China holds a grand gathering, including a military parade, in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War at 9 a.m. on September 3. Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech and review the troops. Join CGTN’s special live coverage of this solemn commemoration and grand military parade!
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Israel sends tanks deeper into Gaza City, more families flee – Reuters
- Israel sends tanks deeper into Gaza City, more families flee Reuters
- ‘Fields of rubble’: Israel, destroying Gaza City, kills 78 across enclave Al Jazeera
- Israeli airstrikes and gunfire have killed 30 around Gaza City, local officials say The Guardian
- ‘Night of horror’: Gaza resident details confusion over staying or fleeing amid Israeli bombing Dawn
- Israel pounds Gaza City suburbs, Netanyahu to convene security cabinet Reuters
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US suspends most visas for Palestinian passport-holders, reports say
US officials have further restricted visitor visas for Palestinians, by denying them to almost all applicants who use a Palestinian passport, media reports say.
The development comes days after 80 Palestinian officials were denied visas ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Earlier in August, visitor visas were paused for people hoping to travel from the Palestinian territory of Gaza. This newly-reported decree would affect a wider group – including people living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The Department of State did not explicitly confirm the move but said it was “taking concrete steps in compliance with US law and our national security”.
The decision was issued in a diplomatic cable dated 18 August, the New York Times and CNN reported.
US consular officers were told to refuse non-immigrant visas to “all otherwise eligible Palestinian Authority passport holders”, the communication was quoted as saying.
That would apply to Palestinians hoping to come to the US for a range of purposes, including for business, study or medical treatment.
The move meant that officials would be required to perform a further review of each applicant, which amounted to a blanket ban on issuing visas to Palestinians, the New York Times added in its report.
Palestinians who are able to make visa applications using other passports were said to be unaffected.
It is not clear what prompted the reported move, though the Trump administration has been steadfast in its support for Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
The news also follows last month’s announcements by a number of other US allies – including the UK, Canada and France – that they would recognise a Palestinian state on certain conditions. US Vice-President JD Vance has said Washington has “no plans” to follow suit.
The Trump administration has also cracked down on pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses.
The move represents a further toughening of the president’s stance on visas, following two earlier measures.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was among a group of dozens of Palestinian officials who were recently blocked from attending the UN General Assembly session in New York later this month, after US officials revoked his visa and accused the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), both of which Abbas leads, of undermining peace efforts.
And the Department of State said on 16 August it had paused approvals of visitor visas for Palestinians from Gaza specifically, so that a review could take place.
Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist group by the US, governed Gaza when hundreds of its armed fighters attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The attack triggered a massive and ongoing Israeli military offensive, in which at least 63,459 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The US visa policy has effectively been extended now to include people from the West Bank and wider Palestinian diaspora.
Asked about the latest move, a Department of State spokesperson’s statement said: “The Trump administration is taking concrete steps in compliance with US law and our national security in regards to announced visa restrictions and revocations for PA (Palestinian Authority) passport holders. We refer you to those public announcements for more information on those restrictions and revocations.
“Every visa decision is a national security decision, and the State Department is vetting and adjudicating visa decisions for PA passport holders accordingly.”
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Martello Tower F in Clacton is offered for lease by council
Lewis AdamsBBC News, Essex
Richard Smith/BBCMartello Tower F overlooks the beach west of Clacton Pier in Essex People interested in taking on a coastal fort complete with a moat and drawbridge have been invited to make a bid for it.
Martello Tower F in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, was built between 1809 and 1812 to defend England in the event of a French invasion.
More recently it has been used as a petting zoo, tearoom and coastguard lookout.
Tendring District Council said it was open to offers from people who wanted to lease the historic building.
“It is a fantastically unusual property to have on the market,” said Will Lodge, from the local authority.
Richard Smith/BBCThe fort was once home to a petting zoo A chain of 103 small artillery forts were built after the renewal of war with France in 1803, including 11 along the north-east Essex coast.
Martello Tower F is one of three in Clacton, built west of the town’s pier at the junction of Marine Parade West and Tower Road.
“We really want to protect them for future generations and preserve this piece of history in the area,” Mr Lodge added.
The 10m (33ft) tall tower has walls up to 4m (13ft) thick, which are sloped inwards to resist cannon fire.
Although it was armed and provisioned, it was never manned by soldiers.
The fort fell into the hands of the council between World War One and World War Two.
Owen Ward/BBCPrevious owner Paul Nash said running the fort was “a lot of work” Paul Nash, who once leased it for 16 years, said it had been a “fantastic” experience.
