At least 30 people were killed and 22 injured after a massive garbage dump collapsed in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, following heavy rain. Authorities confirmed the incident on Sunday, saying it occurred before dawn at the Dar-Es-Salam waste disposal site in the Gbessia area. Six of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

Authorities said rain fell throughout the night before the huge pile of waste gave way and crashed onto nearby homes and settlements. Many people were trapped beneath the debris. Rescue teams reached the site and began search and recovery operations soon after the collapse.

Searches were continuing for anyone still trapped under the rubble, and authorities said the death toll could rise. Residents had previously been instructed to leave the risk-prone area, but many families had not moved. Remaining residents were relocated to safer places after the incident. Dar-Es-Salam is one of Conakry’s largest open waste disposal sites, where safety concerns had persisted and heavy rain had increased the risk of a collapse.

An Israeli airstrike hit a tent sheltering displaced people near Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, killing two Palestinian brothers and injuring several others, medical officials said. The report was published on August 24, 2026. Further details about the casualties were not immediately available.

Medical officials said the tent had been set up as a shelter for people displaced by the war and was located near the hospital. The strike targeted the shelter area, according to the reported account, while the number and condition of those injured were not specified.

Shelling was also reported earlier south of the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza. Deir al-Balah is described as an important area of central Gaza where many people displaced by the war have sought refuge, including around hospitals and nearby areas.

International relations researcher Mohsen Farhani said China and Russia are unlikely to participate in new United States sanctions against Iran. In an interview with Al Jazeera from Tehran, published on August 24, 2026, he said Washington may struggle to win sufficient support from allies and other important countries for the measures.

Farhani attributed China and Russia’s expected non-participation to their already tense relations with the United States. He also pointed to Iran’s economic ties with China, saying large volumes of Iranian oil are exported there and that Iran is an important economic partner for Beijing.

The researcher said Iran retains influence over global trade routes and has significant leverage through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. He also said regional countries increasingly doubt the credibility and capacity of US security guarantees. According to Farhani, this loss of confidence could discourage countries from joining the sanctions, leaving the measures largely unilateral.

Nearly six months after the United States and Israel began war with Iran following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed under Iranian action, according to the report. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said vessels owned by the United States, Israel or their allies would be considered legitimate targets. The crisis has included a sunken tugboat, nearly a dozen sailors dead or missing, and disruption in a route carrying about one-quarter of seaborne oil.

The report says US strikes targeted Iranian ballistic-missile infrastructure and drone sites, while Iran used drone attacks on commercial vessels and laid sea mines. By April, US Central Command said dozens of ships had been stopped and several seized, with Washington estimating daily Iranian losses of about $500 million. Iran nevertheless has not reopened the passage on US terms and in May created a “Persian Gulf Strait Authority.”

Iran demands an end to the US naval blockade and sanctions, a full US military withdrawal from the region, war compensation, and release of seized Iranian assets. Oman has not supported Tehran’s unilateral claim, as the strait’s waters are divided between Iran and Oman. The report also describes prolonged deployment pressures on US naval personnel and says Gulf states are expanding alternative security and economic relationships.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obayed Islam said the international community must collectively assume political and moral responsibility for resolving the protracted Rohingya crisis, stressing that Bangladesh cannot bear the burden alone. Speaking on Sunday in the capital at a dialogue jointly organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh and Oxfam in Bangladesh, she said the crisis’s nearly 10-year mark requires renewed action and accountability.

She said Bangladesh has hosted more than 1.2 million forcibly displaced Rohingya despite limited land, high population density and its own development challenges. Their presence has put heavy pressure on infrastructure, the environment, public services and communities in Cox’s Bazar, she said, while Bangladesh continues to provide food, shelter, health care, education and protection. She warned that reduced funding under the 2026 Joint Response Plan could affect refugees, host communities, camp stability and regional stability.

Islam said a durable solution must be found in Myanmar, where the crisis originated, and reiterated Bangladesh’s goal of safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation. She called for faster verification under bilateral agreements, including consideration of children born in camps and Rohingya arriving from Rakhine after 2017, alongside sustained diplomatic efforts and predictable international funding.

Russia has withdrawn its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Andrei Kelin, as tensions between Moscow and London deepen over British military support for Ukraine. Kelin left Britain last month after seven years in the post, and Moscow has not nominated a successor. His name has also been removed from the Russian embassy’s diplomatic list, which now identifies Vasily A. Siganov as chargé d’affaires.

