Thailand experienced its deadliest school shooting in years after a 14-year-old student went on a rampage that began at his own home and ended at a school near Bangkok. According to CNN, the death toll has now risen to nine victims, including a 12-year-old girl who succumbed to her injuries days after the attack. The tragedy unfolded in stages: the teenage suspect first killed his own grandparents at their residence before making his way to the school, where he opened fire on students and staff members.

The scale of devastation was significant, with more than 20 people injured in addition to those killed. Reports from multiple outlets, including Reuters and the Associated Press, confirmed that five teachers were among the fatalities, marking this as one of the most severe acts of school violence in the country’s recent history. The attack has sent shockwaves through Thai society, a nation not typically associated with mass shooting incidents on this scale.

How the Tragedy Unfolded

According to detailed reporting from the New York Times, the young suspect’s rampage began in the quiet confines of his own home, where he fatally shot his grandparents before making his way to the educational institution. This sequence of events has led investigators and mental health experts to examine what triggered such a devastating chain of violence from someone so young.

Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking details to emerge from the tragedy came from a Reuters report detailing the final communications between a student and her mother. The account, titled “Mom, don’t call me,” revealed the harrowing experience of students hiding from the shooter, with one student urgently texting her mother to avoid calling her phone, fearing the sound would reveal her hiding location to the attacker. This chilling detail has become emblematic of the terror experienced by students during the incident, with survivors describing feeling as though “we weren’t going to survive.”

Community and National Response

The aftermath of the shooting has prompted an outpouring of grief across Thailand, with the nation entering a period of mourning. News outlets across the United States and internationally have carried reports under the headline “Thailand mourns after deadly shooting,” reflecting the widespread attention this tragedy has garnered on the global stage. Educational institutions, families, and communities have been left grappling with the aftermath of an event that has shaken public confidence in school safety.

The Chinese Embassy in Thailand issued advisories reminding its nationals participating in cultural and educational activities in the country to remain vigilant, while also urging citizens to respect local customs and regulations. This response underscores the international dimension of the tragedy, given Thailand’s significant population of expatriates and international students.

Renewed Focus on Gun Control Legislation

In the wake of this tragedy, Thai officials have made fresh pledges to reform the nation’s gun laws, according to reporting from Time Magazine. This incident has reignited long-standing debates about firearm accessibility in Thailand, a country that has seen a concerning pattern of high-profile shooting incidents since 2020. The Independent has documented this troubling trend, noting that Thailand has increasingly become associated with mass shooting events in recent years, a reputation that stands in contrast to the country’s international image as a peaceful tourist destination.

Questions about how a 14-year-old obtained access to firearms capable of such devastation have become central to public discourse. Thailand’s gun laws, while relatively strict on paper, have come under scrutiny as authorities examine how the teenage suspect acquired the weapon used in the attack. The BBC and other outlets have published detailed explainers on the country’s current firearm regulations, highlighting potential gaps that may have contributed to this tragedy.

International Community Response

The international dimension of this tragedy has been significant, with reports confirming that eight Filipino teachers were among those affected, though they were fortunately reported safe by the Philippine embassy following the incident. This detail underscores the international character of many Thai educational institutions, which often employ foreign teaching staff.

Public sentiment in Thailand has reflected growing concerns about safety, with a recent poll finding that 87% of Thai citizens believe crime and violence are worsening in the country. This statistic, reported before the full scope of the shooting’s impact was known, suggests that the tragedy may further amplify public anxiety about personal and community safety across the nation.

Moving Forward

As Thailand continues to process this devastating event, attention has turned to both immediate accountability and long-term systemic change. First responders who arrived at the scene have described the chaotic aftermath, while mental health professionals have begun discussions about the psychological support needed for survivors, witnesses, and the broader school community affected by the trauma.

The tragedy has also prompted broader reflection on youth violence prevention, mental health resources for adolescents, and the mechanisms through which firearms enter civilian hands in Thailand. As investigations continue and the nation mourns, policymakers face mounting pressure to translate their pledges for gun law reform into concrete legislative action that could prevent similar tragedies in the future. The coming weeks will likely reveal whether this incident serves as a genuine catalyst for change in Thailand’s approach to gun control and school safety measures.

