Experts

First secretary to set out benefits of AI to union conference while vowing government will take safety seriouslyUK politics live – latest updatesMinisters must “heed the warnings” from industry leaders about the threat posed by AI as the government looks to capitalise on the technology, the first secretary, Louise Haigh, will say on Tuesday.Labour MPs and peers have called for the government to further cooperate with international partners to build regulations for the technology after three Anthropic researchers warned that artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity within the decade. Continue reading...

Some of the arguments inconsistent with ‘available evidence, science and established physiology’, say pairTwo leading experts have withdrawn from Lucy Letby’s defence team over concerns about the “scientific credibility” of some of its evidence.The former neonatal nurse is challenging her convictions for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester hospital in north-west England. Continue reading...

President has hyped growth of federal investment accounts to help US children – for his own political gainSince returning to the White House, Donald Trump has scrapped rules that made childcare more affordable and pushed to cut funding for the nation’s public schools. But with midterm elections fast approaching and his approval ratings very low, the US president has repeatedly trumpeted a two-month-old program designed to help the nation’s children. That program, unhumbly named “Trump accounts”, calls for the federal government to give a one-time $1,000 seed deposit to every newborn whose family applies.In campaign speeches this summer, Trump has sought to milk these accounts for maximum political advantage, making big promises about how much these accounts will help the nation’s children. In a speech in Las Vegas last month, Trump hailed the program, saying: “It’s really giving [children] a head start on the American dream… They start off with $1,000 … and they can end up with $100,000, $200,000, $300,000” and if the stock market booms, “you’d end up with $1m”. Continue reading...

• Two economists told Newsweek that the Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged during its decision meeting next week. • Economist Campbell stated that the central bank is currently ignoring calls from President Donald Trump to lower rates. • A decision to hold rates prevents immediate borrowing cost reductions for consumers and businesses despite political pressure for cuts.

Budget cuts, loss of knowledgeable officials and diverted resources raise risk of another attack, experts warnThe US faces growing challenges in countering international terrorism as resources are diverted to other threats, experienced security officials leave and “complacency” spreads, experts have warned.It is 25 years this week since the 9/11 attacks launched by Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida on New York and Washington, which killed about 3,000 people and led to decades of conflict, radicalisation and instability across the Middle East and beyond. Continue reading...

Predicted hot and dry weather in growing areas in eastern Australia identified as ‘one of the key issues’ that will affect food prices over next 12 monthsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe most severe El Niño weather event on record threatens to push food prices higher this year, experts say, piling pressure on households already struggling with the post-pandemic spike in grocery bills and complicating the Reserve Bank’s efforts to bring inflation back under control.The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast El Niño will peak in late spring or summer and “reach levels above the warmest observed since reliable records began in 1950”. Continue reading...

• Security experts warned that Russia's campaign of covert pressure and sabotage across Europe could escalate into assassination attempts against senior defense officials. • German authorities formally accused Russia of orchestrating an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport on August 4, where an explosive-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft. • This shift toward more violent hybrid operations increases the physical risk to prominent government targets and critical infrastructure across the continent.

Study reveals that pesticide poisoning kills 11,000 people each year, with India accounting for nearly 60% of fatalitiesAlmost half of the world’s farmers are poisoned by pesticides every single year, a study has found.Using publicly available data from 2006-2023, the study, which was commissioned by Pesticide Action Network, found there to be an estimated 402-433m cases of unintentional acute pesticide poisoning of farmers and farm workers every year. Continue reading...

Head of tree collections at Kew ‘very worried about this autumn’ as hot, dry summer has caused brittlenessHigh winds associated with El Niño could cause widespread mortality among tree species already weakened by a prolonged period of extreme heat and drought, experts have warned.This summer much of Europe has been scorched by a series of record-breaking climate crisis-induced heatwaves. The impact is notable across much of England’s countryside, where once green land has turned brown, and many trees are undergoing “early autumn” – wilting and losing their leaves early – to cope with extreme heat. Continue reading...

