Ukrainian drones have again targeted the Russian online shopping giant Wildberries. Authorities in Russia’s Tambov region said a major warehouse was entirely destroyed in the latest attack. At least 12 people have died in a series of strikes on the company.
Published On 26 Aug 202626 Aug 2026
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Syria has been in talks on the fate of Khmeimim and Tartous bases, which Russia used to support ousted Assad regime.
Published On 26 Aug 202626 Aug 2026
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa have held discussions, including on the fate of Russia’s military bases in the Middle Eastern country.
During a telephone call on Wednesday, Putin affirmed Moscow’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and reiterated Russia’s rejection of Israeli attacks and violations of Syrian sovereignty, reports Syrian news agency SANA.
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The Kremlin stressed that the discussion also concerned deepening political dialogue and cooperation in trade, among other areas.
The talks were aimed at further development of bilateral relations and strengthened cooperation, SANA noted.
However, the status of the Khmeimim airbase and Tartous naval base, which are highly strategic for Russia, remains the key topic between Damascus and Moscow.
The Kremlin said that Russia-Syria relations will continue through continued contact “at various levels” and that “both sides underscored the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding On the Reorganisation of the Khmeimim Air Base and the Tartus Material-Technical Support Point, signed on August 9”.
Syria announced earlier this month that a deal had been agreed after 18 months of negotiations that will see Khmeimim and Tartous turned into “joint training and capacity-building centres”, with Syria to take control of civilian facilities at both bases.
Russia backed former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad throughout Syria’s 13-year civil war, intervening militarily to keep him in power and expanding the Russian footprint at the Khmeimim air base and Tartous naval base on the Mediterranean coast.
Since al-Sharaa led the ouster of the a;-Assad regime, Putin has worked to build relations with the new Syrian government and to secure the future of the bases, which are key to Russian efforts to maintain influence across the Middle East and Northern Africa.
Dutch group Christians for Israel is taking the government to court in the Netherlands over its plans to introduce a ban on importing goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Golan Heights.
The ban, which was announced in July, is due to take effect on September 22 and will run for three years. It bars importing, buying and selling goods produced in Israeli settlements, as well as intermediary services and any attempt to circumvent the rules.
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But the Israel Product Centre (IPC), part of Christians for Israel (CvI), a Dutch evangelical organisation which a recent study found has donated about $300,000 to illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, has responded by filing summary proceedings against the state, with the hearing due today.
Here’s what we know about this case.
The IPC has issued summary proceedings against the Dutch state, seeking to block the July decree.
The IPC argues the measure is “one-sided” and that the window it now has to clear its existing stock – some 20,000 bottles of wine – is too short.
It is also arguing that a national ban conflicts with the European Union’s principle of free movement of goods.
A verdict is not expected for about two weeks.
EU rules have long required goods from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank to be labelled by their origin – Palestine – rather than as “product of Israel”, but the bloc has not placed an outright ban on trading with Israeli settlements. That remains up to individual countries.
In February 2020, the Dutch advocacy group DocP urged consumers to file complaints with the Dutch food safety authority, NVWA, if they found wine and Dead Sea cosmetics had been mislabelled.
Following complaints, the IPC changed its labelling to “product uit een Israelisch dorp in Judea & Samaria [product from an Israeli village in Judea and Samaria],” which it argued accurately reflected the exact geographical and administrative reality of the origins of the products without deceiving the buyer. Judea and Samaria is the biblical name used by the Israeli government to refer to the West Bank. DocP argued this fell short of the requirement to label products correctly, and continued its campaign.
In 2021, the NVWA agreed and fined the IPC 2,100 euros (about $2,500) for mislabelling goods.
Then, in July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and must end “as rapidly as possible”.
This shifted the legal argument beyond mere consumer labelling, with the court saying countries should take steps to prevent trade or investment relations which help to maintain the unlawful presence of Israeli settlers in the Palestinian territories.
The lower house of the Dutch parliament acted on that in September 2025, proposing an import ban.
The national decree against importing goods from Israeli settlements was made in July this year.
CvI describes the West Bank as a “disputed territory” rather than accepting the international legal description of it as “occupied Palestinian territory”.
It says it believes that Israel has strong claims to sovereignty there and that Jews have a right to live there.
The vocabulary matters in a legal sense, as “disputed territory” is not the same as “annexed territory”, therefore, the legal apparatus which would make settlement trade unlawful doesn’t straightforwardly apply.
The group’s stated reasons for funding projects there, it says on its website, are rooted in the Bible; it cites Ezekiel 47:21-23: “Peace for the Jewish people and resident foreigners inheriting alongside the tribes of Israel.”
However, the ICJ’s July 2024 advisory opinion is clear that the Fourth Geneva Convention’s Article 49(6) and successive Security Council resolutions treat the territories as occupied and the settlements as unlawful.
Western churches are split on the issue, with CvI sitting at one end of the spectrum.
Mainline Protestants, including the Presbyterian Church in the United States, have divested shareholdings in Caterpillar, HP and Motorola Solutions as early as 2014, and from Israeli bonds in 2024. The United Methodist Church has opposed Israeli settlements since 1996 and sold its Israeli bond holdings last August.
