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The week in photos: August 15-21, 2026

ByJustpaste.in

MANILA, Philippines — On August 18, two students were killed in a shooting inside the junior high school building of Ateneo de Zamboanga University Tumaga campus. One of those who died was the shooter himself. Authorities said the suspect was a minor, while the victim was a 10th grader, also a minor.

Initial police findings showed that the shooter went to Room 404 of the campus building and shot the other student, killing him. He then ran down to the third floor, shouted, and then shot himself.

In the United States, a bipartisan group of 29 US states is suing Meta, seeking potentially tens or hundreds of billions of dollars in penalties and changes to how Meta does business.

Four lead states — California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey — accused Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to hook young users, fueling anxiety, depression and even suicide, and misleading consumers about the platforms’ safety. Meta is being accused of violating federal law by improperly collecting and using children’s personal data.

Meta Platforms rejected accusations by US states that it intentionally sought to get children addicted to its Facebook and Instagram platforms in pursuit of profit at the trial, which started on August 18.

Meanwhile, on August 17, the first-ever hostile witness in the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte, former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, told the court that the instruction to hand over P125 million in confidential funds to her security officer came from the vice president herself.

This isn’t the first time Acosta has named Duterte as the person who gave the instruction, but her admission before the impeachment court carries more weight, says a prosecutor.

Catch more stories in these photos from the week that was:

81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two in Tokyo

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attend a memorial service ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War Two, at Budokan Hall in Tokyo on August 15, 2026. PHOTO BY MANAMI YAMADA/REUTERS

Tennis: Cincinnati Open

Serena and Venus Williams of the United States shake hands with Peyton Stearns of the United States and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, after their doubles match in the Cincinnati Open, at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, on August 17, 2026. PHOTO BY AARON DOSER/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS

25th Anniversary Celebration Screening of The "Fast and the Furious" in Los Angeles

Cast members Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez attend the 25th Anniversary Celebration Screening of ‘The Fast and the Furious’ in Los Angeles, California, on August 17, 2026. PHOTO BY MARIO ANZUONI/REUTERS

Parts of Metro Manila flooded amid monsoon rains

Commuters and pedestrians wade through floodwaters during heavy monsoon rains, along Taft Avenue corner Pedro Gil in Manila on August 17, 2026. PHOTO BY ELOISA LOPEZ/REUTERS

Aftermath of an earthquake that struck off the coast of Indonesia

A child observes the damage at the St. Fransiskus Asisi-Karot church, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Ruteng, Manggarai regency, East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, on August 17, 2026. PHOTO BY WILLY KURNIAWAN/REUTERS

Impeacment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

Private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan questions hostile witness, former Special Disbursing Officer of the Office of the Vice President Gina Acosta, during the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte on August 17, 2026. SENATE SOCIAL MEDIA UNIT

Protesters hold pictures behind a placard with names of young people, as parents of children and young adults whose deaths were allegedly related to social media use hold a press conference, as Meta faces a landmark trial in federal court over claims from 29 states, in Oakland, California, on August 18, 2026. PHOTO BY MANUEL ORBEGOZO/REUTERS

High school shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga

Concerned parents and residents stand outside Ateneo de Zamboanga University after a shooting that killed two people, in Zamboanga City on August 18, 2026. PHOTO BY NONOY LACSON/RAPPLER

Press preview of the War Child x Secret 7" vinyl sleeve exhibition, in London

Vinyl sleeve artwork is displayed during the press preview of the War Child x Secret 7″ exhibition, where 700 sleeves are displayed and auctioned to raise money for children affected by war, at 180 Studios, in London, on August 18, 2026. PHOTO BY JACK TAYLOR/REUTERS

A Palestinian boy cools down in a makeshift pool on the remains of a house destroyed during the Israeli offensive, on a hot summer day in Beit Lahiya

A Palestinian boy cools down in a makeshift pool on the remains of a house destroyed during the Israeli offensive, on a hot summer day in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, on August 18, 2026. PHOTO BY MAHMOUD ISSA/REUTERS

A drone image shows a church damaged by the earthquake in Quimbaya, Colombia, on August 18, 2026. PHOTO BY LUISA GONZALEZ/REUTERS

Snow falls amid low temperatures in Bolivia, in El Alto

An Aymara woman walks to board a bus as snow falls during a spell of low temperatures and precipitation affecting several regions of the country, in El Alto, Bolivia, on August 18, 2026. PHOTO BY CLAUDIA MORALES/REUTERS

