Quick Hits

• Deadly earthquake in Indonesia: A magnitude-7.7 quake killed at least 51 people, damaged more than 1,300 homes and displaced about 5,000 — one of the country's deadliest quakes in years (Al Jazeera).
• Sharp Ukraine-Russia escalation: Russian authorities said 201 Ukrainian drones were downed overnight over the Moscow region, while Russian strikes killed a Ukrainian woman in Kyiv and a NATO jet downed a drone over Romania (Al Jazeera).
• Israel strikes southern Lebanon again: Airstrikes hit the Nabatieh district hours after the deadliest day of Israeli raids, as families fled north (Al Jazeera).
• Zambia’s election disputed: Observers reported intimidation and violence in Thursday’s presidential polls, and vote counting was briefly suspended amid security threats to the electoral process (Al Jazeera).
• Australia schedules gun buyback: The PM said a national buyback will begin in November, nearly a year after a shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach killed 15 people (Al Jazeera).

Top Stories

• Indonesia earthquake: The magnitude-7.7 quake left at least 51 dead and 5,000 displaced, with over 1,300 homes damaged, according to Al Jazeera.
• Ukraine-Russia war: Al Jazeera reports Ukraine targeted Moscow in a mass drone attack as Russia bombarded Kyiv; Russian authorities said 201 drones were downed over the Moscow region, and a NATO jet downed a drone over Romania.
• Israel-Lebanon: Israeli airstrikes struck the Nabatieh district of southern Lebanon just hours after what Al Jazeera describes as the deadliest day of Israeli raids, with families fleeing north.
• Zambia election: Al Jazeera reports that observers called Thursday’s presidential election marred by reports of intimidation and violence, with counting briefly suspended.
• Australia gun buyback: Prime Ministerial announcement sets a November start for the buyback spurred by last year’s Bondi attack, which killed 15 (Al Jazeera).
• Hungary bus crash: At least 12 people were killed and 10 injured when a bus carrying Polish tourists overturned on the M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes (Al Jazeera).
• Kentucky park shooting: Live video captured panic as a gunman opened fire at a park in Kentucky, Al Jazeera reports; the outlet provided no casualty figures.

Left Perspective

Coverage from MPR News (lean-left) focused on civil liberties, policing, and public health in Minnesota and the region:

• MPR News reports an undercover federal operation at a Minneapolis church this spring may have violated a federal court injunction barring enforcement of civil immigration laws on the church’s properties.
• The state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension identified officer Jacob Pederson as the St. Paul officer who shot a man Monday outside Regions Hospital (MPR News).
• As St. Paul closes the Pig’s Eye Park encampment — with Mayor Kaohly Her citing health and safety concerns — MPR News chronicles residents moving from one encampment to the next.
• MPR News reports Wisconsin’s first measles outbreak of the year, with 15 confirmed cases in the southwest part of the state amid a national resurgence of the disease.
• Health insurance premiums for thousands of Minnesotans are expected to climb in 2027, driven by rising healthcare costs, inflation, and the expiration of enhanced assistance, MPR News reports.
• In sports, MPR News notes Kyler Murray debuted as the Vikings’ starting QB in a 13-10 win over the Giants, while the Giants’ Jaxson Dart threw a TD after passing concussion protocol.

International View

• Yemen: Government forces backed by Saudi Arabia struck back after a new Houthi offensive in areas they control, Al Jazeera reports.
• Israel’s October elections: Al Jazeera reports analysts say the issues shaping the vote “fall far closer to home” — the outlet’s framing references “a genocide and multiple wars.”
• Afghanistan: Crowds created a carnival-like atmosphere in Kabul as the Taliban marked five years since returning to power, with patriotic music and flags (Al Jazeera).
• Colombia earthquake aftermath: A 3-year-old girl and a 75-year-old man were pulled alive from rubble about 100 hours after the earthquake (Al Jazeera).
• Gaza life: Al Jazeera journalist Hind Khoudary opened a beach cafe in Gaza, hoping to revive a beloved part of life during the war (Al Jazeera).
• Sports wrap: Bangladesh recorded its first-ever Test cricket win in Australia — Al Jazeera says the margin “will send shockwaves through the cricketing world”; Djokovic was stunned by Tirante in Cincinnati in his first match since Wimbledon; Mohamed Salah debuted for Trabzonspor in a draw; Messi missed a penalty as Nashville thrashed Inter Miami; Islam Makhachev won his 17th straight UFC fight at UFC 330; and Kate Douglass broke the 50m freestyle world record while Katie Ledecky lost the 800m to Lani Pallister at the Pan Pacifics (all Al Jazeera).

Underreported

• Gaza’s lighter crisis: Al Jazeera reports the struggle to find lighters in Gaza can mean the difference between cooking a meal and going to bed hungry, making cooking an expensive chore.
• Gaza medical conditions: An Al Jazeera doctor describes amputating a girl’s leg without anaesthesia: “We were praying for her to faint.”
• Europe’s drought: New satellite images show half of Europe’s land experiencing drought, with rivers running low from the Danube to the Rhine (Al Jazeera).
• Post-Hormuz Africa: An Al Jazeera opinion piece argues the post-Hormuz era offers Africa a major opportunity if the continent develops an effective, common maritime policy.
• Tupac case: Al Jazeera previews the trial of Duane “Keffe D” Davis, the first person prosecuted in the rapper’s death three decades ago.

Sources

MPR News (lean left): Vikings-Giants · St. Paul officer identified · 2027 insurance rates · Wisconsin measles · Pig’s Eye encampment · Minneapolis church surveillance

Al Jazeera (center): Indonesia quake · Ukraine-Russia · Israel-Lebanon · Zambia election · Australia buyback · Hungary bus crash · Kentucky shooting · Yemen · Israel elections · Taliban anniversary · Colombia rescue · Gaza beach cafe · Gaza lighters · Gaza doctor · Europe drought · Post-Hormuz Africa · Tupac trial · Bangladesh cricket · Djokovic · Salah · Messi · UFC 330 · Swimming

Note: The supplied feed for 2026-08-16 contained no right-leaning outlets, so a Right Perspective section is omitted rather than approximated.