Spirit Airlines halted all operations in May and has since been selling its remaining assets through bankruptcy proceedings. Most of the assets are planes, equipment and real estate, but other valuable items are also being sold.
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CNNOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 14:36
Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia plans to sharply reduce its mainland China workforce and shut its sites there in stages by the end of the year, the South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the situation.
R
ReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:35
The Bank of Russia set the official dollar rate for August 19 at 85.1645 rubles, up 15.09 kopecks from the previous rate. The euro rate rose by 39.6 kopecks to 98.7312 rubles, while the yuan rate fell by 0.35 kopecks to 12.624 rubles.
T
TASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 14:33
Political scientist Vladimir Karasev said Volodymyr Zelensky sabotaged IAEA chief Rafael Grossi’s planned August 20-21 visit to the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and Energodar because Grossi might see evidence of attacks on the facility and face questions in Europe. Karasev said Grossi had condemned earlier attacks but avoided harsh criticism of Kyiv or Ukraine’s armed forces.
TTASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 14:31
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called on military commanders to immediately stop attacks on nuclear facilities. The agency said a drone explosion at a bus stop used by Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant staff in Energodar caused 16 casualties, including one death and three serious injuries. The ZNPP industrial area was also attacked, but no nuclear safety or security damage was reported.
EU officials hope Iceland’s referendum on restarting membership talks could strengthen European support for admitting other less wealthy countries to the bloc, diplomats told Reuters before this month’s public vote.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:30
De Beers and its industry allies are pushing natural diamonds as they confront a surge of cheaper, nearly identical synthetic gems.
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Bloomberg NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 14:30
Politicians have long used clothing to shape how voters perceive them. Giorgia Meloni’s move from dark suits and boots to softer pastel colors and relaxed silhouettes is presented as part of her transition from outsider to established political figure, while Angela Merkel’s consistent jackets turned simplicity into a recognizable form of power dressing.
DDWOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 14:30
Alaska and Wyoming voters head to Republican-leaning states’ primaries, with races that could affect control of the US Senate and reshape leadership in Wyoming. Alaska’s crowded governor’s contest and competitive Senate race draw particular attention, including a ballot dispute involving two Republican candidates named Dan Sullivan.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:29
Syrian authorities have allowed IAEA inspectors to enter a nuclear facility in the northeastern Deir ez-Zor governorate, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Sheibani said. He described the move as Syria’s sovereign initiative and said Damascus was committed to greater cooperation with the agency.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:27
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has put forward Yevheny Khmara for parliamentary approval as defence minister. Khmara had been serving in an acting capacity since predecessor Mykhailo Fedorov was abruptly dismissed in June, a move that triggered public anger and a week-long political crisis for Zelensky.
FFrance 24Original★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:27
Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed Yevgeny Khmara for Ukraine’s defense minister and Andrey Sibiga for foreign minister, according to materials on candidate meetings with Verkhovna Rada factions. Both currently serve in acting roles, but their nominations have not been formally submitted. Parliament is due to vote on August 19.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky formally nominated Yevgeny Khmara as defense minister and Andrey Sibiga as foreign minister for approval by the Verkhovna Rada, lawmaker Irina Gerashchenko said. The candidates are due to meet parliamentary factions Tuesday, with committee reviews on Wednesday before a full parliamentary vote.
Syrian state media says eight Israeli airstrikes hit the runway and storage facilities at Abu al-Duhur airbase in Idlib early Tuesday, causing infrastructure damage but no casualties. Israel has not officially claimed the attacks. US envoy Tom Barrack called them an “unnecessary escalation,” while Syria’s Foreign Ministry described them as “an unjustified act of aggression.”
DDWOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 14:27
Syria’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on the Abu Duhur military airbase in Idlib, calling them an “unjustified act of aggression.” Damascus accused Israel of seeking to provoke escalation and undermine efforts to strengthen Middle East stability, and urged the international community and UN Security Council to take a firm position. The strikes caused material damage, with no civilian casualties reported.
Israeli Air Force aircraft struck a military airfield in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province, Syria TV reported, citing a source. The attacks caused material damage, with no information on civilian casualties. Earlier reports said unidentified aircraft hit Abu al-Duhur airfield several times, targeting its runway and storage facilities.