Unusual heat this year may have melted ice and thawed bonds that hold glaciers in place – leading to catastropheNepal-Tibet flash flood – latest updatesWhat caused the flash flood in Nepal and Tibet?The devastating flash flood that ripped through the border communities of Nepal and Tibet has heightened fears that the climate crisis is destabilising the geology of mountain and polar regions, threatening millions of people.Satellite imagery suggests a glacier collapse high in the Himalayas was the primary cause of the deadly torrent of mud, water and ice that tore along the Bhotekoshi River on Wednesday. It swept away buildings and roads and left at least 360 dead and 1,400 missing. Continue reading...

Regulations will require new sites to avoid pushing up power prices by building renewable energy plants and minimising water useGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastPlanned datacentres around Australia may avoid strict new rules being proposed by Anthony Albanese if they can secure approvals in the coming months, amid growing calls growing for a moratorium.The prime minister is aiming to come to an agreement with national cabinet on federal regulations for datacentres at a meeting on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Defense files motion to dismiss state case after federal guilty plea but prosecutors say they are prepared to litigateAfter Luigi Mangione admitted in Manhattan federal court that he killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, most experts believe that the state murder case against is highly unlikely to proceed – though some still see a slim possibility that it may yet happen.Mangione, who pleaded guilty on 14 August to two federal stalking counts, was scheduled for a New York state trial on 8 September for murder and weapons charges in the December 2024 killing. In the wake of Mangione’s surprise plea, legal experts said New York’s state-level double jeopardy law – which means someone cannot be tried twice for the same crime – could derail his local prosecution. Continue reading...

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made a sudden decision to return to the United Kingdom, sparking widespread speculation. • The visit raises critical questions regarding the couple's security detail and their current standing within the Royal Family. • The trip is seen as a pivotal moment for Harry to navigate his strained relationships with King Charles and Prince William.

Triptorelin, already listed for prostate cancer, should have unrestricted use, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government should fund treatment for thousands of women with breast cancer or endometriosis, and children with gender dysphoria, according to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’s advisory committee.The committee met urgently in July in response to AstraZeneca’s announcement it would remove Zoladex from the market, risking leaving more than 7,500 women with breast cancer without an alternative treatment. Continue reading...

Australia records 3% fall in one-year-olds fully immunised against hepatitis B as downward trend continues, expert saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian medical experts have warned a shift in child vaccination advice in the US is not grounded in science and could undo decades of public health advances.The US president, Donald Trump, signed an unprecedented executive order calling for American children to be vaccinated against fewer diseases, suggesting a link to autism despite no evidence. The official number of recommended immunisations for children would drop to 11, compared with 18 at the end of 2024. Continue reading...

Prolonged deployment is coupled with reports of water shortages, plumbing issues and attempts to jump overboardUS navy veterans and military health experts are expressing concerns about the strain on sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has spent nearly nine months at sea supporting US operations in the Middle East, amid reports of poor living conditions and worsening mental health among its crew.The San Diego-based aircraft carrier left port on 21 November, originally bound for the Pacific, but was redirected to the Middle East as the US-Israel war with Iran began. It has now spent more than 250 consecutive days at sea without a significant port visit, with its deployment repeatedly extended. Continue reading...

• Analysts are reacting to the July Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which arrived in line with expectations but showed that inflation outpaced average hourly earnings over the past year. • While lower gas prices aided the CPI in previous months, AAA reports that August daily national averages rose to $4.05 per gallon from $3.96 in July. • Experts identify the conflict in Iran as the primary near-term driver of inflation, posing a risk to price stability.

Plans for hyperscale datacenter in Palm Beach county prompt concerns over water and electricity demandsAbout 16 miles (26km) south-west of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Largo estate, near the northern edge of the Florida Everglades, developers have proposed a hyperscale datacenter on a 202-acre (82-hectare) parcel of land surrounded by water. Local environmentalists warn that the proposed 600MW datacenter in western Palm Beach county could damage the wetlands, which the federal government and the state of Florida have spent a combined $6bn to restore after decades of drainage and development.One concern is that the datacenter could exacerbate an existing issue of toxic bacterial blooms in a water system which has already been stressed by drought, fertilizer runoff and warm water temperatures. In recent summers, the bright blooms of blue-green algae have covered nearly half of Lake Okeechobee, which feeds into the Everglades. Continue reading...

