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• Investors are seeking policy clarity from Federal Reserve official Warsh during the upcoming Jackson Hole meeting in Wyoming. • The gathering, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, has historically served as a platform for the central bank to signal future interest rate expectations. • Market participants are currently unsettled because the Fed's new leadership has largely abandoned the traditional "forward guidance" that investors previously relied upon.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) held a meeting on July 22-23, 2026, to review economic, monetary, and financial developments within the global economy and the euro area. • Reports indicate a widespread rate increase across collateral jurisdictions and among market participants, signaling a gradual return to balanced liquidity conditions. • These developments align with the ECB's operational framework for implementing monetary policy, with repo markets continuing to function smoothly.

• The South Korean Kospi index fell 1.4% as Asian stock markets dipped amid investor caution. • Market volatility is being driven by focus on the artificial intelligence sector and anticipation of the upcoming U.S. Federal Reserve meeting. • Investors are also monitoring a scheduled Monday conference by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding a plan to economically isolate Iran.

• Real Madrid forward Endrick has rejected transfer interest from Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Roma. • Liverpool reportedly made a late enquiry regarding the 20-year-old Brazilian during the final days of the summer transfer window. • Endrick has opted to remain in Madrid to compete for a place in the squad rather than pursuing a loan move.

House Democratic leader meets with president’s son-in-law has ignited fury amongst own party Democrats incredulous over Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner meetingHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries’ meeting with Jared Kushner, the president’s influential son-in-law, has sparked backlash from his own party and other Donald Trump critics.Throughout this Congress, Republicans have adopted a my-way-or-the-highway approach to governing that has failed the American people. To stop the madness, we have repeatedly made clear that an extremist approach will not work and will be met with forceful opposition.The American people want bold change and that’s what House Democrats will deliver. In every conversation that we have with the Trump administration, we will continue to make it explicitly clear that the affordability crisis is not a hoax and nothing short of transformational policy change is acceptable. We are fighting for an affordable America. The question is whether Republicans will join us.Tim Scott defended fellow US South Carolina Republican senator Darline Graham’s knowledge of national security issues ahead of their state’s runoff election on Tuesday. Graham, who was appointed to fill the Senate seat held by her brother Lindsey Graham after his sudden death in July, is in a Republican primary runoff against South Carolina congressman Ralph Norman.Dan Sullivan supports Dan Sullivan against Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s US Senate election, says a former Alaska mayor who recently backed the race’s Republican incumbent over a challenger sharing their name. That development provided another of multiple absurd elements to Dan S Sullivan’s campaign for a third term in the US Senate, which – beside Mary Peltola, a former Alaska Democratic congresswoman – has drawn opposition from Dan J Sullivan.The Donald Trump aide Natalie Harp flooded a since-disabled social media account with pro-Trump posts on the day that the president’s supporters attacked the US Capitol in early 2021, years before she went to work for him and developed an extraordinary close relationship with him, a new report has revealed.A series of moves by Donald Trump’s administration to sow doubt in the integrity of US elections has intensified concern among voting experts – and sparked hope among election deniers – that it could declare a national emergency. The White House and US federal agencies have released a string of documents this summer – including disputed analyses of alleged voting by noncitzens and historical intelligence memos – stoking expectations that the US president could move to exert greater control over November’s US midterm elections.Iran’s foreign minister has dismissed the threat of a fresh round of US economic sanctions as a “desperate” ploy, even as its president acknowledged that the Iranian people are facing “many problems” amid Washington’s efforts to isolate and debilitate the country’s economy. Continue reading...

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner recently held a private meeting in New York City to explore "potential areas of common ground." • The meeting between the Democratic leader and Donald Trump's son-in-law has drawn attention due to their starkly different political affiliations. • House Speaker Mike Johnson responded to the news by dismissing the move, asserting that Republicans will maintain their House majority in the upcoming elections.

• India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is scheduled to meet with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. • This high-level diplomatic engagement follows the previous year's Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit and aims to address ongoing bilateral tensions. • The meeting is significant as it represents a critical effort to stabilize relations and manage security concerns between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Critics include Senator Chris van Hollen, ex-aide to Obama Tommy Vietor and ex-Republican congressman Adam KinzingerDemocrats and other Donald Trump critics reacted incredulously to a New York Times report on Sunday that House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries met with Jared Kushner, the president’s influential son-in-law, to discuss possible areas of collaboration.The meeting comes months ahead of the November midterm elections in which Democrats are favored to retake the US House, a development that would make Jeffries speaker. If they are in the majority, Democrats are expected to use their oversight power to aggressively investigate the Trump administration, including self-enrichment by the president and his family. Continue reading...

• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) on Friday in Singapore to strengthen business engagement between the two nations. • Key attendees included SBF Chairman Mark Lee and SBF (India Business Council) Chairman Prasoon Mukherjee, focusing on expanding investment opportunities. • A primary highlight of the discussions was the promotion of investment potential specifically within West Bengal.

• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) on Friday in Singapore to strengthen business engagement between the two nations. • Key attendees included SBF Chairman Mark Lee and SBF (India Business Council) Chairman Prasoon Mukherjee, with discussions specifically highlighting investment opportunities in West Bengal. • The meeting matters as it seeks to attract foreign direct investment and foster strategic economic partnerships between Singaporean enterprises and Indian regions.

The dark lord – or someone dressed like him – said the technology would aid the empire in tracking ‘rebel scum’A man dressed as Darth Vader appeared to poke fun at San Diego officials for using Flock Safety automated license plate readers at a city council meeting this week, a stunt that comes as the company faces growing backlash linked to spying concerns.The man, whose real identity remains unknown, masqueraded on Thursday as the Star Wars villain at a San Diego public safety committee meeting. Continue reading...

• Planning and Budget Minister Park Hong-keun and Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin held a joint media briefing on August 21, 2026, following the first Fiscal Management Strategy Council meeting in Seoul. • The meeting focused on resolving ongoing disputes between the two ministers regarding proposed reforms to the local education finance grant. • This coordination is critical for aligning national fiscal strategies with educational funding needs to ensure balanced government spending.

The PM will be working alongside chancellor John Healey, Lou Haigh, Angela Rayner and Sally Jameson with regional mayors expected to be involvedHello and welcome to the UK politics live blog.Prime minister Andy Burnham will be working from No 10 North in Manchester today, where he will chair what some in government are referring to as the “growth situation room”.Burnham said yesterday that fly-tippers will be forced to pay for the clean-up when they dump waste illegally. The prime minister laid out his plans to crackdown on waste crimes as he visited an illegal dump in West Yorkshire.Racism and sexism have become normalised in Britain, the equalities minister has said, as she warned that young men were being sucked into violent misogyny by the “cesspit” of social media. Bridget Phillipson said she was increasingly worried about how commonplace misogyny and racism had become, fuelled by online interactions and statements by politicians she said would not have been acceptable a few years ago.Phillipson suggested her sweeping reforms to special educational needs provision could be adapted to give parents greater protections if they are unhappy about the service being provided for their children. The former education secretary told the Guardian ministers were open to making changes to the plans, which were announced earlier this year but which have since been subject to consultation.Education Lucy Powell on Thursday addressed the GCSE gender gap, which shrank to its narrowest point this century. Almost one in four boys in England received top grades in maths while results in English improved across the board. “The white working-class review that was recently done, that was one things it found, that more boys need to see the purpose of education, they need to see the line of sight into work,” Powell told the Press Association.Meanwhile, Burnham told reporters that funding for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s security arrangements on their return to the UK was a “private matter”, the Press Association reports. Harry and Meghan are expected to return to live in Britain later this month. After six years in the US, they will be moving with their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, to a non-royal residence outside London. Continue reading...

• Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, President of the Asian Chess Federation, has concluded a diplomatic tour of East Asia, visiting China and Hong Kong. • The visit focused on meeting with sports officials and chess federations to strengthen institutional relations and expand cooperation across the continent. • These efforts aim to enhance the development of the game of chess, improve existing programs, and elevate the quality of Asian championships.

• Former President Donald Trump announced his intention to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. • In Alaska, Senate candidate Mary Peltola launched her first general election TV ad, positioning herself as a leader willing to challenge her own party to prioritize Alaskan resource development. • Florida's gubernatorial race saw primary victories for candidates Byron Donalds and David Jolly.

• European markets experienced a shift from bear steepening to bear flattening, with German yield curve changes ranging from +2.4 bps (30-yr) to +5 bps (2-yr). • EU swap rates increased between 0.9 bps for 30-year and 4.5 bps for 2-year rates, driven by higher energy prices and the US/Iran stalemate. • The EUR/USD failed to break the 1.16 resistance area as weaker risk sentiment and rising oil prices balanced front-end interest rate support.

