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Sunday, 23 August 2026 Daily Edition

The Daily Edition

Sunday, 23 August 2026

400 stories across 8 sections

The Takeaway

At least 37 people were injured in a magnitude 5.9 earthquake that struck near Tokyo, causing disruptions to transportation in the city. The earthquake, which occurred early Sunday morning, triggered public alerts and notifications on smartphones. In Malaysia, the government is preparing to address cost of living concerns in its upcoming Budget 2027, taking into account the volatile global geopolitical landscape.

Meanwhile, Tesla is generating buzz with the imminent launch of its self-driving robotaxi, known as the Cybercab, with the company teasing exclusive access to the vehicle on its social media platforms.

In the UK, a British power plant was shut down for four days by Iranian hackers, marking the first time such a facility has been crippled by Iranian hackers. In Bangladesh, a severe gas crisis is affecting factories, homes, and transportation, with the country facing a decline in natural gas production and a rise in demand. NexG Bhd will continue its expansion plans after the Malaysian government decided against taking over its Datasonic Technologies unit.

These developments highlight the diverse range of issues affecting different parts of the world, from natural disasters to technological advancements and economic challenges.

Written by urgent.news from the day's reporting.

AI

AI

Hugging Face has been fielding M&A interest for a deal worth at least $13 billion

Hugging Face, an AI developer platform, has been exploring a potential $13 billion sale, highlighting its key role in the AI ecosystem.

·businessinsider.com·11 outlets

AI developer startup Hugging Face is exploring a potential acquisition for at least $13 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter. The platform, which allows developers to publish, share, and download various AI models, has been in talks to be acquired, following Stripe's acquisition of AI model marketplace OpenRouter for around $8 billion.

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Tech

Tech

Humanoid robots outpace human records at World Robot Games in Beijing

Humanoids break records at Beijing Robot Games

·gulfnews.com·11 outlets

Beijing hosted the World Robot Games over the weekend, showcasing robots that outperformed human records in athletics, boxing, football, and martial arts. Over 500 androids from 16 countries participated in the first-ever humanoid robot games. In the 100-metre sprint, a Chinese robot named Tiangong Ultra shattered Usain Bolt's 2009 record of 9.58 seconds, finishing in 9.39 seconds.

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Iranian cyber attack shuts down UK power plant for four days, report says

Iranian cyber attack shuts down UK power plant for four days, report says Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 08/23/2026 - 11:13 Attack appears to be the latest escalation after London allowed Washington to use British bases in 'defensive operations' against Iran Members of the US Air Force prepare munitions at RAF Fairford in south-west…

·middleeasteye.net·4 outlets

Business

Business

How Trump's Canada tariffs could hurt the US economy and raise prices

Trump's 50% Canada tariffs could raise costs, push up prices and hurt US businesses as retaliation risks grow, adding pressure to the US economy.

·hindustantimes.com·7 outlets

The United States and Canada have frequently approached a full-scale trade war since President Donald Trump's administration began. Recently, new 50% US tariffs on select Canadian goods have taken effect, pushing the two nations closer to a potential trade conflict. Canada has vowed to retaliate with their own tariffs, raising fears that the dispute could negatively impact the US economy.

Although the new tariffs only cover a fraction of overall trade between the countries, economists caution that the financial consequences could escalate quickly if Canada imposes its own tariffs and the Trump administration further escalates the situation with additional tariffs.

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Trump admin predicts trade war ‘devastating’ for Canada

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration on Sunday warned that Canada would be “foolish” to think it could win a trade war with the United States, predicting a “devastating” impact on its northern neighbour. Negotiations between Washington and Ottawa broke down late Friday, putting into force new 50-percent US tariffs impacting about USD20…

·brecorder.com·4 outlets

Finance & Markets

Finance & Markets

Budget 2027: Cost of living to take centre stage as government weighs global risks

EASING the financial strain on Malaysian households is expected to be a key focus of Budget 2027, as the government prepares measures to address cost-of-living pressures amid an unsettled global geopolitical environment. Madani Government spokesman D...

·thevibes.com·5 outlets

Budget 2027 will place a significant emphasis on addressing the cost of living concerns faced by Malaysian households, as the government prepares measures to tackle rising expenses amid a volatile global geopolitical landscape. The Madani government is set to take into account external developments, particularly fluctuations in global crude oil prices, when formulating its budget priorities.

