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Daily Briefing

Tropical Storm Idalia swirls into a hurricane as it closes in on Florida, Toyota suspends operations at all 14 of its assembly plants in Japan, and Russian tourism in Crimea is down but many still shrug off the risks.

Plus, inside the World Gravy Wrestling Championships.

By Kate Turton

Today's Top News

Idalia in a composite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration GOES-East weather satellite August 28, 2023. NOAA/Handout REUTERS

Tropical Storm Idalia swirled into a hurricane after skirting past Cuba as it closed in on Florida's Gulf Coast, where officials ordered evacuations and urged residents to brace for a possible major Category 3 tempest making landfall.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to attend the funeral of Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
A Pakistani court suspended former Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent conviction on corruption charges, his lawyer Naeem Panjutha said, though it was unclear whether this would lead to his release from jail.
The French government's decision to ban children from wearing the abaya, the loose-fitting, full-length robes worn by some Muslim women, in state-run schools drew applause from the right, but also criticism. Paris correspondent Juliette Jabkhiro tells the Reuters World News podcast why the government is introducing this rule now.
Rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia, one of the world's most polluted regions, according to a report which flagged the growing burden of hazardous air on health.

US POLITICS

Donald Trump will stand trial in March 2024 for trying to overturn his 2020 presidential election defeat, one day before Republican voters in more than a dozen states will decide whether to give him a chance to recapture the White House.
The State Department has picked veteran diplomat Mark Lambert as its top China policy official, five sources familiar with the matter said, bringing in new leadership for a part of the department that has faced staffing problems and criticism over its handling of China-focused initiatives.
Eminem has asked Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, a multimillionaire former biotech executive, to not use his music during his presidential campaign, according to a letter disclosed on Monday.

Business & Markets

Toyota said it has suspended operations at all 14 of its assembly plants in Japan due to a production system malfunction, bringing domestic output to a standstill at the world's biggest-selling automaker. Stay up to date with the latest global automotive industry news with the Reuters Auto File newsletter.
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met China's Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, her second full day of talks with top Chinese leaders on balancing business ties and national security concerns.
On 31 August UBS will publish its first earnings report since a hastily arranged takeover of its Swiss rival Credit Suisse, shedding new light on the deal's impact and the inner workings of the new banking giant.
Disillusioned with a weak stock market at home, geopolitical risks and a falling currency, Chinese investors are pouring money into investment products with exposure to overseas assets that will also help diversify their portfolios.
The Biden administration is expected to release its list of 10 prescription medicines that will be subject to the first-ever price negotiations by the US Medicare health program that covers 66 million people.
Disney is attempting to revive the fortunes of its streaming business in India by offering free cricket on smartphones, betting that the strategy will boost advertising revenue and offset the impact of a subscriber exodus.

Russian tourism in Crimea is down, but many still shrug off risks

People enjoy the beach during sunset in Yevpatoriya, Crimea, August 6, 2023. REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak/file photo

In years past, Siberian Viktor Motorin could hop on a plane and arrive in Crimea just four hours later to relax at his holiday apartment. Now he must fly first to Moscow and then spend a day and a half on the train.

The war in Ukraine is making it harder for many Russians to reach their favorite summer haunts in the Black Sea region of Crimea.

What's it like vacationing in a conflict zone? Listen to video producer Ben Tavener on the Russians holidaying in Crimea.

Russians hoping to holiday in Crimea face complication as a result of the war

And Finally...

Competitors take part in the World Gravy Wrestling Championships at the Rose 'N' Bowl pub in Stacksteads, Britain, August 28. REUTERS/Phil Noble

A pub in Lancashire hosted a saucy competition as wrestlers took part in the World Gravy Wrestling Championships. The event, which started in 2007, sees competitors in fancy dress wrestling for two-minute bouts. Proceeds go to charity.

Scuffle in the sauce: Inside the World Gravy Wrestling Championships

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