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MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Jorge Messi, the father and longtime agent of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, has died at 68, closing the chapter on a man whose decisions off the field helped shape one of the greatest careers in soccer history.

Jorge Messi died Saturday at a hospital in Rosario, the central Argentina city where his family is from, according to a statement from Newell’s Old Boys, the club where Lionel Messi came up as a boy. Newell’s said Jorge had undergone treatment in recent months for an unspecified illness. Here are five things to know about the man behind soccer’s biggest name.

1. He was Lionel Messi’s father — and, for decades, his agent.

Beyond his role as a parent, Jorge Messi served as his son’s primary business representative and negotiator for years, guiding contract talks, sponsorship deals and the family’s move from Rosario to Barcelona when Lionel was a teenager seeking treatment for a growth hormone deficiency. That move, which uprooted the family from Argentina, is widely credited as one of the pivotal decisions that allowed Lionel to develop at Barcelona’s famed youth academy, La Masia.

2. He was convicted of tax fraud alongside his son.

In 2016, a Spanish court found Jorge Messi and Lionel Messi guilty of defrauding the Spanish state of roughly 4.1 million euros in taxes on image-rights income between 2007 and 2009. Prosecutors said the pair used a network of shell companies based in Belize, Uruguay, Switzerland and the United Kingdom to shield the earnings. Lionel Messi was fined nearly €2 million and his father €1.5 million, on top of a €5 million “corrective payment” the family had already made to tax authorities. Both were sentenced to 21 months in prison, but because the terms fell under Spain’s two-year threshold for suspended sentences in first-time, non-violent cases, neither served time. On appeal, the Supreme Court reduced Jorge Messi’s sentence from 21 months to 15 months in recognition of his cooperation in returning the defrauded money, while Lionel’s conviction was upheld in full. At the time, both prosecutors in the case agreed that Jorge Messi, not his son, was the person primarily responsible for the fraud, though the tax authority’s own lawyer argued the footballer knew enough to share the blame.

3. He was at the center of a false death report that upended Argentine television months before he actually died.

In June 2026, ahead of Lionel Messi’s World Cup campaign, Argentine television host Florencia Peña incorrectly reported on air that Jorge Messi had died. Peña resigned from her position afterward, saying she had relied on bad information relayed to her through an earpiece and acknowledging she bore partial responsibility for the error. At the time, the Messi family released a statement saying Jorge was “under medical supervision, recovering, and progressing favorably within his current condition,” and asked for privacy, expressing what the family called “deep displeasure at the lack of sensitivity, respect, and scruples with which some people have treated a strictly private and family matter.” The episode fueled months of public speculation about the elder Messi’s true condition that continued through the World Cup itself.

4. His death drew tributes from soccer institutions across South America.

Newell’s Old Boys, the Rosario club with deep ties to the Messi family, described Jorge in its statement as “the pillar and the person who, with vision, rigor and affection, supported the career of the best player of all time, alongside his wife, Celia Cuccittini.” CONMEBOL, South American soccer’s governing body, also issued condolences, saying it offered its sympathies “with respect and affection for Lionel.” The tributes underscored how closely Jorge Messi’s identity became entwined with his son’s on-field legacy over more than two decades in professional soccer.

5. His death comes just months after Lionel Messi capped his international career with a World Cup run.

Lionel Messi led Argentina to a runner-up finish in this year’s World Cup, playing through the tournament as questions about his father’s health lingered in the background. In the team’s opening match against Algeria, Messi was visibly emotional after scoring the first of his three goals, a moment many observers connected to the private toll his father’s illness was taking on the family. Jorge Messi had long been a fixture in the stands at his son’s matches, a constant presence that fans and broadcasters often noted during broadcasts of Lionel’s biggest games, from Barcelona to the Argentina national team to Inter Miami.

Funeral arrangements had not been publicly announced as of Saturday evening. Lionel Messi, who has not yet issued a personal statement, is expected to return to Rosario in the coming days, according to local reporting. He is survived by his wife, Celia Cuccittini, and his sons, including Lionel, Rodrigo and Matías Messi.