Wildfire in Belgium

Belgian firefighters work in a forest affected by a wildfire in Waimes, in the High Fens (Hautes Fagnes) region, Belgium, on August 18, 2026. PHOTO BY YVES HERMAN/REUTERS

Pope Leo holds the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican

A woman cools herself off with a portable mini fan as people gather on the day Pope Leo holds the weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, on August 19, 2026. PHOTO BY REMO CASILLI/REUTERS

A staff member dressed up in a costume walks with VBot robots on a dog leash during the 2026 World Robot Conference, in Beijing, China, on August 19, 2026. PHOTO BY TINGSHU WANG/REUTERS

Thai schools step up shooter drills after deadly attack

Students run to hide during a drill by police officers to prepare for an active shooter scenario, at Surasakmontree School in Bangkok, following a deadly shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, on August 19, 2026. PHOTO BY ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS

‘Can’t afford to let our guard down’, South Koreans join annual civil defence drill

Participants take part in a civil defense drill on the sidelines of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield, in Busan, South Korea, on August 20, 2026. PHOTO BY YONHAP NEWS AGENCY VIA REUTERS

Russian missile strike in Kyiv

Firefighters work at a site hit by a Russian missile strike, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 20, 2026. PHOTO BY ANATOLII STEPANOV/REUTERS

Ninoy Aquino death anniversary commemoration

Family members and supporters gather for a Holy Mass at the Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City to remember former senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr. on the 43rd anniversary of his assassination, on August 21, 2026. PHOTO BY RAPPLER

Elizabeth Tang Yin-ngor, wife of former Hong Kong Alliance leader Lee Cheuk-yan, leaves West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts following the conviction of three former Tiananmen vigil organizers charged with inciting subversion of state power, in Hong Kong

Elizabeth Tang Yin-ngor, wife of former Hong Kong Alliance leader Lee Cheuk-yan, leaves West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts in Hong Kong, following the conviction of three former Tiananmen vigil organizers charged with inciting subversion of state power, on August 21, 2026. PHOTO BY TYRONNE SIU/REUTERS

—with reports from Reuters/Rappler.com

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    Myanmar offensive clears path for Russia-backed po…

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Villages Caught in Military Push Since July, hundreds of soldiers have reportedly moved into Tanintharyi, a region bordering Thailand where the Dawei project is located. Their advance has triggered repeated clashes with local resistance groups, according to two sources. “The military is advancing its columns and conducting area-clearance operations. Some villages and homes have been burned down,” Saw Dah Ko of the Tanintharyi Region People’s Defence Force told Reuters. A second resistance fighter, operating with the Dawei District No.1 battalion under the shadow National Unity Government, said troops had burned homes in at least three villages and killed three aid workers helping displaced communities. The civil society group MAGGA Initiative said the three aid workers were detained and killed after encountering a military column in Yebyu Township on July 9. Reuters was unable to independently verify the accounts. Myanmar’s government and Russia’s embassy in Myanmar did not respond to requests for comment. Conflict monitor ACLED said the offensive had involved a column of about 700 soldiers advancing into surrounding areas, with raids on villages and reports of civilian deaths. The military’s campaign has reportedly been supported by air and naval attacks, according to local sources, putting pressure on loosely organised resistance groups. “They enter the region, and once reinforced by the navy, they launch offensives into the villages situated within the deep sea port project area,” said Min Lwin Oo of the Democracy Movement Strike Committee. A Strategic Project The push around Dawei is part of the military’s wider effort to regain territory and strategic border areas lost to opposition groups following the 2021 coup that plunged Myanmar into civil war. The conflict has killed an estimated 100,000 people and displaced more than 3.5 million, according to humanitarian and conflict assessments. The military-backed government has sought to strengthen its control while pursuing projects that could bring investment and strategic partnerships. The Dawei SEZ is among the most ambitious. Originally launched in 2008 as a joint venture with Thailand, the project was intended to create a major industrial and transport hub linking Southeast Asia with markets in East and West Asia. However, construction stalled in 2013 amid local opposition and funding difficulties. In early 2021, shortly before the military takeover, authorities moved to terminate agreements covering nine projects in the initial construction phase and said they would seek new partners. Russia has now emerged as a key potential supporter. Russia Sees Gateway to Asia At a business forum in Moscow this week, Tanintharyi Chief Minister Zaw Naing Oo promoted Dawei as a faster route for regional trade. 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