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The sense of futility hanging over the room was almost overwhelming as Robert Jenrick took the stageIt’s turning out to be one of the longer sulks in Nigel Farage’s already sulk-filled career. Few politicians are better at having a strop and holding a grudge than Nige. At least on this side of the Atlantic. Donald Trump could give Farage a run for his money, but skin doesn’t come much thinner than Nige’s. He’s the soul of the Reform party as long as he’s the centre of attention and the yes-men and women – that’s everyone – around him are saying yes. But the moment reality challenges his narcissism, the mirror cracks.There was a time when you couldn’t keep Nige away from a TV camera or a gathering of reporters. It’s what he lived for. But ever since the Guardian revealed his £5m gift from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, Farage has gone all shy. Unable to bear the humiliation of being seen for the man he really is. The posh. The entitled. The venal. The grifter. Everything he has spent the last 25 years trying to persuade people he isn’t. Continue reading...

• 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.

The Republican Senate candidate announced the plan with a graphic X flagged as ‘Made with AI’US politics live – latest updatesKen Paxton, a Republican candidate for the US Senate in Texas, has unveiled plans to tackle the “negative impact” of datacenters amid a growing backlash across the political spectrum.Paxton, endorsed by Donald Trump but facing a close contest against Democrat James Talarico, posted a “Texas first” datacenter plan on X with a graphic that the social media network flagged as “Made with AI”. Continue reading...

• Banijay Entertainment has announced "Live Better for Less," a new pan-European lifestyle entertainment format produced by Banijay UK’s Electric Robin. • The project is a strategic collaboration between Banijay, the online marketplace Vinted, and WPP Media. • The series is scheduled for a simultaneous launch across seven European territories in September 2026.

• The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) 2026 has announced a lineup of 23 independent films for its Vision Korea and Vision Asia sections. • The selection consists of 12 Korean films and 11 Asian films, featuring a mix of emerging and mid-career directors. • This initiative matters as it provides a critical global platform for independent cinema and spotlights diverse storytelling from across the continent.

• The Busan International Film Festival has announced a lineup of 23 Korean and Asian independent films for its Vision section. • The Vision-Asia category features directors from 10 different countries and regions, including debut features from Japan's Kumamoto Ryohei and Hong Kong's Isabella Lam Lok-hin. • Notable selections include "1982" from Vietnam, "After the Song" from Japan, "Dead End" from Hong Kong, and "Ria" from the Philippines.

• The Iranian currency has plummeted to a record low against the US dollar as President Donald Trump claims the nation is "completely collapsing." • The US administration is preparing to unveil an "economic D-Day," a plan designed to tighten financial restrictions and increase pressure on Tehran. • Analysts note that Iran has developed a "survival economy" to endure sanctions, meaning the US must target clandestine trade and banking networks to be effective.

• Actor Yash has released the English-language trailer for his upcoming film, "Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups." • Prime Media Studios has been appointed as the official distributor for the movie in North America. • The film is scheduled for a North American release on August 26, expanding its reach to a global audience.

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced $1.5 billion in funding dedicated to science and engineering research. • The agency is implementing more flexible grant structures specifically designed to support emerging research and long-term projects. • This initiative aims to accelerate innovation by reducing rigid constraints on how research funds are allocated and managed.

Hundreds watched the 56-metre monument’s consecration, including anti-communist leader Lech WałęsaAn enormous statue of the Virgin Mary that is believed to be Europe’s tallest was inaugurated on Saturday in a small Polish village, in the presence of the anti-communist leader Lech Wałęsa.Hundreds of people took part in the consecration of the monument, which towers 55.6 metres (182ft) over Konotopie in central Poland, a village of fewer than 150 people. Continue reading...

Lord mayor says public square will be ‘fantastic’ – but business advocate says project’s scale of demolition presents ‘unwanted disruption’Sydneysiders have been given a first glimpse of a new public square set to “unify” the CBD, more 40 years after the project was initially conceived.The City of Sydney on Tuesday released new renders of a plaza that will be built opposite Sydney Town Hall after the council began finalising discussions with the owners of the last of seven buildings that need to be acquired and bulldozed for the project. Continue reading...

