In Germany, a trial has begun for 24-year-old Shahraban K.B., accused of organizing a beauty contest to find a lookalike, Khadidja O., to murder and fake her own death to escape her strict Iraqi family and Yazidi faith. Shahraban and her lover Sheqir, who met days before the murder, are charged with stabbing the victim over 50 times after luring her to a forest. The crime was uncovered when an autopsy revealed the victim's tattoos, exposing her true identity. The trial at Ingolstadt District Court, presided over by jury chairman Konrad Kliegt, is expected to run until the end of June with 190 witnesses and additional charges against the defendants for attempting to hire a hitman.

A young girl running past a snow leopard's enclosure at the Montgomery Zoo in Alabama triggered the animal's predatory instincts, leading to a playful chase captured on video by the girl's family. The leopard displayed affectionate behavior, such as rubbing its head and paws against the glass and attempting to lick the girl, which experts say is a sign of reinforcing family bonds. The footage was shared by the zoo and the visitor, Brinda DeAnne Green, who described the experience as the coolest she's ever had at a zoo. The zoo, spanning 40 acres, features various animals and attractions.

During protests in Istanbul against Israel following the bombing of Gaza's al-Ahli hospital, a McDonald's branch was vandalized. Thousands protested outside the Israeli Consulate on October 18th, with some demonstrators smashing the windows of McDonald's. The Istanbul Governor's office reported five detentions, 63 injuries including 43 police officers, and one death due to a heart attack. Turkey declared three days of mourning for the Gaza victims. McDonald's Israel's support for Israeli troops and hospitals was condemned by Arab countries. The Qatari company Boehm owns Turkish McDonald's franchises. The explosion at Gaza's al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital resulted in hundreds of deaths, with Palestinian officials blaming an Israeli airstrike and Israel attributing it to a misfired missile by Islamic Jihad.

In Kumamoto, Japan, a new initiative by the city's Board of Education will allow anxious students to send robot avatars to school as an intermediary step to attending in person. The robots will enable students to interact with their peers and experience the school environment remotely. This project aims to alleviate the psychological fears of attending school and encourage students to eventually return to physical attendance. The decision comes in response to a rising number of children too scared to attend school, with 2,760 children currently not attending, double the number from 2018. The program is set to launch in November with two robot bodies if approved.

A significant spillage of red wine occurred in Sao Lourenco do Bairro, Portugal, when two large tanks at Levira Distillery burst, releasing 2.2 million litres of wine. The spill prompted an ecological alert due to the risk of contaminating the nearby Certima River. The Anadia Fire Department intervened to prevent the wine from reaching the river, directing it into a field instead. Levira Distillery has taken responsibility for the incident, including the cleanup and repair costs, and has moved the wine-soaked soil to a special treatment plant.

New Delhi officials have hired 'monkey wallahs' to impersonate grey langur primates and deter macaque monkeys from G20 summit areas. The 40 mimics, along with langur cutouts, aim to protect the venues and hotels from the macaques, which have been raiding local establishments. The summit, hosting numerous VIPs on September 9th and 10th, is a high-priority event for India, which took over the G20 presidency last year. Satish Upadhyay of the New Delhi Municipal Council emphasized the non-harmful nature of the monkey management strategy.

Yilmaz Fahrioglu is on trial for the murder of businesswoman Zehra Catal, whom he shot nine times in Antalya, Turkey, after accusing her of scamming him over a villa construction project. Fahrioglu, who lent Catal TRY 2,800,000, claimed she had no such project and went on a holiday abroad despite owing him money. He expressed regret for the shooting, which occurred after Catal allegedly cursed at him during a confrontation. Prosecutors are seeking an aggravated life sentence with a minimum non-parole term of 30 years, plus up to three years for possessing an unlicensed weapon. Fahrioglu has a criminal record, and the victim's family contends she was debt-free and that Fahrioglu was trying to extort money from her. The trial is ongoing.

Nil Marino, a 60-year-old man from Florianopolis, Brazil, has gone viral for his youthful appearance, which belies his age. He recently received his OAP parking permit, causing disbelief among social media users who think he looks much younger. His fitness routine includes callisthenics, situps, strength training, and daily walking or cycling. The video of him revealing his age has amassed over eight million views, with many expressing amazement at his lack of wrinkles and chiseled physique.

A mother and son, Sibylle D. and Daniel D., were sentenced to life imprisonment by a German court for the murder of their wealthy cousin, Lieselotte Gerda Schuster, with the motive of greed. The victim, who had planned to leave her fortune to a home for abandoned pets and a cancer charity, was found dead with multiple stab wounds after being invited on a holiday by the perpetrators. The pair, who were financially struggling, aimed to acquire her assets, including savings, a collection of watches, cars, and her home. The crime was uncovered when police found the victim's identity card and savings book during a traffic stop and later discovered her decomposed body in a box at the pair's rented property.

Maxi Ludvik, 29, and Emmanuel Soria, 34, disappeared at sea after setting off from Huelin beach in Malaga, Spain, to watch the sunset on 27th August. Despite warnings about strong winds and having practised only three times, they proceeded and were never seen again. The coastguards found their board floating 15 miles from the coast on 28th August, but there was no sign of the individuals. Friends and family are seeking information on their whereabouts.

Ten Burundi handball players, aged 17, disappeared in Croatia where they were to compete in the World Cadet Handball Championship from August 2nd to 13th. Last seen leaving their accommodation in Rijeka on August 9th, they were unresponsive to calls and their whereabouts are unknown. Police are searching for them. The Croatian Handball Federation confirmed their unexplained departure, despite high security. Burundi's handball association president, Dauphin Nikobamye, expressed shock and appealed for assistance. The team's match against Bahrain was cancelled, and a forfeit was declared in favor of Bahrain.

A sudden explosion at the Tosyali Iron and Steel Factory in Iskenderun, southern Turkey, injured 13 workers, with two in critical condition. The incident, captured on CCTV, showed workers trying to resolve an issue before being engulfed by a fireball. Emergency services responded to the scene. The cause of the explosion is unknown, and an investigation is underway. This event follows a similar explosion at the same factory two months prior, which injured four workers.

China will finance the renovation of a house on the Croatian island of Korcula, claimed to be the birthplace of Marco Polo, to be turned into a museum. Despite Venice being the generally accepted birthplace, some historians support the Croatian claim. The island's mayor, Mirko Duhovic, has purchased the property, aiming to have it ready for tourists soon. British historian James Gilman provided evidence from the British Museum supporting the claim. Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Chinese ambassador Zhenglong Wu have both promoted the site, with Wu planting an olive tree there as a symbol of China-Croatia friendship.