Syrian state media, citing a military source, says Israeli forces carried out eight strikes on the runway of the Abu al-Duhur military base in eastern Idlib early Tuesday. The attack caused damage but no casualties, and Israel’s military has not immediately commented.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan’s Mecca Joint Defense Agreement treats an armed attack on one member as an attack on all three, deepening Pakistan’s role in the Middle East security architecture. Indian analysts say New Delhi should monitor the pact but need not be overly concerned, while warning that Saudi resources and Turkish technology could strengthen Pakistan over time.
DDWOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 14:25
Schools and kindergartens across Russia are holding antiterrorism drills on August 18–19. Photos show children hiding in utility rooms or lying face down beside teachers while simulating hostages with weapons pointed at them. A stun grenade exploded during a drill at a school in Serkovo, Moscow region, injuring four teachers.
MMeduzaOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:21
Sophie Adenot and Anil Menon carried out a spacewalk to replace a 90-kilogram space-to-ground communications antenna. An ESA official said the technically demanding mission shows the International Space Station’s interdependence, with European, American, Japanese, Canadian and Russian partners relying on one another to keep it operating despite more complicated relations on Earth.
FFrance 24Original★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 14:18
Some women who entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta during a mass crossing on July 30 say the hardship of sleeping rough while awaiting registration is worsened by threats and fear of sexual harassment.
RReutersOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 14:15
Chinese Ambassador to Moscow Zhang Hanhui says the share of national-currency settlements in China-Russia trade and investment is steadily increasing. The countries are advancing strategic projects in nuclear energy, aviation and space exploration while developing cooperation in the digital economy, biomedicine and artificial intelligence.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:14
Peacock is increasing prices across its streaming plans. The ad-supported Select tier rises from $7.99 to $8.99 a month, Premium with ads reaches $12.99, and ad-free Premium Plus climbs to $19.99. New and returning subscribers face the changes on August 18, while existing customers see them on their next billing date on or after September 17.
TThe VergeOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 14:11
Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov said Russia is prepared to expand supplies of mineral fertilizers, petroleum, engineering and agricultural products to Myanmar, while increasing imports of light-industry and agricultural goods from the country. He said bilateral cooperation is entering an investment phase.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:11
Andrey Bystritsky, chairman of the Valdai Discussion Club’s Foundation for Development and Support, said Donald Trump has postponed appointing a US ambassador to Ukraine because he is approaching Kiev cautiously. Bystritsky called an ambassador a serious position requiring a capable appointee.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:07
Russian unmanned systems are addressing key domestic economic challenges and remain highly competitive internationally, Association of Innovative Regions of Russia director Alexander Smekalin told TASS. Chinese partners are interested in deploying the systems and co-developing solutions. Several Russian regions are developing or testing drones and autonomous technologies, while officials seek unified standards and oversight.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 14:04
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Russia and Myanmar have strong prospects for expanding bilateral trade, economic and investment ties. Moscow proposes closer high-tech cooperation, including sharing developments in the digital economy, autonomous electronic systems and artificial intelligence applications.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:03
Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing said after talks with Vladimir Putin that bilateral ties with Russia are developing actively. He said the two sides are working toward new agreements to deepen cooperation and that Myanmar is ready to strengthen the relationship further.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said relations with Myanmar, established in 1948, have developed steadily and become particularly trust-based in recent years. He thanked Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing for helping develop Russia’s ties with ASEAN and highlighted active cooperation between the two countries internationally.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to meet Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing at the Kremlin on August 18 during his official visit to Russia. They will discuss expanding bilateral cooperation and international and regional issues, with several bilateral documents expected to be signed.
Belarusian arms manufacturers have produced the fully domestic VSK-100B assault rifle. Alexander Lukashenko saw the weapon during a visit to Kidma Tech, where a plaque on the prototype read: “Not for war… For confidence in peace.”
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:02
President Donald Trump says the United States has no talks planned with Iran, while insisting the Strait of Hormuz remains “open and operating.” Traffic through the waterway has been limited, and a ship leaving it was reportedly struck.
