In late July, Meghan’s lifestyle range, As Ever, launched a new blackberry spread alongside a softly lit video of her picking the fruit. A month later, she and Prince Harry announced plans to return and live in the UK, just as blackberry season winds down. Whether another such video follows remains unclear, especially since experts say the couple’s wider brand is now at a turning point. Since their departure from royal duties in 2020, most of the Sussexes’ California-based ventures, from streaming deals to fragrance lines, have struggled to draw large audiences. Experts say it’s genuinely unclear what direction they’ll take next. Their UK return has surprised many, and although they will not resume royal duties, questions remain about what comes instead. Oxford marketing professor Andrew Stephen says the couple excelled early at capturing attention and monetising it, but have struggled to turn that into a lasting brand identity. He describes their current portfolio as fragmented, spanning social impact, entertainment and lifestyle, making it hard to define exactly what their brand represents. Their $100 million Netflix deal and $25 million Spotify agreement, both signed in 2020, have delivered underwhelming results by most measures. The Netflix arrangement produced just five shows over five years before being replaced with a lower-commitment, first-look agreement last year. Spotify, meanwhile, parted ways with the couple back in 2023. Branding expert Susan Fournier warns that the couple’s repeated pivots, from royal insiders to critics to media producers to lifestyle influencers, carry real risk. She argues that once a brand shifts direction dramatically, reversing course becomes difficult, and a UK return could look like yet another turn rather than a resolution. Stephen suggests the solution lies in building a focused, coherent set of ventures and credible causes, rather than continuing to diversify. One possibility involves Meghan returning to acting, with reports suggesting talks over a role in Netflix’s “The Gentlemen.” Her lifestyle brand, As Ever, is also expected to continue regardless of the move. A potential relocation to the Cotswolds has also sparked interest, with stylist Laura Stoloff suggesting genuine synergy between Meghan’s brand and English country life. Still, Stephen cautions that a new postcode alone won’t reposition a brand, only consistent action will.

At least 13 people were killed in a terrorist attack targeting civilian facilities in Nizhnekamsk, Russia’s Tatarstan region, on August 10, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said most of those killed were foreign nationals. Preliminary information indicated that eight victims were citizens of Uzbekistan, while another victim was from Tajikistan. Around 20 foreign nationals were also reported to have been injured in the attack. Zakharova accused Ukrainian forces of deliberately targeting civilian locations where foreign workers and residents from countries friendly to Russia were present. She claimed the attack was intended to create tensions between Russia and those nations. The Russian official described the incident as a terrorist attack and said such strikes have resulted in the deaths of both Russian citizens and nationals of other countries. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed condolences to the families and relatives of those killed. It also wished a rapid recovery to those injured. Moscow further urged the international community to condemn what it described as attacks against civilian targets. The accusations were made by the Russian Foreign Ministry as part of its response to the Nizhnekamsk incident. The claims concerning responsibility and the circumstances surrounding the attack could not be independently verified from the statement alone. The incident has raised concerns over the safety of foreign nationals working and living in areas affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Further details about the victims, the extent of the damage and the circumstances of the attack are expected as investigations continue.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the newly inaugurated government of Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has formally requested US collaboration in joint military operations within Colombia to combat drug trafficking organizations. Speaking in Panama City during a meeting of the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, Hegseth confirmed that Colombia will join the US-led “Shield of the Americas” regional counter-narcotics initiative as its 19th member nation. De la Espriella, a conservative leader sworn into office last week, has taken a hardline stance against armed groups, reversing the policy direction of his predecessor, Gustavo Petro. Hegseth also urged participating Latin American nations to reject the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Addressing legal scrutiny surrounding recent US military strikes against suspected regional drug networks, Hegseth maintained that US counter-cartel actions fully comply with international humanitarian law.

The United Front of Afghanistan has announced the launch of an armed campaign against the Afghan Taliban, marking what it describes as a new phase in its efforts to challenge the Taliban-led administration. The group’s leader, General Sami Sadat, also appealed to the United States, NATO and other members of the international community for political support. In a video message, General Sadat said the resistance movement had formally begun military operations in Kandahar. He described the campaign as an effort to free Afghanistan from Taliban rule and restore stability to the country. Sadat said the group’s military activities are not limited to targeting the Taliban. He claimed that United Front fighters are also operating against Al-Qaeda, Daesh (ISIS) and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), saying these organisations pose a serious threat to Afghanistan and the wider region. He stressed that the resistance movement does not seek conflict with neighbouring countries. According to Sadat, the group’s objective is to establish peaceful relations with Afghanistan’s neighbours and promote regional cooperation. He argued that the Taliban’s policies have created security concerns for neighbouring states, while the United Front aims to contribute to long-term regional stability. General Sadat also pledged that his forces would conduct all military operations in accordance with international law. He said the movement would respect humanitarian principles during its campaign and insisted that it would not seek permission from any foreign country before carrying out its operations. Calling for international engagement, Sadat urged the global community to provide political backing to the resistance movement. He appealed to the United States, NATO and other governments to support what he described as the Afghan people’s struggle for freedom, saying the international community should stand on the “right side of history.” The announcement comes amid continuing political and security tensions in Afghanistan, where anti-Taliban resistance groups have periodically claimed attacks against Taliban positions, particularly in northern and central parts of the country. Despite these claims, the Taliban remain in control of most of Afghanistan and continue to reject the legitimacy of armed opposition groups.