Liverpool have finalized a £123 million deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with a £106 million base fee and up to £17 million in performance-based add-ons, according to the Press Association . The 23-year-old France international, who scored three goals at this summer's World Cup and won back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG , is expected to travel to England within hours to undergo a medical examination and sign a contract at Anfield running through 2031 . The deal makes Barcola the second-most expensive signing in Liverpool's history, behind only Alexander Isak . PSG had initially demanded £145 million before negotiations broke through earlier this week .

Liverpool's total spending has exceeded £633 million over the past year, following the high-profile acquisitions of Isak and Florian Wirtz . The arrival of Barcola has also raised questions about the future of Cody Gakpo, who has attracted transfer interest from Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur .

On the pitch, Liverpool host Nottingham Forest at Anfield Aug. 29 in their first home Premier League match under manager Andoni Iraola . Iraola makes two changes from the 2-2 draw against Newcastle United last weekend . Victor Munoz, the Spanish forward who joined from Osasuna this summer, earns his first competitive start after coming off the bench to win a late penalty against Newcastle, with Rio Ngumoha dropping to the bench . Alexis Mac Allister also returns to the starting eleven for his first league start of the season, replacing Ryan Gravenberch in midfield . Liverpool's confirmed lineup reads: Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Wirtz, Gakpo, Munoz; Isak .

The match also marks a historic moment at Anfield: the first Premier League home game at the stadium without Mohamed Salah in nine years . Salah left the club June 30, 2026, after a nine-year tenure in which he set the Premier League record for goal contributions — 155 — by a player at a single stadium . Liverpool enter the match 10th in the table with one point, while Forest, managed by Oliver Glasner, sit 15th with zero points after a 2-0 loss to Leeds United . Forest have won their last two visits to Anfield, including a 1-0 victory in September 2024 and a 3-0 win in November of that year . Analysts at NBC Sports note that Iraola's high-pressing style created "counter attack and transition problems" against Newcastle, and suggest Forest manager Glasner may exploit those vulnerabilities using new striker Liam Delap and speedy wingers .

Norway entered a period of national mourning Aug. 28 as approximately 13,000 Norwegians lined rain-soaked streets in respectful silence to watch the coffin of King Harald V travel from Rikshospitalet in Oslo to the Royal Palace . The procession, which departed at 6:30 p.m. — exactly 12 hours after Harald's death at 6:35 a.m. — retraced the same route taken Jan. 30, 1991, when Harald's father, King Olav V, was transported following his own death .

Harald's coffin, adorned with the royal crown, scepter, orb, and sword of state, now rests in a purple-draped catafalque in the Royal Palace chapel, under the guard of four military cadets . The chapel will open to the public for visitation in the coming days . His state funeral will take place at Oslo Cathedral, with burial in the royal mausoleum at Akershus Fortress; the exact date has not been announced .

King Haakon VIII is scheduled to take his constitutional oath before the Storting, the Norwegian parliament, Sept. 1, formalizing his role as monarch . Norway abolished formal coronation ceremonies in 1908, so the oath before parliament represents the key constitutional step in the transition .

Harald's 35-year reign was shaped in part by his marriage to Queen Sonja, born Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a textile merchant. Harald met Sonja in 1959, but his father, King Olav, resisted the union between a royal and a commoner. The couple kept their relationship secret for nearly nine years until the Norwegian press revealed it in 1968 . Harald, then 30, issued his father an ultimatum: approve the marriage or he would remain single for life. King Olav conceded, and the couple wed Aug. 29, 1968, at Oslo Cathedral . Harald died Aug. 28, 2026 — one day before what would have been their 58th wedding anniversary . Queen Sonja, 89, walked in the coffin procession alongside the new king and the rest of the royal family .

Beyond his family life, Harald was known for his role as a national unifying figure, notably addressing Norway following the 2011 Oslo and Utøya terror attacks, and for competing in three Olympic sailing events between 1964 and 1972 . He consistently refused calls to abdicate, saying his parliamentary oath would last "as long as my life" .

Note on Harald's age: Most sources, including i24NEWS and El Destape, report Harald was 89 at the time of his death . However, the Express reported him as 88, noting he was born in 1937 . The majority of sources confirm the age of 89. Similarly, sources differ slightly on the cause of death: most cite hemolytic anemia complicated by a bacterial blood infection , while some mention fluid accumulation as an additional factor .