• Economists have upgraded Singapore's economic growth forecasts following a strong performance in the second quarter. • The positive outlook is driven by robust AI-related demand across the region, with supporting data from Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea. • Major US tech companies have signaled continued investment in AI infrastructure, providing a "bullish signal" for long-term expansion.

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially approved a new mRNA-based vaccine designed to combat influenza. • Despite this milestone, experts caution that the approval does not necessarily signal a broad government embrace of mRNA technology for all vaccines. • This development is significant as it expands the application of mRNA platforms beyond COVID-19, potentially streamlining the response to seasonal flu mutations.

Researchers find microplastics can persist in compost, leaching into agricultural soilsPlastic contamination should be a central concern in efforts to deal with food waste, which campaigners call one of the most overlooked problems of the climate crisis, researchers have said.This is despite the fact that, as the chef, author and activist Max La Manna puts it, food waste management is “one of the few climate problems where everyone wins”. Continue reading...

New York mayor’s policy set to generate revenue and address housing crisis despite outcry in some quarters New York City’s introduction of a pied-à-terre tax has provided fodder for Zohran Mamdani’s critics, who accuse the democratic socialist mayor of attacking the rich – even as others welcome it as a much-needed effort to tax the wealthy in a city known for its yawning inequality and cost-of-living crisis.The tax, aimed at closing the city’s budget gap, covers people who own but do not live full-time in a house worth more than $5m or a condominium or cooperative unit worth at least $1m. Continue reading...

Domestic flights cost 26.5% more than last year, data shows, amid demand for travel and reduced oil refining capacityEven if a lasting ceasefire between the US and Iran lowers oil prices, travelers hoping to snag cheaper airfare should buckle their seatbelts and expect continued turbulence.US domestic airfares are 26.5% higher than a year ago, according to June’s consumer price index data, and analysts say prices globally are up 25-30% compared with 2025. Continue reading...

Special rapporteurs say ‘transnational repression by Indian authorities’ has put Moninder Singh in dangerUN rights experts have urged Canada to take all feasible measures to protect the Sikh activist Moninder Singh, who has been repeatedly warned by the Canadian authorities of credible threats to his life.In a letter to the Canadian government, the five UN experts raised “concerning allegations of foreign intimidation and reprisals” against Singh, a Canadian national. Continue reading...

Whey protein, a key infant formula ingredient, is in growing demand, partly linked to rising use of weight-loss drugsThe rise of “proteinmaxxing” – a trend in which consumers try to eat as much protein as possible – could lead to higher prices for infant formula, experts warn.Whey protein, a key ingredient in infant formula, has surged in popularity over the past year as health professionals emphasise the benefits of protein. Continue reading...

Injectable PrEP drug holds promise but investment in HIV prevention has declined dramatically worldwideSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email New innovations in HIV prevention could dramatically reduce the number of new HIV cases around the globe, but US foreign aid cuts will mean that those that most need the new medication will be unable to access it, according to experts at the Aids 2026 Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.One year ago, the World Health Organization recommended that governments around the world prioritize expanded access to lenacapavir, an injectable version of the HIV prevention medication PrEP that requires only two injections annually. PrEP, which also comes in the form of daily oral medications and bimonthly injections, is 99% effective in preventing sexually transmitted HIV for people who take it consistently. Continue reading...

El Niño forecast to strengthen from August to October, resulting in higher temperatures and more extreme weatherIndia’s monsoon is in danger and hotter, drier conditions are forecast across much of the world as a stronger El Niño weather system is taking hold, weather experts have warned.The El Niño system will strengthen from August to October, which will bring higher temperatures globally, with increasing rainfall in some regions while other suffer drought, according to new data and forecasts released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on Friday. Continue reading...

• EY Insights released its latest ‘Quarterly Economic Pulse’ report on July 30, 2026, urging Europe to enhance its innovation and strengthen the single market to remain competitive against China. • The report highlights Spain's economic resilience, forecasting a GDP growth rate of up to 2.5 per cent for the country. • These recommendations come as a strategic response to escalating tariffs and global trade tensions affecting the European region.