Infamous Maradona ‘Hand of God’ ball sells for €2.9m - well below estimate

The Adidas Azteca ball, used for both of Maradona’s goals against England in the 1986 World Cup, fell well short of its €8.6 million presale estimate.

Armenia announces historic intention to apply for EU membership

Armenia’s Pashinyan laid out Yerevan's decision to formally apply for EU membership “in the near future” and to call for a national referendum, challenging Russia’s regional influence and setting the stage for a historic geopolitical shift.

Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé emerges as key mediator in Mali crisis

A week after the release of 82 Malian soldiers held by the FLA and JNIM, the separatists released two Wagner mercenaries on 20 August. Treading a thin line between the Malian junta and the separatists, Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé has become the regional mediator no one expected.

Hilary Strong Stepping Down From John Gore Studios

John Gore Studios, the fast-growing U.K. film and TV business set up by theater impresario John Gore, has announced that it’s to join forces with its U.S.-based sister company The John Gore Organisation under the common control of single holding company. The move, it claims,

Trees 'giving up': Climate change hammers historic English gardens

At Hampton Court Palace, head gardener Graham Dillamore strode across the burned beige grass in the spectacular formal gardens southwest of London, laid out in the 17th century.

EU budget: Costa tests leaders ahead of crunch money talks, eyes year-end deal

Costa begins a four-week tour of EU capitals to gauge leaders’ appetite to compromise on a deal for the bloc’s common budget by year-end.

Indonesian Muslims brave choking smoke to pray for rain as country battles wildfires

Emergency services have been battling fires driven by an intensifying El Niño climate pattern and a prolonged dry season, generating dense smoke that crossed into Malaysia and Brunei.

Africa: Can Restoring Land Create Jobs? These Young Entrepreneurs Are Proving It

[UN News] From Ecuador to Bangladesh, a new generation of entrepreneurs is turning land restoration into economic opportunity. Whether repurposing agricultural waste, building greenhouses or deploying AI-powered sensors, they are showing, with support from a United

‘It’s the unseen pollution’: how getting farmers, fishers and beavers together could save a Cornish river

A local initiative is testing simple ways to stop algal blooms in the River Fal threatening some of England’s most biodiverse marine habitats On a rocky beach in Cornwall, a group of wetsuit-clad freedivers and snorkellers are wading into the shallows. Below St Mawes Castle,

Tokyo’s Haneda airport to open new satellite facility at terminal in Sept amid rising demand

The new facility will also increase passenger convenience.

Teens return to TikTok after world’s first usage ban, data show

The new data underscores concerns about the effectiveness of Australia’s age controls.

Johnny Marr Finds Defiance in Idealism on New Single ‘It’s Time’

The Smiths guitarist will release his fifth solo album, The Age of Everything , in October

The Very First Film Adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a Thomas Edison Production (1910)

The story of humans creating monstrous beings in their image may have perennial relevance, even if it seems specific to our contemporary cultural moment. What, after all, is Oscar Isaac’s AI inventor in Ex Machina but a 21st-century update of Victor Frankenstein? (Before Isaac

Ridley Scott's Canceled 2-Part Sci-Fi Streaming Series Is "Westworld Meets Blade Runner"

With The Dog Stars bringing Ridley Scott back to sci-fi, revisit the ambitious HBO Max series that deserved a third season.

27 Years Ago, The Last True Star Wars Masterpiece Arrived a Month After Phantom Menace

Weird Al Yankovic's 1999 song "The Saga Begins" is a musical masterpiece. It's a wonderful parody of "American Pie" and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Paradox's next grand strategy game is taking cues from Fallout and Mad Max

Afterworld will let you conquer post-apocalyptic North America.

Nvidia Earnings Could Create New Entry Points in These 8 Chip Stocks

China says its cooperation with Iran should not be disrupted

France to survey 10 million pupils on sexual violence

The government expects the nationwide survey to reveal the scale of abuse as authorities face scrutiny over tens of thousands of cases awaiting action.

The real roots of America’s mass resentment

It’s hardly news that Americans are not happy with the state of their nation. Confidence in the country’s direction crashed hard during the Bush years and never recovered. But what’s notable about more recent years is Americans’ increasing dissatisfaction with their personal

Homes submerged, tens of thousands relocated in China's south as flooding intensifies

Heavy rains triggered by Typhoon Narra have caused intense flooding in southern China. Meanwhile, another storm system is making its way towards Japan and Taiwan.

‘Cairo Conspiracy’s’ Tawfeek Barhom to Star in Les Valseurs’ ‘Borderline’ by Oscar-Nominated Yves Piat (EXCLUSIVE)

Palestinian actor Tawfeek Barhom, best known for Tarik Saleh’s Cannes winner “Cairo Conspiracy” in 2022 and Palme d’Or winner 2025 for his short film “I’m Glad You’re Dead Now,” is set to headline the French pic “Borderline” by first-timer Yves Piat. A very loose feature-length

Kos sets out new path for EU enlargement: Internal reforms, safeguards and gradual integration to end impasse

The EU enlargement boss sets out four areas for discussion: internal reforms without treaty changes, stronger democratic safeguards, a gradual integration methodology and encompassing transitional measures.

Museveni, Ndayishimiye, Touadéra, Tshisekedi: ‘Ebola will be defeated village by village’

In the fight against Ebola, funding pledges must now translate into concrete action on the ground. In this op-ed, the presidents of Burundi, CAR, DRC and Uganda, together with the Africa CDC’s Jean Kaseya, make the case for a response led by African countries.

