TERRORISM -- The Catalan government says an attack in the seaside resort town of Cambrils and an explosion in Alcanar are both linked to a deadly van attack on pedestrians in Barcelona’s tourist district of Las Ramblas that killed 13 people and left dozens wounded.
The region’s Interior Minister Joaquin Forn told local radio RAC1 early Friday that the Cambrils attack “follows the same trail. There is a connection.”
LONDON -- Few people trust Vladimir Putin to do the right thing for the world, according to a Pew Research Center survey of 37 countries; however, citizens of 22 countries trust Putin more than Donald Trump.
WEATHER -- Heavy monsoon rains have caused landslides and floods across northern India, southern Nepal and Bangladesh, killing more than 200 people and displacing at least two million more.
GUAM -- The U.S. and its Pacific allies could intercept North Korean ballistic missiles launched towards Guam, but the technology is yet to be battle-tested and there is no guarantee it will work.
RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia plans to launch the second issue of its sukuk programme — Islamic bonds that comply with Sharia law — during the week beginning August 20.
WASHINGTON -- The first round of negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the U.S. Canada and Mexico will take place August 16-20 in Washington.
PARIS -- French President Emmanuel Macron is now more unpopular than his predecessor Francois Hollande after his first 100 days in office, according to an Ifop poll for Le Figaro.
SCOTLAND -- Norwegian firm Statoil’s Hywind project is the world's first full-scale floating wind farm, set up off the north-east coast of Scotland. Five turbines are expected to power 20,000 households.
LONDON -- The famous chimes of Big Ben are to fall silent at midday August 21 after 157 years of nearly unbroken service for a $42m project to prevent its mechanism from failing.
NORTH KOREA -- North Korea’s Kim Jong-un may have hidden a message to the U.S. saying he will watch U.S. behaviour for a conciliatory gesture before launching missiles towards Guam.
CAPE CANAVERAL -- Voyagers 1 and 2 were launched in 1977 to take advantage of a favourable alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, and are now exploring interstellar space.
LONDON -- The 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales takes place on August 31. There have been multiple investigations into the death of Diana and Dodi Fayed.
PARIS -- The 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, is commemorated. Diana was killed in a high-speed car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36.
EDINBURGH -- The new Queensferry Crossing over the Firth of Forth is scheduled to open. The 2.7km structure will be the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world.
U.S. -- For the first time in almost a century, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the U.S. More than 12 million live inside the path of totality.
BOXING -- World Champion boxer Floyd Mayweather will take on UFC Champion Conor McGregor under “Queensbury Rules” - the Las Vegas bout is set to break all box-office records.
CYCLING -- For the first time the race will begin in France, with a team time trial in the city of Nimes, and it will end as usual in the Spanish capital, Madrid, three weeks later.
CYCLING -- The 90th edition of the annual competition will be held in Bergen, Norway, with 12 races over nine days, bringing together more than 1,150 cyclists from 80 nations.
MOTORSPORT -- Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel is firmly in command of the Championship as the paddock returns from the summer break at the legendary Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
RALLY -- Rally Germany provides a mind-boggling mix of asphalt features including corkscrew vineyard tracks, multi-surface military roads and fast, smooth country lanes.
SOCCER -- Spain’s Reigning champions Real Madrid kick off the 2017-18 Primera Division season, La Liga, by travelling to Deportivo La Coruna.
SOCCER -- Reigning champions Bayern Munich kick off the new season with a home clash against Bayer Leverkusen, while Red Bull Leipzig face a trip to Schalke.
SOCCER -- Swans face Red Devils as Manchester Utd go to Swansea, while Tottenham host Chelsea in their first match at temporary home, Wembley Stadium.
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