Bezos Eyes £4.4B Liverpool FC Stake
A consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is close to agreeing a deal to acquire a stake of about one-third in Premier League club Liverpool, multiple media outlets reported on Monday. The investor group also includes Eduardo Saverin, the Facebook co-founder. The investment would reportedly value the club at approximately £4.4 billion ($5.9 billion), making it one of the biggest valuations ever achieved in a football club deal.
This development comes at a time of significant change on and off the pitch at Anfield. Liverpool finished a disappointing fifth in the Premier League last season despite spending about £446 million on new players. The club subsequently parted ways with Dutch manager Arne Slot and appointed former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola in a bid to revive their fortunes, while their talismanic Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has also departed.
The genuine upside of this deal is the potential for Liverpool to benefit from the strategic investment, which could lead to improved performance on the pitch and increased financial stability. However, the downside is that the club’s ownership structure may become more complex, which could lead to potential conflicts of interest.
The deal is being led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and a former shareholder in English Championship club Queens Park Rangers. Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group could announce a deal as early as this week. “An investment consortium led, managed and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club,” an FSG spokesperson said last month.
Liverpool, one of world football’s most successful clubs, are also among the sport’s most valuable and widely supported teams, with their iconic Anfield stadium at the heart of a global fan base. They won a joint-record 20th English league title in the 2024-25 season. Their honours also include six European Cups, eight FA Cups, a record 10 League Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Trump, Iran Locked in Strait of Hormuz Standoff
Hormuz Showdown: Trump's Clock Ticking Faster?
The conflict between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz has evolved into a strategic battle of clocks, with Washington betting economic pressure will force Tehran to compromise while Iran calculates that US political pressures, dwindling munitions, and rising energy costs will force President Trump to seek an exit first. This standoff is not just about military power, but about which side can outlast the other. The US is counting on sanctions, a maritime blockade, and months of military pressure to weaken Iran's economy, while Iran is leveraging its control over the Strait of Hormuz to pressure the US into offering a favorable exit.
The drivers behind this standoff are economic and geopolitical. The US is facing growing public frustration with the war, pressure on Patriot and THAAD missile stocks, and higher petrol and energy prices. According to CNN, average US petrol prices are back above $4 a gallon, creating a domestic political problem for Trump. On the other hand, Iran is withstanding the effects of sanctions, the US blockade, and damage inflicted during months of conflict. However, Tehran's strategy is hardly risk-free, and the country must navigate the risks of renewed US strikes, pressure to restore normal trade, and the need to compensate for the war and sanctions relief.
The stakeholders affected by this conflict are numerous. The US midterm elections are approaching, and Trump's political timetable is a critical factor in the standoff. The conflict is also affecting the global energy market, with the Strait of Hormuz being one of the world's most important energy routes. Iran's control over the strait has become a valuable leverage point, allowing the country to exert pressure on the US. Meanwhile, the US is trying to maintain its military commitments elsewhere while expending expensive weapons and resources on Iran.
The strongest counter-argument to the US position is that Iran may be able to outlast the US, given the country's ability to withstand economic pressure and its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. According to CNN political and national security analyst David Sanger, Iran's leaders sense that Trump wants a way out of the conflict, and the US is "running out of munitions," options, and patience. This perception could help explain why Tehran has little incentive to quickly accept a compromise over Hormuz. Instead, Iran has hardened its conditions for fully reopening the strait, demanding measures including an end to the US maritime blockade, withdrawal of American forces from the region, compensation for the war and sanctions relief.
Colombia earthquake: 7.4 magnitude quake hits
7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Colombia and Ecuador
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2026, shaking wide areas of the country and neighbouring Ecuador, prompting residents to evacuate homes, offices, and other buildings. The earthquake's epicentre was located near San José del Palmar in western Colombia, approximately 400 kilometres west of Bogotá, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Colombia's geological authorities.
The tremor was felt across large parts of Colombia and in neighbouring Ecuador, causing people to leave buildings as a precaution. No immediate reports of injuries, fatalities, or significant damage were issued by authorities. Emergency services and government agencies continued to assess the impact of the earthquake and monitor the situation in affected areas.
The earthquake occurred at a relatively deep depth, which may have helped limit the extent of surface damage. Government workers and residents in Panama City also felt the earthquake, with many standing outside their office buildings as a precaution.
This earthquake is reminiscent of previous seismic events in the region, such as the ones reported in recent years, which have highlighted the importance of disaster preparedness and emergency response planning.