Bayern Munich launched its bid for a third straight Bundesliga title with a commanding 5-1 victory over VfB Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Aug. 28, 2026, before a capacity crowd of 75,000 fans . The win extended Bayern's unbeaten Bundesliga season-opener streak to 15 consecutive years .

French defender Dayot Upamecano headed in the opening goal in the 21st minute from a Joshua Kimmich corner kick . Stuttgart briefly leveled the score through Josha Vagnoman in the 52nd minute, but Bayern took control of the second half. French midfielder Michael Olise restored the lead in the 55th minute, and Vagnoman then turned the ball into his own net three minutes later to make it 3-1 . Olise, widely regarded as the match's standout performer, added a second goal in the 63rd minute . German midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic extended the lead to 4-1 in the 82nd minute, and Colombian forward Luis Diaz added the fifth in the 90th+2 minute — both assisted by summer signing Ismael Saibari . Stuttgart was also reduced to 10 men in the 74th minute after defender Stergiou was dismissed .

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, making his 600th competitive appearance for Bayern, stated, "Starting the season like that is a dream" . Captain Kimmich, who finished with two assists, noted Stuttgart was "a bit more present" in the first 25 minutes but credited Bayern's second-half intensity . Pavlovic, a 22-year-old academy graduate celebrating his first goal since April 2026, said, "We gave everything from start to finish" .

New German national team coach Jürgen Klopp attended the match and praised Bayern's intensity, noting he saw "many candidates" for his upcoming squad . Bayern will next visit Schalke on Sept. 5, while Stuttgart hosts Koln on Sept. 4 .

Liverpool FC failed to secure their first Premier League win of the 2026-27 season, settling for a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at Anfield Aug. 29, 2026 . The result leaves Liverpool in 10th place with two points from two matches, having also drawn 2-2 with Newcastle United in the season opener . The draw extends Liverpool's winless run to six Premier League matches .

Forest, managed by new head coach Oliver Glasner, struck first in the 24th minute when Dan Ndoye converted after Gibbs-White played him in behind Liverpool's defensive line . Liverpool's Florian Wirtz had a goal disallowed for offside in the 32nd minute . Alexander Isak drew Liverpool level in the 60th minute, finishing from close range following a precise low cross from Cody Gakpo .

Forest regained the lead in the 70th minute when Morgan Gibbs-White converted a penalty awarded after goalkeeper Alisson Becker fouled Neco Williams . Liverpool's late rescue came from Spanish attacker Victor Muñoz, who struck a powerful shot in the 82nd minute following a pass from Wirtz to level the score at 2-2 . Flashscore.com named Liverpool midfielder Jeremy Jacquet as the Man of the Match .

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who replaced Arne Slot this summer , now faces growing pressure to find consistency in attack. Portuguese outlet A Bola noted Liverpool's "lack of attacking alternatives and vulnerability to counter-attacks," while highlighting that incoming signing Bradley Barcola is expected to bolster the attack in the coming days . Liverpool's next fixture takes them to Ipswich Town, while Forest hosts Tottenham Hotspur in the third round .

Iceland's closely watched referendum on restarting European Union accession talks closed its polls at 10 p.m. local time Aug. 29, with results expected early Aug. 30 . The vote asked roughly 265,000 to 273,000 eligible voters — sources differ on the exact figure — one question: whether Iceland should resume EU membership negotiations frozen since 2013 .

Pre-vote polling pointed to an extremely tight race. A Gallup poll conducted Aug. 24–27 showed 51.6% opposed and 48.4% in favor . A Maskina Institute survey showed the opposite, with 51.3% supporting resumed talks and 48.7% opposed . A third poll cited by the European Policy Centre found 54% opposed and 46% in favor . All margins fell within or near the statistical error range. Over 20% of eligible voters cast early ballots .

Despite the uncertainty, Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, a 'yes' campaign backer, expressed confidence. "It is very tight, but I am still optimistic," she said, adding: "Nothing is decided until it is over" .

A 'yes' vote would not grant Iceland immediate EU membership. It would instead legally compel the government to restart talks with the European Commission on 35 negotiation chapters, a process estimated to last 18 to 24 months. Any final deal would then require a second, binding referendum and ratification by all 27 EU member states . A 'no' vote, by contrast, would shelve the issue until at least the end of the current parliamentary term in 2028 .

