Japan govt launches large-scale Gen AI pilot programme for civil servants

The system will help bureaucrats draft responses to parliamentary questions in the near future.

Beijing ‘commends’ Malaysia PM Anwar’s ‘One China’ stance following Taiwan’s rebuke

In a recent interview with news agency Al Jazeera, Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had voiced support for Beijing’s “One China” principle as well as its right to use force should peaceful reunification fail.

Travelodge boss steps down after security issues in rooms

The BBC revealed in March how a woman staying at a Maidenhead hotel was sexually assaulted after a man lied to get a key card to her room.

Malaysian plane bound for Kuala Lumpur aborts takeoff at Narita airport

The runway was closed for about two and a half hours.

Australian prosecutors demand life in prison for mushroom killer

They say Erin Patterson should never be set free.

NATO 3.0 rebrand is 'lipstick on a pig', says former US ambassador

The transatlantic relationship has changed profoundly since Donald Trump's return to the White House, and the concept of NATO 3.0 epitomises the transformation. But what does it actually mean?

Yang Guo Fu Group apologises over restaurant’s unauthorised use of Japanese celebrities’ names

The restaurant displayed congratulatory flower stands bearing the names of well-known figures.

India’s Epic Studios, Rusk Media Ink 50-Title Vertical Drama Deal (EXCLUSIVE)

India’s Epic Studios has partnered with Rusk Media Private Limited (RMPL) to produce 50 original vertical drama series, aiming to build the country’s largest library of owned vertical-drama intellectual property. The slate will span genres including mythology, drama, mystery,

Will the next Mass Effect actually release under EA's new owners? 'I'll believe it when I see it,' says former EA manager turned Newzoo analyst

Emmanuel Rosier is here to pour cold water on my hopes and dreams.

Oil rises as markets rebound on US Treasury debt buyback plan

Global shares rebounded and bond yields eased after Washington's debt buyback announcement, while oil held near multi-week highs amid the deadlocked US-Iran standoff

More than 1,000 birds found dead in three mass mortality events amid ‘significant’ H5 escalation in Australia

South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas says there have still been no detections in poultry or livestock and no mass deaths involving mammals Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The South

12 killed, 33 injured in Russian strikes on Kyiv and surrounding region

US President Donald Trump had authorised Ukraine to obtain licences to manufacture Patriot air defence systems, but later reversed the decision.

Four workers dead after being hit by train in Japan

The train collided with the four men at Shin-Kanuma Station, north of Tokyo, authorities say.

Will Prime Minister Andy Burnham move the UK closer to Europe?

From trade to defence to youth mobility, London and Brussels are seeking to build on the thaw in their post-Brexit relationship. But tough negotiations lie ahead as an autumn summit looms.

Brussels theatre company kicks off its new autumn season

Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, two of the twentieth century’s greatest physicists, were once close friends working together to unlock the secrets of the atom. Then the world went to war and they found themselves on opposite sides. It’s 1941. Heisenberg, now a leading figure

Africa: Who Are the Leaders Expected At Africa Reset Mindset Forum?

[New Times] African heads of state, former leaders, and senior government and business leaders are expected to attend the Africa Mindset Reset Forum, which will take place in Kigali on August 25-26.

Africa: Afrophobia - Nigeria, Ghana to Drag South Africa to AU

[Leadership] Nigeria and Ghana will present the wave of attacks against fellow Africans (popularly called Afrophobia) in South Africa by misguided citizens of the former Apartheid enclave in the next session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

Europe's gas prices have doubled, with the worst yet to come

European gas prices have surged 120% in 2026, and low storage and supply risks leave Europe vulnerable to a costly winter.

Busan Festival Honors Ahn Sung-ki, Market Names Thailand Country of Honor

The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has unveiled a Special Program in Focus honoring the late Korean screen legend Ahn Sung-ki, while the festival’s market arm has named Thailand the first-ever recipient of a new top-tier country partnership. “Those Beautiful

Ukraine anti-corruption probes close in on Volodymyr Zelenskyy's inner circle

Zelenskyy himself has not been a suspect in any of the probes launched so far, but the growing list of people close to him under investigation is quickly becoming a political liability.

Australia says relations with Israel 'difficult' after aid worker death

Manoj Bajpayee, Sudhir Mishra, Anubhav Sinha’s Gandhi Film Unveils Plot, Adds Saurabh Shukla, Narendra Hirawat (EXCLUSIVE)

Indian thespian Manoj Bajpayee’s first screen portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi will focus on a previously undisclosed chapter of India’s independence history, according to new details released on the Sudhir Mishra-directed film. Saurabh Shukla has joined the cast, and Narendra

MEP calls for 'clarity' on planned shake up of EU's ETS scheme

The European Commission has proposed major adjustments to the EU’s influential Emission Trading System (ETS). The ETS is the main scheme underpinning Europe’s carbon market. The proposal aims to ensure that the revenues from carbon costs provide tangible results for Europe’s

Africa: Russia's 'Africa Corps' Massacres Villagers

[HRW] Nairobi -- 9 Civilians Killed, Homes Burned in Islamist Armed Group-Held Village

At least 12 killed in Kyiv as Ukraine grapples with air defence shortages

Apartment blocks and warehouses were targeted in the "massive attack" on Thursday, officials say.