The World Council of Churches called for sanctions against illegal Israeli settlements in 2025, divestment and an arms embargo.
The Vatican calls settlements an obstacle to peace but has avoided divestment so far.
Christian Zionist bodies, however, including Christians United for Israel (CUFI) and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, send funding for settlements and fight against boycotts.
It is significant considering that the Netherlands is one of only four EU countries currently imposing a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements.
Trade from illegal settlements to the EU is estimated to be worth up to $400m per year.
The Netherlands is also a big market for the illegal settlements; a recent investigation by legal advocacy group Global Echo, which analysed thousands of shipments from Israeli settlements between 2017 and 2026, shows that within the EU, the Dutch market is the largest importer of goods from illegal settlements, with about 30 percent destined for or passing through the country.
Spain has banned all imports of products from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, since September 2025. The decree also enforces an embargo on defence exports and dual-use technology to Israel, bans ships carrying military fuel for Israel from Spanish ports, and restricts advertising for services or goods linked to Israeli settlements.
Ireland’s parliament approved the text of its Israeli Settlements (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill in May and the bill was signed into law in July. It covers all goods produced in Israeli settlements, but excludes services.
Belgium’s federal government approved a draft royal decree in July introducing a specific regime for goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The precise details of the new law will be determined by the government in due course.
Slovenia imposed restrictions on imports from Israeli settlements under its previous government, but the new conservative government reversed them in June 2026.
The EU as a bloc remains deadlocked over whether a ban counts as foreign policy requiring unanimity or trade policy needing only a qualified majority, with ministers not meeting again in a decision-making format until October.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar last year described the push by some European governments to implement the ICJ advisory opinion as “shameful”.
Nearly all of them.
Outside the three European Union states which still have bans in place, settlement goods can be sold legally everywhere, including in most of the EU.
At a July 2026 meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, which addressed trade from Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories, Germany, Austria, Czechia and Hungary were opposed to an EU-wide ban.
Beyond the EU, the United Kingdom does not forbid trade with illegal Israeli settlements, although new Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly considering a ban. In a recent parliamentary briefing, Amnesty International called on the UK government to implement a ban.
It said: “The argument for a UK ban on trade with settlements is clear. The UK government itself accepts it should take stronger action in response to settlement expansion and annexation. The International Court of Justice has directed states not to trade with Israel in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory; and there is precedent in UK law and policy to not trade with illegally occupied lands, ie Crimea and other illegally occupied parts of Ukraine.”
Football’s biggest club competition returns for the 2026-2027 season as the UEFA Champions League gets under way next month, with the draw for the main round taking place on Thursday.
Back-to-back champions Paris Saint-Germain are chasing a historic third consecutive title, while European giants Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich will look to dethrone the two-time champions.
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The league phase format, now in its third year, will begin in September and run until January. It will be followed by the knockout rounds, with the champions crowned in early June.
Here’s all you need to know about this year’s draw:
The main round fixtures will be drawn on August 27 at 6pm (17:00 GMT) at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.
Of the 36 competing teams, 29 qualified with their rankings in their respective national leagues. The remaining seven spots were up for grabs in a qualifying competition that began earlier this month and will conclude less than 24 hours before the draw.
Bodo/Glimt, LASK and Sabah became the latest teams to book their place in the elite competition, leaving eight teams to battle it out for the last four places on Wednesday.
Under the new format, each team will play fixtures against eight teams – two teams each from Pots 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Four of the eight matches will be at home, and the other four away.
Pot 1: PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid
Pot 2: Aston Villa, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting, Porto Club, Brugge PSV, Eindhoven, Real Betis
Pot 3: Feyenoord, Lille, Napoli, RB Leipzig, Villarreal, Shakhtar Donetsk, Galatasaray, Bodo/Glimt, (winner of League Path)
Pot 4: Slavia Prague, VFB Stuttgart, LASK, Como, Lens, Sabah, (3 winners of Champions Path)
The league phase matches are scheduled for:
Matchday 1: September 8-10
Matchday 2: October 13 and 14
Matchday 3: October 20 and 21
Matchday 4: November 3 and 4
Matchday 5: November 24 and 25
Matchday 6: December 8 and 9
Matchday 7: January 19 and 20
Matchday 8: January 27
The knockout phase matches are scheduled for:
Playoffs: February 16, 17 and 23, 24
Round of 16: March 9, 10 and 16, 17
Quarterfinals: April 6, 7 and 13, 14
Semifinals: April 27, 28 and May 4, 5
Final: June 5
The upcoming season’s final will be held at the Estadio Metropolitano, home of Spanish club Atletico Madrid.
The French side held their nerve in a cagey final to retain the title by beating Arsenal 4-3 on penalties as the nail-biting showdown ended 1-1 after extra time.
Arsenal defender Gabriel blasted his spot kick over Matvey Safonov’s crossbar at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, his miss confirming PSG as the first club to retain the trophy since Real Madrid completed their three-year reign from 2016 to 2018.