Mojtaba Khamenei military reshuffle: 6 commanders appointed
Iran's Military Overhaul: 6 New Commanders Appointed Amid US Tensions
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has appointed six senior military commanders to key positions across the country's Armed Forces, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Basij Resistance Force. The reshuffle, which marks Khamenei's first major military overhaul since taking power, includes the appointment of Ali Abdollahi as chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces, Kioumars Heydari as deputy chief of staff, and Ahmad Vahidi as commander-in-chief of the IRGC. The IRGC's new deputy commander-in-chief is Mostafa Izadi, while Ali Azmaei has been appointed commander of the IRGC Navy, and Hossein Taeb has been named head of the Basij Resistance Force.
These appointments come amid ongoing conflict with the United States and speculation over Khamenei's health, following his absence from public view since taking office. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that Khamenei is "completely healthy" after a nearly seven-hour meeting with the supreme leader, during which they discussed Iran's economy and the impact of US sanctions.
The reshuffle also follows the appointment of former IRGC chief Mohsen Rezaee as Khamenei's representative to Iran's Supreme National Security Council, replacing Mohammad Baqir Zolghadr. Rezaee's experience as one of the early commanders during Iran's eight-year war with Iraq was cited as the reason for his appointment.
In the context of recent events, this military reshuffle is significant, as it comes after the death of Khamenei's father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli strike in February. The move is seen as an effort to strengthen Iran's military command structure amid ongoing tensions with the United States.
US Visa Revoked: 175,000 Lose Travel Privileges
175,000 US Visas Revoked in Immigration Crackdown
The US State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals as part of its sweeping immigration crackdown, with most of the revocations stemming from law-enforcement encounters involving criminal activity, alongside visa violations, fraud, calls for violence, and other threats to national security. Foreign nationals, including those with prior convictions for assault, driving under the influence, theft, and drug offenses, are among those affected by the visa revocations.
Most visa revocations linked to crimes, such as reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement, and other crimes, have been identified by the State Department. The department has also cited cases involving serious criminal charges, including the celebration of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Trump administration has initiated a broad immigration crackdown, deporting an unprecedented number of migrants, including some who held valid visas, and has adopted a stricter policy on granting visas, with tightened social media vetting and expanded screening.
The US State Department pointed to several cases involving serious criminal charges, stating that it will continue to identify, investigate, and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who threaten the safety of the American people. The department emphasized that a US visa is a privilege, not a right, and that it will continue using available authorities to revoke visas from people who abuse that privilege.
This move is part of the Trump administration's expanded immigration crackdown, which has included the revocation of over 100,000 visas in January, a record at the time. The administration has also unveiled visa curbs on 'far-left terror' networks and has expanded visa curbs to 50 countries.
The revocations reflect the broad immigration crackdown initiated when Trump returned to the White House last year, with the administration also forcing US green card seekers to apply from abroad and introducing a $20,000 US visa bond.
In a related development, UAE residents have been granted visa-free access to Montenegro.
Shakira Colombia Earthquake: 111 Dead
Colombia Earthquake Kills 111, Shakira Urges Unity
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring 87 others, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella. The earthquake, which had its epicentre near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, caused widespread damage across western Colombia, with buildings collapsing in cities including Pereira, Cali, Quibdó, and Manizales. Colombian pop star Shakira has offered her support to those affected, saying her heart is with everyone who felt the tremor and urging people to remain alert and follow instructions from authorities.
Shakira's message comes as emergency teams and communities across Colombia work to respond to the disaster and support families affected by the earthquake. The singer also expressed sympathy for families facing moments of anguish after the quake. In a message on X, Shakira said Colombians have a strong tradition of coming together during difficult times and urged people to embrace and stay tuned to the instructions so they can help as soon as possible.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake occurred at a depth of about 107 kilometres, and tremors were also felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama, although little damage was reported there. The Colombian Geological Service described the earthquake as the strongest recorded in the country in more than a decade. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency following the earthquake, saying the measure would help speed up the government's response and recovery efforts.
The earthquake struck in Colombia's Pacific region, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone known for frequent seismic activity. Rescue teams continued searching damaged areas as authorities assessed the extent of the destruction and monitored for aftershocks. The remote and mountainous terrain in parts of Chocó could complicate relief efforts, with some communities difficult to reach by road.
This disaster follows other significant seismic events in the region, such as the Venezuela quakes that have resulted in thousands of deaths. The international community, including the UAE, has expressed solidarity with Colombia in the wake of this disaster.
