Raw

Man – referred to as MM by court – will keep his identity hidden after legal challenge against suppression dismissed The identity of a high-profile Queensland man drawn into a Cairns extortion case will remain secret, after the state’s supreme court threw out a legal challenge against a suppression order.The man – referred to as MM by the court – was drawn into an extortion case earlier this year. He is not a party to the case and is not accused of any offence. Continue reading...

• Korea Investment Accelerator and OpenAI partnered to host the ‘Seoul Vibe Hackathon: Toython’ on the 22nd at the Seoul AI Hub Main Center. • Approximately 100 participants divided into 44 teams competed to develop hardware and ideas using no-code development boards within a five-hour time limit. • The event aimed to expand the "Physical AI" ecosystem by demonstrating how AI can be integrated into tangible, physical objects.

• The draw for Europe's top club competition is taking place today to determine the fixtures for the upcoming Champions League season. • A wide array of elite teams are participating, including English giants Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, alongside Spanish powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona. • Other major contenders involved in the draw include Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund from Germany, as well as Inter and Napoli from Italy.

The 80-seat venue at Edinburgh fringe combines sauna rituals with theatre, music, storytelling … and sweatTucked away behind the Summerhall arts centre is the hottest new venue at the Edinburgh fringe … quite literally. The Sauna theatre has proved popular among theatregoers at the world’s largest performing arts festival, with shows inside its purpose-built, 80-seat sauna drawing sweaty, swimwear-clad crowds.Visitors may be forgiven for thinking the sauna is a gimmick, especially at the fringe where absurd, experimental and ludicrous performances are not uncommon. This year they include a man drinking his own urine, someone singing the same song over and over, physical feats of exertion and several fully naked shows. Continue reading...

• Vietnam is experiencing a surge in large-scale data center investments driven by the accelerating demand for AI, cloud computing, and the broader data economy. • Current installed capacity of approximately 104MW is projected to grow five-to-six-fold, reaching nearly 600MW by 2030. • This boom positions Vietnam as one of the highest-potential markets in the region, attracting billions of dollars in foreign and domestic capital.

• Designer Kunal Rawal has officially launched his contemporary menswear collections on the e-commerce platform Tata CLiQ Luxury. • The partnership aims to capitalize on the increasing consumer demand for premium designer fashion and high-end occasionwear available through online channels. • This move expands the accessibility of Rawal's luxury designs to a wider digital audience seeking curated luxury retail experiences.

Andrey Kelin left last month after seven years in diplomatic postRussia has withdrawn its ambassador to the UK, it has emerged, as the Kremlin continues to try to put pressure on Britain over its support for Ukraine.Andrey Kelin left last month after seven years in the diplomatic post, with no indication about whether he will be replaced. Continue reading...

Duchess of Sussex was believed to have been under consideration for season three of Guy Ritchie’s crime caperMeghan Markle’s reported casting in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen has been withdrawn, it was reported.Tina Brown, the former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and the New Yorker, wrote on Saturday: “I learned this morning that the casting of Meghan Markle in season 3 of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix series The Gentlemen has been withdrawn. The backlash in the UK was so intense, it became untenable to go forward.” Continue reading...

The attorney for Clancy, who strangled her three children, says she suffered from postpartum psychosisHundreds of Lindsay Clancy supporters, many wearing pink clothing emblazoned with phrases such as “Believe”, “She Needed Help” and “Peace For Lindsay”, gathered on Thursday outside the courthouse where she is on trial in the killings of her three children.Several of the 300 women, and a few men, said Clancy’s story resonated with them and that they wanted to raise awareness about how the mental health system treats women. Clancy’s lawyer does not dispute that she killed the children, but says she should not be held criminally responsible because she was mentally ill. Continue reading...

• Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues has been ruled out of both the Asia Cup and the Asian Games after suffering a high-grade hamstring tear. • Pratika Rawal has been officially named as Rodrigues' replacement for the upcoming Asia Cup tournament. • This injury is a significant blow to the squad's batting lineup, as Rodrigues is a key performer in the limited-overs format.

Ahead of Fat Bear Week, avid fans are glued to the spectacle of brown bears devouring salmon at Brooks Falls in AlaskaOne of this summer’s biggest onscreen hits has had big beasts, great escapes and choppy waters, but it’s not Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey – it’s a livestream of Alaskan brown bears catching salmon.The Brooks Falls bearcam at Katmai national park in the US was watched 7.3m times between 22 June and 4 August – up 70% from the same period last year and more than double the views it attracted in 2024. Continue reading...

• The Busan Asian Cinema Fund has awarded a total of $100,000 to three international co-productions led by filmmakers Fukada Koji, Jakrawal Nilthamrong, and Boo Junfeng. • One project focusing on shared Asian wartime history received KRW 40 million (approximately $28,600) to support its development. • Director Boo Junfeng's film "Trinity" features a massive collaboration between majority partners Taiwan, France, and Singapore, alongside eight minority partner countries including Poland, Germany, and Brazil.

• Residents and critics are scrutinizing unallocated developer funds in Canary Wharf, demanding transparency regarding why promised community investments remain unspent. • The controversy centers on a lack of clarity over how these funds are being managed and the delay in implementing local infrastructure and social projects. • This issue matters as it highlights a potential gap between developer obligations and the actual delivery of community benefits in one of London's primary financial hubs.

