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Perth sculptor Tony Jones has spent a lifetime sailing and collecting boats on the Swan River, an experience that has strongly shaped his art. The 81-year-old is known for public sculptures including Eliza, the swimmer in Crawley Bay, and CY O’Connor riding a horse into the ocean at North Coogee. However, Jones says his work is best understood through its maritime themes, which grew from sailing at Chidley Point as a boy. Boats, navigation markers, sailing motifs and salvaged marine materials recur throughout his sculptures and workshop near Fremantle. Jones’s studio contains sculptures, unfinished projects, old jetty timbers and a large collection of historic wooden Swan River sailing dinghies. He has gathered many of the boats over three decades, valuing them both as reminders of earlier forms of sailing and as beautiful craft objects. Among the most significant are two Sharpies once used by Western Australian sailor Rolly Tasker before and during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Tasker and Malcolm “Huck” Scott sailed Falcon III to Australia’s first Olympic sailing medal, winning silver. Jones’s collaborator and fellow sailor Matt Dickmann is restoring Falcon III and Falcon IV, including timber salvaged by Tasker from an aircraft that flew between Perth and Rottnest Island. To preserve the collection, Jones and a network of friends, neighbours, sailors and volunteers have formed the Swan River Sailing Dinghy Heritage Association. The group hopes to establish a permanent display and restoration centre—ideally a traditional boat shed near the river, operated with a local government, yacht club or the WA Maritime Museum. Supported by a Lotterywest grant for the Sharpies’ restoration, the proposed facility would preserve the Swan River’s sailing and boat-building history while bringing enthusiasts together. The collection remains without a permanent public home, and Jones’s group is still searching for a suitable location.

Adelaide defeated Brisbane by nine points in a fiery AFLW contest at Springfield Central Stadium, winning 5.9 (39) to 4.6 (30). The Crows controlled the opening quarter, keeping the Lions goalless while scoring two goals, but Brisbane responded before half-time through Orla O’Dwyer and Shanae Davison to reduce the margin to two points. The decisive moment came in the third quarter when Brisbane defender Lily-Rose Williamson was penalised for wrapping her arms around Adelaide forward Teah Charlton’s neck inside the forward 50. Charlton converted the resulting free kick, and the Lions were unable to recover until late in the final term. Hannah Munyard and India Rasheed also scored for Adelaide, while Brisbane received late goals from Asher Fearn-Wannan and Catherine Svarc. The defeat left Brisbane with a 2-4 record after losing three of its past four matches. Gold Coast continued its strong season by defeating winless Essendon by 41 points at Windy Hill. The Suns won 7.9 (51) to 1.4 (10), recording their third consecutive victory and moving to fifth on the ladder. Their defence held Essendon scoreless until late in the second quarter, while Anne Hatchard and Charlie Rowbottom were among the contributors. Niamh McLaughlin and Rowbottom led the Suns’ disposals, while Madison Prespakis was Essendon’s standout player despite the Bombers falling to 0-6. Richmond defeated GWS by seven points after surrendering most of a 37-point half-time lead, while West Coast beat St Kilda by 11 points. Richmond’s win kept it level with Gold Coast on victories, whereas GWS dropped to 1-5. West Coast’s success was its second of the season, with Amy Franklin kicking twice and Ella Roberts collecting 25 disposals.

Hawthorn supporters who threw bottles and cans at umpires after the club’s nine-point preliminary-final loss to Brisbane face a minimum five-year ban from AFL matches and the stadium if they are identified. The incident occurred at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after the Lions defeated the Hawks 131-122 on Saturday night. The AFL, Melbourne Cricket Club security and Victoria Police are working together to identify those responsible. The bottle throwing followed an intensely contested finish. Hawthorn supporters were particularly angered by a holding-the-ball free awarded against Jarman Impey in the final minute. Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage then kicked a decisive goal, putting the Lions three points ahead. Several Hawthorn players, including James Sicily, Tom Barrass and Jack Ginnivan, also had a heated exchange with the umpires after the final siren. Sicily and Barrass were later fined $10,000 and $5,000 respectively by the AFL. Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell acknowledged the emotional intensity of the defeat but said objects should not have been thrown onto the field. He argued that supporters could express their passion while behaving responsibly. Victorian Premier Ben Carroll condemned the incident and said those involved should be made an example of, warning that a bottle or can could have caused catastrophic injuries if it struck an umpire. AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko also denounced the behaviour. While recognising the disappointment and frustration of Hawthorn fans, he said throwing projectiles at people was never justified and created risks for players, umpires, security and ground staff. The AFL described the conduct as dangerous and said it had crossed the line, reinforcing that spectator passion does not excuse behaviour that threatens the safety of officials or others.

Alex de Minaur returned to winning form as Australia defeated Poland 3-1 in Brisbane to advance to the penultimate stage of the Davis Cup. De Minaur secured the tie with a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory over Kamil Majchrzak at Pat Rafter Arena, following a dominant win over Maks Kasnikowski the previous day. His strong serving and backhand marked a positive response to his disappointing second-round defeat at the US Open earlier in September. Australia had taken a crucial lead earlier on Sunday when Rinky Hijikata and Max Purcell defeated Poland's Jan Zielinski and Karol Drzewiecki 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 in the doubles. The match was decided by Australia's superior tiebreak play and a single service break in the second set. Purcell, returning from a controversial 18-month anti-doping ban, produced several important points in the tiebreak, including a backhand return and two aces, while Hijikata contributed steady serving and secured the decisive break with a forehand return. The 77-minute doubles victory energized the sold-out Pat Rafter Arena and gave Australia the platform needed to close out the tie. The result was particularly important after Australia's unexpected away loss to Ecuador earlier in the year, which made the meeting with Poland a must-win contest. Despite the victory, Australia has not yet reached the Davis Cup finals. The team must win next year's qualifying round against an opponent yet to be determined before it can progress to the finals in Italy in November 2027.

April Laguros left her husband and three young children in Cebu, Philippines, to move to Coolamon, a small agricultural town in New South Wales, hoping to build a better future for her family. Before arriving, she imagined the town through photographs of its golden canola fields. Instead, she and 14 other Filipino migrants initially encountered an unfamiliar, sparsely populated landscape that April compared to a desert. Coolamon has about 2,000 residents, compared with Cebu’s population of almost one million, and the newcomers’ arrival was a major cultural change for the predominantly white, Anglo-Saxon farming community. The migrants were recruited and sponsored by Coolamon Shire Council to address a critical staffing shortage at Allawah Lodge, the council-run residential aged-care facility. Without additional workers, the lodge risked closing or operating below capacity. The council invested $750,000 to build accommodation for the Filipino employees, while community members worked to help them settle. Residents praised the workers for their care, warmth and companionship. The transition was not entirely easy. Some local residents initially expressed hostility, and Filipino staff have also experienced racist comments from an aged-care resident. The workers say such incidents can be hurtful, but they continue caring for residents, including those who have mistreated them. April says she remained focused on her goal of saving money and bringing her family to Australia. More than two years after her arrival, April reunited with her husband and children in Coolamon. Her husband found work as a welder, and the family now lives together in the town. The experience has moved council general manager Tony Donoghue, who believes the migrant workers helped preserve local aged care while demonstrating that regional communities can offer fulfilling lives. The story concludes with April’s family enjoying the town’s spring canola fields, the landscape she first associated with her new home.

Australia has formally launched its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2029–30 term. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia is in a “pretty strong” position, with Finland currently the only other country nominated for the two available seats. The campaign will be unveiled in New York during the UN General Assembly and will feature a video, brochure and kangaroo logo under the slogan “We listen. We partner. We protect”. The government plans to promote Australia’s role as a middle power, its reputation internationally, its early action on online safety and technology regulation, and its leadership on climate diplomacy as president of negotiations for COP31. Albanese also intends to emphasize Australia’s historical role in helping establish the United Nations and its support for giving smaller and mid-sized countries a voice in global affairs. The election will be decided by secret ballot in mid-2028. Australia will need the support of at least two-thirds of the UN General Assembly, equivalent to 128 votes if all 193 members participate. Australia last served on the Security Council in 2014, when it helped push for an international investigation into the destruction of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine. The article places the bid in the context of criticism facing the Security Council, particularly its difficulty responding to major crises because Russia and China, along with the other permanent members, possess veto power. Albanese accepts that the institution needs reform and greater effectiveness. Foreign Minister Penny Wong argues that a seat would allow Australia to advocate for a rules-based international order amid wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and increasing strategic competition. She says middle powers have a practical role to play in supporting international peace and security.

Australian and international music stars gathered at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena for a sold-out concert celebrating the career and influence of John Farnham while raising funds for head and neck cancer services. The event launched the Lend Your Voice campaign, which aims to raise $1 million for Head and Neck Cancer Australia over the next year. The organisation supported Farnham during his own cancer treatment after he underwent major surgery to remove a tumour from his mouth in 2022. Farnham, 77, was unable to attend because his health has deteriorated in recent months. His family said he now requires continuous oxygen, uses a wheelchair and receives 24-hour nursing care at home. Despite his absence, recordings of his performances were shown throughout the evening, and performers repeatedly described his influence on their careers and lives. Hosted by Richard Wilkins, the concert featured Jessica Mauboy, John Stevens, Jack Jones, Mahalia Barnes and Human Nature performing Farnham songs. His son Rob Farnham sang “Love To Shine” and said his father would be deeply moved by the audience’s support. The program also honoured Farnham’s theatre career, with Kate Ceberano and Jon Stevens performing “Everything’s Alright” from Jesus Christ Superstar. International appearances included Keith Urban, who performed “Burn For You”, Celine Dion, who sang “You’re The Voice” from Paris, and Hugh Jackman, who credited Farnham with inspiring him as a performer. Jimmy Barnes and Mahalia Barnes performed a duet linked to Farnham’s earlier collaboration with Jimmy Barnes. The concert concluded with the performers and 24 bagpipers joining for another rendition of “You’re The Voice”. Fans travelled from across Australia, sharing emotional memories and celebrating Farnham’s lasting cultural impact. Many wore mullets, denim and Farnham memorabilia, describing his music as a source of comfort and inspiration.

Australia’s Rollers have won the men’s IWBF World Championships after defeating Italy 81-57 in the final in Ottawa, Canada. The victory secured Australia’s third world title, following previous championships in 2010 and 2014, and marked the team’s first triumph since 2014. It also completed an unbeaten tournament campaign for the Rollers. Australia controlled the match from the opening quarter and led at every break, responding effectively to every challenge from an Italian side that had also entered the final undefeated. Jaylen Brown was the leading scorer, producing a game-high 28 points in a starring performance. Captain Tom O’Neill-Thorne delivered an outstanding all-round contribution, scoring 20 points while also recording 16 assists and seven rebounds. Bill Latham added important support with 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists. The Rollers’ dominance was reflected in their team statistics. Australia recorded 29 assists compared with Italy’s 19 and held a 35-25 advantage on the rebounds. Their defensive pressure was also decisive: the Australians forced Italy into 13 turnovers while committing only nine themselves. The result reinforces Australia’s status as a major force in international wheelchair basketball and gives the Rollers another world championship after a 12-year wait.

Brisbane Lions captain Lachie Neale has received a one-match suspension for striking Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan during Saturday night’s preliminary final, putting him in danger of missing the AFL grand final against Fremantle. The Lions have confirmed they will challenge the suspension at the tribunal. The incident occurred in the first quarter when Neale approached Ginnivan, who had been wrestling with Lions forward Eric Hipwood, and struck him in the stomach with his left hand. The match review officer classified the conduct as intentional, with medium impact and body contact. Under new AFL guidelines, intentional strikes to the stomach are automatically graded as medium impact, carrying a one-match ban. Neale could argue that his 320-match career without a previous suspension constitutes an “exemplary record”. However, the former “good bloke” defence is no longer available after rule changes following Brisbane forward Charlie Cameron’s successful appeal in 2024. Neale could also seek to have the impact grading reduced, although the article says that would be unlikely. If the suspension stands, it could also mean the 33-year-old has played his final game for Brisbane, with an off-season move to Collingwood reportedly expected. Hawthorn players James Sicily and Tom Barrass were fined $10,000 and $5,000 respectively for abusing umpire Hayden Meyer after the match. They were charged under the AFL’s “other misconduct” provision because the standard fixed penalty for abusive language was deemed inadequate. Their reaction followed a controversial finish in which a holding-the-ball free kick against Hawthorn’s Jarman Impey led to Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage kicking the decisive goal. Hawthorn midfielder Jai Newcombe was cleared over first-quarter contact with Neale, with players having pushed both opponents into one another during the collision. Neale has won two premierships and two Brownlow Medals, and Brisbane will equal the club’s 2001–03 achievement of three consecutive flags if it defeats Fremantle.

A child has died and two other children, all reportedly under five years old, along with a woman in her 40s, are in critical condition after an alleged stabbing in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. Emergency services were called shortly before 1pm after reports of three children and a woman suffering stab wounds inside a vehicle on Waratah Road at Valley Heights, near Springwood. NSW Police said one child was found deceased inside the vehicle. NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the injured children and woman at the scene before taking them to Westmead Hospital and Westmead Children’s Hospital. The article does not identify the victims, and police say their identities have not yet been confirmed. Members of the public were reportedly providing first aid while emergency services were contacted. Police have established a crime scene at the location and said they are not searching for anyone else in connection with the incident. Authorities are asking anyone who was in the area at the time, or who may have relevant information or dashcam footage, to contact police or Crime Stoppers. The report is an early breaking-news account, with an ABC journalist continuing to gather and verify details. It does not provide information about the circumstances leading to the alleged stabbing, any possible relationship between the victims, or a suspected motive. The incident has prompted a significant emergency response involving police, ambulance crews and hospitals, while investigations continue.

Cue began in 1968 after founder Rod Levis identified an opportunity for youthful, London-inspired clothing in Australia during the Beatles era. From its origins selling T-shirts, the company expanded into design and manufacturing, became widely stocked by Myer, and opened standalone stores. During the 1980s, Cue developed its signature tailored suits, which became closely associated with professional womenswear. The brand reached a high point in the 1990s, when supermodel Claudia Schiffer fronted its 1997 campaign and sister label Veronika Maine launched in 1998. By the early 2000s, Cue and Veronika Maine were major Australian fashion brands, sold through their own stores and department stores including Myer and David Jones. Their wholesale business also helped retailers such as Kristen Tassone establish successful fashion agencies. However, the company withdrew entirely from wholesaling by 2008, just before the Global Financial Crisis and a prolonged decline in consumer confidence. The article argues that wider retail disruption—including online shopping, fast fashion, overseas competition, changing work habits and cost-of-living pressures—contributed to the brands’ difficulties, but was not the sole cause. Retail restructuring expert James Stewart says mid-market apparel companies most often fail when their products, pricing, range and brand proposition no longer feel relevant or valuable to their target customers. The shift from corporate clothing to more casual workwear after the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the challenge. Cue and Veronika Maine, once known for anticipating consumer tastes, appear to have lost touch with contemporary shoppers and failed to build a strong aspirational identity through social media. The supplied article ends during Stewart’s analysis, while describing an industry effort to prevent the company from disappearing.

The opposition Coalition has announced a policy called Fuel Price Shield that would halve Australia’s fuel excise when the global Brent crude oil price averages more than US$100 a barrel for two consecutive weeks. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the measure would reduce petrol prices by about 27 cents a litre, or approximately $15 for an average tank, at a time when motorists are facing renewed price increases linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Coalition says the policy would be fully funded by its plan to cut the tobacco excise by 80 per cent. Parliamentary Budget Office modelling estimates that the tobacco measure would generate $8 billion, based on the assumption that lower legal cigarette prices would reduce illegal tobacco sales and encourage consumers to buy taxed products. The Coalition also proposes abolishing the 32-cent-a-litre road-user charge for heavy vehicles, arguing this would reduce transport costs. Treasurer Jim Chalmers rejected the fuel policy as uncapped and unfunded, suggesting it was motivated more by political polling and pressure from One Nation than by economic conditions. The government is not currently considering another fuel-excise reduction, although Chalmers said it had previously shown a willingness to respond to changing economic circumstances. Economists are divided. Chris Richardson described fuel-tax cuts as a poor temporary measure that could increase inflation by leaving more money in the economy, potentially raising prices elsewhere. In contrast, Westpac economist Luci Ellis argued that the previous excise reduction helped contain broader price increases and could be useful in limiting inflationary pressures. The government previously reduced the excise from 52.6 cents to 20.6 cents a litre between April and July, later extending the measure with a smaller discount. The Coalition’s tobacco proposal has also drawn criticism from Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek, who warned that cheaper cigarettes could increase smoking and vaping rates and lead to more deaths.

An 81-year-old man from the Adelaide Hills has been convicted and fined $6,300 for failing to comply with a South Australian order requiring him to permanently ear-tag his domestic deer. The man keeps between 30 and 40 deer on his property and regards them as pets. Under state law, domestic deer older than 12 months must carry identification tags linked to the keeper’s property, including before they are moved elsewhere. A Landscape Officer identified the untagged deer in April 2022 and issued an action order requiring the animals to be tagged by the end of August that year. The man was granted several extensions but still did not comply. The property’s deer-handling facilities had been destroyed in a bushfire and had not been fully restored, creating practical difficulties. The man also made unsuccessful attempts to tag the “flighty” animals, including trying to tranquillise them with assistance from someone associated with Monarto Zoo. He and one of his sons were injured during attempts to handle the deer, and the animals could not be safely approached. The Environment, Development and Resources Court of South Australia accepted that the man had made efforts and had not deliberately refused to cooperate with authorities. However, Senior Judge Michael Durrant ruled that the practical difficulties did not excuse the breach. The man pleaded guilty to one count under the Landscape South Australia Act, which carries a maximum penalty of $25,000. In determining the penalty, the court considered the man’s advanced age, poor health, limited financial means, lack of previous offending and cooperation with authorities. A discount was also applied for his guilty plea. The court ordered him to ensure that all deer over 12 months old are fitted with permanent ear tags by November 30. The judge said the identification system helps manage disease risks, biodiversity impacts, habitat degradation, wildfire management and conservation planning.

The article examines how gig workers around the world are producing “egocentric training” data to help robotics companies teach machines to perform household tasks. This data consists of video and sensor recordings captured from the perspective of a person carrying out an activity, often with a camera mounted on the head or chest and focused on the person’s hands. Mohamad Dunggio, a 23-year-old Indonesian worker, earns between US$3 and US$10 an hour recording himself washing dishes, cleaning, cooking, making beds, ironing, folding clothes and sweeping. Although the work can be repetitive and occasionally embarrassing, he views it as a useful source of income and has learned new skills, including cooking. Robotics professor Dana Kulić explains that household robots need large and varied datasets because homes, objects and task requirements differ significantly. Human-generated egocentric data is cheaper and easier to collect than data produced by robots, and it offers a broad range of real-world scenarios. Contributors now include factory workers, house cleaners and delivery drivers across multiple countries. The article also explores concerns about privacy, informed consent, data resale, pay, withdrawal fees and unexplained account cancellations. Appen executive Sergio Bruccoleri says the company collects about 60,000 hours of video each month from as many as 5,000 contributors. He acknowledges some systems are imperfect and says Appen has fair-pay and privacy policies, although demand is increasingly shifting toward data collected in wealthier countries where robots are expected to be sold. Despite rapid progress in humanoid robotics, Kulić says affordable, reliable household robots remain years away. Demonstrating a single task is very different from performing it consistently for long periods, while maintenance, repairs and the final challenges of dependable operation remain unresolved.

The first national survey of Australians living with dementia and their carers has found major problems with diagnosis, post-diagnosis support and carer wellbeing. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare surveyed 266 people with dementia living in the community and more than 1,600 carers between 2025 and January 2026. Fewer than half of respondents received a diagnosis within the first year, while two in five reportedly waited three years. Delays were linked to difficulties accessing specialists and tests, as well as symptoms being attributed to menopause, stress, depression or other conditions. Experts said some health professionals still treat dementia as an inevitable part of ageing, potentially preventing people from accessing treatment, rehabilitation and opportunities to plan for the future. Support after diagnosis was also inconsistent. About 40 per cent of respondents received no information about available services, and only 16 per cent participated in re-ablement programs designed to help people maintain independence. Fewer than half had assistance from a care coordinator. Dementia Australia has advocated for dementia care navigators, but the federal government rejected funding for the roles in the latest budget. Although nearly half of people with dementia reported high wellbeing, most carers reported low wellbeing, social isolation and feeling overwhelmed. Around 30 per cent spent 70 hours a week providing care, while half said family relationships had deteriorated. Respite care and other support were often difficult to access because of complex application processes, particularly in regional areas. Advocates are calling for better support for carers, improved referral practices and larger future surveys that include people living in residential aged care. The article also provides the National Dementia Australia helpline number for people seeking advice.