The Russian embassy said Kelin had sought to keep communication channels with Britain open, but claimed the British government had chosen a path of confrontation with Russia. It said he hoped constructive, mutually respectful dialogue could be restored if Britain reconsidered its policy toward Russia. Moscow’s rhetoric hardened after indications that Ukrainian forces used two drones made by British companies for attacks inside Russia.

Britain’s Foreign Office described the ambassador’s withdrawal as an internal Russian decision. It said Britain still has an ambassador and embassy in Russia and continues to raise concerns with the Russian government. London also said it would stand firmly with Ukraine and supported its right to self-defence against what it called Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression. Analysts said the vacancy could further lower diplomatic ties.

Argentina’s former first lady Eva Peron died of cervical cancer on July 26, 1952, aged 33. Her embalmed body was kept after her death and became central to a 16-year journey following the 1955 military coup that removed her husband, President Juan Peron. The new authorities removed her body from a planned memorial in central Buenos Aires, fearing it could become a symbol of Peronist resistance.

Spanish anatomist Pedro Ara preserved the body using paraffin and glycerine injections. More than two million people viewed Eva Peron’s coffin over 14 days at the Congress building, reflecting her continued public support. The body was reportedly moved between locations in Buenos Aires, including military intelligence facilities, before being buried under an assumed name in Milan, Italy, in 1957.

In 1971, a new Argentine government agreed to return the body to Juan Peron in exile in Madrid. After Juan Peron died in 1974, it was returned to Buenos Aires and restored. In October 1976, Eva Peron was placed in a highly secure crypt, five metres underground, with concealed doors intended to prevent another theft.

The selection process for the United Nations’ 10th secretary-general is under way, with eight candidates from different countries and regions seeking to succeed António Guterres. The new secretary-general will begin a five-year term on January 1, 2027. Sources connected to the process said Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett was narrowly ahead in a second informal opinion poll held on Friday.

The contenders include diplomats, former heads of government, economists and current or former UN officials. They are Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Macky Sall of Senegal, María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rodrigues-Birkett, Uganda’s Olara Otunnu and Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne Baki, nominated by Tonga.

Candidates have stressed issues including multilateral reform, debt burdens of developing countries, Security Council reform, conflict prevention, climate action and restoring the UN’s moral authority. Grossi is considered strong by many diplomats because of his long-standing ties with the five permanent Security Council members, though Russia objects to his candidacy. The Security Council must recommend a candidate, with support needed from its five permanent members, before General Assembly approval is required.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate telephone conversations with the foreign ministers of Oman and Egypt on August 23, 2026, seeking ways to reduce regional tensions and resume diplomatic talks. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Araghchi and Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi discussed creating suitable conditions for a possible restart of dialogue, as well as navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Oman has recently played an important mediating role in talks between Iran and the United States, although dialogue between the two countries is currently suspended. In his separate call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Araghchi discussed recent developments in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea and reviewed progress in ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions.

The calls followed comments by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who stressed ending a situation in which Iran is neither at war nor at peace. He said a firm position was needed to address problems while keeping open the path of reason and dialogue.

France has announced plans to provide Ukraine with new missile-defense systems as Russian missile and drone attacks increase. President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement after a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to the report published on August 23, 2026. Macron said Ukraine’s air defenses needed to be strengthened quickly.

France will rapidly supply new interceptor missiles and other military equipment, Macron said. Paris will also cooperate on providing missile-production technology and licenses. Ukraine has long sought additional air-defense systems and missiles to counter Russian ballistic missiles, while Kyiv has expressed concern over shortages of US-made Patriot missiles.

Macron spoke with Zelenskyy after a Russian drone attack on a shopping center in Kryvyi Rih that caused multiple casualties. He condemned the attack and pledged stronger Ukrainian air defenses. Ukraine has also launched drone attacks on Russian economic and military facilities, while peace talks involving the United States, Ukraine and Russia remain effectively stalled. European allies led by France and the United Kingdom are expected to meet on further support for Ukraine and ways to increase pressure on Russia.

US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said Israel’s bombing of Syria’s Abu al-Duhur air base amounted to an “unnecessary escalation” that could complicate rising tensions between Israel and Turkey. Israeli warplanes struck the base on Monday night; it lies about 45 miles from the Turkish border and roughly 180 miles north of Israel. Israel initially did not claim responsibility but later acknowledged the attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Turkey was seeking to establish a military presence at the air base south of its current position, despite prior warnings. He said the strike was intended to clarify Israel’s position. The dispute prompted sharp exchanges, with Netanyahu calling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an antisemitic dictator, while Erdogan’s office described the remarks as a cheap political tactic ahead of Netanyahu’s upcoming election.

