Position

• SemiAnalysis has released data showing that open-weights AI models are rapidly closing the capability gap with closed frontier models. • The report indicates a consistent acceleration in progress, with open-weights models halving their catch-up time during each successive phase of LLM development. • This trend spans critical evolutionary stages of AI, including early scaling, reasoning capabilities, and the transition toward agentic systems.

• On August 25, 1997, NASA launched the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite to study energetic particles traveling through space. • The mission specifically focuses on analyzing solar wind and monitoring space weather patterns. • This research is critical for understanding how solar activity affects the Earth's environment and technological infrastructure.

• On August 24, 2026, the opposition BJP and JD(S) parties accused Karnataka's State Information and Publicity Department of providing biased coverage of Legislative Assembly proceedings. • Protesting members raised slogans against the department and stormed the well of the House to voice their grievances. • The unrest was further intensified by allegations of irregularities within the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation.

• Democratic Party chair Kim Min-seok has initiated a reconciliation push by calling for frequent, informal talks with People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok. • Simultaneously, Kim is seeking to revive cooperation with the Rebuilding Korea Party, exploring the possibility of a merger to strengthen the liberal alliance. • The Rebuilding Korea Party has responded cautiously, stating that rebuilding trust is a necessary prerequisite after previous merger negotiations collapsed.

Planning consultation told ‘robust security measures’ will be needed amid growing resistance to such developmentsScottish police have warned that a proposed datacentre will require “robust security measures” to prevent “incursion” amid growing public resistance to such developments in Scotland.“A great deal of public opposition is likely” to a datacentre planned in Larbert, about 30 miles west of Edinburgh, the Scottish police have said in a letter submitted as a part of a planning consultation earlier this month. Continue reading...

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded on Thursday with the Lok Sabha being adjourned sine die following a persistent logjam over police action. • Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the Opposition, noting that productivity plummeted to 19% in the Lok Sabha and 39% in the Rajya Sabha. • Opposition members countered these claims, alleging that the government displayed "stubbornness" by forcibly passing several bills amidst chaos and noise.

• Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been adjourned until Monday following significant uproar from opposition members. • Opposition leaders are meeting Friday at 10 am to strategize for the remainder of the Monsoon Session and plan a protest at Makar Dwar. • Protesters are demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding alleged irregularities in Ram Mandir donations and police action at Jantar Mantar on July 20.

• The Rajya Sabha cleared the Appropriation No. 3 Bill 2026 during the Parliament Monsoon Session despite a walkout by the Congress and other opposition parties. • Opposition members staged the walkout to demand an official statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding government actions taken against protesting students. • Critics and opposition leaders further pressed for a discussion on alleged long-term theft and looting within temples, accusing the government of avoiding the issue.

• Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam are strategically positioning themselves to secure critical roles within the global AI value chain, moving beyond the US-China binary. • Each nation is targeting specific niches to ensure indispensability, such as Japan focusing on physical AI applications and advanced robotics. • This shift matters as these economies aim to leverage their existing industrial strengths to avoid being sidelined by the dominant AI superpowers.

• The 2026 Parliament Monsoon Session has commenced, featuring the "Mangal Milan," a rebranded weekly strategy session for the NDA to ensure alliance alignment and constructive debate. • Congress MP Pawan Khera has demanded an official statement from the Union Home Minister regarding recent student-related developments and the NEET paper leak controversy. • The opposition alleges that the government is intentionally avoiding parliamentary discussions on these critical student issues.

Trump’s former personal lawyer appears on track to become attorney general despite reservations over deal withdrawing ‘anti-weaponization fund’Critics denounce Blanche deal to halt Trump slush fundSign up for US Breaking News emailHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Todd Blanche appears on track to become the next US attorney general after two Republican senators drop their opposition to his nomination.Trump declined to call for Rep Max Miller’s resignation following allegations of domestic abuse from his ex-wife, Emily Moreno. Trump said he has always known Miller as “a good person” and called the situation “a very sad thing.”In an 89-4 vote, the Senate voted to take up a measure that would temporarily keep the government funded and help avoid a shutdown in the fall. The measure, known as a continuing resolution, would maintain government funding at current levels through 11 December, with some adjustments for specific programs. The Senate is slated to debate the funding bill and move it closer to a final vote.A coalition of 25 US states sued the Trump administration over new tariffs pegged at 10% to 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, calling them a pretext for replacing import taxes struck down by the supreme court in February. The states are asking the US Court of International Trade to halt the tariffs, declare them unlawful and order refunds of duties that have already been paid. More here.Trump accused US attorney Jeanine Pirro of having “folded like an umbrella” amid reports that he was considering removing her from her post. Trump criticized Pirro on Monday after she dropped vandalism charges against a former Olympian accused of damaging the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. More here. Continue reading...

• Opposition parties have warned that Parliament's monsoon session may face a total washout unless the government agrees to specific debate topics. • The opposition is demanding formal discussions regarding donations for the Ram temple and Union Minister Amit Shah's comments on the police crackdown on students. • This standoff highlights deepening political tensions and the opposition's strategy to force government accountability on sensitive social and legal issues.