The referendum's outcome carries broad implications. Iceland would become the EU's smallest member by population if it ultimately joins, surpassing Malta . The EU has not admitted a wealthy, net-contributing country since 1995 . Norway, which like Iceland is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) but not the EU, is watching the result closely as a potential signal of the bloc's attractiveness to prosperous northern European nations .

President Donald Trump touted what he called "THE BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY" Aug. 28, but a growing chorus of energy experts, lawyers, and opposition politicians is warning that the agreement's promises — cheaper gas, doubled U.S. reserves, and a revived Venezuelan oil industry — could take years, or decades, to materialize .

The deal, confirmed by Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez, gives the U.S. a 55% effective stake in a new private joint venture covering 17 oil fields with 65 billion barrels of proven reserves, under a 100-year concession . Rodríguez projected over $100 billion in private investment and more than $209 billion in tax revenues for Venezuela . Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as "bold foreign policy" under the "America First" premise .

Yet the deal's fine print remains conspicuously absent. No official agreement text has been released, the identity of the private operator in the joint venture is unknown, and conflicting accounts from administration officials suggest the pact is not yet fully finalized . Making matters more complicated, oil, gas, and mineral lawyer Alexander Kuiper told the BBC that "contracts have yet to be finalized and production will take considerable time" . David Goldwyn, president of Goldwyn Global Strategies, told Reuters there is "no precedent" for the U.S. government entering a direct lease to operate foreign oil fields and raised concerns about compliance with Venezuela's constitution .

A potential legal conflict has also emerged: the proposed 100-year concession term appears to clash directly with Venezuela's January 2026 hydrocarbons statute, which caps mixed operating company terms at 40 years . Venezuelan opposition figures and economist Ricardo Hausmann of Harvard University argue the interim government lacked the authority to sign such a contract at all, labeling it a "shameful deal" and a betrayal of national sovereignty .

On the question of gas prices, experts are united in skepticism. U.S. gasoline averaged $4.08-$4.09 per gallon as of Aug. 29, up from $3.20 a year ago . Rystad Energy estimates Venezuelan production could rise just 17% by 2028, and only with significant infrastructure investment and adequate rig availability . ExxonMobil chief executive Darren Woods previously called Venezuela "un-investable" due to its deteriorated infrastructure, and Chevron — the only U.S. oil company currently operating there — declined to comment publicly on the new deal . Experts Amy Myers Jaffe of New York University and Kevin Book of ClearView Energy Partners separately warned that repairing Venezuela's aging fields, pipelines, refineries, and power grids will cost billions and take years .

The deal has sharply divided U.S. politicians. Republican Senator Bernie Moreno called it a "historic agreement," while Democratic Senators Tim Kaine and Chris Van Hollen condemned it as "corruption on an epic scale" and a risk to U.S. soldiers for the benefit of wealthy allies . Inside Venezuela, public reaction is mixed, with some citizens viewing the agreement as a sell-off of national resources, and Venezuelan exiles in Doral, Florida, expressing concern that the deal prioritizes commercial interests over a democratic transition championed by opposition leader María Corina Machado .

The death toll from a Russian drone strike on an ammunition depot in the village of Myla, in the Bucha district near Kyiv, has risen to 37, up from an earlier count of 27, with 42 others injured — four of them children — according to Kyiv regional governor Tymur Tkachenko . Zelenskyy described the strike as the deadliest in the Kyiv area this year .

The revised toll emerged Aug. 29 as rescue workers continued to search for at least two people believed trapped under rubble . Beyond the Myla warehouse casualties, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a 2-year-old girl died in Kyiv after a downed drone struck the city, and governor Tkachenko confirmed the death of a 14-year-old girl in the Boryspil district .

In response to the disaster, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense ordered a full audit of all weapons and ammunition storage facilities nationwide, directing all officials responsible for the Security and Defense Forces and the defense industry to verify that no storage sites sit near residential areas . The ministry called the storage of explosive materials near residential homes "unacceptable" . Aug. 30 was declared a day of mourning in the Kyiv region .

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video address, again condemned the incident as a "terrible situation and terrible negligence on the part of those who stored explosives right next to people" . Criminal cases have been opened on charges of official negligence, and the Prosecutor General's Office launched a pre-trial investigation into whether the storage of explosive materials at the site was lawful . The M-06 Kyiv–Chop highway was temporarily closed between kilometers 15 and 32 because of the massive fire .