• European equities are seeing a surge in global investor interest driven by strengthening corporate earnings and improving economic data. • The Stoxx Europe 600 Index recently completed its longest winning streak since June, gaining 11% so far in 2026. • Major national benchmarks, including Germany’s DAX, France’s CAC 40, and Italy’s FTSE MIB, have all reached record highs.

• European equities are seeing a surge in global investor interest driven by strengthening corporate earnings and improving economic data. • The Stoxx Europe 600 Index recently completed its longest winning streak since June, gaining 11% so far in 2026. • Major regional benchmarks, including Germany’s DAX, France’s CAC 40, and Italy’s FTSE MIB, have all reached record highs.

• Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain played to a 1-1 draw during a preseason friendly match held in Gothenburg. • The scoring was shared between Mbaye and Mbeumo, who both found the net to secure the stalemate for their respective sides. • These exhibition matches serve as critical preparation for both clubs to test squad depth and tactics ahead of their upcoming domestic league campaigns.

The mission of the Flock app is quietly subversive: to encourage users to ditch their screens and explore the wonderful world of birdingOn a brilliantly bright afternoon in his gallery and studio in Bolinas, a small town on the northern California coast, Keith Hansen was putting the finishing touches on a watercolor of an almost improbably flamboyant painted bunting.With an ultra-fine sable brush, he made a few intricate additions to the cobalt blue plumage on the bunting’s head, and, satisfied with his work, slipped the watercolor into a stout binder that every few days welcomes a new addition. Continue reading...

• Singapore advanced to the ASEAN football championship semi-finals after securing a draw against Indonesia on August 7, 2026. • Ilhan Fandi scored the equalizing goal, ensuring the Lions finished the group stage unbeaten with eight points from four games. • Singapore finished second in Group A behind Vietnam, maintaining a strong defensive record heading into the knockout rounds.

• The Election Commission (EC) has cancelled voting in Rawalakot following outbreaks of violence during the PoJK polls. • The elections for Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions were conducted in two rounds on July 27 and August 2, with additional voting for two seats occurring on August 4. • PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has challenged the integrity of the process, alleging massive rigging across both phases of the elections.

• The Indian government is proposing amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), sparking significant political and diplomatic controversy before the Bill has been tabled in Parliament. • Opposition leaders have condemned the proposed changes as "draconian," alleging that the government is attempting to tighten control over civil society organisations and NGOs. • Critics argue that the new regulations create unequal rules for different organisations, potentially stifling independent advocacy and non-profit operations within the country.

• India received a mixed draw for the BWF World Championships, featuring challenging matchups for some and favorable paths for others. • Ayush Shetty faces a difficult start against defending champion Shi Yu Qi, while PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen have avoided top seeds in their opening rounds. • Sindhu, coming off a Japan Open victory, avoids world number one An Se Young and Akane Yamaguchi until the medal rounds, though she may face Wang Zhi Yi in the pre-quarter-finals.

• PV Sindhu has a favorable path at the 2026 Badminton World Championships in New Delhi, avoiding top seeds An Se Young and Akane Yamaguchi until the semifinals. • Sindhu is projected to face China's third seed Wang Zhi Yi in the pre-quarterfinals, followed by a potential quarterfinal match against Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani. • In contrast, Indian players Lakshya Sen and Ayush face significantly more challenging draws in their respective brackets.

• India is hosting the World Championships for the first time in 17 years at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from August 17 to 23. • Fifth seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received a first-round bye, with their primary challenge expected to be the 12th seeded Indonesian pair, Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin. • While coach Pullela Gopichand believes the draw generally favors Indian athletes like PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, Ayush faces a difficult opening match against tournament favorite Shi Yuqi.

• The 18th edition of the Korea Masters badminton tournament, a BWF World Tour Super 300 event, is scheduled to take place from August 4 to 9, 2026. • The event will feature a competitive field including registered Indian players vying for the tournament's prize money. • As a Super 300 event, the tournament provides critical ranking points for athletes aiming to climb the BWF world standings.

Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who was convicted of harassing Jewish MP, says Badenoch has offered him advisory role instead• UK politics live – latest updatesA former neo-Nazi activist who was convicted of harassing a Jewish MP has withdrawn as a Conservative election candidate after his selection prompted an outcry from Jewish groups and others.Joshua Bonehill-Paine said on Wednesday he had withdrawn from next year’s local elections, and that Kemi Badenoch had instead offered him a role as an advisor to her party’s culture and integration commission, specifically focusing on how young men become radicalised. Continue reading...

• Asia multi-strategy hedge funds experienced significant monthly drawdowns, coinciding with a 22% slump in Korea’s Kospi Index and an 8% decline in Japan’s Nikkei 225. • Specific losses were reported by major firms, including a 9% retreat for Hong Kong-based Pinpoint Asset Management and a 6.5% drop for Singapore’s $9 billion Dymon Asia fund. • Singapore-based Arrowpoint Investment Partners saw a milder loss of 2.6%, while Dymon Asia's year-to-date gain from January to July narrowed to 7.5%.

• The Korea Masters 2026, a BWF Super 300 badminton tournament, is scheduled to begin on August 4. • The event will feature a competitive field including several Indian players vying for a share of the tournament's prize money. • This competition is significant as it allows shuttlers to earn critical ranking points and provides a platform for emerging players to challenge top seeds.

• Hamas official Ghazi Hamad stated that the group is willing to hand over its weapons to a new Gaza administration established by Trump’s Board of Peace. • The transition is contingent upon the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. • This potential disarmament marks a significant milestone aimed at ending years of conflict and destruction to improve the daily lives of Gazan citizens.