Today's Top News

A member of the Thailand Mine Action Centre demonstrates a PMN-2 mine detonation. Thailand, August 20, 2025. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

Recent fighting between Cambodia and Thailand was sparked by landmine incidents with PMN-2s - a Soviet-origin anti-personnel mine which Phnom Penh and Bangkok have pledged by treaty not to use. Experts say the photographed PMN-2 mines were freshly laid, contradicting Cambodia.
Israel said it was preparing for the reopening of Gaza's Rafah crossing with Egypt to let Palestinians in and out, but set no date as it traded blame with Hamas over violations of the US-mediated ceasefire.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence votes in parliament, winning crucial backing from the Socialist Party thanks to his pledge to suspend President Emmanuel Macron’s contested pension reform.
Sanae Takaichi, the newly-elected head of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, held talks about a possible coalition with leaders of the right-leaning Innovation Party, in a bid to clinch a prime ministerial vote expected next week.
Thousands of mourners briefly stormed Nairobi's international airport, interrupting a ceremony for the body of veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, with crowds also flooding nearby roads and trying to breach parliament.

United States

A federal judge in California ordered President Donald Trump's administration to halt mass layoffs of federal workers during a partial government shutdown while she considers claims by unions that the job cuts are illegal.
In deciding a major case examining the racial composition of electoral districts in Louisiana, Supreme Court justices are facing the question of whether the Constitution should be seen as colorblind - even when remedies are sought under civil rights law for racial discrimination.
Trump confirmed that he authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, marking a sharp escalation in US efforts to pressure President Nicolas Maduro's government.

Business & Markets

Blades for Swiss army knives in a machine at Victorinox, Ibach near Schwyz, Switzerland. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Victorinox, which produces 10 million Swiss Army Knives a year, is one of many Swiss manufacturers worried about the higher cost of doing business with the US. The company is exploring new markets and experimenting with new tools to navigate Trump's trade tariffs.
Chinese state media issued a seven-point rebuttal to US calls for Beijing to wind back its rare earth controls, as both sides struggle to move beyond a volley of barbs and accusations of blindsiding the other.
Britain's economy returned to growth in August when it expanded by a marginal 0.1% from July, offering a little bit of relief to finance minister Rachel Reeves as she prepares her November budget.
There are "significant gaps" in countries' attempts to regulate fast-growing crypto markets, which could potentially harm financial stability, the G20's risk watchdog warned.
An affiliate of Elliott Investment Management wants to cut costs at Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum while a unit of Gold Reserve would largely focus on maintaining the status quo, as a lengthy auction that will determine the refiner's future nears an end. Read our exclusive.
Nestle will cut 16,000 jobs, new CEO Philipp Navratil said, as the world's largest packaged food company seeks to cut costs and win back investor confidence.
When French carmaker Renault and China's Geely carved out their combustion-engine operations in 2022, the venture looked like a footnote to an outdated technology. Now, Horse Powertrain has a new lease of life. For more on the industry, sign up to the Auto File newsletter.
Medications often cost nearly triple in the US as they do elsewhere, raising Trump’s ire. In this Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists discuss how Americans subsidize novel treatments and how tricky it will be to spread the burden.

Inside Ukraine's drone campaign to blitz Russia’s energy industry

"You don’t have the cards,” Donald Trump famously told Volodymyr Zelenskiy during their Oval Office showdown in February as he dismissed Ukraine’s capabilities in the war against Russia.

As the two leaders prepare to meet in the White House again, Ukraine’s military remains on the back foot — but it has shown it has at least one potent play to hit the enemy where it hurts: long-range drone strikes on Russia’s crucial energy industry.

Max Hunder tells the Reuters World News podcast why the strategy is effective. Listen now.

The story in graphics

And Finally...

Participants during the opening ceremony ahead of The Grand Sumo Tournament Action at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Japan's top sumo wrestlers have rolled into London's Royal Albert Hall for a five-day tournament to showcase their ancient sport heaving under the weight of tradition, ritual and huge, semi-naked men.

More than 40 elite rikishi (wrestlers) flew in at the weekend with a supporting cast of organizers, referees and sumo elders (managers) ahead of the Grand Sumo Tournament - the first event of its kind held outside Japan since one hosted at the same venue in 1991.