Tens of thousands of people protested in about 20 cities in Germany after the far-right party AfD won in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. The protesters said they are defending democracy because other main parties refuse to work with the AfD.
Key Facts
The AfD (Alternative for Germany) is a far-right political party.
AfD achieved a historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.
Around 20 German cities saw large protests against the rise of the far right.
Tens of thousands of people joined the marches.
Mainstream parties in Germany continue to rule out forming a government with the AfD.
Protesters say their demonstrations are to protect democracy in Germany.
The election and protests reflect tensions over far-right politics in Europe.
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Chester Zoo mistakenly advertised a bus tour as the "child predator tour" due to a computer system error. The zoo quickly changed the tour’s name after visitors raised concerns about the inappropriate wording used for a wildlife tour featuring animals like tigers and lions.
Key Facts
Chester Zoo offered a 90-minute bus tour to see animals such as Sumatran tigers, lions, rhinos, and Komodo dragons.
The tour was mistakenly called the "child predator tour" because of a default naming setting in the zoo’s ticketing system.
The zoo also accidentally advertised "adult predator" tickets for higher-priced tickets.
Visitors criticized the name online, calling it inappropriate and worrying.
Zoo officials said the mistake was a computer error and fixed it quickly.
The tour cost £25 for children and £30 for adults.
The tour aimed to provide a private, early visit experience with expert guides explaining about animal hunters in nature.
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About 140 people are missing after the passenger ferry Virgo Transport 8 overturned in rough weather in Indonesia’s Java Sea. Rescue teams have saved at least 102 people, and search efforts continue despite difficult conditions. This is the fourth major ferry accident in Indonesia since July.
Key Facts
The ferry Virgo Transport 8 was traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin when it overturned.
Around 243 people were believed to be on board, but exact numbers are uncertain.
At least 102 people have been rescued, and one death is confirmed.
Rough seas and strong winds are making search and rescue operations difficult.
Indonesia relies heavily on ferries to connect many islands across the country.
This accident follows three other major ferry emergencies since July, including one sinking and two fires.
Differences between passenger lists and actual numbers complicate rescue efforts.
Authorities continue to investigate safety and emergency response in Indonesia’s maritime transport.
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Dancing with the Stars Season 35 features a diverse group of celebrities from different fields, including actors, athletes, chefs, and social media stars. The show aims to attract a wide range of viewers by including people popular with different age groups and fan communities, and it will premiere on September 15 on ABC and Disney+.
Key Facts
Season 35 of Dancing with the Stars starts September 15, airing live on ABC and Disney+.
The cast includes actor Julia Stiles, baseball player Jackson Olson, chef Giada De Laurentiis, singer Taylor Hanson, and several others from TV, sports, and social media.
The show mixes stars from different areas and different generations to attract a broad audience.
Producers aim to bring together fans of many niches, from reality TV supporters to TikTok viewers.
Season 34 finale had 9.24 million live viewers and over 72 million votes cast.
The show wants viewers to watch the entire cast, not just their favorite star.
Casting directors work to create a balance between older and younger audience appeal.
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Female asylum seekers in the UK have reported sexual assaults and harassment by British men while living in government-provided accommodation. Many feel too scared to report these crimes or seek justice, and support groups warn that violence against women is a broader issue rather than linked to any nationality.
Key Facts
Several female asylum seekers say they were sexually harassed or assaulted by hotel staff or security guards where they were housed.
Some victims did not report the crimes to police due to fear, distrust, or concern it would hurt their asylum claims.
One woman was forced to have sex with an immigration lawyer who knew her case situation because she had no money to pay him.
The Home Office uses contractors to provide asylum accommodation, and there are reports of poor safeguarding and unsafe conditions in some hotels.
The British Red Cross described a culture of sexual harassment and provided examples of unsafe behavior by staff in asylum hotels.
Women for Refugee Women said far-right groups wrongly use violence against women to spread harmful stereotypes about asylum seekers.
Official data on crimes committed by asylum seekers is limited, and far-right activists have made unproven claims about asylum seekers committing widespread sexual crimes.
All the women who shared their stories were eventually granted refugee status.
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A recent U.S. strike hit a house in Iran, injuring over 60 people and killing five, including two children. The author, who grew up in war-torn Iran, explains how war affects children’s memories and views of the world beyond just physical harm.