Hot, dry and windy conditions are forecast across much of Queensland at the beginning of the week, creating a broadscale risk of grassfires. Some areas are expected to experience temperatures well above the September average, with the Darling Downs potentially recording its hottest September day since 2017. Brisbane is forecast to reach 32–34 degrees Celsius on Monday, around five degrees above average, while parts of the Lockyer Valley could reach 36C. Longreach, Mount Isa and parts of the Channel Country may also experience temperatures between 34C and 37C. The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are expected to be cooler, with maximum temperatures of 28C, while Bundaberg could reach 29C. Forecasts for northern Queensland include temperatures of 28C in Cairns and Townsville, 26C in Mackay and 32C in Rockhampton. Cloud and showers are possible in the far north, while fog patches south of Cairns are expected to clear during the day. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Steve Hadley warned that high temperatures, dry vegetation and changing winds would make fire conditions challenging, particularly in southern parts of the state. Sea breezes could cause rapid changes in wind direction and temperature in areas such as Townsville, complicating firefighting efforts. The warning follows a grassfire near Townsville Airport on Saturday. Fire crews worked through extreme winds and heavy smoke to contain the fast-moving blaze. Station Officer Chris Maguire said volatile and windy conditions fuelled the flames. Wind changes, including sea breezes along the east coast, are expected to continue across Queensland for the next several days.

A 65-year-old man has died and two other people remain in hospital after a house fire in Redhill, in South Australia’s mid-north. Emergency services were called to the property on Hope Street shortly after 7pm on Saturday. Firefighters later found the deceased man’s body inside the home once the fire had been extinguished and the building was safe to enter. A 63-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman were also found suffering serious burns. Both were airlifted to hospitals in Adelaide. Police said the injured man’s condition was believed to be life-threatening, while the woman was in a stable condition. The injured man is from Wirrabara, about 63 kilometres north of Redhill. Detectives allege that the 63-year-old man attended the Hope Street address and deliberately started the fire, in which he was severely burned. Police said he is expected to be charged with murder, attempted murder and arson when his medical condition allows. The anticipated murder charge relates to the death of the 65-year-old man, while the attempted murder charge concerns the other person or people affected by the fire. Police said the incident was not random and that the parties involved were known to one another. The circumstances remain under investigation. Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has relevant CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact Crime Stoppers. The case involves a fatal house fire, serious injuries, an alleged deliberate act and a planned criminal prosecution.

Franco Cozzo, the Italian-Australian furniture retailer whose exuberant television advertisements made him a Melbourne cultural icon, is being remembered through the reopening of his family’s Brunswick showroom. Cozzo became widely known in the 1980s for his animated on-screen presence, the catchphrase “Megalo!” and his distinctive pronunciation of Footscray as “Foot-iz-kraay.” His commercials made him one of the first highly visible Italian-Australian voices on commercial television, at a time when television largely reflected an Anglocentric culture. Cozzo opened his first furniture showroom in North Melbourne in 1959 after working as a door-to-door electrical appliance salesman. He later established a large, three-storey store in Footscray, which closed in 2018 and has since become a brewery. His Brunswick showroom, opened in the mid-1980s, was also a local landmark before closing temporarily. Several of his daughters have now revived the business, reopening the Sydney Road store three years after Cozzo’s death at age 88. The revival fulfils a promise Cozzo’s children made after he expressed doubts that they would continue the family business. His daughter Alessia said the family wants to preserve his legacy and pass the business through future generations. The reopened store includes a room devoted to Cozzo, displaying his furniture and memorabilia. Filmmaker Madeleine Martiniello, director of the 2021 documentary “Palazzo di Cozzo,” said Cozzo’s influence extended beyond retail. His persona has appeared in television programs, comedy parodies and electronic music, helping make him part of Melbourne’s cultural fabric. The family believes demand remains for the distinctive Sicilian baroque-style furniture, which attracts both older Italian migrants and younger customers with a post-modern appreciation of its aesthetic. The reopening is therefore both a retail venture and an effort to preserve a uniquely Melbourne migrant story.

A 50-year-old man has been rescued after falling approximately 30 metres into a rock crevice near San Remo, about 120 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. The incident occurred off the George Bass Coastal Walk in the coastal region at around 2:10pm on Saturday, when emergency services were notified that a man had fallen and become trapped. Rescuers were able to communicate with the man, who reported that he had broken his leg. However, the difficult terrain and a rising tide made it challenging for emergency crews to reach him. A large, coordinated rescue operation was launched involving an Ambulance Victoria helicopter, Fire Rescue Victoria, the Country Fire Authority, the State Emergency Service, Air Wing, the Search and Rescue Squad, Life Saving Victoria and Water Police. Search and Rescue officers eventually entered the crevice to assess the man. He was then winched to safety at approximately 5:30pm by the helicopter. The rescue operation was supported by SES personnel from Wonthaggi, according to the supplied images and captions. The man was flown to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition. His injuries were described as non-life-threatening, despite the reported leg fracture and the significant fall. The incident highlights the difficulties emergency responders can face when working in steep coastal terrain, particularly when access is restricted and tidal conditions are changing.

A new men’s centre has opened in Kalumburu, a remote community in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, to help reduce domestic and family violence and provide support for men who have few dedicated services available to them. The Benyjin Gulaali, or “The Men’s Place”, was developed through collaboration between Kalumburu police and community members. The community is more than 3,000 kilometres north of Perth and has fewer than 400 residents. Police data recorded 46 domestic and family violence incidents in Kalumburu in 2026. In 2025, the community recorded 193 offences against a person, its highest total in a decade. Sergeant Brian Welch, one of only two police officers in the community, said men experiencing distress often had nowhere to go other than the police station, where officers might offer a conversation and a cup of tea to help de-escalate tensions. The centre is intended to provide a safe place for men to talk, receive support, build community connections and eventually access emergency accommodation. It currently opens three mornings a week, but cannot yet accommodate overnight stays because it needs furniture. Community elder Jeremy Kowan said men had previously relied on elders for advice about relationship problems and personal struggles, and welcomed having a dedicated space similar to the centre available to women. The article also highlights overcrowded housing as a major challenge. When police issue restriction orders, alleged offenders may have nowhere to stay and can end up on the streets or returning to their partners. Colleen Zulian of the Kalumburu Strong Women Centre said the lack of support for men contributes to domestic violence and family conflict. She called for more counselling and services. Despite its limitations, the centre has already created employment and generated hope that families can be safer and children will not grow up surrounded by violence.

ABC Sport is providing live coverage of a 2026 NRL semifinal between the New Zealand Warriors and the Newcastle Knights at Auckland’s Eden Park. The match is a knockout contest: the winner will progress to face the Penrith Panthers in Sydney during the following weekend’s preliminary finals, while the loser’s premiership campaign will end. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:05pm AEST, 3:35pm ACST, 2:05pm AWST and 6:05pm NZST. The Warriors have made two late changes to their starting side. Leka Halasima moves into the centres and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak starts on the wing, while Adam Pompey and Alofiana Khan-Pereira move to the interchange bench. Jett Cleary is omitted and Jackson Ford is unavailable after suffering an injury the previous weekend. The Warriors team includes Taine Tuaupiki, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Ali Leiataua, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Te Maire Martin, James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Kurt Capewell, Jacob Laban and Erin Clark. Newcastle is strengthened by the return of State of Origin representative Dylan Lucas, who has recovered from the ankle fracture he sustained against the Roosters in round 21. He is named on the six-man bench. The Knights’ starting lineup features Kalyn Ponga, Dominic Young, Dane Gagai, Bradman Best, Greg Marzhew, Fletcher Sharpe, Sandon Smith, Tyson Frizell, Phoenix Crossland, Cody Hopwood, Jermaine McEwen, Francis Manuleleua and Mat Croker. Ashley Klein is the referee, with Phil Henderson and Tyson Brough as touch judges and Chris Butler as the senior review official. The live blog, written by Michael Doyle, records the team announcements and match information before play begins.

One person has been taken to hospital after a fire broke out in a ground-floor room at the Helping Hand aged care facility on Buxton Street in North Adelaide. The fire service said 34 firefighters from 12 appliances responded to the blaze at about 12:30pm. Emergency crews quickly located the fire and brought it under control within 15 minutes, preventing it from spreading further through the facility. Multiple people called Triple Zero (000) to report the incident. A number of residents were evacuated while firefighters dealt with the blaze. The person occupying the affected unit self-evacuated but was later transported to hospital with a head laceration. Fire and emergency officials said smoke damage had affected some adjacent levels of the building. The affected area was described as the independent-living section of the accommodation, where units have their own 240-volt smoke alarms. Those alarms provide a local warning but are not monitored by the Metropolitan Fire Service. Fire service commander Phil Ross estimated the damage at approximately $200,000. Investigators are examining the cause of the fire. The response was described as effective, with firefighters extinguishing the blaze quickly and containing it to the affected area, although the incident resulted in an injury, evacuations and substantial property damage.

The article examines how popular destinations are responding to overtourism, which occurs when tourism growth creates local problems such as overcrowding, housing shortages, pollution, waste, noise and pressure on infrastructure. It argues that destinations are increasingly moving away from promoting unlimited visitor growth and instead experimenting with measures to manage tourism and protect residents. Amsterdam has stopped investing in traditional tourism marketing and is trying to attract visitors who contribute to the city while discouraging its reputation as a permissive party destination. Barcelona is phasing out more than 10,000 short-term rental licences by 2028, hoping to improve housing affordability and limit tourism growth. Venice has banned large cruise ships from its historic centre after years of community opposition, illustrating how local groups can influence tourism policy. Other destinations are using visitor charges. Japan has tripled its international tourist tax to help fund infrastructure and preserve historic sites. Bali introduced a tourist tax to support environmental and cultural conservation, although the island continues to face waste, flooding and overdevelopment problems. Experts quoted in the article question whether such taxes are effective deterrents, arguing that relatively small fees do not address the underlying causes of overtourism or necessarily guarantee that tourism-related revenue will solve local problems. Bhutan represents a more restrictive model. Since opening to foreign visitors in the 1970s, it has imposed strict conditions, including limits on activities and, more recently, a substantial daily sustainable development fee. Across the examples, tourism experts emphasize that communities should determine the kind and scale of tourism they want, rather than allowing demand and commercial interests to dictate development. The article concludes, in the available text, that there is no single solution: access restrictions, accommodation controls, cruise ship bans and fees are being tested with varying degrees of effectiveness.

The article explains why jet lag occurs and offers practical advice for families travelling across time zones. Jet lag is a temporary mismatch between the body’s circadian rhythm and the local time after rapid travel across multiple time zones. It can cause daytime fatigue, difficulty sleeping, irritability, poor appetite and nausea. Children may experience many of the same symptoms as adults, although limited evidence suggests they may be somewhat less affected, possibly because they produce more melatonin. However, research directly comparing children and adults remains limited. Jet lag is generally worse when travelling east because travellers lose time and must fall asleep earlier according to their body clock. Westward travel is often easier because staying awake later is usually less difficult than going to sleep earlier. Families can begin shifting their sleep schedules before departure, using carefully timed changes to sleep and light exposure, but this approach can be difficult to implement with children and may not be realistic for many households. After arrival, daylight is described as the most effective and accessible tool. Morning light tends to shift the body clock earlier, while late-afternoon or evening light shifts it later, so the timing of exposure should match the direction of travel and the desired adjustment. Families should also adopt local mealtimes quickly and maintain familiar bedtime routines, such as bathing, reading and turning out the lights. Jet lag apps may help if they personalise advice using information about sleep history, schedules, chronotype and itinerary. Melatonin supplements, however, are generally not recommended for adults or children without guidance from a healthcare professional, because taking the wrong dose or using it at the wrong time could worsen jet lag.

A shark expert has criticised the Western Australian government’s decision to issue a catch-and-kill order for the great white shark believed to have killed 63-year-old swimmer Greg James O’Neill at Sorrento Beach in Perth. Culum Brown, a behavioural biologist from Macquarie University’s Ecology and Evolution of Fishes Laboratory, said the chances of locating the specific shark were “slim to none” because white sharks travel vast distances and may already be hundreds of kilometres from the attack site. He said the only definitive way to identify the responsible shark would be to kill and examine it for human remains, questioning whether authorities could realistically capture every white shark along the west coast. WA Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis said the order was justified by the exceptional circumstances of the fatal attack, the hazard posed by the shark and the potential recovery of coronial evidence. Authorities had initially believed they had located the suspected shark but later lost track of it. The victim’s body has not been recovered. Brown argued that the government should instead invest more heavily in shark-spotting drones, which he described as cheaper and more effective than fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. He said drones could allow authorities to intervene before an attack and avoid the bycatch associated with shark nets. The New South Wales government has recently committed an additional $34 million to shark-spotting drones following a shark attack at Sydney’s Coogee Beach. Jarvis said expanded drone deployment along WA’s extensive coastline was under consideration. The government plans to review existing measures, including shark tagging and tracking, notification apps, warning sirens, shark enclosures and personal deterrents. WA Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti backed the catch-and-kill order, while Greens spokeswoman Sophie McNeill called it cruel and ineffective and advocated greater funding for drones, helicopters and shark tagging. DPIRD has placed shark-capture gear about 1.5 kilometres offshore from Sorrento Beach.

An out-of-control bushfire broke out near Seacombe in Victoria’s Central Gippsland region on Sunday afternoon, prompting the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to issue a Watch and Act warning for nearby communities. Residents of Golden Beach, Paradise Beach, Seacombe and, later, Dutson Downs were told to prepare to leave and closely monitor conditions. The fire began near Longford-Loch Sport Road and was moving south-east towards Paradise Beach. The CFA said the situation could change rapidly, with wind speed, wind direction, smoke and visibility all potentially affecting the fire’s behaviour. By 8:30pm, the immediate threat had reduced, but residents were told to remain ready to act, avoid returning to the area and not travel to the fire zone. Loch Sport residents were warned not to travel south along Longford-Loch Sport Road, while people west of the fire were advised to travel towards Yarram or Sale instead. The road was closed at the Seacombe turn-off to prevent people entering the affected area, although residents were initially permitted to leave. Twenty-eight CFA vehicles were attending the blaze by the evening, and air attack support had been requested. The cause of the fire remained unknown. Firefighters continued battling the blaze into the evening, while authorities encouraged residents to leave if conditions worsened or they felt unsafe and to follow updates through the Vic Emergency website.

Tasmania’s fire authorities spent Sunday responding to multiple bushfires as strong winds, warm temperatures and dry air created difficult conditions across the state. Active bushfire and smoke warnings were in place, and residents in affected areas were urged to monitor advice from emergency authorities. The Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) attended fires at Springhill Bottom Road in Colebrook and Pittwater Road at Seven Mile Beach. Regional Fire Controller Scott Vinen said 15 crews and four aircraft were working to contain the Colebrook fire, while multiple TFS crews and Parks and Wildlife Service personnel responded to the Seven Mile Beach fire. He praised firefighters for their work in challenging conditions. The Bureau of Meteorology reported wind gusts above 100 kilometres per hour in several locations. Recorded gusts included 102 km/h in Hobart City, 137 km/h at Scotts Peak Dam, 117 km/h on Bruny Island and 128 km/h at kunanyi/Mount Wellington. The strong winds contributed to damage, including a wooden boat breaking its mooring and washing ashore at Sandy Bay. TasNetworks also reported that thousands of people had lost power. A Bureau severe weather warning forecast damaging winds across areas including St Helens, Swansea, Strahan, New Norfolk, Hobart, Oatlands, Bicheno, Orford and Bothwell. The warning was expected to clear by Monday morning, but authorities cautioned that falling trees, branches and powerlines could pose hazards. The Tasmania State Emergency Service advised residents to prepare emergency kits, check on vulnerable people, secure loose outdoor items, move vehicles away from trees, remain indoors where possible and prepare for possible power, water, phone or internet outages.

The supplied ABC News page is a cricket scorecentre for the third One Day International between Zimbabwe and Australia. At the latest update shown, dated Saturday, 19 September at 4:00 pm, the match was live with Zimbabwe listed at 8/271 and Australia at 5/199. The extract does not identify the innings, current over, venue, toss result, players, or the latest ball-by-ball commentary, so the score display is the main available match information. The scorecentre also records two earlier Australia–Zimbabwe matches. On Monday, 14 September, Zimbabwe made 235 and Australia finished at 8/294. On Thursday, 17 September, Zimbabwe scored 272 and Australia reached 6/356. These entries are marked as final scores and appear to provide context for the ODI series, although the page does not explicitly state the series result or winner. Most of the supplied content is an automatically generated fixture feed rather than conventional news reporting. It includes completed, live, and upcoming matches involving Australian domestic teams, women’s teams, underage sides, South Africa, New Zealand, and other abbreviated teams. Many of these fixtures are unrelated to the Zimbabwe–Australia ODI and appear to be scorecentre navigation or scheduling data. The feed extends from August into November and includes several future Australia fixtures against South Africa. The article’s primary purpose is to provide live scores, match status, statistics, and commentary access. However, the supplied extract contains no narrative analysis, player statistics, quotations, or outcome beyond the displayed scores. Its overall presentation is factual and neutral, with no clear positive or negative emotional framing.

The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, began with a colorful opening ceremony intended to ease mounting criticism over organizational problems. The event welcomed spectators to Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, five years after the Tokyo Olympics were held without fans because of COVID-19 restrictions. However, the ceremony itself was affected by severe weather, with a typhoon approaching eastern Japan and heavy rain having recently flooded parts of Nagoya. Conflicting statements about ticket sales and stadium capacity also raised questions about attendance. The most serious complaints have concerned accommodation and transportation. Instead of a conventional athletes’ village, organizers used hotel rooms, temporary wooden containers, and a cruise ship to house approximately 17,000 athletes and officials. Several delegations, including Japan’s, reported room mix-ups and double bookings. South Korea said the containers were too cramped for its basketball players, while India arranged separate hotel accommodation for its men’s cricket team after receiving too few beds. Indian supporters in Nagoya also offered to house athletes if the shortage continued. International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry nevertheless defended the arrangements and said she was impressed by the accommodation. Transport failures added to the criticism. South Korea’s men’s basketball team missed a scheduled practice after its shuttle failed to arrive, repeating an earlier incident involving the football team. On another occasion, the football team’s bus took them to the wrong stadium, causing a 30-minute delay. The event also faced diplomatic and protocol problems. Taiwan temporarily refused to attend its welcoming ceremony after its sports minister was barred from participating, while South Korea’s men’s hockey team heard North Korea’s anthem before a match against Bangladesh. Despite these problems, Japan won the first gold medal of the Games, with Takumi Hojo taking victory in the men’s individual triathlon.

Australia is seeking cooperation from major technology companies as it prepares to strengthen online safety laws and introduce new artificial intelligence regulations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the appeal during a United States trip that included a meeting with Apple executive chairman Tim Cook at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. Albanese said Australia could not protect children from online dangers by acting alone and welcomed efforts by companies such as Apple to improve child-safety controls. Albanese also called for stronger AI regulation, following serious safety warnings from industry leaders. He said Australia would introduce new AI standards by the end of 2026, arguing that technology should serve Australians rather than control how they live and communicate. The Australian government has proposed legislation requiring companies behind major platforms, including Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, to assume a “duty of care” toward users. The draft laws would also allow people to disable platform algorithms. The legislation is expected to be introduced to parliament later in the year after consultations with technology companies, industry groups and civil society organizations. The opposition Liberal-National Coalition has rejected the bill in its current form. It argues that the proposal does not sufficiently protect freedom of speech and journalism and gives excessive authority to the communications minister. Australia has already taken an internationally significant step by barring children under 16 from social media platforms. The measure was designed to reduce online bullying and exposure to potentially harmful “predatory algorithms.” However, data released the previous month indicated that many under-16 Australians were still using platforms such as Instagram and TikTok despite the ban. The findings highlight the practical challenges of enforcing the country’s online-safety policies and explain why the government is seeking greater cooperation from technology companies.

Police in Lahore have arrested Aleema Khan, the sister of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, one week before his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party plans to hold a protest march demanding his release. A senior police official confirmed the arrest, while an order issued by Lahore’s deputy commissioner authorized her detention for 30 days under Punjab’s Maintenance of Public Order law, which permits preventive detention on public-order or safety grounds. Aleema Khan’s lawyer, Rana Mudassar Umer, said she was taken to an unknown location despite having bail in all of her Lahore cases and described the arrest as illegal. The government had not immediately commented, although Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reportedly said authorities would take all possible steps to stop the planned PTI march. PTI condemned the arrest and called for Aleema Khan’s immediate release, saying she had been detained because she continued to speak publicly about her brother’s detention, alleged solitary confinement, and lack of medical care. The party described her as an elderly woman in her 70s. Imran Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023 following several convictions that PTI says were politically motivated. Most of those convictions have been suspended or overturned on appeal. His health, particularly a problem affecting his right eye, has become a central issue in PTI’s campaign. His sons, Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, told Al Jazeera they were increasingly concerned about his reported agitation and severe anxiety. Although Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered authorities to transfer Khan to Islamabad’s Shifa International Hospital for medical care, officials instead took him briefly to the state-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences before returning him to jail. His party says officials also denied him access to his personal physician, violating the court’s order.

