Lost

• The author argues that Thailand may be entering a second consecutive "lost decade" of economic stagnation and political uncertainty. • This follows a first lost decade from May 2014 to August 2023, which the author attributes to the illegitimate nine-year rule of coup leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. • The analysis highlights how prolonged political instability and leadership under Gen Prayut hindered the nation's economic growth and development.

• Poland's Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski announced that the country will maintain its ban on Ukrainian grain imports to protect local farmers. • This move reflects a broader trend where voters feel mainstream European politicians have failed to address critical daily struggles. • The shift highlights a growing disillusionment with the political center, fueling the rise of right-wing parties like Meloni's in Italy, Le Pen's in France, and the AfD in Germany.

• South Korean personal investors are facing severe financial losses following a brutal correction and extreme volatility in the domestic stock market. • By the end of July, approximately 1.2 million investor accounts triggered margin calls, affecting roughly one in every 30 working-age adults in the country. • The crisis highlights the risks of leveraged trading, a growing trend among retail investors that has also expanded into U.S. and Taiwanese markets.

• A new report indicates that nearly 25% of the workforce in Southeast Asia is exposed to AI-driven disruption, with clerical, administrative, and professional roles facing the highest risk. • Manual trades, agricultural work, and craft positions remain relatively insulated from these technological shifts. • Analysts emphasize that exposure does not guarantee job replacement; instead, many roles may evolve or move up the value chain to increase productivity.

Verdant thinktank says cost could top £25bn a year by 2030 and calls for maximum temperature for working and urban redesign to cool down citiesRepeated debilitating heatwaves this summer are likely to have cost the UK economy more than £4bn in lost economic output by the end of July, new analysis shows.Green thinktank Verdant had suggested June’s unseasonally hot weather had an economic cost of £2.36bn. Updating its assessment to include last month’s high temperatures, it finds a £4.4bn hit to output. Continue reading...

• Leopold Aschenbrenner’s AI hedge fund is relaunching with a $400 million bet following a significant financial collapse in July. • During the previous downturn, the fund lost the majority of its value and was forced to dump its entire portfolio to Citadel. • This comeback highlights the high-risk, high-reward nature of AI-driven speculative investing and Aschenbrenner's ability to attract substantial capital despite past failures.

• Disney+ has ceased providing 4K and HDR streaming support for a segment of its subscribers across parts of Europe. • The service disruption is believed to be the result of an ongoing streaming patent dispute, though official confirmation is pending. • This loss of high-end visual quality undermines the value of the Premium subscription tier, leaving affected customers without the features they pay extra for.

• AI investor Leopold Aschenbrenner saw his hedge fund, Situational Awareness, suffer massive losses after peaking at approximately $45 billion in early July. • The financial decline was driven by a sharp crash in heavyweight AI holdings, specifically SK Hynix, and unsuccessful short positions in software companies like Adobe. • This rapid loss of fortune highlights the extreme volatility and potential "bubble" risks associated with concentrated investments in the artificial intelligence sector.

• Former OpenAI researcher Leopold Aschenbrenner experienced a dramatic crash of his AI-focused hedge fund, Situational Awareness, losing most of its $45 billion valuation within days. • Aschenbrenner rose to prominence in Silicon Valley following his 2024 AI manifesto, but his sudden financial decline has reignited criticism regarding his lack of professional money management experience. • The collapse is particularly notable given Aschenbrenner's past ties to FTX, adding further scrutiny to his investment strategies and risk management.

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella defended U.S. tech giants against Wall Street concerns regarding the rise of low-cost, open-source AI models from China. • Nadella argued that American companies will maintain their lead due to global trust in U.S. infrastructure and the strength of its open ecosystem. • The comments address a critical industry tension between the development of proprietary AI models and the accessibility of open-source alternatives.

