugust 21, 2026France 24

Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigils organisers convicted in national security case

Two former organisers of Hong Kong’s annual vigils in remembrance of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown were convicted by government-approved judges Friday for inciting others to overthrow China's communist leadership. Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung, former leaders of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, were charged with inciting subversion in 2021 under a China-imposed national security law that has effectively crushed the city’s previously thriving pro-democracy movement.

powerAugust 21, 2026France 24

France, Germany, UK and Italy condemn Israel's 'E1' West Bank plan

France, Germany, ​Britain and Italy condemned on ​Thursday plans by Israel to open up construction tenders for a ​residential ‌property project ⁠called 'E1' in the occupied West Bank. Hundreds of ​thousands of Israelis have settled among millions of Palestinians in land ​captured by Israel in ​a 1967 war. Nearly ​all countries and a range of ​UN bodies consider that such settlements violate international law, although Israel disputes this, citing historical ⁠and biblical ties to the land. FRANCE 24's Noga Tarnopolsky reports from Jerusalem.

cultureAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Alice Roberts: ‘By the time I’d finished Richard Dawkins I’d left faith behind’

The TV presenter and author on the evolutionary biologists who inspired her, the genius of George Eliot – and fun with Frog and Toad My earliest reading memory The first books I remember were from The Village with Three Corners series Sheila K McCullagh. I loved the – literally – colourful characters, like Johnny Yellow Hat. I was reading with my Grandma, in her garden perhaps, sitting on a small patio, surrounded by bright begonias and busy lizzies. My favourite book growing up Arnold Lobel’s wonderful Frog and Toad stories. Toad would get himself tied up in knots, trying to find a button or fly a kite, but Frog was always there – a constant, caring and funny friend. I enjoyed reading these stories to my own children when they were young, and we still sometimes go back and revisit them. They’re so full of humour, heart and simple humanism...

sportsAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

‘The friendship disappeared’: López faces Romero after years of sparring and support

Boxing’s most mercurial star is putting an old friendship aside as he moves up to 147lb to challenge Rolly Romero for the welterweight title he won against Ryan Garcia For more than a decade, Teófimo López’s friendship with Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero endured through amateur tournaments, Las Vegas sparring sessions and the mismatched peaks and troughs of two volatile careers. That friendship ended, López says, the moment they signed to fight one another. On Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena along the Vegas Strip, the 29-year-old López will challenge for Romero’s World Boxing Association welterweight title. The former lightweight and junior-welterweight champion is moving up to 147lb in pursuit of a belt in a third division. For Romero, himself a three-weight belt-holder after stacking titles at 135lb and 140lb, a victory would add another marquee name to a résumé transformed by last year’s upset of Ryan Garcia. The fight will be broadcast globally on Dazn pay-per-view and will see the champion go off as a roughly 2-1 underdog...

sportsAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Uefa and Concacaf discuss joint Nations League in latest challenge to Fifa

Biennial tournament could launch as early as 2028 Confederations are seeking to oust Gianni Infantino Uefa and Concacaf have begun talks about setting up a combined Nations League tournament featuring all 96 European and North and Central American and Caribbean countries, in another direct challenge to Fifa. The Guardian has learned that having come together to push for Gianni Infantino’s removal in the light of the World Cup sell-off controversy, the two confederations are now working on creating their own biennial tournament, which could launch as early as 2028 after the next European Championship...

technologyAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Proposed London datacentre will have annual carbon footprint of 27,000 flights to New York

Exclusive: Planning documents show datacentre in north Ockendon will be incompatible with UK net zero targets A “hyperscale” datacentre in outer London would generate more than 1m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, equivalent to the carbon footprint of 27,000 flights from London to New York, planning documents show. The East Havering Data Centre Campus (EHDCC) in north Ockendon would be one of the largest datacentres in Europe if approved by Havering council, using 218 hectares of green belt to run servers and data storage systems for AI and cloud computing. Its developer, Digital Reef, has described the scheme as “a unique opportunity to create a sustainable datacentre campus of the future”...

cultureAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Strangers in their own land: Mexicans deported from Trump’s America find refuge in ‘Little LA’

With plentiful jobs and community support, one Mexico City neighbourhood has become a haven for those who have lived much of their lives in the US With its wide avenues lined with tall palm trees, its quaint cafes and old-school cantinas, as well as the mix of English and Spanish spoken on the street, the Tabacalera neighborhood in downtown Mexico City has a certain US feel – so much so that it is has become known as Little LA. The nickname is about more than appearances, however. In recent years, this corner of the metropolis has become a haven for many Mexicans deported from the US, particularly those who spent years or decades living across the border and for whom Mexico feels like a foreign country. In Little LA, they have found a more familiar place to belong...

