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• European stock markets opened higher on Thursday morning despite a decline on Wall Street. • Major indices including France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX 30 traded between 0.2% and 0.7% higher than their Wednesday close. • The gains occurred after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for the first time in over three years, pushing the US dollar to a seven-week high.

• The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six others, including former State Minister Mohammad Ali Arafat, to death for crimes against humanity. • These sentences were handed down in absentia, meaning the accused were not present in custody during the proceedings. • JPMorgan confirmed that Bangladesh will maintain the maximum 8% weighting in its new $330 billion frontier bond index, which tracks government debt from smaller, developing economies.

• The House of Representatives voted 220-204 on Tuesday for a third resolution seeking to end unauthorized military action in the Iran war. • Seven Republicans joined Democrats in the vote, including representatives Nunn and Miller-Meeks from Iowa and Mace, who is retiring from Congress. • This decision marks the likely final House vote on the conflict before the November midterm elections.

• Oil prices and 10-year Treasury yields are moving in near lockstep, reaching their strongest correlation since 2019. • Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research noted that rising oil prices signal higher bond yields and increased inflationary expectations. • This trend threatens growth and technology stocks because their valuations rely on earnings expected far into the future.

String of female murder victims found near Johannesburg’s international airport, including five in the past weekThe discovery of the bodies of seven women around Johannesburg’s international airport, including five in the past week, has prompted an outpouring of fear, grief and anger over a lack of progress in tackling femicide.When Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo did not return after going for a run on 9 September, her eight-year-old daughter alerted relatives, who contacted police. The 38-year-old’s body was found on Saturday and identified by relatives on Monday. The news of her disappearance had gone viral. Continue reading...

• France, Germany, and seven other Schengen countries are reportedly receiving more time to fully implement the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) for border checks. • The group receiving the extension includes Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland. • This delay aims to address technical problems and long border queues that have complicated travel for passengers.

• The European Union is accelerating efforts to finalize its seven-year budget and climate change policies before France holds elections in 2027. • The Financial Times reports that Paris has issued warnings regarding the urgency of securing these key documents. • These agreements determine the long-term funding and environmental regulations that will impact businesses and governments across the EU member states.

Ash cloud from Anak Krakatau affects hundreds of flights and some school and fishing activitiesIndonesia halted operations at eight airports on Sunday, including from its main international hub, affecting hundreds of flights as a result of an ash cloud from the Anak Krakatau volcano.Saturday’s eruption, which produced lava and booming sounds that were heard up to 435 miles (700km) away, according to Indonesia’s geology agency, also interrupted some school activities and fishing. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Guardian investigation reveals targeting of World Central Kitchen convoy was result of widely used military tactic• Death on the road to Rafah: the night the IDF targeted World Central Kitchen aid workersSeven aid workers killed in an airstrike in Gaza were marked as targets under an Israeli military practice of establishing guilt by association, a Guardian investigation shows.A top Israeli military prosecutor announced last month that he would not pursue criminal proceedings for the April 2024 incident in which drones fired missiles at three clearly marked World Central Kitchen (WCK) cars soon after they had escorted a food aid delivery to Gaza. Three British humanitarian workers along with an Australian, a Palestinian, a Pole and a dual US-Canadian national were killed. Continue reading...

Lorena Isceri was thrown off a motorway bridge, allegedly by ex-boyfriend Federico VellaA 45-year-old woman has been killed and thrown off a motorway bridge near Florence, in the seventh alleged femicide in Italy since mid-August.Lorena Isceri was abducted on Thursday afternoon, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend, Federico Vella, in the Rifredi area of Florence, before being forced into the boot of his car and driven towards the bridge on the A1 motorway.In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org Continue reading...

• The Premier League and major Western European transfer windows closed on Tuesday, marking the end of the primary signing period for top clubs. • Headline activity included Enzo Fernandez moving from Chelsea to Manchester City for a club-record £125 million, making him the first player transferred twice for over £100 million. • Despite the closures in England, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany, Premier League clubs can still sell players to seven countries where transfer windows remain open.

An estimated 237 people have been rescued after accident off the coast of northern CyprusFatalities after ferry carrying nearly 270 capsizes off northern CyprusIn a post to Facebook, the mayor of the coastal town of Kyrenia, Murat Senkul, described the situation as “very serious” and confirmed that 270 passengers and crew were aboard when the ship sank off the coast of Diana beach. He said the ferry belonged to the Filo Denizcilik company.“The Coast Guard, the *Akgünler Express* vessel, and numerous small boats are participating in rescue operations,” he wrote in the social media post. Continue reading...

Cleveland police say a total of 24 people arrested in investigation after crash that killed two officersSeven more men have been arrested as Cleveland police attempt to disrupt organised crime after the A66 crash that killed two officers.The force said the total number of those arrested in the investigation had risen to 24, several of them charged with serious offences and a number of offenders recalled to prison. Continue reading...

