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• Global markets are bracing for volatility as traders return from holiday breaks, focusing on geopolitical tensions and their impact on energy prices. • Investors are closely monitoring upcoming policy decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to gauge interest rate trajectories. • Market risks are being compounded by the rapid rise of AI valuations, fiscal challenges across Europe, and political uncertainty surrounding the U.S. midterm elections.

• Former President Donald Trump praised a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding mail-in ballots, describing the decision as "great" for the Republican Party. • The comments come as states like North Carolina prepare to distribute mail-in ballots to voters starting next week. • The ruling is significant as it impacts election procedures and legal challenges surrounding voting methods during a high-stakes election cycle.

• UiPath shares surged 8.85% to reach $18.23, driven by strong buying pressure and trading above key technical support levels. • The stock's upward movement is being closely monitored by analysts to determine if it can break through critical resistance levels. • Separately, the U.S. government is considering the implementation of new semiconductor tariffs targeting servers and electronic devices.

• Silver is trading at $68.77, reflecting a modest daily increase of 0.17% amid a period of price stagnation. • The current price is supported by strong industrial demand and recent U.S. Treasury buyback expansions, though it remains below its long-term moving average. • Analysts are closely monitoring the $68.61 support level to determine if the metal can maintain its current position or face a downturn.

• US stock futures rose ahead of the August 26 session, with the Nasdaq 100 leading gains at 0.9% and Dow futures up 0.6%. • Investors are closely monitoring premarket gains for chipmakers Nvidia, AMD, and Micron, specifically awaiting Nvidia’s upcoming quarterly results. • Market volatility is being driven by falling oil prices, shifting Iran war support, and a 10-year Treasury yield that dropped over 3 basis points to 4.666%.

• NASA astronaut Anil Menon and French astronaut Sophie Adenot are conducting a spacewalk today, August 25, to replace a failed space-to-ground antenna on the International Space Station. • The mission is critical for maintaining reliable communication between the orbital laboratory and ground control centers on Earth. • Live coverage of the operation is scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. ET.

• Forbes Asia released the sixth annual edition of its "100 to Watch" list on August 25, 2026. • The list specifically spotlights emerging startups and small companies showing significant growth potential across the Asia-Pacific region. • This initiative matters as it provides visibility and recognition to high-potential entrepreneurs in a competitive regional market.

• Actor and singer Shelley Fabares, known for her role in "The Donna Reed Show" and the hit song "Johnny Angel," has passed away at age 82. • In entertainment news, "Spider-Man" maintained its box office lead in its fourth weekend, while Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" became his highest-grossing film. • These updates appear alongside regional sports listings, including a Philadelphia versus Seattle game broadcast on MLBN and MLB.TV.

• Nvidia stock experienced a 2.73% decline, falling to $209.2 today. • The pullback is primarily attributed to price hikes for AI servers and ongoing discussions regarding new AI investments. • This volatility highlights the market's sensitivity to pricing adjustments and investment shifts within the high-demand AI infrastructure sector.

• Forbes Asia has released its sixth annual "100 to Watch" list, highlighting emerging startups and small companies across the Asia-Pacific region. • The 2026 list is heavily dominated by AI-driven innovation, featuring companies like Singapore-based Eezee and Hyderabad-based Equal Identity. • Equal Identity, cofounded by Keshav Reddy of the GVK Group, has developed "Equal AI," a specialized assistant designed to screen and answer incoming phone calls.

• This week's European cultural agenda features a diverse range of art and entertainment, including a focus on Norwegian portraiture and cinema. • Highlights include an exhibition of pastel portraits by Asta Nørregaard, who rose to prominence as one of Norway's most famous artists in the late 19th century. • Film enthusiasts can look forward to the post-apocalyptic action of 'The Dog Stars', directed by Ridley Scott.

Ombudsman Iain Anderson says he is concerned police ‘had no clearly understood definition of racial profiling’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe commonwealth and ACT ombudsman has criticised the Australian federal police for failing to clearly define “racial profiling” after police in Canberra pulled guns on an Indigenous teenager who they mistook for a suspect in an aggravated burglary.The scathing investigation, released on Tuesday, made eight recommendations to the Australian federal police (AFP) and ACT Policing after investigating the November 2025 incident. ACT Policing sits under the AFP as the community policing arm. Continue reading...

• Investors are monitoring the geopolitical situation between the US and Iran, as any escalation could negatively impact global risk sentiment and market stability. • Market participants are also awaiting the Jackson Hole symposium, specifically focusing on the debut appearance of Federal Reserve official Warsh. • These factors, along with several other key indicators, will likely drive volatility and direction for Dalal Street in the coming week.

• Lando Norris has secured pole position for the 2026 F1 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, followed by George Russell in second and Charles Leclerc in third. • Local favorite Max Verstappen will start the race from seventh position on the grid. • The event provides critical viewing information, including race timings and live streaming options for fans in the Netherlands, India, US, UK, and Italy.

