Federative Republic of Brazil: largest in South America, rapidly evolving, with global mineral and energy stakes.
The State Department has said it will revoke B‑1 and B‑2 business and tourist visas issued between 2016 and 2026 for people who have sought or are seeking asylum. The action, coordinated with DHS and described as rolling, would reclassify many pending asylum holders and would not necessarily cause immediate deportations; officials expect legal challenges.
Tottenham Hotspur have completed deals with Manchester City for Savinho and Omar Marmoush, with Savinho joining on an initial £75m deal and Marmoush transitioning on loan with a future obligation to buy. De Zerbi’s rebuild is accelerating after a clutch of summer signings, and Spurs’ start to the season has prompted further activity.
A wave of reports shows Snyk’s employee stock has fallen sharply while AI-driven startups attract new funding. Runable and Ringg raise capital to expand AI-enabled services, and Gamma’s acquisition by Lica signals consolidation in AI-enabled presentation tools. Across India and the US, startups are racing to turn AI capabilities into tangible business outcomes.
Nigeria faces a humanitarian gap as PEPFAR funding cuts drive patients toward unproven Islamic remedies. While lenacapavir rollout offers hope in the UK, access gaps persist in low-income regions where cost and infrastructure block lifesaving care.
MVP merges with PFL to form a broader combat-sports company led by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian, with John Martin on the board. The deal expands MVP’s reach in boxing and MMA, leveraging Netflix and ESPN distribution as MMA enters a new era. Readers are guided through what changed, why it matters, and what to expect next.
Australia faces H5N1 spread among wildlife as Baudin Rocks mass mortality events are confirmed. Victoria and South Australia report dead and sick crested terns; New Zealand begins vaccination research to protect native birds; farmers strengthen biosecurity while communities assist with surveillance.
Electronic Arts has been taken private in a $55 billion deal led by Saudi Arabia's PIF, with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The move delists EA from Nasdaq and adds $20 billion in debt. Analysts expect a focus on core franchises and potential cost-cutting. Regulators approved the deal, and governance implications are under scrutiny.
Democrats have launched a formal inquiry into whether the Pentagon and Homeland Security are coordinating to deport service members and their families, citing DHS and DoD friction and new AP findings. The letter questions policies that have led to deployments delayed to care for detained relatives, while lawmakers demand accountability and policy restoration.
A cross-border crackdown has led to major drug seizures in several countries. In the UK, 2.9 tonnes of class A drugs hidden in a banana shipment have been seized at London Gateway Port, with nine men questioned. Africa and the Middle East report further seizures and arrests tied to cocaine, cannabis and captagon networks. The operations highlight ongoing efforts by national police agencies to disrupt trafficking chains and cut profits.
Arsenal have secured Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United for £75m on a four-year deal with an option for a further year. The transfer closes a long-running saga and strengthens Arsenal’s midfield as they move to defend their title. Newcastle accept a fee around £75m as they look to replace him with younger options.
Wall Street and large investors have committed hundreds of billions to finance AI build-outs while equity indexes have hit record highs and volatility measures sit near year-to-date lows. That borrowing has pushed corporate credit costs higher and left highly leveraged players exposed: Situational Awareness has suffered a 67% one-month loss and sold much of its public book to Citadel.
Jason Arday, who resigned from the University of Cambridge after plagiarism allegations, has been found dead at his south London home. Police have said the death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious. Family and public figures have said he faced sustained harassment; Cambridge has said it will investigate his appointment and work.
A total solar eclipse has crossed parts of Spain, Iceland and Greenland while the UK and Ireland have seen a deep partial eclipse — the most extensive visible from the UK since 1999. Scientists have used airborne and balloon experiments to study the Sun's corona and the event has drawn large crowds despite patchy clouds and local viewing limits.
The FDA has moved to close the GRAS loophole by requiring safety data for new ingredients and creating a public inventory. A parallel step defines ultraprocessed foods to help future regulation. Officials say the measures increase transparency but are not expected to alter consumer diets immediately.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing a renewed crisis as multiple football confederations have pulled endorsement ahead of the 2027 re-election. While CAF and CONMEBOL continue to back him, UEFA, CONCACAF and AFC have joined calls for accountability after the aborted plan to privatize World Cup revenues. Trump has publicly backed Infantino, calling replacing him a terrible mistake.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake has struck western Colombia, with Cali, Pereira and surrounding regions bearing the brunt. Rescuers are digging through rubble as the death toll climbs and thousands of buildings are damaged. The new president has declared a state of emergency and mobilised security forces to lead the response.
The SPFL has launched a new live domestic streaming service, SPFL Player, allowing fans to watch William Hill Championship, League 1 and 2 matches outside blocked hours on a pay-per-view basis. Subscriptions and single-match passes are available, with revenue returning to clubs. The rollout begins with all League 1 and 2 matches on 15 August and will extend to eligible Championship games later.
Paramount has signalled it may relocate operations if California AG Rob Bonta does not settle his antitrust lawsuit blocking the Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Ellison has outlined an October relocation plan, with potential moves to Tennessee, Texas or Georgia. Regulators in the US and UK have been watching closely as litigation and settlements shape the deal.
The Supreme Court is considering the fate of Brazil’s soy moratorium, a voluntary pact that has curbed Amazon deforestation but faced state-law challenges. The court is also reviewing a new environmental licensing regime as lawmakers push back against environmental protections while Lula’s government seeks to sustain gains in forest conservation.