From Afghanistan to Taiwan, unprecedented deluge highlights devastating impact of climate breakdown“It rained for 10 days and 10 nights, non-stop – I’d never seen anything like it,” says Anar Gul, a construction worker who lives in the remote district of Dur Baba in eastern Afghanistan.The houses in his village are built from stone and mud, which makes them extremely vulnerable to heavy rains. After days of rain, Gul’s kitchen collapsed and his neighbour, Sayed Afsar Sadat, saw a large part of his house completely destroyed. “Rains like this are coming heavier and earlier each year,” says Sadat. “They are destroying the roads and washing away our crops. It’s impacting us directly.” Continue reading...

Analysis finds more than 4 million Americans lost Snap benefits, or food stamps, from July 2025 to March 2026More than a million children across the US have lost access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) food benefits since Congress approved the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).The analysis found that more than 4 millions Americans were removed from Snap from July 2025 to March 2026, marking a significant decline in participation in the federal food assistance program. Continue reading...

• DelveInsight has released a comprehensive analysis of the global Clostridium Difficile Infections (CDI) treatment pipeline projected through 2026. • The report identifies 20 key pharmaceutical companies currently developing 22 distinct therapies to combat the infection. • This analysis is critical for understanding the evolving landscape of CDI treatment, focusing on mechanisms of action, administration routes, and FDA updates.

EU set for worst crop harvest in decade after total grain yield estimated to be 9m tonnes smaller than expected, analysis findsThe heatwave that swept across Europe in June is estimated to have cost the continent’s grain farmers €2bn (£1.7bn) in lost revenue and destroyed 10m tonnes of crops, according to a new analysis, raising concern about the impact on food prices.The European harvest of crops including wheat, barley, maize and oats is now predicted to be 9m tonnes smaller than forecast before the June heatwave, according to Coceral, the European association which represents trade of cereals and oilseeds. Continue reading...

As Andy Burnham enters No 10, Guardian data analysis reveals the fissures with Labour’s traditional supporters, and the traps the new PM will want to avoidKeir Starmer entered 10 Downing St on a wave of optimism after a landslide victory in the 2024 general election. His Labour party had overturned a defeat in 2019 in which the party crashed to its worst result since 1935. Labour won 412 seats, just a few shy of the 418 won by Tony Blair in 1997, a result that gave Labour a leader in office for a decade.But a little more than two years after he came to power, Starmer’s tenure is over. Over the past 24 months the popularity of the human-rights lawyer turned prime minister has plummeted, from a net approval rating of -3 when he took office, to -66 by September 2025 – the lowest net approval rating recorded by Ipsos for any prime minister since 1977. Continue reading...

Internal safety review at Australian National University found encampment had ‘high’ psychosocial risk ratingFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian National University’s acting provost has denied the university “lost control” of its campus to a pro-Palestine encampment, revealing an internal safety review found the encampment had a “high” psychosocial risk rating.Prof Joan Leach appeared before the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion on Thursday, which is examining the lived experiences of Jewish students and academics, including the response of universities. Continue reading...

• Science journalist Roberta Kwok has released a new book titled "Lost in Curiosity," which explores the complex and often chaotic process of scientific discovery. • The narrative provides a behind-the-scenes look at how researchers work to uncover nature's secrets, highlighting the human elements of the scientific method. • The book emphasizes the emotional toll of research, featuring a poignant interaction with a coastal engineer discussing the struggle to maintain optimism amidst the climate crisis.

Group, whose constituencies have derelict or at-risk pools, are campaigning to make outdoor swimming available for allCooling, blue expanses of water have been a lifesaver for many lucky enough to live near a lido during the recent UK heatwave.Now, a group of 20 MPs, along with the Fabian Society, are calling for this relief to be made accessible for all by getting water companies to fund the reopening of the country’s lost lidos. Continue reading...

Only 330 car club vehicles available for rent after big provider left British market, data revealsThe number of car club vehicles in London has fallen by a “catastrophic” 89% since Zipcar ended its service in late 2025, with former users being pushed to consider buying or leasing.Car clubs allow drivers to use vehicles parked around a city, using apps to book and unlock them. Zipcar dominated London’s car club market before the US company’s shock decision to pull out in December 2025. That left a gap that has yet to be filled for Londoners without a car. Continue reading...

