Belgium’s day included Wout van Aert attacking from the peloton, a train disruption that stranded passengers near the French border, and a truck crashing into a house in Booischot. Abroad, Japan’s central bank supported the yen, Norway’s new king kept the royal motto, and Rockstar unveiled a lengthy GTA VI preview on Netflix.
During the seventh stage of the Vuelta, Wout van Aert immediately attacked with three fellow escapees. The peloton is keeping the breakaway within reach for now. The stage features plenty of climbing and finishes uphill at Aramón Valdelinares, a finish that should suit Tadej Pogačar, although the breakaway could cause a surprise.
A vessel paid a record $5.3 million to secure priority passage through the Panama Canal. The expense comes as the waterway prepares for new restrictions amid conditions linked to El Niño. The amount highlights the growing value of available transit slots.
Rockstar Games published an in-depth preview of “Grand Theft Auto VI” on Netflix on Thursday, presenting it as the most eagerly awaited video game of the year. The release allows the U.S. studio to regain control of its communications after a week of leaks. Those leaks had already revealed several previously unseen sequences from the title before its official presentation.
A 40-year-old man was kidnapped and held captive in Puurs-Saint-Amand, in Antwerp province, on August 17. The suspects allegedly posed as police officers during the operation. Three people were detained, according to Het Laatste Nieuws. Investigators still need to establish the precise circumstances and determine whether it was a settling of scores.
This morning, a truck carrying several small forklifts crashed into a large townhouse in central Booischot. The vehicle also rammed a parked car. No one was injured, as the residents were away on holiday. The exact cause of the accident is still being investigated by the relevant authorities.
The Bank of Japan spent 15.4 trillion yen, equivalent to about €80 billion, to support the currency over the past month. Japan's Ministry of Finance said it was the largest intervention in a single month ever. The measure was intended to strengthen the yen, which was under pressure, but details of its impact are not known.
A Belgian train carrying about 150 passengers has been stopped just across the French border for more than three hours. Several readers reported the incident via tip line 4040. According to SNCB, a French train is on its way to help the stranded passengers. It is not yet known when they will be able to continue their journey.
Norway's new king has chosen the regnal name Haakon VIII. He also announced that he would keep the same motto as his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. The decision places his accession within the continuity of the Norwegian monarchy, without changing the family formula passed down through the generations.
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