Earlier in August, PSG won the UEFA Super Cup for a second straight year by beating Aston Villa 2-1, thanks to Desire Doue’s second-half goal in the annual curtain-raiser to the European football season.
Doue’s 61st-minute strike after running onto Ousmane Dembele’s pass was initially ruled out for offside, only for the goal to be awarded following a video review, with Matty Cash adjudged to have marginally played him onside.
Fernandes rewarded for outstanding season with record assists in the league; Shaw builds on league win and Golden Boot.
Published On 26 Aug 202626 Aug 2026
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was crowned the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player of the Year, while Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw scooped the Women’s award for the second time.
The award wins on Tuesday highlighted the individual brilliance of both players, with contrasting fortunes for their respective teams during the season.
Portuguese international Fernandes broke the Premier League assists record during an outstanding 2025–26 season, setting up 21 goals as he surpassed Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s previous mark.
The 31-year-old also scored nine times as United overcame a poor start to finish third in the Premier League under Michael Carrick and earned a return to the Champions League.
Fernandes also won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award in May.
“It is obviously a very proud moment. They are the ones you go on the pitch against, and it’s probably not easy to vote for someone you play against, so it is a very good moment,” said Fernandes.
Shaw was rewarded for scoring 21 goals on the way to a third straight Golden Boot and securing City’s first Women’s Super League title in a decade.
City also saw further success as Nico O’Reilly was named Men’s Young Player of the Year.
The 21-year-old scored twice in the League Cup final as City beat Arsenal and was part of the side that also won the FA Cup last season.
“I’m very proud of the season I had,” said the England international. “I won two trophies with my club and managed to play at the World Cup with my country. I’m over the moon with how it turned out.”
O’Reilly was joined by City teammates Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo in the Team of the Year.
Champions Arsenal had five representatives in David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, with Fernandes and Brentford’s Igor Thiago completing the XI.
Yan Diomande topped Real’s transfers, and Jose Mourinho says he is happy despite missing out on Rodri to Barcelona.
Published On 25 Aug 202625 Aug 2026
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho says he is “very happy” with his squad, which he considers complete despite missing out on midfielder Rodri, later signed by rivals Barcelona.
Los Blancos revamped their squad this summer, signing six players including record arrival Yan Diomande, Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella.
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However, Madrid’s approach for Rodri broke down, meaning that, beyond former Man City playmaker Silva, they have not strengthened in midfield.
“For me the squad is closed, but the market is still open – you never know if a player will come and say ‘I’ve been benched twice and I want to leave,’” Mourinho told reporters on Tuesday.
“In theory, no [more deals]… but something could always happen… In my head the squad is closed, and I have not asked for anyone. I am very happy with the players I have.”
With midfield maestros Toni Kroos and Luka Modric departing in 2024 and 2025 respectively, Madrid have struggled to control matches.
Mourinho’s side snatched a late 2-1 win at Espanyol on Saturday in their La Liga opener, starting with Silva and Federico Valverde together in midfield.
Mourinho said French defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni was not ready to play against Real Sociedad on Wednesday.
“He’s got a problem, the holiday time wasn’t enough [for him to recover], seeing the games approaching, the player wanted to try … but we’ve decided that you can’t start a season in suffering,” explained the coach.
“You can finish a season suffering, the last couple of months, but you can’t start in August not at 100 percent.
“So we decided with him, the staff, the medical department, to get him to return at 100 percent.”
Mourinho said he had faith in Uruguayan international Valverde as a midfielder, despite previous coaches using him in a variety of roles, including right-back and right winger.
“For me he is a player for the centre of the pitch,” added Mourinho.
“Depending on the opponent and our objectives, he might be more set in his position or more mobile.”
Mourinho said that in modern football, players’ positions were less relevant.
“I don’t want to identify Tchouameni as the No. 6, Camavinga No. 6, Fede No. 8, Bernardo No. 10 … things dilute during games.”
Ukraine hits Russia’s Afipsky oil refinery and gas plant in latest attacks targeting energy infrastructure.
Published On 25 Aug 202625 Aug 2026
A fire broke out at the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar region following a drone attack, local authorities have said.
At least two people were killed and two others were injured due to falling drone debris at the Afipsky railway station, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Tuesday.
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Ukraine has been targeting Russia’s oil refineries and other infrastructure, attempting to undermine Moscow’s war efforts and reduce financial revenue.
Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces struck facilities at Afipsky.
It said its forces also hit a gas processing plant in Russia’s Astrakhan region overnight.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces had struck a cargo vessel carrying goods for the Ukrainian army in the port of Pivdennyi near Odesa, as well as port infrastructure facilities used for unloading military cargo.
The ministry said Russian air defences shot down 148 Ukrainian drones overnight.
Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in recent months, escalating a fuel crisis in the country.
Amid the continuing attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday that would allow the state to take temporary control of critical infrastructure found to be inadequately protected from attack.
