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Today’s Brief

Berlin shuts a Russian consulate

Berlin closes Russian consulate as Kyiv reels and Washington grabs Venezuelan oil

The overnight news had a hard edge: sabotage claims in Germany, fresh bombardment in Ukraine, and an American oil grab in Venezuela. Markets were quieter than the politics, but the politics kept reaching into ports, substations and balance sheets.

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  • Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries

    Labels Vladimir Putin the warning from Zelenskyy as 'terrorist' activity, escalating the diplomatic standoff over international airspace safety.

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European Union · Updated 34m ago

European democracies and populism

AfD's co-chair signaled a potential shift in the party's post-election strategy in Saxony-Anhalt, and new polling data confirmed Marine Le Pen's strong lead in the French presidential race.

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© Variety
Music·31m ago

Ariana Grande concludes 41-date tour in London ahead of public hiatus

The singer finished a 10-night residency at London's O2 Arena on Tuesday, confirming an extended pause from public appearances and withdrawing from a West End musical.

Final performance at the O2 Arena

Ariana Grande concluded her 41-date Eternal Sunshine tour on 1 September 2026 with a final concert at London's O2 Arena. The show marked the end of a 10-night residency in the British capital following an arena run across North America. Addressing the crowd from a stool on the venue's secondary stage, the 33-year-old singer praised attendees for their costumes, makeup, and sustained dedication before becoming tearful. During the performance, Grande knelt on stage to sing "One Last Time", a song linked to survivors of the 2017 Manchester attack. Professional reviewers evaluated the London dates favorably, with the BBC describing the concert as a bravura performance.

This has been one of the most beautiful, extraordinary experiences of my life and I just want to express my gratitude without sobbing completely.

— Ariana Grande

Career pause and West End withdrawal

The London finale initiates an indefinite step back from public visibility for the singer. Grande's representatives confirmed the hiatus in August, attributing the decision to continuous public scrutiny regarding her health and appearance following the July release of her "Petal" music video. Speaking to concertgoers in Chicago earlier in August, Grande stated that the break was planned quietly long ago from an empowered position rather than as a reactive measure. The hiatus also prompted her withdrawal from Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George, which had been scheduled for London's Barbican Centre next summer. Actor Jonathan Bailey, her co-star in the Wicked film adaptations, also pulled out of the West End production on Tuesday.

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Onstage modifications and lyric updates

Grande adjusted her stage presentation for the final two London concerts after sustaining a foot injury. Writing on Instagram, the performer explained that a deep cut required a bandage, forcing her to swap her customary stiletto heels for flat boots and UGG footwear. Several members of her dance troupe joined her in wearing casual footwear on stage throughout the evening. Grande also made personal adjustments to the setlist by revising lyrics in her 2018 track "Thank U, Next". During the final London show, she sang a line expressing hope that dancer Ricky Alvarez would be her last partner, following an earlier revision in Brooklyn where she noted they always find their way back. The couple previously dated between 2015 and 2016 after meeting on her Honeymoon Tour.

Album debut and tour trajectory

The Eternal Sunshine tour commenced in June with three consecutive dates at the Oakland Arena in California. The North American segment spanned over 30 performances across major cities, including Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, New York City, Boston, Montreal, and Chicago. On 31 July 2026, Grande released her eighth studio album, Petal, which entered the Billboard 200 chart at number one with 295,000 album-equivalent units. In mid-August, the tour traveled to the United Kingdom for the 10-show residency at the O2 Arena, where the singer gave the live debut performance of the album track "Nowhere, Nobody" before concluding the tour.

Key milestones of the Eternal Sunshine tour and hiatus
  1. 2026-06Eternal Sunshine tour begins with three concerts at Oakland Arena
  2. Jul 13, 2026Brooklyn concert features revised Thank U, Next lyrics
  3. Jul 31, 2026Eighth studio album Petal is released
  4. 2026-08Ten-show residency begins at London's O2 Arena
  5. Sep 1, 2026Tour concludes with final concert at London's O2 Arena
London · Oakland
Ariana GrandeJonathan BaileyRicky Alvarez
United StatesLondonNetherlandsManchesterTaylor Swift

8 sources

  • Ariana Grande Tears Up as She Ends 'Eternal Sunshine' Tour Ahead of Step Back From Visibility: 'I Have Loved Every Minute of This'
    Variety·3h ago
  • Ariana Grande ends tour and steps back from public life
    BBC·3h ago
  • Ariana Grande Makes Heartfelt Tweak to 'Thank U, Next' Lyric Dedicated to Ricky Alvarez in Final Eternal Sunshine Show
    Billboard·3h ago
  • Fans mourn 'bittersweet' final Ariana Grande gig in London
    France 24·5h ago
  • Ariana Grande afronta el cierre de su gira en Londres con una lesión en el pie: "Esta noche sin mis tacones característicos"
    20 minutos·14h ago
  • Ariana Grande sofre lesão a dias dos últimos concertos da tour
    Notícias ao Minuto·17h ago
  • Pourquoi Ariana Grande ne porte-t-elle pas ses talons emblématiques pour ses derniers concerts?
    7sur7·18h ago
  • Konzerte in London: Verletzung am Fuß: Ariana Grande tritt ohne hohe Schuhe auf
    RP Online·19h ago

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