Host

Government resilience campaign aims to ensure people can cope in a national disaster, in order to free resources for most vulnerableUK citizens will be told to stock up on tinned food and take steps to ensure they are prepared for national emergencies as part of a new government campaign to improve the nation’s resilience.The new campaign from the Cabinet Office will set out ways people can prepare for extreme weather events and potential attacks from hostile states, including stocking up on bottled water, sources told the Guardian. Continue reading...

Jason Morrison, a former presenter at the Sydney radio station, denies ‘tailoring his evidence’ during trial of veteran shock jock JonesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlan Jones and fellow 2GB shock jock Jason Morrison often referred to the Sydney Morning Herald and its chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont as “pigs in the media”, a Sydney court has heard.The text messages were uncovered as Morrison faced accusations from the prosecution on Tuesday of “tailoring his evidence” about an alleged assault at a lower north shore restaurant to suit his friend Jones. Continue reading...

• India's remaining medal hopes at the BWF World Championships will be decided on Day 5 (Friday) during the quarter-finals. • Two Indian pairs, including the teams of Treesa-Gayatri and Satwik-Chiara, are scheduled to compete in critical matches on Court 1. • These matchups are pivotal as they represent the final opportunities for the host nation to secure medals following a mixed performance on Day 4.

• Actor Ananya Raj, recognized for her roles in the films ‘Ghost’ and ‘Final Exit’, has passed away at the age of 27. • The news was reported on August 16, 2026, as part of a live entertainment update covering global celebrity trends and industry news. • This sudden loss marks a tragic event for the entertainment community and fans of the young actress's work.

Figures disclosed by 33 NHS trusts show temperatures on wards during July rose above 28C limit set by NHS EnglandHospitals in England have recorded temperatures of almost 42C this summer, with surgeries being cancelled because operating theatres’ cooling units stopped working in the intense heat.The Northern Care Alliance NHS foundation trust, which runs four hospitals in Greater Manchester, recorded a temperature of 41.8C during last month’s heatwave – 14C above the recommended safe maximum.Some patients are also cancelling their own surgery because it is too hot for them to travel.Hospitals and GP surgeries are offering frail elderly patients appointments at the start and end of the day, when it is less hot, to make it easier for them to attend.Ambulance services are struggling to keep some medications at the right temperature because it gets so hot in the back of their vehicles.NHS ambulance trusts have relaxed their usual dress code rules to help crews stay cooler, for example by wearing shorts rather than trousers Continue reading...

• Eurovision Song Contest organizers announced on Wednesday that countries currently involved in armed conflicts will be barred from hosting the competition. • In addition to the hosting restrictions, the organization has increased the minimum age requirement for all competitors. • These policy changes aim to maintain the contest's neutrality and protect the well-being of younger participants.

• 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. • The selection highlights the G20's growing recognition of Africa's critical role in global geopolitics and the international economy.

Christopher Alan Saunders found guilty of 13 sex offences in West Australian district court on Thursday. He was acquitted of six other chargesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA former high-ranking Catholic known for hosting boozy shirts-off parties has been convicted of sexually abusing two young Aboriginal men.Former bishop of Broome Christopher Alan Saunders, 76, was found guilty of 13 sex offences on Thursday following a jury trial in the West Australian district court. Continue reading...

• Eurovision organizers have introduced a major rule change to prevent winning countries involved in "armed conflict" from hosting the competition. • The decision follows intense backlash and pro-Palestinian protests during the 2024 event in Malmo, Sweden, and the previous contest in Basel, Switzerland. • Protesters called for Israel's expulsion due to the war in Gaza and alleged rule-breaking marketing tactics used by Israel after they finished second last year.

• Eurovision organizers have introduced a new rule barring countries currently involved in "armed conflict" from hosting the song contest. • The policy aims to ensure a "safe and welcoming environment" for all participants and staff involved in the event. • The decision follows a boycott of this year's Vienna competition by Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia.

Hakainde Hichilema is bidding for second term, but feud between him and family of Edgar Lungu, who died in 2025, continuesAs Zambians go to the polls, the ghost of the current president’s predecessor hangs over the elections.Hakainde Hichilema, 64, is bidding for a second term leading the southern African country after defeating his arch-rival Edgar Lungu by a landslide in 2021. Continue reading...

• QVC host Toni Brattin, owner of the Toni Brattin Wigs & Hair Fabulous line, recently went viral after making an accidental NSFW slip-up during a live broadcast. • Brattin has since spoken out to admit her internal thoughts and reactions during the "X-rated" moment that captured public attention. • The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of live shopping television and the rapid spread of viral "fail" moments on social media.

• AI Expo Europe 2026 is scheduled to take place in Bucharest on November 1-2, 2026, marking it as the largest AI conference in Eastern Europe. • The event will shift its focus from general technological demonstrations to practical, measurable use cases in sectors such as finance, HR, cybersecurity, and software development. • This strategic pivot aims to address low AI adoption rates in Romania, which currently plateau at 5.2%, one of the lowest figures in Europe according to Eurostat data.

• Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for deadly strikes targeting government military camps across two eastern provinces in Yemen. • The attacks signal an escalation in hostilities following a tenuous 2022 truce between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition. • This surge in violence is driven by persistent factional rivalries and Houthi efforts to breach a Saudi-led blockade that has worsened the regional humanitarian crisis.

President hails ‘successful’ rescue as country battles endemic kidnapping for ransom and insecurity worsensNigerian security forces have rescued more than 300 abducted people in what the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, hailed as the largest single-day hostage recovery in the country’s history.The release was announced on Wednesday after a joint operation, conducted by the military, police and counter-terrorism units, freed victims held captive in the dense forests of the Kainji Lake national park in the north-central region. Continue reading...

• A review of the new production "Spooky in Love" was released on August 3, 2026, highlighting the romantic chemistry between leads Park Eun-bin and Yang Se-jong. • The story focuses on a unique romantic dynamic involving ghosts, which critics describe as surprisingly romantic. • This release contributes to the broader trends of the $2.83 trillion global entertainment industry, specifically within the OTT and streaming sectors.

• Singapore has been drawn into Group A of the inaugural Fifa Asean Cup 2026, where they will face hosts Indonesia, Malaysia, and India. • The tournament features 14 teams split across two divisions, with the Premier Division taking place in Jakarta and the Challenge Division in Hong Kong. • FAS general secretary Badri Ghent stated that the competition is intended to enhance Singaporean football culture and inspire future generations.

• A Senate motion to prevent the Trump administration from continuing hostilities against Iran failed in a narrow 49-50 vote. • Republican senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul broke party lines to vote in favor of the motion. • The political landscape is shifting as Senators Cornyn and Tillis are set to leave office next year, with Cornyn having lost his primary in May.

• Former Late Show host Stephen Colbert was honored with an "anti-censorship" award from the Before Columbus Foundation. • The Oakland, California-based foundation focuses on championing and promoting diversity within United States literature and culture. • The award recognizes Colbert's efforts and influence in opposing censorship and supporting freedom of expression.

• Indonesia and Vietnam will co-host the group stage of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, while Zinedine Zidane is set to make his debut as the manager of the French national team. • In other sports updates from July 29, Myanmar and Malaysia earned dominant victories during the second round of Group B in the ASEAN Cup 2026. • Vietnam U23 has officially announced a 29-player squad to compete in the upcoming 20th Asian Games.

• India has been placed in Group A for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, where they will compete against host nation Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. • Pakistan was drawn into Group B, facing opponents Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines in the group stage. • The tournament is split into two tiers: Division 1 matches will be hosted entirely in Indonesia, while Division 2 matches will be hosted by Hong Kong.

• Military hostilities have renewed in the Gulf region, with escalating strikes overshadowing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. • Both opposing sides are continuing a cycle of retaliation, with neither party showing a willingness to reduce tensions or lower the temperature. • This escalation is critical because it brings the region closer to an all-out war that could threaten both regional and global security.

• President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for high-level diplomatic discussions. • President Zelenskyy used the meeting to urgently request additional U.S. assistance for Ukraine's air defense systems to counter ongoing threats. • Prime Minister Netanyahu held his first face-to-face meeting with Trump since the start of the Iran war, occurring amidst increasing strain between the two leaders.

Three people died, including one of the suspects, and at least five more were wounded, including two-year-old boySeattle police recovered a modified machine gun and an untraceable “ghost gun” from the scene of a mass shooting at a food festival this weekend that left three people dead – including one of the suspects – and at least five more wounded, police chief Shon Barnes said Tuesday.Sunday’s shooting appeared to involve at least three suspects, Barnes said at a televised news conference. One of those three, 19-year-old Junior Cee Niko Semo, died at the scene. A second, 15-year-old suspect was disarmed and arrested at the scene. At least one more suspect remains at large, Barnes said. Continue reading...

Ukraine seeks more firepower for air defenses and Israeli prime minister tries to repair relationship with US presidentDonald Trump hosted back-to-back White House meetings with Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, as Ukraine seeks more firepower for its air defenses and the Israeli prime minister tries to repair his strained relationship with the US president.It was Netanyahu’s first visit to the Oval Office since he and Trump launched their joint military campaign against Iran on 28 February. Continue reading...

In recordings made in 2016 and 2017 former president also appears to describe possessing classified informationFormer US president Joe Biden appeared to discuss sensitive information and describe possessing classified documents in audio recordings released on Monday by the Oversight Project, a conservative activist group.The heavily redacted transcripts and recordings were made in 2016 and 2017, while Biden was working with a ghostwriter on his 2017 memoir, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose. No classified material was ever alleged to have appeared in the book. Continue reading...

• Intensified hostilities in Ukraine and surrounding areas are devastating civilians and threatening global food security, according to senior UN officials. • The conflict has led to a 20 per cent spike in wheat prices since the start of July, as well as attacks on third-party merchant vessels. • UN officials warned the Security Council about the impact of these hostilities, citing the imperiled global food security as a major concern.

• Stock futures surged on Monday as the market entered the busiest week of the corporate earnings season. • Oil prices plummeted following a pause in military strikes and hostilities between the United States and Iran. • The shift reflects a decrease in geopolitical tension, providing a boost to investor confidence and global markets.