“It’s the only tower in Essex and one of the very few in the world that has a fully-enclosed moat, so that’s why it was ideal for the zoo,” Mr Nash said.
“There’s a lot of work. It’s non-stop running that place, maintaining it and keeping it ready for people.”
Conservative-run Tendring District Council said anyone interested in leasing the building should email its property services team.
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Cast announced for new BBC legal drama Counsels set in Glasgow
The BBC has announced the cast for its new legal drama Counsels, which is set in Glasgow.
The eight-part series stars Brandon Grace, Ro Kumar, Eilidh Park, George Prentice, Alyth Ross and Rebecca Bell, who all play young lawyers trying to navigate their complex and messy lives at a time when their careers turn serious.
Having trained together at an elite law school, the characters are now scattered across the profession and find themselves facing each other in court.
It was created by Scottish writers Bryan Elsley – who co-created the E4 drama Skins – and Gillian McCormack, a graduate of the BBC Writers’ Drama Room.
Elsley, who also wrote the BBC adaptation of Iain Banks’ The Crow Road, said he was delighted to be leading the series with McCormack.
He said: “We look forward to introducing a galaxy of Scottish acting, writing and directing talent to our audience.
“Set entirely in Glasgow, we hope to bring the city vividly to life and fill it with arresting stories and characters.”
McCormack added: “It’s been amazing to work with Bryan and see our incredible crew and phenomenal cast come together.
“Developing our characters and their worlds has been a brilliant experience and I can’t wait to share their stories set against the backdrop of the dynamic, exciting and contemporary city of Glasgow, of which I am hugely proud.”
The ensemble are joined by an established cast including:
- Michelle Gomez (Doom Patrol, The Flight Attendant)
- Derek Riddell (Happy Valley, Industry)
- Laura Haddock (What It Feels Like For A Girl, The Recruit)
- Daniela Nardini (This Life, Sunset Song)
- Michael Nardone (Traces, The Night Manager)
- Sally Howitt (River City, Dinosaur)
- Stuart Bowman (Department Q, Only Child)
- Neshla Caplan (The Rig, Rebus)
- Stephen Purdon (River City, Sweet Sixteen)
Filming for Counsels is under way in Glasgow.
It is being made by Balloon Entertainment for BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland.
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Chanel Partners With Biennale College Cinema at 2025 Venice Film Festival
MILAN — A regular presence at the Venice Film Festival, this year Chanel swapped its traditional soirée hosted at Harry’s Bar for a lunch celebrating its partnership with Biennale College Cinema.
This is the first time Chanel is endorsing the project, which festival organizers introduced in 2012 and which is dedicated to young filmmakers. In its role as a partner, Chanel provided financial support and connected the participants to industry professionals close to the company.
The initiative promotes new talents and offers them the opportunity to work with master filmmakers on new micro-budget feature films. Since its creation, 68 features by emerging filmmakers have been made, which were selected from more than 2,700 applications from all over the world.
Of the 12 projects chosen and supported by the institution for the 2024-25 edition, four have been completed and were presented as part of the official program of the Venice Film Festival.
The patron of the 13th edition is director and screenwriter Audrey Diwan, who’s been affiliated with Chanel for years. Diwan has a special bond with the film festival, too. In 2021, her movie “Happening” starring Chanel ambassador Anamaria Vartolomei won the Golden Lion, the event’s award for best film.
Director Audrey Diwan at the Chanel lunch during Venice Film Festival.
Courtesy of Chanel
“This patron role perfectly embodies how I feel about passing things on,” Diwan told WWD. “Cinema is, by nature, a collective art. When I started, someone reached out and offered me guidance. The day I received the Golden Lion, it was Jane Campion who presented it to me. And now it’s my turn to give back to others.”
The director described the project as “one of a kind” and underscored that the strength of the program “lies in its ability to bring a vision to life, to give it form.”
“Filmmakers from all over the world can submit their projects. Their radical ideas and unique perspectives are welcomed here as assets. Then, they are supported from the writing stage to production and, finally, the films are screened at the [festival], with packed theaters,” said Diwan, underscoring how the experience offers a springboard for young creators.
Directors Audrey Diwan and Massimiliano Camaiti at the press conference of Biennale College Cinema during the 2025 Venice Film Festival.
