End

• European equities opened higher amid a series of corporate updates, including EL FP launching a share buyback for up to 5 million shares and BGN IM considering an offer from BMPS IM. • Major credit agencies are reviewing the ratings of several nations, including France (Fitch), Portugal (S&P), Switzerland (Moody’s), and the Netherlands (Morningstar DBRS). • The UK government has decided to drop its 3% defense spending target, while various commodity futures for gold, silver, copper, and Brent oil expire today.

• NASA is scheduled to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday morning, August 30. • This state-of-the-art spacecraft is designed to provide astronomers with advanced capabilities to study exoplanets, distant galaxies, and the mysteries of dark matter. • The mission is significant as it will expand our understanding of the universe's composition and the evolution of cosmic structures.

• Former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh and Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid warned at Jackson Hole that underlying inflation trends remain "stubborn" and "sticky" despite recent favorable PCE and CPI readings. • Warsh argued that recent data does not indicate a meaningful improvement in inflation trends, while Schmid noted the central bank has yet to fully "break through" the current economic resistance. • The comments highlight a cautious internal perspective within the Federal Reserve, suggesting that single 25 basis point adjustments may have limited impact on the broader economy.

Critics say painting looks more like a zombie but artist Chris Ashmore says ‘touch-ups’ are still to happenA street artist has defended his mural of snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan in Sheffield after critics suggested the world champion looks like a zombie.Chris Ashmore was commissioned to produce the artwork featuring the seven-time world champion for the back wall of the Spot On Snooker Club, the BBC reported. Continue reading...

Decision to rescind ‘roadless rule’ opens more than 45m acres of national forests to roads, drilling and loggingMore than 400 endangered animal and plant species could face accelerated extinction after the Donald Trump administration’s decision to rescind a rule that has protected old-growth forests for more than two decades.According to a new report from the Center for Biological Diversity, the rollback of the Bill Clinton-era “roadless rule” could put 7.4m acres of endangered-species habitat and nearly 1,800 miles of protected rivers and streams at risk, while opening more than 45m acres of national forests to roads, drilling and logging. Continue reading...

• Ticket prices for the US Open have surged significantly, with the average sold price rising from $196 in 2022 to $346 this year. • Data from GameTime highlights a sharp increase in demand, specifically noting that average ticket prices for Louis Armstrong Stadium have jumped 52% year-over-year. • This trend reflects the tournament's status as a premier summer sporting event, though the rising costs are making it increasingly difficult for fans to attend affordably.

Chancellor pledges ‘fiscal discipline’ as plan to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2030 deferred until 2027 reviewThe new chancellor, John Healey, will delay setting out when the UK will meet the target of spending 3% of GDP on defence until next year’s spending review, the Treasury has confirmed.Healey resigned as defence secretary in June under Keir Starmer’s leadership, accusing the then prime minister of being “unable” and the Treasury “unwilling” to “commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country”. Continue reading...

• US stocks ended nearly flat as higher-than-expected inflation data created uncertainty regarding the Federal Reserve's future interest-rate trajectory. • Market volatility was tempered by resilient economic growth, though investors remained cautious in anticipation of Nvidia's upcoming earnings report. • Traders are now focusing on Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's upcoming Jackson Hole speech for critical signals on policy direction.

• The film "It Ends" has won a prestigious major award, bolstered by a high critical reception with a 92% critics score. • Despite the critical acclaim, the film faces a sharp divide with general viewers, reflected in a significantly lower audience rating of 47%. • This disparity highlights a common tension between professional critics and public perception regarding the film's execution or themes.

• Medical technology company Renata Medical has closed a $25 million Series D financing round led by ARCHIMED to advance care for children with congenital heart disease. • A new study reveals that Trump-era trade wars resulted in cheaper whiskey across much of the U.S., though prices increased in the production hubs of Kentucky and Tennessee. • Researchers from Rutgers Health report that brands selling intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids are exploiting a lack of social media oversight to target consumers.

• Japanese and South Korean stock markets closed higher on August 26, with the Nikkei 225 rising 0.62% to 66,261.94 and the KOSPI Index gaining 0.97% to 6,808.21. • The rally was driven by overnight gains in US equities, cooling Treasury yields, and strong performances from tech leaders, including SoftBank and Samsung Electronics, the latter of which surged 1.75%. • This recovery occurred despite early trading volatility and investor caution as markets anticipate the upcoming earnings report from Nvidia.

State government concedes ‘breach bail, go to jail’ laws risks overcrowding in jails, while one expert warns they may lead to ‘cruel outcomes’The Queensland government’s latest law and order crackdown – subjecting some children as young as 10 to a mandatory sentence of a year behind bars – could lead to “cruel outcomes”, according to human rights lawyers.In documents tabled with the legislation on Thursday, the government conceded its laws, dubbed “breach bail, go to jail”, would breach human rights and risk further straining the state’s overcrowded jails, youth detention centres and police watch houses. Continue reading...

• The luxury travel industry is shifting from traditional five-star hospitality toward an "Ultra-Private Luxury Travel Experiences Market" focused on extreme exclusivity and personalization. • This emerging trend emphasizes complete guest control over the journey, prioritizing unmatched privacy and bespoke services over standardized high-end amenities. • The shift matters as affluent travelers increasingly seek secluded, tailor-made environments to escape public visibility and conventional tourism.