The provided Al Jazeera page is titled “How did the US recall a billion products in six months?” and is identified as part of the “By the Numbers” digital series. It was published on 20 September 2026. However, the supplied content contains only the headline, publication date, and website interface elements such as save and share options. It does not include the video transcript, article body, description, data, or explanations of the product recalls. Because the substantive material is missing, the article’s specific subject matter cannot be reliably summarized. The headline indicates that the report examines how the United States managed to recall approximately one billion products within a six-month period. It may concern the scale, organization, regulatory process, or public-safety implications of large product recalls, but the provided text does not identify the products involved, the agencies responsible, the causes of the recalls, or their effects on consumers and manufacturers. The page appears to be informational rather than opinion-based: the question in the headline suggests an explanatory feature designed to investigate or clarify an unusually large statistic. Nevertheless, any conclusions about the reasons for the recalls, the institutions involved, or their significance would require access to the missing video or accompanying article text. The analysis below therefore distinguishes clearly between what is explicitly present in the supplied content and what is only suggested by the headline.

This Al Jazeera Inside Story video examines the continuing challenge that recurrent bombings pose to Pakistan, particularly attacks attributed to armed groups linked to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban. The discussion follows a suicide bombing at a mosque in a northwestern Pakistani city in which dozens of people were killed or injured. The TTP-linked group claimed responsibility for the attack. The programme places the bombing within a broader pattern of violence that has affected Pakistan for approximately two decades. It focuses on the security and political consequences of repeated attacks, including the difficulty of preventing militant operations and protecting civilians in vulnerable areas. Pakistan’s government says that many of these attacks are launched from locations just across the border in Afghanistan. This accusation has contributed to a serious deterioration in relations between Islamabad and Kabul, adding a diplomatic and regional dimension to Pakistan’s internal security problem. Presenter Rob Matheson leads a discussion with political and security affairs analyst Hassan Khan, Asia-Pacific Foundation senior research fellow Victoria Jones, and Institute for Global Affairs non-resident fellow Sahar Khan. Their examination centers on how Pakistan should respond to the continuing bomb threat and how it might address the cross-border dimension of the violence. The programme therefore treats the issue as both a counterterrorism challenge and a source of tension between neighboring states. It also highlights the persistence of militant violence despite years of security efforts, while inviting analysis of the policies available to Islamabad.

Iran defeated China 79-70 in the men’s basketball bronze-medal game at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, securing a podium finish after China led 31-29 at halftime. Iran took control in the third quarter, establishing a 55-46 advantage, and resisted China’s late comeback attempt in the final period. The victory carried particular emotional weight for the Iranian players, who described the intense pressure they had experienced during nearly six months of conflict and hardship at home. Arsalan Kazemi, Iran’s 203cm power forward and the first Iranian drafted by an NBA team, said he was “speechless” and that the team had played to make the people of Iran happy. He also said Iranian people deserved better and praised his teammates for giving everything on the court. Arman Zangeneh said the team had endured a difficult preparation period, including qualifying matches in the Philippines and challenging living conditions in containers. Despite those difficulties, he said returning home with a medal made the experience worthwhile. The bronze medal also has practical consequences for some members of the squad. Under a policy announced by former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2018, male athletes from national teams who win Asian Games medals receive an exemption from Iran’s mandatory military service. Previously, exemptions were limited to athletes who won medals at the Olympic Games or world championships. Iranian men reaching the age of 18 are generally required to complete two years of active military service before entering the reserve force. The result prompted emotional celebrations among Iran’s players and coaching staff, turning a difficult tournament journey into a significant sporting and personal achievement.

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian man near Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank on September 20, 2026, after alleging that he had attempted to carry out a vehicular attack near the illegal settlement of Ganim, east of Jenin. An Israeli army spokesperson said troops shot the man and that no Israeli forces were injured. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said Israeli forces prevented its medical team from reaching the victim, according to the Wafa news agency. The article also reports a separate deadly incident near the illegal settlement of Halamish in the central West Bank, where an Israeli settler was fatally shot. Police said the 30-year-old man was taken to hospital but later died. According to the military, the suspected attacker opened fire from a vehicle and fled on foot. Security forces reportedly injured and detained the suspect after locating him at a hospital where he had sought treatment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the military and security agencies to increase their presence in the area, conduct arrests and carry out offensive activities. He also ordered the demolition of the suspected attacker’s home. Following the shooting, Israeli forces closed all entry and exit points to the Palestinian cities of Ramallah and el-Bireh, Wafa reported. The incidents occurred amid continuing violence and heightened military activity in the occupied West Bank. The report presents statements from Israeli authorities alongside accounts attributed to the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Wafa, while noting that the Israeli forces reported no casualties among their personnel in the Jenin incident.

The supplied material does not contain the substantive text of the Al Jazeera article. It includes only the headline, “LIVE: Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid – La Liga | Football | Al Jazeera,” along with the repeated placeholder “Advertisement Loading Advertisement.” Therefore, there is no match commentary, score update, lineup information, event timeline, quotations, analysis, or final result available to summarize. The headline indicates that the page was intended to provide live coverage of a La Liga football match between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid, two prominent Spanish clubs. The fixture is commonly known as the Madrid derby, although the supplied text does not explicitly use that term or provide any additional context about the game. The URL identifies the page as an Al Jazeera live blog dated September 20, 2026, but the content provided here does not establish whether the match had started, what the score was, or what significant incidents occurred. The advertisement placeholders appear to be website-loading or extraction artifacts rather than editorial content and have been excluded from the cleaned version. Because the article body is missing, the tone, sentiment, and intent assessments are based only on the headline and page format. The headline has a neutral, informational sports-news style and appears designed to alert readers to live match coverage rather than express an opinion or persuade them. No stronger emotional or evaluative conclusion can be reliably drawn from the available material.

The supplied material does not contain the substantive text of the Al Jazeera live article. It consists only of the headline, URL, and two advertisement-loading placeholders. The headline identifies a live Premier League football match between Fulham and Manchester United, presented as sports coverage by Al Jazeera. It indicates that the page was intended to provide live updates, commentary, or reporting related to the fixture, but no match events, line-ups, score, statistics, player performances, managerial comments, or post-match analysis are included in the provided content. Because the article body is absent, it is not possible to determine the match result, the state of play, notable incidents, or the positions of either club in the league. No claims about the teams, players, venue, competition context, or performance can be responsibly inferred beyond what is explicitly stated in the title. The date embedded in the URL suggests a page date of September 20, 2026, but that date is not independently confirmed by the article text itself. The available material has a neutral, descriptive character. Its primary apparent purpose is to identify a live sports event and direct readers to coverage of it. The advertisement placeholders are website-loading elements rather than editorial content and have therefore been excluded from the cleaned version. Since there are no descriptive or evaluative passages in the supplied extract, sentiment is assessed as neutral and the tone classification is necessarily limited to the headline’s straightforward sports-news framing.

Morocco’s Justice and Development Party (PJD) rose to prominence after the 2011 protests and constitutional reforms, winning 107 parliamentary seats and placing Abdelilah Benkirane at the head of government. It increased its representation to 125 seats in 2016, but Benkirane struggled to form a coalition and was replaced by Saadeddine Othmani in 2017. The party remained in government until its dramatic collapse in the September 2021 election, when it fell to just 13 seats, losing 112, while the National Rally of Independents became the largest party. The article examines the PJD’s attempt to recover, particularly under Benkirane, who has returned as party leader and remains one of Morocco’s most recognisable political figures. His public profile and communication style may generate attention, but the party must convert his personal popularity into broader institutional support. Its 2026 programme contains 467 measures focused on political reform, public services, social protection, employment, economic sovereignty, transparency and anti-corruption efforts. Party representatives say the PJD has learned from its defeat by reorganising its structures, reviewing its record in government and expanding opportunities for young people to participate in politics. However, the party also attributes its losses to electoral corruption, disinformation and unnamed actors who allegedly undermined democratic choice—claims the article distinguishes from independently established findings. A central challenge is the gap between the PJD’s ambitions and the limits of government authority in Morocco’s political system. The party supports the monarchy and seeks change within the existing constitutional framework, where the king retains a decisive role in strategic policy. This creates tensions over issues such as Morocco’s normalisation with Israel, which the PJD opposes even though the agreement was reached while it was in government. The article questions whether the party has developed a clearer understanding of those constraints or could again find its agenda blocked by the powerful interests Benkirane once called “ghosts and crocodiles.”

The article reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared a video showing himself and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, walking through tunnels beneath the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. After the tunnel visit, the couple joined Selichot prayers at the Western Wall. The prayers took place ahead of Yom Kippur, a major Jewish holiday. The report is presented as a brief news update based on material Netanyahu posted on social media. It identifies the locations involved—the underground tunnels, the Old City, the Al-Aqsa compound, and the Western Wall—and describes the sequence of events, but provides no further details about the tunnels, the purpose or circumstances of the visit, or the content of any remarks by Netanyahu or his wife. It also does not include reactions from Palestinian, Israeli, religious, or international officials. The article was published on 20 September 2026. Its central focus is Netanyahu’s public appearance at a politically and religiously significant site, followed by participation in Jewish penitential prayers before Yom Kippur. The headline frames the tunnel tour as the principal event, while the body emphasizes the accompanying religious observance and publication date. The wording remains descriptive and does not explicitly evaluate the visit or discuss its broader political implications.

The article reports the killing of Peruvian journalist and political candidate Susy Aponte Polo, who was known by the nickname “China Polo.” Aponte Polo was shot dead while campaigning for political office. Her death occurred approximately one week after she publicly disclosed that she had received death threats connected to her investigation into a police chief. The headline frames the killing as linked to her threat to expose alleged wrongdoing within the police, while the article’s brief text establishes the timing between her disclosure and her death but does not provide further evidence about the motive or perpetrators. The report presents Aponte Polo’s professional work and political candidacy as central to the incident. It emphasizes that she was not only a journalist but also an active political candidate at the time of the shooting. Her investigation into a police chief, followed by reported death threats, adds a serious context of intimidation and potential retaliation. However, the supplied article does not identify the police chief, specify the allegations under investigation, name any suspects, or describe the response from Peruvian authorities. The story is concise and primarily factual, focusing on the journalist’s identity, her campaign activity, the earlier threats, and the sequence of events leading to her death. Its subject matter gives it an urgent and tragic character, highlighting risks faced by journalists investigating powerful institutions and participating in public life. The publication date listed is 20 September 2026.

Iranian couples are postponing or scaling back marriage plans as war, inflation, sanctions, housing shortages and economic uncertainty make both weddings and independent households increasingly unaffordable. Subhan Dashti and Nadia Sabzi postponed their wedding after the price of basic household goods rose sharply and fighting forced Dashti’s family to leave Tehran. Although Dashti earns considerably more than the average Iranian worker, the couple remains concerned about both costs and the possibility of renewed violence during their ceremony. A recent US strike on a home in southern Iran where a wedding was taking place, which reportedly killed and wounded civilians, has intensified those fears. The crisis is also affecting businesses connected to weddings. A Tehran bridal makeup artist says demand has fallen from several brides per day during the peak season to only a few per week. Customers still use such services, but increasingly choose cheaper packages and eliminate extras. Some couples have postponed their weddings altogether. For newlyweds Pejman and Sanaz, housing costs have become the greatest burden. Rent for their Tehran apartment rose by about 71 percent in one year, while gold they sold to finance the start of their marriage became far more expensive to replace. A mid-range wedding for 100 guests now costs approximately 1.1 billion tomans, more than twice the pre-2025-war estimate. Economist Amir Hossein Mohaddes says couples can reduce wedding expenses but cannot eliminate housing costs. He argues that unpredictability is especially damaging because rapidly changing prices prevent families from planning even a few months ahead. State-backed marriage loans have increased in nominal terms, but their purchasing power has fallen sharply. Bank employee Abbas Derafshi also describes administrative obstacles that prevented him from securing a loan, leaving his plans to marry on hold. The article portrays marriage as increasingly deferred because young Iranians cannot confidently predict the cost or safety of beginning family life.

The article reports renewed incursions by Israeli settlers and politicians into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem during the lead-up to Yom Kippur and Israel’s upcoming general election. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and other Israelis entered the compound, where settlers reportedly performed Jewish prayers and rituals. The Palestinian Jerusalem governorate said that approximately 570 settlers had entered the site by Sunday morning. Hamas condemned the incursions and Israeli excavations beneath the compound, describing them as attacks on Al-Aqsa’s Islamic identity and status. The article also focuses on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to tunnels beneath the Old City and the Western Wall, where he participated in Jewish prayers alongside government ministers and settlers. Netanyahu described the underground site as connected to Israel’s historical and religious existence. The report notes that the tunnels and excavations are especially sensitive because they lie beneath or near the Al-Aqsa compound and have been criticized by archaeologists and the United Nations. Beyond the religious dimension, the article presents the events as politically motivated. Political analyst Ahmed al-Hila argues that Netanyahu is using religious symbolism and displays of sovereignty in Jerusalem to strengthen his position before the election, especially as he trails rival Gadi Eisenkot in polling. The article also connects the visit to Israel’s controversial E1 settlement project, which critics say could separate East Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank and further entrench Israeli control over the city. The report frames the incidents as part of broader tensions over Jerusalem’s status, settlement expansion, excavations, and competing Israeli and Palestinian claims to the city.

Abu Dhabi-based publisher Red Dunes Games has significantly expanded its presence at Tokyo Game Show 2026, advancing from sharing booth space in 2023 to operating one of the largest stands in its section. The company presented nine games, working with developers from Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea and the Netherlands, while using a souq-inspired booth to emphasize its Emirati identity and Abu Dhabi’s culture of hospitality. The showcase included Port of Jumanah, Zozo and the Lost Dreams, Nightmare Circus, Blades of Mirage, LightSup!, Katuba’s Poacher and Hell Heart Breaker. One of the most notable titles was Samurai Pizza Cats: Blast from the Past!, a 2D action RPG developed with Dutch studio Blast Zero. The game revives the 1990s anime Kyatto Ninden Teyandee, known internationally as Samurai Pizza Cats, and received unexpectedly strong interest from Japanese audiences. Red Dunes co-founder Sultan Al Darmaki said the company intends to move into substantially larger games as its capabilities, experience and international network grow. Co-founder Mohamed Al Jneibi said the publisher is deliberately diverse and focuses on playability and game mechanics rather than fitting into a specific category. The company is also working with several established international intellectual properties, though it has not announced details. The article presents Red Dunes’s development as part of broader UAE-Japan gaming ties. UAE ambassador to Japan Shihab Al Faheem highlighted the addition of Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit to Gran Turismo 7, created through a two-and-a-half-year collaboration with Polyphony Digital and supported by Abu Dhabi Gaming and the UAE leadership. Red Dunes executives also discussed the industry’s growing interest in smaller-scope projects, revived franchises and new intellectual properties. The company’s Tokyo presence reflects the UAE’s ambition to build an international gaming industry and place Emirati stories, locations and companies on the global games map.

The National reviews the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple’s first flagship released under chief executive John Ternus. The review finds the phone to be a refined but expensive upgrade, with its biggest advances concentrated in processing power, thermal management and camera technology. The exterior remains very similar to the previous generation, retaining a 6.9-inch display, aluminum unibody construction, Ceramic Shield protection and familiar button placement. The phone is 16 grams heavier, and its slightly larger camera bumps may protrude when used with older cases. Apple has introduced four finishes, including burgundy, while also shrinking the Dynamic Island by roughly one-third and enabling two simultaneous live activities. Performance is driven by the A20 Pro chip, manufactured using a 2-nanometre process. Apple claims CPU performance is up 20 per cent and graphics performance 40 per cent compared with the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The reviewer notices a modest but real improvement in responsiveness. A relocated vapour chamber also appears to improve heat distribution, with the phone remaining cool during extended video playback in hot weather. The review cites benchmark claims that the chip outperforms Intel and AMD laptop processors, though this comparison is presented informally. The most significant upgrade is the camera system. Although the phone retains three 48-megapixel lenses, Apple has added a mechanical variable aperture with four settings, from f/1.48 to f/4.0. This allows users to control light intake, background blur and image sharpness more directly, while potentially producing more accurate subject separation than software-based effects. The camera app can also be customized with frequently used controls, including night mode, timer, styles, shutter speed, white balance, exposure and a histogram. The phone offers up to 45 hours of video playback and faster 60W charging, but the 2TB model costs approximately Dh10,599, making it the first iPhone to exceed Dh10,000. The supplied article ends while beginning to discuss limitations of the variable-aperture system.

Dubai has completed a major upgrade to Oud Metha Road and Al Asayel Street as part of efforts to reduce congestion and improve connectivity in one of the city’s busiest areas. The project, delivered by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), includes four junctions, four bridges, two tunnels and 14 kilometres of additional road. It increases the road’s capacity from 10,400 to 15,600 vehicles per hour and is expected to reduce typical journey times from 20 minutes to five minutes. The scheme forms part of the wider Sheikh Rashid Corridor Development Project, which is designed to support expanding residential, commercial and service areas in Dubai’s historic centre. The upgraded route is expected to serve about 420,000 residents by 2030 and improve access to Zabeel, Al Jaddaf, Oud Metha and Umm Hurair, as well as Latifa Hospital and Al Wasl Club. RTA Director General Mattar Al Tayer described the project as a key infrastructure investment intended to strengthen Dubai’s road network. The road works are part of a broader government programme to expand transport infrastructure in response to population growth. Dubai’s population reached 4.74 million by the end of June, according to the article, after recovering from a slight decline during the Iran war. The emirate has also approved an 80-kilometre, 12-lane motorway connecting Dubai with Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The first phase will cost Dh3.5 billion, run from Al Shanouf Road to Dubai-Al Ain Road, and is expected to reduce travel times by up to 60 per cent. It will carry as many as 24,000 vehicles per hour in both directions and serve more than 3.1 million people. The motorway will include 72 bridges, 17 tunnels and 45 stormwater drainage culverts, with a second phase planned to extend the route to Al Faya Road in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Rail Freight and AD Ports Group have launched a dedicated cargo rail service linking Fujairah Terminals with the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD). The service is designed as an integrated inland logistics solution, allowing cargo arriving at Fujairah to travel directly by rail to ICAD, where customers can access customs clearance, inspection and cargo-release services closer to their warehouses, factories and markets in Abu Dhabi. ICAD has been assigned its own United Nations Location Code (UN Locode), enabling shipping lines, freight forwarders and cargo owners to book it directly as a destination and customs-clearance point. The partners say the arrangement will reduce reliance on road transport, shorten delivery distances, simplify logistics procedures and improve the efficiency and resilience of supply chains for importers, exporters, manufacturers, distributors and logistics companies. Etihad Rail Freight Chief Executive Omar Alsebeyi described the route as an important step in unlocking the UAE National Rail Network’s potential, while Saif Al Mazrouei of AD Ports Group said stronger links between ports and industrial centres would give businesses more flexibility and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s role as a trade gateway. The launch is the latest development in Etihad Rail’s freight programme. In April, the operator transported Nissan vehicles from Fujairah to Abu Dhabi in partnership with Al Masaood Automobiles, marking the UAE’s first commercial car shipment by rail. The article also reports continued expansion of passenger services, including new stations at Dubai Al Yalayis and Al Dhaid, followed by stations in Madinat Zayed, Liwa and Al Dhafra. University City Station in Sharjah is expected to complete the current 10-station plan, while a second Dubai station is also being considered for connection to the future Dubai Metro network.