sportsAugust 21, 2026France 24

Conference League: Monaco take first-leg lead in Poland

Monaco won 3-2 away at Gornik Zabrze in the first leg of their Conference League play-off. Mika Biereth opened the scoring before Lamine Camara doubled Monaco’s lead after the break. Paris Brunner then restored the visitors’ advantage after the Polish side had twice reduced the deficit. Filipe Luis's side take a one-goal lead into next Thursday’s second leg at the Stade Louis-II.

healthAugust 21, 2026France 24

'Breakthrough' mRNA cancer drug curbs melanoma in large trial

US drugmakers Merck and Moderna said Wednesday a personalised cancer treatment had shown success in reducing the recurrence of melanoma tumors in a late-stage trial hailed by experts as a "breakthrough." Researchers have for years been trying to apply mRNA treatments against cancer, but this was the first time such a drug showed positive results in a large, late-stage clinical trial.

worldAugust 21, 2026France 24

Trump ultra-loyal aide Natalie Harp in the spotlight

She is a near-constant presence at US President Donald Trump's side, but until recently his ultra-loyal aide Natalie Harp had managed to stay out of the spotlight. That has all changed since it emerged the 35-year-old was one of a handful of people who secretly swapped from Air Force One with Trump in Turkey after a security threat. The blonde executive assistant to the president was then mentioned by a Democratic senate hopeful, in comments that set the internet alight – and incensed the White House.

climateAugust 21, 2026France 24

El Niño rains in Peru disrupt access to Machu Picchu

Heavy rains ⁠linked to ​the El Niño weather phenomenon caused flooding in Peru ​on Wednesday that disrupted access to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, closed roads due to landslides and flooded ​homes ‌in the capital Lima. Peruvian authorities ordered ⁠the Inca Trail, a main tourist route to Machu Picchu, closed ‌until Saturday due to overflowing waterways and debris, according ⁠to local media.

climateAugust 21, 2026France 24

France’s heatwaves bring bumper salt harvest in Guérande

The heatwave has taken a heavy toll on much of the agricultural sector, but it is also benefiting a lucky few. The high temperatures are providing ideal conditions for salt harvesting in the famous salt marshes of Guérande in Western France, where the harvest this summer looks set to be particularly bountiful.

powerAugust 21, 2026France 24

Tunisia opposition protests against president amid economic discontent

Activists and opponents ⁠of Tunisian President Kais ​Saied took to the streets of Tunis on Thursday, calling for his departure ​and the restoration of democracy in the latest protest against his governance amid growing political and economic discontent. Hundreds of protesters said they reject "one-man rule" and "a slide towards dictatorship," ​and urged ‌the release of jailed opposition figures, activists and journalists. FRANCE 24's Lilia Blaise reports.

healthAugust 21, 2026France 24

Ex-Pakistan PM Khan taken back to jail after hospital checks

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan was transferred back to jail early on Friday, hours after being taken to a hospital for court-ordered medical checks, the government said. The Supreme Court ordered on Tuesday that Khan, Pakistan's most popular politician, be taken to the private Shifa International Hospital in the capital Islamabad within 48 hours for treatment, after his lawyers petitioned the court over concerns that his health was poor. The ex-cricket captain and his wife Bushra Bibi, who is also his spiritual guide, were both sentenced late last year to 17 years in prison.

powerAugust 21, 2026NY Times

Giorgia Meloni Has a Lot to Say: The Takeaways

The Italian prime minister is leading what will soon be the longest-lasting government in the country’s postwar history. She shows herself by turns funny and fierce in a rare interview.

healthAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Ebola outbreak: five big questions

On 23 August, it will be 100 days since the Bundibugyo strain was first reported. How did it became the DRC’s most deadly outbreak and what must be done to stop it becoming the world’s largest? Almost 100 days ago, Africa’s public health watchdog reported an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There have now been almost 5,000 cases and more than 2,000 deaths since 15 May, making this Ebola outbreak the biggest and most deadly in the DRC’s history...

sportsAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Tadej Pogacar looks unstoppable as he sets sights on another slice of history at Vuelta

Slovenian is aiming to become the ninth rider to win all three Grand Tours, and it doesn’t look like anyone can stop him Who’s coming second? That’s the question being most frequently asked as the peloton convenes for the final Grand Tour of 2026, the Vuelta a España, which rolls away from the start line in Monaco on Saturday. The unrelenting Tadej Pogacar, making his first appearance in the Spanish race since 2019, is the overwhelming favourite to take the top spot on the podium in Granada on 13 September, with his cowed rivals already seemingly accepting of his supremacy...

sportsAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Premier League returns with Arsenal v Coventry; transfer news and more: football – live

