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Monday, 24 August 2026 Daily Edition

The Daily Edition

Monday, 24 August 2026

400 stories across 8 sections

The Takeaway

Shein, a fast-fashion retailer based in Singapore, is aiming to raise up to $1.76 billion through an initial public offering in Hong Kong. The company plans to offer 279 million shares, with a price range of HK$47.6 to HK$49.5 each. Meanwhile, in the US, the government is reviewing Shein's acquisition of American clothing retailer Everlane, valued at $80 million, due to national security concerns.

In other news, Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff's deputy, has died in prison while serving a 20-year sentence for the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey. On the finance front, Asian equity markets were relatively calm, with the Nikkei index hovering near flat, while WTI oil prices fell below $85 per barrel as traders took profits ahead of new US sanctions on Iran.

Additionally, Alibaba's stock slumped in Hong Kong after a $10.2 billion share placement to fund AI, and Samsung Electronics shares declined as record shareholder returns disappointed.

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

AI

AI

AI-generated music to be banned from ARIA charts

Songs created mostly or entirely by artificial intelligence will be excluded from Australia's official music charts from this Friday.

·abc.net.au·11 outlets

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has announced a ban on AI-generated music from its official charts, beginning this week. This decision follows a July incident where an AI-produced track became the most-played song on Australian radio and reached number four on two ARIA charts. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has updated its Charts Code of Practice to exclude wholly AI-generated tracks from chart eligibility, but allows AI-assisted recordings as long as they are substantially human-made.

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US state probes OpenAI over rogue AI hack

WASHINGTON: ChatGPT-maker OpenAI faces an investigation by the state of Alabama after the company revealed last month that its models went rogue and hacked an AI platform during testing.

·nst.com.my·4 outlets

Tech

Tech

The Witcher 4 is 'targeting' a 2028 release

CD Projekt dropped a few details ahead of Gamescom's Opening Night Live.

·pcgamer.com·5 outlets

CD Projekt Red's co-CEO Michał Nowakowski has revealed that The Witcher 4 is targeting a 2028 release window. Speaking at Gamescom ahead of the show, Nowakowski confirmed that over 500 talented developers are working on creating a truly special sequel to the popular The Witcher 3 expansion. The upcoming game promises to deliver a huge and immersive open world, intense action-packed gameplay, and a deep impactful story that fans will cherish.

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Deals: TCL Android tablets from $150, Chipolo Google Find Hub wallet CARD $33, LG C6 OLED $1,000 off + $50 credit, more

Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by TCL’s TAB 10 Gen 4 Android Tablet dropping to $150 alongside NXTPAPER models from $160 . We also have the latest wireless Ring Battery Doorbell 4K Pro hitting a new Amazon all-time low at nearly 30% off , the Chipolo Google Find Hub wallet CARD with super button/remote camera shutter now down…

·9to5google.com·4 outlets

Apple Seeds watchOS 27 Beta 7 to Developers

Apple today seeded the seventh beta of watchOS 27 to developers, with the update coming a week after the launch of the sixth beta. The beta can be downloaded through the Watch app on the iPhone with a free developer account.

·macrumors.com·3 outlets

Business

Business

What smart people say about Trump’s escalating trade war with Canada

Trade experts explain what Trump's planned 50% tariffs on Canadian goods could mean for consumers, carmakers, and the USMCA.

·businessinsider.com·12 outlets

President Donald Trump threatened to impose fresh 50% tariffs on Canadian goods after talks for a new trade deal broke down on Friday. The new tariff threats, set to take effect on January 1, could impact cars, car parts, and steel. Paul Krugman, Nobel-winning economist, likened the situation to the US's war in Iran, calling Trump a bully.

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Finance & Markets

Finance & Markets

Dollar higher after Iran sanctions, loonie drops after US announces tariff increases

·channelnewsasia.com·12 outlets

The U.S. dollar experienced gains on Monday, following President Donald Trump's administration announcement to expand sanctions on Iran and impose tariffs on Canadian goods. This move aimed to sever Iran's economic lifelines and put pressure on Tehran to cease attacks on ships in the Gulf. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hinted at utilizing the near $1 trillion General Account to fund bond buybacks, potentially weakening the dollar if successful.