Key Facts
A U.S. strike recently targeted a wedding house in Kuhestak, Iran, causing injuries to more than 60 people and killing five, two of whom were children.
The author’s first memories come from living through the Iran-Iraq war as a child in Tehran during the 1980s.
War creates lasting fear in children because they associate danger with the sky and feel powerless, not understanding politics or military reasons.
The author’s family moved to America in 1984 to escape the war.
Visiting a space museum helped the author see rockets as symbols of hope, not just destruction.
In 2024, the author flew above the atmosphere and saw Earth as one connected place without borders.
The author believes decision-makers in war should remember the human impact, especially on children who do not control their governments.
Children affected by conflict remember the fear and sounds of war more than political arguments.
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A very strong El Niño weather pattern is expected to develop and persist through the end of 2026, with a high chance it will be one of the strongest on record. This climate event can affect weather across the United States, causing changes like more storms and rainfall in some regions and milder winter temperatures in others.
Key Facts
El Niño is the warm phase of a natural climate cycle called ENSO that influences weather worldwide.
NOAA forecasters say there is over a 90% chance El Niño will grow stronger through 2026.
There is a 75% chance this El Niño will be historic in strength during fall and winter 2026.
El Niño typically brings stormier weather to the Southern U.S. and drier conditions to some northern areas.
Forecasters predict more heavy rain in parts of California and the Southeast during December through February.
Some northern areas may experience milder winter temperatures and less frequent cold air.
Weather patterns remain uncertain as other factors could influence the impacts of this El Niño.
The Climate Prediction Center favors above-normal temperatures in much of the U.S. for winter 2026-2027.
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A strong El Niño weather pattern is expected this fall and winter, bringing wetter and colder conditions to parts of the United States. Pet and livestock owners, especially those with cattle, are advised to prepare by providing more feed and protecting animals from wet, windy, and muddy conditions to keep them healthy.
Key Facts
El Niño happens when ocean water in the tropical Pacific warms up unusually, affecting weather worldwide.
This year's El Niño could become very strong by the end of 2024, with a 75% chance of reaching historic levels.
In the U.S., El Niño usually causes wetter weather in southern states and warmer, drier conditions in northern states.
Livestock like cattle rely on digesting rough plant food to keep warm during cold winters.
Wet and freezing rainy weather can soak cattle coats and reduce their natural warmth.
Farmers are planning to have about 30% more hay feed to help cattle stay warm in winter 2024-2025.
Mud caused by wet conditions can make cattle vulnerable to injury and hoof infections.
Proper shelter includes windbreaks and three-sided sheds that protect animals without trapping stale air.
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A large fire broke out at Dalton Mills in Keighley, a derelict building known as a filming location for Peaky Blinders. The fire required up to 12 fire engines, led to nearby evacuations, and is the third major fire at the site this year, with past incidents believed to be caused by arson.
Key Facts
The fire started around 8:00 p.m. BST on Saturday at Dalton Mills.
At the height of the fire, 12 fire engines were used to control the blaze.
Nearby residents were evacuated for safety, and emergency services advised the public to avoid the area.
This is the third fire this year at the Grade II-listed Victorian building.
The mill was used in TV shows like Peaky Blinders and Downton Abbey.
Past fires are suspected to be deliberate, with two teenagers convicted for arson in 2022.
The Crown Estate took ownership of the mill in 2024 after the last owner went bankrupt.
Local officials and emergency services continue to respond, and security concerns remain due to repeated trespassing and fires.
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Debby Erney from Ohio adopted two daughters in 2001 but soon after was diagnosed with Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition that makes the thyroid overactive. This led to Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), a rare condition that severely affected her eyesight and daily life. She has since undergone many treatments and continues to manage the disease.
Key Facts
Debby Erney and her husband adopted two baby girls in 2001.
Soon after, Debby developed symptoms like bulging eyes and swelling.
Doctors diagnosed her with Graves' disease, causing her thyroid to become overactive.
She also developed Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), linked to Graves' disease, causing vision problems.
TED symptoms can range from mild eye issues to severe vision loss needing surgery or medication.
Debby's eyesight worsened rapidly, and she had to stop driving after an accident.