There is a discrepancy in the reported death toll from the previous blast at the Vyshneve warehouse in July: some sources cite 9 deaths while others report 10 . The two incidents are otherwise consistently described as parallel cases of ammunition stored near civilians.

Norway's new King Haakon VIII delivered his first address to the nation Aug. 29, a pre-recorded speech broadcast at 19:00 on Norwegian television and radio — and live via mobile phones, the first time a Norwegian monarch has addressed the public that way . Seated at his palace desk in a black suit, a portrait of his late father beside two lit candles, the 53-year-old king spoke directly to his father: "Thank you for being such a good papa for Märtha and me" .

Haakon's voice broke multiple times as he paid tribute to King Harald V, describing him as a "warm-hearted and humorous grandfather," a "loving and caring husband" to Queen Sonja, and a man who "made no distinctions between people" . He recalled Harald donning "down jackets and rubber boots" to visit hurricane victims and weeping with the nation after the 2011 Utøya massacre, in which 69 people died . He also wished his mother, Queen Sonja, a happy 58th wedding anniversary, his voice faltering as he spoke .

Acknowledging the weight of his new role, Haakon declared, "Now it is my turn. I am facing a big task" . He pledged, alongside Queen Mette-Marit, to "be present and listen" and affirmed, "We believe in a Norway where there is room for everyone" . Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre praised the address as "wise and unifying" .

Tens of thousands of Norwegians gathered at Slottsplassen, the Royal Palace square in Oslo, leaving a "sea of colorful flowers" and candles in tribute . Churches and town halls across the country opened for candle-lighting and condolence book signings . Harald's coffin remains in the Royal Chapel at the palace, with no funeral date yet announced .

A religious service is set for Aug. 30 at Asker Church, closely tied to the royal family, and will be attended by Haakon, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Queen Sonja, and Prince Sverre Magnus . Queen Mette-Marit will not attend, still recovering from a lung transplant performed in June, though the Royal House confirmed she will take part in other mourning events .

Haakon is scheduled to take the constitutional oath before the Storting Tuesday at 13:00, an event to be broadcast live . No coronation will take place — the tradition was abolished in 1908 — though a blessing ceremony at the Cathedral of Trondheim remains a possibility .

Paris Saint-Germain staged another late comeback in French Ligue 1, drawing 2-2 against Lille, Aug. 28, 2026, at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq . The result marked PSG's second consecutive 2-2 draw to open the 2026-27 season, the club's first winless start through two Ligue 1 matches since the 2020-2021 season .

Lille dominated early, with Hákon Haraldsson scoring in the 21st minute off an assist from 39-year-old veteran Olivier Giroud . Substitute Dilane Bakwa extended the lead to 2-0 in the 84th minute , leaving PSG seemingly headed for defeat. Instead, PSG turned to Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, who had entered as a substitute in the 63rd minute along with Mika Godts . Godts provided the key assist for Vitinha's left-footed strike in the 90+1st minute, and Vitinha then set up Marquinhos for a headed equalizer in the 90+5th minute .

PSG operated without suspended defender Nuno Mendes and ailing midfielder João Neves . Defender Willian Pacho acknowledged the team's struggles in a post-match interview, saying the first half was "difficult" and that the squad was "not yet physically ready" due to a "shortened preparation ." Russian goalkeeper Matvey Safonov started and played the full 90 minutes, making two saves .

Matchday 1 showed a similar pattern, with PSG rallying from a 2-0 deficit against Rennes to draw 2-2, with a double from Ferrán Torres . Lille now leads the Ligue 1 table with 4 points from two matches, while PSG sits sixth with 2 points . PSG hosts Monaco Sept. 4, while Lille travels to face Toulouse the day before . PSG has also qualified for the 36-team group stage of the UEFA Champions League, with the first round scheduled for Sept. 8-10 .

A political firestorm has erupted in India after members of the Shri Ram Sena, a right-wing group, allegedly conducted a 'shuddhikaran' — or purification — ritual at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, Aug. 10, two days after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit leader, addressed a rally at the same venue Aug. 8 . Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi held a press conference Aug. 29 at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi direct authorities to file a First Information Report (FIR) under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) Prevention of Atrocities Act against those responsible . Gandhi described the ritual as "just another word for untouchability" and called it a constitutional violation, noting that nearly 20 days had passed without any government action . "A battle is going on in the country between the ideology of the Constitution and the ideology of the BJP-RSS," Gandhi said .

