Russia tests missiles near Japanese-claimed islands after Putin’s visit
SCMP

Russia tests missiles near Japanese-claimed islands after Putin’s visit

Russia’s Pacific Fleet said on Thursday it has conducted a missile test off a group of Russian-held, Japanese-claimed islands amid an intensifying row over the disputed territory following President Vladimir Putin’s first-ever visit there last week. While it was unclear exactly when the test was carried out, the announcement comes after the Russian foreign ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador to ...

TikTok Star Death Probe: French police investigate burned body of Sonia Bellina; suspect remains in custody
Times of India

TikTok Star Death Probe: French police investigate burned body of Sonia Bellina; suspect remains in custody

Sonia Bellina, a 29-year-old TikTok creator with more than 260,000 followers, was found dead in a French vineyard after going missing on August 10. Her burned body was discovered two days later and identified through DNA. French authorities arrested two men over the death, although one was later released. A murder investigation remains ongoing, while Bellina’s family has urged people to respect th...

More Hong Kong consumers allege coercive beauty sales in wake of Opatra crackdown

More Hong Kong consumers allege coercive beauty sales in wake of Opatra crackdown

SCMP

More consumers in Hong Kong have come forward to allege aggressive sales tactics across the beauty sector, including credit card abuse, unwanted physical contact and pressure to buy costly products, on the back of a crackdown on the local operations of a UK-based brand. Legal experts warned that such practices could breach the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, which prohibits harassment, coercion and ...

Progressive Aisha Wahab wins California special election to fill Eric Swalwell seat

Progressive Aisha Wahab wins California special election to fill Eric Swalwell seat

The Guardian

State senator beats rival Melissa Hernandez and will replace US congressman who quit amid sexual misconduct claimsProgressive Aisha Wahab has been elected to Congress in a special election following a bitter intra-party battle over the seat formerly held by Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April after facing sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell has denied the allegations.Wahab, a state senator, w...

Tupac Shakur trial: ‘Keffe D’ told detectives years ago his nephew fired the shots

Tupac Shakur trial: ‘Keffe D’ told detectives years ago his nephew fired the shots

The Guardian

The former gang leader was charged with planning the drive-by shooting that killed Tupac Shakur in 1996Jurors on Thursday heard Duane “Keffe D” Davis tell detectives in 2008 that his nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson fired the shots that killed Tupac Shakur.Davis, who said in the interview that he was also in the car with Anderson, is accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of the 25-year-old ...

‘Keffe D’ told detectives years ago his nephew fired the shots that killed Tupac

‘Keffe D’ told detectives years ago his nephew fired the shots that killed Tupac

The Guardian

The former gang leader was charged with planning the drive-by shooting that killed Tupac Shakur in 1996Jurors on Thursday heard Duane “Keffe D” Davis tell detectives in 2008 that his nephew Orlando “Baby Lane” Anderson fired the shots that killed Tupac Shakur.Davis, who said in the interview that he was also in the car with Anderson, is accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of the 25-year-old ...

Influencer Faces Criminal Charges: US realtor arrested after fire probe; videos central to case

Influencer Faces Criminal Charges: US realtor arrested after fire probe; videos central to case

Times of India

Meliza Campos-Sanchez, a 26-year-old influencer and realtor, is facing serious charges after authorities investigated an alleged kitchen fire and disturbing incidents involving her two young daughters. Police reportedly cited social media videos and evidence recovered from the home. She was arrested on charges including first-degree arson, child abuse and two counts of child neglect. Her children ...

California oil pipeline can continue to operate, judge rules

California oil pipeline can continue to operate, judge rules

The Guardian

State sought to stop system off coast of Santa Barbara from resuming operations after Trump ordered its reopening An oil pipeline can continue to operate off the California coast after a judge gave it the green light this week, despite the opposition of state regulators and environmental groups.The system off the coast of Santa Barbara resumed operations earlier this year for the first time in mor...

Owens Rips TPUSA Narrative: Viral post fuels clash over Tyler Robinson case; influencers face scrutiny

Owens Rips TPUSA Narrative: Viral post fuels clash over Tyler Robinson case; influencers face scrutiny

Times of India

Candace Owens is facing renewed attention after Grace Ashford shared a post accusing Erika Kirk and Turning Point USA of dismissing critics who question inconsistencies surrounding Tyler Robinson’s case. Owens challenged statements about Charlie Kirk’s final communications and argued that Robinson remains innocent until proven guilty. She also criticized public commentary on court filings, saying ...

Japan faces ‘nightmare scenario’ as it struggles to defend ICC judge

Japan faces ‘nightmare scenario’ as it struggles to defend ICC judge

SCMP

Japan has spent years casting the International Criminal Court as a pillar of the rules-based order. This week, its closest ally sanctioned the Japanese judge who leads it. The move has left Tokyo in an uncomfortable bind: defend Tomoko Akane, the Japanese president of The Hague-based court, and risk antagonising US leader Donald Trump, or temper its criticism and appear weak in the face of an att...

Michael Cohen, ex-fixer for Trump who once testified against him, hosts president on his radio show – US politics live

Michael Cohen, ex-fixer for Trump who once testified against him, hosts president on his radio show – US politics live

The Guardian

Despite previously comparing him to a ‘mobster’, Trump’s former personal lawyer showers him with praiseTrump administration faces questions over top aide Natalie Harp’s security clearanceSign up for the US Breaking News emailAn FBI team seized electronic devices from former US representative Eric Swalwell at the San Francisco airport on Saturday, then raided his home in Washington, DC, the next da...

U.S. Army phases out new drone battalion, despite being far behind in drone race

CBS News

The U.S. Army decided to phase out a new drone battalion set up earlier this year to help the U.S. catch up in its use of the crucial technology. The decision to shut it down came amid tension between top Army officials, including two who were fired or forced into early retirement. Charlie D'Agata reports.

US charges woman with Isis-inspired plot to blow up New York State Capitol

US charges woman with Isis-inspired plot to blow up New York State Capitol

SCMP

US authorities charged a woman who allegedly supported the Islamic State group with a terrorism offence on Thursday after she told an FBI informant she “wanted to destroy” the New York State Capitol building, court filings showed. Located in Albany near the Canadian border, the New York State Capitol is the nerve centre of the state government and contains both houses of the state’s legislature. J...