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Russia is planning to spend $202.58 billion on its military in 2027, an increase of roughly 27%, with $591 billion earmarked for defence over the next three years. The figures come alongside news that Russia's budget deficit has risen to 3.2% of GDP, double the 1.6% projected in official estimates, prompting discussion about how long the country can sustain war-driven spending.

Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met his Russian counterpart for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Wadephul told Moscow that Russia must end its war of aggression against Ukraine and cease hostile actions against Germany and its allies, saying Germany stands firmly behind Ukraine.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran is facing deepening economic isolation as Washington pressures other countries to reduce or cut their economic ties with Tehran. The comments point to a renewed American push to squeeze Iran's economy through diplomatic and financial pressure, and the remarks are drawing attention as observers weigh how far the US campaign will go and how other governments will respond.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on the Federal Reserve to keep an open mind when setting interest rates, arguing that productivity gains from artificial intelligence could change the economic outlook. He suggested AI-driven efficiency may affect inflation and growth dynamics, adding to the debate over how quickly the central bank should ease policy.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iran's economy will collapse "probably within the next 2 weeks," claiming Tehran will make its final oil deliveries to China and then have "NOTHING." He argued Iran is growing desperate for a nuclear deal as sanctions squeeze its oil exports, framing economic collapse as leverage pushing Tehran toward negotiations with Washington.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has welcomed what he describes as a global crackdown on Iranian banks and airlines, signalling intensified international sanctions enforcement against Tehran's financial and aviation sectors. The comments point to coordinated action by allied governments targeting entities linked to Iran's economy, though details of specific measures or which countries took part were not given.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Federal Reserve should maintain an 'open mind' on interest rates as the US economy accelerates. His comments signal the administration's push for looser monetary policy, putting pressure on the Fed as it weighs whether to continue cutting rates amid stronger-than-expected growth data.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has argued that productivity gains driven by artificial intelligence mean the Federal Reserve can ease up on further interest rate hikes. His message suggests AI-fueled efficiency growth is helping contain inflationary pressure, giving policymakers more room to loosen monetary policy without reigniting price increases.

Discussion is focusing on the Irish Government's actions over Israel and Palestine, framed against Ireland's own history. The debate covers the extent of Dublin's measures alongside other states, from recognising the State of Palestine to banning goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank, with critics and supporters weighing what more Ireland could do.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has spoken to Dublin's NewsTalk about the United Nations' failure to deal with individual leaders causing global disruption and instability. The remarks come as China's Xi Jinping visits Donald Trump, with Guterres suggesting major powers are taking advantage of weaknesses in the international system. The interview is drawing attention to questions about the UN's influence at a moment of heightened geopolitical tension.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on the Federal Reserve to keep an open mind about the outlook for U.S. inflation, pushing back against a fixed view of where price pressures are heading. The remarks put fresh attention on the central bank's next rate decisions and on the administration's pressure campaign over monetary policy, with markets watching for any sign the Fed will shift its stance.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says AI distillation — the practice of training smaller models on the outputs of larger ones — is normal competition. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has previously described the same practice as 'theft', echoing claims that companies like DeepSeek built models using American AI outputs without authorisation. The exchange highlights a divide over whether model distillation is legitimate industry practice or misappropriation of US technology.

Scottie Scheffler conceded a putt to his Presidents Cup opponent, Echavarria, after a fan interfered with play. The sportsmanship gesture is drawing attention around the tournament, with commentators discussing how officials and players handled the disruption and whether the concession was the right call.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Trump administration will scrutinize open source AI models for intellectual property theft, warning that Washington has the ability to impose sanctions. The remarks come amid growing buzz around Kimi K3, an open source model from China's Moonshot AI, intensifying debate over whether freely released foreign AI models pose a risk to American technology firms and innovation.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has hired Wall Street economist David Zervos to join the department. Zervos, chief market strategist at Jefferies and a former Federal Reserve and White House staffer, brings market-facing expertise into the Treasury's senior team as the administration's economic policies draw close scrutiny from investors.

Estonian authorities say Russian intelligence services were behind an arson attack against Milrem, an Estonian defense contractor, in the capital Tallinn on August 15. The claim has drawn attention amid heightened tensions over Russia's war in Ukraine, with Milrem known for producing military robotics used by Ukraine. Observers see the attack as part of a broader pattern of Russian sabotage and hybrid operations targeting European defense and infrastructure.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has offered a prediction for when Iran's economy will collapse, commenting publicly on the state of the country's finances. The remarks come amid ongoing pressure on Iran's economy from sanctions and regional tensions. Further details of his reasoning and the timeline he gave were not included in the available coverage.

The chief executive of Arizona-based Scottsdale Mint argues that gold functions as a trustless asset in an era of record central bank buying. In the remarks, he points to persistent market volatility, growing official-sector demand for bullion, and refining capacity bottlenecks that are complicating supply as key factors shaping the precious metals market. The interview adds to ongoing debate about gold's role as a hedge when confidence in fiat institutions is questioned.

The United States team reduced its deficit at the Presidents Cup on Saturday, but the International side still leads by three points with four matches remaining. In a surprise move, American captaincy has chosen to sit world number one Scottie Scheffler for the foursomes session, a decision drawing attention given his stature. The move puts pressure on the remaining US pairings to keep the comeback alive heading into the final day.

CNN commentator Scott Jennings faced pointed questioning over new ads promoting Donald Trump ahead of the midterm elections. Asked to explain what public service the advertisements serve, Jennings struggled to give a clear answer, fuelling debate among viewers and political commentators about whether the spots amount to campaign messaging dressed up as public information.

The United States team has reduced the International side's lead at the Presidents Cup, but captain's decisions for Saturday's foursomes include benching world number one Scottie Scheffler for the session. The move is drawing attention as one of the boldest calls of the week, with the American squad attempting to complete its comeback in the remaining matches.

Scottie Scheffler was left out of the lineup during a Presidents Cup session, a rare benching for the world's top-ranked golfer. US captain discussions around the decision drew attention, with captain Brandt Snedeker dismissing concerns over Scheffler's modest record in team play. Scheffler himself said his team-play results are of little concern to him, and attention is focused on how the US side manages its star.

Commentators say Kevin Warsh, a leading candidate to chair the Federal Reserve, has seen a credibility boost, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent faces comeuppance over his role in shaping the race. The framing suggests Bessent's preferred outcome or strategy in the Fed chair selection process has backfired, and Warsh's standing among investors and policymakers has strengthened as a result.

MacKenzie Scott, the philanthropist and novelist who divorced Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in 2019, has released her first novel since the split. A Business Insider reviewer who read it says the book left them with more questions than answers, reflecting curiosity about how much of her own life and marriage is woven into the fiction.