Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will not seek re-election as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which he says needs a "new start".

The 67-year-old LDP veteran is expected to step down as PM after the party elects a new leader in September.

Support for Mr Kishida, who has been PM since 2021, has fallen in the wake of a corruption scandal involving his party, rising living costs and a slumping yen.

His approval ratings had plummeted to 15.5% last month - the lowest for a PM in more than a decade.

"In the upcoming presidential election, it's necessary to show the people that the Liberal Democratic Party will change," Mr Kishida said at a press conference on Wednesday announcing his decision.

"A transparent and open election, and free and open debate are important. The first easy-to-understand step that indicates that the LDP will change is for me to step back," he said.

Within the party, some have doubted whether Mr Kishida can lead the LDP to a win in the next general election due in 2025. The party has been in power almost continuously since 1955.

Analysts have told the BBC that Japan is going through a "once-in-a-generation" political crisis as the ruling party fights to clean up its image.

Last December, four LDP cabinet ministers resigned within a fortnight over a fundraising scandal involving the ruling party's most powerful faction.

Five senior vice-ministers and a parliamentary vice-minister from the same faction, formerly led by the late PM Shinzo Abe, also quit.

Japan’s prosecutors launched a criminal investigation into whether dozens of LDP lawmakers received proceeds from fundraising events that saw millions of dollars kept off official party records.

But Mr Kishida's handling of the fundraising scandal drew public criticism, which made him more unpopular.

The controversy also unfolded as Japanese households struggled with food prices soaring at the fastest rate in almost half a century.

The combination of economic woes and political scandal fuelled mistrust in the ruling party, despite a weak and divided opposition.

Manor House

10 years ago.

On this day in 1880, Cologne Cathedral was finally completed, 632 years after work began

An arrest has been made over the death of the actor Matthew Perry, law enforcement officials have said.

UK health officials are preparing for potential cases of a new strain of mpox

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On this day in 1880, Cologne Cathedral was finally completed, 632 years after work began
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North Korea will reopen one city to foreign tourists in December after nearly five years of border closures due to the Covid pandemic, according to tour operators.

At least two China-based operators announced that tourists will soon be allowed to visit the mountainous northern city of Samjiyon.

Reclusive North Korea sealed itself off at the start of the pandemic in early 2020, and started to scale back restrictions only in the middle of last year.

The border closures also cut off imports of essential goods, leading to food shortages that were made worse by international sanctions because of the country's nuclear programme.

"So far just Samjiyon has been officially confirmed but we think that Pyongyang and other places will open too!!!" Shenyang's KTG Tours wrote on its Facebook page on Wednesday.

Beijing's Koryo Tour said tourists could "potentially" visit other parts of North Korea in December.

"Having waited for over four years to make this announcement, Koryo Tours is very excited for the opening of North Korean tourism once again," it said Wednesday on its website.

Koryo Tours told the BBC that the North Korean authorities were allowing tourists from any country to join the trips, apart from South Korea. However, the US bans its citizens from travelling to North Korea.

Chad O'Carroll, CEO of US-based analysis firm Korea Risk Group, flagged doubts around the reopening announcement.

"I will believe it when I see it," he told the BBC. "For now, I am quite sceptical we will see any real movement in December."

WELLINGTON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Kim Dotcom, who is facing criminal charges relating to the defunct file-sharing website Megaupload, will be extradited to the United States from New Zealand, the New Zealand justice minister said on Thursday.

German-born Dotcom, who has New Zealand residency, has been fighting extradition to the United States since 2012 following a FBI-ordered raid on his Auckland mansion.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith signed an extradition order for Dotcom, a spokesperson for the Minister of Justice said

“I considered all of the information carefully, and have decided that Mr Dotcom should be surrendered to the U.S. to face trial,” Goldsmith said in a statement.

“As is common practice, I have allowed Mr Dotcom a short period of time to consider and take advice on my decision. I will not, therefore, be commenting further at this stage.”

In a post on social media website X on Tuesday, Dotcom said, opens new tab "the obedient US colony in the South Pacific just decided to extradite me for what users uploaded to Megaupload", in what appears to be a reference to the extradition order.