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Iran’s rial drops to record low as U.S. readies more sanctions

Iran ’s currency hit a record low Monday as Washington prepared to announce new sanctions it said would put more pressure on an economy already battered by previous sanctions and a U.S. naval blockade. The rial dropped to 2.02 million to the U.S. dollar as trading opened on currency markets.

·fastcompany.com·11 outlets

Shein seeks to raise up to US$1.76 billion in Hong Kong initial public offering

Fast-fashion retailer Shein Global Holdings is seeking to raise as much as HK$13.85 billion (US$1.76 billion) in a Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) that was initially planned four years ago. Shein will sell 279 million shares at HK$47.6 to HK$49.5 each, according to a filing to the city’s stock exchange on Monday.

·scmp.com·7 outlets

World

World

U.S. widens sanctions on Iran but withholds more punishing options

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said other countries would need to sever business ties with Iran or risk being forced out of the dollar-based financial system.

·japantimes.co.jp·13 outlets

The United States has broadened its sanctions against Iran, aiming to sever the country's economic lifeline, according to an announcement made on Monday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the new measures would compel other nations to cease conducting business with Iran, or face the possibility of being excluded from the dollar-based financial system.

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Burnham to visit Kyiv on first foreign trip and reaffirm UK support for Ukraine

Andy Burnham will mark his first foreign visit as prime minister with a trip to Kyiv on Monday to reiterate the UK’s support for Ukraine and honour the country’s independence day. The prime minister will chair his first meeting of the “coalition of the willing”, set up by the UK and France under his predecessor, [...] The post Burnham to…

·kahawatungu.com·9 outlets

Science

Science

Blood moon lunar eclipse, how to photograph it this Friday

The Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse is a rare occurrence, find out when, where and how to photograph the eclipse in this how to guide The post Blood moon lunar eclipse, how to photograph it this Friday appeared first on Amateur Photographer .

·amateurphotographer.com·5 outlets

On Friday, August 28, 2026, stargazers have the chance to witness a rare total lunar eclipse known as the "Blood Moon." This celestial event will occur during the early hours of the morning, with the partial eclipse beginning at 3:33 AM BST and reaching its peak at 5:12 AM BST. In the UK, the moon will set before the partial eclipse concludes, making it difficult to observe for viewers in this region.

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Borneo forest fires spike again: Why El Niño isn't the sole culprit

Forest and land fires across Indonesia have spiked once again. News and social media in the country are flooded with images of thick plumes of smoke from Kalimantan (or Borneo)—the world's third-largest island—that are choking residential areas and even drifting into neighboring countries.

·phys.org·2 outlets

Health & Medicine

Health & Medicine

Hanmi Pharm shares jump 30% on Genentech obesity drug deal

·investing.com·5 outlets

On Monday, Hanmi Pharm's shares surged by 30% after the company signed a licensing deal with Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche Group. The agreement gives Genentech the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and sell HM17321, an experimental obesity treatment, globally, with the exception of South Korea. In return, Hanmi will receive an upfront sum of $190 million.

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8-year-old Louisiana girl dies from a rare brain-eating amoeba found in warm freshwater

An 8-year-old girl in Louisiana has died after being infected by an extremely rare brain-eating amoeba that is found in warm freshwater, her family says. Lillian Smart died over the weekend after being…

  • 8-year-old girl Lillian Smart dies from Naegleria fowleri infection
  • Amoeba Naegleria fowleri causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
  • First Louisiana case since 2013, marks summer outbreak risk

·apnews.com·4 outlets

Culture

Culture

UEFA president Ceferin says he won’t run against FIFA president but calls for Infantino to quit

LONDON (AP) — UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says he won’t run against FIFA President Gianni Infantino but warned the beleaguered head of world…

·apnews.com·12 outlets

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has announced he will not run against FIFA President Gianni Infantino, but urged him to either step down or face a leadership challenge in March. Infantino has faced mounting pressure to resign due to his plans to sell shares in the World Cup to private equity firms, which were subsequently canceled.

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