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"Japan mulls nuclear power."

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Daily Briefing

By Kate Turton

Hello. Today we have stories about the setbacks in the Pentagon’s push to build a drone fleet, Japan and South Korea mulling their nuclear options, and airlines being sued for selling windowless 'window seats'. Plus, these mealworms are being trained to devour plastic waste.

Today's Top News   A view shows the site of the apartment building hit by Russian drone strike, Kharkiv, Ukraine August 18, 2025. REUTERS/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy US and European military planners have begun exploring post-conflict security guarantees for Ukraine, US officials and sources told Reuters, following President Donald Trump's pledge to help protect the country under any deal to end Russia's war. The latest Reuters/Ipsos polling shows the number of Americans who think the US should help those who are starving in Gaza is increasing. Scott Malone, our politics editor in Washington, explains to the Reuters World News podcast how attitudes are changing. Trump's administration this week ordered federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., to be more aggressive in pursuing criminal cases against people arrested as part of a crackdown in the nation's capital, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Here's a look at the authority Trump has to deploy troops in cities around the US. Texas Republicans will take up a new state congressional map intended to flip five Democratic-held US House seats in next year's midterm elections, after dozens of Democratic lawmakers ended a two-week walkout that had temporarily blocked its passage. A British district council won its bid to have asylum seekers temporarily removed from a hotel that has become the focal point for protests after a resident was charged with sexual assault. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa for his second-ever visit as China's leader to mark the 60th anniversary of Tibet's founding as an autonomous region. An overcrowded bus carrying Afghans expelled from Iran crashed in western Afghanistan and at least 79 people were killed, authorities said. In Japan and South Korea there is deepening concern over the reliability of long-time American security guarantees. This has been turbo-charged by Trump’s tough treatment of traditional US allies, which has some in Tokyo and Seoul calling for a reassessment of their non-nuclear policies.

Business & Markets   Cash-conscious consumers choosing to eat in rather than dine out have raised the prospect of an upturn in earnings for supermarkets and food delivery firms, according to data, analysts and company executives. In an era of short attention spans and a White House that has declared war on diversity programs, companies are embracing edgier marketing. But the strategy can carry risks. Swiss watchmaker Swatch recently got in trouble for an ad that mimicked racist taunts against Asians and had to apologize.  Airlines including Delta and United were sued by passengers who claimed they paid extra money to sit in "window" seats, only to find themselves placed in seats next to a blank wall. Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk has implemented a global hiring freeze, which covers job roles that are not critical for its business, the company said. Prices of coconut oil are surging in Asia, where top consumer India leads the charge with a tripling in two years, as supply shortages and booming demand for the nutrient-rich water enclosed within turn the kitchen staple into a premium product. Wall Street’s selloff in tech heavyweights dragged down global markets, as traders worried that the hype surrounding AI could be overdone. Meanwhile, UK inflation accelerated to an 18-month high in July. For more, watch our daily market rundown.

The US Navy is building a drone fleet to take on China. It's not going well.   Admiral Jim Kilby visits BlackSea Technology facilities, Baltimore, Maryland. U.S. Navy/Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Joe J. Cardona Gonzalez/Handout via REUTERS During a US naval test off the California coast last month, which was designed to showcase the Pentagon’s top autonomous drone boats, one vessel stalled unexpectedly. As officials scrambled to fix a software glitch, another drone vessel smashed into the idling boat’s starboard side, vaulted over the deck, and crashed back into the water – an incident captured in videos obtained by Reuters. Read our exclusive story

And Finally... Dr. Larisa Ilijin holds yellow mealworm beetles on two pieces of styrofoam at the Institute for Biology in Belgrade, Serbia, August 18, 2025. REUTERS/Zorana Jevtic Serbian scientists have been experimenting with mealworms as a way to break down polystyrene. Larisa Ilijin, a principal research fellow at Belgrade’s Institute for Biology, said the scientists had discovered that mealworms can digest various plastics, including polystyrene, which is used in packaging, insulation and food containers. Read more

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