East Asian island nation
OpenAI has added an Apple Messages plugin to ChatGPT for Mac that can read, search, summarise, draft and send iMessages. The feature is optional, runs on the desktop app and requires user permission; OpenAI says processing happens locally on the Mac but privacy experts, Apple’s on-device privacy stance and some users have raised concerns about message access and authenticity.
Hong Kong’s High Court has convicted former Hong Kong Alliance leaders Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung of inciting subversion under the national security law. The judges found the alliance’s long-standing slogan to “end one‑party dictatorship” amounted to incitement; the pair, detained since 2021, face up to 10 years and will be sentenced later this year.
Nvidia has reported record second-quarter revenue of $96.2bn and has forecast fiscal 2028 revenue growth of about 70%, driven by soaring AI datacenter demand. Management is expanding financing and infrastructure moves, while some large AI customers are developing custom chips that will increase competition over time.
The US has passed $40 trillion in total public debt, the Treasury has reported, driven by large pandemic-era and recent spending and tax changes. Interest payments have risen sharply and are now a larger budget item than many programmes. Treasury officials argue growth can be managed by stronger economic growth and fiscal consolidation.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has left the Middle East after a record nonstop deployment of more than 200 days and is scheduled to make a brief stop in Thailand for rest and logistical support for about 5,000 sailors and Marines. Reports this month have raised concerns about morale, mental health and supply shortages aboard the carrier; Pentagon officials have disputed those accounts.
Jessica Bowie has been arrested in Albany after an FBI counterterrorism operation foiled her plan to bomb the New York State Capitol using an inert explosive in a DoorDash bag. She has pledged allegiance to ISIS and is under heavy investigation for radicalization online.
Edinburgh Rugby has appointed former Ireland youth coach and ex-Dallas Jackals coach Tim Hodge to join Sean Everitt’s backroom team on a two-year deal, with the URC season set to begin on September 25. The club has also retained Stevie Lawrie and added Tim Sampson and Brad Davis to reshape the attack and defence units.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has spent more than 250 consecutive days at sea supporting U.S. operations in the war with Iran. Families and lawmakers have reported shortages, plumbing failures and multiple suicide attempts or attempts to go overboard; the Navy and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have called those reports misrepresented while a relief carrier is en route.
Canada and the United States have resumed intensive talks to avert steep US tariffs that could take effect this week. Ottawa has offered concessions, including removing a retaliatory auto tariff, while Washington has pressed provinces to lift bans on US alcohol and pushed demands on market access and content rules for autos. Negotiators are still finalising details.
Sara Bejlek has upset world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(7/9), 6-4 in Toronto, delivering a major upset ahead of the US Open. The Czech qualifier rode a late comeback in the first set tiebreak and seized momentum to reach the quarterfinals, where she will face Madison Keys. Rybakina and Swiatek also advance, keeping the Cincinnati and Toronto results shaping the build-up to the Open.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has visited Iturup (Etorofu) in the disputed Kuril Islands, watched Pacific Fleet drills and toured local facilities. Japan has summoned the Russian ambassador and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi have called the visit unacceptable, saying the islands are Japan’s territory under history and international law.
Stocks waver as Walmart’s earnings miss dulls confidence; higher oil prices and rising yields weigh on sentiment. Treasuries signal caution as investors assess consumer resilience amid inflationary pressure.
A wave of personal-finance content points to Gen Z embracing soft saving while older generations focus on pensions. Independent and Guardian pieces offer tips on budgeting, long-term planning, and understanding workplace pension matches, with fintechs reshaping how younger customers engage with savings.
Tropical storm Moke has tracked south of Hawaii’s Big Island and is passing westward near the islands after Hurricane Lala lashed the state last weekend. Forecasters have reported sustained winds near 50mph and expect 5–10 inches of rain in many areas, with isolated totals up to 15 inches on the Big Island; officials have urged residents to prepare for continuing flooding and outages.
Multiple sources outline China’s expanded missile capabilities and the US response. The United States faces stockpiling pressures as it seeks to bolster air defenses and long-range strike systems amid rising tensions in the Western Pacific.
The International Criminal Court has faced intensified pressure as the United States expands sanctions against ICC officials and staff. Tomoko Akane, ICC President from Japan, says she will not bow to pressure, urging Japan to rally ICC partners while Washington signals possible further measures. The EU and allies defend ICC independence as Japan seeks to balance alliance dynamics.
The Treasury has expanded its bond buyback program to stabilize long-dated debt as yields climb toward multi-year highs. Investors weigh the impact on mortgages, equities, and the broader economy amid rising government borrowing and persistent inflation.
The drills Ulchi Freedom Shield are being halted ahead of planned meetings with North Korea, following President Trump’s order to scale back the exercise amid regional tensions.
