Consell (Spain) (AFP) – A thunderstorm swept through the Spanish island of Mallorca, bringing torrential rain and flash flooding to several areas on August 27. According to the Spanish Meteorology Agency (AEMET), winds reached 120 km/h in some areas like Serra d’Alfabia and 108 km/h in La Palma where the moorings of a cruise liner broke, causing it to collide with an oil tanker.
San Francisco (AFP) – Commercial driverless vehicles are making their debut in San Francisco, where two operators received permission from a California regulator earlier this summer to operate 24/7 across the city except on freeways.
Las Rozas de Madrid (Spain) (AFP) – Protesters gather outside the Spanish Football Federation headquarters in Madrid after its chief, Luis Rubiales, refused to resign for his unsolicited kiss on the lips of player Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s Women’s World Cup triumph.
Darwin (Australia) (AFP) – Efforts to recover the bodies of three US marines killed in a helicopter crash on a remote island in Australia’s north are underway. According to health officials, eight marines remain in hospital with one in intensive care.
Taipei (AFP) – Foxconn billionaire founder Terry Gou announces that he will formally enter Taiwan’s presidential race as an independent candidate. Gou has long-running ambitions to become the leader of the self-ruled island, and sought the nomination of the main opposition Kuomintang party this year.
Harare (Zimbabwe) (AFP) – Residents of Harare react to the re-election of President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a contested vote that was rejected by the opposition and which international observers said fell short of democratic standards.
Hamburg (AFP) – Over 1,700 fans dressed up as the fictional magician Harry Potter gather in front of the townhall in Hamburg, Germany, to break the world record of the highest number of Harry Potters in one place. The event also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first Harry Potter book in Germany.
Crevedia (Romania) (AFP) – Burnt buildings and rubble are left after an explosion that rocked an unlicensed liquified petroleum gas station near the Romanian capital Bucharest on August 26. Officials said one person died and 57 were injured with at least eight people suffering severe burns. Prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the blast.
Herat (Afghanistan) (AFP) – Thousands of people rush to the passport office in Afghanistan’s Western city of Herat in a bid to leave the country after the authorities announced on August 23 that they would increase the number of passports issued daily from 150-200 to more than a thousand.
Crevedia (Romania) (AFP) – One person died and 46 were injured after two explosions rocked a liquified petroleum gas station close to Romania’s capital Bucharest on August 26. The injured includes 26 firefighters who rushed to the scene in Crevedia commune, north of the capital.
Bengaluru (India) (AFP) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India’s successful Moon mission will open new avenues for other countries seeking to unravel the mysteries of the Earth’s only natural satellite. Chandrayaan-3, “Mooncraft” in Sanskrit, touched down on the lunar surface on on August 23, making India the first nation to land an unmanned craft near the largely unexplored lunar south pole.
Choco (Colombia) (AFP) – Facing the blue waters of Colombia’s Pacific Ocean, businessmen set their sights on a giant port, but were met with resistance from Afro-Colombians and indigenous people from the Choco region, who successfully stopped the project and preserved a piece of paradise. The Gulf of Tribuga, which connects some 600 hectares of beaches, jungle and mangroves, was the scene of a battle between local communities and big business from 2006 to 2023, before Unesco declared it a biosphere reserve in June.