Research finds just 0.1-0.4% of the total insured population will ditch insurance, while the government will save as much as $940m a yearGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRemoving the higher private health insurance rebate for people aged 65 and over is good policy that is unlikely to place additional pressure on public hospitals, according to health economists.The proposed changes, set to take effect in April 2027, will mean the private health insurance rebate will depend only on how much money a person earns – matching the rules for people aged under 65. Continue reading...

Sophie Lainault, who worked for Air France, wins legal case linking illness to more than 12,600 hours on flightsA flight attendant in France has succeeded in having her breast cancer recognised as an occupational disease, a first for the country’s aviation industry, her lawyer and a trade union said.The ruling, which recognised that Sophie Lainault, a former flight attendant for Air France, had frequently worked at night and been exposed to passive smoking, could pave the way for similar claims, the lawyer and the CFDT union said. Continue reading...

• Asian stock markets are positioned for gains as oil prices continue to decline, providing relief to investors after persistent inflation and high yields pressured risk appetite. • Market attention is heavily focused on upcoming earnings reports from Nvidia, which are expected to serve as a key indicator for the tech sector. • LPL Financial chief economist Jeffrey Roach warns that while employment remains solid, fading expectations for income growth could hinder future consumer spending.

• The Shift Agenda 2026 event features a presentation on "meta-SWE," focusing on the transition from AI-assisted coding to autonomous agent-led execution for complex software workflows. • Pierre-Louis Bonvin of Apryse will demonstrate a real-world document extraction pipeline designed to enforce image quality and send optimized, structured data payloads to LLMs. • The session also addresses the technical challenges of integrating Kibana into automated tests and local environments, specifically regarding Elasticsearch and security configurations.

Reproductive Freedom for All – one of the country’s oldest pro-choice groups – backs Jackson in his fight against Republican Susan CollinsOne of the oldest abortion rights groups in the US is endorsing Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee in Maine’s critical US Senate race, according to details first shared with the Guardian.Reproductive Freedom for All is supporting Jackson, the former state senate president, in challenging Susan Collins – the five‑term Republican incumbent who has been dogged on the campaign trail for her role in overturning abortion access in the US. Continue reading...

• Post-pandemic corporate profits have significantly outpaced the recovery of capital investments, creating a strong divergence in economic growth patterns. • Companies are achieving higher returns from existing assets, but fresh fixed-asset investments have weakened due to global economic uncertainty and trade disruptions. • The trend is driven by the risk of rapid technological changes, which may render new investments obsolete before they can yield returns.

• Country music legend and actress Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 in Nashville on Tuesday. • Renowned as the "queen of country music," Parton achieved global fame through her music career and starring roles in films such as '9 to 5.' • Her legacy is highlighted by her rags-to-riches journey and the establishment of Dollywood, her theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

• The 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has announced 23 titles for its "Vision" sections, showcasing independent cinema from Korea and across Asia. • Featured films include "1982" by Vietnamese director Nguyen Hoang Diep, "After the Song Ends" by Ryohei Kumamoto, and "Dead End," the feature debut of Hong Kong's Isabella Lam Lok-hin. • These selections highlight diverse narrative themes, ranging from psychological anxiety and family confusion to the search for missing parents and inner emotional scars.

Commissioner Virginia Bell resists push to extend antisemitism inquiry noting need for timely recommendationsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCommissioner Virginia Bell says she will delay – by four days – handing down her final report into antisemitism and social cohesion, in order not to distract from commemorations of the Bondi terror attack.On Wednesday, the last day of public hearings of the royal commission, Bell resisted a public push to extend the commission’s work. Continue reading...

• A surge of protests in India has significantly disrupted the traditional media landscape, leading to a shift from legacy news outlets to independent digital platforms. • Independent journalists and "celebrity YouTubers" are increasingly replacing traditional anchors as audiences flee "godi media," a term used by journalist Ravish Kumar to describe outlets that dismiss political dissent. • The divide is highlighted by contrasting coverage of exam retests, where legacy houses like NDTV presented government-aligned views while independent creators focused on student grievances.

• 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. • The UN chief argued that peace is the most effective protection against hunger, while a world without food insecurity creates the safest conditions for lasting peace.

Among those charged are two Super Micro employees and one from Nvidia, marking another flashpoint in US-China AI rivalryTaiwanese prosecutors charged nine people Monday, including one from Nvidia and two from Super Micro, for illegally exporting “high-end AI servers” to mainland China, adding another wave of turbulence in the AI ​​rivalry between China and the United States.Prosecutors said the servers involved were graphics processing units known as “B300,” which have been banned from sale to China. Continue reading...

• Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine found that a 4-day course of a mycelium-based fungal supplement reduced adverse reactions in COVID-naive vaccine recipients. • According to a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT04951336) published in BMC Immunology, the supplement also helped sustain antibody levels for up to 6 months. • These findings are significant as they could improve vaccine tolerability and help reduce vaccine hesitancy among the general population.

The country music’s death was announced by nephew Brian Seaver on InstagramDolly Parton, US country star, actor and philanthropist, dies aged 80Country ⁠music ​legend ⁠Dolly Parton ⁠has ​died at the age of 80, ‌her ‌family has said ‌in ​a ⁠statement. Continue reading...

• The BSE Sensex closed over 280 points higher and the NSE Nifty50 ended above 24,300, driven by a mix of global developments and foreign fund flows. • Sectoral performance was mixed, with gains in metals and telecommunications offsetting pressure on banking and financial stocks. • Key economic indicators showed stability for the rupee against the US dollar and a significant increase of nearly $10 billion in India's foreign exchange reserves for the week ending August 14.