• Campaign Asia-Pacific has announced its most extensive regional judging panel to date for the Agency of the Year Awards 2026. • The initiative aims to enhance the prestige and objectivity of the awards by leveraging a broader range of industry expertise across the Asia-Pacific region. • This expansion is critical for ensuring a fair and comprehensive evaluation of agencies as the final entry deadline approaches.

• Fast Track Entertainment has officially unveiled Launchpad, a new artist growth platform targeting South Korea and South-East Asia. • Developed in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, the platform integrates live showcase experiences, brand partnerships, and new media engagement to support emerging talent. • Kenny Ong, Sony Music's managing director for the region, stated that showcase editions will progressively roll out from late 2026 through early 2027.

Reform say employers would be held responsible even if they were unaware of the worker’s immigration statusHello and welcome to the UK politics live blog.Reform UK says it will fine firms 10% of their global revenues and imprison bosses who employ illegal migrant workers under the party’s latest plans to bring down immigration.Under a Reform government, Britain will have the harshest penalties in the world for employing illegal migrants.Bosses of companies employing illegal migrants will be sent to prison, and their companies fined 10% of their global revenues.Illegal working undermines honest business, exploits vulnerable individuals and fuels organised immigration crime.We are already closing the loopholes that allow illegal migrants to work in the UK by extending right to work checks to the gig economy and delivery sector.Jewish leaders have turned down a meeting with a former antisemitic internet troll as Kemi Badenoch defended his selection as a Conservative council candidate. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) have declined an offer from the Conservatives to meet Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who has been selected to fight the Crewkerne South ward in Somerset next May.But they said they would meet with the Conservatives to “discuss their decision-making process” and urge them to drop Mr Bonehill-Paine as a candidate. Bonehill-Paine was jailed in 2016 after he was convicted of racially aggravated harassment of Labour peer Baroness Luciana Berger, who is Jewish.Ministers continued to defend the release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers as part of the government’s early prisoner release scheme, despite a potential legal challenge from the Police Federation. Justice minister Jake Richards acknowledged the “unimaginable pain” of the deceased officer’s family but said “difficult decisions” must be made because law and order could “collapse” without a functioning prison system.The government is not “actively” considering an inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s UK activities, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson has confirmed. They said that while the department was “reviewing what is possible” and would “look at all options to support victims”, a public inquiry was “not being actively considered”. Continue reading...

• Alibaba has unveiled its largest AI model to date, featuring 2.4 trillion parameters, as it seeks to compete with U.S. AI leaders. • Simultaneously, DeepSeek is challenging the market by focusing on dramatically lowering operational costs for AI systems. • This shift indicates that the Chinese AI sector is moving beyond raw capability to a new battleground centered on balancing performance, scale, and affordability.

Local councillor who says he used to work on Daniel Andrews’ security team also part of upper house lineup for November’s state pollA former Liberal party candidate, the animator behind Pauline Hanson’s anti-woke film and a local councillor who says he worked on former premier Daniel Andrews’ personal protection team have been unveiled as One Nation candidates for the Victorian election.Pauline Hanson held a press conference on Monday to announce the eight candidates who will lead One Nation’s upper house tickets at the November state election. Continue reading...

Federal government plan outlines cuts to California, Arizona and Nevada but fix is likely to be only temporaryThe US government released its anxiously awaited plan for how to manage the Colorado river crisis on Friday, outlining cuts in water supplied to California, Arizona and Nevada.The proposal from the US Bureau of Reclamation spares Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming from facing mandatory cuts, for now. But it is a temporary fix as the states that rely on the river continue to fight over a long-term management plan for the dwindling resource that supplies huge swaths of the western US. Continue reading...