Stephen Robinson says St Mirren "have had the taste and now want more" European football after their Conference League adventure ended in a devastating defeat at Brann.

Joachim Soltvedt rolled in the opener after a cute cutback to put Robinson’s side 2-1 behind on aggregate early in the third qualifying round second leg.

Searching for their first win away on the continent for 44 years, St Mirren didn’t go down without a fight, as Oisin Smyth’s wonderful volley was well saved and Richard Taylor’s close-range header flew too high.

As the game went on, it grew incredibly open in the relentless rain and the scent of a St Mirren equaliser was in the air.

They were a threat from set-pieces all night, and substitutes Fraser Taylor and Alex Iacovitti linked up, with the latter thunderously heading the visitors level with just over 15 minutes left.

With the wind in their sails, it seemed that if any team might grab victory it would be St Mirren.

Mikael Mandron picked out Toyosi Olusanya but the striker, who put in a tireless shift, slipped in untimely fashion and the chance was squandered.

And Felix Myhre then powered a heartbreaking header beyond Ellery Balcombe with five minutes left, before Aune Heggebo capitalised on the visitors' collapse with Brann's third on the night.

The Norwegians now progress to the play-off round where they will face Astana of Kazakhstan.

"We had them rocking," said Robinson, who could not hide his pride for his side.

"We score a brilliantly worked corner, a brilliant delivery from young Fraser Taylor and for 10 minutes, we had them rocking.

"Toy [Olusanya] slips over when he has a side-foot into the goal, the game could have been very different.

"Had we had played like that over two legs, if we had that belief in the first leg, it might have been a different story."

Derek McInnes says Tromso "thought they had one foot in the next round" as Joe Wright's first-half header sent Kilmarnock into the Conference League play-offs.

After a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Rugby Park last week, McInnes' side headed to northern Norway as underdogs.

But, aided by a deceptive deflection that scuppered goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard, Wright's 11th-minute goal proved decisive to send the Scottish side through.

The 300-strong travelling support watched on as a robust defensive display ensured Kilmarnock advance to face FC Copenhagen, who beat Czechs Banik Ostrava on penalties, for a place in the league stage.

Manager McInnes told BBC Scotland: "I thought there was an overconfidence [from Tromso], we spoke about that.

"We played on the outside of their shape really well in the first half, but behind that there was a real solid shape, and we got the all important goal.

"We wanted to try and continue this run in Europe, and we've now got a really exciting tie to come."

It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.

Proverbs 20:3

Minimul delays on I-95 south this mornin

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

Philippians 4:11

Brighton's young manager Fabian Hurzeler started his Premier League career with an impressive win that meant Everton began their final season at Goodison Park in miserable fashion.

The venue has been Everton's home ground since 1892, but they will move to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the start of next season.

Thirty-one-year-old Hurzeler became the Premier League's youngest ever permanent manager and his Brighton side were in no mood to provide any sentiment towards the opposition.

Tackles flew in during a thunderous first half in which Everton's Jack Harrison had an early goal ruled out for offside, while at the other end Joao Pedro rattled the post with a stinging low drive.

The visitors took the lead courtesy of Kaoru Mitoma's easy finish at the back post following fine work from debutant Yankuba Minteh, who was heavily linked with a move to Everton before joining Brighton this summer.

Everton had a penalty award overturned at the start of the second half despite Lewis Dunk appearing to catch Dominic Calvert-Lewin, as referee Simon Hooper reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor.

Feeling hard done by, Everton were then punished further as Idrissa Gueye misplaced a pass in midfield, allowing the Seagulls to counter, and Danny Welbeck stroked in a lovely finish from the edge of the box.

Everton's Ashley Young was sent off as the last man for pulling back Japan international Mitoma, and Simon Adingra slid home a third goal late on to inflict a thoroughly desperate opening defeat on the home side.

A fire at Somerset House in central London has been "limited" after around 125 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze.

In a joint press conference with the arts venue, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said firefighters are now working to "extinguish the final pockets of fire" located in the roof space.

The fire broke out in the west wing just before midday, and the historic landmark will remain closed "until further notice". There were no artworks in that part of the building, a spokesman said.

There are no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Antoine Semenyo's late goal snatched a point for Bournemouth as they came from behind to hold Nottingham Forest on the opening day.

