Kerry meeting Duterte in Manila

US Secretary of State John Kerry, fresh from a gathering with foreign ministers from Asean and China in Laos, meets Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte today in Manila, with the South China Sea issue expected to be high on the agenda. Mr Kerry said he would encourage Mr Duterte to engage in dialogue and negotiations with China when the two meet.

Clinton expected to get party's nod

The US Democratic Party is expected to create history today (Singapore time) by anointing Mrs Hillary Clinton as its candidate for presidency, the first time a major US political party has picked a woman for the role. A dose of political theatre could be in store, however, as her rival, Mr Bernie Sanders, is seeking to place his name in nomination during the vote.

Fed likely to defer rate increase

Economists predict there is less than a 10 per cent chance the Federal Reserve will boost interest rates at the end of its two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting. The US central bank is expected to defer any possible increase until September or December, as policymakers hold out for more evidence of a pick-up in inflation. Central to the debate is how to reconcile upbeat US economic data with a global growth slowdown.