World

Nancy Kissinger, Wife of Former Secretary of State, Dies at 92

Nancy Kissinger, the wife of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger, died on August 21, 2026, at the age of 92. A foreign policy specialist in her own right, she was politically astute, deeply versed in global issues, and accompanied her husband on many of his historic diplomatic missions.

Vietnam Proposes Abolishing Death Penalty for Six Crimes, While Toughening Sentences for State Security Offenses

The Vietnamese government has proposed removing the death penalty for six categories of crimes, signaling a potential shift in its criminal justice approach, even as it introduces stricter sentencing for offenses perceived to threaten the authority of the ruling Communist Party or state security, according to a report by The Diplomat.

Ethiopia's Virgin Mary Festival in Tigray Cancelled Amid Drone Strike Fears

The annual Virgin Mary festival in Ethiopia's Tigray region, a major gathering of women, has been cancelled due to fears of drone strikes, organisers announced on Friday. The decision comes after recent aerial attacks in the area raised safety concerns for participants.

Trump's Pattern of Shutting Down Reporters: What Triggers the Response?

President Donald Trump has a well-documented history of interrupting and dismissing reporters during press conferences, often triggered by questions on topics ranging from legal investigations to policy failures. A recent BBC analysis explores the specific lines of inquiry that prompt the president to shut down journalists, raising concerns about press freedom and accountability.

Somali Piracy Resurges: Two Hijackings in Four Days Raise Alarm

Two cargo vessels have been hijacked off the coast of Somalia within four days, marking a sharp resurgence of piracy in the region and prompting experts to warn that the conflict in Iran and wider geopolitical instability are creating conditions for a full-blown comeback of Somali pirates.

Australia

Renshaw's Test Comeback Ends Quickly With Dismissal for Eight

Matt Renshaw's much-anticipated return to Test cricket ended in disappointment on day one, with the Queensland left-hander dismissed for just eight runs after being recalled to the Australian side for the first time in over two years.

Zambia's Democratic Facade Fractures in Post-Election Crackdown

A wave of arrests and allegations of electoral fraud in Zambia has raised fears among activists and international observers that the country's democratic gains are eroding, even as the government insists it is merely preventing an insurrection.

US Supreme Court Allows Trump’s $400 Million White House Ballroom Project to Proceed

The US Supreme Court has ruled to allow the Trump administration to continue construction of a $400 million ballroom at the White House, rejecting a legal challenge that tried to block the project. The administration contends that the ballroom is needed for national security, citing diplomatic receptions and official state events that require additional secure space.

Western Allies Condemn Israel's Decision to End Probe into Deadly Gaza Aid Convoy Strike

Israel has officially closed its investigation into the April 2024 airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza, drawing sharp condemnation from key Western allies who described the decision as 'shameful' and a blow to accountability.

Bolivia’s President Rodrigo Paz fires economy minister amid unrest

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz dismissed Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza on Saturday, days after the official was censured by the legislature amid growing unrest over the government’s economic reform agenda. The move comes as protests and political pressure mount over austerity measures and inflation, raising questions about the stability of Paz’s administration.

Tunisian Protesters Demand President Saied's Resignation in Capital Demonstration

Hundreds of Tunisians marched through the streets of central Tunis on Thursday, calling for President Kais Saied to step down, in the latest display of public frustration with his rule since he consolidated power in 2021.

Turkey Seeks Interpol Arrest of Netanyahu Over 2010 Flotilla Raid

Turkey has formally requested that Interpol issue a red notice for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of ordering the abuse of activists during the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid. The move, confirmed by Turkish officials on Thursday, threatens to further strain already tense relations between Ankara and Jerusalem.

Hong Kong Independent Bookshops That Served Mainland Chinese Readers Close Amid Crackdown

Independent bookshops in Hong Kong that for years provided mainland Chinese readers with books censored on the mainland are closing their doors, marking the latest sign of the city's shrinking space for dissent under Beijing's tightened control since the imposition of the national security law in 2020.

Peru Rescues Dozens Trapped by Landslides on Central Highway for Nearly a Week

Peruvian authorities have successfully rescued dozens of people who had been trapped by landslides on a major highway in the central Andes for nearly a week, officials confirmed on Saturday. The landslides, triggered by heavy rains, blocked a critical stretch of the Carretera Central, isolating motorists and passengers between the cities of Lima and La Oroya without food or water for days.

