Ties

Exclusive: Research says sector is fixated with young talent, with most women experiencing unconscious bias or sexismWomen working in the arts believe they do not have equal opportunities for roles, especially as they get older, according to a report saying that the industry is fixated with “young and emerging” talent.Nearly all (95%) women working in the arts thought gender inequality persisted, while three-quarters (75%) reported experiencing unconscious bias or sexism, according to a survey of 76 arts professionals. More than two-thirds (69%) felt that age negatively affected their career success – a figure that rose to 100% among those working in artistic rather than managerial roles. Continue reading...

• The BCCI has raised serious concerns regarding the quality of facilities for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, reporting that dressing rooms are located in tents. • Additional complaints highlight poor infrastructure, specifically noting that washrooms are situated approximately 500 meters away from the playing areas. • To address these issues, the BCCI may dispatch a representative to Japan to inspect the arrangements and ensure they meet professional standards for the teams.

• The provided text contains conflicting information, pairing a title about political ties between MAGA and Reform with a description and caption focused on Norway's King Harald V. • The biographical details highlight King Harald V's role as a unifying "People's King" and his escape to the US via Sweden during the Nazi invasion of Norway. • The content mentions the King's leadership during the 2011 Oslo bomb and gun attacks and his marriage to a commoner.

• A hypothetical AI model, ChatGPT-5.6, proposes a series of legislative measures to protect the rule of law and prevent government corruption. • Key recommendations include creating federal crimes for officials who attempt to obstruct the autonomy of Congress and the DOJ, and strengthening the Electoral Count Reform Act to protect administrative machinery. • The proposal also suggests treating government information as critical infrastructure, prohibiting political appointees from substituting political review for scientific peer review.

• Several high-profile celebrities, including Hayden Panettiere, James Van Der Beek, Catherine O'Hara, and Chuck Norris, passed away in 2026. • The report serves as a retrospective remembering the contributions of these figures across film, television, and pop culture. • These losses mark the end of influential careers that spanned multiple decades and genres of entertainment.

First robot-assisted outlet opens in Liverpool to take on Shein and supermarkets in clothing, shoes and homewares Business live – latest updatesThe owner of Zara is taking on Primark, Shein and the supermarkets with the launch of its cut-price chain Lefties in Britain, backed by an army of robots.The Spanish fashion brand opened its first UK store in Liverpool on Thursday, a few weeks after quietly launching its UK website. Continue reading...

Death toll of nine likely to rise as floods and mudslide sweep away houses, roads, bridges and power projectsTorrential floods ⁠in the Himalayan border areas of ⁠Nepal and in ​Tibet in China have killed at least nine people and destroyed roads, bridges and power projects, as authorities in both countries braced for more casualties.Houses and roads were swept away ⁠in Nepal while officials in Tibet said they feared “major casualties” with some missing in the county of Gyirong after a mudslide hit a land crossing between the neighbours. Continue reading...

Local governments working with firms also linked to fossil fuel giants, analysis of federal lobbying disclosures showsCongressional lobbyists working for fossil fuel firms that are exacerbating the climate crisis are simultaneously representing more than 300 local governments raising funding to recover from climate damage, according to a new analysis.The research by F Minus and Make Polluters Pay reviewed congressional lobbying disclosures for the first quarter of 2026, finding that another 568 local governments hired fossil fuel lobbyists to work on non-climate related issues during that time, some of which included climate adjacent issues, like healthcare and home insurance. Continue reading...

• Andy Burnham has called for the UK to be "bolder" in its efforts to establish a closer relationship with the European Union. • The statement comes as British universities express growing concerns regarding the impact of high tuition fees for European students. • This push for closer ties highlights ongoing political tension over how to manage post-Brexit diplomatic and economic relations.

• Indian equities are expected to open lower on August 25, 2026, as markets face pressure from geopolitical tensions in West Asia and the upcoming Nifty expiry. • Key global triggers include Brent crude futures hovering around $92 a barrel and a general slip in Asian shares ahead of Nvidia’s earnings report. • Geopolitical instability has intensified following Iran's pledge to retaliate against expanded economic sanctions imposed by the United States.

• China has designated quantum technology as a priority frontier field within its new 2026-2030 Cyber Industry plan. • The initiative directs companies to advance basic research and develop core technologies, specifically targeting high-end chips, cybersecurity, data security, and industrial software. • This strategic shift highlights network information technology as a critical innovation area intended to drive breakthroughs and exert influence across multiple industrial sectors.