Barrack said the United States had no evidence that Syria or Turkey was taking hostile or offensive action against Israel before the strike. He said Syria had told Mossad there were no Turkish troops, military convoys or weapons at the site, while talks and a US coordination framework were under way. Barrack said he hoped all parties would return to dialogue.

Israeli forces were accused of using phosphorus shells, airstrikes and heavy artillery fire across several areas of southern Lebanon on Saturday, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency. The reported attacks struck Mansouri, Beit al-Sayyad and Majdal Zoun before dawn, while explosions were reported overnight. Beit al-Sayyad sustained extensive damage, with the agency saying nearly no home in the village escaped damage.

Explosions were also reported in Hadatha, Beit Yahoun and Aita al-Jabal, while Israeli drones were seen over towns and villages in southern Lebanon’s western and central areas. Israeli warplanes carried out two strikes near the Ali al-Taher hill north of Nabatieh al-Fawqa. Artillery fire was also reported around Dawhat Kfar Remman, Dabsha hill and the forests of Ali al-Taher, where phosphorus-shell use was alleged.

International human rights groups had previously voiced concern over allegations of phosphorus use in southern Lebanon. Amnesty International said white phosphorus in populated areas poses serious risks to civilians and faces strict restrictions under international humanitarian law. The reported attacks occurred despite a US-mediated security framework that was supposed to be in force between Lebanon and Israel, while attacks and tensions in southern Lebanon continued.

Tensions have risen between Tel Aviv and Ankara over Israeli airstrikes in Syria, but Israel does not want to turn Turkey into an enemy, according to the report. An Israeli defence official said the two countries are exchanging messages through secret contacts in an effort to avoid conflict. The report was published by Amar Desh Online on August 23, 2026.

The official told Kan News that Israel has to act when messages do not produce results. Israel has warned that it would counter Turkey’s military presence in Syria if it becomes a threat to Israeli security. It is particularly prioritising efforts to prevent the deployment of Turkish air-defence systems, advanced missiles and drones in Syria.

As part of that approach, Israel struck infrastructure and the runway at the Abu al-Duhur military base in northern Syria. Tel Aviv said the strike was carried out before Turkish military equipment arrived and was intended to send Damascus a clear message. Israel said it does not object to strengthening Syria’s military capabilities, but will not allow a new security threat near its border. Turkey denied that Turkish military representatives or troops were at the base during the attack.

Emily Thornberry, chair of the British Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and a Labour Party MP, has urged the UK government to ban imports produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The call was reported on August 23, 2026. Thornberry said individual sanctions alone were insufficient to halt settlement expansion and violence, arguing that trade with the settlements should also stop.

She said Israeli settlement construction and expansion in the West Bank were threatening the prospects for a two-state solution. Thornberry argued that Britain should stop importing settlement goods so that British money is not used to support the expansion of those settlements. She also described violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank as having reached a severe level.

Nearly 140 Labour MPs called in June for a ban on trade with what they described as illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, but the British government has not introduced a full prohibition. The government has described Israeli settlements as a violation of international law. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband recently strongly criticised Israel’s new West Bank settlement projects, and the government said further measures to curb settlement expansion would be announced in coming weeks.

Many Bangladeshi tourists are hurriedly leaving hotels in Kolkata and returning home after a devastating fire at Hotel Shikha Inn on Mirza Ghalib Street near New Market killed nine people, including seven Bangladeshis. The August 23 report said the deaths have created fear and anger among residents, businesses and visitors in Kolkata’s well-known hotel district.

The area, spanning Sudder Street, Marquis Street, Lindsay Street, Mirza Ghalib Street and Free School Street, is popular with Bangladeshi medical travellers because of relatively low-cost lodging and nearby money-exchange services, bus counters and food stalls. Visitors and local accounts alleged widespread illegal hotels, inadequate licensing, narrow access routes, absent fire exits, unsafe electrical wiring and a lack of fire-safety audits.

Tourists also cited visa complications, brokers and long waits at the Benapole border, with some considering Chennai, Vellore, China or Nepal for treatment instead. Authorities have formed an investigation committee to examine the legality of hotels and guesthouses in the area. Municipal, fire-service and electricity officials have begun stricter action, while owners of illegal establishments are reported to be worried.