Jacopo Salvi/Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
On Sunday, Diwan joined the director of the Venice Film Festival and Biennale College Cinema director Alberto Barbera in unveiling the 12 preselected projects for the next edition. They were flanked by the four winning directors of this year’s chapter, who reflected on how the initiative shaped the development of their movies, which were shot across Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, Cambodia, the U.S. and India.
The four winning titles include Italian film “Agnus Dei” by Massimiliano Camaiti; “Becoming Human” by Polen Ly; “One Woman One Bra” by Vincho Nchogu, and “Secret of a Mountain Serpent” by Nidhi Saxena.
“Cinema — especially auteur cinema — is experiencing a difficult moment,” Diwan said. “These voices, which powerfully depict different realities and shed light on diverse cultures, deserve to be heard. If we lose the means to share these visions and bring this light into being, we risk entering a period of obscurantism.”
Directors Vincho Nchogu, Nidhi Saxena, Polen Ly at the press conference of Biennale College Cinema during the 2025 Venice Film Festival.
Jacopo Salvi/Courtesy of La Biennale di Venezia
The mission of the initiative is in sync with Chanel’s roots.
For one, it was in Venice that Gabrielle Chanel met the young Italian director Luchino Visconti and, taking an instant liking to him, she helped launch his career by introducing him to Jean Renoir, who quickly became his mentor. Incidentally, Visconti was also among the cinematic references inspiring the cruise 2026 collection the brand paraded earlier this year at the iconic Villa d’Este overlooking Lake Como and for which it commissioned Sofia Coppola, a longtime friend of the house, to make a short film set in the exclusive hotel.
“Chanel has a very deep relationship with the world of cinema. Whether it’s through its connection to heritage, the restoration of films, or its commitment to the future with emerging voices, their desire is to support an artwork, a message, to help the artist cultivate their uniqueness,” Diwan concluded.
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iPhone 17 Cases Leak Again, Official Clear Case May Be Only Semi-Transparent – PCMag
- iPhone 17 Cases Leak Again, Official Clear Case May Be Only Semi-Transparent PCMag
- iPhone 17 Pro: The New “Clear Case” Design Unveiled MajinBu Official
- More iPhone 17 series cases leak ahead of September 9 event – GSMArena.com news GSMArena.com
- iPhone 17 launch on September 9: Apple may bring this unique accessory for 2025 iPhone lineup The Times of India
- iPhone 17 series design leaked ahead of September 9 launch NewsBytes
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Tyrique George transfer: Fulham agree £22m fee for Chelsea winger
Fulham have agreed a £22m fee to sign winger Tyrique George from Chelsea.
The 19-year-old is in talks over a five-year contract at Craven Cottage, while Chelsea have a sell-on clause included in the deal.
George, who is primarily a winger but can also play as a striker, was the subject of interest from German club RB Leipzig on deadline day, but they are not known to have made any official offer to Chelsea.
The teenager is expected to leave Stamford Bridge having scored three goals and delivered five assists in 27 matches since breaking into the first team at the beginning of last season.
George could be joined by Brazilian forward Kevin, who looks set to become Fulham’s record signing in a £34m deal from Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Cottagers are believed to have seen off late competition after Portuguese club Sporting matched their bid for the 22-year-old, who is expected to sign a five-year deal.
AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze is also set to join the club before the transfer window closes, with the 26-year-old Nigerian having completed a medical.
Fulham boss Marco Silva had previously complained about the club’s limited action in the transfer window.
Silva said the Cottagers had been “passive” in the summer window, having only added French goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte from Montpellier.
The Cottagers have two points from their opening three Premier League games and are 18th in the table.
They followed up opening draws at Brighton and at home to Manchester United with a controversial 2-0 defeat at west London rivals Chelsea.
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China’s CATL sells stake in Finnish subcontract car manufacturer
HELSINKI (Reuters) -Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) is selling its 20.6% stake in subcontract Finnish car maker Valmet Automotive to the Finnish state and another shareholder, Finland’s government said on Monday, amid low electric car sales in Europe.
The Finnish state, which already owns 44.96% of Valmet Automotive through its investment company Finnish Industry Investment Ltd, did not say how much CATL was selling its stake for but said the government would also inject an additional 35 million euros ($40.97 million) of new capital into the car factory.
Valmet Automotive has previously made some cars for Porsche, Saab, Mercedes-Benz among other carmakers.
The Finnish government, in a statement, said the stake sale came amid “a challenging market situation” due to the “slower-than-predicted pace of electrification”.
“The downturn in the European automobile industry has caused Valmet Automotive’s order volumes to decrease in recent years,” it said. CATL bought into Valmet Automotive in 2017.