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The Associated PressOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 14:02
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would soon correct Donald Trump’s misconception that the Strait of Hormuz is US territory. Trump had earlier posted a map depicting the strait as part of the United States. Gharibabadi also noted that Trump used the name Persian Gulf in his post.
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that no talks with Iran are currently underway or scheduled. In a Truth Social post, he said the naval blockade remains fully in force, the Strait of Hormuz is operating openly, and all water mines have been removed or detonated.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari said Doha hopes Oman and Iran can reach an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz, allowing U.S.-Iran talks to resume. He said efforts are focused on easing tensions and restarting implementation of the memorandum, requiring a ceasefire, an open strait, freedom of navigation and a return to negotiations.
US President Donald Trump said he would not seek to revive a ceasefire deal with Iran that has lapsed, leaving the simmering Middle East conflict and the struggle for control of the Strait of Hormuz in limbo.
Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed until the United States fulfills conditions of an interim agreement signed with Iran in June. State media published his remarks on Tuesday.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz would stay closed until Washington meets the Iran-US memorandum’s conditions. Tehran demands an end to the blockade, the unfreezing of Iranian assets, removal of the oil embargo, and a halt to threats and military operations on all fronts.
Hakainde Hichilema has won a second term as Zambia’s president after defeating opposition challenger Brian Mundubile by more than one million votes. Mundubile’s alliance questioned parts of the voting and counting process, while Hichilema’s supporters defended the result. His new term will test whether economic recovery brings broader benefits to Zambians.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 14:01
China has congratulated Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on his re-election, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said. Lin said Beijing is ready to work with Zambia’s new administration to deepen the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Electoral data showed Hichilema won more than 2.9 million valid votes, exceeding 50% and avoiding a runoff.
Zambia’s Electoral Commission declared President Hakainde Hichilema the winner of a second five-year term with about 61.4% of valid votes, while challenger Brian Mundubile received about 38%. Supporters celebrated in Lusaka. Hichilema said he was humbled by the trust placed in him and pledged to continue working for the public.
Zambia’s electoral commission says President Hakainde Hichilema has secured a second five-year term with 60% of the vote. His closest challenger, Brian Mundubile, won 38% and had alleged irregularities. Observers described polling day as largely peaceful but raised concerns about restrictions on the opposition, media freedom and a brief suspension of counting.
Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema has won re-election with 60 percent of the vote. The count was briefly halted after attacks on election officials. Zambia is Africa’s second-largest copper producer, and the metal is vital to the global energy transition and keenly contested by China and the US.
Zambia's election commission declared President Hakainde Hichilema the winner of a second five-year term after he secured 61.4% of the vote. The opposition alleged intimidation, arrests, violence and irregularities, while authorities arrested 11 people, including prominent opposition figures, during an election-night raid.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has won reelection to serve a second five-year term, according to the Electoral Commission of Zambia, which announced the result early Tuesday.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema won a second term on Tuesday after campaigning on economic recovery, including a major debt restructuring deal. He faces pressure to create more jobs and opportunities, while critics say his government has failed to ease poverty and has grown less tolerant of dissent.
Zambia’s electoral commission says President Hakainde Hichilema has won a second term with roughly 60 percent of valid votes, against 38 percent for Brian Mundubile. The election was marred by fraud allegations; counting was suspended after reports of violence against polling staff and stolen ballot papers.
Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, will publish a book about his sister’s life and promises to reveal the truth about her ahead of the 30th anniversary of her death.
RReutersOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-08-18 14:01
At least one death has been linked to Tropical Storm Lala, while more than 100,000 people remain without power in Hawaii. The storm uprooted trees and triggered flash flooding from Honolulu to the Big Island.
TThe Associated PressOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 14:01
The deadline for reaching an agreement has technically expired, while Trump is pursuing a hard line with Tehran. The stalemate in the Strait of Hormuz shows no signs of easing.
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 14:00
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that no conversations were taking place with Iran and that none had been scheduled. He also said the Strait of Hormuz was open.