Real Madrid defeated Olympiacos Piraeus 93-89 at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena to win the inaugural EuroLeague SuperCup, taking some revenge for their loss to the Greek side in the 2025/26 EuroLeague championship final in Athens. Madrid established a 24-15 lead in the first quarter but faced a difficult third quarter as Olympiacos intensified its defense and narrowed the gap. The Spanish team recovered in the final period to secure the victory before a packed crowd that included former Real Madrid football stars Gareth Bale and Marcelo. Walter Tavares was named tournament MVP after contributing six points and seven rebounds in the final. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot added 12 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Facundo Campazzo scored seven points, collected five rebounds and delivered nine assists. Coach Pedro Martinez praised his players’ mentality, acknowledging that Madrid struggled during Olympiacos’s third-quarter surge but remained composed and finished strongly. Campazzo said the team had worked hard for the trophy and believed the victory would provide confidence as the season progressed. Earlier, Fenerbahce secured third place by beating Dubai Basketball 85-77. Dubai briefly took the lead after a strong third quarter, but Fenerbahce responded late, inspired by Wade Baldwin. Talen Horton-Tucker led the winners with 23 points. The article also reports on possible cooperation between the NBA and EuroLeague. EuroLeague CEO Chus Bueno said the organization had not received a formal proposal from the NBA regarding a partnership, despite continuing speculation about an NBA Europe project and reports that the NBA could seek a majority stake. Bueno said the EuroLeague remained open to evaluating any concrete offer and exploring collaboration that could help develop European basketball.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned of growing divisions within the country’s political establishment over how to manage the conflict with the United States. The disagreement, he said, is not fundamentally about abandoning Iran’s policy of resistance, but about how military pressure and diplomacy should be combined. Speaking to parliament, Mr Ghalibaf criticized two opposing approaches. The first rejects interaction and diplomacy without offering a clear path to ending the conflict, potentially pushing Iran into attritional and endless war. The second, he said, underestimates Iran’s national strength and advocates surrendering to unilateral American demands. He described both positions as strategic errors that could weaken the country. Ghalibaf has defended negotiations as a practical tool rather than a sign of retreat. In an earlier open letter responding to criticism from Hossein Shariatmadari, the hardline editor of Kayhan, he argued that negotiations are neither inherently good nor inherently bad. Instead, they should be used when they serve Iran’s national interests, protect its rights and consolidate what he calls the gains of resistance. His position is summarized by the phrase: “Talk when necessary, and fight when necessary.” The internal debate has also become linked to the future of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has discussed arrangements with Oman to restore some commercial traffic, while officials disagree over how extensively the strait should be used as economic leverage and how much damage a prolonged closure would cause Iran itself. Supreme National Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei has taken a harder line, warning that Tehran could halt all oil exports if economic pressure continues. Ghalibaf said both competing strategies could ultimately lead either to a prolonged crisis or to concessions to the United States. His remarks indicate that Iran’s leadership is debating the methods and costs of resistance rather than whether resistance should end.

The article examines how artificial intelligence is simplifying and automating the financial aspects of travel, which traditionally involve multiple currencies, payment systems, bookings and fraud risks. AI is being applied to fraud detection, foreign-exchange optimisation, real-time spending controls and personalised payment experiences. Travel companies and payment platforms are moving away from static fraud rules toward behavioural analysis. Systems such as Adyen’s AI-driven risk engine assess how customers and businesses typically transact, identifying unusual behaviour while reducing false declines for legitimate purchases. This is significant in an industry that the International Air Transport Association has estimated loses at least $1 billion annually to payment fraud. AI is also being used to predict currency movements and advise travellers when to make foreign-currency payments. Other developing applications include automated micro-budgeting, which alerts travellers before they overspend or sets aside small amounts during a trip, as well as biometric “invisible checkout” systems that complete multicurrency payments without requiring a physical card. The article highlights the rise of agentic AI, which can manage the entire travel process rather than simply recommend destinations. Tools such as Trip.com’s TripGenie are designed to compare options, manage bookings and use real-time travel inventory. Future systems could independently handle discovery, booking, payment, seat and room preferences, airline loyalty choices and dietary requirements. Experts quoted in the article believe this technology will soon become widespread in the UAE. Salesforce research indicates that 80 per cent of UAE organisations plan to use AI agents by 2027, while the government intends to embed agentic AI in half of its services and operations within two years. Overall, the article presents AI as shifting travel payments from a reactive source of anxiety to a proactive, largely automated service.

Iraq’s First Iraqi Bank (FIB) has grown from a digital banking start-up into a major force in the country’s shift away from cash. Since launching its digital application in April 2021, the privately held Islamic bank has attracted about 1.3 million customers, around 90 per cent of whom were previously unbanked. It now serves approximately 30,000 merchants and has expanded beyond the Kurdistan region into Baghdad, Basra, Najaf and Nineveh. Founder Kawa Junad says the bank initially faced a “chicken and egg” problem: consumers needed merchants to accept digital payments, while merchants needed customers to justify adopting them. FIB addressed this by recruiting both groups directly and building a network of about 3,000 small and medium-sized businesses during its first year. Physical branches have also helped reassure customers despite the bank’s digital-only operating model. QR payments have become the main driver of growth. FIB reported that digital payment transactions increased by more than 85 per cent between 2024 and 2025 and by more than 70 per cent during the first half of 2026. Some businesses that once operated almost entirely with cash now receive only about 20 per cent of payments in cash. Most new users are aged 18 to 35, reflecting strong adoption among younger Iraqis who increasingly use smartphones for payments and money transfers. The bank says roughly 30 per cent of its customers now use broader services, including savings, credit and salary accounts. Its next priority is digital lending, particularly for SMEs and people historically excluded from formal credit. Junad expects lending to become a significant part of FIB’s business by the end of 2026 or early 2027. The expansion comes as the Central Bank of Iraq introduces regulations and licenses new digital banks, supporting financial inclusion and modernization in an economy where informal cash transactions remain widespread.

Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick and supplied an assist as Trabzonspor defeated defending Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray 4-0 at Papara Park on Saturday. The result gave Galatasaray their first league defeat of the season, although they remained three points ahead of fifth-placed Trabzonspor in the standings. Salah opened the scoring in the fourth minute after running through from midfield and calmly finishing. He then created Trabzonspor’s second goal in the 39th minute, setting up Noah Saviolo for a finish inside the penalty area. Salah scored again four minutes later, converting from a Franculino Dju assist to give the hosts a 3-0 lead at half-time. He completed his hat-trick in the 80th minute after running more than half the length of the pitch before applying a trademark side-foot finish. The match also saw Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk sent to the stands in the 71st minute, while Lesley Ugochukwu was shown a red card in the 87th. Thomas Reis, who took charge of Trabzonspor earlier in the week following Fatih Tekke’s departure, praised Salah but emphasized the contribution of the entire team in creating opportunities for the forward. Salah joined Trabzonspor during the summer after nine years with Liverpool. The 34-year-old Egyptian has now scored seven goals in six Turkish league appearances. Trabzonspor have collected 10 points from six matches, but their domestic success comes after they were eliminated from the Europa League play-offs following a heavy defeat by Hungary’s Ferencvaros.

The article profiles Catherine McEvoy and her family’s rented four-bedroom villa in Layan, a gated Mediterranean-themed community in Dubailand, Dubai. McEvoy, who owns an events company, lives there with her husband Ian, their two daughters, a long-serving nanny and four rescue pets. The family pays Dh200,000 ($54,454) a year for the property, which includes four bedrooms, a maid’s room, four bathrooms, spacious living areas, a balcony and a double garage. The McEvoys have lived in the UAE for 14 years and have rented homes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. They previously spent a decade in a villa in Al Waha before moving to Layan two years ago. Although the current rent is higher, they consider it good value because the villa has new air-conditioning units, included maintenance and service contracts, and the security of dealing with Dubai Properties rather than an individual landlord. The location was important because it is close to the children’s school, the family’s friends and McEvoy’s office. The small community has a swimming pool, gym, padel court, football pitch, supermarket and beauty spa, while additional shops, restaurants and cafes are nearby. McEvoy particularly values the ability to walk or cycle around the neighborhood, though she would like more restaurants and bars within walking distance. The family has made the rental feel like a permanent home by reusing and reupholstering furniture, buying second-hand items and transferring their entire established garden—including five mature trees—from their previous property. Rather than purchasing in Dubai, the couple invested in property in the South of France, prioritizing flexibility. They plan to remain in the Layan villa until they eventually leave Dubai.

A senior Iraqi police colonel was wounded twice while leading a raid against suspected drug dealers in northern Thi Qar province in southern Iraq, according to the Interior Ministry. The officer was shot in the abdomen and leg after two suspects opened fire on the anti-narcotics force, triggering an armed clash. He was taken to hospital, underwent successful surgery and was reported to be in stable condition. The two suspects were also wounded. The operation resulted in the seizure of one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine, a Kalashnikov rifle, ammunition magazines and five hand grenades. The colonel’s identity was not released. The incident comes as Iraq faces a growing drug-trafficking and consumption problem. Since the 2003 US-led invasion, the country has shifted from being primarily a transit route for drugs heading to neighbouring states to becoming a major domestic market. The Health Ministry identifies crystal methamphetamine as the most widely abused drug in Iraq, followed by Captagon. Tramadol, heroin and hashish are also prevalent. Iraqi officials have attributed the expansion of the drug trade to previous government inaction, corruption within security forces, porous borders and inadequate co-operation between government agencies. Authorities have launched anti-drug campaigns, sometimes in partnership with Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon. Iraqi and foreign dealers have been arrested, while drug seizures reportedly take place almost daily. The clashes underline the risks faced by Iraqi security forces as they attempt to confront increasingly entrenched narcotics networks.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, has expanded the Rashid Villages humanitarian project from Kenya to Zanzibar in memory of his late brother, Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed. The announcement was made on September 20, 2026, marking the 11th anniversary of Sheikh Rashid’s death. The initiative is designed to support underprivileged families by providing housing, education, healthcare, social services, vocational training and renewable-energy infrastructure. The first Rashid Village, currently being developed across approximately seven hectares in Kenya, includes furnished homes, a school serving 320 pupils, digital-learning facilities and a health centre. It was launched on September 19, 2025, to mark the 10th anniversary of Sheikh Rashid’s death and to continue his humanitarian legacy. The new Zanzibar village will contain furnished homes, a mosque, shops, sports grounds and sustainable energy systems. Its design is intended not only to provide immediate assistance but also to promote long-term community development and economic activity. Training programmes will help residents establish small businesses and develop independent sources of income, supporting the project’s broader goal of self-reliance. Sheikh Hamdan said the project reflects Sheikh Rashid’s generosity and commitment to helping others. He said the villages would give families the stability, opportunities and support needed to build better lives, adding that a person’s true legacy is measured by the lives they improve and the opportunities they create. The Supervisory Committee of Rashid Villages will oversee the Zanzibar project, monitor progress in Kenya and support possible expansion into additional communities. The article presents the initiative as a continuing humanitarian campaign combining memorialisation, social development, education, healthcare and environmental sustainability.

The Wadi is a planned Dh6 billion mixed-use residential community on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi’s Yas Canal area. Developed by Cosmo Developments, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi-based Flag Holding Group and Reportage Group, the project will occupy a 140,700-square-metre site and include 3,950 homes, a hotel, commercial areas, recreational facilities and sports amenities. Reportage Group will manage the project’s development, delivery and long-term operations. The residential units will range from studios to one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Development is expected to proceed in phases, with the first two buildings, E1 and E2, providing 530 apartments. E1 will contain 383 homes across 10 floors, while E2 will have 147 apartments across eight floors. Handover for the first phase is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2030. The Wadi’s design is inspired by the UAE’s natural wadis and the movement of water through valleys. Its canal-side setting will feature landscaped outdoor spaces, waterfront areas and a nature-focused environment intended to connect residents with Yas Canal. The project will be approximately five minutes from Zayed International Airport, nine minutes from Ferrari World Yas Island and 23 minutes from central Abu Dhabi. The development is being launched as Yas Island undergoes major expansion. Disney is planning its first Middle Eastern theme park resort on the island, with Miral developing the waterfront resort and Walt Disney Imagineering overseeing creative design and operations. Sphere Abu Dhabi, a planned $1.7 billion venue with capacity for up to 20,000 people, is expected to be completed by the end of 2029. Warner Bros World Yas Island is also due to receive a Harry Potter expansion in 2029, increasing the indoor park’s size by almost 50 per cent. These projects form part of Miral’s longer-term Yas Island development pipeline through 2040.

The article previews the UAE’s major outdoor attractions reopening for the 2026–27 winter season as temperatures begin to cool. Several popular destinations in Dubai will return in October after their annual summer closures, including Dubai Parks and Resorts, Dubai Miracle Garden, Dubai Safari Park and Global Village. Hatta Resorts and Wadi Hub will open earlier, on September 28, beginning their ninth season with restored heritage trailers, refreshed accommodation and new Premier Lodges featuring private plunge pools. A later addition, Caravan Hatta by Our Habitas, will offer trailer accommodation overlooking Hatta Dam. Dubai Parks and Resorts will reopen on October 7, bringing back Motiongate Dubai, Real Madrid World, Legoland Dubai and The World of Riverland after a closure of more than six months. New offerings include bowling and Lamborghini racing simulators at Riverland. Dubai Miracle Garden follows on October 8, with its expansive floral displays expected to return across the 72,000-square-metre site. Dubai Safari Park reopens on October 12 with a wildlife-conservation theme, 144 animals born during the previous season and a new private Royal Safari Experience. Global Village begins its 31st season on October 14 and will remain open until May 2027. Visitors can expect cultural pavilions, street food, shopping, live entertainment and as many as 200 rides and games. Previous attractions such as Gardens of the World, Dragon Kingdom and The Little Wonderers are expected to return, although the full new-season programme has not yet been announced. The article also highlights the Liwa International Festival in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region, returning on December 11 with motorsports, heritage activities and family entertainment around Tal Moreeb. Together, the reopening schedule signals the return of the UAE’s winter outdoor leisure and tourism season.

The article reports on UAE restaurants that have reopened or are preparing to reopen in 2026 after temporary closures, renovations, relocations, operational changes or changes in ownership. It places these developments within an unusually uncertain year for the Emirates’ hospitality industry, where regional instability, shifting visitor numbers and changing dining habits have affected restaurant operations. Among the prominent reopenings is Scalini Dubai at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. The Italian restaurant has retained its blue-and-yellow identity while adding Mediterranean-inspired interiors, a redesigned veranda and a refreshed menu from executive chef Francesco Cortorillo. Indonesian restaurant Andaliman has relocated from a poolside setting to the 24th floor of The Link at One&Only One Za’abeel, offering city views, Indonesian dishes and a tableside Sambal Trolley. Bollywood-inspired Hitchki has reopened at Novotel Dubai Gold District under Phoenix Hospitality Group, with updated interiors, a revised menu, live entertainment and a new shisha lounge. Coya Abu Dhabi also returned in August after kitchen upgrades, offering Peruvian cuisine influenced by Japanese, Chinese and Spanish flavours. Tattu Dubai has reopened across Levels 74 and 81 of Ciel Dubai Marina. Its return includes the restaurant’s signature design elements, a sunset bar and panoramic views, as well as new offerings such as a weekday business lunch and daily sunset service. Shimmers at Jumeirah Mina Al Salam has resumed dinner service, with lunch scheduled to return on October 1. Finally, Michelin-starred Hakkasan at Atlantis The Palm is scheduled to reopen on September 23 under executive chef Andy Toh, bringing back its signature Cantonese dishes alongside a new drinks menu. The supplied article text ends during the Hakkasan section and does not include the remainder of the restaurant list.

The UAE has delivered another 781 tonnes of humanitarian aid and nine water tankers to the Gaza Strip, according to the report. The supplies, which include food and shelter materials, were transported this week in four convoys comprising 57 lorries. They were prepared at the UAE Humanitarian Aid Logistics Centre in Al Arish, Egypt, before being sent into Gaza. The latest delivery forms part of a broader UAE humanitarian campaign launched after the Gaza war began in October 2023. Since then, the UAE has sent 14,290 lorries carrying 136,439 tonnes of aid. In August, the country marked more than 1,000 days of continuous support and reported providing aid worth over Dh14.2 billion ($3.89 billion). The assistance has included the establishment of a floating hospital in Egypt and two medical centres in Gaza. The UAE has also transported thousands of patients, including people with cancer and war-related injuries, to the Emirates for treatment. Its latest shipment of water tankers is intended to help meet civilians' basic needs amid the continuing humanitarian crisis. The article places the aid effort against the wider consequences of the conflict. Israeli tallies say Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023 killed 1,200 people in Israel and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Gaza health authorities report that more than 73,700 Palestinians have been killed during Israel's military campaign. Although a US-backed ceasefire in October 2025 stopped large-scale fighting, Israeli strikes have continued and there has been limited progress towards a permanent peace agreement. The report also highlights the UAE's Step of Hope programme, launched in June to assist civilians who lost limbs during the war. The initiative has provided prosthetic limbs to dozens of Palestinian amputees.

The article reports that the value of goods moving through the Sharjah-Oman logistics corridor increased by more than 66 percent during its first three months, reaching Dh1.7 billion ($463.21 million). The corridor was launched on May 17 by the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority in partnership with Oman Customs to facilitate seamless cross-border shipments and provide UAE businesses with access to Omani ports. The growth comes as the continuing Iran war has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a route that previously carried about one-fifth of global oil and gas flows. The waterway has remained effectively closed for seven months because of reduced vessel traffic and attacks on commercial shipping, disrupting energy, commodities and wider supply chains. As a result, road transport has become increasingly important for moving goods between the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia. During the corridor’s first three months, more than 34,000 truck movements were recorded and over 32,000 customs declarations were processed. The route links Sharjah and other UAE ports with Oman’s Sohar, Duqm and Salalah ports through the Khatmat Malaha and Al Madam border crossings. It offers businesses alternative sea-land routes, shorter cargo journeys, fewer handling stages and more flexible logistics options. Mohammed Al Raisi of the Sharjah Ports, Customs and Free Zones Authority said the project was intended to be more than a transit route. He attributed the early increase in trade flows, customs activity and participating customers to rising demand for integrated logistics services. Sharjah Customs described the results as evidence that the corridor’s sea-land logistics model is improving supply-chain efficiency and supporting smoother trade flows.

Venezuela has signed a memorandum of understanding with France’s TotalEnergies as part of a broader effort to attract foreign investment and revive its oil and gas industry. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez oversaw the agreement’s signing in Caracas between Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, and a TotalEnergies unit. PDVSA President Héctor Obregón and TotalEnergies Senior Vice President for the Americas Francisco Javier Rielo signed the pact. The government described it as an energy co-operation agreement, but did not disclose its scope, financial value or specific projects. Rodríguez has argued that amendments to Venezuela’s hydrocarbons law, approved earlier in 2026, create a legal framework capable of attracting new investors. The TotalEnergies agreement follows several other deals involving international energy companies since Nicolás Maduro was removed as president in January. Chevron plans to invest $7 billion to double Venezuelan production to 600,000 barrels per day over seven years, while North American Blue Energy Partners has proposed investing as much as $100 billion in 17 oil projects. Venezuela is also opening its natural gas sector. Abu Dhabi-based XRG entered the market in August after receiving a licence for the offshore Loran gasfield, where it became an equal-interest partner with BP and Qatar’s UCC. The second phase of the project holds more than 4 trillion cubic feet of proven gas resources. The agreements coincide with Washington’s efforts to expand its role in Venezuela’s energy sector. US President Donald Trump has said a deal with Caracas would give an American-backed venture control over roughly 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil reserves and could help replenish the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Analysts caution, however, that restoring production will take years because of prolonged underinvestment and the technical and financial challenges of processing Venezuela’s extra-heavy crude. The country has approximately 303 billion barrels of proven crude reserves, the world’s largest total.

A 93-year-old woman accidentally drove her SUV into the crowded outdoor dining area of Meg’s Grill in Lavallette, New Jersey, on Saturday morning, killing one person and injuring seven others. The crash occurred shortly after 11 a.m. as the woman was reportedly attempting to park. According to a report cited by the New York Post, she mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, causing her Buick Encore to cross the restaurant’s patio and strike the building. A 56-year-old woman from Toms River died in the crash. The elderly driver sustained minor injuries, while the seven other injured people were transported to a hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available. Restaurant employees were reportedly not among the injured. The collision also damaged the façade of a neighboring liquor store, although Meg’s Grill did not suffer major structural damage. The restaurant announced that it would remain closed through Sunday and Monday following the incident. In a Facebook statement, Meg’s Grill expressed sympathy for those hurt and asked the public to keep the victims and their loved ones in their thoughts. The report provides no further information about the cause of the driver’s apparent pedal mistake, the identities of the victims, or the injured people’s medical conditions.