• Lok Sabha Question Hour in New Delhi was disrupted for the second consecutive week due to intense protests by Opposition MPs. • The demonstrations centered on two primary grievances: the NEET exam paper leak controversy and disputes regarding Ram Temple donations. • These disruptions highlight the growing tension between the government and the opposition over critical educational integrity and religious funding issues.

• BJP and treasury bench MPs have condemned the opposition for politicizing the NEET-UG paper leak controversy and the resulting student protests. • Government representatives highlighted efforts to resolve the crisis, including dialogues between students and senior ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh. • The BJP emphasized that the government is addressing the issue by proposing a stricter law specifically designed to prevent and punish exam paper leaks.

• South Korea's KOSPI surged over 16% on Friday, hitting a record high and rebounding sharply after three days of declines. • The rally was driven by significant gains of over 25% for SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, bolstered by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won increasing his shareholdings in SK Hynix. • Market momentum was further accelerated by the South Korean government's announcement of a new 20 trillion won investment initiative focused on AI.

• Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned until Monday following disruptions and ruckus caused by opposition members during Day 10 of the 2026 Monsoon Session. • Rahul Gandhi led the criticism against Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, condemning alleged police brutality against protestors during the 'Sansad Chalo' march. • Despite the unrest, the Rajya Sabha is scheduled to deliberate on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on Friday, July 31.

• Opposition MPs, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, protested in Parliament during the 2026 Monsoon Session over alleged police action against CJP protesters. • The legislative session has already seen the clearance of the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. • Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi is scheduled to move the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha.

• Former OpenAI researcher Leopold Aschenbrenner has been forced to unwind all public stock positions held by his hedge fund. • The liquidation follows significant losses driven by a decline in AI-related stocks and a failed bet against software stocks. • These financial setbacks left the fund scrambling to raise cash to cover its obligations.

• The Rajya Sabha passed the Public Examinations Bill following its previous approval by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. • The legislation arrives amid intense protests over NEET paper leaks and demands for greater accountability in national examinations. • Opposition members from the INDIA alliance staged a walkout before Minister of State Jitendra Singh could conclude a seven-hour debate on the matter.

• The Rajya Sabha has passed a bill aimed at preventing paper leaks, though the process was marked by intense clashes between the government and the opposition. • Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the timing of the legislation, claiming the government ignored similar suggestions in early 2024 to avoid political fallout during the Lok Sabha elections. • Tensions escalated as the opposition demanded a formal statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding police actions, while the government accused them of "shifting goalposts."

• The Rajya Sabha has passed a tougher anti-paper leak bill following a seven-hour debate characterized by intense confrontations and an Opposition walkout. • Under the new legislation, individuals found guilty of leaking examination papers face stringent penalties, including five to ten years of imprisonment. • The bill also introduces heavy financial deterrents, allowing for fines of up to Rs 50 lakh to combat the growing issue of academic fraud.

• Opposition leaders in Parliament's monsoon session are protesting alleged police brutality against students during July 20 demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, including the reported use of pellet guns. • Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah, claiming he was "either culpable or incompetent" regarding the security response. • Gandhi is demanding an independent investigation into the police action, insisting that the probe be monitored by the Supreme Court to ensure accountability.

• The Indian Parliament's 2026 Monsoon Session continues on Thursday with a heavy legislative agenda for both houses. • The Lok Sabha is scheduled to consider the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, to address judicial staffing. • The Rajya Sabha is expected to deliberate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill and the MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

• The Lok Sabha is continuing its debate on the Anti-Paper Leak Amendment Bill for a second consecutive day, following a nine-hour session of heated exchanges yesterday. • The proceedings are scheduled to resume today at 12:00 PM, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi expected to participate in the discussions. • This legislative effort aims to address systemic vulnerabilities regarding exam paper leaks, a critical issue affecting student security and academic integrity.

• The Lok Sabha held a marathon debate on Tuesday regarding the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. • Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the Opposition for focusing on political attacks rather than legislation, while the government defended the bill as a necessary framework to stop paper leaks. • The debate grew contentious as Opposition members accused the NDA government of overseeing "thefts," specifically citing election votes and Ram temple donations.

• The Lok Sabha debated the Public Examinations Amendment Bill on July 28, 2026, during the seventh day of the Parliament's Monsoon Session. • Opposition MPs argued that the proposed punishments within the anti-paper leak legislation are insufficient to act as a genuine deterrent against exam fraud. • Government representatives acknowledged that paper leaks have occurred across various states regardless of the ruling party, emphasizing a need for systemic solutions over political blame.

• Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned following six consecutive days of disruption caused by Opposition protests over the NEET exam controversy and police crackdowns on students. • Speaker Om Birla intervened by reaching out to floor leaders to break the legislative deadlock and secure the Opposition's agreement to participate in proceedings. • The Lok Sabha is now scheduled to take up the Anti-Paper Leak Bill, a critical piece of legislation aimed at preventing examination fraud.

• Union minister Jitendra Singh has introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill to implement tougher measures against paper leaks. • The legislative process has faced significant delays, with the Opposition successfully halting the Centre's push to pass the bill on two previous occasions. • The bill is critical as it aims to curb systemic cheating and unfair means in public examinations to ensure fairness for millions of candidates.