VICTORIA, British Columbia — Meghan Markle and Prince Harry gave fans a glimpse into their charity-event date night in Canada this weekend, sharing a candid selfie and behind-the-scenes footage from an evening spent celebrating a longtime family friend.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended the David Foster Foundation’s 40th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, Aug. 7, in Victoria, British Columbia, an event honoring four decades of fundraising by the music producer’s charity. The following day, Meghan, 45, posted a smiling selfie of herself and Harry, 41, on Instagram, along with video clips from the evening.

Meghan captioned the post with two emojis — a Canadian flag and a red heart — offering no further commentary on the outing.

A polished night out

For the event, Meghan wore a black gown from Canadian designer Greta Constantine, paired with a set of diamond and sapphire earrings that once belonged to the late Princess Diana. Harry wore a black-and-white tuxedo with a traditional bow tie. In the selfie shared on Instagram, the couple posed closely together, both smiling, with what appeared to be late-day sunlight on their faces.

The Instagram post also included video of the couple greeting performers at the gala, including members of a bagpipe and drum band, as well as footage of them mingling with other guests before heading into the ballroom.

Also shared to Meghan’s Instagram Stories was a look at one of the evening’s desserts: a chocolate piano decorated with purple frosting, a nod to Foster’s career as a composer and producer.

Longtime ties to David Foster

Harry and Meghan’s connection to Foster, 76, and his family stretches back years. Foster’s wife, Katharine McPhee, has known Meghan since childhood, and the Foster family has played a quiet but significant role in the couple’s history. In 2019, Foster helped arrange for Harry and Meghan to stay at a mansion on Vancouver Island owned by one of his friends — a visit that came shortly before the couple announced in January 2020 that they would step back from their roles as senior working members of the royal family.

The David Foster Foundation, which the musician launched in 1986, provides financial support to Canadian families with children undergoing life-saving organ transplants, helping cover non-medical costs while raising awareness about organ donation across Canada and the United States, according to the foundation’s website. Other attendees at Friday’s gala included singers Adam Levine and Josh Groban.

In a message posted to the foundation’s website marking the anniversary, Foster reflected on the milestone, saying the celebration was built around “elegant gala experiences and unforgettable musical performances” alongside a tribute to the Inner Harbour setting and what he described as the countless lives changed through the organization’s work over the past 40 years.

A busy stretch for the Sussexes

The Canada trip capped a active few days for the couple. It came just days after Meghan celebrated her 45th birthday on Aug. 4, which she marked on Instagram with a playful photo of herself jumping into a swimming pool while holding a bunch of balloons, captioned in part, “Thank you for the birthday love!” The couple’s appearance in Victoria also followed what has been described as Harry’s recent homecoming trip to the United Kingdom.

Meghan’s choice to wear Princess Diana’s earrings also came roughly two weeks after she and Harry shared a rare family photo showing their children, Princess Lilibet, 5, and Prince Archie, 7, visiting Althorp, Diana’s childhood home in England — a detail that added an additional layer of family significance to the weekend’s wardrobe choice.

Canada’s role in the couple’s story

British Columbia holds particular meaning for the Sussexes. Meghan lived in Toronto while filming the television series “Suits,” and her relationship with Harry began during that period. The couple made their first public appearance together at the Invictus Games in Toronto in 2017. They later spent their first holiday season as a family of three in Vancouver in 2019, and returned to the region for the 2025 Invictus Games.

Meghan’s return to social media

The weekend’s posts are part of a broader pattern since Meghan rejoined Instagram on Jan. 1, 2025, ending a roughly five-year absence from the platform following the closure of the couple’s joint @SussexRoyal account in March 2020. Since then, Meghan has used her personal account to share family milestones, behind-the-scenes moments from her projects, and glimpses of her life with Harry and their children in Montecito, California, where the family currently resides.

