Two former Iranian women’s soccer players who sought asylum in Australia said their refusal to sing Iran’s national anthem at a tournament was a protest against the government’s harsh crackdown on protests in Iran. They have now stayed in Australia, received citizenship, and continue playing soccer there.
Key Facts
Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh refused to sing Iran’s national anthem at the Women’s Asian Cup in March 2026.
Their silence was a protest against Tehran’s violent response to nationwide demonstrations in Iran.
The Iranian media called the team traitors after the anthem silence.
They fled Iran after the tournament and applied for asylum in Australia.
Australian officials initially did not offer them asylum but later allowed seven team members to stay; only Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh remain in Australia.
Both players now play for a semi-professional soccer team in Brisbane.
They received Australian citizenship in August 2026.
President Donald Trump supported their asylum request and discussed it with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Philippine lawmaker and former House speaker, Martin Romualdez, was charged with corruption for allegedly taking $118 million in illegal payments from flood control projects. These projects, meant to protect communities from typhoons, are under investigation due to poor quality, high costs, and some not being built at all.
Key Facts
Martin Romualdez, a cousin and former ally of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., faces plunder charges in the anti-corruption court.
The stolen amount is estimated at 7.4 billion pesos (about $118 million).
Nearly 10,000 flood control projects worth over 545 billion pesos ($9 billion) are being checked for fraud or bad work.
Some projects were overpriced, poorly made, or not built.
Other officials, including a former House appropriations chair who fled to Europe, senators, engineers, and construction bosses, have been charged or detained.
Money stolen was allegedly hidden by buying houses and donating $1 million to Harvard University.
President Marcos called the corruption “horrible” and set up an independent commission to investigate, promising no one will be spared, including relatives.
More cases and charges like money laundering are expected to be filed soon.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The body of Ratko Mladic, a Bosnian Serb military commander convicted of war crimes and genocide, was placed in a Serbian Orthodox church in Belgrade for public viewing before his funeral. Serbia allowed official honors for Mladic despite warnings from the European Union against celebrating him, as thousands of people came to pay respects.
Key Facts
Ratko Mladic died on August 27, 2026, while serving a life sentence in The Hague, Netherlands.
He was convicted in 2017 for genocide and war crimes during the 1990s Bosnian war, including the killing of over 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica.
Mladic’s body was lying in state at St. Luke Church in Belgrade on September 7, 2026.
Thousands of mourners, including Serbian war veterans, came to pay their respects.
The Serbian Orthodox Church leader, Patriarch Porfirije, conducted the funeral service.
Mladic was given full military honors at his burial site.
High-profile figures like Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and the Russian ambassador attended the funeral.
Serbia’s decision to honor Mladic went against European Union warnings not to publicly support someone found guilty of genocide.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israeli airstrikes on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Rumman killed at least nine people and injured others, including women and children, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. These attacks happened during renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, despite a truce reached over two months ago.
Key Facts
Israel’s air force carried out two airstrikes early Monday in Kfar Rumman, southern Lebanon.
The strikes killed at least nine people, including a child and women, and injured 13 others.
One strike hit a building housing families; another strike hit a car, killing a paramedic.
Israeli military said the attack was retaliation for a drone attack by Hezbollah militants.
The clashes mark a new escalation despite a U.S.-brokered truce signed more than two months ago.
Israel says it controls a strategic hill overlooking nearby villages and roads to the city of Nabatiyeh.
Hezbollah and Israel have been violating the truce with ongoing airstrikes and drone attacks.
Lebanon and Israel had agreed on a framework deal involving Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah disarmament, but progress has stalled.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Jamaica is officially asking King Charles III to send its request for reparations related to the trans-Atlantic slave trade to the highest court that handles cases for former British colonies. This petition is part of Jamaica’s efforts to seek answers and potential compensation from Britain for its role in slavery.
Key Facts
Jamaica filed a petition to King Charles III on September 6, 2026, asking for reparations over Britain’s role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The petition requests that the king refer specific questions about slavery and reparations to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
The Privy Council is the highest court for some former British colonies with ongoing legal ties to Britain.
King Charles III will act on government advice regarding whether the petition is referred to the court.
