A burial row over Zambia's late president has turned its election into a hot contest

Hakainde Hichilema was a shoo-in for a second term but the controversy following Edgar Lungu's death has dented his chances.

The European Union is accelerating and reinforcing IRIS²

On 7 August 2026, the European Commission and the SpaceRISE consortium concluded negotiations which began in January 2026 and signed an implementation agreement to roll out Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²). The agreement expands

How AI gave Africa’s cybercriminals skills they never had

From a $2m deepfake scam in Uganda to synthetic identities, automated phishing and ransomware that can rewrite its own code, artificial intelligence is changing the economics of cybercrime in Africa. INTERPOL says AI was involved in 55% of cybercrime cases surveyed in 2025.

Gulf shipping traffic via Strait of Hormuz falls to six vessels

NEW DELHI, Aug 11 - Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to six on Monday, compared with a 10-day average of about 11 vessels, shipping data showed, amid fading hopes of a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran.

Africa: Africa Must End Reliance On External Donors for Peace Efforts - Rwivanga

[New Times] Africa should end its reliance on external donors to finance and support its peace and security efforts, Brig Gen Ronald Rwivanga, Director of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), has said.

Ann Hui to Receive Busan Film Festival’s Camellia Award

"Now that I'm nearly eighty… the prize comes just in time," says the Hong Kong New Wave master, who will accept the Chanel-backed honor at Busan's opening ceremony on Oct. 6.

Trump signs order calling for fewer childhood vaccines, going against medical groups’ advice

The order recommends giving all childhood vaccinations at separate visits whenever feasible, which had earlier been blocked by a federal judge, and dividing the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine into three distinct single injections

History shows why the Makkah Agreement could fail

Time is a stern teacher of nations. It changes the character of alliances, reshapes national priorities and repeatedly reminds states that geography is destiny only when political wisdom knows how to use it. Countries may differ in ideology, resources and ambitions, yet history

Big Walk has sold 1 million copies, making it a bigger hit than Untitled Goose Game

The co-op only open world puzzler is a hit.

Hundreds more flights cancelled as Tropical Storm Dolphin causes flooding in eastern China

More than 900 flights, or about 40% of those expected, were cancelled in Shanghai’s Hongqiao and Pudong airports after about 1,300 were canceled the day before, according to Shanghai Airport Group.

China hits US pecans with 54% levies before Xi-Trump summit

The new charges are unlikely to have a major impact on bilateral trade given China’s imports of US pecans had already plummeted after 2024.

Africa: Lightning Strikes Kill Thousands Globally Each Year, but for Those Who Survive, the Storm Is Far From Over

[The Conversation Africa] Every year, an estimated 6,000 to 24,000 people are killed by lightning across the world, and many more are injured.

Moment Chinese rocket explodes after lift-off

The rocket failed after an in-flight anomaly while carrying a satellite, Chinese state media reported.

Beijing braces for one-third of its annual rainfall over next 24 hours

From Aug 11 evening to Aug 13, Beijing will experience cumulative rainfall of over 100mm in 6 hours.

Typhoon Dolphin's vast storm system pushes inland, threatens central China

The orange alert for heavy rain - the second-highest warning level - has been issued, with northwestern Hubei expected to receive as much as 250mm of rain in 24 hours.

Typhoon Dolphin’s vast storm system pushes inland, threatens central China

Forecasters warned of the danger of extreme rainfall in the province's mountainous northwest.

Libya's NOC warns of force majeure, Zawiya refinery shutdown if drone attacks continue

TRIPOLI, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Tuesday it could declare force majeure and completely halt operations at the Zawiya refinery if drone attacks on oil assets in the city continued, after reporting a third such attack over Sunday and

Magnitude 7.4 quake rocks western Colombia, killing at least 111 people

Search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings in the country's third-largest city, Cali, passing large pieces of concrete and rubble down a long line of volunteers.

Vietnam starts building largest homemade anti-submarine warship

The Vietnamese government says the project underscores its policy of developing a defence industry that is "autonomous, self-reliant, self-strengthening, dual-use and modern".

Why Japan is stalling on Trump’s Gaza rebuild offer

On July 30, Donald Trump said his Board of Peace had reached what he called a monumental step toward disarming Hamas. The weapons are not the part Tokyo should study. The gate the deal opens is. Disarmament is conditions-based, and the conditions are already contested. Israel

Vietnam's VinSpace signs SpaceX launch deal for 2027

Japan’s Bonbon Drop sticker craze spurring sell-outs, fakes

Women in their late 20s to 30s who grew up trading stickers as children are driving such trends.