A Michigan collector who paid $30 for a painting at an estate sale has discovered that the work is a significant, authenticated painting by American Surrealist Gertrude Abercrombie. Titled Alderman Merriam’s Shells and dated 1951, the painting had disappeared from public view for roughly 75 years. It is now estimated to sell for $150,000 to $250,000 at Freeman’s Post-War & Contemporary Art auction in New York on October 1. The collector, who typically looks for vinyl records and mid-century furniture, noticed the painting in a dark hallway leading to a garage. The signature “abercrombie ’51” prompted the $30 purchase. The work was authenticated after the collector encountered an archival photograph of it in the catalogue for a Milwaukee Art Museum exhibition and contacted Abercrombie scholar Dr Susan Weininger. The painting has a documented history. Abercrombie gave it to Kalamazoo physician Dr John Reynolds in 1952 in exchange for medical services. It remained with Reynolds and his family before resurfacing at the Michigan estate sale. It had previously appeared in six exhibitions in Chicago, New York, Milwaukee, and Evanston during 1952 and 1953. The composition depicts seashells arranged on a slate-gray surface, with another shell suspended against a black wall. The shells belonged to Chicago alderman Robert Merriam and reflect a recurring subject in Abercrombie’s work. Their unusual details also provide evidence that some of her later shell paintings were based on direct observation rather than invention. The discovery comes amid renewed interest in Abercrombie, whose work was overlooked for decades. Since a 2018 Karma gallery exhibition and subsequent museum shows, her auction market has grown sharply. Her 1950 painting Message for Mercy sold for more than $1 million last year, and her annual sales have repeatedly exceeded $3.5 million. Freeman’s auction will also include works by Henry Moore and Alice Neel, along with pieces from the Rosenthal Collection.

Scudder Preserve, a 90-acre property in the Navesink section of Middletown, New Jersey, has opened to the public as a free nature preserve following decades of conservation efforts by landowners Richard and Elizabeth Scudder. The property features mature forests, wetlands, ponds, meadows, historic buildings, nature trails and the Claypit Creek stream corridor. Its notable natural features include a state-designated 201-year-old tulip tree, rare American chestnuts, large white oaks and diverse wildlife. The preserve was officially accredited in July as a Level I Arboretum by ArbNet, placing it within an international network focused on tree conservation and education. Connecting Habitats Across NJ has also identified the property as important core wildlife habitat that helps maintain ecological connectivity across the state. The Scudders spent more than 40 years protecting their land from development. They first donated partial conservation easements to the Monmouth Conservation Foundation. By 2012, after Richard Scudder’s death, the couple had donated the entire property to New Jersey Audubon, which transferred it to the Monmouth Conservation Foundation in 2024. Conservation easements held jointly by the foundation and D&R Greenway Land Trust will protect the property’s ecological future. The foundation is using the preserve as a living laboratory for restoring native plants, improving forest and meadow health, controlling invasive species, protecting water quality and preparing for climate change. Planned and completed projects include trail improvements, plant-identification signs, a forest stewardship plan, stormwater bioswales, a native-plant rain garden and renovation of the Scudder homestead for offices and educational programs. Funding includes a $500,000 state-related grant and a $1 million anonymous donation. MCF offers free hikes, birdwatching, butterfly-tagging events and other conservation programs. The preserve is intended to combine environmental education, historic preservation, horticulture and public access, especially for children and underserved communities.

A proposed federal bill would transfer 18,626 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in Oregon’s Siuslaw National Forest to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. Introduced on September 17 by Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Andrea Salinas, the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act would place the acreage into tribal trust if enacted. The land is near the Tillamook-Yamhill county line, east of Hebo and close to the Grand Ronde community. Although ownership would change, the legislation would preserve public access for recreation, including hunting, fishing and other activities. The tribe could temporarily restrict or regulate access for public safety, administrative needs, fish and wildlife management, or emergencies. The bill has not yet passed and no transfer has occurred. The proposal is rooted in the tribe’s history of land loss and federal termination. The Western Oregon Termination Act of 1954 ended federal recognition and the federal trust relationship with the Grand Ronde Tribe, leaving its members effectively landless in their homeland for decades. Federal recognition was restored through the Grand Ronde Restoration Act in 1983, and an 9,811-acre reservation was established in 1988. Subsequent legislation expanded it to 10,120 acres. Grand Ronde currently manages about 16,000 acres through its Natural Resources Department. Tribal officials say the additional land would support forestry, wildlife conservation, recreation, timber production and wildfire resilience, while helping rebuild the reservation, community and economy lost through termination. The bill has the support of Oregon lawmakers, the Grand Ronde, Tillamook and Yamhill county governments, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and conservation and land-management organizations. Supporters describe it as a measure to strengthen tribal self-determination, restore ancestral lands and create regional economic opportunities while maintaining public use of the forest.

Alberta, Canada’s largest oil-producing province, is preparing for an October 19 vote on whether its government should begin the legal process for a future binding referendum on separation from Canada. The vote would be non-binding and would not make Alberta independent; instead, it would launch a potentially lengthy constitutional and political dispute. Supporters of independence argue that Alberta contributes disproportionately to Canada’s economy while Ottawa controls key decisions involving the province’s resources and collects federal revenues. The article traces the separatist argument primarily to Alberta’s energy industry. Oil and gas accounted for 22% of the province’s GDP in 2023, and Alberta’s oil sands contain some of the world’s largest hydrocarbon deposits. The United States is the main market for Canadian crude, strengthening the perception among separatists that Alberta’s economic interests are more closely connected to the US than to central Canada. Frustration intensified during Justin Trudeau’s premiership over pipeline disputes, carbon pricing, environmental regulations and restrictions on energy projects. Federal transfers and equalization are another source of resentment. Premier Danielle Smith has argued that Albertans should not have to subsidize other parts of Canada. However, the article notes that Alberta does not receive equalization payments, and that determining whether it is a net contributor depends on how taxes, federal spending and national programs are calculated. The article also emphasizes the practical difficulties of independence. Alberta would need to negotiate over pipelines, ports, trade agreements, currency, debt, pensions, federal programs and access to markets. Its landlocked geography would make relationships with both Canada and the United States essential. Donald Trump’s repeated references to Canada as a potential “51st State” and his America-first energy agenda add an unusual international dimension to Alberta’s debate.

A 26-acre forest in southwest Atlanta that was long closed to the public is moving toward redevelopment as a public park after years of community organizing. Renette Scott, a teacher at Therrell High School, spent years warning students not to enter the woods near the school because the area was inaccessible and closed. She did not initially know that the city of Atlanta owned the property. The land, known as Falling Water Park, was purchased by Atlanta in 2004 and designated a “park-in-holding.” This classification protected the greenspace but did not make it available for public use. Scott eventually joined residents, the nonprofit Park Pride and city officials to advocate for opening and developing the property. The effort became the Friends of Falling Water Park, a community group that organized meetings, surveys and other activities to build support. The city has now received a $2 million state grant for the project and will contribute another $1 million, creating a total of $3 million in funding. Proposed improvements include trails through the forest, a fishing and birdwatching boardwalk, educational wildlife signs and outdoor recreation areas. The plans also encompass Mount Gilead Lake, which community members believe could become a destination for fishing, birdwatching and relaxation. Residents say formal development could help remove invasive or unnatural overgrowth while preserving the area’s native Georgia landscape. Scott views the park as part of a broader effort to address economic hardship, limited greenspace and housing challenges in the surrounding community. She emphasized that development must be sustainable. The project represents a shift from treating the forest as inaccessible land to recognizing it as a community asset and potential public resource.

Bill Kellogg’s conservation journey began after he watched gullies repeatedly erode his family’s rolling farmland in Ohio. Rather than continuing with conventional practices, he gradually developed a system designed to protect soil while keeping the farm productive and profitable. Kellogg began farming at age 14 after his father left agriculture to care for his ill wife. By his senior year of high school, he was managing the family’s 700 acres, much of it through relationships with older farmers in the community. Over the decades, the operation expanded to approximately 8,000 acres, including 1,800 acres owned by the family and the remainder rented. Conservation measures evolved from grass waterways and water- and sediment-control basins into a comprehensive approach that includes grid soil testing, no-till and strip-till farming, precision nutrient management, cover crops, buffer strips, subsurface drainage, pollinator habitat and roughly 60 acres of waterways. The family began grid soil sampling in 1999, and strip-till enabled them to place fertilizer more precisely, reducing input use while maintaining or improving yields. The Kelloggs adapt their practices to field conditions rather than following a rigid formula. Cover crops are concentrated on rolling land, tillage is generally shallow, and the family is reconsidering chicken litter as a fertilizer alternative because phosphate prices may exceed $900 per ton. The farm also endured the agricultural crisis of the early 1980s, when Kellogg faced foreclosure and sold possessions to remain in business. Family assistance and a strategic investment in payment-in-kind certificates helped him recover. That experience reinforced the family’s belief that stewardship must be balanced with profitability. Following the 2014 Toledo water crisis, the farm joined demonstration projects involving the Farm Bureau and Natural Resources Conservation Service and later participated in H2Ohio. Thousands of students, officials and journalists have visited the farm, which received the Ohio Conservation Farm Family Award. The operation now represents a multigenerational conservation legacy involving Bill, Shane, Jacinta Burd and their families.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed 13 bills intended to strengthen election security before the November 2026 midterm elections. The measures come amid ongoing disputes between California and the Trump administration over election procedures, particularly mail-in voting, and after President Donald Trump repeatedly questioned the state’s vote-counting process without providing evidence of manipulation. Several laws create tougher penalties for interference with election materials. Seizing ballots, election records, or certified voting equipment before results are certified will be a felony, as will directing another person to carry out such a seizure. Another law criminalizes efforts by people in positions of authority to obstruct the delivery or return of vote-by-mail ballots. The legislation follows a Riverside County incident in which Sheriff Chad Bianco took possession of more than 650,000 ballots from a 2025 redistricting special election during an investigation into a vote-count discrepancy. The package also expands access to mail voting. It extends the operating hours of ballot drop-off locations, requires officials to provide voters with early-voting and ballot-return information, and permits voters to return mail ballots at polling places. The measures follow a legal dispute over proposed Trump administration restrictions on mail voting through the U.S. Postal Service; the U.S. Supreme Court blocked those changes in a California-backed decision. Other bills require disclosure when campaign committees pay social-media creators to promote candidates or ballot measures. The legislation also extends restrictions on materially deceptive political audio and video, including AI-generated deepfakes, through January 2031, while allowing disclosed material. Finally, the laws seek to reduce delays in vote counting by encouraging earlier ballot returns and require local agencies to notify the California secretary of state and attorney general within one day of certain investigations, warrants, or subpoenas involving election records or certified voting technology.

California’s Wildlife Conservation Board has approved $43.868 million in grants for 15 conservation projects across 11 counties. The funding will support Tribal land acquisition, salmon and steelhead habitat restoration, meadow rehabilitation, wildlife corridors, public access and climate adaptation. About $32 million of the total comes from California’s climate bond program and will be distributed among nine projects. The largest award is an $11.5 million grant to The Wildlands Conservancy to acquire approximately 14,177 acres near Callahan in Siskiyou County. The property will expand the Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve to more than 20,000 acres of mountain meadows, rivers and forests, protecting habitat for salmon, steelhead, elk, deer, black bears, mountain lions and native birds. Other Siskiyou County funding includes $2.4 million for California Trout to restore eight acres of stream and floodplain habitat along tributaries of the Shasta River. The grants also include $4 million for restoration of 79 acres at Johnson Meadow near South Lake Tahoe. Planned work along the Upper Truckee River includes repairing stream channels and banks, reducing erosion and maintaining fish passage for native species such as Lahontan cutthroat trout. In Lake County, a $700,000 grant to the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance will fund acquisition of the 80-acre Politsuwi property. Located on the ancestral lands of three Pomo tribes, the property will become part of an Indigenous-led ecological restoration, cultural education and job-training center. A separate $7.5 million grant to the Mojave Desert Land Trust will help purchase 1,093 acres near Yucca Grove in San Bernardino County. Surrounded by the Mojave National Preserve, the land provides habitat for the state-endangered Mojave desert tortoise, Joshua trees, creosote scrub and desert washes. Conservation groups and state officials said the projects will protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems and strengthen community resilience to climate change.

The article describes the ecological recovery following the 2024 removal of an 18-foot earthen dam from Neefus Gulch, a tributary of California’s North Fork Navarro River on the Mendocino Coast. The project, led by Trout Unlimited with NOAA funding, restored 1,600 feet of stream channel and reopened approximately 1.3 miles of habitat for endangered Central California Coast coho salmon and steelhead. The dam had blocked fish migration for more than 70 years, preventing salmon from reaching upstream spawning and juvenile-rearing areas. Fish responded rapidly. Juvenile steelhead were observed above the former dam site in December 2024, followed by a female coho in January 2025. Surveys recorded 17 redds, or salmon spawning nests, throughout Neefus Gulch, including four above the removed dam. By January 2026, eight redds had been documented in habitat that had been inaccessible for more than seven decades. Neefus Gulch is part of a broader restoration effort involving NOAA Fisheries, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and other partners. More than 100 projects have been supported across the Mendocino Coast over two decades, including dam and culvert removals, floodplain reconnection and the restoration of complex stream habitat. These efforts coincided with an estimated return of more than 30,000 adult coho to Mendocino Coast rivers during the 2024–2025 spawning season—twice the previous record and far above the roughly 3,000 fish seen in some earlier years. The article explains that coho depend on cool, complex streams containing pools, woody debris and floodplain habitat. Logging, roads and channel simplification have eliminated much of this habitat, leaving only about 5 percent of historic winter habitat available. Although biologists caution that two strong seasons do not guarantee recovery, the results suggest that barrier removal and long-term habitat investment can quickly reconnect salmon with historic spawning grounds. Additional projects are planned in the Duffy Gulch, Cooper Mill Creek, Ten Mile and Navarro river areas.

Seventeen-year-old Brooklyn photographer Isabelle Ginsberg spent more than a year documenting Prospect Park, returning most Saturdays and Sundays to photograph its changing seasons, wildlife, paths, joggers and quieter spaces. What began as a personal hobby became a fundraising project inspired by her father’s experience with brain cancer. Diagnosed in 2020, he underwent major surgery, chemotherapy and recovery and is now in remission. Because cancer had affected her family so deeply, Ginsberg wanted her photography to support others facing the disease. With encouragement from her mother, Lauren Walsh, who has experience in photography and exhibition curation, Ginsberg selected nearly 30 images from her year-long project. The photographs were framed and displayed at a community print sale held on September 13 at a VFW Post on Prospect Avenue in Windsor Terrace. Buyers could take home images of Prospect Park, while the proceeds were donated to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for cancer research and patient care. By the end of the event, 27 of the 30 prints had been sold, while some attendees also made direct donations. The fundraiser was supported by several local businesses, including a print lab and copy shop, reinforcing the community-centered nature of the event. Walsh said the project brought together a painful family experience and her daughter’s creative practice in a way that could have a broader social impact. She expressed pride in seeing the project develop from weekend walks into year-long documentary photography and a successful public fundraiser. Ginsberg is now considering several possible futures, including photography, science, medicine and psychology.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov describes a highly disciplined lifestyle centered on abstinence, restrictive eating, exercise, digital minimalism and extended periods of quiet reflection. In a conversation with computer scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman, the 41-year-old entrepreneur said he has avoided alcohol, tobacco, coffee, pills and illegal drugs for more than 20 years. He also avoids processed sugar, fast food and soda, no longer eats red meat, and generally relies on seafood and vegetables. Durov sometimes practices intermittent fasting, limiting his eating to a six-hour window or consuming only one meal a day. Durov said he views sugar as addictive and believes fasting gives structure to his day. Although he avoids processed sugar, he said he is not completely opposed to naturally sweet foods such as fruit and berries. His decision to stop eating red meat, he explained, was based on how it made him feel rather than on a universal dietary principle. The Telegram founder also explained his reluctance to take medicines. Using headaches as an example, he argued that painkillers may suppress symptoms without addressing their underlying causes, such as dehydration, poor air quality, lack of sleep or stress. However, he acknowledged that some illnesses require medicines such as antibiotics and said he was not advocating a return to premodern medicine. Durov’s technology habits are similarly unconventional. He said he dislikes being interrupted by phones, often keeps devices muted or in airplane mode, and wants to decide for himself what deserves his attention. He also deliberately spends time without a phone, including while waking, showering, exercising and thinking in bed. He described these quiet periods as a source of ideas. The article ends while beginning to discuss his demanding morning exercise routine, reportedly involving 300 push-ups and 300 squats.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he would like to “hijack” Tom Homan, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump on immigration and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and bring him to Britain to help secure the country’s borders. Speaking at an event in the United States attended by Homan, Farage joked: “We’re hijacking Tom Homan and taking him back with us to secure our borders.” Farage has repeatedly praised Homan’s uncompromising approach to deportations. Homan’s work with ICE has also attracted scrutiny because of the agency’s immigration-enforcement tactics, including incidents involving fatal shootings by its agents. Reform UK supports a restrictive immigration platform that includes mass deportations of people who entered the United Kingdom illegally and the use of the Royal Navy to intercept migrant boats crossing the English Channel. During his latest US visit, Farage also urged European countries to adopt what he called a more sensible and balanced view of the Trump administration, arguing that mainstream media often portrays it as villainous. His comments mark a shift from his earlier position: in April, he said he had not spoken to Trump for several months and questioned the US president’s judgment regarding the Iran war. Despite defending Trump’s administration, Farage continues to disagree with the president on Northern Ireland. After Trump expressed support for a united Ireland, Farage said Northern Ireland was a “proud and integral part” of the United Kingdom and claimed that people there did not want either a referendum or unification. The article therefore presents Farage as closely aligned with Trump and Homan on immigration while maintaining distinct positions on foreign policy and Northern Ireland.

Dwayne and Terese Clark are selling their 2.3-acre waterfront compound in Hunts Point, Bellevue, Washington, for $71 million. The property comprises two Mediterranean-style residences on adjacent Lake Washington parcels and could set a regional residential real-estate record if it sells near the asking price. The current benchmark is reportedly Jeff Bezos’s $63 million sale of a Hunts Point mansion last year. The Clarks began assembling the compound in 2008, when they purchased a 1.2-acre waterfront property for $4.9 million. They demolished the existing cottage and built an approximately 9,600-square-foot main residence. Roughly a decade later, they acquired the neighboring 1.12-acre parcel for about $8 million and constructed a second home, completed in 2024, as a dedicated wellness retreat. Over nearly two decades, the couple invested approximately $50 million in the project. The design reflects their interest in travel, wellness and Italy. A central feature is a piazza, or open Italian-style courtyard, which the couple says creates a warmer microclimate and allows them to enjoy the outdoors despite the area’s frequent rain. Furnishings and décor collected during travels were used throughout the homes, which Dwayne described as an attempt to create “our own Four Seasons resort.” The buyer will receive two residences linked by a bridge over a koi pond, indoor and outdoor pools, a stone cottage, two private docks and a garage that doubles as a ballroom. The compound is being sold turnkey with Italian-sourced décor. The Clarks are leaving the Pacific Northwest for a sunnier climate in Arizona, while Dwayne plans to retire from his senior-living company, Aegis Living. They also own a Santa Barbara beachfront property listed for $44.999 million.

California, home to roughly 250 billionaires whose combined wealth exceeds $2 trillion, is considering a one-time 5% tax on billionaires through Proposition 40, a ballot measure scheduled for November 3. The proposal would use the revenue for healthcare, food assistance and education. Supporters, including UC Berkeley economist Emmanuel Saez, estimate it could raise about $100 billion, while opponents put the figure closer to $40 billion and warn that wealthy residents could leave the state, reducing future tax revenue and investment. Although California is politically left-leaning and faces major funding needs, the measure’s passage is uncertain. Two polls conducted in August and September showed Proposition 40 leading, with support ranging from 48% to 52%. However, analysts note that California ballot measures often lose support before Election Day, particularly when initial backing is below 50%. Opponents had also not yet launched a major advertising campaign at the time of reporting. The opposition includes Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who has spent more than $100 million to defeat the measure and support competing initiatives that would effectively nullify it. Governor Gavin Newsom also opposes the proposal, favoring a federal wealth tax instead. Critics argue that wealth taxes in several European countries were repealed because of capital flight, tax avoidance and concerns about economic competitiveness. Proposition 40 is retroactive to January 1 to limit the ability of billionaires to avoid the levy by moving. The article places the initiative within California’s broader history of direct democracy and tax politics, noting the significance of Proposition 13 and the defeat of a 2022 tax proposal. Supporters contend that California’s universities, infrastructure and technology ecosystem would prevent a major exodus of billionaires or startups, while opponents see the tax as a threat to the state’s business environment.