‘Lovesick’ letters from Trump aide Natalie Harp revealed, detailing intimate relationship concerns

Newly revealed letters from Natalie Harp, a close aide to former President Donald Trump, show the young woman expressing deep concern about upsetting her boss and a desperate desire to foster a more intimate relationship, according to reports from multiple Australian news outlets.

22 Aug·2 min·3 sources

Japan Executes Man for 2009 Pachinko Parlour Fire; Five Missing in Swiss Alps Blaze

Japan executed a man on Friday for killing five people in a 2009 arson attack on a pachinko parlour in Osaka, marking the first execution under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government. Meanwhile, in Switzerland, five people are missing and eight others injured after a fire in an Alpine town, with authorities still investigating the cause.

Trump Administration Advances Space Policy and Immigration Enforcement with Mixed Results

President Donald Trump signed a new national space transportation policy Thursday, calling for the development of more spaceports to support over 1,000 launches per year by 2030, while in Mexico City, a neighborhood known as 'Little LA' has become a haven for Mexicans deported from the United States, highlighting the contrasting effects of administration policies.

Australia

Starc's five-wicket blitz puts Australia on top in Mackay Test

Mitchell Starc took five wickets in a devastating 22-ball spell lasting 43 minutes on Saturday morning in Mackay, as Australia's under-siege batting line-up was given a temporary reprieve after captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl in the second Test.

One killed, three wounded in sword attack at Swedish high school; suspect arrested

One person was killed and three others wounded in a sword attack at a Swedish high school on Friday, with police shooting and arresting an 18-year-old male suspect, authorities said.

At 77, She Walked 9 Miles Under Drone-Filled Skies to Escape From ‘Hell’

A 77-year-old woman recently walked nine miles through drone-infested skies to escape the eastern Ukrainian city of Lyman, a place rescue teams now refuse to enter because it is deemed too dangerous. Her harrowing journey, described by the New York Times, underscores the dire conditions for civilians trapped in areas under heavy Russian military pressure.

Myanmar Military Airstrike Kills 14 at Buddhist Monastery, Opposition Reports

An airstrike by Myanmar's military reportedly killed at least 14 people at a Buddhist monastery, according to opposition sources. Local residents said more than 100 people were inside the monastery for a religious retreat at the time of the attack.

Iranian president signals readiness to end war with US from 'position of strength' as Oman mediates

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that the time has come to end the standoff with the United States from a “position of strength”, as Omani and Iranian foreign ministers held a phone call amid reports that Washington is preparing additional economic sanctions against Tehran.

US Postal Service moves to finalize voting rule despite court orders blocking changes

The US Postal Service posted a final rule late Friday that would impose new requirements on states to provide the federal government with information on voters before the November midterm congressional elections, despite two federal court injunctions that currently block the changes from taking effect. The rule, published online ahead of its scheduled appearance in the Federal Register next week, aligns with a March executive order signed by former President Donald Trump aimed at election integrity.

Five Deportees Flown to Equatorial Guinea After Refusing to Leave Plane in Liberia

At least five people deported from the United States under the Trump administration’s third-country deportation program were flown to Equatorial Guinea on Friday after they refused to disembark from a plane that landed in Liberia, according to U.S. and Liberian officials. The incident underscores mounting tensions over the administration’s practice of sending non-Liberian deportees to Liberia without clear legal status or destination agreements.

Six-year-old girl dies days after drowning off Shoreham coast that killed her parents and sister

A six-year-old girl has died in hospital three days after being pulled from the sea off Shoreham, West Sussex, in an incident that also claimed the lives of her mother, father and older sister, police confirmed on Friday. The family, identified as Palestinian-British, drowned on Tuesday, with the youngest victim succumbing to critical injuries in hospital.

Meloni Reflects on Postwar Longevity as Peru Hit by 6.7 Earthquake

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on the cusp of leading Italy's longest-lasting postwar government, gave a rare interview touching on her political journey and leadership style, while a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Peru's Ayacucho region on Thursday, causing damage and power cuts, according to the US Geological Survey.

22 Aug·2 min·3 sources