China says Long March 7A rocket launch failed after flight anomaly

Monday's (Aug 10) mission was the Long March 7A's first failure since its unsuccessful maiden flight in March 2020.

Five years after return, Afghan Taliban government builds diplomacy

Many states are nevertheless engaging with Afghanistan’s leaders, driven largely by practical considerations.

Experts deliver brutal obituaries for Trump’s failed Iran war

University of Chicago political scientist John Mearsheimer on Sunday delivered a harsh reality check to US President Donald Trump over the state of his illegal war with Iran. In an interview with Australian journalist Tom Switzer, Mearsheimer was asked why Trump seemed willing

WHO warehouse in Ukraine destroyed after overnight strikes

A World Health Organization humanitarian warehouse holding supplies worth an estimated $500,000 was destroyed, as Kyiv and Moscow exchanged missile strikes over the weekend.

Australia, Vietnam boost military ties in nod to China

Te two countries said their defence forces would work closely together on maritime security and conduct joint training.

American Medical Association criticizes Trump executive order on childhood vaccine schedule

The president of the American Medical Association on Monday said President Trump’s new recommendations on childhood immunizations put “children’s health at risk,” joining the chorus of medical experts criticizing the executive order. “Vaccines are among the most thoroughly

Taiwan soft-pedals Scarborough claim as Manila ties take priority

Philippines' UN filing exposes gap between Taipei’s sovereignty claims and growing security priorities

Oil prices rise, Asia stocks drift amid US-Iran stalemate

Brent crude futures edged up to hit US$88 per barrel and US crude futures ticked up to US$82.45, both the highest levels since Jul 31, after the contracts rallied roughly 5 per cent on Monday.

Can Vietnam economy harness diaspora in Australia, New Zealand?

Vietnam’s top leader, Tô Lâm, is visiting Australia and New Zealand this week with a high-level delegation of ministers. He will be the first general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam – the highest political position in the country – to pay an official visit to both

Biggie’s Manager Wins Battle Against Widow Faith Evans, Gains Partial Control Over Rapper’s Catalog

Wayne Barrow prevailed in his battle to get payments as the trustee of Biggie's mom's estate

Judge deals blow to Mamdani plan to tax second homes

A judge in Staten Island, N.Y., temporarily blocked New York City Zohran Mamdani’s (D) rollout of a new tax on second homes worth more than $5 million, according to multiple reports. The ruling from Judge Wayne Ozzi, a Democrat on the state’s Supreme Court, required the city to

A once-in-a-lifetime spectacle: Iceland prepares for total solar eclipse

Iceland is preparing for a rare total solar eclipse on 12 August, with thousands of visitors expected to head to the country's western regions.

Over 40% of Japan’s municipalities report disruptions to their operations over bear complaints

The disruptions included abusive complaints or gruellingly long phone calls.

Australia to vaccinate vulnerable native birds against bird flu

About 45 per cent of Australia’s roughly 850 bird species are endemic.

Native birds in captivity to be vaccinated against H5 bird flu as Australia prepares for more mass mortalities

Federal government also hopes to vaccinate some wild birds but admits catching them once, let alone twice for both doses, is ‘difficult’ Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Vaccinations against H5 bird flu will be rolled out for Australian native bird

'Hopefully as many people as possible get to play it before Nintendo flips out': Fans spent 3 years secretly crafting a full Metroid Prime 2D demake, and it rocks

Metroid Prime Origins takes the first 3D game in the series back in time.

New Zealand's Luxon calls meeting of lawmakers to address leadership speculation

WELLINGTON, Aug 11 - New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Tuesday he had called an urgent in-person meeting of National Party lawmakers for Wednesday, amid calls from some quarters for a leadership change less than three months before an election.

New Zealand PM Luxon calls meeting of lawmakers to address leadership speculation

It comes amid calls from some quarters for a leadership change less than three months before an election.

Chris Evans Teases “Brutal” ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Storyline for Captain America

The Marvel film directed by the Russo Brothers hits theaters on Dec. 18.

North Carolina Republicans pick ballot replacement for Rep. Chuck Edwards

Republicans in North Carolina selected state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R) as the new GOP nominee in the state’s 11th Congressional District, after Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) dropped out of the race last week. Members of the state GOP’s executive committee for the 11th district

Russia’s Supreme Court bars last anti-war party from elections

Recent polls showed the liberal-leaning Yabloko could have won seats in the parliamentary elections next month.

Young girl finds whale stranded on Australian beach

The humpback whale later successfully freed itself after the tide rose in Queensland, Australia.

Trump Media reports $238m loss as crypto falls

The firm says it will refocus on social media, which includes a plan to sell faster access to Trump's posts.