• Leopold Aschenbrenner’s AI hedge fund suffered a 67% loss in July after margin calls triggered a forced liquidation of its portfolio. • The collapse highlights the significant risks associated with using high leverage to bet on volatile AI-sector stocks. • Despite the losses, the fund remains active in the industry, investing $400 million into Source Foundry, a chip-making startup valued at nearly $5 billion.

Trump’s son-in-law and envoy held rare meeting with Hamas chief in Egypt in push for progress on ceasefireDonald Trump’s son-in-law and envoy, Jared Kushner, held a rare meeting with Hamas’s political chief on Sunday in Egypt, in a new diplomatic effort to make progress in the stalled Gaza ceasefire. Kushner will meet on Monday with Benjamin Netanyahu, who is under pressure after rejecting the new 15-point, US-backed road map.The talks aim to salvage the plan for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territory shattered by war. Continue reading...

Discussions to focus on Australia’s acquisition of Mogami-class frigates as Japan plays down Albanese’s podcast commentsJapan’s defence minister will visit Canberra this week, the highest level engagement with Australia after controversy over Anthony Albanese’s comments about a gift of melons from prime minister Sanae Takaichi.The defence minister, Shinjiro Koizumi, will meet his counterpart and deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, on Tuesday, with discussions focused on Australia’s acquisition of Japan’s Mogami-class frigates and enhanced security cooperation. Continue reading...

• Major U.S. retailers, including Walmart and Home Depot, are scheduled to report their latest quarterly earnings this week. • Investors are also awaiting the release of the Federal Reserve's meeting minutes to gain deeper insight into the central bank's most recent policy discussions. • These reports are critical as they provide a snapshot of current consumer spending habits and potential signals regarding future interest rate movements.

Exclusive: More than 100 homes on King Charles and Prince William’s inherited estates have EPC ratings of F or G• ‘It’s archaic’: the struggle to heat poorly insulated homes let by royal estatesMore than 100 homes on the inherited royal estates of King Charles and Prince William fail to meet the legal minimum energy standards for landlords, the Guardian can reveal.An analysis of a large sample of domestic lets on the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the Sandringham estate found that one in five have Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings of F or G. Continue reading...

Parts of country face fifth heatwave of the summer with highs of 38C forecast this week Parts of the UK will face the fifth heatwave of the summer this week with temperatures forecast to reach highs of 38C, prompting the Met Office to issue an amber weather warning for extreme heat.The record-shattering heatwave has caused wildfires and drought in many parts of the country, with this summer on course to be the UK’s hottest since records began, according to the Met Office. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 in the first 10 days of August alone. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary, Steve Wright, told Times Radio the country faces a national emergency “right now”, with wildfires seen “all across” the UK. Continue reading...

High temperatures continue with forecasts reaching 38C on Thursday and wildfires stretching emergency servicesThe prime minister will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday in response to extreme heat, which has caused wildfires and plunged many parts of Britain into drought.Andy Burnham will meet with ministers, officials and agencies as high temperatures continue across the UK on Wednesday afternoon, with temperatures of 33C forecast, and up to 38C on Thursday. Continue reading...

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah attended the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ‘Mangal Milan’ meet on Tuesday. • The event took place at the Parliament House complex during the ruling coalition’s weekly parliamentary party meeting. • NDA MPs welcomed the leaders by waving the Tricolour and chanting patriotic slogans such as “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”

• On August 9, 2026, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Mojtaba Khamenei amid reports regarding the Supreme Leader's health. • Reports indicate that the Supreme Leader's medical condition has become "extremely critical," sparking concerns over the country's leadership. • This meeting is significant as it suggests potential preparations for a transition of power within Iran's high-level political structure.

Intervention follows days of delays and a near-miss between two planes on the Sydney aiport tarmac. Follow today’s news liveGood morning, and happy Monday. Here’s what’s on deck:Catherine King, the federal minister for transport, said she has asked Air Services Australia to come and talk to her today about a “pathway forward” after two aircraft were involved in a near-miss at Sydney airport on Sunday. Continue reading...

• U.S. Senators adjourned in the early morning hours without passing the SAVE America Act, a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill pushed by President Donald Trump. • President Trump urged the Senate to abandon its traditional filibuster rules to bypass the 60-vote threshold required to advance the legislation. • Senator Thune and a majority of the chamber resisted the president's demand to alter procedural rules to jam the bill through.

• Pakistan has introduced sweeping new regulations requiring mandatory registration and accreditation for all journalists working with international news organizations. • The government has also imposed strict restrictions on the specific geographic areas where foreign media are permitted to report. • These measures follow international coverage of ongoing protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) during the current election cycle, which triggered a sharp government response.