U.S. 30-year Treasury yields climbed to their highest level since 2007 on Tuesday. Stalled efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war and fears of an imminent escalation pushed oil above $90 a barrel, stoking inflation concerns and jolting markets.
Donald Trump says he is in no hurry to bring the war with Iran to an end.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the 60-day deadline for negotiations on a lasting settlement, set under the June Iran-US memorandum of understanding, was voided by Washington’s “violations”. After meeting Benjamin Netanyahu, US envoy Jared Kushner said he hoped Hamas would begin disarmament within “30 days”.
Preliminary shipping data showed that vessel crossings through the Strait of Hormuz rose slightly on Monday from the weekend but remained in the single digits, as U.S.-Iran peace talks reached a stalemate.
Conservative Spanish journalist Javier Negre says residents of Ceuta believe authorities have not done enough to prevent a repeat of the July 30 influx of approximately 70,000 migrants. Residents reportedly fear for public safety and pressure on local services, while Spain and Morocco have increased security at the border amid calls for another rush.
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Fox NewsOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 13:59
AI-generated and AI-manipulated images are spreading rapidly on social media. DW Fact Check recommends inspecting details for distortions and gibberish, checking whether credible media reported the apparent event, examining the poster and tracing the image through reverse searches. IFCN certification can also help assess a fact-checking source.
DDWOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 13:59
The United States and Israel have created two bilateral working groups linking Gaza’s reconstruction to complete demilitarisation. One is tasked with collecting and destroying weapons and dismantling tunnels, while the other addresses sanitation, water and public health. Analysts warn that US-led weapons control could provoke Hamas and other factions and reduce a political crisis to a municipal one.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 13:58
President Lee Jae Myung said South Korea’s armed forces rank fifth worldwide and its defense-industry capabilities fourth. He called for faster development of operational and command capabilities and said Seoul should secure wartime operational control of its forces during his term, alongside strengthening the alliance with the United States and independent defense capabilities.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:55
Moscow’s Nikulinsky District Court fined politician Boris Nadezhdin 10,000 rubles for allegedly participating in the activities of an “undesirable” organization. The case concerned an interview he gave to Meduza. Nadezhdin had already been barred from a planned State Duma bid after being designated a “foreign agent” and receiving another administrative fine, and he has since announced that he left Russia.
MMeduzaOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:52
Yemen’s internationally recognised government says its forces carried out 133 operations against the Houthis in the past 24 hours. Fighting is spreading across fronts including Marib, al-Jawf, Hadramout, Hodeidah and Taiz, ending years of relative calm and raising fears of renewed civil war.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 13:51
Russia’s agricultural exports to China climbed 44% year-on-year to $4.9 billion in the first half of 2026, Agroexport head Ilya Ilyushin said at a forum in Kazan. Frozen fish, soybeans, sunflower oil and pork were among the sectors reporting higher revenues.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:48
Agricultural trade between Russia and China increased 34.4% year on year in January-July 2026, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut said. She noted that both countries’ imports and exports are growing, following a 21% rise in bilateral agricultural trade in 2025.
Hungarian prosecutors said on Tuesday they were seeking to keep a Polish bus driver in detention. He is suspected of falling asleep at the wheel before a crash in eastern Hungary early Sunday that killed 12 people and injured dozens.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:45
The Asian Football Confederation is angry with the Qatar Football Association for backing FIFA President Gianni Infantino, according to The Times. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa said the Qatari body’s position undermined the unity of Asian football and weakened its ability to defend the region’s interests.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 13:45
Italian political analyst and professor Alessandro Orsini said that sending more drones toward Moscow would not change the balance of power in the conflict. He argued that dwindling Patriot missiles and a shortage of frontline personnel are problems for Zelensky, and that Ukraine’s call for a temporary ceasefire shows it is losing while Russia is winning. Reuters said Ukraine had proposed, through a third party, a mutual halt to attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea; Russia said it had received no formal proposal.
TTASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 13:41
The review argues that Warner Bros. Discovery’s attempt to shelve Coyote vs. Acme generated attention and exposed the studio’s practice of abandoning nearly finished films for tax write-offs. The movie earns generally positive notices for its live-action animation blend, absurd gags, and corporate satire, though its conventional story is less compelling.