Course at Donald Trump’s Turnberry resort was painted with words ‘Gaza is not 4 sale’ and clubhouse was sprayed with graffitiSeven people charged with vandalising Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Scotland have been accused of malicious damage “having a terrorist connection”.The clubhouse at the five-star Trump Turnberry hotel and resort on the west coast of Scotland was graffitied on 8 March last year and the course was dug up and painted with the words “Gaza is not 4 sale”. Continue reading...

Then House candidate joined Democratic Socialists of America in 2018 but didn’t renew membership after a yearAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez has rejoined the Democratic Socialists of America after not renewing her membership for seven years, amid speculation that she might run for president in 2028.The 36-year-old New York representative and one of the country’s most prominent democratic socialists renewed her membership in the group’s national organization after reports emerged earlier this month that it had lapsed. Ocasio-Cortez initially joined the group in 2018. Continue reading...

News comes day after 12 people were arrested over crash in which car drove wrong way along dual carriagewayFive more people have been arrested by detectives investigating the events leading up to the crash on the A66 that killed seven people, including two police officers.Cleveland police made the announcement after 12 people were arrested on Monday. Continue reading...

Nine men and three women aged between 19 and 61 arrested as part of investigation of events leading to deadly collisionTwelve people have been arrested on suspicion of offences including being involved with organised crime as part of the investigation into events leading to a crash on the A66 which killed two police officers and five others.Cleveland police said nine men and three women, aged between 19 and 61, had been arrested on suspicion of offences ranging from possession of a firearm to participating in the activities of an organised crime group. Continue reading...

Three other people wounded after 18-year-old man wielding sword assail students in Fagersta schoolA 17-year-old girl has been killed after a teenager brandishing a sword attacked students at a school in Sweden, police have confirmed.Three other people were wounded in the incident during classes in the central town of Fagersta on Friday afternoon, including two boys aged 12 and 17 who sustained minor injuries. Continue reading...

• South Korea's Financial Services Commission has officially launched an ₩880 billion (approximately $630.9 million) Ultra-Long-Term Technology Investment Fund. • The fund is specifically designed to provide capital for up to 16 years to companies developing foundational and advanced technologies that require extended timelines for commercialization. • This initiative matters as it addresses the funding gap for high-risk, long-term research and development that traditional short-term investment cycles often overlook.

Officials say all seven people onboard killed, including Telemundo executive and Ecuador intelligence chiefSeven people, including five Americans, were killed when a safari helicopter crashed on Wednesday morning in a remote part of northern Kenya, according to local police and the state department.Among the dead were an executive with Telemundo, the US-based Spanish-language network owned by NBC Universal, and the director of Ecuador’s national intelligence service. Continue reading...

• Indian stock markets declined for the seventh consecutive session on August 19, 2026, with the Nifty 50 losing 2.1% over the seven-day period. • The downturn was driven by high long-term global bond yields, which reduced investor appetite for emerging-market equities. • Selling was widespread across the board, affecting 14 of 16 major sectoral indices, including small-cap and mid-cap indices which fell 0.5% and 0.2%, respectively.

• Seoul experienced a surge in inbound tourism for seven consecutive months from January to July 2026, breaking global records and overtaking other South Korean cities. • The growth was primarily driven by the global popularity of K-culture and supportive government policies. • In June 2026 alone, six Southeast Asian markets—Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore—contributed a combined 230,000 tourists.

• Voting in seven constituencies during the third phase of elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has been postponed indefinitely. • The decision follows a wave of violent protests and formal requests from local political figures and candidates citing the unstable security situation. • India has criticized the electoral process, labeling the entire exercise a farce.

At least 15 other people injured after student ⁠opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi school, north of BangkokThailand school shooting – latest updatesA Thai teenager killed at least six people and himself at a school outside Bangkok, after fatally shooting his grandparents, in the country’s worst mass shooting since 2022.Seven people ⁠were ⁠killed in the attack and 15 were wounded, ‌Thai police ⁠said on Friday. Continue reading...

• A suicide bombing occurred on Sunday outside the Kabal Police Station in Pakistan's Swat district, targeting a peace rally. • The attack resulted in at least seven deaths and left 18 other people injured. • This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges and the persistent threat of militant violence in the region.

• Indian boxers secured a total of ten medals, including seven golds and three silvers, at the 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games (CWG 2026). • Ankush Panghal and Sachin Siwach were the headline performers of the contingent, contributing to the team's overall success. • The victory highlights India's continued dominance in boxing, following strong domestic performances and previous appearances at the 2023 Asian Games.

• The European Union has launched a €30 billion initiative to establish up to seven AI "gigafactories" to compete with the technological dominance of the US and China. • These facilities will be significantly larger than Europe's existing network of 19 AI factories, specifically designed to train frontier AI models that currently require massive computational resources. • The project has seen strong interest, with 76 consortia applying and ten nations—including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland—vying to host the sites.

• The European Commission launched a call for tenders on July 30 to fund the construction of seven AI megafactories across Europe. • With a budget of €5 billion, these facilities will integrate supercomputers and data centers to provide the massive computing power needed to train next-generation AI models. • This initiative aims to reduce Europe's dependence on American technology and help the continent close the competitive gap with the US and China.