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers, often backed by generous state support, have for years challenged traditional European and U.S. carmakers with cheaper, tech-savvy models.
After the CATL stake sale and the capital injection, the Finnish state will own a 79% stake in Valmet Automotive, while private investor group Pontos, an existing shareholder, will own 21%, the government said in a statement.
“In line with its strategy, Valmet Automotive is expanding its operations to new industrial sectors such as contract manufacturing for the defence industry,” the government said.
While the European Union imposed tariffs on China-made EVs in 2024, industry lobbyists have urged the EU and national governments to bolster domestic players – especially as the sector grapples with a slowdown – to help even the playing field.
Under the arrangement announced on Monday, the state, Pontos and pension insurer Varma are also purchasing Valmet Automotive’s shares in its subsidiary, battery maker Ioncor, giving the state a 70% stake in Ioncor through its investment company Finnish Minerals Group.
Ioncor, which employs around 1,000 people at its two battery plants in Finland and one in Germany, will seek to expand its operations to heavy-duty vehicles and machinery, Ioncor said in a separate statement.
In total, 120 million euros of state capital will be used for the financing arrangements, the government said.
($1 = 0.8542 euros)
(Reporting by Anne Kauranen in Helsinki, additional reporting by Marie Mannes in Stockholm; Editing by Susan Fenton)
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Cytokinetics’ oHCM drug outperforms SoC beta blockers
Cytokinetics’ aficamten is a myosin inhibitor that reduces the interaction between actin and myosin to prevent muscle hypercontractility. Image Credit: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com. Cytokinetics’ aficamten outperformed standard of care (SoC) in a Phase III trial in patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM), marking a win for the candidate that is currently under approval review in the US
In the Phase III MAPLE-HCM trial (NCT05767346), aficamten was pitted against metoprolol, a SoC beta blocker. In the study, aficamten increased predicted peak oxygen uptake (pVO2) by 1.1mL/kg/min after 24 weeks, while patients treated with metoprolol saw a 1.2mL/kg/min decrease – a least-squares mean (LSM) difference of 2.3mL/kg/min, meeting the primary endpoint.
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Five of the six secondary endpoints were also achieved, including an improvement in functional class and a reduction in symptom burden.
Of those treated with aficamten, 51% had an improvement of one or more functional class in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class compared to 26% receiving metoprolol.
Aficamten also improved resting left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOT-G) by -30mmHg and Valsalva LVOT-G by -35mmHg. The only endpoint that saw no significant difference was left ventricular mass index (LVMI).
The data was announced during a Hot Line Session at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025 in Madrid, Spain.
Cytokinetics added that adverse events (AEs) were similar between groups; however, one patient receiving aficamten, a 69-year-old woman with multiple co-morbidities, developed a viral illness and subsequently died. Three patients receiving metoprolol terminated treatment due to AEs.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing a New Drug Application (NDA) for Cytokinetics’ drug in oHCM with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of 26 December 2025. This application was based on the successful Phase III SEQUOIA-HCM trial (NCT05186818), which compared the drug to a placebo.
Aficamten is a myosin inhibitor that acts by relaxing the heart’s left ventricle so it can sufficiently fill with blood before pumping.
Cytokinetics’ drug could become SoC in oHCM
Based on the Phase III trial showing the drug’s superiority over SoC beta blockers, Dr Pablo Garcia-Pavia, head of Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro’s Inherited Cardiac Diseases and Heart Failure Unit, said the data could better inform physicians’ approach to treating oHCM.
Serving as principal investigator of the study, Garcia-Pavia said: “In showing that aficamten is superior to metoprolol on all clinically relevant efficacy endpoints, these results call into question the reliance on beta-blockers as the initial treatment modality for obstructive HCM that has prevailed for over 60 years.”
GlobalData predicts that aficamten will reach blockbuster status in 2029, with $2.42bn estimated sales in 2031.
GlobalData is the parent company of Clinical Trials Arena.
Other than beta blockers, Cytokinetics’ drug will also be competing with Bristol Myers Squibb’s (BMS’s) Camzyos (mavacamten), also a myosin inhibitor, which gained approval by the FDA in April 2022.
Experts predict that while BMS holds the first to market advantage in this class, aficamten’s favourable safety profile may make it more preferable to patients. This is not, however, reflected in GlobalData’s sales forecast, which predicts BMS’s drug to reach a slightly higher $2.58bn in sales in 2031.
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