TThe VergeOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 13:35
The United States and Canada are holding last-minute talks to prevent U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods. Relations could worsen at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday if Donald Trump proceeds with a plan to impose 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian products.
TThe Associated PressOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 13:32
Canada is racing to reach a deal with the Trump administration on Tuesday, before a midnight deadline, to avert a 50% tariff on billions of dollars in exports to the US.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is not embarrassed after exchanging messages with someone posing as Donald Trump’s chief of staff, maintaining that he “did everything right.”
BBloomberg NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:30
Comcast is enabling free Wi-Fi motion sensing on millions of Xfinity gateways, letting compatible routers detect movement by monitoring disruptions in Wi-Fi signals and send home-activity alerts. The feature is rolling out through the Xfinity Internet app for XB7 and newer gateways, and users can opt in or out.
TThe VergeOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 13:30
ABC and parent company Disney are suing the Federal Communications Commission, alleging it waged a retaliatory campaign over the networks’ broadcast content and threatened their licenses. The suit seeks to halt the FCC’s broadcast-license renewal proceedings amid escalating tensions with the Trump administration.
TThe VergeOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:27
Disney is suing the FCC, alleging that the agency violated its First Amendment rights and carried out a “retaliatory campaign” against ABC.
Disney and its ABC unit sued the Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday, seeking to block an early review of licenses for Disney’s eight ABC stations. The companies said the move was an attempt by the Trump administration to punish the network.
A U.S. congressional advisory body said on Tuesday that China is commercialising and monetising data as a strategic national asset to advance its AI and technology objectives, potentially giving it an edge over the United States in the AI race.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:25
South Korea’s unification ministry said renewed talks between North Korea and the United States could support peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and encourage inter-Korean reconciliation. Seoul says it is ready to act as a peacemaker, including by sending a special envoy. Donald Trump said Kim Jong Un had responded positively to his dialogue request.
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CGTNOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 13:24
At Wageningen University in the Netherlands, researchers expose plants to simulated heat, drought, salinity and frost while cameras and scanners track their responses. By combining greenhouse analysis with field trials, they hope to identify traits that could make crops more resilient to human-caused climate change and rising food demand.
DDWOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:22
A ninth-grade student livestreamed himself shooting and killing another pupil in a classroom at a school attached to Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga before taking his own life. Police are investigating the motive, firearm ownership and how the weapons entered the campus; customs has preventively suspended an agent who allegedly owned the guns.
TThe GuardianOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:21
A ninth-grade student opened fire at a high school in Zamboanga, killing a fellow student before taking his own life. Two others were wounded, and the attack was apparently livestreamed.
A high school student opened fire at Ateneo de Zamboanga University in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga, killing a fellow student and wounding two others before taking his own life. The shooting was reportedly livestreamed with a body camera, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of students.
Officials said a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines on Tuesday killed two students, one of them the gunman. The situation was under control, marking the country’s second such incident in less than two months.
Two people were killed in a shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines, officials said. The situation was under control, marking the country’s second such incident in nearly two months.
A student was shot dead by a fellow student at a Catholic junior high school in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, a local official said. The alleged shooter, who brought a .45-calibre pistol into a classroom and missed a teacher, later took his own life. Authorities said the situation was under control.
A gunman opened fire at a high school in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga, killing at least two people, a local official said. The mayor said both casualties were students and included the gunman. Police were securing the campus; witnesses identified it as Ateneo de Zamboanga High School and said the suspect was a Grade 7 student.
Police say at least two people were hit in a shooting at a high school in Zamboanga, a city in the southern Philippines.
A shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga Grade School in Zamboanga City, southern Philippines, killed two students on Tuesday, local media reported. Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso said one of the victims was the gunman. The Department of Education said it was coordinating with the school to support those affected.
Madonna tops the nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, with Taylor Swift behind her. The network announced the nominees Tuesday. The pop icon has won 19 competitive MTV VMAs.
