North Korea has sharply escalated matters by launching a missile straight over Hokkaido, Japan. The launch saw Japanese authorities trigger prefecture-wide alarms, advising locals to find a bunker and stay there. In what sounds a bit like the Cold War gone hot, Japan had ordered an emergency meeting of the Security Council. Nothing quite says “enough is enough” like an enemy missile over your airspace.

Rescue teams rushed on Monday to evacuate hundreds of Texans stranded in the streets before Hurricane Harvey returns. At least 8,000 people have now been evacuated, with the storm threatening to make another return over the city some time today. So far six people have been killed in the hurricane, with emergency call operators receiving a “staggering” volume of help requests.

Maria Sharapova has made her first mark at the US Open, defeating Simona Halep 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in her first Grand Slam since the end of a doping ban. After despatching Halep Sharapova fell to her knees in tears, saying afterwards that it was “so much more” than just another normal day on the court.

Eco-militant Sea Shepherd announced on Tuesday that it was abandoning its attempts to disrupt Japanese whaling. SS argued that the Japanese military and economic power was overwhelming. Founder Paul Watson explained that they were being monitored with real-time satellite imagery, making it impossible to intercept whalers. It’s almost as if the Japanese military doesn’t have a volatile Korean neighbour that could use that satellite imagery better.

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PE: min: 10° max: 23°, sunny
PTA: min: 12° max: 26°, sunny

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