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh escalated the attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), stating, "At the core of the BJP-RSS ideology lies hatred toward Dalits," and questioned Prime Minister Modi's silence . Gandhi also cited other alleged incidents of caste-based discrimination, including Dalit children being made to clean toilets and being denied access to water, framing the Haldwani incident as part of a broader pattern .

The BJP denied any direct involvement. Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Khajan Das stated the party "has nothing to do with it," accusing Congress of spreading misinformation to mislead the Dalit community . Das added that the purification was conducted by an independent organization with no BJP workers involved, and noted that the Ramlila Ground had hosted events by multiple parties without prior objection . BJP national president J.P. Nadda condemned the act and promised an investigation . However, Uttarakhand BJP chief Mahendra Bhatt had previously defended the ritual, alleging it was a reaction to offensive slogans raised during Kharge's Aug. 8 rally — a claim that drew sharp criticism from Gandhi . Kharge himself, speaking in India's upper house of Parliament, the Rajya Sabha, said the incident caused him the same pain felt by the Dalit community over untouchability .

Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway will team up for a sequel to the 1990 NASCAR drama 'Days of Thunder,' with Paramount Pictures setting a release date of June 2, 2028 . Cruise, now 64, announced the project via social media Aug. 29, revealing Hathaway, 43, as his co-star . The announcement was made at Daytona International Speedway, where the pair posed in front of a Next-Gen NASCAR stock car .

Cruise will reprise his role as driver Cole Trickle, while Hathaway will play a new character: a racecar team owner and engineer . Jonathan Levine will direct from a screenplay by Will Staples, who previously co-wrote 'Without Remorse' . Cruise will produce alongside Jerry Bruckheimer — who produced the original — and Tommy Harper . The film will be shot for IMAX and released in premium theatrical formats such as Dolby Cinema and 4DX .

In a promotional video filmed at Daytona, Hathaway — who is pregnant with her third child with husband Adam Shulman — quipped, "I'm gonna have this baby, and then we're gonna make this movie," to which Cruise replied, "We're coming out summer of 2028. Don't be late" . Production is expected to begin in early 2027, with Staples having already conducted research with NASCAR teams to modernize the story .

No plot details have been officially announced, though the film is expected to explore Cole Trickle's current role within NASCAR . It remains unconfirmed whether original cast members such as Nicole Kidman will return . The original 1990 film, directed by the late Tony Scott, grossed $82.6 million domestically and $157.9 million worldwide against a $60 million budget . The sequel follows the massive commercial success of 'Top Gun: Maverick,' which grossed $1.5 billion worldwide and revived another Cruise franchise from the 1980s . Cruise's career global box office has surpassed $13 billion .

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Aug. 28 that he has ordered the country's armed forces to ramp up long-range drone strikes against Russia to 1,000 per day — more than three times the current daily average of approximately 300 . "The task is: 1,000 drones per day for long-range attacks against Russia," Zelensky said in an evening video address broadcast from Kyiv, describing the goal as "quite realistic" and vowing, "We will accomplish this task" . Zelensky called the strikes "long-range sanctions" and said Ukraine must "maximize the use of weapons" to drive up the cost of Russia's war .

The announcement came the same day that Russia launched 96 strike drones and seven 'Banderol' (S-8000) cruise missiles at Ukraine, with most aimed at the capital, Kyiv . Ukraine's air defense forces shot down six S-8000 missiles and 73 of the strike drones between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time, with roughly 10 reactive drones still airborne as of early evening . Russian strikes on the Kyiv region hit 14 warehouses, 16 private houses, three apartment buildings, and 16 vehicles, killing one person and injuring two . A separate Russian glide bomb attack in the Sumy region killed one and wounded seven .

Ukraine's drone campaign has already inflicted measurable damage on Russian territory. Zelensky reported that Ukrainian operations at Novorossiysk port — a key hub for Russia's Black Sea Fleet — have been so effective that no ships are currently entering or leaving . Since mid-July, Ukraine has also targeted logistics centers of networks such as Wildberries, which Kyiv considers legitimate military targets supporting Russia's war effort . Zelensky warned that Kyiv would respond to what he called Moscow's "terror escalation" and said Ukraine was accelerating production of interceptor missiles to counter Russian Shahed drones .

Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed its air defense systems destroyed 112 Ukrainian drones over 10 regions Aug. 28, including the Moscow region, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Oryol, Tula, Yaroslavl, and Crimea, as well as over the Black Sea . A Ukrainian drone struck a store in Pavlovsky Posad in the Moscow region, damaging a nearby medical clinic . In the Yaroslavl region, a Ukrainian strike killed one person and injured 27 .

The escalating air campaign has taken a toll on Ukraine's broader economy. The Ministry of Economy lowered its 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast from 1.3% to 0.8%, citing Russia's campaign to target Ukraine's power grid, which Ukrainian officials have dubbed an effort to "weaponize winter" . Andrii Kovalenko of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation said Russia's aim is to "exhaust air defenses and the population" .

Zelensky also addressed the diplomatic front, thanking the U.S. for the "necessary tone" of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's recent trip to Moscow . Russia's Foreign Ministry, for its part, stated that Moscow is not interested in a temporary truce and seeks a comprehensive settlement to "eliminate the root causes" of the conflict . Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged economic damage from Ukrainian drone strikes but downplayed it as non-critical, while threatening future attacks causing "far more destruction" than Ukraine's .

Newcastle United handed Tottenham Hotspur a historic low Aug. 29, defeating the Spurs 2-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London to leave Tottenham the first club in its own history to lose its opening two Premier League matches . The result marked the first win for new Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle, whose side climbed to third place with four points .

Swedish winger Anthony Elanga broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, turning inside the box and firing a shot that struck the inside of the far post before crossing the line, with the goal set up by Nico Gonzalez and Admir Dedic . Congolese striker Yoane Wissa sealed the match in the 72nd minute with an acrobatic bicycle kick finish from a corner . Elanga, who also scored in Newcastle's opening 2-2 draw with Liverpool, now has two goals for the season after netting only three in all of last season .

For Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi, the loss deepened an alarming early-season crisis. The Spurs, who spent an estimated £320 million on eight new signings this summer , have failed to score a single Premier League goal through two matches. De Zerbi attributed the team's sluggish start to a lack of match fitness following a pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand . New £75 million signing Savio missed the match with muscle fatigue, while Mohammed Kudus made his return from injury .

Record signing Sandro Tonali, who cost Tottenham £92.5 million after his move from Newcastle, endured a torrid afternoon. Newcastle supporters booed Tonali's every touch, and his substitution in the 75th minute drew loud cheers from the away end . Egyptian international Omar Marmoush, on debut after joining on loan from Manchester City, had several chances but failed to score . Defender Pedro Porro was one of Tottenham's brighter performers, creating two clear chances in the first half that the Spurs could not convert .

Tottenham sits bottom of the Premier League table with zero points and zero goals scored . Newcastle will host Bournemouth next, while Tottenham travels to Nottingham Forest .

A Russian drone struck an ammunition depot in the village of Myla, in the Bucha district west of Kyiv, late Friday, triggering chain explosions and fires that killed at least 37 people — making it the deadliest Russian strike in the Kyiv area this year . At least 50 residential buildings and a care facility for the elderly and disabled were damaged, and more than 370 people evacuated . The death toll may rise, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the regional military administration, who placed the figure at 38 and called it "not definitive" .

Among the dead was Taras Didych, the former mayor of the nearby community of Dmitrivka, who died while coordinating rescue efforts . Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the incident as "horrific" and blamed "terrible negligence" by those who stored shells, mines, and combat drones illegally near civilian housing . Ukraine's General Prosecutor's Office opened a criminal investigation into whether the unnamed company held the necessary permits to store explosives at the site . The incident marks the second such explosion in two months, following a July strike in Vyshneve that killed 22 people .

The attack came during a 48-hour aerial siege involving more than 260 drones across Kyiv and nine other regions . Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported five air raid alerts in the capital Aug. 29 and confirmed drone strikes in the Obolonskyi, Pechersk, and Holosiivskyi districts, with the total Kyiv casualty count reaching eight . Among those killed were a 2-year-old girl in the Obolonskyi district and a 14-year-old in Boryspil, both struck by falling drone debris . Ukrainian air defenses shot down 199 of 224 attack drones launched during the day of Aug. 29 .