TThe Associated PressOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 13:17
PepsiCo announced in 2022 that it would suspend production and sales in Russia, but paid $237 million in income tax to the Russian state last year. The company remains Russia’s fourth-largest foreign business, with 60,000 workers and 19 factories, and continues selling renamed drinks and other products it classifies as essential, contributing tax revenue to a state budget focused on the war in Ukraine.
TThe Kyiv IndependentOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:16
Christian leaders and religious figures in the West Bank say worsening living conditions are driving more Christian families from their homes, threatening the historic Christian presence in the Palestinian territories.
FFrance 24Original★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:14
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has praised Petrobras’s oil discovery offshore near the mouth of the Amazon, calling it a possible “passport to the country’s future”. Environmentalists strongly oppose drilling in the biodiverse region, warning that an oil spill could damage reefs and coastal wetlands. The field’s size and commercial viability remain unclear.
B
BBC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:13
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva praised the discovery of oil off the Amazon coast despite environmentalist opposition to drilling there. He called the find a “passport to the country’s future” and said it would strengthen Brazil’s national sovereignty.
After talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing thanked Russia for assisting with the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar in March 2025. He said Russia promptly sent rescue teams to help people cope with the disaster, which killed about 3,800 people in the country.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:13
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has again rejected Iran’s claim that Doha is holding missing Iranian aircrew, calling it untrue and a “media ploy”. It said Tehran has not responded to invitations to verify the allegation.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:12
Qatar denies Iranian accusations that it secretly detained three military pilots after their planes crashed, calling the claims baseless, false and illogical. Spokesman Majed al-Ansari says the aircraft violated Qatar’s sovereignty and were dealt with according to law, adding that Doha invited Tehran to review search operations.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari rejected Tehran’s claim that Qatar was holding three Iranian pilots as baseless. He said Iranian aircraft entered Qatari airspace to attack Doha and were shot down after ignoring warnings; remains of one pilot were handed to an Iranian delegation, and Qatar’s invitation for a technical review remains unanswered.
Palestinian-American Loui Abu Ridi confronted an Israeli settler at his home in Qusra, south of Nablus, after returning from the US and finding his property damaged. Israeli settlers have continued besieging three Palestinian homes in the area for nearly 10 days.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:11
Palestinian American Loui Ridi flew a huge American flag above his West Bank home in the hope of deterring militant settlers surrounding the property. On Tuesday, however, one settler entered Ridi’s land, leading to a tense confrontation.
An explosion hit a Stora Enso processing plant in Imatra, Finland, a few kilometers from the Russian border. The company is investigating, while fire chief Toni Jaako said a technical malfunction may have built pressure in a tall-oil tank, rupturing it. About 50 cubic meters spilled, with some reaching Lake Saimaa through drainage.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 13:08
A Damascus criminal court sentenced former regime figure Wassim al-Assad to death after convicting him of crimes including premeditated murder and torture during Syria’s war. He was accused of leading pro-regime paramilitary groups and operations against civilians in Eastern Ghouta. The court confiscated his assets but acquitted him of drug-trafficking charges for lack of evidence.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 13:06
A Syrian court sentenced Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of Bashar al-Assad, to death on charges including murder, torture, crimes against humanity and war crimes. He was accused of leading militias involved in massacres and kidnappings and is the only Assad relative on death row inside Syria.
Syria TV reports that Damascus’s Fourth Criminal Court sentenced Wassim al-Assad, cousin of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, to death for premeditated killings, murder involving torture, and acts intended to incite civil war and sectarian conflict. The court cleared him of smuggling and drug-trafficking charges for lack of evidence and ordered his property seized.
A Damascus court sentenced Wassim al-Assad to death on Tuesday after convicting him of multiple murders, including killings accompanied by torture and brutality. He is a cousin of Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s overthrown longtime ruler.
The Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus sentenced former regime figure Wassim al-Assad to death after convicting him of crimes including premeditated murder and torture during Syria’s nearly 14-year war. He is a cousin of ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad.
U.S. single-family homebuilding fell sharply in July as higher mortgage rates and a growing inventory of unsold new homes weighed on construction.