The petition date coincides with the anniversary of the 1781 Zong massacre where 132 enslaved Africans were thrown overboard for insurance reasons.
The Zong incident helped push Britain to end the slave trade, which formally ended in 1807, and to abolish slavery in 1834.
Jamaica’s Culture Minister Olivia Grange said the country seeks answers about past wrongs before deciding on further legal steps.
Jamaica is leading efforts to seek reparations from Britain and other former colonial powers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Belgian-Chinese man was arrested in Brussels, accused of stealing semiconductor secrets and sending them to China. He worked at BelGaN, a company that made special semiconductors used in electric vehicles and military technology, which went bankrupt in 2024.
Key Facts
The man is 52 years old, born in Beijing, and lived in Belgium.
He was detained on May 10 while trying to fly to Beijing.
He held a senior research job at BelGaN, a company making gallium nitride semiconductors.
BelGaN went bankrupt in July 2024 and had about 400 employees.
Prosecutors suspect he shared secrets with a Chinese company that started soon after he joined BelGaN.
Charges include industrial espionage, criminal organization membership, misuse of assets, and illegal sharing of business secrets.
Investigators seized electronic devices and communications for evidence.
Authorities are also looking for a second suspect but gave no details.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kenya's trade ministry has warned foreigners that entering the country without a visa does not allow them to work or run businesses. President William Ruto set a deadline for foreign small business operators to stop working, aiming to control unlicensed businesses run by foreigners.
Key Facts
Foreigners using visa-free entry in Kenya cannot work or operate businesses legally.
President William Ruto ordered foreigners running small-scale businesses to stop by a set deadline.
The Kenyan government plans to shut down unlicensed small businesses owned by foreigners.
Some foreigners enter Kenya as tourists or investors but then engage in business against visa rules.
Burundi’s embassy in Kenya offered free travel documents to citizens wanting to return home amid concerns of mistreatment.
Burundi’s Foreign Affairs Minister warned that continuing hate speech against Burundians in Kenya could worsen relations.
Kenya, Burundi, and other countries are part of the East African Community, which promotes regional cooperation.
Kenya’s government said foreigners with proper work permits and licenses can continue their activities legally.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri revealed she has polycythaemia vera (PV), a rare and incurable blood cancer diagnosed last November. She receives treatment to manage symptoms like fatigue and to reduce risks such as blood clots, but she must live with the ongoing effects of the disease.
Key Facts
Maryam Moshiri was diagnosed with polycythaemia vera (PV), a rare blood cancer, in November.
PV cannot be cured but can be treated to control symptoms and risks.
The disease affects about 8,000 people in the UK.
PV increases the chance of dangerous blood clots that may cause stroke or heart attack.
Symptoms include headaches, blurred vision, tiredness, night sweats, and burning pain in hands and feet.
Treatment involves daily aspirin, regular blood removal (venesections), and a weekly injection called Pegasys.
The treatments help but cause fatigue that impacts daily life and work.
Moshiri shared her story to raise awareness for the charity Blood Cancer UK.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Germany's far-right party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), nearly won a majority in the state election of Saxony-Anhalt with about 43.8% of the vote. The AfD is now trying to work with other parties or members to form a government, but most parties refuse to cooperate with them.
Key Facts
The AfD won 39 seats in the 83-seat Saxony-Anhalt state parliament, just three seats short of a majority.
Saxony-Anhalt has about 2.1 million people and controls local policing and education.
The AfD is labeled "right-wing extremist" by German domestic intelligence, a label the party rejects.
AfD leaders say they have a clear mandate to govern and are seeking talks with other parties or individual lawmakers.
Most German parties refuse to work with the AfD except the small BSW party, which may support an AfD minority government.
The CDU party, with 17.2% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, has some unhappy members considering talks with the AfD.
AfD is popular in eastern Germany and leads national opinion polls ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives and the Social Democrats.
The AfD’s policies include a controversial plan called “remigration,” involving deporting criminals and people in Germany illegally.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Meteorologists warn that a “supersized” El Niño is expected to bring heavy rain, flooding, and severe weather to parts of the U.S. this fall and winter. This El Niño is fueled by very warm Pacific Ocean temperatures and could be the strongest in at least 1,000 years, affecting coastal areas and causing damage.
