Battle

• The ruling Democratic Party of Korea adopted the confirmation report for its justice minister nominee on Thursday. • The Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly pushed the confirmation through despite resistance from the main opposition party. • This decision allows the embattled nominee to move forward in the appointment process despite political conflict.

• Iowa Republicans in battleground House races voted to halt the war with Iran to address political pressure before the midterm elections. • The decision follows a period of soaring fuel prices and widespread public unpopularity regarding the conflict. • This shift indicates that Republicans are prioritizing voter concerns over military engagement to maintain or gain control of Congress.

• Houthi rebels in Yemen have advanced their positions, leading to Saudi counterstrikes and turning a vital Middle East shipping artery into a battlefield. • The conflict has resulted in extraordinary success for the rebels while causing severe humanitarian distress for Yemeni civilians. • This escalation threatens to create economic havoc by disrupting critical trade routes used by global markets.

• Global trade routes and infrastructure are transforming into geopolitical battlegrounds as logistics and chokepoints redefine the risks of globalization. • The shift means that political agreements between states no longer guarantee the physical security of infrastructure located thousands of kilometers away. • Logistics is moving from a neutral support system to a primary tool of geopolitics, increasing the cost and risk for global trade markets.

Passionate documentary maker won international acclaim for unsparing but poetic films exploring the impact of the Pinochet regime in Chile Patricio Guzmán, the film-maker who chronicled Chile’s bloody 1970s political strife and its subsequent social and political turmoil in films such as The Battle of Chile and Nostalgia for the Light, has died aged 85. According to Chilean news outlet Emol, Guzmán died on Tuesday in Paris after a cardiorespiratory arrest.Guzmán’s chief preoccupation throughout his career was the carnage unleashed by Augusto Pinochet’s coup in 1973 against Salvador Allende, Chile’s elected president. He later told the Guardian: “I’m a film-maker who was very marked by the ways of the dictator. It has remained with me for ever. I cannot leave it behind.” However, he resisted the idea that he was an activist, political film-maker, adding: “I’m not a sociologist. Neither am I a politician. I make films that are metaphorical and poetic; I interpret reality through my own personal way of looking.” Continue reading...

• U.S. District Court Judge Carl Nichols blocked a new government rule restricting mail voting on Sunday night. • Judge Nichols, a Trump appointee, noted that the federal government provided no record evidence to support claims that significant fraud would occur without the restrictions. • This ruling prevents the immediate implementation of mail voting limits that could have impacted voter access in upcoming elections.

• Nearly 2.4 million voters in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will participate in the region's first parliamentary election to choose lawmakers and parties. • Thirteen political parties are competing for power in a process designed to transition the region toward a parliamentary system. • This shift aims to create a reform movement that discourages one-man rule by institutionalizing a parliament and introducing new political leadership.

Once central to rural life, cafe-bistros are closing in the face of depopulation and falling alcohol consumption, but campaigners are seeking new ways forwardIt is just past noon on a midweek day, and already every table at Au Bon Acceuil cafe-bistro in the northern Burgundy village of Saint-Martin-sur-Ouanne is taken.The three-course lunch menu today – including a choice of a hefty chunk of steak with chips or a meaty lasagne – is just €18, but villagers are not only here for the food. Continue reading...

• The U.S. Department of Justice sent letters to election officials in 30 states demanding they retain and hand over sensitive voter data. • These letters cite the enforcement of election rules under the Civil Rights Act, despite previous court rulings denying the federal government permission to collect this state data. • Election officials from both Republican and Democratic parties described the DOJ's communications as threatening.

Sydney-headquartered group suspends work on some of its 45 construction sites impacting 60% of workforceMore than 200 workers at Sydney-headquartered Bathla Group have been stood down as administrators of the embattled property developer seek emergency funds to stave off a company-wide collapse.The insolvency advisory Teneo said on Monday that new short-term funding arrangements would only allow Bathla to continue construction on some of its 45 construction sites, though it did not identify which projects were being prioritised. Continue reading...

The Reform UK leader is under pressure after senior aides appeared to plot how to bypass electoral laws on foreign donationsGood morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. The Reform UK party leader, Nigel Farage, is scheduled to appear on Laura Kuenssberg’s Sunday politics programme at 9am, where he will likely be asked more about an undercover investigation broadcast by Channel 4 News which showed two of his senior aides appearing to plot to get around electoral laws on foreign donations.Accepting donations from a foreign company, including donations in kind such as polling, could constitute a criminal offence and the party has been reported to the police. Continue reading...

• Nigel Farage is fighting to manage a donations scandal following Channel 4 allegations that the Reform party breached political donation rules. • Party spokesperson Zia Yusuf distanced himself from the situation, stating he is not personally involved with the two suspended men. • The party is simultaneously attempting to maintain momentum by confirming plans to raise the tax-free personal allowance to £15,000.

• Democrats in Congress renewed calls to expand the U.S. Supreme Court from nine to 13 justices ahead of the midterm elections. • The House Committee on the Judiciary advanced legislation intended to protect the court's legitimacy and preserve the system of checks and balances. • This move seeks to ensure American rights remain secure regardless of which political party holds power.

US tech company has sued London mayor after he prevented it from working with Metropolitan policeSadiq Khan has agreed for his text messages and emails to be searched as part of a legal battle with Palantir, the high court has been told, after he prevented the US technology company from working with the Metropolitan police.The London mayor stepped in to block a £50m deal between Palantir and the Met in May, with the artificial intelligence developer suing Khan’s office over the decision. Continue reading...

