Japan condemns visit by Vladimir Putin to disputed Kuril Islands

• South Africa has been confirmed as the host country for the 2025 G20 Summit. • This event marks a historic milestone as it will be the first time the summit is held on the African continent.

• A Washington Post report reveals that the CIA questioned the validity of Israeli intelligence regarding a threat to Donald Trump prior to a plane switch in Turkey. • While the report indicates the threat was actually real, CIA officials reportedly deemed the intelligence "not compelling enough" to warrant a different response.

• Myanmar is challenging the traditional diplomatic model where governments must make political concessions and end human rights abuses to end international isolation. • Historically, Western diplomacy utilized conditionality, applying economic restrictions and diplomatic pressure to force rehabilitation and political reform.

Phillip Ormerod was taken to hospital after the incident in the Crow’s Nest in Cwnbran and later died of his injuriesA 102-year-old man has died of his injuries after allegedly being assaulted at a pub in south Wales.Phillip Ormerod of Cwmbran in the Welsh valleys, was taken to hospital after the incident at the Crow’s Nest pub on 1 August. Gwent police said on Thursday that he had since died. Continue reading...

Prize was eighth largest in Powerball history and followed three months without a top prize winnerA Powerball ticket sold at a gas station in western Illinois was the sole winner of the $1bn jackpot, ending a three-month drought without a top-prize victor.The ticket that won the jackpot on Wednesday night was purchased at a Hy-Vee station in Quincy, about 100 miles (160km) west of the state capital of Springfield along the Missouri border, Illinois Lottery officials said. The winning numbers were 4-26-66-67-69 with the Powerball number of 9. Continue reading...

South American fish with razor-toothed jaws was probably released by someone who owned it as a pet, officials sayAn eight-year-old boy fishing for bass in Pennsylvania was stunned to catch something more associated with the Amazon – and countless horror movies – than the rolling landscape of the eastern US.Seamus Coffey, who was fishing with his father Michael in a lake near Philadelphia, hauled in a large red-bellied piranha, complete with the razor-toothed jaws that the fearsome breed is so famous for. Continue reading...

Valter Lavitola’s lawyer says he had intended attack to boost security for investigative reporter Sigfrido RanucciAn Italian businessman has admitted to masterminding a bomb attack at the home of Sigfrido Ranucci, a prominent investigative journalist, claiming it was intended to boost his security protection.Valter Lavitola, who was friends with Ranucci, the host of Report, an investigative programme aired by the state broadcaster, Rai, made the confession to investigators after his arrest earlier this week in connection with the case, the businessman’s lawyer, Sergio Cola, told the Italian media. Continue reading...

Radical reimagining of Shakespeare play was due to run at Swan theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from 13 February to 3 April 2027The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced that it will postpone its radical production of Othello starring Sharon D Clarke, while the Olivier-winning actor undergoes treatment for cancer.The production, directed by Monique Touko, was scheduled to run from 13 February to 3 April 2027 at the Swan theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Clarke, 60, is best known for her role as Lola Griffin in the BBC medical drama Holby City, as well as for her theatrical performances in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Caroline, or Change. Continue reading...

Two planes came close to collision on the runway on Sunday – hours after another near miss – making a total of three in recent weeksGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe transport safety watchdog is investigating a another near-collision between two planes at Sydney airport – an incident that occurred on the same day as one that made national news and raised concerns about air traffic control.The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said on Thursday night that it was investigating a second “runway incursion” on Sunday 9 August. Continue reading...

Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group acquires Knightsbridge-headquartered retailer after it went into administrationBusiness live – latest updatesThe owner of Sports Direct has bought Harvey Nichols out of administration after the upmarket department store chain warned it could run out of money if it did not find new funding.Mike Ashley’s Frasers Group said on Thursday it had bought the department store chain, which is headquartered at its store in Knightsbridge, for an undisclosed sum on the same day as it was placed into administration. It has 13 stores and 1,200 employees. Continue reading...

Ethics experts and Democrats express alarm as Trump uses office to grow his personal fortune to ‘unprecedented’ level Donald Trump’s use of his second presidency to grow his personal fortune has alarmed legal and ethics experts and congressional Democrats as he has reaped an “unprecedented” $2.2bn in 2025 revenues by amassing big cryptocurrency holdings, benefitting from wealthy foreign interests, expanding his Truth Social business and more, while federal oversight of his actions has waned.Trump last year raked in at least $1.4bn from his crypto ventures according to financial disclosure forms he filed in June. Simultaneously, about one million investors in a Trump crypto scheme suffered almost $3.8bn in losses as their volatile crypto holdings tanked in value. Continue reading...