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed its Aug. 29 strikes targeted a shipbuilding enterprise in Kyiv assembling marine drones, a transshipment terminal and four storage facilities at the port of Mykolaiv, and an electrical substation in the settlement of Trykhaty that powers the Mykolaiv port . These claims have not been independently verified .

The strikes are part of a broader Russian campaign targeting Ukraine's economic infrastructure. Ukraine Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi reported that roughly 90% of the food-logistics infrastructure for major retail chains — including Fora, Silpo, NOVUS, and Varus — has been destroyed, with store shelves in Kyiv reported empty . Vysotskyi said famine is not expected, as chains shift to direct-from-producer deliveries .

In response to the escalating aerial campaign, Zelensky announced plans to increase Ukrainian long-range drone attacks on Russian economic targets to 1,000 launches per day, up from the current average of more than 300 . Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Korytsky announced that the government will present proposals to adapt state operations — including curfews, metro access, and logistics — to Russia's new attack tactics at the start of next week . Russia reported destroying 85 Ukrainian drones over eight regions and the Black Sea during a 12-hour period Aug. 29 . Officials from Ukraine's presidential office warned that Russia's growing use of high-speed jet drones, capable of speeds up to 500 kilometers per hour, is straining conventional air defenses .

As debate over the U.S.-Venezuela oil deal intensifies, new details are emerging about the legal and commercial steps taken to make it possible. The U.S. Treasury issued eight new general licenses Aug. 27 — one day before Trump's announcement — to ease restrictions on Venezuela's hydrocarbons sector . Venezuela is also reportedly in discussions with U.S. counterparts about withdrawing from OPEC (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries), a move that would give Washington greater influence over Venezuelan output levels .

The deal rests on a foundational legal change inside Venezuela. A reform of the country's Organic Hydrocarbons Law — which analysts say dismantles the nationalist oil framework established by the late President Hugo Chávez — opened the door to private and foreign capital, enabling over 50 new investment agreements across 76 hydrocarbon areas . Venezuelan Minister of Hydrocarbons Paola Henao confirmed the deal targets 17 strategic oil fields and is projected to attract more than $100 billion in investment while generating more than $209 billion in tax receipts for the Venezuelan state .

On the corporate side, Chevron and Halliburton are expected to sign production agreements in Caracas next week . However, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips remain outside the talks, according to the Wall Street Journal . The joint venture, in which the U.S. holds a 55% controlling stake under a 100-year concession, would rank as the world's second-largest privately held holder of proven oil reserves, trailing only Saudi Aramco .

Venezuela's oil output has climbed to 1.23 million barrels per day, its highest level since February 2019, though still far below the country's historical peak of 3.1 million barrels per day recorded in 1998 . Experts warn that the country's heavy, sour crude — which differs from the lighter crude typically used in U.S. refineries — requires costly upgrader facilities, and rebuilding deteriorated infrastructure could take years .

Energy analysts remain skeptical that the deal will deliver quick relief at the pump. Patrick De Haan of GasBuddy said drilling and pumping the estimated reserves will take "a very long time," while Gregory Brew of Eurasia Group called the idea of near-term price drops "tenuous, at best" . David Goldwyn of Goldwyn Global Strategies cited Venezuela's power limitations, inadequate port capacity, and high security costs as significant barriers for energy companies . The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline stood at $4.08 to $4.09 Aug. 29, up from $3.21 a year prior .

Cannabis smoke drifting from adjacent Corona Park into the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York, has become the loudest off-court controversy at the 2026 US Open . British player Fran Jones said she was "hallucinating" during her 6-4, 6-1 first-round victory over Laura Garland, while compatriot Katie Boulter, ranked World No. 60, told the BBC that the odor takes players "out of the moment" during matches and practice .

The smell has drawn complaints for several years running. In 2023, Alexander Zverev likened the courts to "Snoop Dogg's living room," and Novak Djokovic noted in 2025 that the scent was "everywhere" from training grounds to match courts . Nick Kyrgios complained in 2022 that a nearby smoker triggered his asthma, and Maria Sakkari has also voiced displeasure . Court 17, which sits closest to the park, has become the most notorious spot for the issue .

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) said it bans smoking on tournament grounds and collaborates with the New York Police Department and the Parks Department to reduce smoking near the fence line, but acknowledged it "can't control what takes place off the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center" . Cannabis is legal in New York for adults 21 and older .