Earl Charles Spencer, the younger brother of the late Princess Diana, has compared the media treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with the intense press scrutiny Diana experienced before her death. In an interview with the BBC, Spencer said tabloid coverage of both Diana and the Sussexes could be extremely unpleasant and warned that people should learn from Diana’s experience. He described persistent hostile reporting as a “cancerous influence” on anyone subjected to it daily. Diana died aged 36 in a 1997 car crash in Paris while being pursued by photographers on motorbikes. Her death prompted widespread grief and renewed debate over whether aggressive media coverage and paparazzi conduct had contributed to the circumstances surrounding the crash. Harry and Meghan later cited what they called a “toxic” media environment as a major reason for stepping back from royal duties and relocating to the United States in 2020. They also brought legal actions against sections of the British tabloid press, with mixed results, before returning to Britain in August. Spencer’s comments come as controversy grows around his book, “Swan Song: Diana, My Sister,” which was serialised in the Daily Mail. The book alleges that Diana’s former husband, now King Charles, appeared “giddily elated” in the hours after her death. Buckingham Palace rejected the characterization, saying grief can cloud judgment and affect memory, even many years later. The book’s publication, Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain, and King Charles’ ongoing cancer treatment have created further pressure for the royal family. Diana’s relatives have previously accused the royals of failing to support her adequately before her death, a criticism Harry has also made while remaining largely estranged from his family.

European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica said she discussed the European Union’s relationship with Israel, regional security and stability, and Gaza’s recovery with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. The discussion took place during a phone call, which Suica described in a post on X. She said the EU and Israel share an interest in security and stability across the Middle East, including the need for a reformed and functioning Palestinian Authority. Regarding Gaza, Suica said she emphasised the urgent need to move forward with early recovery efforts. She stressed that continued cooperation would be essential to delivering recovery projects on the ground. In July, the EU and like-minded partners launched an initiative to help finance Gaza’s early recovery. The programme focuses on restoring essential social and economic services, rehabilitating critical infrastructure, and strengthening governance. The article places the discussion within the EU’s broader, often divided, position on Israel and the Gaza war. The bloc has criticised Israel’s conduct of the conflict while continuing to recognise its right to self-defence. It has also condemned Israel’s expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which are widely regarded as illegal under international law and as an obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace and the creation of a Palestinian state. However, the EU’s 27 member states do not share a uniform policy: some are strongly critical of Israel, while others maintain close relations. The article also notes tensions between Saar and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Saar said in June that he was ending all contact with Kallas over remarks reportedly comparing Israel to apartheid-era South Africa.

An Iraqi court in Baghdad has opened the trial of six French nationals accused of belonging to Islamic State. A member of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council told the court that the defendants could face the death penalty if convicted of crimes committed against Iraq and its people. The men are being prosecuted under Iraq’s counter-terrorism law, and a court-appointed lawyer said at least one defendant was charged with membership in Islamic State. According to two legal sources, the six defendants were among 47 French Islamic State detainees transferred from prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraq the previous year. The relocation was part of a broader process overseen by US forces and Iraqi authorities. French embassy officials attended the hearing, although the embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The defendants arrived at Baghdad criminal court in a prison van accompanied by Humvees carrying Iraqi special forces personnel. They wore yellow prison uniforms. The presiding judge postponed the proceedings until October 5 to give defence lawyers time to examine the case file. Islamic State seized significant areas of Iraq and Syria in 2014 before being territorially defeated by a US-led coalition five years later. Many militants were detained, though remnants of the group continue to operate. The United States announced in January that it had begun transferring Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq because of concerns about the security of detention facilities in northeastern Syria after Kurdish-led forces lost control of parts of the region. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in February that Iraq was discussing the repatriation of foreign nationals with other countries and had sought international financial assistance to manage the influx of prisoners.

Italy is preparing legislation that would ban face coverings such as burqas and niqabs in schools and impose a maximum proportion of foreign students in each class, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Sept 20. The proposed measures are part of her government’s broader focus on migration, cultural integration and strengthening its right-wing identity. Speaking at an annual gathering of the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party, Meloni said a measure would soon be presented to the Cabinet. It would establish a legal limit on foreign students per class, require parents of foreign students who face serious difficulties integrating into the school system to learn Italian, and prohibit face coverings in schools. Meloni argued that concentrating too many students who do not speak Italian in the same classroom undermines integration rather than supporting it. She contrasted a class with one non-Italian-speaking child, who could learn with help from teachers and classmates, with a class where such students form a large proportion or majority. In the latter situation, she said, the result would be “neglect.” The Prime Minister did not specify the proposed maximum number of foreign students per class. According to Fondazione ISMU, a research institution, students who are not Italian citizens account for 11.6 per cent of enrolment in Italian schools—nearly 12 out of every 100 students. Italy’s central Mediterranean location has made it particularly exposed to migrant arrivals, while migration and the integration of people from Muslim-majority countries remain contentious issues in Italian politics and society. Meloni also framed the face-covering ban as a matter of individual freedom, saying that no one should be able to require a young woman to conceal her face in the name of tradition.

Luxembourg has deployed additional detection equipment to strengthen monitoring of its airspace after unidentified and unauthorized drones were spotted near Luxembourg Airport. The airport temporarily suspended flight operations late on Friday as a precaution following visual sightings of the drones. The Luxembourg government said the new detection assets include resources supplied by foreign partners. According to the government, the systems have improved airspace surveillance and analysis, helping authorities assess the situation more effectively. The authorities did not identify the countries or organizations that provided the additional resources. Police received several reports on Saturday evening about the suspected presence of drones in Luxembourg’s national airspace. However, after carrying out checks, officials concluded that none of the reports required an operational response. The government said an investigation remains under way. Prime Minister Luc Frieden said on Saturday that Luxembourg had encountered a new situation involving what appeared to be potentially larger drones operating in the country’s airspace. He said similar observations had been made over several days, prompting the precautionary suspension of airport operations on Friday night. Luxembourg’s drone assessment cell is continuing to work with partner organizations to monitor developments and evaluate possible threats. The government’s statement did not confirm the origin, operators, number, or exact locations of the drones. The incident highlights growing concerns about unauthorized drone activity around airports and sensitive airspace, while authorities continue to emphasize surveillance, verification, and precautionary measures rather than reporting any confirmed attack or disruption beyond the temporary airport suspension.

Reform UK’s record political funding could be affected by a review of Britain’s election rules, including campaign spending limits and proposed restrictions on overseas donations. The party recently received two £36 million donations, worth £72 million in total, from cryptocurrency investors Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo. The contributions exceed the combined amount that Labour and the Conservatives spent during the last general election and have intensified debate over the influence of large private donations in British politics. The Electoral Commission was asked by the UK government to review political campaign spending limits. Its chief executive, Vijay Rangarajan, said the review would assess whether the current framework remains suitable as campaigning methods evolve. The review will examine the overall spending cap, the period to which it applies, the relationship between party and candidate spending, and reporting requirements. Parties are currently prohibited from spending more than £34 million in the 12 months before a general election. The donations may also be affected by Labour proposals to impose a retrospective cap on political donations from overseas-linked individuals. Delo reportedly moved back to the UK from Hong Kong in 2026 so he could fund Reform without violating existing rules, while Harborne had recently been based in Thailand. If new restrictions are introduced, Reform may face limits on how much of its £72 million it can spend. Nigel Farage’s party has indicated that it could challenge any retrospective restrictions in court, potentially invoking the European Convention on Human Rights. The Electoral Commission is due to issue recommendations in July 2027. Britain’s next national election must take place by August 2029, giving parties and lawmakers time to respond to any changes, although the review could significantly reshape future election financing.

An overnight Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s Kyiv region killed four people, including three children, according to regional authorities and Ukraine’s emergency service. The victims included a mother and her two 3-year-old children, who died after a drone struck their private home. A girl was also killed after a separate drone strike in another district; the governor said she died in hospital. Kyiv region Governor Tymur Tkachanko said the area had endured more than a day of attacks. In total, 31 sites across five districts were damaged. The Fastiv district, southwest of Kyiv, suffered the heaviest destruction, with 24 sites affected. The damage included residential homes, industrial and utility buildings, the grounds of an agricultural enterprise and vehicles. The report describes the attacks as part of a continuing pattern of Russian drone assaults on Kyiv and the surrounding region. The article does not provide details about the types of drones used, the extent of damage to military targets or any response from Russian authorities. The casualty figures and damage assessment were attributed to Ukrainian regional officials and emergency responders. The report, published by Reuters in The Straits Times on September 20, 2026, presents the incident as a developing account of civilian deaths and infrastructure damage amid Russia’s ongoing attack on Ukraine.

The article examines how a teacher in Warnsveld, a small town in the eastern Netherlands, is using the Netflix series Adolescence as a starting point for classroom discussions about online misogyny, bullying and masculinity. Gijs Korenblik, a social studies teacher, shows scenes from the series to high school students and asks them to consider difficult questions about gender identity, male behavior and the pressures faced by adolescents. A central concern is the influence of the “manosphere”, a loosely connected online network that promotes misogynistic ideas and can shape the views of young boys. By bringing themes from online culture into the classroom, Korenblik aims to create an open environment in which students can discuss harmful stereotypes and examine how digital communities affect their understanding of relationships and masculinity. The article also presents an ongoing debate about whether Adolescence is an appropriate teaching resource. Supporters believe the series can raise awareness of online radicalization, bullying and gender-based prejudice, while encouraging thoughtful conversations between students and teachers. Critics and some experts caution that using the series could alienate boys or make them feel singled out, potentially reducing their willingness to participate in discussions. The excerpt portrays the Dutch classroom as an example of a broader educational challenge: how schools should respond to the spread of misogynistic content online and help adolescents critically assess the messages they encounter. Korenblik’s question—“What makes a man a man?”—illustrates the complexity of the subject and the effort to move beyond simplistic or harmful definitions of masculinity. The available text does not include the article’s full discussion or the responses of the students.

Ten lions were found dead on Sept 18 in the Ndutu area of Endulen Ward, within Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Preliminary findings indicate that the lions may have died after ingesting poison, although the cause has not been conclusively established. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority announced that it had opened an investigation to determine how the animals died and identify those responsible. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the conservation of lions in one of Africa’s most important wildlife ecosystems. Poisoning is a recurring threat to large carnivores in parts of East Africa and is often associated with conflicts between predators and livestock owners. Such conflicts can occur when lions attack or threaten livestock, prompting retaliatory action by affected communities. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Tanzania’s leading tourist attractions. It supports a diverse range of wildlife, including lions, elephants, buffaloes and endangered black rhinos. The deaths therefore have implications not only for the local lion population but also for the region’s wider conservation efforts and tourism economy. The report places the suspected poisoning in the context of other wildlife deaths in the region. In August, Kenyan police arrested four suspects while investigating the deaths of 18 elephants across the border in Kenya. However, the article does not establish whether the two incidents are connected. Authorities must complete their investigation before the cause of death and responsibility can be confirmed.

Violence escalated in the occupied West Bank on Sept 20, when a suspected Palestinian gunman shot and killed an Israeli man near the settlement of Neve Tzuf, close to Ramallah. According to Israeli police and military officials, the gunman fired from a vehicle at Israelis gathered near a spring. Medics found the victim suffering from critical gunshot wounds, and he was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The suspected gunman was located several hours later at a hospital in Ramallah and arrested, police said. In a separate incident farther north, near the Ganim settlement, Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian driver whom the military said had attempted to ram them with his vehicle. No soldiers were injured. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the military’s account. It was also unclear whether the two incidents were connected. The events occurred on the eve of Yom Kippur, the Jewish holy day. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security agencies to increase troop deployments, make arrests and conduct offensive operations in the area. Hamas praised the shooting but did not claim responsibility. The incidents took place amid a broader surge in violence in the West Bank since Hamas’s Oct 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza. The article notes that the violence has involved increased attacks by militant Israeli settlers against Palestinians, as well as extensive Israeli military raids and Palestinian attacks on Israelis.

Russia’s parliamentary election entered its third and final day on September 20, with President Vladimir Putin presenting the vote as a measure of public support for his policies and the war in Ukraine. The ruling United Russia party was widely expected to retain its dominance in the State Duma, amid criticism that Russia’s political system does not permit meaningful dissent. The election is the first parliamentary vote since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Most explicitly anti-war candidates were excluded from the ballot. Candidates from the liberal Yabloko party said they feared for their freedom after two senior party figures received lengthy prison sentences over comments about the war that authorities deemed illegal. Russian laws criminalize what officials define as discrediting the army or spreading false information. The Kremlin argues that censorship and national unity are necessary during its “special military operation,” which it portrays as part of an existential confrontation with the West. Although the outcome appeared predictable, analysts said the election could still reveal public frustration. The NEST think-tank suggested that economic strain, war-related anxiety and accumulated discontent might benefit permitted opposition parties, particularly the Communist Party and New People. However, both parties have generally supported United Russia on major issues. Putin accused Ukraine of attempting to interfere in the election, citing an alleged strike that killed election official Elena Astanina in Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia. Reuters could not independently verify the claim. Russian officials also reported a cyberattack on Moscow’s online voting system, while Kyiv dismissed the election as a “pseudo election.” Initial results were expected Sunday evening, with fuller results due Monday.

This Euronews travel guide lists direct flight options from Europe to Central and South America, using 2025 international visitor numbers to organize destinations from the most visited to the least visited. It notes that South American tourism grew 7% year on year in 2025 and Central American tourism rose 5%, with Brazil recording a particularly strong 37% increase and Guyana a 24% rise. Although many destinations can also be reached through the United States, the article focuses on nonstop services from European airports. Madrid-Barajas is identified as the region’s best-connected European gateway, with Iberia, Air Europa, LATAM and other airlines operating routes from the Spanish capital. Other important departure points include Amsterdam, Paris, London, Lisbon, Frankfurt, Rome, Zurich, Istanbul, Barcelona and Porto. Brazil has the largest range of services, particularly to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Peru also have extensive connections from major European cities. Central American destinations such as El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama are served by a mixture of national, charter and European airlines. The article also covers Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia, Honduras, Guyana and Suriname, highlighting their beaches, biodiversity, archaeological sites, national parks and other attractions. The route information is paired with brief tourism descriptions, including references to the Amazon, Rio Carnival, Machu Picchu, Costa Rica’s biodiversity, the Galápagos Islands and Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni. The supplied text ends at the heading for French Guiana, so any information about its direct routes is missing from the provided version.

Argentina has launched Latin America’s first solar-powered railway, the Tren Solar de la Quebrada, in Jujuy province. The two-car train travels 42 kilometres through the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed valley in the Andes that has been an important travel route for thousands of years. Introduced in 2024, the service was partly designed to bring tourists to six communities along the valley while avoiding the emissions associated with diesel trains. Despite its name, the train does not produce electricity through solar panels installed on its roof. Instead, six lithium batteries power the train. These batteries are charged using solar-generated electricity produced locally in Jujuy. The train also uses regenerative braking, converting some of its motion into electricity that can be stored for later use. The batteries provide a range of 100 to 120 kilometres, more than twice the train’s current route length. Fast-charging stations at Volcán and Purmamarca enable recharging during the journey, while a third station is planned for Tilcara. The battery system allows the train to operate without diesel fuel and without the overhead electrical lines commonly used by electric railways. Since its launch, more than 90,000 passengers have used the service, which restored passenger rail to the Quebrada de Humahuaca after a 30-year absence. The article places Argentina’s project in the broader context of railway decarbonisation. It notes that nearly 58 per cent of the European Union’s railway network was electrified in 2024, while operators in the Netherlands and Switzerland are expanding their use of renewable energy. Switzerland’s Sun-Ways has tested solar panels installed between railway tracks, and is exploring expansion into Italy. Argentina’s battery-powered approach could be particularly useful in remote, sunny regions that lack access to existing electric rail networks.

Maria Tadeo argues that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s proposal for a closer Canada-EU relationship should not be dismissed because of uncertainty over its name or institutional design. Speaking to the European Parliament, Carney presented Canada and the European Union as sovereign partners facing a changing international order shaped by Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Drawing on Goethe’s ideas about the need to continually defend freedom, he called for an alliance between “middle powers” that could resist coercion, diversify dependencies and avoid zero-sum geopolitics. Tadeo acknowledges that Carney’s position is also politically calculated. His confrontational response to Trump and emphasis on Canadian sovereignty have boosted his popularity at home, while Trump’s provocations helped create the conditions for Carney’s rise. By contrast, the EU has generally sought to de-escalate tensions with Washington. Tadeo is particularly critical of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, arguing that she has accumulated power but chosen caution, especially by avoiding debate over joint European borrowing and the substantial investment needed for strategic independence. The proposed partnership faces serious practical obstacles. The Canada-EU trade agreement, CETA, remains unratified in some countries and is controversial among agricultural groups. Many Members of the European Parliament also remain unclear about what “associate membership” would actually entail. Nevertheless, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola suggested that Canada could establish a model for closer ties with like-minded countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Tadeo concludes that the terminology matters less than the political message. A visible Canada-EU alignment would signal that both sides intend to preserve autonomy and cooperate amid growing pressure from major powers. The proposal has already drawn a warning from the United States, which has threatened tariffs if the partnership conflicts with American interests.

The article compares the cost of essential baby items across Europe, using Remitly estimates based on prices in July 2026. The calculation covers 14 staple products in six categories: nappies and related products, bottles, formula, sleeping equipment, transport items and clothing. Across 38 countries, the estimated cost of essentials during a baby’s first year ranges from €2,813 in the UK to €6,294 in Spain, compared with a European average of €4,727. Spain is the most expensive of the five largest European economies, while the UK is the least expensive. The Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland also exceed €6,000, whereas Czechia, Romania, Latvia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina have nominal costs below €4,000. Clothing, formula and nappies account for most spending, representing 81% of the average total. Clothing is the largest category overall, but its share varies widely, from 16% of costs in Denmark to 52.5% in Sweden. Formula accounts for 41.3% of costs in Latvia but only 10.8% in Sweden, while nappies make up more than 36% of costs in Switzerland and Belgium. Because wages differ substantially across Europe, the article also measures baby costs as a share of average annual earnings. Across 36 countries, essentials represent an average of 20.9% of annual wages. The burden is greatest in Moldova, where the figure reaches 88.8%, followed by Albania, Turkey, Montenegro and Serbia. By contrast, baby essentials account for less than 10% of average annual wages in 11 countries, including Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands. The analysis excludes nursery and crèche costs, which can add substantially to family expenses. OECD data show major differences in childcare fees, although government support can reduce net costs considerably in some countries.

Euronews presents a midday video bulletin dated 20 September 2026 and updated at 12:00 GMT+2. The page invites viewers to catch up on major stories from Europe and around the world, covering world affairs, business, politics, culture, entertainment and travel. It describes the bulletin as a concise, regularly produced news round-up designed to provide context for a rapidly changing news cycle. Euronews emphasises its independent editorial approach and European perspective, presenting the programme as a reliable overview for an international audience. The supplied page does not include a transcript or a detailed breakdown of the stories featured in the video. Instead, it displays a large collection of related reports and headlines. These include clashes between police and far-right protesters at an anti-immigration rally in The Hague, smoke and flames reported at Riyadh’s King Khalid airport, developments in Tehran, a US-Denmark agreement concerning Greenland’s security, and political and security developments involving Russia, Ukraine and Europe. Other headlines reference Oktoberfest in Munich, German state elections, French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and an energy crisis linked by Ireland’s finance minister to a possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Additional related material covers flooding in Tunis, migration in Ceuta, Japan’s robotic rubbish bins, Tajikistan’s independence anniversary, a proposed “Carpathian Eight” alliance launched by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sweden’s government formation, Russian elections, laser-fusion research in Germany, and cultural stories involving Shakira and the film “Resident Evil.” Overall, the page functions primarily as a video-news landing page and promotional introduction rather than a full written news article.

Euronews presents its morning news bulletin for 20 September 2026, updated at 07:00 GMT+2. The bulletin is described as a concise roundup of major developments from Europe and around the world, covering world affairs, business, politics, culture, entertainment and travel. Euronews emphasizes that its reporting is independent and shaped by a European perspective, offering context intended to help viewers understand rapidly developing events. The page does not provide a written account of the individual stories covered in the video. Instead, it promotes the video bulletin and displays a selection of related headlines and reports. These include clashes between Dutch police and far-right anti-immigration protesters in The Hague, fires and smoke reported at Riyadh’s King Khalid airport, and contrasting scenes in Tehran involving a marathon and a military parade. Other listed stories concern a reported US-Denmark agreement on Greenland’s security, Oktoberfest’s return in Munich, German state elections and pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and an alleged large-scale attack on Moscow. The wider Euronews content list also references French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, energy concerns linked to a possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz, flooding in Tunis, Russia’s elections and the war in Ukraine, Sweden’s government formation, and a proposed regional investment alliance launched by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Cultural and feature items include Shakira’s return to Spain, a film review of “Resident Evil,” a family beekeeping tradition, Tajikistan’s independence anniversary and the construction of a laser-fusion power station in Germany. Overall, the page functions primarily as a gateway to a video news roundup rather than a standalone written article.