• The Asian Project Market (APM) has announced 30 selected feature projects for its 2026 edition, showcasing a diverse array of filmmakers from across Asia. • Notable selections include Mouly Surya’s “The Wife Who Can See Dead People (Or Jinn),” Reza Rahadian’s second feature “Casparina,” and Tan Seng Kiat’s “One Fine Day,” which previously won the APM Next prize at TCCF 2025. • The slate features a broad international mix, including seven Korean projects alongside contributions from Cambodia, the Philippines, Iran, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

• The Asian Project Market (APM) in Busan has announced 30 selected feature projects for its 2026 edition, showcasing a diverse range of cinematic works. • Notable selections include "Casparina" by Reza Rahadian Matulessy, "Little Phnom Penh" by Chheangkea, and "One Fine Day" by Tan Seng Kiat, which previously won the APM Next prize at TCCF 2025. • The slate features a strong international presence with projects from Cambodia, the Philippines, Iran, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and seven projects from South Korea.

• Microsoft has launched Project Perception and its first specialized cybersecurity AI model, MAI-Cyber-1-Flash, designed to deploy red, blue, and green agents for rapid cyber defense. • Project Perception utilizes a multi-model architecture that optimizes for quality, speed, and cost by combining frontier models with smaller, task-specific AI. • The MAI-Cyber-1-Flash model is integrated into MDASH, achieving a 96% score on the CyberGym industry benchmark, outperforming Mythos by 12 percentage points.

• Microsoft has unveiled new A.I.-powered cybersecurity tools designed to protect organizations from increasingly sophisticated digital threats. • Mustafa Suleyman, who leads Microsoft’s A.I. development, is spearheading the initiative to integrate advanced A.I. capabilities into the company's security suite. • The move comes as executives express growing concern over the safety of A.I. systems and the potential for hackers to use these tools for malicious attacks.

• Microsoft launched the Perception platform and the MAI-Cyber-1-Flash model at a small event in San Francisco to identify complex vulnerabilities in codebases. • Analysis of 22 media outlets, including GeekWire, reveals that many reports focused on Microsoft's claims while omitting critical details regarding third-party testing. • This discrepancy matters as it highlights a gap between corporate marketing and independent verification of the AI cybersecurity system's efficacy.

• South Korean companies have unveiled plans for $950 billion in investments focused on semiconductor supplies, AI data centers, and physical AI projects following a recent AI Summit. • Key partnerships include Hyundai Motor Group collaborating with Nvidia to create a standardized robot reference platform and working with Waymo to manufacture autonomous vehicles. • Samsung SDS has partnered with Anthropic to explore new AI markets and jointly train a new generation of AI engineers.

• IMAX is expanding its presence in India, driven by the success and technical innovation of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, *The Odyssey*. • To overcome the format's notorious camera noise, IMAX developed a specialized soundproof “blimp” enclosure at Nolan's request. • This technical breakthrough reduced noise by nearly one-third, allowing for high-quality sync sound recording during the filming process.

• On July 23, 2026, the European Central Bank (ECB) unveiled ten shortlisted designs for the next series of euro banknotes. • The public is invited to participate in an online survey to provide feedback on the designs, which feature themes of European culture, rivers, and birds, until September 21, 2026. • ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone stated the redesign aims to ensure cash remains a secure, relevant payment option while reducing environmental impact through eco-friendly materials and improved longevity.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled a shortlist of new designs for euro banknotes, emphasizing themes of European culture and nature. • The public is invited to provide feedback on these proposed designs through a consultation period ending September 21. • This initiative aims to modernize the currency's visual identity while reflecting the shared values and heritage of the eurozone.

New prime minister says government must ‘do better’ to deliver change but promises prudent approach to economyUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has said his arrival in power will “bring back hope” to Britain as he launched his premiership with the surprise appointment of John Healey as chancellor and a promise to repair the damage caused to communities during the Thatcher era.The new UK prime minister acknowledged people were “fed up” with politics as he addressed the country after taking over from Keir Starmer in Downing Street, saying the government needed to “do better” to deliver real change. Continue reading...

• The Trump administration has launched a new industry clearinghouse designed to strengthen coordination on artificial intelligence cybersecurity. • The initiative focuses on improving the detection and patching of network vulnerabilities, with a specific emphasis on securing open-source software. • This move matters as it aims to create a centralized hub for sharing risk data to protect critical infrastructure from AI-driven threats.