Brazil’s ANPD has ordered Discord to suspend its Go Live and similar livestream features within three days until it implements safeguards for minors. The move follows the death of a 13-year-old in a Discord livestream and marks renewed regulatory scrutiny of tech platforms’ handling of minors and live content.
Booksellers report unusual bulk orders from multiple countries, hinting at a deliberate push to feed AI training data. Court rulings in the US have influenced industry practice, with reports of pulping or destructive scanning of titles to feed AI models. The pattern has drawn global attention and sparked debate about copyright and preservation.
Iran seeks membership in BRICS’ New Development Bank to diversify funding amid sanctions and war pressures. Tehran aims to use regional currencies for trade and to secure financing for infrastructure as it faces economic strain.
Prichard Colón has died at 33 after a career hallmarked by a 2015 coma following blows to the head during a fight with Terrell Williams. He remains 16-0 before that bout; the incident triggered lawsuits and sparking renewed focus on safety in boxing.
Thieves have taken three panels from Antonello da Messina's San Gregorio polyptych and a small double-sided devotional panel from the Regional Museum in Messina late on Aug. 15 during the city's Vara procession. Two panels were later abandoned near the museum. Authorities are investigating a likely commissioned theft and probing how alarms were circumvented.
The United States has imposed tariffs on Brazilian exports, with duties up to 37.5%, prompting Brazil to seek diplomatic consultations. Lula da Silva says Brazil will defend its position and warns against foreign meddling in the October elections. The dispute follows tensions over visa revocations and ambassador nominations, with both sides signaling potential retaliation but avoiding immediate escalation.
Cameroon has won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Malawi 3-0 in Rabat, ending a history of three previous final defeats. Marie Ngah Manga scored twice and Naomi Ndjoah Eto added the third as Cameroon secure their first continental title.
The former Belgium international has been named Scotland’s head coach, taking over from Steve Clarke. Pocognoli has guided Union Saint-Gilloise to a Belgian title and will seek to build on Clarke’s foundation while introducing his own ideas and developing young players within an experienced core.
The First Minister and senior officials have travelled to the US for World Cup support and trade talks. Costs, including business-class flights and hotels, have been released, prompting scrutiny from opposition figures who say taxpayers’ money should be spent more wisely. Ministers defend the trips as necessary to arrive ready and to foster international connections.
Brazil’s rare earth reserves are attracting foreign capital, with more than 86% of exploration applications filed in the past three years. The AP-Reporter Brasil analysis shows foreign-backed firms dominate filings, raising environmental and Indigenous-land concerns as projects edge closer to reserves and protected areas.
Meta is rolling out Pocket, a mobile app that turns prompts into interactive gizmos, a test born from Gizmo and Muse Spark AI. The feature lets users craft interactive mini-games from prompts and remix others, with plans to refine prompts and visuals. Divining the broader strategy, Pocket sits alongside other live Meta experiments aimed at making AI creation mainstream.
Ethel Caterham has become the oldest living person in April 2025 after the death of a 116-year-old. She credits avoiding arguments as key to her longevity and has shared moments from her life, including meeting King Charles and experiences across decades in the UK and abroad. She currently resides in Hallmark Lakeview Care Home in Lightwater, Surrey.
The White House has announced a 90-day plan to allow up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef imports at a 25% discount to lower prices for consumers. The move seeks to ease affordability ahead of the midterms, but ranchers warn it could hurt U.S. cattle herds and long-term farm profitability.
Charter captain Damon Sacco and client Walter Chapman have landed what researchers say is the largest Atlantic blue marlin caught off the U.S. East Coast in recent memory, weighing 1,260 pounds and measuring over 11 feet. The fish was caught about 100 miles off Cape Cod at Atlantis Canyon and is just shy of the world record. The head will be sent to a university lab for aging.
A federal judge has vacated a policy that would have blocked immigrant visas to 75 countries, ruling Secretary of State Rubio exceeded his authority and violated the Immigration and Nationality Act. The decision reinforces consular officers’ control over visa eligibility and sparks renewed debate over the administration’s immigration agenda.
A review of mobility and balance assessments shows they indicate functional health and fall risk, not life expectancy. Tests like sit-to-stand and Timed Up and Go help identify weaknesses and guide care, while researchers note variability across populations.
Fifa has shelved the Forward Enterprise plan amid fierce opposition from UEFA and other bodies. Ceferin calls for Infantino to quit; EU associations warn against selling football to private investors. The plan is dead, but governance tensions persist as Infantino seeks support ahead of a potential fourth term.
New Zealand's government has proposed a bill to ban under-16s from social media, with penalties up to 10% of global revenue for non-compliance. The move aims to shield children from harmful content and addictive platforms, but faces opposition from coalition partners and uncertainty over passage before Parliament dissolves ahead of elections.
Vice-President Emmanuel Nchimbi has announced his resignation and retirement from public life, effective September 4. He says this completes a pledge to empower President Samia Suluhu Hassan with room for change. The move follows weeks of reports about tensions between the presidency and the vice presidency after the 2025 election.
Journalists and worshippers have been locked inside Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre overnight, witnessing a rare, shared space among Armenian, Catholic and Greek Orthodox traditions. The experience highlights centuries of custody arrangements and ongoing religious ritual.
European football bodies are reassessing a boycott of FIFA events after assurances that Gianni Infantino’s plan to privatise World Cup rights will not be repeated. The move follows a series of meetings in Monte Carlo and Poland, with decisions expected at a UEFA executive committee gathering.