The attacks come after a meeting in Kyiv where Ukraine’s allies pledged to continue supporting the country during the ongoing war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the assembled leaders in an evening address that he wanted to “raise production” of drones and missiles to wage “more attacks” on Russia, matching its strikes on Ukraine.
The meeting was attended by 30 leaders of the so-called Coalition of the Willing, including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who called for negotiations with Russia, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who participated remotely and predicted that “NATO countries will be targeted and the provocations will multiply”.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb was also in attendance, urging Ukraine’s allies to help expand its ability to strike deeply inside Russia.
The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Burnham and Stubb belonged to the “party of war”.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Kyiv on his first foreign trip, with Britain pledging to give cruise missile designs to Ukraine. The visit happened as Russia and Ukraine intensify long-range strikes.
Published On 25 Aug 202625 Aug 2026
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Owing to his illness, 26-year-old Sasha from Orenburg, a city in Russia close to the Kazakhstan border, has a Category V military ID, which under normal circumstances makes him ineligible for service.
But not during wartime.
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Just before partial mobilisation was declared in 2022, he considered leaving for Kazakhstan. But while awaiting the bus, he struck up a conversation with his soon-to-be girlfriend.
As they turned back together, they decided against making the drastic move.
Over the past year, however, they have grown increasingly anxious.
“Since mid-2025, my girlfriend and I have been experiencing a severe decline in mental health. We see psychiatrists and take antidepressants,” Sasha told Al Jazeera.
He requested to be identified only by his first name to protect his anonymity.
“I don’t go outside unless it’s urgent and try never to be alone. I carry pepper spray for protection against aggression if it happens, like in Penza.”
Since June, there have been reports of attempted press-ganging in Penza, 625km (388 miles) southeast of Moscow.
Recent footage shared on social media has shown individuals dressed in plainclothes trying to force fighting-age men into vehicles to take them to the recruitment centre, while weeping women try to intervene – echoing similar scenes in Ukraine.
Potential recruits have also been reportedly summoned to police stations under bureaucratic pretexts, then beaten or threatened – for example, by having illicit drugs planted on them – into signing a military contract.
Local authorities deny the reports, claiming only men attempting to dodge the draft, who have already been mobilised, are being approached. They have also accused residents who have shared footage of the roundups of spreading disinformation.
Although the Penza roundups have received attention lately, local authorities throughout Russia have been accused of coercive methods for some time.
“In October 2022, a friend was stopped at night by military police,” said Sasha. “They identified themselves as civilians and didn’t show identification. They demanded a passport or military ID, and that he accompany them. My friend ran away.”
According to Mikhail Liberov, from the Conscientious Objectors Movement, military recruiters select the “right targets who, for one reason or another, are vulnerable to seduction, deception, blackmail, or are simply unaware of their actions”.
He said this group includes drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally unwell people, those with large debts and migrants “who don’t speak Russian or barely know what’s actually written, and are also afraid of deportation”.
Men above 35 years of age are also approached, and some are “willing to risk their lives and the lives of others for big money and the chance to become ‘heroes’.
“Then comes the threat of prison: A man arrested for petty hooliganism might be intimidated by the idea that, say, ‘We’ll plant drugs on you and put you in prison for 12 years,’ and many agree to sign contracts.”
Oleg Ignatov, senior Russia analyst at the International Crisis Group, said the recent roundups in Penza are likely isolated instances of local authorities trying to fill their recruitment quotas, rather than a systemic, nationwide effort.
These renewed recruitment incidents come amid rumours of a mobilisation effort and an expected Russian offensive this winter that will likely involve ramped-up attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
“I’ve already accepted that mobilisation will still happen, unless something happens that forces (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to end the war in Ukraine,” said Liberov, who believes Russia will ready troops within a year.
“Human rights activists are already working on the assumption that mobilisation will take place this fall,” he said.
In September 2022, Putin signed a decree allowing for partial mobilisation. Fearing deployment, thousands of men fled to neighbouring countries. But that mobilisation effort effectively ended two months later.
Russia has since been able to replenish its ranks by enlisting prisoners, as well as promising generous payouts.
However, the recruitment pool is dwindling.
According to the independent Russian news site IStories, the number of people voluntarily signing military contracts halved by late 2025. Those who enlist are disproportionately from underprivileged corners of society.
“The protracted war with Ukraine, the large number of dead soldiers, and the degradation of the Russian economy demotivate people from participating in such an adventure in the name of Putin,” said Liberov.
Official casualties are not made public in Russia.
The Washington, DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies puts the number of deaths among Russian forces since the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 at nearly 450,000.
Meanwhile, the 2022 mobilisation decree remains in effect, and the Russian offensive in Ukraine is lagging. The war is now being felt at home as Ukrainian drones strike deep into Russian territory.
“I only live once. I’m not going to sacrifice it for someone else’s wishes and will fight to the bitter end,” said Sasha. “Human life is priceless, and you have to cling to it until the end.”
Vladimir from Ulan-Ude, who has previously served as a conscript and is thus eligible for mobilisation, said he has a “generally negative attitude” about Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“I am preparing for a possible draft. In the event of an escalation, I will insist on the alternative civil service,” said the 35-year-old, who requested to withhold his surname over fears of reprisal. “I wouldn’t want to leave the country.”