Key Facts
El Niño is a climate pattern caused by changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures near the equator.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says this El Niño will be very strong this fall and winter.
This event could lead to heavy rain and flooding, especially on the U.S. West Coast and Southeast.
Previous strong El Niños caused record rainfall in California cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The Northern U.S. may see warmer temperatures, while some mountain areas could have less snow.
Homeowners face risks such as mudslides, wind damage, roof damage, and burst pipes.
Flood damage is a major concern, but only about 4% of U.S. homeowners currently have flood insurance.
Experts recommend that homeowners prepare for severe weather and consider getting flood insurance.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Russia and North Korea have opened their first road bridge connecting the two countries across the Tumen River. The bridge aims to boost trade, tourism, and job growth, reflecting deeper ties between the nations since Russia’s war in Ukraine began.
Key Facts
The new bridge is about one kilometer long and links Khasan in Russia with Tumangang in North Korea.
Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the bridge would help trade, science, technology, and cultural cooperation.
The bridge is named after Yakov Novichenko, a Soviet officer who saved North Korea’s founding leader.
Vehicles from both countries crossed the bridge during the opening ceremony.
Russia and North Korea are already connected by a railway bridge and regular flights.
Ukrainian groups suspect the bridge could be used to move troops and military supplies quietly between the countries.
Since 2022, North Korea has sent troops and arms to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Russia has provided North Korea with military equipment like missiles, drones, and spy technology.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Universities of Kent and Greenwich have merged to form the UK's first large "super-university," called the London and South East University Group (LASE), which has over 50,000 students. This merger aims to strengthen both schools financially and offer more courses and services amid rising costs and challenges in higher education.
Key Facts
Kent and Greenwich universities merged last month but will keep their original names and operate as separate divisions.
LASE is now the third largest university in the UK with campuses in London, Medway, and Canterbury.
Students can access resources and services across all campuses and apply to either university within the group.
The merger helps the universities handle financial pressures and increase their academic offerings.
LASE aims to support young people not in employment, education, or training (called NEETs) in the south-east of England.
The UK higher education sector faces financial risks, with some universities possibly facing insolvency and closure.
The merger will serve as a model for other universities, with a blueprint being prepared for the government.
This is the largest university merger in the UK so far, with other smaller mergers having happened before.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Radiohead will tour Australia and Japan in May 2027, their first visit to Australia in 15 years and Japan in 19 years. The tour includes 16 shows in Australia and 5 in Japan, with ticket registration opening soon.
Key Facts
Radiohead will perform 16 shows across three Australian cities: Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney.
The tour starts on May 3, 2027, in Perth at RAC Arena.
The band will play 5 shows in Japan at GMO Arena Saitama near Tokyo.
This is Radiohead’s first Australian tour since 2011 and first Japan tour since 2008.
Fans can register online to enter a ticket lottery to buy tickets fairly.
Ticket registration closes on Thursday at 5pm AEST, with winners notified starting Friday.
Tickets are limited to four per city to avoid scalping and unauthorized sales.
Radiohead’s last studio album was released in 2016, but demand for live shows remains strong.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A deadly flood caused by a glacier collapse on the Nepal-Tibet border killed over 1,300 people and left many missing. The disaster highlighted concerns about China’s hydropower projects and lack of transparency on environmental data, which affected flood warnings and information sharing with Nepal.
Key Facts
The flood happened on August 26 due to a collapsing glacier in the Langtang Lirung mountain area.
Over 1,300 people died, and thousands more were missing, including many Americans.
The debris from the glacier traveled 62 miles down into central Nepal along the Lhenda and Trishuli rivers.
China has no hydropower stations directly upstream but built bridges and roads in the area, which may have influenced the flow of debris.
Satellite images showed major destruction, including damage to the Chinese border port at Gyirong.
Chinese social media censored many flood videos, allowing only state-approved content.
China delayed allowing foreign media access to the affected area for 11 days.
Nepal had requested environmental monitoring data from China three months before but did not receive it.
Experts say China’s secrecy and lack of data sharing can affect other countries and call for more transparency and accountability.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nepal held a national day of mourning for people who died in a flash flood caused by a glacial collapse. At least 1,287 people died, and over 5,000 remain missing as rescue teams continue to search for survivors, especially in tunnels of hydropower stations.