Treatments included surgery, steroids, radiation, prism lenses, and the drug Tepezza, approved in 2020.
The disease had periods of inactivity but returned in 2023, requiring further treatment.
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The UK political party Reform UK received £72 million in donations within 24 hours from two cryptocurrency billionaires. Party officials say the money will help them prepare for the next general election, but questions have been raised about the source of the donations and potential legal issues.
Key Facts
Reform UK received a total of £72 million from two crypto investors: Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo.
Each billionaire donated £36 million, the largest single donations in UK political history.
Christopher Harborne has lived outside the UK for years, and Ben Delo was living in Hong Kong recently.
Ben Delo was previously convicted of breaking a US banking law and was pardoned by President Donald Trump last year.
Reform UK plans to use the funds to prepare for the next UK general election, expected before 2029.
Reform supports more crypto-friendly policies, including wider use of cryptocurrency in the UK.
There are questions over whether Reform broke electoral law by accepting foreign-linked donations.
Some UK politicians want stricter limits on large political donations, beyond current rules that only limit foreign donations.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to the United Kingdom but still own a home in California. Some experts believe their move to the UK could hurt their chances of success in American TV and entertainment projects.
Key Facts
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved back to the UK at the end of August but have not sold their California home.
They have ongoing and planned TV projects with Netflix, including adaptations of a romance novel and a military memoir.
Their earlier deals included multi-year contracts with Netflix and Spotify, but recent projects have seen less success.
Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare received negative responses, including criticism of certain personal stories.
Meghan’s Spotify podcast ended after one season, and her Netflix series With Love, Meghan had poor ratings.
Critics say their public image damaged their popularity in the US entertainment industry.
There is speculation Meghan might try acting again in the UK, but major success in the US is seen as unlikely.
Their previous strength was in advocacy on causes important to young people, but media attention has focused on controversies.
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The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party won a strong result in a German state election, coming close to forming the first far-right government at the state level since World War II. Elon Musk publicly supported the AfD, sharing praise online and hosting a livestream with the party leader, drawing attention to his connections with far-right politics in Germany and internationally.
Key Facts
The AfD nearly formed a far-right state government in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
Elon Musk congratulated AfD party leader Alice Weidel and posted multiple supportive messages.
The AfD’s Saxony-Anhalt leader thanked Musk and called him a "visionary."
Musk has supported far-right groups globally and shares views similar to the AfD on immigration and culture.
Musk spent over $100 million backing President Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign.
Musk has formed alliances with other far-right leaders in countries like Argentina, Italy, and the UK.
Musk wrote an opinion piece in a German newspaper supporting the AfD as a solution to Germany’s problems.
Hosting a livestream with Weidel led to increased German media attention on the AfD leader.
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An Indonesian ferry called Virgo Transport 8 lost contact in the Java Sea during bad weather. One person died, 102 passengers were rescued, and search efforts continue for the remaining people on board.
Key Facts
The ferry was carrying 243 people when it went missing.
It was traveling from Surabaya to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.
Contact was lost about 150 km south of Banjarmasin around 02:00 local time on Sunday.
Indonesian search and rescue teams sent ships and a helicopter to find the ferry.
Other vessels in the area were asked to help look for passengers.
One person has been confirmed dead.
The search for the missing passengers is still ongoing.
Ferry travel is common in Indonesia, which has over 17,000 islands.
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Indonesian rescue teams are searching for 140 people from a passenger ferry called Virgo Transport 8, which lost contact in bad weather in the Java Sea. So far, 103 people have been rescued, but one has died.
Key Facts
The ferry was traveling from Surabaya in East Java to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan.
Contact with the ferry was lost early Sunday, around 2 a.m.
The ferry was carrying more than 240 people when it went missing.
Rescue teams have sent ships, a helicopter, and a team to search in the last known location of the ferry.
The ferry’s operator reported the situation after learning the boat hit bad weather.
Indonesia uses ferries a lot because they are cheaper and more common than planes.
Safety rules for ships in Indonesia are not always strictly followed, leading to many accidents.
One rescued person has died, and more than 30 people are still missing.
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South Australia recorded the first death of an endangered Australian sea lion from H5 bird flu at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island. The species, with fewer than 10,000 left mainly in South and Western Australia, faces increasing threats as bird flu spreads, and no effective vaccine is currently available for wild sea lions.