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:05
Spanish law enforcement agencies found that dozens of illegal migrants who entered Ceuta during the late-July influx have reached mainland Spain. Police say criminal organizations exploited the crisis to run illegal passenger routes across the Strait of Gibraltar from Andalusia, using water scooters and boats, with landings usually near Cadiz.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:02
The European Commission says several thousand illegal migrants, including many unaccompanied minors, remain in Spain’s African exclave of Ceuta. Spokesman Markus Lammert said Morocco and Spain prevented another mass crossing attempt over the weekend, while the EU continues to monitor the crisis and stands ready to assist.
Russian lawmaker Alyona Arshinova said recently dismissed Gagauzia head Evghenia Gutsul would continue her fight. She accused Maia Sandu’s regime of seeking to subjugate the autonomy and said Gutsul had been jailed for seven years on fabricated charges. Gagauzia’s assembly declared the post vacant, while some lawmakers urged waiting for the Supreme Court’s final ruling.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:01
Russian State Duma lawmaker Alena Arshinova accused Moldovan President Maia Sandu of persecuting Gagauzia because the autonomous region has remained pro-Russian and opposed unification with Romania. She said Gagauz people do not want to become a Romanian district stripped of its identity. Gagauzia’s People’s Assembly had declared Evgenia Gutsul unable to perform her duties and the leadership post vacant under a court ruling and the autonomy law.
Russian lawmaker Alyona Arshinova said Moldova’s authorities are dismantling Gagauzia’s autonomy and could next use force to resolve the Transnistrian issue. Gagauzia’s parliament removed Evghenia Gutsul from her duties and declared the leadership post vacant under a court ruling and the autonomy law, a move some lawmakers called unnecessarily hasty.
Norway’s King Harald has been admitted to hospital for treatment connected to a blood disease, the royal palace said.
TThe Associated PressOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 13:00
Dmitry Trenin, president of the Russian International Affairs Council, said discussing Europe’s possible role in shaping Eurasian security is premature while Europe remains an epicenter of conflict with Russia. He said the Russia-West confrontation is currently centered in Europe, though future relations with European countries must eventually be defined.
TTASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-08-18 13:00
Polaroid announced a limited-edition Pokémon collection for the franchise’s 30th anniversary, including instant cameras, film, and accessories. Preorders begin August 25 in the US, Canada, and UK, with a global release expected October 5. Designs feature characters including Pikachu, Sylveon, and Snorlax, while some film frames carry Pokémon imagery.
TThe VergeOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-08-18 13:00
Firefox’s Smart Window AI browsing mode can now use current web information through a partnership with Exa and display source links in chat answers. It can also search browsing history in natural language, suggest tab groups, close duplicates, and show visual previews of previously visited pages. The opt-in feature remains in beta, with Mozilla emphasizing user choice and privacy.
TThe VergeOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-08-18 13:00
A Stuttgart court sentenced a Ukrainian man to one year and three months for spying for Russia and preparing a possible sabotage operation. His pre-trial detention counts toward the sentence, so he will be released, while two other Ukrainians in the case were acquitted.
TThe Kyiv IndependentOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 12:55
A Stuttgart higher regional court sentenced a 30-year-old Ukrainian man to one year and three months in prison for intentionally scouting potential sabotage targets for a Russian state entity. Prosecutors said he and two others sent GPS-tracked parcels from Germany to Ukraine to map transport routes. The other defendants were acquitted.
A German court convicted a Ukrainian man on Tuesday over a scheme prosecutors said was linked to Russian intelligence. The alleged plan involved detonating parcels across Europe to cause damage and erode public confidence in security.
Ukraine’s SBU says it detained a suspected Russian agent in Kharkiv Oblast who allegedly registered 27 Starlink terminals in Izium for Russian forces. Investigators say the equipment was intended to coordinate assault units and drone strikes, while the suspect also sought Ukrainian military coordinates for targeting.
TThe Kyiv IndependentOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 12:51
The International Labour Organization says women’s participation in Afghanistan’s workforce has dropped to 5% since the Taliban took power five years ago. It urged action to counter what it described as their “severe exclusion.”
RReutersOriginal★★★☆☆2026-08-18 12:50
The Minutes Reader extension turns the original page into a focused reading view and translates articles and video subtitles on demand. It is in limited beta.