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President’s speech, declassification of documents and heightened claims of noncitizen voting have experts concernedA series of moves by Donald Trump’s administration to sow doubt in the integrity of US elections have 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. Continue reading...

Similar initiatives have been launched from Barcelona to Bogotá, but they have misinformation, political pressure and vested interests stacked against themTen years ago, Alastair Harper was an advocate for young people’s health sitting in a stuffy meeting room in London planning an air pollution campaign. “My phone started buzzing,” he said. “I took the call, and then told the room I needed to leave immediately.“I had to get to UCLH [one of London’s major hospitals]. My own child was headed there in a blue-lit ambulance because she was struggling to breathe London’s toxic air.” Continue reading...

• AI-native lending platform Resolv raised $12.5 million (approximately Rs 120 crore) in a Series A funding round during the week of August 23. • The investment was led by Norwest, Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India, and 3one4 Capital. • Resolv provides technology that enables banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) to automate critical lending workflows, including risk assessment, underwriting, sales, and collections.

• Research indicates that working-class individuals are severely underrepresented in politics, accounting for only about 1% of U.S. lawmakers and 2% of officials in average global democracies. • The study suggests this disparity exists because most elected officials are careerists, specialized professionals, and credentialed pundits whose backgrounds align with the interests of the merchant aristocracy. • This lack of representation matters because it suggests that without systemic reform targeting the barriers that keep workers off ballots, working-class people will remain a tiny fraction of governing bodies.

• Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met in Wellington on August 21, 2026, to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. • The two leaders signed a Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership, a move designed to formally strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation between the two nations. • In economic news, South Korea reported a significant surge in trade, with total exports reaching $55.2 billion during the first 20 days of August 2026.

• U.S. startup funding is currently concentrating on AI infrastructure and defense technology, highlighted by Castelion securing an $800 million funding round. • Several companies are leveraging new capital for physical and technical expansion, including Also, which is accelerating its autonomous vehicle platform development. • Muon Space has opened a new manufacturing facility in San Jose with the goal of producing up to 500 satellites per year by 2027.

• Red Balloon Aerospace is working to develop near-space infrastructure within India to expand the country's aerospace capabilities. • Atomberg has filed draft IPO papers for a fresh issue valued at Rs 450 crore, signaling a major scaling phase for the company. • These developments highlight significant growth and investment trends across India's deep-tech and consumer electronics startup sectors.