• Indian duo Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face world No. 1 pair Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning in the BWF World Championships 2026 semifinals. • The high-stakes match is taking place in New Delhi, with live streaming available across various Asian markets including Vidio in Indonesia and Astro in Malaysia. • This matchup is significant as the Indian pair attempts to overcome the top-ranked opponents to secure a spot in the championship final.

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.68% on Friday, recovering from a sharp sell-off on Thursday triggered by rising Treasury yields and disappointing Walmart results. • Investors remain cautious as fluctuating oil prices and the Federal Reserve's interest rate outlook continue to impact market volatility. • Market participants are now focusing on upcoming PCE inflation data and Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole speech for clues regarding future monetary policy.

• The author draws parallels between the current AI-fueled stock boom and the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s to warn of a potential market crash. • Key indicators include a period of insatiable demand and astonishing fundamental growth, similar to how millions of new users connected to the internet during the previous bubble. • This comparison matters because it suggests that while the underlying technology of AI is transformative, the current market valuations may be unsustainable.

• European compliance startups are scaling up as the European Commission’s AI Act enforcement begins, with full implementation of certain mandates set for August 2, 2026. • Key players include Paris-based Rippletide, founded in 2024, which is building infrastructure to make enterprise AI agents more predictable and auditable through explicit decision rules. • Outpost is also gaining traction, having raised €15 million in March to help merchants manage regulatory changes and absorb audit risks.

Fashion site also broke rules on labelling by using terms ‘leather’ or ‘suede’ for synthetic productsThe British online fashion seller Boohoo has been fined €2.3m (£2m) by France’s consumer watchdog ⁠for deceptive ⁠practices ​such as offering fake discounts.The Manchester-based firm, whose parent company renamed itself Debenhams Group last year, was found to have exaggerated its discounts, giving shoppers a false impression ⁠of the savings they were making, ​according to the directorate-general for competition, ‌consumer affairs and ‌fraud Control. Continue reading...

• NASA's Perseverance rover captured images of a solar eclipse occurring on the surface of Mars. • The event occurred as one of Mars' moons passed between the planet and the Sun, partially blocking the sunlight. • This observation provides valuable data on the orbital dynamics of Martian moons and the atmospheric conditions of the Red Planet.

• European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot is scheduled to perform a spacewalk today, August 18. • This mission marks a historic milestone as Adenot becomes the first French woman to ever conduct a spacewalk. • Live coverage of the event is set to begin at 7:00 a.m. ET.

• Shilpa Medicare reported that a recent product recall is not expected to have a material impact on its operations, financial position, or general affairs. • Manipal Health Enterprises (MHEL) has signed a Business Transfer Agreement to acquire the 100-bed Kinder Women’s Hospital in Bengaluru for ₹130 crore in cash. • The acquisition includes all assets and operations of Kindorama Healthcare's facility located in the Doddanekundi area of Whitefield.

• Thailand and Singapore will face off in the second leg of the ASEAN Championship 2026 semifinals this Tuesday. • The match serves as the decisive final encounter to determine which team will advance to the championship final. • Fans can access live streaming and broadcast details via Sportstar to follow the high-stakes regional rivalry.

• CableTV.com has released its top six TV and movie recommendations for the streaming week of August 10–16, featuring content from platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, AMC+, and Paramount+. • A highlighted release is comedian Kelsey Cook's new stand-up special, debuting Tuesday, August 18, which focuses on relatable social anxiety and modern dating struggles. • These curated guides aim to help viewers navigate vast streaming libraries and discover new entertainment options across multiple services.

• The FTSE 100 saw gains today, driven primarily by a rally in mining stocks and a rebound in oil prices triggered by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. • Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has announced the cancellation of a late-stage lung cancer trial following a significant data setback. • These developments highlight current market volatility stemming from geopolitical instability in the Middle East and setbacks in the biotech sector.

• Britain's Keely Hodgkinson secured gold in the 800m with a time of 1:55.01, beating Femke Bol who finished in 1:55.54. • Other key results include Germany's Owen Ansah winning the men's 200m in 19.95 seconds, while GB's Zharnel Hughes took silver. • Norway's Karsten Warholm achieved a milestone by powering to his fourth successive 400m hurdles gold, and Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi won the high jump.

Reform UK leader’s return to Clacton restarts inquiry into £5m gift from cyrpto-billionaire and support from fraudsterThe suspended parliamentary standards investigation into Nigel Farage over accusations he failed to declare gifts and donations has resumed after the Reform UK leader’s re-election as the MP for Clacton.The twofold investigation by Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, was paused after Farage resigned from his seat and called a byelection in protest at what he said was unfair scrutiny of his finances. Continue reading...

Two planes came close to collision on the runway on Sunday – hours after another near miss – making a total of three in recent weeksGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe transport safety watchdog is investigating a another near-collision between two planes at Sydney airport – an incident that occurred on the same day as one that made national news and raised concerns about air traffic control.The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said on Thursday night that it was investigating a second “runway incursion” on Sunday 9 August. Continue reading...