Fahmi Fadzil, the spokesman for the Madani government and Communications Minister, emphasized that ensuring comprehensive solutions for the people's cost-of-living issues will be a central focus of Budget 2027, taking into account the unresolved geopolitical situation.

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World

World

As Trump administration readies economic warfare measures against Iran, top security official vows retaliation ‘in a seismic manner’

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday is expected to announce the new measures after the U.S. vowed to impose an “unprecedented” level of economic warfare and isolation.

·fortune.com·13 outlets

The new head of Iran's top security body, Mohsen Rezaei, warned on Sunday that any country supporting U.S. economic measures against Iran would be considered an "act of war." This comes as the United States prepares to impose unprecedented economic sanctions on Iran. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian defended a memorandum of understanding with the United States, stating it is the best option out of the current stalemate.

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Syria holds talks with Israel addressing de-escalation and Israel-Turkey tensions

Syria said it held talks with Israel in Jordan on Sunday on de-escalation after recent Israeli strikes, and on keeping the country out of tensions between Israel and Turkey, an ally of Damascus. The high-level negotiations came after the sides in January agreed to establish an intelligence-sharing mechanism as they edge towards a security…

·scmp.com·10 outlets

Science

Science

China abruptly postpones ambitious Chang’e-7 lunar mission launch

HAIKOU, China (AP) — China said on Sunday it was postponing its…

·apnews.com·9 outlets

China has abruptly delayed its ambitious Chang'e-7 lunar mission, which was set to search for water ice on the moon. The launch, originally scheduled for the coming days from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island, cannot proceed due to the mission failing to meet the required launch conditions, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

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Health & Medicine

Health & Medicine

As the Clancy case highlights postpartum psychosis, a mom stricken by it shares her story of hope

About two weeks after giving birth, Bridget María Chesterton was curled up on the bathroom floor, saying things that made little sense. Later, in the emergency room, she kept repeating, “What’s…

·apnews.com·4 outlets

About two weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Bridget María Chesterton found herself curled up on the bathroom floor, uttering nonsensical words. In the emergency room, she kept repeating, "What's going on?", having lost touch with reality. Her family later learned that Chesterton had developed postpartum psychosis, a severe mental health disorder that has received attention due to the case of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts woman on trial for fatally strangling her three children.

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Officials warn wildland firefighters about the risks of using a supplement for smoke exposure

SEATTLE (AP) — Fire and medical officials have issued warnings about a supplement offered to Western wildland firefighters who have been exposed to toxic chemicals while battling some of the country’s biggest…

  • Officials warn against using glutathione supplement for smoke exposure.
  • Supplement's safety and efficacy unverified, may cause illness.
  • Two pharmacies withdrew product in August due to contamination.

·apnews.com·3 outlets

Dr. Oz says MMR is "not a lethal vaccine" despite Trump's comments

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said the MMR vaccine is "not a lethal vaccine," despite President Trump's claims in recent days.

  • Dr. Mehmet Oz says MMR vaccine is not lethal when given as a single shot
  • President Trump suggested MMR vaccine could be lethal when given as three shots
  • CMS administrator Oz emphasized vaccines are not available as individual shots in U.S.

·cbsnews.com·3 outlets

Culture

Culture

Liverpool striker Isak expected hostile Newcastle reception, says Iraola

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola says Alexander Isak was unfazed by Newcastle fans' hostile reception despite his misfiring display in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Newcastle.

·freemalaysiatoday.com·9 outlets

Newcastle United manager Andoni Iraola has stated that Alexander Isak, the club's Swedish striker, was not particularly perturbed by the hostile reception he received from Newcastle fans during his first match back at St James' Park. Isak faced a barrage of boos and an offensive chant that referred to him as "greedy" during his return to Tyneside since joining Liverpool in the previous season.

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Why was England cricketer Brydon Carse handcuffed outside a nightclub?

England fast bowler Brydon Carse is under investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after footage emerged appearing to show him in handcuffs outside a nightclub in Derby on Saturday night. Brydon Carse is under investigation after an alleged nightclub incident in Derby on Saturday, the ECB confirmed.

·gulfnews.com·6 outlets

Kyle Kirkwood: Markham crash “flipped a switch” before Freedom 250 win

It only took one bad weekend for Kyle Kirkwood to hit reset. Instead of letting a costly mistake from his last outing linger, where he unacharacteristically crashed out in Markham, the 27-year-old Florida native channeled that frustration into a relentless week of preparation and turned it into a masterclass on the streets of Washington…

·motorsport.com·6 outlets

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