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Campaigning or control of Congress is expected to ramp up as some states open early votingGood morning, and welcome to our US politics live blog. The midterm elections are less than two months away, but some states begin early voting today, marking the start of a crucial stretch of campaigning for control of Congress.Virginia begins early in-person voting, while voters in Minnesota, Idaho and South Dakota can cast absentee ballots in person, as the campaign turns increasingly on the cost of living and the continuing war in Iran.The Trump administration has approved a potential sale of 48 advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, worth an estimated $24.3b. The Department of State said the propose sale “will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defense”. The move comes despite concerns from intelligence agencies that China could potentially gain access to, or steal, sensitive F-35 technology through Saudi Arabia, according to the New York Times. The newspaper reported:One detailed report, issued months ago by the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency, raised questions about whether the Americans and Saudis would be able to secure sites with F-35 technology. It also raised concerns about the access that Chinese military personnel have to Saudi bases and the prevalent use by Saudi Arabia of Chinese technology in telecommunications infrastructure and defense installations.Former staff members of the US Institute of Peace have asked a federal appeals court to prevent the Trump administration from carving the president’s name into the facade of its headquarters in Washington, which was renamed the ‘“Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace” last year. Lawyers for the institute’s ousted board members argued that engraving Trump’s name on the building would cause “irreparable harm” by undermining the organization’s independent mission.The USIP dispute comes as another Washington cultural institution faces a court battle over changes under Trump. A federal judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to give 30 days’ notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolition as Trump has threatened. The president said the centre could be “ripped down” amid a dispute over plans to put his name on the building and a proposed $257m renovation. The center is currently closed due to what its Trump-backed leadership described as safety issues caused by age and structural deficiencies. Continue reading...

• Indian shares are expected to open flat on Thursday following a U.S. Federal Reserve decision to raise interest rates. • The Federal Reserve unanimously increased rates by 25 basis points, marking its first rate hike in over three years. • Market volatility is driven by these higher borrowing costs, rising crude oil prices, and a busy primary market featuring the NSE IPO.

• Rolls-Royce shares rose 1.71% to trade at GBX1,465 today as investors focused on the company's expanding nuclear division. • The company is increasing its exposure in the nuclear sector to diversify revenue streams and strengthen its position in the defense market. • This expansion provides a resilient growth avenue that reduces the company's reliance on traditional aviation markets.

• Nvidia shares rose 1.38% to trade at $215.09 following strong financial results and share buybacks. • The stock is currently testing a technical resistance level of $215.47, which is a price point where selling pressure often increases. • This price movement indicates high demand for the company's shares despite broader market volatility and previous warnings of technical selling pressure.

• Microsoft shares are consolidating near $495 following a strong rebound. • Market outlooks are currently being shaped by Azure cloud growth, AI spending, and regulatory risks. • U.S. midterm elections and political debates over data centers and AI are creating uncertainty for investors.

• Iran-backed Houthi rebels swept down the west coast of Yemen this month, gaining control of a strategic strait. • The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that 125,000 people have already been displaced by this latest round of conflict. • The resurgence of fighting threatens to deepen a long-running humanitarian crisis for the Yemeni population.

• Former Council President Charles Michel criticized European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen for making very slow progress on EU challenges. • Michel told Euronews that von der Leyen has failed to rise to the occasion and suffers from a lack of focus. • This public friction between top EU leaders suggests internal instability as the Commission prepares for a speech before parliament.