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·20 August 2026 · 20:10 UTCBreaking

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to move back to Britain; prime minister says Duke and Duchess's security is a 'private matter' as Burnham wishes them well

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, was first made aware of the move on Sunday, three days before the news went public, and he welcomes the chance to see more of the family. Asked about government funding for protection, he said it's a matter for the government.

+2 sources·20 August 2026 · 19:56 UTC

North Korea fires 10 short-range missiles as U.S.-South Korea drills end Friday; Kim Yo Jong calls U.S. 'hostile policy' unchanged

The launch triggered an emergency security meeting in Seoul, with the presidential office calling it a 'grave act' violating UN resolutions. The missiles flew about 300km, and Japan confirmed the launch, though it landed outside its exclusive economic zone.

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 19:56 UTC

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urges allies to back new economic measures to 'squash' Iran's economy; says they will 'collapse' the regime

Bessent described the penalties as part of 'the greatest co-ordinated economic isolation in the history of the world' and warned that countries trading with Iran could face US enforcement. He also said further details will be made public at a press conference on 24 August.

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 18:29 UTC

Woman dies after being mauled by dog at Ta Kwu Ling pet hotel she operated; police say attack lasted about one minute

The 33-year-old victim, surnamed Wong, was the sole operator of the licensed facility at 111 Ping Yeung Village, which had been operating since January 2026. The one-year-old male mongrel, weighing about 30kg, had been brought to the facility on August 11 by a volunteer for adoption and is now under AFCD observation.

·20 August 2026 · 18:05 UTC

Trump threatens Iran with 'economic warfare' and cutting off talks; Tehran says it will fail as oil prices jump 2%

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the threat a 'diversion' and warned it 'will only bring further defeat,' while Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said US decision-making is based on 'flawed calculations.' The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the move as 'unlawful,' saying those who implement it 'are liable to prosecution and punishment.'

·20 August 2026 · 17:55 UTC

Taiwan's Cabinet approves record NT$1.1225tn defense budget for next year; 18% increase sends message to U.S. and China

The budget includes NT$103.8 billion for military pensions and NT$47.9 billion for the Coast Guard, with calculations mirroring NATO's method. It also funds supplementary spending on drones and missiles, previously blocked by the legislature.

·20 August 2026 · 14:58 UTC

Singaporean actor Noah Yap hits back at criticism of visiting injured hawker for limelight; 73-year-old hawker returns to work despite fractured back, saying 'It's painful but I bear with it'

Yeo Song Khoon, who returned to his Roxy Square stall on Aug 20, said he still has a doctor's appointment and hopes to avoid surgery by continuing medication. Police have identified a 40-year-old man in connection with the incident, and investigations are ongoing.

·20 August 2026 · 13:51 UTC

Wang Yi visits South Korea as China and ROK mark 34 years of ties, eyeing $330B trade and FTA talks

Bilateral trade surpasses $330 billion annually, with China remaining the ROK's largest trading partner for over two decades. Wang urged Seoul to resist US pressure on semiconductor export restrictions and pursue an independent foreign policy, while both sides look to the 2026 APEC summit in Shenzhen for regional cooperation.

·20 August 2026 · 13:49 UTC

TRAI and Singapore's IMDA sign pact to deepen telecom cooperation; agreement signed at 4th India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable

The Letter of Intent, signed by TRAI Secretary Harinder Kumar and IMDA Deputy CEO Aileen Chia, will enable exchange of regulatory practices across spectrum management, consumer protection and technical innovation. The signing was witnessed by Indian ministers including Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar.

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 11:28 UTC

Miss Universe Thailand 2026 contestants turn iconic Thai food into national costumes for 'Fruits & Food' segment; finals set for Saturday

The 77 contestants each represented their province's signature dish, from Khon Kaen's grilled chicken to Kalasin's mango sticky rice. The winner will represent Thailand at the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico.

·20 August 2026 · 11:17 UTC

US national debt tops $40tn after doubling in a decade; CBO warns of nearing $41.1tn ceiling, projects $64tn by 2036

The Treasury Department will double its buyback operations to $4bn from September 9 to November 4 to support longer-term bonds. Federal Reserve minutes show many officials see rate hikes as likely if inflation does not decline.

