While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 24, 2026
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Smoke and flames rise from the Hawk fire in Reno, Nevada, US, in this screengrab from a video obtained from social media.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Tens of thousands ordered to evacuate as fire threatens Nevada
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated this weekend from the area of Reno, Nevada, and many others were under orders to leave on Aug 23 as a wildfire reached the outskirts of the US state’s third-most-populous city.
About 42,000 residents have been displaced or are in active evacuations with an additional 45,000 in “be prepared to evacuate” status as the Hawk Fire threatened northern Reno, local officials said late Aug 23 morning.
Local TV footage showed flames approaching roads. In eyewitness video verified by Reuters, smoke from the hills billowed over nearby residential neighbourhoods.
Fire-tracking websites showed evacuation zones extending from the Sierra Nevada hills to the University of Nevada in north-west Reno.
Israel warns Hamas over kite launches from Gaza
PHOTO: AFP
Israel warned Hamas on Aug 23 that it would step up operations in Gaza if launches of kites, drones and balloons towards Israel continued, after a recent increase in such incidents, while Hamas denied responsibility.
Israeli media reported that four kites were found in communities near the Gaza border on Aug 22 and one was shot down by the army on Aug 23, bringing the total number recovered in recent days to around 10.
The incidents have revived memories of waves of incendiary kites and balloons launched from Gaza in previous years, which sparked fires in agricultural lands in southern Israel.
Zelensky says Ukraine not behind Nord Stream blasts, cooperating with probe
PHOTO: REUTERS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky repeated on Aug 23 that Kyiv did not take part in the 2022 attack on the Nord Stream pipeline, which carried Russian gas to Europe.
German prosecutors said in July that the bomb blasts were ordered by the Ukrainian state – an allegation that could complicate relations between Kyiv and a key military backer.
“Ukraine has never officially taken part in any operation related to the blowing up of Nord Stream,” he told reporters on Aug 23 when asked about the investigation.
Kuwait strips naturalised citizens of voting rights
PHOTO: REUTERS
Kuwait’s emir on Aug 23 approved a decree banning naturalised citizens from voting, two years after dissolving Parliament and embarking on a mass nationality stripping campaign.
Previously, naturalised Kuwaitis were able to vote 30 years after acquiring the nationality, but were banned from running for office or being appointed.
Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah issued a decree “amending certain provisions of the Kuwaiti Nationality Law”, Kuwait’s official KUNA news agency reported.
Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool rescue dramatic draw; Man City snatch late win in Enzo Maresca debut
PHOTO: REUTERS
Enzo Maresca made a dramatic start to Manchester City’s post-Pep Guardiola era with a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Bournemouth on Aug 23, while Andoni Iraola escaped with a 2-2 draw at Newcastle in his first game as Liverpool boss.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai scored a penalty with the last kick of the game to save Iraola from a debut defeat at St James’ Park.
Iraola is the figurehead of Liverpool’s overhaul after Arne Slot’s close-season sacking, Mohamed Salah’s departure to Trabzonspor and the eye-catching investment by a consortium fronted by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