Russians are voting on the final day of parliamentary elections, with President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party widely expected to retain its dominant position. The party has won every parliamentary election since 2003, and the 2026 vote is the first since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As a result, the election could provide a limited indication of public sentiment toward the war, which has increasingly affected people inside Russia. The electoral environment has been criticized by anti-war opponents. In August, Russia’s Supreme Court removed Yabloko, described as the only party opposing the war, from the ballot. Although some Yabloko candidates can reportedly still contest individual district seats, cofounder Grigory Yavlinsky condemned the decision as a rejection of political dialogue and said the party would appeal. Yabloko also reported that police had used force against one of its observers in St. Petersburg and that other observers were denied access to polling stations or had their movements restricted. The election coincides with a major drone attack on Moscow and surrounding areas. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said more than 1,600 drones had been shot down across Russia since Saturday, including 450 headed toward the capital. He reported damage to the Moscow refinery and a residential building, though no fatalities in the city. Moscow Oblast Governor Andrey Vorobyov said two people were killed in attacks across the wider region. Sobyanin accused Ukraine of trying to disrupt the election. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine had targeted the Moscow region, saying a key oil-industry facility and a logistics facility were hit. He also said Russia had launched more than 2,000 attack drones, 1,700 aerial bombs and 19 missiles against Ukraine during the week. The election will determine the composition of Russia’s 450-seat State Duma.

Salvador, the capital of Brazil’s Bahia state, is launching a recycling initiative to collect residual palm oil used by vendors of acarajé, a traditional Afro-Brazilian fritter. The discarded oil has historically been poured away to reduce the weight of vendors’ carts, clogging sewage systems and contributing to pollution in the city’s waterways and beaches, where reddish-orange residue is often visible around swimmers, kayakers, and turtles. The project brings together Salvador’s City Hall, state-run oil company Petrobras, and potentially thousands of acarajé vendors, known as baianas. Its long-term goal is to convert as much as 6 million liters of used palm oil annually into energy. The city is encouraging vendors to participate through business incentives and licenses designed to promote more environmentally sustainable practices. Participating baianas receive 3 Brazilian reais for every liter of oil they return, and the cooperative involved may also provide soap made from recycled palm oil. Palm oil, called “azeite de dendê” in Brazil, has been part of Bahia’s culinary and cultural heritage since it arrived with enslaved Africans in the 1530s. It remains central to acarajé as well as dishes such as moqueca and vatapá. More than 3,500 women sell acarajé at stalls across Salvador, a city sometimes described as the “blackest city outside Africa.” Their participation is therefore essential to creating a reliable collection network. The initiative combines environmental remediation with the preservation of a culturally significant food tradition. By compensating vendors and reusing a locally abundant waste product, the program seeks to reduce pollution while producing renewable energy and supporting more sustainable operations for small food businesses.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Tunisia on Saturday to demand the release of four pro-Palestinian activists jailed over allegations of money laundering and misuse of funds connected to the Global Sumud Flotilla. The flotilla sailed toward Gaza in 2025 with the stated goal of delivering humanitarian aid to the territory. The activists were arrested in March while preparing another mission that was due to depart partly from Tunisia; that mission was later cancelled. The Global Sumud Flotilla has rejected the arrests and repeatedly called for the activists’ release. In a statement, it said the detainees’ health was deteriorating rapidly after they began a hunger strike in protest against their imprisonment. Bassem Trifi, head of the Tunisian League for Human Rights, described the case as politically motivated and said the activists should be considered prisoners of conscience and political prisoners. He argued that authorities were attempting to reduce a broad movement supporting Palestinian rights to a question of financial mismanagement. Ghassen Bouazi, an advocate for the detainees, said the arrests formed part of a wider campaign against political figures, rights defenders and journalists. He also suggested that pressure from foreign governments may have contributed to the arrests, without providing details. The flotilla describes its activities as a nonviolent response to the war, siege, hunger and destruction affecting civilians in Gaza. The article also recalls that the flotilla was attacked by two drones while anchored at Tunisia’s Sidi Bou Said port in 2025. It was later intercepted by Israel before reaching Gaza, and its boats were seized while activists were detained and deported.

Nigeria’s government has established a 10-member independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 young men who were detained in a crowded holding cell in Minna, the capital of Niger state. The men had been arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on suspicion of illegal gold mining and were found dead inside the facility on Thursday. Survivors described severely overcrowded conditions and inadequate ventilation. One survivor alleged that a substance causing irritation to the throat and nose was sprayed into the cell before the door was closed. The detainees reportedly called for help, but their appeals were ignored. The circumstances have raised serious concerns about official negligence, abuse and possible misconduct during the arrests and detention. President Bola Tinubu ordered an urgent, full and transparent investigation on Friday, stating that deaths resulting from official negligence, abuse or dereliction of duty would not be tolerated. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the panel would determine responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct, and must complete its report within two weeks. The panel includes a retired senior state intelligence officer, a medical expert, a human rights activist and a representative of a miners’ association. Twenty NSCDC officers and guards involved in the arrests and detention have been suspended, along with their commanding officer, who was suspended separately on Friday. Niger state is rich in mineral resources and attracts thousands of artisanal miners, many of whom are drawn by the possibility of finding gold. The investigation will examine both the immediate causes of the deaths and the conduct of officials responsible for the miners’ detention.

Uganda has suspended all military and defence cooperation with Turkey, citing unresolved issues between the two countries. The decision was announced by Uganda People’s Defence Forces spokesman Chris Magezi, who said the suspension would remain in place until outstanding matters involving mutual defence and military cooperation were resolved. The statement did not specify all of the disputes behind the move. The immediate source of tension is Uganda’s demand that Turkey hand over Fred Lumbuye, a prominent political blogger and outspoken critic of President Yoweri Museveni. Lumbuye faces 15 criminal charges in Uganda, including incitement to violence, spreading false information and computer misuse. Army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s son and a figure widely regarded as a potential successor, has repeatedly clashed with Turkish authorities over efforts to secure Lumbuye’s extradition. The suspension followed a protest in Kampala on Friday, when thousands of supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda demonstrated outside the Turkish embassy. The group is described as a civic and political pressure organization associated with Kainerugaba. Kainerugaba later reposted the military’s statement on X. Uganda and Turkey have maintained close defence relations for nearly ten years. Their cooperation has included military training, arms, surveillance equipment, technology transfers, counter-terrorism and broader security initiatives. The dispute has also generated economic pressure: Uganda has threatened to cancel a $3 billion railway contract held by Turkish company Yapi Merkezi and to expel Turkish nationals from the country. The suspension marks a significant deterioration in bilateral relations, linking military cooperation to a politically sensitive extradition dispute and wider tensions involving Uganda’s government and Turkey.

The article examines efforts to decolonize how Africa is represented in maps, education, media, and global knowledge systems. It begins with the success of the Correct the Map campaign, which led the United Nations General Assembly to encourage the use of equal-area projections such as Equal Earth instead of the Mercator map. Togo’s foreign minister, Robert Dussey, described the resolution as a source of pride and argued that conventional maps symbolically diminish Africa’s geographic, historical, economic, and political importance. The United States was the only country to reject the resolution. The article places the mapping debate within a broader movement to decolonize knowledge. Historian Romain Tiquet explains that universities, museums, cultural institutions, and civil society groups are increasingly questioning who defines the categories used to understand the world and how those definitions reflect power relationships. Education is another major focus. Mali’s military government decided to remove French history, including the French Revolution, from its school curriculum and emphasize Malian history and ancient West African kingdoms. Scholars present this as an effort to strengthen national identity and intellectual independence, while also cautioning that African students should eventually learn important global historical events. Tanzania is cited as another example, having made Tanzanian history and ethics compulsory and teaching it in Swahili. The article also discusses media stereotypes. Africa No Filter argues that portrayals of Africa as poor, corrupt, and crisis-ridden have economic consequences, including potentially higher borrowing costs. Its #NotWaiting campaign seeks to encourage Africans to challenge internalized negative images and highlight local achievements. Overall, the article presents decolonization as an ongoing effort led by Africans to reclaim historical narratives, reshape global perceptions, and make the continent’s diverse progress more visible.

Dutch riot police dispersed a violent far-right demonstration in The Hague after approximately 500 protesters gathered at Malieveld park and began clashing with authorities. The rally, called “We Are the People,” was organized to oppose government policies, especially immigration policy. Protesters had intended to march through the city, but the municipality banned the march after violence broke out at the gathering point. According to police and AFP reporters, demonstrators threw fireworks and other projectiles at riot officers and chanted far-right and antisemitic slogans. Some protesters allegedly made Nazi salutes and attacked police. Officers responded with baton charges, specialist dogs, and water cannons to break up the demonstration. Police said they arrested 24 people and that further investigations were continuing. Prime Minister Rob Jetten said on X that the protesters had deliberately sought a confrontation with police and condemned their “abhorrent” slogans. Justice Minister David van Weel called for an “extremely firm” response to what he described as “disgusting scenes,” citing the alleged Nazi salutes, antisemitic chants, attacks on officers, and use of fireworks. The unrest took place one year after riots during another right-wing demonstration in The Hague. During those clashes, black-clad protesters and police confronted one another, a police car was set on fire, and the headquarters of the centrist D66 party was attacked. D66 is led by Jetten, who is now prime minister. The article presents the latest incident as part of a recurring pattern of violence and extremist behavior surrounding right-wing protests in the city.

Germany’s rapid transition from gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles to electric cars is reducing emissions but creating a growing fiscal challenge for the federal government. As more drivers switch to EVs, the state loses revenue from energy taxes, carbon levies, value-added tax on fuel, and related road-use charges. Jens Boysen-Hogrefe of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy says high fuel prices are accelerating an already planned shift in drive technology and could eventually make Germany’s road system financially unviable under the current tax model. Germany taxes diesel at 47.04 euro-cents per liter and gasoline at 65.45 euro-cents, with additional carbon and value-added taxes. According to the ADAC, taxes represent more than half of a €2.10-liter gasoline price. Energy-tax revenue from gasoline and diesel declined from €37 billion in 2016 to €33 billion last year, while a 2022 advisory report estimated that revenue could fall to as little as €5 billion by 2050. The issue is complicated by the continued use of public incentives to promote electric mobility. Purchase subsidies were ended in 2023, but EVs remain exempt from vehicle tax until 2035 and companies still receive tax advantages. Experts warn that reforms must begin early because new measures may require several legislative terms to implement. Other countries are already developing replacement systems. The United Kingdom plans a mileage-based EV levy from 2028, while New Zealand and Iceland use odometer checks to calculate fees. Switzerland will introduce a road-use charge in 2030, and Norway has begun reducing EV tax exemptions and adding weight-based taxes and tolls. In Germany, experts favor a distance- and traffic-based passenger-car toll. If that is politically impossible, they suggest a vignette or higher motor-vehicle tax as alternatives.

Berlin is becoming larger and more internationally diverse, but many of its residents remain excluded from state-level elections because they do not hold German citizenship. About 976,000 adults—roughly one-quarter of the city’s population—cannot vote in Berlin’s September 20 state election, a figure that has doubled since 2011. Although citizens of other European Union countries may vote in municipal elections, they cannot participate in elections for Berlin’s state parliament, which has authority over major policies affecting their lives. The article centers on Abdu, an Egyptian software developer who has lived in Berlin for seven years. He values the city’s diversity and relaxed culture but is frustrated by high rents, bureaucracy, cuts to services, and his lack of political representation. He says he pays taxes but has no meaningful influence over decisions concerning health care and German-language courses. The situation has made him consider leaving Germany. In the Mitte district, Green Party mayor Stefanie Remlinger has organized a symbolic election to highlight the exclusion of foreign residents. However, she expects only a few hundred people to participate and argues that Germany’s political climate is moving to the right. The anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany is polling at nearly 20% in Berlin, while broader opposition to extending voting rights makes reform unlikely in the near term. The article also examines the economic implications. Germany is expected to face a shortage of about 440,000 workers by 2029, making the retention of skilled immigrants important. Remlinger believes easier naturalization is the most realistic path to political inclusion. Germany permits citizenship applications after five years of residency, and naturalizations in Berlin rose sharply in 2025. Nevertheless, Abdu’s delayed citizenship application illustrates the obstacles immigrants face. He says the ability to vote could persuade him to remain in Germany, where he currently feels valued mainly as a taxpayer.

The article examines Peter Thiel’s global influence through his technology businesses, political relationships, ideological beliefs, and growing interest in artificial intelligence. Born in Frankfurt in 1967 and raised partly in the United States and Namibia, Thiel accumulated substantial wealth through PayPal, early investment in Facebook, holdings in SpaceX and OpenAI, and other ventures. His most consequential company may be Palantir, a surveillance and data-analytics firm whose government contracts include work for the Pentagon and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Palantir’s role in security and military systems has prompted criticism in Europe and accusations that its technology and corporate ideology reflect “techno-fascism.” Thiel has also become a significant political actor. He supported Donald Trump early, donated $1.25 million to Trump’s 2016 campaign, and has contributed to Republican politicians, most notably JD Vance. The article describes Thiel’s views as a mixture of libertarianism, nationalism, hostility toward regulation and liberal elites, and skepticism about representative democracy. His belief that technology can replace politics, along with his preference for companies led by decisive executives, has led critics to portray him as hostile to democratic institutions. The article further explores the influence of Thiel’s Christian background and his recent lectures about the antichrist. He defines the antichrist less as a biblical figure than as a force that exploits fear of technology and promises “peace and safety.” He has criticized environmental activists, AI regulators, and even Pope Leo XIV in this context. Finally, the article considers whether Thiel’s mentorship and financial support of Vance could help protect his interests if Vance eventually succeeds Trump. Overall, it presents Thiel as a powerful and contradictory figure whose business empire, political connections, and views on AI and democracy have consequences well beyond Silicon Valley.

France 24 reports that public frustration with Argentine President Javier Milei’s economic program is increasingly visible in the streets. On September 20, 2026, hundreds of people participated in what organizers called a “March of Anger” in the country’s capital, protesting months of aggressive economic reforms and the effects of austerity on households. Demonstrators demanded higher wages and greater public spending, directly challenging Milei’s effort to reduce government expenditure. The report describes tensions as intensifying amid rising household debt and growing concern about the social consequences of the government’s economic agenda. The protests reflect a broader conflict over how Argentina should address its economic problems: Milei’s administration has emphasized fiscal restraint and austerity, while protesters are calling for stronger income support and expanded public services. The article characterizes the demonstrations as a major expression of public anger, though the available report provides limited detail about the organizers, the specific reforms being opposed, or the government’s response. It identifies Milei’s political orientation as far right and places the protests within the wider debate over his economic policies. The report was produced by Caitlin Brown for France 24, with video also credited to Brown. Overall, the story focuses on the social and political backlash against austerity, highlighting the pressure facing Milei as Argentines cope with indebtedness, wage concerns, and reduced public spending.

Iranian authorities on Sunday, September 20, 2026, closed the French Language Centre (CLF) in Tehran, an institute associated with the French embassy. Iran’s judiciary alleged that the centre had carried out “illegal acts” violating diplomatic conventions and had misused its role as a language-training institution. According to the judiciary’s Mizan news website, the centre had operated for years under the guise of teaching languages. Iranian authorities accused it of using its educational status to identify and establish networks among prominent Iranian figures and to help facilitate their departure from the country. The authorities did not publicly provide further details or evidence supporting the allegations. The French embassy in Tehran had not immediately commented on the closure at the time of publication. The action comes amid increasingly strained relations between Iran and France. The article notes that France announced the expulsion of two Iranian diplomats the previous month, following Iran’s brief detention and banning of two French diplomatic envoys. Tehran had accused those French diplomats of interfering in Iran’s internal affairs. The closure of the CLF represents another escalation in the diplomatic tensions between the two countries. While Iranian authorities framed the institute’s activities as a violation of diplomatic norms and a threat to national interests, France had not yet issued a public response. The report, produced by FRANCE 24 with AFP, presents the allegations and diplomatic background without independently verifying the claims.

The France 24 report examines the political controversy surrounding NAZA, a documentary made by Israeli filmmakers about the war in Gaza. Although the film reportedly received a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, its creators have faced violent threats in Israel, including threats directed at their lives and citizenship. The documentary relies on anonymous Israeli military sources who describe widespread civilian killings in Gaza, making it highly contentious amid Israel’s ongoing war and broader debate over the conduct of its armed forces. The controversy has intensified as Israel approaches crucial elections. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he plans to introduce legislation that would allow the state to revoke the citizenship of people who “defame IDF soldiers.” The report presents this proposed measure as a direct response to criticism of Israeli military personnel and as part of the broader political storm generated by the film. The article highlights the contrast between the documentary’s international reception and its treatment within Israel: it was celebrated at a major European film festival while its filmmakers encountered threats at home. It also underscores the risks faced by military sources who speak publicly about alleged abuses and civilian deaths in Gaza. Produced and reported by France 24 international affairs editor Shirli Sitbon, the report focuses on the intersection of documentary filmmaking, wartime accountability, political pressure, freedom of expression and Israeli electoral politics. The available text does not provide detailed responses from the filmmakers, the anonymous sources, the Israeli military or Palestinian authorities, and it does not describe the proposed legislation beyond Netanyahu’s stated intention to pursue it.

France 24 reports that the discovery of nine women murdered in eastern Johannesburg has provoked widespread shock and anger across South Africa. Thousands of people gathered over the weekend for vigils, group runs, and moments of silence to honor the victims and protest gender-based violence and femicide. The report highlights a student vigil at the University of Cape Town, where participants used electronic candles and called for stronger government action against violence toward women. The killings have intensified public concern in a country that records more than 60 homicides each day. While the article provides few details about the victims or the circumstances of their deaths, it presents the murders as part of a broader national crisis involving violence against women, sexism, and human-rights concerns. Public anger is mounting, and protesters are increasingly demanding that authorities respond more forcefully. The events described took place amid a series of killings around Johannesburg in recent months. Demonstrations and commemorations were held in multiple locations, showing that the issue has resonated nationally rather than remaining confined to the city where the women were found. The report’s focus is on the emotional and social reaction to the murders, particularly the grief of communities and the growing pressure on the South African government. The story was written and produced by Caroline Baum. Its central message is that the deaths have become a powerful catalyst for renewed public mobilization against gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.

FRANCE 24’s weekly photographic roundup presents a selection of major political, social, cultural and environmental events from around the world. The coverage opens with protests in Syria, where demonstrators blocked tanker trucks near Tal Tamr in opposition to rising fuel prices. It also highlights Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s diplomatic engagement with the European Union, including his meeting with European Parliament Greens leader Terry Reintke in Strasbourg as Canada considers becoming the EU’s first associate member. Other political images show a woman voting in Russian parliamentary elections in Donetsk, in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine, and a meeting in Paris between French President Emmanuel Macron, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The roundup also documents several humanitarian and environmental crises. In Quito, Ecuador, smoke rises above residential areas during a forest fire, while residents play football nearby. In Gaza, Palestinian Civil Defence workers search rubble for survivors following Israeli strikes. Near Aden, Yemen, employees unload water tanks at a camp housing displaced people. Economic and cultural events are also featured. Traders work at the New York Stock Exchange after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates, while Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote attends the opening ceremony for the initial public offering of the Dangote Refinery. In entertainment, the cast of “The Pitt” accepts the award for Best Drama Series at the Emmy Awards, and Céline Dion returns to live performance with the opening concert of her Paris residency. The final image concerns footballer Kylian Mbappé, who obscured a shirt carrying a message of solidarity with residents and migrants in Ceuta. Overall, the article uses images and concise captions to document a diverse week marked by protest, diplomacy, conflict, disaster, markets, entertainment and solidarity.

Chinese companies are showing strong interest in investing in Oman, according to Al Hussain al-Qalhati, associate director for business development at the International Financial Centre Oman. The interest comes from banks, asset managers and law firms seeking access to the lucrative Middle Eastern market while limiting exposure to regional risks. The International Financial Centre Oman is a free-standing legal and financial zone that is scheduled to open in Muscat, Oman’s capital, by early 2027. Qalhati said Chinese financial and professional-services firms were contacting the centre daily to ask about establishing operations there, indicating sustained interest rather than isolated inquiries. Oman’s geopolitical position is presented as a key attraction. The country’s neutrality amid the US-Israel war on Iran could offer Chinese companies a comparatively stable base in the region. In addition, Oman’s ports are located away from the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway near Iran whose disruption could affect regional trade, energy shipments and business operations. For Chinese firms, the centre could provide a platform for entering Middle Eastern markets through a jurisdiction designed to support international financial activity. For Oman, attracting Chinese banks, investment managers and law firms would help strengthen the country’s role as a regional financial hub and deepen economic ties with China. The article focuses on the centre’s planned opening, the types of Chinese institutions expressing interest and the strategic advantages Oman believes it can offer amid heightened regional tensions. It does not identify specific Chinese companies or provide details about investment amounts, regulatory terms or finalized agreements.