• President Donald Trump is attempting to change voting rules just two months before the 2026 midterm elections. • The initiative specifically targets mail-in voting procedures, but the changes currently await a necessary legal greenlight to proceed. • This effort creates significant uncertainty for election administration and could potentially disrupt the voting process for millions of citizens.

• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told parliament it is "absurd" to suggest the government had prior warnings before the migrant crisis in Ceuta. • The statement follows widespread protests in several Spanish cities over the government's handling of the influx of migrants. • The crisis has strained diplomatic ties with European partners, leading Italy to impose border restrictions on arrivals from Spain.

Mitchell Berman is among Democrats the party hopes can flip a Republican-leaning district in November’s midtermsDemocrats are targeting vulnerable seats this midterm election with working-class candidates they hope will resonate with voters exhausted by the economy.Some candidates are new to politics, and many have backgrounds as union members and leaders, which the party hopes will give them an edge over Republican incumbents as people have grown weary of Washington and the higher cost of living. Continue reading...

• Dana and Axios co-founder Mike Allen analyzed the shifting U.S. political landscape in preparation for the 2026 midterm elections. • The discussion highlighted emerging political flashpoints, including growing public backlash regarding the construction and impact of AI data centers. • The pair examined internal strategic conflicts currently facing House Democrats as they navigate party leadership and policy goals.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that all global conflicts and wars should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue rather than on the battlefield. • Speaking at the SCO Summit in Bishkek on September 1, the Prime Minister reiterated India's commitment to peaceful resolutions. • Modi specifically highlighted India's ongoing dedication to providing humanitarian assistance and supporting the development of the people of Afghanistan.

• Israel is preparing for its first general election since the October 7 attacks, featuring shifting political alliances and new candidates. • The Likud party has introduced a controversial political commission of inquiry bill to investigate the attacks, reflecting Benjamin Netanyahu's opposition to judicial-led probes. • This political climate follows a period of intense domestic instability caused by Likud's push for judicial reforms, which sparked mass nationwide protests.

Administrators said it would be forced to close the business if it failed to secure additional funding, revealing hundreds of staff have not been paid for weeksThe administrators of embattled property developer Bathla Group have said the company will fold by the end of the week unless they can secure additional funding to keep it afloat.The insolvency advisory Teneo assumed control of Bathla’s operations on 25 August after the Sydney-based construction company went into voluntary administration. Continue reading...

• The Indian women's cricket team, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, is preparing to compete for the Asia Cup title starting August 29. • India will open their campaign with a match against Thailand as they seek to overcome previous complacency and assert their dominance in the region. • This tournament serves as a critical benchmark for the team to demonstrate their strength and readiness for upcoming international competitions.

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hosted leaders from Austria, Denmark, and Finland in Berlin on Thursday to coordinate a strategy among "frugal" EU member states. • The meeting serves as preparation for upcoming negotiations regarding the European Union's joint budget for the 2028-2034 seven-year period. • This alliance, which also includes the Netherlands and Sweden, advocates for tighter spending discipline, often clashing with nations like Italy, Spain, and Poland that favor higher spending.

Concerns over planning process as George Town council gives go-ahead for 288MW AI factory despite opposition from localsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe day before Anthony Albanese secured agreement with states and territories to develop national datacentre standards, a small council in Tasmania was grappling with the existing regulations in the face of strong community opposition to a new AI factory planned for its town.The George Town council voted 6-1 to approve the plans of Australian developer Firmus to build a 288 megawatt (MW) datacentre at Long Reach, north of Launceston, but said it did so reluctantly. Continue reading...

• Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller warned that Scott Bessent, a Trump ally and potential Treasury Secretary, will likely fail if he attempts to suppress bond yields. • Druckenmiller argues that Bessent should prioritize cutting the US budget deficit rather than fighting market forces to lower borrowing costs. • Adam Posen of the Peterson Institute highlighted the irony of Bessent's approach, noting his past association with figures who famously broke the Bank of England in 1992.

Trump ally should cut budget deficit rather than try to suppress bond yields, says billionaire Stanley DruckenmillerScott Bessent’s attempt to calm the bond markets and push down America’s cost of borrowing have attracted a rebuke from the US Treasury secretary’s former mentor.Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller, who worked with Bessent at George Soros’s fund management firm in the 1990s, has warned that his former pupil is courting danger by trying to suppress US bond yields. Continue reading...

London and Kyiv in deal to help stop protesters and hostile states targeting military bases and critical infrastructureAI models trained on Ukrainian battlefield data will be used to stop protesters and foreign states targeting UK defence sites, railways and energy plants under a deal struck between London and Kyiv.Private companies will also be given access to the vast trove of data from Ukraine’s Avengers AI lab to help build new systems, the first agreement of its kind in the UK. Continue reading...

President says move is based on ‘very good relationship with Kim Jong-un’ but US military officials have said Ukraine war is boosting regime’s combat capabilitiesDonald Trump has said he is scaling back joint US military drills with South Korea aimed at deterring North Korea, despite military officials from both countries warning that Kim Jong-un’s regime was learning new battlefield tactics from the Ukraine war.The drills under Ulchi Freedom Shield, one of two major annual exercises held by South Korea and the US, start on Monday and run until 27 August. Continue reading...