The Panama Canal Authority has reduced daily transit capacity due to drought linked to El Niño. From September 3, capacity drops from 36 to 34 ships per day, and from September 15 it falls to 32, signaling tighter restrictions amid dry spells that threaten global shipping and water supplies.
Ministries are submitting requests for the next fiscal year, likely exceeding last year’s record ¥122 trillion. The Finance Ministry will review proposals as it finalises a budget that should be completed before year-end. The move reflects reforms to the budget process and will shape how spending is measured against reforms.
Sunao Takami, 58, has been hanged after being convicted for the 2009 Osaka pachinko-parlour arson that killed five and injured ten. Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi says the punishment reflects “careful and thorough considerations” amid ongoing global scrutiny of capital punishment. Takami’s execution is the first under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government and comes as Japan faces renewed calls for transparency.
Humanoid robots are advancing rapidly, with demonstrations in Bangkok and Beijing showing impressive athletic and AI-enabled capabilities. Industry leaders say true breakthroughs hinge on AI brains capable of general, unsupervised task performance, not just physical prowess.
The Pacific Fleet has fired Bastion coastal missiles from Etorofu, simulating an attack on enemy ships at about 300km. A submarine and a guided-missile cruiser took part, with exercises running from 4 August to 29 August and prompting protests from Japan over regional territorial disputes.
A seven-year-old boy on Mount Fuji was found sitting on a bench near a mountain hut after his father left him to continue the ascent with his older son. The child, from Nagoya, was rescued by staff and police with no injuries reported. Authorities urge groups to pace themselves to protect all climbers.
Zolani "Last Born" Tete has been shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. A 27-year-old woman who was with him has been hospitalised with multiple gunshot wounds. Police have arrested several suspects and have opened a major investigation; officials and fellow boxers have paid tribute to the two-time world champion.
Humanoid robots at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing have achieved sprint times under the human 100m world record, with Tiangong Ultra and Lightning showcasing rapid improvements amid U.S. tech scrutiny. The events feature 2,000+ robots across 51 contests, highlighting China’s push in robotics and AI integration.
Prime Minister Takaichi has reframed the official residence as a workplace, reinforcing office functions and posting policy updates on X. Critics say the arrangement highlights work-life balance concerns as she pursues controversial reforms; her routine has coincided with falling support amid economic and gender-equality debates.
A magnitude 5.8–5.9 earthquake struck southern Ibaraki and rattled Tokyo, injuring dozens across five prefectures. Trains faced delays; Shinkansen service remains normal. Authorities set up a task force to assess damage as residents brace for possible aftershocks.
Japan's lawmakers have travelled to Beijing for talks with Chinese officials to restore channels of communication after a downturn in relations sparked by Tokyo's Taiwan comment. The delegation includes LDP members and opposition lawmakers, and meetings run through Thursday as both sides seek to mend economic and diplomatic ties.
The case centers on Nvidia employee and others allegedly shipping 74 servers with B300 chips into China via Japan and Indonesia, bypassing U.S. trade rules. A separate Taiwanese seizure involves 56 additional servers. Bloomberg notes the detained employee could not be reached. An independent probe says there is no evidence of direct sales to restricted parties, while the company has taken personnel actions.
Taiwanese prosecutors have indicted nine people over the alleged illegal export of Nvidia GPUs to China, with several servers shipped via Indonesia, Japan, and Hong Kong. The case underscores ongoing US-China tech frictions and Taiwan’s tightening export rules to curb restricted technology reaching China.
The US Treasury has announced the government has doubled long-dated bond purchases, aiming to push yields lower as inflation fears persist. Analysts warn intervention could be inflationary and risk public trust, while gold prices rise as the dollar weakens. The debate intensifies over the government’s ability to finance debt and the long-term impact on liquidity.
In New England, invasive European green crabs are being identified as they molt, revealing a softer shell. Markets pay up to $3 per crab, a stark contrast to 8 cents for hard-shells. A grassroots push seeks to convert the species into premium products while addressing ecological damage and market barriers that hinder scale.
ICC President Tomoko Akane has said she will resist further US sanctions and keep the court’s work moving, telling reporters she won’t let the ICC be shut down. Washington has intensified pressure against the court, sanctioning Akane and a senior trial lawyer while urging other countries to quit the ICC.
A massive mudslide and flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border has killed dozens and left hundreds missing as rescue efforts race to reach affected villages and border towns. Officials fear the toll could rise as more bodies are recovered and tourists are accounted for.
World-renowned Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama has died at 97. Her career, spanning postwar New York and contemporary Japan, forged new forms of minimalism, dotted nets, and feminist provocations. Her passing marks the end of a singular thread in global art history.