August 26, 2009 (Wednesday)
- U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, the last surviving Kennedy brother, dies at age 77, after battling brain cancer. (New York Times)
- Lithuania launches an inquiry into allegations that it hosted a secret CIA prison for al-Qaeda suspects. (BBC).
- The government of Moldova announces that it will stand down before the opening of parliament on 28 August. (BBC)
- French police uncover a large cache of weapons and explosives belonging to terrorist group ETA. (BBC)
- The Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei says he has no evidence that opposition protests were backed by foreign countries. (AFP) (Press TV) (BBC)
- Japan's exports fall by 36.5% as demand falls. (Bloomberg) (Reuters)
- North and South Korea resume talks on allowing families divided since the Korean War to begin meeting again, for the first time in two years. (Xinhua) (Yonhap)
- Zimbabwe denies reports that President Robert Mugabe suffered a health scare. (The Guardian) (Zim Online) (Daily Nation)
- Kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard
- Jaycee Dugard, who disappeared in 1991, is found alive after 18 years and is reunited with her family. (Record Net)