Away from the cannabis controversy, Daniil Medvedev arrived at Flushing Meadows having admitted he "failed to show himself in the best way" at recent tournaments, including a loss to a player ranked 92nd in the world at the Winston-Salem tournament . Medvedev said he "does not have the opportunity to dedicate four weeks to training" to fix his game before the event and faces French player Hugo Gaston in the first round .

In the women's draw, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka enters seeking a third consecutive US Open title — a feat only Chris Evert (1975-1978) and Serena Williams (2012-2014) have achieved at the tournament . Sabalenka faces competition from Coco Gauff, the 2023 champion who recently won the Cincinnati Open, Elena Rybakina, the Australian Open champion who leads the race to the WTA Finals, and 2022 champion Iga Swiatek .

Serena Williams, 44, returns to the US Open for the first time in four years, pairing with Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles and reuniting with sister Venus Williams in women's doubles, where the pair hold a 25-7 record at the tournament, including two of their 14 major titles as a duo . Swiss veteran Stan Wawrinka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, will play his final Grand Slam at the 2026 US Open before retiring at the end of the season .

India's two-time Olympic javelin medalist Neeraj Chopra announced Aug. 29 that a ligament tear in his ankle will sideline him for the rest of the 2026 season . The injury ended Chopra's hopes of competing at the Diamond League Final in Brussels, Sept. 5, and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, set to begin Sept. 19 .

The ankle injury occurred during training, shortly after Chopra threw a season-best 88.05 meters to finish second at the Lausanne Diamond League Aug. 21 . In an Instagram post, Chopra said, "After a period of hard work, I finally felt I was gaining the momentum I had been looking for... Unfortunately, shortly after, I sustained a ligament tear in my ankle during training" . He added that "setbacks are a part of the journey" and confirmed he will sit out the season to focus on full recovery .

The withdrawal deals a significant blow to India's athletics campaign at the Asian Games, where Chopra had been aiming for a third consecutive gold . Chopra won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and silver at the Paris Olympics in 2024 . His absence also removes one of the top contenders from the Diamond League Final, where he had qualified with 12 points — earned from second-place finishes in Doha and Lausanne — placing him sixth in the standings .

Aug. 29's announcement marks the second time in under a year that Chopra has been forced to step away from competition. He previously aggravated a disc injury in September 2025, requiring nine months of rehabilitation before returning at the Doha Diamond League in June 2026 . With Chopra now out, Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage — who holds a world-leading personal best of 92.62 meters and has beaten Chopra in all three of their 2026 meetings — enters the Diamond League Final as the clear frontrunner .

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee formally proposed Aug. 29 to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton, four days after the country music icon died at age 80 . Lee announced the plan jointly with the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, stating, "Dolly Parton's extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state" . Doug Kreulen, president and chief executive officer of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, called the airport the "front door to Music City" and said it aims to reflect values of "dignity, kindness, and opportunity" .

The Metro Nashville Airport Authority is scheduled to vote on the name change at its Sept. 17 meeting . A petition supporting the renaming, launched in January 2025, had surpassed 160,000 signatures by Friday evening , up from the 155,000–157,000 reported earlier in the week. The Nashville City Council and the Tennessee state legislature have also voiced support . Parton's team told Governor Lee they appreciated the outpouring and remained open to continuing the conversation .

Airport travelers interviewed Aug. 28 expressed near-unanimous support for the renaming. Traveler Tricia Arnold said, "They should have done it when she was alive to see it," while another traveler added, "It would be wrong for them not to. She's Tennessee itself" .

Parton's funeral took place Aug. 28 as a private service for immediate family at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, in accordance with her wishes . She was laid to rest beside her husband, Carl Dean, who died March 2025 at age 82 . Her nephew Bryan Seaver, who had announced her death via social media, coordinated security at the burial site . Parton had requested that the hymn "If We Never Meet Again" be sung at her service — the same hymn performed at her father's funeral .

Attention has also shifted to Parton's estimated $450 million estate. According to the Daily Mail, as reported by multiple outlets, her holdings include a music catalog of approximately 3,000 songs valued at $120 million, a stake in the Dollywood theme park worth around $165 million, and a Tennessee property valued at $10 million . Parton had no children and is survived by six siblings and numerous nieces and nephews . Dollywood management stated it will "keep the artist's legacy alive," though specific details of her will remain unconfirmed and unannounced .