South Korea estimates North Korea has up to 120 nuclear warheads, far above Trump's figure

Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back told lawmakers that North Korea was generally believed to have around 80 to 120 warheads, after US President Donald Trump commented a day earlier that Pyongyang possessed 57 "very powerful nuclear weapons".

Potential kingmaker in New Zealand’s next government wants universal income, tax overhaul

Quilae Wong from the Opportunity party said the policy would also curb runaway house prices.

Potential kingmaker in New Zealand's next government wants universal income, tax overhaul

SYDNEY, Aug 20 - A New Zealand party that could hold the balance of power after this year's election wants to bring in a basic income for almost all residents that will be funded by a new land tax, with its leader saying on Thursday that the policy would also curb runaway house

Africa: The Bloodsucking Insect With a Saw for a Mouth - How the Tsetse Fly Bites Through Almost Anything

[The Conversation Africa] Tsetse flies transmit some of Africa's most persistent parasitic diseases. They have affected human health, livestock production and rural development for generations, across a region spanning millions of square kilometres in 37 sub-Saharan countries.

Africa: The CDC Has a New Director - Now Comes the Hard Part

[The Conversation Africa] The new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Erica Schwartz, confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Aug. 5, 2026, is only the second CDC director to face Senate confirmation. Congress adopted the process for the agency after the

Little Moons co-founder: Your product doesn't have to be perfect to launch

Vivien Wong shares her top tips, job highs and lows, and what a perfect Sunday looks like.

‘A formidable predator’: Italian scientists relying on octopuses to get blue crab populations in check

The Italian government has previously been urged to declare a state of emergency over the blue crab explosion, fuelled by climate-warmed waters.

Founder of collapsed Chinese property giant Evergrande sentenced to life in prison

Hui's sentencing marks a key moment in the fallout from Evergrande's collapse, which shook China's property sector.

Malaysia’s July exports jump 38% year on year, higher than forecast

July’s exports were expected to grow 34.3 per cent.

Robots poised for 'ChatGPT moment', says Unitree CEO

The industry is nearing a breakthrough where robots can be placed in unfamiliar environments and complete most tasks through simple voice or text instructions, says Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing.

Captured Ukrainian-born soldiers tell BBC why they fought for Russia

Men born in Ukraine who fought for Russia are tried for treason, but at a prisoner of war camp in western Ukraine, many believe they were defending their homeland.

Monstera magic: Barbican hands out cuttings as ‘green lung of the city’ closes

Five hundred people turn up to adopt plants from conservatory that will reopen in 2030 after renovation project Above the waxy monstera leaves and bright pink hibiscus flowers in the Barbican conservatory hangs a giant net to catch the panes of glass that are at risk of falling

Oxfam ‘can’t guarantee future’ of charity shops as it also reviews warehouse business

Dwindling donations and stiff competition from secondhand sellers online prompt review but ‘no plans for closures yet’ Oxfam is reviewing the operations of its three warehouses in Batley, Bicester and Milton Keynes and says it “cannot give guarantees” on the future of its high

From bone-dry to soaked to the bone, welcome to the age of climate whiplash | Aditya Chakrabortty

This punishingly hot and dry summer will probably be followed by another wet winter. But it’s nothing compared with what Britain will endure in years to come This summer could be the hottest , driest and deadliest in English history. Successive heatwaves have so far claimed

Latest news bulletin | August 20th, 2026 – Morning

Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this August 20th, 2026 - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.

Tourism hit by war fears: Seven EU countries seek Brussels funding for frontline regions

Seven frontline European Union nations want the bloc’s next long-term budget to help their hotels, businesses and operators weather the fallout from Europe’s security crisis — and their proximity to it.

Mining, education, legitimacy: Zambia’s Hichilema plots out his second term

Zambia President-elect Hakainde Hichilema has promised to continue to expand the government programmes started during his first term, but he faces a divided electorate and suspicions of vote-rigging.

In London, children’s lungs grow faster as traffic pollution falls

A new study is the first to link improved air quality from a clean-air zone with faster lung growth in children living in London.

EU aid announced for two stricken parts of the globe

The EU is stepping up aid to help tackle crises on two continents, in Africa and South America. Aid will go towards the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and towards assistance for Colombia following the devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake. On Tuesday, the

Taiwan proposes boosting 2027 defence spending 18% to a record high

The budget details come as Beijing has ramped up military and political pressure.

China Evergrande founder sentenced to life in prison for ‘heinous crime’

The court ordered all of Hui Ka Yan's personal property confiscated.

China Evergrande founder sentenced to life in prison

HONG KONG, Aug 20 - The billionaire founder of China Evergrande Group, the world's most-indebted property developer, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday by a Chinese court, which ordered all his personal property confiscated.

Lebanon extradites ex-Assad military general to Syria for trial over alleged crimes committed during civil war

The move comes as the new Syrian government, led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa looks to hold senior members of Assad’s regime accountable for crimes committed during the country’s civil war, which killed hundreds of thousands of people.