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France has returned three human skulls to Madagascar, including one believed to belong to King Toera, who was decapitated by French troops in 1897. The remains, from the Sakalava ethnic group, were handed over at a ceremony in Paris, Al Jazeera reported.

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati acknowledged the violation of human dignity, while Madagascar’s Volamiranty Donna Mara called it a step toward healing a “century-old open wound.”

The skulls, confirmed by a scientific committee, will be buried in Madagascar, with a tribute planned on the anniversary of King Toera’s execution, according to Al Jazeera.

The Surkhet-Jumla road section along the Karnali Highway has remained disrupted after its segment caved-in at Kalekhola, Kalikot.

With this, the roadway has remained completely closed since last night.

According to the Road Division Office Chief Dipendra Kumar Chaudhary, the required workforce has been mobilized to undertake the restoration efforts.

It is to take some time to restore the damaged section, he said, urging one and all to opt for an alternative route for the necessary travel.

US diplomat Tom Barrack, ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, faced backlash in Lebanon after telling local journalists to “act civilized” during a briefing following a meeting with President Joseph Aoun on Hezbollah disarmament, Al Jazeera reported.

Barrack, of Lebanese descent, chided reporters for shouting questions and linked their behavior to regional conflicts. His remarks drew accusations of arrogance and “colonial” attitudes.

The Lebanese Presidency expressed regret, praising journalists’ professionalism, while the Union of Journalists urged media to boycott Barrack’s events until a formal apology is issued. Critics said his comments reflected a lack of respect for press freedom. The US State Department has not commented, according to Al Jazeera.

North Korea has condemned South Korean President Lee Jae-myung as a “confrontation maniac” following his US speech advocating denuclearization for lasting peace and a stronger South Korea–US alliance, Al Jazeera reported.

The state-run KCNA dismissed Lee’s call as naive and reaffirmed Pyongyang’s commitment to its nuclear arsenal, citing external threats.

Lee, in office since June, has pledged improved inter-Korean relations, but North Korea has repeatedly rejected engagement, with Kim Jong Un’s sister recently declaring Pyongyang “does not care” about South Korea’s outreach.

According to Al Jazeera, North Korea is estimated to have around 50 nuclear warheads and material for more.

World Lake Day is being observed for the first time across the globe today.

According to the United Nations, there are more than 117 million lakes on earth, covering some four percent of land surface.

The lakes are reliable sources of fresh water to the entire planet, but it is worrying that the quality of lake water is declining fast for some years.

"If we continue to put pressure on them, lakes will face a serious decline. By 2050, their ecosystem value could drop by 20 percent; pollution could more than double, and methane emissions may surge—fueling both environmental damage and economic loss. Freshwater species have declined by 85 percent over the past 50 years," UN stated.

The observation of the World Lake Day is expected to create public awareness on present threats to the world's lakes and promote initiatives for the preservation, restoration and sustainable management of lakes.

The UN had organized an event, zeroing in on the importance of lakes, thereby passing the Resolution A/RES/79/142 that determined August 27 as the World Lake Day. The UN Environment Program has been designated as the chief agency facilitating the observation of the Day.

The UN Resolution passed in 2024 had emphasized, "Water ecosystems, including lakes, energy, food security and nutrition are linked and that water is indispensable for health, well-being and human development, and a vital element of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and other relevant goals in the social, environmental and economic fields."

It further recognized the urgency to revive fast declining quality and quantity of lake water in the world.

The SDG Knowledge Hub has described contaminants, fertilizers, and solid waste as major pollutants to the lakes.

US and Russian officials discussed potential energy deals this month as incentives to advance peace in Ukraine, sources familiar with the talks said. Proposals included allowing Exxon Mobil to rejoin Russia’s Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project, supplying US equipment for Russian LNG projects, and purchasing Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker vessels, according to Reuters.

The discussions took place during US envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Moscow, where he met President Vladimir Putin and investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, and were also raised in White House meetings with President Donald Trump. The talks coincided with the Alaska summit on August 15.

A White House official said Trump’s team continues engaging with both sides to end the war but declined to comment further on negotiations, Reuters reported.

The Trump administration asked the US Supreme Court to lift an injunction forcing it to continue billions in foreign aid payments. The move follows a DC Circuit panel ruling favoring the administration, though the full appeals court kept the injunction in place, according to Reuters.

The freeze, ordered by Trump on January 20, targeted all foreign aid and included plans to restructure USAID. Nonprofits receiving US funds, including the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition and Journalism Development Network, challenged the freeze as unlawful. The administration warned that without court intervention, tens of billions in funds could be spent against its policy judgments.

A manhunt is underway in Victoria, Australia, after a gunman allegedly shot dead two police officers and injured another while serving a warrant at his rural property in Porepunkah. The suspect, 56-year-old Dezi Freeman, known as “Filby,” is heavily armed and skilled in bushcraft, Reuters reported.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush confirmed Freeman remains at large, urging locals to stay indoors. Freeman’s partner and children are safe. Authorities said he has a history of anti-government actions, including opposing COVID-19 lockdowns. Police continue searching in challenging winter conditions.