Fears grow for fourth rate hike after higher than expected July inflation rate

• A left-wing NGO reported that "Jewish terrorists" attacked its activists in the West Bank on August 25, while a Palestinian woman was reportedly detained after reporting settler violence at her home. • In a separate diplomatic clash, Sa'ar booted Dutch representatives from a US-backed Gaza coordination center, citing the implementation of "anti-Israel measures."

• UN Secretary-General informed the Security Council that 2025 recorded the highest number of armed conflicts since the Second World War. • The report highlighted record-breaking levels of acute hunger globally, marking a critical humanitarian crisis.

• UN Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher briefed the Security Council, warning that Sudan is suffering from a critical "lack of action" regarding its humanitarian crisis. • The relief effort is currently supported by ten major donors, with the United States providing nearly half of the total funding.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the Security Council to break the "vicious cycle" between armed conflict and global food insecurity. • Guterres emphasized the need for practical arrangements to facilitate humanitarian operations and ensure the safety of aid workers delivering lifesaving supplies.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Monday that the global food supply has become "collateral damage" due to ongoing geopolitical conflicts. • He highlighted that disruptions to maritime traffic in the Black Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait have severely worsened hunger crises.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate end to attacks on commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure to protect global trade arteries. • Guterres urged all parties to strictly adhere to international law and restore navigational freedoms amidst escalating regional conflicts.

• On Monday, August 24, 2026, the United States announced a new series of sanctions targeting Iran amid escalating tensions. • The measures are part of a broader strategic effort involving the US and Israel to curb Iranian activities and influence in the region.

Civil society groups argue climate crisis means transport sector needs to urgently reduce its carbon emissionsDozens of civil society groups have demanded the UK government do more to promote cycling and walking, after this summer’s extreme heat exposed the desperate need to decarbonise transport.This summer’s heatwaves and wildfires were “immediate, real-world manifestations of the climate emergency”, the groups said, making reform of transport – responsible for more carbon emissions than any other sector in the UK – an urgent priority. Continue reading...

Authorities at biggest state hospital in Islamabad say 15 babies were in the ward when fire broke outAt least 14 newborn babies have died in a fire that broke out in the maternity ward at one of Pakistan’s most prominent state hospitals.The blaze began in the early hours of Wednesday and engulfed the ward at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, the biggest state hospital in Islamabad. Continue reading...

Households in Great Britain will pay equivalent of £1,723 a year, prompting calls for more supportMillions of households in Great Britain will face the highest energy charges in three years this winter after months of soaring market prices caused the government’s price cap to rise for a second time in three months.Gas and electricity prices will rise by 4% from October under the new energy price cap, months after climbing 13% at the start of July to take account of soaring global energy market prices caused by the war on Iran. Continue reading...

Australia’s first Olympic breakdancer became a viral sensation after her performance at Paris ‘24, where she failed to receive a single pointRachael “Raygun” Gunn says her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics was “not as bad as I thought!” after the Sydney-based breakdancer revealed she had finally watched back the moment that catapulted her to international fame – and mockery.The Sydney academic turned speaker was Australia’s first Olympic breakdancer and became a viral sensation after her unconventional routine at Paris 2024, where she failed to receive a single point from the judges. Continue reading...