According to the Russian constitution, alternative civilian service can be applied for when “convictions or religious beliefs contradict military service”.
Conscripts can serve either for 21 months at an organisation “subordinate to the bodies of the executive branch”, often taking jobs as nurses, cleaners or postal workers, or for 18 months at a defence manufacturing plant. According to the Ministry of Defence, about 2,000 people apply for alternative civilian service each year, with approximately half receiving approval.
Earlier this summer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed the Kremlin was secretly preparing for a mass mobilisation – a claim backed by reports in Russian independent media.
In June, lawmaker Andrey Gurulev of the governing United Russia party wrote on Telegram that “there’s now active talk, both behind the scenes and in high places, about the need for a new large-scale mobilisation.”
But expanding the army is expensive while budgets are under strain, and a huge influx of recruits still leaves a shortage of experienced officers and trained specialists.
“I would say that Russia’s problems right now are less about the quantity, but more about the quality of contractors,” said Crisis Group’s Ignatov.
“Russians need more skilled soldiers who can operate drones, who can operate modern warfare systems. And here they have more problems than the Ukrainians.
“But if this war continues, of course, we can assume that (mobilisation) could happen.”
NOT ONE but three new theme parks have been given the go-ahead to open in Europe, which they claim could even rival Disney.
A deal between France and Saudi Arabia for three theme parks near Paris has been announced.
The project is expected to cost €6bn (£5.13bn) overall and will include a manga-themed park, inspired by the popular Japanese franchise Dragon Ball Z.
Little details have been revealed about the theme parks, but local media has reported that it could be built on the site of the former Mirapolis park in Val-d’Oise, which has been closed for 35 years.
The opening dates for the parks are not known yet, but they will be built near Cergy-Pontoise and expected to take years to construct.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that the development would be “extraordinary” and would create a “new global destination”.
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He also said: “Nothing like this has been seen since Disneyland Paris.”
The project is thought to have transpired from a conversation between Macron and bin Salman about their love for Japanese comics.
It is expected to create around 22,000 jobs.
Despite no details being revealed about the new theme parks yet, it is believed that the Dragon Ball Z theme park could be based around the park of the same theme currently being built by Qiddiya in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Riyadh theme park is set to have seven zones including Turtle House, Capsule Corporation and Beerus’s Planet.
There is also set to be a 70-metre high rollercoaster running through the park.
Overall, the Riyadh theme park is expected to have 30 themed attractions, five of which are set to be next generation rides.
Guests will be able to stay in themed hotels as well, and there will be a number of restaurants at the park.
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European natural gas prices may need to jump above €100/MWh ($117) by December for the continent to rebuild enough inventory to last the winter if the Strait of Hormuz crisis persists and keeps spot liquefied natural gas prices in Asia elevated, Goldman
The 31-year-old Durham bowler will not play against Pakistan in the upcoming second Test match.
Published On 24 Aug 202624 Aug 2026
England fast bowler Brydon Carse has been dropped from the squad for the second Test against Pakistan amid an investigation into an incident at a club in Derby, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said.
“Following a referral from the ECB, the Cricket Regulator has confirmed that they will investigate events on Saturday night in Derby,” the board said in a statement on Monday.
“Brydon Carse will no longer be available for selection for the second men’s test while this investigation is ongoing and the full facts are obtained.”
Carse, who did not play in the opening test victory at Headingley, will be replaced by Sonny Baker.
Videos circulated on social media appearing to show the 31-year-old Durham bowler in handcuffs being spoken to by police officers outside a venue. According to reports, Carse was not arrested and no charges were brought.
It has been a busy summer for England’s Cricket Regulator, the body set up to investigate matters where there is an allegation of a breach of the ECB’s code of conduct.
In June, it concluded an investigation into former test captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson after a nightclub incident following the first test against New Zealand.
Both were left out of the second test before the regulator ruled that there was insufficient evidence to establish that any regulatory breach occurred.
The latest investigation comes five days after England’s returning test captain Joe Root spoke of the players being “really good role models and human beings” following a series of incidents and accusations of a drinking culture.
Controversy has followed England recently, with off-field issues during last winter’s tours – including Harry Brook being fined 30,000 pounds ($41,000) following an altercation in Wellington, New Zealand – as well as reports of drinking during a mid-Ashes series trip to Noosa.
Stokes retired from international cricket after returning for the third test against New Zealand and Brendon McCullum was sacked as test coach.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, (MBS), is on the second day of his two-day state visit to France, where he’s meeting President Emmanuel Macron.
In this explainer, we outline what they are expected to discuss and examine how their latest meetings build on an already evolving relationship.
MBS’s visit to Paris began on Sunday evening alongside President Macron at the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup. It was the first time the Esports tournament, which includes competitions ranging from video games to chess, had been held outside Saudi Arabia.
On Monday, Macron and Bin Salman are expected to sign several agreements on health, transport and energy.