⚽ All the latest football news, comment and previews ⚽ This weekend’s fixtures | Read Football Daily | Mail Tom Why not start the day right with some transfer tittle-tattle? There’s some tasty morsels in today’s Rumour Mill, including this little treat: After Vinícius Júnior signed a shiny new deal at Real Madrid, Arsenal are having to look elsewhere for a new winger. Turkey’s Kenan Yildizm who plies his trade with Juventus, is of interest to Mikel Arteta and the Gunners hierarchy. One potential way of getting the deal done is to send Gabriel Martinelli in the opposite direction...

climateAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Cut cost of loans for solar panels on UK homes, ministers urged

Report says ‘solar bonds’ could fund wider access to clean energy, reducing household bills Solar panels could be cheaper for people on lower incomes if the government stepped in to reduce the cost of loans, a report argues. Solar panel installations can save households hundreds of pounds a year in energy bills, but at an initial cost of about £5,000 to £10,000 they are beyond the reach of many households...

climateAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Weather tracker: Extreme rainfall deluges Japan and South Korea

Unprecedented downpours cause deaths, evacuations and transport chaos. Plus, Hurricane Lala batters Hawaii South Korea and Japan were hit by extreme rainfall late last week and into this week. On 13 August in the city of Chiba near Tokyo there was a record-breaking 115mm of rainfall in just one hour, while the nearby city of Sakura broke its own record with 97mm in one hour. A level five emergency warning for heavy rain was issued by local authorities – the highest alert level and the first time one has been issued since the system was implemented in May. More than 100,000 households were asked to evacuate, with more than 20,000 in the Chiba prefecture left without power, while thousands of people were stranded at Tokyo’s Narita airport. Thirteen people have been confirmed dead, at least three of whom were found trapped inside their vehicles, with one person still missing...

worldAugust 21, 2026South China Morning Post

Indonesian quake survivors recall trauma of all-day intense aftershocks, self-rescue

Carolus Winfridus was asleep when an earthquake struck off Indonesia’s island of Flores, as he was awoken by intense rumbling and saw his wardrobe doors flying open. He and his family quickly scrambled for a way out of their house in the town of Maumere, Sikka Regency, one of nine regencies hit by Saturday’s devastating 7.7-magnitude quake that killed almost 80 people and displaced nearly 100,000. Survivors and officials describe how blocked roads, power cuts and relentless aftershocks have...

worldAugust 21, 2026South China Morning Post

China’s Typhoon Maysak death toll soars to 159 as region tallies catastrophic losses

The official death toll from Typhoon Maysak’s devastating floods in southern China jumped from 39 to 159 on Friday, as authorities updated the figures for the first time in six weeks. According to media briefings held in Nanning and Guigang in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, 10 people remained missing and the disaster affected more than 1.65 million people, state news agency Xinhua reported. The typhoon triggered “historically rare, large-scale and persistent heavy rainfall” in the province in...

sportsAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Tottenham close on deals for Manchester City’s Savinho and Omar Marmoush

Separate deals worth a combined £160m Summer spending on De Zerbi’s squad nears £400m Manchester City are close to agreeing the transfer of Savinho to Tottenham for £85m, with a separate deal of around £75m for the arrival of Omar Marmoush from the FA Cup-winners to the north London club also being worked on. Savinho signed for the City Football Group in summer 2022 for 40m euros (£30.8m), first joining Troyes, so the prospective sale of the 22-year-old for £85m represents a near £55m profit for City’s owners. After loans at PSV and Girona, the Brazilian joined City two years ago but the winger failed to establish himself as a first-choice under Pep Guardiola, the former manager...

climateAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Increased rainfall and storms to hit UK due to biggest El Niño for a century, says Met Office

‘Unprecedented’ weather pattern over Pacific Ocean to be felt worldwide with severe droughts expected in southern hemisphere The El Niño event developing over the Pacific Ocean is likely to be the strongest for more than a 100 years, the UK’s Met Office has said. Increased rainfall and storms are forecast to hit the UK this autumn as a result of the “unprecedented” weather pattern, which will also cause severe droughts in the southern hemisphere, the Met Office warned...

sportsAugust 21, 2026The Guardian

Chess: Magnus Carlsen wins Esports World Cup in Paris without losing a game

Norway’s world No 1 outclassed the field and won the $250,000 first prize at the four-day event in France Magnus Carlsen, Norway’s world No 1, triumphed again last weekend when he won the 2026 Esports World Cup, staged over four days at the prestigious venue of the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. Carlsen retained his title from Riyadh 2025 and took home a monster first prize of $250,000 (£183,000). The time limit was close to blitz, 10 minutes each per player with no per move increment, a format where blunders would be hoped for, and were indeed made, as entertainment for the capacity audience...