A missile is launched during a long and medium-range ballistic rocket launch drill in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on August 30, 2017.

 

North Korea

 

The United Nations condemned North Korea’s “outrageous” firing of a ballistic missile over Japan, demanding that the isolated country halts its weapons program but holding back on any threat of new sanctions. North Korea said the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile was to counter U.S. and South Korean military drills and was a first step in military action in the Pacific to "contain" the U.S. territory of Guam. 

 

Exclusive: Japan seeks new U.S. missile radar as North Korea threat grows - sources

 

North Korea launch increases focus on risky U.S. shootdown option

 

Interactive package on North Korea's missile capabilities

 

Hurricane Harvey

 

Tropical Storm Harvey made landfall again near the Texas-Louisiana border, adding more rain after a record downpour that has caused catastrophic flooding and paralyzed the city of Houston. The storm that first came ashore on Friday as the most powerful hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years has killed at least 17 people and forced tens of thousands to leave their deluged homes. Damage has been estimated at tens of billions of dollars, making it one of the costliest U.S. natural disasters. 

 

Live updates: Harvey ravages Texas

 

Storm Harvey paralyzes a fifth of U.S. fuel output

 

Harvey's effects on fuel network hit U.S. motorists as gas prices rise

 

As Texans rely on U.S. flood insurance, expiration looms in Congress

 

Politics

 

The White House downplayed talk of division among President Donald Trump’s advisers after Secretary of State Tillerson and economic adviser Gary Cohn appeared to criticize Trump for his response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

 

President Donald Trump will turn his signature populist rhetoric toward tax reform in a speech expected to tout tax cuts as a way to help workers and the middle class in an economy “rigged” against them, senior White House officials said. With his domestic policy agenda stalled amid Republican infighting and his approval rating at just 35 percent, Trump will make his first presidential speech specifically on tax policy, an issue on which he has been promising results for months. 

 

Transgender members in U.S. military may serve until study completed: Mattis 

 

Uber

 

Uber said it was cooperating with a preliminary investigation led by the U.S. Department of Justice into possible violations of bribery laws. The preliminary investigation is the latest in a series of legal wrangles at Uber as the ride-services company waits for its new chief executive to take the reins. 

 

Uber officially welcomes as CEO Expedia's Dara Khosrowshahi

 

Uber to provide free insurance for its drivers in India

 

 

 

Muslims pray at the Grand mosque ahead of the annual Haj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia August 29, 2017. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

 

Business

 

Goldman Sachs will detail plans to turn around performance at its core bond-trading unit next month after unusual pressure from large investors frustrated by vague explanations of its troubles, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The move is a break from tradition at Wall Street’s pre-eminent bank, which usually gives its investors little information about how it makes money. 

 

Breakingviews - Blackstone hunts Japanese deals – and pensions

 

In an introductory podcast to our fintech series, we ask experts: Is fintech really a thing? Or are we being influenced by marketing terms? 

 

Bain-led consortium in last-minute $18 billion bid for Toshiba chip unit: source

 

Google, Apple face off over augmented reality technology

 

Fujifilm says aims to spend $4.5 billion on M&A over three years

 

World

 

Two toddlers were among at least six people who died after floods caused by heavy seasonal monsoon rains destroyed homes and disrupted traffic in India’s financial capital, police said. Train services resumed slowly and dozens of commuters began walking to work in Mumbai, a city of 20 million people that is home to India’s two biggest stock exchanges and the headquarters of several major companies. 

 

Reuters TV: Saudi women take on Mecca emergency role

 

Mexico dusts-off 'Plan B' as Trump revs up threats to kill NAFTA

 

China sought to cast its strained ties with India in a positive light ahead of a likely meeting next week between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their most serious military confrontation in decades. The countries agreed this week to end a more than two-month-old stand-off on their disputed Himalayan border, just in time for the start on Sunday of a summit of the BRICS grouping of nations, which also includes Brazil, Russia and South Africa. 

 

U.N. cites systematic use of excessive force in Venezuela crackdown on dissent

 

Thailand's Thaksin breaks silence to cite tyranny in 'name of justice'

 

Thailand is offering a free course to help Thai women cope with the highs and lows of interracial marriage and avoid potential scams or falling victim to human trafficking when moving abroad. As Thai society becomes more accepting of interracial marriages, some women view them as a way to better their economic status, the social development ministry says. 

 

Commentary

 

Putin's face-off with the West is worsening "in wider, often weirder ways," writes columnist Peter Apps. Automated Twitter feeds believed to be linked to Moscow spread far-right messages about the white supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia, and were used to spread rumors about U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster. Eastern European officials also fear that Russia's upcoming "Zapad 2017" military drills may be used as a cover for a military attack, says Apps.