French media reported that a deal to build a Dragon Ball-themed amusement park, backed by a Saudi investment fund and inspired by the iconic Japanese manga series, could be signed.
Valerie Pecresse, President of the Regional Council of Île-de-France in Greater Paris, told French broadcaster TF1 that the regional government had been working on the project for 18 months.
“There is a very important meeting at the Elysee today that may result in the signing of this agreement. We are waiting for the signature,” she said, describing the project as “on the scale of Disneyland”.
Bin Salman and Macron are also holding bilateral discussions on regional security and their economic ties.
That is expected to include discussions about energy routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz, such as new pipelines, capacity upgrades and alternative port networks.
France is a major buyer of Saudi oil and mineral products.
Since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, shipping has been severely disrupted in the Strait of Hormuz – the vital waterway on which oil exporters in the Gulf are heavily reliant and where 20 percent of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies are shipped from during peacetime. The disruption sent oil prices soaring.
Before the war, a barrel of Brent crude – the global benchmark – cost about $66. Over the course of the conflict, prices have climbed above $100 – hitting a high of $119 early on in the war.
On Monday, Brent was trading around $93 a barrel.
Bin Salman and Macron are also expected to discuss the war in Iran, the bloodshed in Palestine, as well as developments in Syria and Lebanon, where Israel occupies around one-fifth of its territory.
Other expected topics on Monday’s agenda include global events that Saudi Arabia is set to host in the coming years, including Expo 2030, focusing on sustainability and urban innovation, and the 2034 football World Cup.
The two countries have a fairly equal trading balance.
In 2024, France exported $4.5bn worth of goods to Saudi Arabia and imported $4.6bn worth, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), an online platform that compiles and visualises international trade statistics.
Refined petroleum accounted for 72 percent of Saudi Arabia’s exports to France in 2024. Besides refined petroleum, Saudi Arabia exported crude petroleum and other mineral products to France. It also exported small amounts of machinery, chemicals and cars.
France’s exports to Saudi Arabia in 2024 were more diverse, including airliners, helicopters, gas turbines, pharmaceutical products and perfume, among other products.
Sunday’s visit marked the third time MBS has visited France after trips in 2022 and 2023.
In December 2024, Macron visited Riyadh, where the two countries founded the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council, which formalised and upgraded political and economic ties between Saudi Arabia and France.
The current visit is also MBS’s first international trip since the August 7 signing of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, known as the Mecca pact – the mutual defence agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan.
Signed by the prince, Turkiye’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, the agreement commits all three states to treat an armed attack on any one of them as an attack on all three.
Analysts say the pact shows that Saudi Arabia is taking steps to diversify its security partnerships beyond Washington.
Pro-Palestine activists from the ‘People Against Genocide’ group occupied a Martin-Baker factory in the UK, accusing the company of supplying ejection-seat components for aircraft used by Israel’s military. The group says the action aims to disrupt Britain’s military support for Israel.
Published On 24 Aug 202624 Aug 2026
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Tasting the food and drink specialities of a particular region is one of the great joys of travelling. Whether it was discovering the perfect pastry in Scandinavia, sipping a memorable glass of wine on a vineyard tour in France, or enjoying the fruits of the truffle season in Italy, we’d love to hear about your favourite regional food discoveries in Europe.
The best tip of the week, chosen by Tom Hall of Lonely Planet wins a £200 voucher to stay at a Coolstays property – the company has more than 3,000 worldwide. The best tips will appear in the Guardian Travel section and website.
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SINCE the introduction of EES, there have been reports of huge delays, missed flights – and now a new problem has arisen.
It appears that Brits aren’t being correctly recorded as leaving the Schengen Area, meaning they could be banned from entering the EU again and face a hefty fine.
The UK Foreign Office has altered its advice to Brits asking them to carry evidence of when they last left the EU, to avoid being wrongly refused entry.
Brits travelling from the UK to Europe can spend 90 days out of every 180 in the EU – staying over this limit will mean both refusal of entry and a fine.
In some cases a fine can be as much as £8,550.
Before the introduction of EES, Brits would be stamped in and out by officials at passport control.
Now Brits are being electronically recorded as leaving – but in some cases where EES has been suspended due to long queues, they aren’t.
Without being officially noted as returning home, the clock continues to count down which could cause problems when attempting to re-enter the EU.
Advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) reads: “If you believe you have been incorrectly entered into EES or your record of time spent in the Schengen area is incorrect, approach border officials when you next cross the Schengen border and request a correction.
“If you are exempt, carry documentation confirming your status. If you believe your time spent in the Schengen area has been recorded incorrectly, raise this with border officials and be prepared to provide supporting evidence if requested.”
It doesn’t explain what ‘evidence’ is needed but it’s likely to be confirmation of flights out of the country.
Some Brits who have either not been stamped out physically, or electronically by EES have revealed their issues in returning to the Schengen Area.
Talking to Sun Travel, one woman revealed how she got stuck entering Finland after a trip to Rome.
She explained: “I was stopped at the border in Finland last November by border control who said my record was showing I was still in Italy.