Washington launches campaign to isolate Tehran but it is unclear whether it would apply sanctions to ChinaThe US has threatened to impose severe sanctions against any country or entity maintaining economic ties with Iran, hoping to achieve with economic measures what military means have so far failed to do.However, it is unclear how far the Trump administration is prepared to go in confronting China, Iran’s biggest trading partner, which has signalled its resistance to US economic pressure to cut off links with an ally. Continue reading...

• Democratic Party chair Kim Min-seok has initiated a reconciliation push by calling for frequent, informal talks with People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok. • Simultaneously, Kim is seeking to revive cooperation with the Rebuilding Korea Party, exploring the possibility of a merger to strengthen the liberal alliance. • The Rebuilding Korea Party has responded cautiously, stating that rebuilding trust is a necessary prerequisite after previous merger negotiations collapsed.

• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) infused Rs 23,544 crore into Indian equities during August, marking a significant shift in investment trends. • This surge follows four consecutive months of heavy selling and is driven by improving quarterly earnings, a stable rupee, and positive market prospects. • The trend is critical as it signals a return of foreign confidence in the Indian market after a period of sustained capital outflow.

• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) invested ₹23,544 crore into Indian equities during August, following a similar inflow of ₹20,200 crore in July. • This surge marks a significant turnaround after four consecutive months of heavy selling, driven primarily by strong corporate earnings and the stability of the Indian rupee. • The trend signals renewed global confidence in the Indian market, reversing previous bearish sentiment.

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...

• Anita Earls and Sarah Stevens are competing for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court in a high-stakes election. • The candidates hold opposing judicial philosophies, with Earls arguing that the court must enforce constitutional educational rights while Stevens labels Earls an "activist judge." • A key point of contention involves the stability of legal precedents, as Earls argues against overturning rulings within the same case to avoid confusing litigants.

Exclusive: Bridget Phillipson says politicians have helped fuel hatred and that police are not taking violence against women and girls seriously enoughUK politics live – latest updatesRacism 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. Continue reading...

• Singapore's government has collaborated with over 20 partners, including Microsoft, Accenture, and J.P. Morgan, to create nearly 2,000 job and training opportunities. • Announced by Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo on Thursday, the initiative targets fresh graduates and mid-career professionals transitioning into tech roles. • The opportunities focus on high-demand sectors, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, cybersecurity, and software engineering.

• Asian equities rallied on Thursday, led by South Korea's KOSPI index, which surged nearly 6% during intraday trading. • The surge was primarily driven by a more than 5% jump in SK Hynix shares following the company's announcement of a stock buyback. • This movement highlights the dominant influence of technology companies on the indices of major Asian economies, including Japan, South Korea, and China.

• A global bond market selloff on August 19 caused long-term government bond yields to surge to multi-year highs, triggering a broad decline in equity markets. • Asia-Pacific technology sectors were hit hardest, with South Korea's KOSPI plunging 5.8% and China's STAR 50 index dropping 6.89%. • In contrast, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index showed relative resilience by bucking the downward trend and recording a marginal gain.

• Asian equity markets declined today as a sharp selloff in semiconductor shares triggered a broader downturn across the region. • The bearish sentiment was driven by a combination of rising bond yields, escalating oil prices, and heightened Middle East tensions. • Investors are retreating from growth stocks due to mounting concerns over global inflation, increasing debt levels, and the impact of US monetary policy.

Internal documents obtained by Guardian show White House meetings, scheduled calls with top Trump officials and communications with Fox News producers Continue reading...

Effects of global heating in NT worsened by ‘dangerous and fire-promoting buffel grass’, expert saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFire authorities have warned large parts of the Northern Territory are facing heightened fire danger throughout spring, with above average fuel loads leaving much of the territory vulnerable.Low soil moisture has also led to elevated fire risk for parts of New South Wales, including some areas that were badly burned during the black summer fires, and south-east Queensland as an El Niño system continues to strengthen in the country’s south-east. Continue reading...

More than 40 charities write to Pat McFadden and review head Alan Milburn over fears of stricter eligibility rulesMore than 40 of the UK’s leading charities have warned ministers against imposing tougher benefit sanctions or cuts on disabled young people, as the government considers how to encourage more young people into work.The charities raised concerns that an imminent review of young people and work by Alan Milburn could bring in stricter eligibility rules for keeping disability benefits – or remove them altogether – as part of a wider plan to boost flagging youth job rates. Continue reading...