Neither Meghan nor Harry has commented publicly beyond the Instagram post about the significance of the David Foster Foundation appearance or any additional details from the trip. Representatives for the couple did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

The gala appearance adds to a steady stream of public outings for the Sussexes this year, as the couple continues to balance their charitable commitments, business ventures and family life away from royal duties they stepped back from more than six years ago.

NEW YORK — The soccer ball Diego Maradona used to score two of the most famous goals in World Cup history — including the infamous “Hand of God” goal — is heading to auction this month, with Dallas-based Heritage Auctions estimating it could sell for $10 million or more.

The ball, an Adidas Azteca model, will go under the hammer during Heritage’s Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction, running Aug. 21-23. Bidding had already reached $2.5 million as of early last week, according to the auction house’s online catalog, with a 22% buyer’s premium applied to any winning bid.

A goal that changed soccer history

Maradona used the ball to score twice within four minutes of each other during Argentina’s 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal victory over England at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 22, 1986. The match, one of the most politically charged in tournament history, came four years after Argentina and England fought the Falklands War.

In the 51st minute, the 5-foot-5 Maradona rose above 6-foot-1 England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and used his left fist to punch the ball into the net — a foul the referee missed, allowing the goal to stand. After the match, Maradona famously described the play, saying his goal was scored, “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”

Four minutes later, Maradona used the same ball to score what would later be voted the “Goal of the Century” in a 2002 FIFA poll, dribbling past five English defenders and Shilton before slotting the ball into the net. Argentina went on to win the tournament, defeating West Germany in the final.

From a referee’s private collection to a record-setting sale

The ball’s ownership history adds another layer to its story. It was previously owned by Tunisian referee Ali Bin Nasser, who officiated the 1986 match and held onto the ball for decades afterward. Bin Nasser sold the ball at a UK auction in November 2022 through Graham Budd Auctions, where it fetched roughly $2.4 million — well below the up to $3.6 million some had projected at the time.

That 2022 sale came just months after the jersey Maradona wore during the same match — which belonged to England midfielder Steve Hodge, who traded shirts with Maradona after the game — sold at Sotheby’s for a record-breaking $9.3 million, more than double what had been predicted.

Heritage Auctions is now pointing to that jersey sale as a benchmark for how much interest the ball itself could draw this time around. “I think it’s easily the most historic ball in the realm of soccer,” Dan Imler, the auction house’s vice president of sports, told AFP.

Renewed interest tied to the 2026 World Cup

Heritage Auctions has said this year’s World Cup, hosted jointly across North America, helped drive renewed demand for soccer memorabilia ahead of the sale. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, hosted nine tournament matches, more than any other venue used during the 2026 World Cup.

The Maradona ball won’t be the only soccer item up for bid. The same Heritage sale includes an early Maradona trading card, a signed Pelé card, and memorabilia connected to current stars Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal. Beyond soccer, the broader Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction features a wide range of high-profile sports collectibles, including an autographed Michael Jordan card, the ball from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s final regular-season NBA scoring play, one-of-one rookie cards tied to Peyton Manning and Patrick Mahomes, a Hulk Hogan championship belt, and equipment connected to golfer Ben Hogan.

Maradona’s enduring legacy

Maradona, widely regarded alongside Brazil’s Pelé as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, wore the number 10 jersey throughout his storied career with Argentina, Napoli, Barcelona and Boca Juniors. He died of cardiac arrest on Nov. 25, 2020, at age 60, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the sport and a period of national mourning in Argentina.

Nearly six years after his death, memorabilia tied to his career continues to command extraordinary prices at auction, driven both by his outsized cultural significance in Argentina and the singular controversy of the “Hand of God” goal, which remains one of the most replayed and debated moments in World Cup history.

Heritage Auctions has not disclosed the identity of the current seller offering the ball for this month’s sale. Bidding will remain open through the close of the Aug. 21-23 auction window, with the final sale price to be determined by competitive bidding beyond the current $10 million estimate.

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PHILADELPHIA — LeBron James is entering his 23rd NBA season with a new team, a new city and a question that will shape the entire Philadelphia 76ers season: Who actually runs this offense?

James signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the 76ers in late July, a stunning pay cut from the roughly $52.6 million he made last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, as he chases a fifth championship in what he has called his final chapter in the league. He joins a roster that already features center Joel Embiid, All-NBA guard Tyrese Maxey and newly acquired forward Jaylen Brown, along with rising second-year wing VJ Edgecombe — giving Philadelphia arguably its deepest collection of scoring talent in franchise history, and setting up a genuine competition for touches once the season tips off.

Based on how James, Brown and the Sixers’ front office have described their plans, the early answer appears to be that no single player will function as a traditional No. 1 option — least of all James, who is expected to slide into more of a playmaking role rather than serve as Philadelphia’s primary scorer.

LeBron as playmaker, not primary scorer

According to reporting from Yardbarker, Brown will have to embrace not being the No. 1 option, with James expected to be Philadelphia’s playmaking point guard, setting up Maxey and Brown in off-ball scoring situations. That framing lines up with how James performed last season in Los Angeles, where he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds across 60 games while increasingly deferring to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves late in games.

ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill noted that James has already shown in Los Angeles that he can take a back seat as a primary scoring option, playing behind Doncic and Reaves in small sample sizes. That adaptability is central to how the Sixers envision deploying him — less as a bucket-getter and more as a connector who can simplify the game for a roster loaded with players used to shouldering heavy offensive burdens.

A crowded hierarchy at the top

The more pressing question inside the organization may not be about James specifically, but about how four accomplished offensive players — James, Brown, Maxey and Embiid — divide shots and shot-creation responsibility. Brown arrives in Philadelphia coming off a season in which he was, according to ESPN, second in the NBA in usage rate while playing as Boston’s No. 1 option in place of an injured Jayson Tatum, with Maxey ranking 15th in usage over that same stretch.

Analysts at NBA Analysis Network argued that the arrangement is designed specifically to avoid overloading any one player: the starting lineup “has more than enough offense and versatility to make sure that no one player is put in a position where they get overwhelmed due to their responsibilities,” with Maxey now able to defer to two elite on-ball options in Brown and James, while Embiid may be able to manage his workload more effectively knowing the two new starters can absorb his offensive load.

Yardbarker’s reporting suggested that if Brown performs at the level he did in Boston — where he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists — he, rather than James, may end up as Philadelphia’s primary offensive option as the team leans on merit rather than reputation to sort out its pecking order.

Coach Nick Nurse faces a delicate balancing act

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse has been candid about the challenge of establishing a clear hierarchy among four players accustomed to being featured scorers. Speaking to ESPN, Nurse laid out the questions he’s still working through: “What’s their belief when s— gets tough? What sets are they running? Who’s the leader? Does Jaylen Brown become the vocal leader? Is it Bron? What about Maxey, is he one of the guys?” Nurse called those interpersonal dynamics “more important than the physical stuff” as training camp approaches.

One Eastern Conference assistant coach told ESPN he expects the group to sort out roles organically, saying, “They all know they’re going to have to sacrifice,” and predicting that “the respect for each other’s individual games is already established, and the crown will be passed around and understood.”

Why Maxey still matters most to the plan

Despite the star power added around him, Maxey remains central to Philadelphia’s identity. He was reportedly cited directly by James’ agent, Rich Paul, as one of the primary factors in James’ decision to sign with the Sixers, given the two players’ existing relationship through Klutch Sports. Maxey led the NBA in minutes last season while averaging 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists, and the organization has built its recent identity around his development as its floor general.

Health, not hierarchy, may decide the answer

Ultimately, James’ actual offensive role in 2027 may hinge less on strategy and more on availability. The 76ers are expected to load-manage both Embiid, now 32, and James, who will turn 42 during the season, given Embiid’s injury history and James having played 60 games last season in Los Angeles. If either or both players miss extended stretches, Brown and Maxey would almost certainly assume larger offensive burdens by necessity rather than design.

For now, no formal statement from the Sixers or head coach Nick Nurse has definitively named a first offensive option heading into 2026-27. Based on available reporting, the most likely outcome is not a single primary scorer, but a rotating offensive hierarchy that shifts game to game — with James positioned as facilitator first, scorer second, at least to start the season.