“While I had registered with EES going into Rome, it hadn’t recorded me leaving.”
She added: “After a lot of back and forth with border control officers and around 45-minutes of waiting, it was recognised as an error and I was let into the country.”
In another case, Martin Farrall told The Guardian, didn’t have his exit recorded for the Schengen zone.
Martin and his wife arrived by ferry at Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands.
He said that Dutch border officials enrolled them into EES, but that they had no entry stamp on their passports.
Then 55 days later when he returned to the UK via France, they were not given an exit stamp.
Back at home, Martin checked how many days he had left to travel through the Schengen – and it’s continuing to count down. Meanwhile his wife still has 90 days despite both having travelled the same route.
In another case, one passenger who had returned from Ibiza back in April had two entry stamps, but no exit stamps.
They told local media: “On my last two occasions visiting Ibiza on direct UK flights, my UK passport has not been exit-stamped by Spanish immigration authorities upon leaving Ibiza back to the UK.
“I now have two ‘un-closed’ Spanish visits in my UK passport, making a nonsense of the 90-day rule, and running the risk of me being accused of overstaying my rolling 90 days’ allowance. Which I haven’t.”
For more advice on travelling as a family and the new EES system, head here.
AVROTROS says escalating international conflicts are undermining the event’s neutrality and fuelling divisions.
Published On 24 Aug 202624 Aug 2026
The public broadcaster in the Netherlands has announced it will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest because the event can “no longer be considered neutral” due to ongoing divisions over the war in Gaza.
“It is undeniable that international conflicts are increasingly affecting the Contest, undermining its neutral character. The Eurovision Song Contest has therefore become a platform for division,” said Taco Zimmerman, Director-General of AVROTROS, in a statement on Monday.
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The widely-watched show has recently faced a series of boycotts over Israel’s participation. Organisers announced earlier this month that they would exclude any country involved in an armed conflict from hosting the competition.
“However, the recently announced changes… do not provide sufficient confidence that the independent and neutral character of the Eurovision Song Contest has been restored,” the AVROTROS statement added.
Israel finished second in the competition – the world’s largest live televised music event – in both 2025 and 2026.
Next year’s Eurovision is due to be held in Bulgaria’s Black Sea city of Burgas, after Bulgarian singer Darina Yotova, known as Dara, won this year’s contest in Vienna, Austria, with her catchy floor-filler ‘Bangaranga’. The contest on May 15 will be the first time the Balkan nation has hosted.
Since its launch in 1955, Eurovision has become the ultimate pop platform, catapulting Swedish icons ABBA to worldwide fame, while also boosting the careers of artists such as Celine Dion, Cliff Richard and Olivia Newton-John.
However, this year’s competition pulled in 131 million viewers, 35 million fewer than last year, after five countries boycotted over Israel’s participation. The Netherlands, Iceland, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia all pulled out, with the latter three refusing to broadcast the show at all.
TUI is set to launch new flights to a pretty island with golden beaches and quaint villages
Next summer TUI will launch flights between the UK and Djerba in Tunisia.
The flights will take off from London Gatwick Airport twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays.
Just three hours and 15 minutes from the UK, Djerba is known for its 34C weather, sandy beaches and Star Wars sights.
Even in winter you can still expect temperatures around 20C – much warmer than the UK.
As one of Tunisia‘s lesser-known islands, travellers can book a holiday to the island with TUI from £659.
Read more on travel inspo
The island sits off Tunisia‘s south-east coast and across the island’s coast you will find resorts and pretty villages.
Travellers can book many different experiences on the island including seeing the desert, heading to cave villages and exploring Star Wars filming locations.
Away from the beaches, there are also sprawling souks to explore such as Houmt Souk.
Lisa Minot, Head of Travel, who recently visited, said: “Relatively undiscovered by us Brits, Djerba is a great-value option for those looking to explore beyond the Med favourites.
“The resemblance to the alleyways of Mykonos and Santorini is striking and my arty stroll ends at a small cafe under a sprawling canopy of trees in a sunlit square.
“But when I tell you a small cup of strong coffee here costs 25p, you’ll know I am nowhere near the trendy Greek isles.
“The small town of Erriadh sits at the centre of the island of Djerba —which was used as a filming location for Star Wars — just off the south coast of Tunisia.
“And at its heart is Djerbahood, the passion project of a famous French art gallery owner who convinced some of the world’s best street artists to travel to Djerba, and its inhabitants to allow their walls to be daubed.
“Now, more than 250 murals and sculptures have transformed the heart of the neighbourhood.”
You could stay at TUI BLUE Palm Beach Palace which is a beachfront, adults-focused hotel.
Alternatively, head to TUI MAGIC LIFE Penelope Beach, which is an all-inclusive resort ideal for family holidays, with sports, entertainment, food and drink included.
TUI UK & Ireland Managing Director Neil Swanson said: “Tunisia has been growing in popularity with our customers, and it is easy to see why.
“It offers sunshine, great beaches and really good value, which is exactly what many people are looking for when they are planning their next holiday.
