Alness

Forest fires in Indonesia are sending smoke and haze toward Singapore just as the city prepares to host its Formula One Grand Prix. Race organisers are drawing up contingency plans as the seasonal haze poses a possible health and logistical risk to the major sporting event. Al Jazeera's Patrick Fok reports on the deteriorating air quality and preparations underway.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani delivered a sharply critical speech at the United Nations, accusing Israel of using accusations of anti-Semitism to deflect criticism over its conduct in the Gaza war. He said Israel should 'stop crying anti-Semitism' and laid out what he described as the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The remarks drew wide attention online amid ongoing diplomatic tensions over the conflict.

The Major League Baseball playoff bracket is now complete after the final day of the regular season. The Houston Astros clinched the AL West, while the Philadelphia Phillies held on for a National League wild card spot, locking in seeding and the full postseason schedule. Coverage is focused on the final picture, matchups, and storylines such as the Yankees and Aaron Judge heading into October.

A new climate essay titled 'The Inconvenient Truth Behind the Inconvenient Truth' examines what has and has not changed in the decades since Al Gore's landmark 2006 film. The piece, published by Bruce McCabe, argues that emissions reduction efforts still fall short of what the original warning demanded, prompting discussion about why global emissions remain stubbornly high nearly twenty years later.

Sudan's military has given initial approval for former ruler Omar al-Bashir to travel abroad for medical treatment, according to his lawyer. Bashir, ousted in 2019 after decades in power, has been held in Sudan facing charges linked to his rule. The decision would mark a notable shift in how the ousted leader is treated.

Donald Trump has described North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a 'friend' and played down the significance of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, according to Al Jazeera. The remarks have drawn attention given Pyongyang's ongoing weapons programmes and the history of fluctuating relations between Trump and Kim, from 'love letters' diplomacy to renewed tensions.

A Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv was diverted, prompting questions about what took place on board. Al Jazeera is among outlets covering the incident and asking passengers and authorities for details. The circumstances of the diversion and any consequences for those involved have not been fully confirmed.

The family of Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's ousted former president, says authorities have given no official permission for him to travel abroad for medical treatment. The statement highlights ongoing uncertainty over the longtime ruler's fate, years after he was removed from power in 2019 and detained amid legal proceedings.

Pitcher Sonny Gray is drawing wide attention in US sports coverage following his move to the Boston Red Sox, with analysts saying the team's season could hinge on his performance. Coverage also focuses on how Gray will fare against the New York Yankees, his longtime AL East rival, and actor Chazz Palminteri's pointed criticism of the pitcher has fueled talk on sports talk shows.

A discussion with a guest named Abdellatif about Shams al-Ma'arif al-Kubra, the medieval Arabic occult text attributed to Ahmad al-Buni, is drawing wide attention. The work, long associated with magic, talismans and jinn in the Arab cultural imagination, remains a source of fascination and controversy. Viewers are engaging heavily with the conversation about what the book contains and its place in occult literature.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a 20 percent reduction in the number of general and admiral positions across the US military, according to Al Jazeera. The move, part of his broader push to streamline the Pentagon's leadership, is drawing debate over whether it will cut bureaucracy or weaken military oversight and readiness.

Syria's president Ahmed al-Sharaa addressed the United Nations, describing the country's recovery from the destruction of years of civil war and asserting that responsibility for achieving a lasting peace rests with Israel. The speech frames post-war Syria as rebounding while pointing to Israel's role as the main obstacle to regional stability.

Hundreds of Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, according to Al Jazeera. The compound, a frequent flashpoint between Israelis and Palestinians, is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. Such incursions often draw condemnation from Palestinian groups and Arab states and raise fears of wider escalation in the region.

The New York Yankees have announced a decision on outfield prospect Spencer Jones ahead of their series against the Boston Red Sox, according to Heavy.com. The news comes as Yankees pitching, including Cam Schlittler's standout start, draws attention, with MLB.com highlighting seven wild stats from his performance. Fans are weighing what the move means for the roster during a key AL East stretch.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says he is firing 20% of the military's generals and admirals, a sweeping reduction of the senior officer corps. The announcement, reported by Al Jazeera, is drawing attention to its scale and to what it signals about Hegseth's restructuring of Pentagon leadership. Reactions so far focus on the potential impact on US military command.

The Boston Red Sox were eliminated by the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card Series after a costly sixth inning unraveled their chances. Willson Contreras had briefly revived Boston's hopes with a solo home run to right-center, but the bullpen could not hold, and the Yankees closed out the series in New York. The loss ends Boston's postseason run at the hands of their oldest rival, while New York advances in the playoffs.

The MLB postseason field is now complete. The Houston Astros clinched the AL West, while the Philadelphia Phillies held on to secure a wild card spot, finalizing the bracket and seeding for the playoffs. Yahoo Sports has published the full bracket and the postseason schedule, and fans across the US are looking at matchups and predicting how October will unfold.

Tennessee's attempt to execute Christa Pike by lethal injection failed after hours of legal uncertainty, according to Al Jazeera. Pike, convicted of a 1995 murder committed when she was 18, had faced mounting last-minute appeals. The failed execution is drawing scrutiny of how the state carries out death sentences.

Al Jazeera is examining whether Iran is losing its strategic leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping chokepoint through which much of the world's oil passes. The question follows regional tensions and debate over how effectively Tehran can still threaten or influence traffic through the waterway.

Iran staged a military parade in Tehran in which two Shahed drones were paraded through the capital. Crowds lined the streets, cheering and waving national flags as the drones passed. The display, covered by Al Jazeera, underscores Iran's continued emphasis on its domestically produced drone programme as a symbol of national and military pride.

The Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians begin their AL Division Series on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, with Game 1 broadcast nationally on TBS and available to stream on HBO Max. The matchup is part of Major League Baseball's postseason, with fans and outlets looking ahead to pitching plans, lineups and how the division rivals will fare in a best-of-five set.