Chris Wood swept home the Forest opener in the 23rd minute after Cherries goalkeeper Neto parried a Ryan Yates shot to his feet.

It followed a broken ankle to their Brazilian midfielder Danilo, who was taken off on a stretcher after a challenge with Semenyo.

Bournemouth - who had a goal disallowed in the first half - were much improved in the second half and levelled as Semenyo bundled home from close range when Forest failed to properly clear a cross.

The visitors thought they had equalised earlier when striker Dango Ouattara smashed in following an intricate short-corner routine, but Lewis Cook was ruled to have been just offside in the build-up.

Forest had controlled the first half and almost doubled their lead when defender Willy Boly sent a powerful header goalwards from a Callum Hudson-Odoi corner, but Neto flung himself to the left for an important save.

Bournemouth - missing club record signing Evanilson following his late arrival on Friday - looked to be heading towards an opening-day defeat until the late drama.

Semenyo pounced after Forest defender Harry Toffolo's clearance struck team-mate Murillo and fell invitingly for the forward.

Brentford started their season with a narrow win over Crystal Palace, despite leaving out striker Ivan Toney over "transfer interest".

Bryan Mbeumo scored Brentford's opener in the 29th minute, shortly after Crystal Palace had their own strike controversially ruled out.

Eberechi Eze found the net direct from a wide free-kick, but referee Sam Barrott had already blown his whistle for a foul before the ball crossed the line.

Moments later, Mbeumo put the Bees in front by squeezing the ball beyond Palace keeper Dean Henderson following a mazy run.

The Eagles got a deserved equaliser in the 56th minute when Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock poked Daniel Munoz's header into his own net, with Odsonne Edouard lurking behind him.

But Brentford scored a 78th-minute winner through Yoane Wissa's tap-in after Henderson had kept out Nathan Collins.

Firefighters have issued a warning after a fire, believed to have been started to toast marshmallows, burnt into the ground at a coastal beauty spot.

Crews from Barnstaple were deployed to the incident at Baggy Point, near Croyde, Devon on Sunday.

A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said those attending were able to "extinguish it before it could take hold".

In the same area, a disposable barbecue started a wildfire that spread over about 20 acres and destroyed wildlife habitats in 2022.

The fire service spokesperson added: "We found leftover marshmallows at the scene, suggesting the fire may have been started for a bit of toasting.

"While we all love a good marshmallow, please don’t have fires in open spaces.

"We don’t want a repeat of the devastating fire we had in the area two years ago."

Seven people are missing after a sailing yacht sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday morning, the Italian fire and rescue service has said.

The 56m (183ft) yacht was flying a British flag and four Britons are among those missing, Italian media has reported.

The 22 people onboard included 10 crew and 12 passengers - and also included American and Canadian nationals.

Emergency services rescued 15 people including a one-year-old child after the vessel encountered poor weather off the coast of Palermo.

A wreck has been identified at a depth of 50m, the fire brigade said, with divers searching for the missing people.

One person has been confirmed dead, Italian media reported.

Eight of those rescued are receiving treatment in hospital, the Italian Coastguard said.

Thierry Henry has resigned from his position as France Under-21s manager after leading his country to a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics.

The 47-year-old signed a two-year deal to manage the side in 2023.

Henry led an under-23 side on home turf at the Paris Games, where France lost the final 5-3 to Spain in extra time.

The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker's contract had been due to run until after next year's European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia, but Henry has decided to step away from the role.

"Winning the silver medal at the Olympic Games for my country will remain one of the greatest prides of my life," said Henry in a statement.

"I am incredibly grateful to the federation, the players, the staff and the supporters who allowed me to live a magical experience."

The France Football Federation said it "obviously regrets" Henry's decision, adding that he had "achieved the objectives set for him".

Henry won four of his six matches in charge of the under-21s, also winning eight of his 11 games in charge of the Olympic team - which included strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Jean-Philippe Mateta as overage players.

France finished top of their group following wins over the USA, Guinea and New Zealand, beating Argentina and Egypt in the knockout stages before their final defeat by Spain.

Henry won 123 caps for France during his playing career, scoring 51 times.

Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!

John 6:62

So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Galatians 3:5