“Djerba gives them all of that, but with something a bit different too. It has a lovely laid-back island feel, beautiful sandy beaches, warm temperatures for much of the year and plenty to explore if you want more than a week by the pool.
“By adding TUI Airways charter flights from London Gatwick, we are making it even easier for customers to get there as part of their TUI holiday.
“It is a brilliant option for families, couples and groups who want somewhere sunny, great value and a little less expected.”
Footage filmed by a climber on Mont Blanc shows rocks cascading down the Goûter Couloir, known as ‘Death Pass’. The climber and his partner stopped to help others escape the rockfall as debris fell around them.
Published On 24 Aug 202624 Aug 2026
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Barcelona begin their La Liga title defence and bid for a third successive crown with a 5-0 victory at Elche.
Published On 23 Aug 202623 Aug 2026
Spanish champions Barcelona have cruised to a 5-0 win over Elche in their La Liga opener, with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scoring twice each and Anthony Gordon setting up two goals on his debut.
After watching Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid defeat Espanyol 2-1 on Saturday with a late winner, Barca’s display on Sunday warned the Portuguese coach that the Catalans will not relinquish the title easily.
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Karim Adeyemi also found the net on his debut as Barca made light work of a vulnerable Elche side at Martinez Valero Stadium.
Hansi Flick started with several regular starters on the bench as they continue to get up to speed following the World Cup.
Teenage winger Lamine Yamal, a key part of the triumphant World Cup Spain squad, did start on the right but was far from his best, though it did not matter given Barca’s otherwise sparkling display.
Raphinha was cut down in the box by Victor Chust and stroked home the resulting penalty after 14 minutes to get Flick’s team on their way.
Eric Garcia was sharp at the back to ward off a threatening Elche attack, while Barca’s Gavi caught the eye in midfield – admittedly more for his pink haircut to celebrate Spain’s triumph than for his performance.
Rapid winger Adeyemi, playing on the left, started shakily but grew into the game and doubled Barca’s lead before the break after Raphinha unselfishly set him up.
In the second half, former Newcastle United winger Gordon, on as a substitute, teed up Raphinha for his second, and then supplied Lopez for Barca’s fourth in an electric and impressive cameo.
Youngster Xavi Espart played in Lopez, who endured a difficult summer after missing Spain’s World Cup triumph through injury, for his second to seal Barcelona’s comfortable triumph.
Flick’s high-line defence showed the occasional sign of its usual frailty, but goalkeeper Joan Garcia did well when called on to keep a clean sheet.
Raphinha told reporters after the game that “whether a game is easy or hard depends on us.
“If we start playing at the maximum level, we’re likely to win. It was a very tough game, but we did our job.”
Winds reaching around 120 km/h swept through Forlì in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, pushing and overturning four light aircraft on the airport tarmac. The severe weather forced the temporary closure of Forlì Airport for about an hour.
Published On 23 Aug 202623 Aug 2026
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Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands back calls for Infantino’s resignation amid FIFA crisis.
Published On 23 Aug 202623 Aug 2026
Six Nordic football associations have delivered a united blow to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, declaring they have lost confidence in his leadership while demanding sweeping governance reforms at world football’s governing body.
The six Nordic FIFA members – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands – met in Helsinki and issued a rare joint statement on Sunday, backing calls for Infantino’s resignation from three major regional confederations.
They also supported demands for an independent investigation into his proposal to sell a stake in events like the World Cup to private equity investors, a plan that was quickly abandoned in the face of a global backlash.
“The six Nordic football associations have lost confidence in FIFA’s president and are concerned about the organisation’s governance and decision-making at the highest level,” they said in a statement.
“The Nordic football associations stand united with UEFA and support the measures that the organisation and its national member associations have jointly proposed.
“We expect FIFA to provide binding guarantees that the organisation’s governance or competitions will never again be opened up to private ownership.”
FIFA did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
On Friday, Denmark’s football association pledged to find a credible alternative to Infantino in March’s presidential election.
Infantino is under pressure from three confederations to resign: UEFA, the AFC and CONCACAF.
The sport’s regional powerhouses in Europe, Asia, and North and Central America and the Caribbean have also discussed a potential vote of no confidence against the FIFA chief.
“We also support the demand made by AFC, CONCACAF and UEFA that a fully independent external investigation into the events surrounding the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal be established,” the Nordic associations added.
“We also call on FIFA to initiate a comprehensive and independent review of its governance framework to determine whether it ensures the independence, checks and balances, transparency and accountability that were intended when FIFA adopted its reform programme in 2016.”
Infantino, who is seeking a fourth term until 2031 in next year’s election, is in the Dominican Republic this weekend, where he has met with officials of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani had asked Infantino to stay away from a youth football tournament in the country, saying his presence would overshadow the event.
“This meeting of the presidents of CFU takes place in the environment of [an] under-14 youth tournament in the region, which actually is one of those tournaments that can take place thanks to the FIFA Forward programme,” Infantino said.
“So even more so a reason to be proud to be here and happy as well because it’s important to engage, to have a dialogue, to express views and opinions.”