The opinion article argues that middle powers should not passively wait for a possible summit between US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. A proposed meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Shenzhen in November 2026 has revived comparisons with the 1945 Yalta meeting, where the leaders of major powers helped shape the postwar international order. The author notes that speculation about a Trump-Xi-Putin summit emerged during Trump’s first term and resurfaced around the 80th anniversary of the Second World War, but no such meeting took place. Nevertheless, Xi hosted Trump and Putin separately in Beijing in May, and Moscow has suggested that a three-way meeting in Shenzhen could be possible. Such a gathering would carry powerful symbolism, particularly as the international order becomes increasingly fragmented. The article says that a literal 21st-century version of Yalta remains unlikely. However, the underlying assumption that global disorder can be managed by a small group of great powers is becoming more visible. Trade, technology, finance, infrastructure and development are increasingly shaped by competition and bargains among the United States, China and Russia. Rather than allowing great powers to determine the global system alone, the author argues that middle powers can exercise agency by strengthening links among existing hubs of cooperation. The piece therefore presents middle-power coordination as an alternative to dependency on high-level agreements among dominant states. Its central warning is that great-power rivalry is already structuring the international system, but its central prescription is that other countries do not have to wait for a grand summit before acting.

The article argues that the newly opened road bridge between North Korea and Russia carries significance far beyond its practical value as a transport link. Inaugurated on September 7, the 1km bridge crosses the Tumen River and connects North Korea’s Rason with Russia’s Khasan. Russian officials describe it as a way to reduce transport costs, expand trade and economic cooperation, and enable year-round traffic between the two countries. The author contends, however, that the bridge’s most important implications are strategic rather than economic. Its construction and opening signal North Korea’s growing engagement with Russia at a time when Pyongyang remains heavily dependent on China economically. For Beijing, the bridge is a reminder that its influence over North Korea may be less secure than previously assumed. It also suggests that Russia is becoming more capable of challenging Chinese interests in the region bordering northeastern China. The article contrasts the new Russia-North Korea crossing with the Yalu bridge linking North Korea and China, which remains unused years after its completion. That comparison illustrates the limits of economic infrastructure as a measure of political influence: although China remains North Korea’s principal economic partner, Pyongyang retains the ability to decide where to direct its diplomatic and political attention. The bridge therefore represents a visible expression of North Korea’s effort to diversify its external relationships and of Russia’s expanding role on the Korean Peninsula. Its opening sends China a powerful message that its position is important but not exclusive, and that North Korea’s strategic choices cannot be taken for granted.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused some Western politicians of trying to provoke a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia after what he described as a failed strategy to defeat Moscow in the war in Ukraine. In a video message on Saturday, Fico warned that Europe was closer than ever to a large-scale war emerging from the conflict and said the situation represented a “mortal danger.” Fico, who has maintained relatively warm relations with Russia and opposed providing military aid to Ukraine, criticized Western support for Kyiv. He argued that continued assistance had not achieved its stated objective and accused the West of “pouring fuel on the fire.” According to Fico, some politicians are now seeking a conflict between NATO and Russia because their earlier efforts to defeat Russia through the Ukraine war have failed. The Slovak leader’s comments come amid growing warnings from several European governments about potential Russian hybrid attacks. The article specifically cites leaders in France and Poland, who have raised concerns about activities that could fall short of conventional warfare while still threatening European security. Fico has repeatedly taken a position distinct from many other European leaders by calling for an end to military support for Ukraine and by emphasizing the risks of escalation. His latest remarks frame the war as an increasingly dangerous threat to the wider continent rather than solely a conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The report presents Fico’s accusations and the broader European security concerns but does not independently verify his claim that Western politicians are deliberately seeking a NATO-Russia clash.

The article reports comments by Earl Charles Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana, who compared the British media’s treatment of Prince Harry and Meghan to the hostile coverage Diana experienced during her lifetime. In an interview published on Sunday, Spencer argued that the press coverage directed at the couple can be similarly unpleasant and warned that society should learn from Diana’s example. The article recalls Diana’s death in a 1997 car crash in Paris. She was 36 when photographers pursued the vehicle on motorbikes, an event that prompted widespread grief and renewed debate about whether the media bore some responsibility for her death. For years before the crash, British tabloids had published extensive and often intrusive details about Diana’s private life. Her death therefore led to a broader reckoning over the conduct of the press and the consequences of aggressive celebrity photography. Spencer’s remarks place Harry and Meghan’s continuing conflict with the British media within that earlier history. His comparison suggests that he views the scrutiny faced by the couple as part of a recurring pattern in which tabloids publish harsh or invasive stories about members of the royal family. He urged people to draw lessons from the way Diana was treated rather than repeat the same practices. The report does not provide a response from Harry, Meghan, or British media organizations. Instead, it focuses on Spencer’s warning and the historical parallel between Diana’s experience and the couple’s relationship with the press.

The article examines the widespread destruction of cultural heritage during modern conflicts and asks why those responsible are so rarely held accountable. In Ukraine, intensified Russian aerial attacks damaged six UNESCO-protected sites in Odesa, including the 19th-Century Alexandru Sturdza House. Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture reported 148 damaged or destroyed heritage sites in one month, while activist groups have complained to the International Criminal Court (ICC) about Russian destruction and looting. However, no indictments have been issued. Experts such as Bijan Rouhani argue that the problem is not a lack of evidence. Satellite imagery, remote sensing and monitoring teams can document attacks, but jurisdiction and political will prevent prosecutions. Similar damage has occurred in Gaza, where the Great Omari Mosque was largely destroyed in a 2023 Israeli strike. The article emphasizes that the loss of historic buildings affects identity and collective memory, alongside the human devastation of war. Heritage sites in Iran, including Golestan Palace and Naqsh-e Jahan Square, and Sudan’s Meroe Pyramids are also endangered by conflict and the suspension of preservation work. The article reviews international protections, particularly the 1954 Hague Convention and its 1999 Second Protocol, as well as the ICC’s mandate to prosecute deliberate attacks on culturally significant buildings as war crimes. Yet only one such case has succeeded at the ICC: Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi’s conviction for attacks on mausoleums and a mosque in Timbuktu. It also describes efforts to protect heritage, including the Aliph Foundation’s funding for Ukrainian museums and the use of specialized “heritage ambulances” to evacuate and monitor valuable artefacts. Ultimately, the article argues that cultural heritage remains vulnerable because governments often treat it as secondary to military and political priorities, despite its importance to history, identity and memory.

Ramabai Ranveer, a 47-year-old widow from Maharashtra, western India, became an unexpected social media sensation after winning a 3km community race barefoot in August. She entered the event to win money for her daughters’ education, particularly books and study materials for her younger daughter, Arati, who was struggling to afford them. When her slippers repeatedly slipped off during the race, Ramabai removed them, gathered her sari and ran barefoot to victory, winning 3,000 rupees. Her elder daughter, Pooja, also won a prize and is preparing for police recruitment. Ramabai has been her family’s sole breadwinner since her husband died in 2012. Having left school at 13, she has worked in agricultural labor, processed and sold turmeric, and now cooks at a coaching centre where one of her daughters studies. She is determined to ensure that her daughters have the educational and career opportunities she never had. Her story resonated because it reflects both the sacrifices made by millions of Indian families and the growing concerns surrounding India’s education and employment systems. Government jobs, including police and civil-service positions, are highly competitive and often require years of preparation, coaching and expensive study materials. Allegations of examination paper leaks and other irregularities have weakened confidence in the system and contributed to student protests and broader frustration among young people. The race also prompted debate over whether Ramabai’s achievement should be celebrated as an inspiring act of determination or viewed as evidence of social and economic failure. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant later directed local officials to provide her with 50,000 rupees in financial assistance. However, education expert Sukhadeo Thorat argued that her struggle demonstrates the weak implementation of government education schemes. For Ramabai, the wider debate matters less than helping her daughters avoid the hardships she endured and secure better futures.

The article follows Yusron Azzahidi and Ziadatur Rahmah, former star pupils at Abu Barokat Islamic boarding school on Indonesia’s Lombok island, as they investigate allegations that their respected head teacher, Ahmad Imanuddin Sumar—known as “Abah”—sexually abused students. Zia tells Yusron that Abah assaulted her when she was 16, taking her to his house, kissing and touching her, and stopping only when one of his children interrupted them. Yusron and Zia, assisted by friends Wanda Hamidah and Mahima Eka, begin collecting corroborating accounts from former classmates. Their investigation uncovers allegations from several other students, including Sukma Rohana, who says Abah attempted to rape her when she was 17. Yusron documents the testimony in a seven-page report, and Wanda arranges a meeting with representatives of Nahdlatul Wathan Diniyah Islamiyah (NWDI), the organization running the school. Although NWDI initially promises to help take the allegations to police, the organization allegedly gives Yusron’s evidence to Abah. Abah then contacts Yusron and Zia, pleading with them to remain silent and suggesting explanations they could use to retract their statements. Yusron secretly records one call in which Abah appears to acknowledge abusing Zia. Sukma says police officers and an NWDI lawyer pressured her to sign a document claiming her allegations were false. Further pressure reportedly comes from Abah’s wife and from Yusron’s parents, leading him to suspend the investigation. As Yusron and Zia’s friendship develops into a relationship, Zia later finds renewed encouragement through activist Ayu Masruroh, who campaigns against sexual abuse in Islamic schools. Zia posts an appeal for other survivors to come forward and learns that another student allegedly experienced abuse by Abah after he had promised to change. The supplied article ends mid-sentence as this renewed investigation begins.

France’s wine industry is facing a severe crisis as heatwaves, drought and climate change push 2026 production toward a 70-year low. The agriculture ministry expects a third consecutive year of reduced output, with particularly serious effects in traditionally temperate regions such as the Loire Valley and Champagne. By contrast, producers in southern areas including Bordeaux and Languedoc-Roussillon have reported larger harvests than in 2025. Experts say France has been slow to prepare for climate change. Jean-Marie Cardebat of INSEEC Grande École and the University of Bordeaux contrasts France’s limited irrigation infrastructure with Spain’s greater readiness. Strict appellation rules, governing irrigation, planting density and grape varieties, are also being challenged. Château Lafleur’s decision to withdraw from the Pomerol and Bordeaux designations illustrates producers’ frustration with rules they believe restrict adaptation. Earlier harvests are creating logistical and labor problems. Maison Louis Latour began harvesting on August 14, the earliest start in its history, while the midpoint of French harvests has advanced by roughly a month since the 1930s. Production declines, rising costs and falling consumption are creating financial pressure. France may fall to third place among global wine producers, behind Italy and potentially Spain, while wine-sector business failures have tripled since 2019. The government has announced more than €1 billion in emergency aid, but producers remain caught in a cycle in which lower revenues reduce their ability to invest in climate adaptation. Consolidation is increasing, and approximately 4% of France’s vines are expected to be removed in 2026, following the uprooting of 20,000 hectares in Bordeaux since 2023. To survive, industry leaders are exploring ready-to-drink products, new packaging and markets in the United States, South America, Brazil, India and Africa. Despite the risks, Florent Latour remains cautiously optimistic, emphasizing accessibility, younger consumers and the continued value of family ownership.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has emerged as one of President Donald Trump’s most influential allies on artificial intelligence policy. Huang’s influence stems from Nvidia’s central role in the AI boom, its status as the world’s most valuable company, and his ability to present positions in terms that appeal to Trump. The president has increasingly echoed Huang’s dismissive stance toward AI safety concerns, including claims that fears about AI and data centers are exaggerated and that “the robots are not going to be taking over the world.” Huang favors accelerating U.S. AI development and argues that safety problems can be addressed through engineering rather than broad government regulation. His position contrasts with that of Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Elon Musk and Google DeepMind Chair Demis Hassabis, who have called for slower AI development and stronger oversight following security incidents involving AI models. Critics say Nvidia, whose business depends on selling chips, has a financial incentive to minimize concerns about AI risks. The article also examines Nvidia’s efforts to expand chip sales to China. Huang argued that restricting exports would benefit China by encouraging it to develop competing AI hardware. Trump ultimately allowed Nvidia to sell its H200 chips to Chinese customers in exchange for a 25% fee, despite bipartisan opposition in Congress over national-security concerns. China’s regulators later largely blocked the imports. Huang’s close relationship with Trump includes multiple public appearances, international travel and an expected invitation to a state dinner involving Chinese President Xi Jinping. His role is particularly significant because the dinner will coincide with discussions involving major AI executives and negotiations over Nvidia’s China ambitions. The article portrays Huang as a powerful advocate for Nvidia’s commercial interests whose views are increasingly shaping the administration’s AI debate.

Greg O’Neill, a 63-year-old swimmer described by his family as a devoted father, husband, brother, uncle and grandfather-to-be, was reportedly killed in a suspected shark attack at Sorrento Beach near Perth, Western Australia. The attack occurred Friday in front of horrified beachgoers while O’Neill was swimming with a friend. Witnesses described seeing a large amount of blood in the water, while another witness said O’Neill’s companion was deeply distressed that he could not save him. Police said they were confident the swimmer died as a result of the attack, although they had not confirmed whether his remains had been recovered. The incident prompted Western Australia Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis to authorize the rare catch-and-kill of a great white shark, a protected species. Jarvis said she considered the exceptional circumstances, the danger posed by the shark and the possibility of recovering coronial evidence. Police boats and a helicopter patrolled the beach after the attack. O’Neill’s family said they were devastated and described him as a generous, devoted family man who loved the ocean, swimming and sports. They expressed appreciation for the public’s support. The attack was reportedly the fifth fatal shark attack in Australia this year. Earlier incidents included the deaths of three spearfishing divers between May and June and a 12-year-old boy killed in Sydney Harbor in January. A surfer also suffered a serious leg injury in a separate attack about 250 miles north of Perth the following Monday.

A nonpublic 44-page Russian government roadmap obtained and reviewed by Fox News Digital outlines plans to deepen cooperation between Russia and Iran from 2024 through 2026. Approved by Russia on September 2, 2024, and marked “For official use,” the document assigns responsibilities and deadlines to ministries, agencies and state-owned companies. Its proposals extend beyond ordinary trade, covering alternative financial channels, expanded use of national currencies, energy investment, nuclear cooperation, transportation routes toward the Persian Gulf, and Iranian manufacturing of Russian aircraft components. The article emphasizes that the roadmap predates the current war involving Iran and the United States, so it does not establish which projects remain active or how the conflict may have changed Moscow’s plans. However, subsequent public reporting indicates that some initiatives later advanced or materialized. Keti Korkiya of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies says the document’s significance lies less in any individual project than in the broader architecture Russia sought to build with Iran. She describes financial, transportation, energy and aviation cooperation as mechanisms for reducing vulnerabilities caused by Western sanctions and economic pressure. A European intelligence source similarly characterized the document as strategic, sensitive and politically significant, particularly because it addresses nuclear programs, energy trade and financial transactions that could help the two sanctioned countries bypass restrictions. A U.S. official said Russia and Iran have been severely isolated from the international financial system and that efforts to establish alternative payment mechanisms were therefore expected. Washington, the official said, monitors such efforts and may attempt to disrupt channels that facilitate sanctions evasion or illicit finance. Although the roadmap does not use the phrase “sanctions evasion,” it repeatedly calls for independent financial channels and measures opposing what Moscow describes as unilateral restrictive measures.

This photo essay examines the demanding, unstable lives of workers and fishermen at Kasimedu Fishing Harbour in Chennai, India. The overcrowded harbor serves more than 1,000 boats despite being designed for fewer than 600, supporting roughly 30,000 people, including fishermen, auctioneers, vendors, transport workers, ice suppliers and migrant laborers known as “basket men.” The article profiles Pavadairayan, a 60-year-old basket man who carries approximately 35-pound loads of fish between boats and the auction house dozens of times during overnight shifts. Although he earns only about $5 a day and has few workplace protections, he values the job because it leaves his days free and keeps him close to the sea. It also tells the story of Nandu Kumar, a former fisherman who once smuggled alcohol and cigarettes during India’s restrictive import era. After his son-in-law drowned and his daughter later died by suicide, Kumar took responsibility for his grandchildren and shifted from fishing to selling fish, seeking a steadier income. His story illustrates the physical strain, grief and economic uncertainty embedded in maritime work. Researcher and social worker Bhagat Singh describes harbor life as “feast or famine.” Poor catches, illness and bad seasons can push families into poverty because workers have limited government support and few safety nets. Younger people increasingly seek more reliable careers, although some eventually return to fishing because of their independence and connection to the sea. The article balances these hardships with the pride and emotional attachment workers feel toward their livelihoods. For Kumar, the sea resembles a mother’s lap: difficult and dangerous, but a source of warmth and comfort to which people continually return.

Munich’s Oktoberfest opened on Saturday with Mayor Dominik Krause officially tapping the first keg after only two strokes and declaring the traditional “O’zapft is,” meaning “It’s been tapped.” The ceremony marked the start of the 191st edition of the world’s largest folk festival. Thousands of visitors quickly filled the beer tents at the Theresienwiese fairground, many wearing traditional Bavarian dirndls and lederhosen. Brass music, freshly tapped beer, singing, dancing and swaying created a lively atmosphere as revelers settled in for the opening day. Beer remained the central attraction, while pretzels, pork roast and sausages were also popular. The festival will run for 16 days, through Oct. 4, and organizers expect approximately 6 million visitors. Although most attendees come from Munich and southern Germany, the event also attracts guests from across Germany and around the world. Authorities introduced heightened security measures following last year’s temporary closure caused by overcrowding. AI-powered cameras were installed to help detect large crowds at an early stage. Officials also banned knives and flying objects, including drones, and implemented entry checks. Large bags and marijuana smoking were prohibited. Around 600 police officers are assigned to the festival grounds, supported by Bavarian riot police, specialized pickpocket investigators and international task forces from eight countries. Despite the precautions, visitors appeared enthusiastic rather than deterred. American visitor Ava Laboncher praised the festival’s atmosphere, while New Zealand visitor Ben Dawson said he intended to drink heavily and return the following day.

The article examines why China is resisting calls from some US technology leaders to slow the development of advanced artificial intelligence. Although Chinese AI systems remain behind the most advanced US models, the gap is narrowing, and Beijing views AI as a core component of national power and sovereignty. Analysts say Chinese officials interpret proposals for global limits on frontier AI—especially when paired with continued US export controls on advanced chips and manufacturing equipment—as an effort to preserve America’s technological advantage. China’s public response has criticized fearmongering and confrontation, but the article argues that Beijing is not dismissing AI safety concerns altogether. Its latest AI safety governance framework addresses risks including autonomous agents, cybersecurity, and the possibility of recursive self-improvement. Experts say there may be more overlap between Chinese and US concerns about loss of control than political rhetoric suggests. China’s approach differs from that of the United States in its reliance on centralized state authority and rapidly updated regulation. This may give Beijing greater capacity to respond to an AI-related disaster, although Chinese companies conduct less voluntary safety testing and monitoring than their US counterparts. New rules have shifted attention from regulating what AI says to controlling what it does, including measures addressing emotional dependence on AI companions. At the same time, China is actively promoting AI across manufacturing, education, healthcare, and the wider economy as a means of boosting growth. Businesses and local governments are being encouraged and financially supported to adopt the technology. Public familiarity with digital services and comparatively limited privacy debate have also helped widespread adoption. The result is a pragmatic national attitude: Chinese society recognizes risks to employment and information quality, but many people believe China must master AI rather than slow its development.

The provided excerpt describes the recruitment of Ukrainian minors by Russia-linked operatives to carry out acts of sabotage in Ukraine. It focuses on Yaroslav Suzanskyi, who was 16 when he encountered an advertisement on Telegram promising “easy money” of approximately $165 for an unspecified odd job. The assignment was allegedly part of a sabotage effort: Suzanskyi was paid to set fire to a railway relay cabinet, an act that could disrupt rail operations and potentially endanger infrastructure and passengers. The framing presents the recruitment of children as a deliberate exploitation of vulnerable young people during wartime. The use of an online messaging platform and an apparently innocuous employment offer suggests that recruiters concealed the criminal or military nature of the task until participants were involved. The headline indicates that the recruited youths were ultimately caught, although the supplied text does not provide details about the arrests, the identities of the recruiters, the investigation, the legal consequences, or whether similar incidents occurred elsewhere. Because the submitted content contains only the article’s headline, byline, dateline, and opening paragraph, it is not possible to summarize the full Washington Post report without inventing information. The available passage establishes the central themes of alleged Russian recruitment, the use of Ukrainian children for sabotage, online manipulation, and the targeting of railway infrastructure. It also conveys the seriousness of the incident through the contrast between the promise of easy money and the dangerous reality of the assignment.