Evolution of fuel prices in July 2026

In July 2026, the price of fuels and lubricants for personal transport in the EU increased by 16.9% compared with July 2025. This followed year-on-year increases of 20.7% in May and 13.7% in June. In 25 of 27 EU countries, fuels and lubricants prices were higher in July 2026,

Target pulls ‘offensive’ Halloween costume from stores

The retailer pulled the kids' circus clown costume after social media users accused it of selling racist merchandise.

Na Hong-Jin’s ‘Hope,’ Netflix’s ‘Dead-End Job’ and ‘Blue Road,’ Disney+’s ‘The Remarried Empress’ Among Selections as Busan Unveils Korean Cinema Today, On Screen Lineups

The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has unveiled its Korean Cinema Today and On Screen selections, with Na Hong-Jin’s “Hope” among a nine-film lineup spanning Panorama and Special Premiere. “Hope,” Na’s latest feature, drew global attention ahead of release on the

Keeping communication channels open: Vatican's top diplomat visits Moscow

The programme for his visit, which is due to last until Thursday, includes meetings with representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate and with the small, local Catholic community.

Jelly Roll Urges Trump to Lose Weight: ‘Trust Me, You’ll Be Happy to See Your Penis Again’

The country singer is the guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live this week

Government quality, capability set successful nations apart in a contested world: Chan Chun Sing

Speaking at the inaugural Singapore-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue, Mr Chan said both countries feel the shifts in the rules-based international order acutely.

Foreign visitors boost Greek tourism in June – domestic demand is in decline

According to provisional data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority, 5.58 million arrivals and 24.06 million overnight stays were recorded in tourist lodgings in June 2026.

Prabowo orders permits to be revoked for firms linked to Indonesia forest fires

Fires across Sumatra and Kalimantan have burned about 85,000 hectares, local media reported.

Greek air traffic controllers pushed to limit by tourism boom

A surge in flights, staff shortages and ageing infrastructure are increasing pressure on controllers as Greece races to modernise its aviation network.

Philippines seeking to expand military drone capabilities, says defence chief

Chinese vessel caught with banned shark fin in the Pacific

The vessel was escorted back to Christmas Island for further investigation.

Spanish workers spend equivalent of 231 days paying taxes, study says

Tax Freedom Day fell on 20 August, according to Fundación Civismo. The think tank says the average worker’s tax burden has increased by 54 days since 2018, partly because of higher social contributions and income tax thresholds failing to keep pace with inflation.

China’s YJ-20 hypersonic missile tilting Pacific’s naval balance

Footage broadcast by Chinese state television in July showed a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile fired from the vertical launch system of a Type 052D destroyer, marking a quiet but significant shift in the region’s naval balance. Until now, the YJ-20 was thought to

The war on ‘loudcasting’ phones can be won, but it will take some very British nudging | Dan Hancox

Although mobiles blared in public are nothing new, this crop of headphone-dodging irritants are truly maddening. It’s time to take them on ‘Interesting cities can’t be quiet”, runs one of grime DJ and music industry thinker Elijah’s epigrams – and in its essential spirit, he is

Going with the grain: how restoring biodiversity led one farmer back to heritage wheat

Henry Astor looked back to his grandfather’s time for the inspiration to find older varieties that could help nature on his Cotswold farm It is the earliest harvest Henry Astor can remember. But walking through the scorched wheatfields of his Cotswolds farm, signs of life are

First-ever urban Ritz-Carlton Reserve to open in Shanghai – here’s what you need to know

The new skyscraper property will open on Shanghai’s North Bund in 2030.

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ ‘The Odyssey’ Extend Battle Atop U.K. and Ireland Box Office as ‘Insidious’ Makes Strong Debut

Sony’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” retained the No. 1 spot at the U.K. and Ireland box office for a fourth consecutive week, collecting £3.6 million ($4.8 million), according to Rentrak. The superhero blockbuster pushed its running cumulative gross to $117.9 million.

EU reaffirms solidarity with Ukraine on 35th anniversary of independence

24 August 2026 marked Ukraine's 35th anniversary of its independence. This occasion embodies Ukrainians' bravery, resistance and resilience in the face of Russia's continuous and vicious war of aggression. It also symbolises their aspiration to be a democratic and European

Africa: All of Africa Today - August 25, 2026

[allAfrica]

Africa: Second Meeting of the Ihr Emergency Committee On the Epidemic of Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - Temporary Recommendations

[WHO] On 18 August 2026, the Emergency Committee regarding the epidemic of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo met for the second time to reassess the situation, in line with International Health Regulations (2005).

Africa: Africa Largest Beneficiary of GEF Funding - Official

[Premium Times] The Global Environment Facility (GEF) says Africa remains the largest regional beneficiary of its funding, receiving about 30 per cent of available resources.

Death of a titan of French radio and TV: Emmanuel Macron pays tribute to Philippe Bouvard

After an illustrious career spanning more than six decades – for which he holds a world record – beloved French cultural figure Philippe Bouvard has died aged 95. President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to “a free spirit”.

German investigators find third drone and suspected explosives at Leipzig/Halle Airport, local media says

Leipzig/Halle airport in eastern Germany plays a key role in the transport of military goods, including by the German military and NATO allies, and also serves as a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines.

Tornado rips through French village, injuring at least 31

A tornado tears through Pomas in southern France, damaging homes and roofs and injuring 31 people as severe storms hit the Aude region.

South Korea tightens China cabbage inspections after formaldehyde scandal

China launched spot checks and market inspections after videos showed cabbage being dipped into the industrial chemical.