Prices have dropped by up to 30% in some parts of the country – but experts say obstacles to home ownership remain

Three years ago, New Zealanders would have it found it almost impossible to imagine the country’s sky-high house prices falling.

The market was deemed one of the least affordable in the world, with house prices nearly nine times the average income and supply dismally low. Desperate first home buyers were being squeezed out of the market by cashed-up investors.

Low regulation and high stakes mean Taiwanese pigeon racing is awash with cheating – but efforts are afoot to clean up the sport

There’s almost nothing some handlers won’t do to win. Competitors have been kidnapped and then offered up for ransom. Others have reportedly been smuggled on to high-speed trains to get to the finish line first. Some are said to be kept hungry so that they move quicker on race day.

This is the fast and furious world of pigeon racing in Taiwan.

A deputy of Robert F Kennedy Jr will reportedly replace Susan Monarez as acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Key US politics stories from Thursday 28 August at a glance

CDC director Susan Monarez was fired after resisting changes to vaccine policy that were advanced by health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and that she believed contradicted scientific evidence, according to a former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Richard Besser said Monarez told him there were “two things she would never do in the job. One was anything that was deemed illegal, and the second was anything that she felt flew in the face of science – and she said she was asked to do both of those”.

Permanent move to Goodison Park and return of long-term injury absentees brings sense of optimism for Brian Sørensen’s squad

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 8th (NB: this is not necessarily Tom Garry’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 8th

Can Ruben Amorim stop the rot, Brighton to go Greek and an Anfield baptism of fire for Eberechi Eze

Calling Chelsea “Cole Palmer FC” is not much of an insult. Oh no, you have one of the best attackers in the world. Oh no, you got him for a bargain price. Oh no, he won you the Club World Cup last month. Still, no side ever wants to be completely reliant on one player. Chelsea aim to depend more on the collective than the individual. They have struggled without Palmer in the past but thrived in his absence against West Ham last week. Palmer withdrew with a groin injury during the warm-up and is a doubt to face Fulham in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off. However Enzo Maresca has options. Estêvão Willian came in for Palmer against West Ham and was exceptional on the right wing. João Pedro and Pedro Neto were excellent. Chelsea have enough talent at their disposal to beat Fulham without Palmer. Jacob Steinberg

Chelsea v Fulham, Saturday 12.30pm (all times BST)

Manchester United v Burnley, Saturday 3pm

Tottenham v Bournemouth, Saturday 3pm

Sunderland v Brentford, Saturday 3pm

Wolves v Everton, Saturday 3pm

Leeds v Newcastle, Saturday 5.30pm

Brighton v Manchester City, Sunday 2pm

Nottingham Forest v West Ham, Sunday 2pm