·20 August 2026 · 11:04 UTC

After Rocky's death in Selangor dog-catching operation, owner and volunteer charged with animal cruelty; calls grow for new stray dog approach

The charges carry fines up to RM100,000 and three years' imprisonment under the Animal Welfare Act 2015, with Roghini also facing a separate licensing offence. Activists, including SAFM's president, urge a multi-year national programme with spay-neuter and vaccination, rejecting a Seremban cash-reward proposal as ineffective.

·20 August 2026 · 10:42 UTC

Philippine police report 74 cases linked to nihilistic violent extremism, 42 minors rescued; Zamboanga shooting livestream stayed on Facebook 14 minutes

Of the 42 rescued minors, 30 were aged 15 and younger, with many in the 12-to-15 range, according to Police Colonel Richmond Tadina. The CICC flagged the livestream to Meta about five minutes in, but Hontiveros questioned why another nine minutes passed before removal.

+2 sources4 updates

20 August 2026 · 07:25 UTCLive-streamed Zamboanga school shooting raises alarm over 'memetic violence' as authorities probe digital media influence 19 August 2026 · 08:00 UTCPhilippine Cabinet member Jonvic Remulla claims Zamboanga shooter may have been influenced by Roblox; forensic examination pending +1 more report

·20 August 2026 · 08:54 UTC

Immigration lorry crash driver charged with causing deaths of three family members; pleads not guilty to five charges including reckless driving

The charges under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 carry a prison term of five to 10 years and a fine up to RM50,000. The court set bail at RM12,000 per charge, suspended his licence, and fixed mention for Oct 27.

+2 sources6 updates

20 August 2026 · 03:58 UTCImmigration lorry driver expected to be charged at Jalan Duta Court Complex over crash that killed three family members 19 August 2026 · 23:50 UTCImmigration truck crash in Kuala Lumpur kills three; probe to focus on compliance with safety procedures +3 more reports

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 08:54 UTC

Heavy rain and flood risks rise as tropical depression moves toward Vietnam, forecast to enter Gulf of Tonkin with winds up to level nine

The depression is expected to bring waves up to 4 meters and rough seas to the northwest of the northern East Sea, threatening ships with thunderstorms and high waves. Rainfall in Thanh Hoa to northern Quang Tri could exceed 200 mm, with flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas.

+1 source·20 August 2026 · 07:46 UTC

Four workers die after being hit by train at Shin-Kanuma Station in Japan; service suspended on Tobu Nikko Line

The collision occurred around 10:46 local time while the workers were removing weeds from the tracks, and three were trapped under the train when rescuers arrived. A passenger reported hearing a "strange noise" before the emergency stop, and the train was a limited express Spacia X.

·20 August 2026 · 07:23 UTC

China Evergrande founder Hui Ka-yan sentenced to life imprisonment; court fines developer 8.82 billion yuan, confiscates all personal property

The Shenzhen court also fined Hengda Real Estate 7 billion yuan and sentenced five other executives to prison terms of six to 18 years. Hui pleaded guilty in April to charges including fundraising fraud and illegally taking public deposits, with violations occurring between 2016 and 2021.

·20 August 2026 · 07:01 UTC

Trump's scaling down of U.S.-South Korea military exercises raises concerns about credibility of U.S. security commitments; experts warn of operational disconnect with North Korea.

Lieutenant General Chun In-Bum warned that reducing joint exercises like Ulchi Freedom Shield while North Korean troops gain combat experience in Ukraine creates a dangerous operational disconnect. Lami Kim from the International Institute for Strategic Studies noted that this significantly undermines the credibility of U.S. security commitments, which are already at a low point.

+2 sources3 updates

20 August 2026 · 02:01 UTCUS drill cuts threaten South Korea’s wartime command plans; analysts warn reduced Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises could weaken deterrence posture 19 August 2026 · 17:17 UTCUS-South Korea military exercises reduced at US request; Ulchi Freedom Shield now set to run through Aug 21