Key Facts
The dead sea lion was found at Seal Bay on Kangaroo Island, home to about 800 sea lions.
This sea lion had been healing from a shark attack but died due to H5 bird flu infection.
Around 85% of the Australian sea lion population lives in South Australia; less than 10,000 remain in total.
The population is already shrinking by about 2% each year before the bird flu outbreak.
Bird flu has caused severe declines in seal and sea lion populations in other parts of the world, sometimes wiping out up to 95% of pups.
No current off-the-shelf vaccine exists for marine mammals like sea lions, though experimental trials in other seals have been done.
South Australia’s government is discussing trials with the federal government to test vaccines for sea lions.
H5 bird flu first appeared in mainland Australian mammals in August, confirmed in a sea lion relative, the long-nosed fur seal, in South Australia.
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Jonathan Powell, the UK national security adviser, said Europe must be ready to face serious hardships this winter to keep economic pressure on Russia. He believes that Ukraine is winning the war and that pressure on President Putin is working, so Europe should not ease sanctions despite energy shortages.
Key Facts
Europe is facing severe energy shortages this winter but must maintain sanctions against Russia.
Powell described Russian escalation as a sign that pressure on Putin is effective.
Ukraine will remain free to choose its future, even if some territories are lost.
Powell recently met with Donald Trump’s envoys in Kyiv after they visited Putin in Moscow.
Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure have caused huge damage, costing about $10 billion.
Ukraine’s economy is expected to shrink by 1.5% this year due to the war and export blockades.
The EU plans to stop buying Russian gas by January but still imports 12% currently.
Powell said even though the situation is hard, there are reasons to be hopeful about Ukraine’s progress.
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Wales’s first minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, said Andy Burnham must understand that Wales is a nation with different needs than regions in England. Ap Iorwerth wants more powers for Wales, especially over policing and justice, and is cautious about resistance from UK officials, including Burnham’s team, to giving these powers.
Key Facts
Rhun ap Iorwerth is the first non-Labour leader of the Welsh parliament since devolution.
He became first minister in May after his party, Plaid Cymru, won the most seats in the Senedd elections.
Ap Iorwerth said Wales is a nation, not a region of England, and needs a different approach to devolution.
He has spoken with Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, about devolution but wants Burnham to recognize Wales’s unique status.
Wales does not control its policing and justice system, unlike other UK nations.
Ap Iorwerth wants these powers devolved to Wales and says studies support this change.
He is concerned some around Burnham and the UK government resist transferring policing and justice powers.
Plaid Cymru may work with Labour to prevent the Reform UK party from gaining power in Wales or the UK.
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Indonesian rescuers are searching for a passenger ship carrying more than 240 people that lost contact in the Java Sea while traveling from East Java to South Kalimantan on Borneo island. The ship last communicated early Sunday morning and was reported to have encountered bad weather.
Key Facts
The ship is named Virgo Transport 8.
It left Surabaya in East Java on Saturday at 10:13 a.m. local time.
The last contact was around 2 a.m. Sunday, approximately 148 kilometers from Banjarmasin pier.
The ship was carrying 241 passengers according to its manifest.
Search operations involve multiple agencies and a rescue ship is heading to the last known location.
Authorities reported no confirmed casualties so far.
The search team is closely monitoring weather conditions in the area.
The Search and Rescue Office in Banjarmasin is leading the operation.
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A small village bistro in northern Burgundy, France, recently reopened after eight months closed, thanks to efforts by locals to save it. French village bistros, once numerous, are shrinking quickly, threatening community life and social connections in rural areas.
Key Facts
Au Bon Accueil bistro in Saint-Martin-sur-Ouanne reopened after eight months of closure.
The bistro offers meals like steak or lasagne for €18.
It is the village’s last public business since the bakery closed eight years ago.
French village bistros have declined from about 500,000 in 1900 to 30,000–40,000 today.
Bistros are closing at a rate of two per day in France.
Reasons for closures include fewer rural residents, changing social habits, and less alcohol consumption.
Local leaders and associations work to keep bistros open for social life and community support.
There is a campaign to have French bistros recognized by UNESCO to help preserve them.
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