• Public health experts warn that the U.S. has effectively lost its measles elimination status, as only 6% of 2026 cases are now linked to travel compared to a historical average of 40%. • In other health news, the FDA approved bulevirtide on May 22, 2026, marking the first-ever approved treatment for Hepatitis Delta. • On June 17, the federal government announced $223.1 million in new funding for CCBHC community mental health clinics to improve care access and reduce emergency room visits.

Acoustic recording of a song titled The World Is Not Enough included in wide-ranging auction featuring formative Coldplay recordingsA lost demo recording of a song Coldplay’s Chris Martin reportedly intended for 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough is going up for auction, alongside other recordings from the band’s earliest years.For the auction by Wax Poetics, the British producer Chris Allison is making available an archive of recordings the band made prior to their Allison-produced second EP The Blue Room, released in October 1999. Continue reading...

• Opinion writers for KFF Health News address critical public health concerns, including the loss of the United States' measles-eliminated status and the safety of sunscreen. • One contributor argues that the U.S. can no longer claim to have eliminated measles due to recent outbreaks and declining vaccination rates. • The collection also features a political perspective questioning the security of the pharmaceutical supply chain and the influence of Chinese Communist Party-controlled companies on prescription refills.

• The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of several prominent figures in 2026, including music executive Kanya King and artists such as Tay Keith and Clive Davis. • Kanya King, described by the MOBO Organisation as a "fearless champion," passed away surrounded by family and friends, leaving a legacy of cultural justice through her work with awards ceremonies. • The deaths mark a significant loss for Hollywood and the global music community, impacting various sectors from music production to broadcasting.

Fire and Rescue NSW uses thermal imaging and a mobile phone red light to quickly locate men who veered off walking track near JindabyneGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo hikers who veered off a walking track in Kosciuszko national park have been found within five hours using a drone powered by artificial intelligence, a first-of-its-kind mission, Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has said.The two men, aged in their 20s, were reported missing at 7pm on Tuesday evening after they failed to return to a rendezvous point on time. Continue reading...

• A CIDRAP op-ed argues that the United States has officially lost its status as a measles-eliminated country, asserting that current outbreaks represent continuous internal spread rather than isolated reintroductions. • The author criticizes the use of cautious phrasing by health officials, noting that the evidence from the virus itself confirms a failure to maintain elimination. • This shift is critical because it signals a breakdown in public health defenses, highlighted by a staggering 26% case-fatality rate in a recent outbreak.

The New York Knicks might have won in five, but the city’s mayor did it in three: a trio of candidates backed by Mamdani appear set to land seats in US CongressUS politics live – latest updatesA man or a movement? That was the question being asked when Zohran Mamdani gambled his political capital on Tuesday’s elections in New York.The answer from voters was emphatic: they prefer Mamdani and his brand of democratic socialism to the Democratic party establishment and its lukewarm version of capitalism. America’s biggest city has swung even further to the left. Continue reading...

Written in 1947, Kiyoshi Tanimoto’s account of the horrors of the atomic bomb attack will be published in August and is being made into a filmThe memoir of a man who survived the horrors of Hiroshima is to be published for the first time this summer after its discovery in a US archive.The 230-page memoir was written almost 80 years ago by Kiyoshi Tanimoto, who witnessed the city’s destruction after the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. He will now be portrayed in a major feature film by Takehiro Hira, whose acclaimed roles include the detective in the Netflix Japanese-British drama Giri/Haji. Pre-production begins in November, ahead of the shoot in February 2027. Continue reading...

A headteacher, a motorcycle taxi driver and a travel agent are among those who are counting the human and economic cost of the virusJustin Keno watches more than 400 pupils stream through the Nelson Mandela school’s gate each morning, and wonders which of them might be carrying Ebola.The institution’s principal has done everything he can to prevent the spread of the virus: installing hand-washing basins at the entrance, providing alcohol-based hand rub for parents, making pupils bring packed lunches instead of eating in the canteen, and banning food sellers from outside the gates. Continue reading...