Key Facts
The flash flood hit a Himalayan valley near the Nepal-Tibet border.
The flood was likely caused by a glacial collapse.
At least 1,287 people have died, with more than 5,000 still missing in Nepal.
Nepal's president visited flood-affected areas on the day of mourning.
Flags were flown at half-mast across government offices and missions abroad.
Rescue operations are ongoing by ground, air, and in hydropower tunnels.
Four people have been rescued in recent days, including a woman found alive after more than 10 days.
On the Tibetan side, 31 deaths were reported with 531 people missing.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A couple used a genetic test called PGT-M during IVF to avoid passing a rare, deadly genetic disorder, Meckel-Gruber syndrome, to their children. Although the test showed one embryo was unaffected, that baby was diagnosed with the syndrome before birth, revealing limitations in the test's accuracy.
Key Facts
The couple’s first pregnancy ended due to Meckel-Gruber syndrome diagnosed at 20 weeks.
Both parents are carriers of the genetic condition, with a 25% chance it occurs in each pregnancy.
They used IVF with PGT-M testing to screen embryos for the disorder.
Out of 20 embryos created, three were labeled unaffected, and one was labeled as a carrier of the condition.
They first had healthy twins from an embryo labeled unaffected.
A later pregnancy from an embryo labeled as a carrier resulted in a baby diagnosed with Meckel-Gruber syndrome.
The couple learned that PGT-M testing might not be completely reliable in detecting this condition.
They spent over $100,000 on IVF treatments and genetic testing to try to prevent passing on this disorder.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
King Charles III will not personally receive a petition from the Jamaican government asking for a legal review about Britain paying reparations for slavery. Instead, Jamaican officials will meet British government representatives, and the petition will be handled by a judicial committee.
Key Facts
Jamaica wants the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council to review a petition about slavery reparations.
King Charles III will not accept the petition in person.
Buckingham Palace said the king is currently in Scotland and not involved directly.
Jamaican officials will meet with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
The petition seeks a legal opinion based on a law from 1833.
King Charles has expressed a desire to promote understanding of slavery’s history and to address related injustices.
The Privy Council is a judicial group that can consider legal petitions from Commonwealth countries.
Discussions between Jamaica and Britain on this issue are ongoing.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won nearly 44 percent of votes in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, significantly increasing its seats but falling short of a majority. Other parties are refusing to work with the AfD, so it cannot govern alone, but its strong showing influences German politics and public opinion on issues like migration and Ukraine.
Key Facts
AfD won 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt’s state election, more than doubling its previous share.
The AfD gained 39 out of 83 seats, needing 42 for a majority and to govern alone.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU party took only 17.2% of the vote, losing many previous voters to AfD.
Voter turnout was 77.8%, up from 60.3% in 2021.
The AfD gained support partly from people who did not vote before and some who previously backed the CDU.
Many voters preferred the AfD’s stance against sending more weapons to Ukraine, reflecting mixed views on Russia and security.
Other parties, including the CDU, SPD, Greens, and Left, refuse to form a coalition with the AfD.
The state intelligence service considers the AfD branch in Saxony-Anhalt a right-wing extremist group.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Two men, Stanley Praimnath and Brian Clark, were among the few people who survived on the floors above where the airplanes hit the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. They met on the 81st floor of the South Tower, escaped together by walking down 1,620 steps, and have shared their story many times over the past 25 years.
Key Facts
Nearly 3,000 people died in the 9/11 attacks in New York City and Washington DC.
Praimnath and Clark are two of only four known survivors from above the impact zones in the Twin Towers.
They met during the emergency and escaped from the 81st floor of the South Tower.
Clark was an executive at Euro Brokers on the 84th floor of the North Tower; Praimnath was a loan officer on the 81st floor of the South Tower.
Clark had fire safety training from the 1993 bombing and helped guide people to safety.
Praimnath saw the second plane approaching his floor and prayed before the impact, which he survived.
Both men have told their experiences many times at public events for the last 25 years.
They have maintained their friendship and reflect on their survival as a significant and life-changing moment.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
