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• Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and another "red state" are petitioning the Supreme Court to intervene in an antitrust lawsuit led by California and 11 other "blue states." • The legal battle centers on an attempt by these states to block a $110 billion merger that has already been cleared by the U.S. government and global competition regulators. • Bird argues the case is an example of "politicized antitrust enforcement" and seeks to establish legal limits on how a small group of states can obstruct major corporate mergers.

Experts say findings mean breast screenings for cancer could also flag cardiovascular problems in womenDoctors have discovered a way to use routine mammograms that screen for breast cancer to spot heart disease, the world’s leading and frequently underdiagnosed and cause of death in women.Researchers analysed the scans using artificial intelligence and were able to successfully identify women with coronary heart disease, high blood pressure or who had suffered a stroke. Continue reading...

The once world-leading producer of crude oil has plunged into an energy crisis as Kyiv targets its refineriesA sanctioned shadow fleet tanker carries oil from Nato member Turkey to a Russian Baltic port. A deal is signed for Russian oil to be processed in Kazakhstan. Fuel cargoes arrive from India via Egypt. The Kremlin pressures allies to sell it badly needed fuel.The data points may be diverse, but they point to a single inescapable conclusion. Continue reading...

• Venture capital firms, including Aramco Ventures, ARK Invest, Salesforce Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and Siemens, are actively funding startups as of August 25, 2026. • Rather than a general return of risk appetite, investors are aggressively targeting specific bottlenecks caused by the rapid deployment of artificial intelligence. • Key investment areas include electricity, semiconductor design, model security, autonomous logistics, licensed media, and specialized workflow software.

A dangerous Albanian criminal also sawed through bars and clambered down knotted sheets to breach prison wallsPolice in Spain have arrested a dangerous Albanian criminal nicknamed the “escape wizard”, who has managed to break out of four jails in Italy and Belgium by sawing through bars, clambering down knotted sheets and even using a human pyramid to breach prison walls.The fugitive, who has not been officially named, was arrested after officers from the Policía Nacional force discovered that the he was living in the north-eastern Spanish city of Tarragona and was the subject of a European arrest warrant issued by the Italian authorities. Continue reading...

To Nicola, Love Peter will focus on couple’s relationship during 12-year period of embezzlement and fallout of caseChannel 5 is reuniting with the producers of Power: the Downfall of Huw Edwards for a drama about how Nicola Sturgeon’s former husband embezzled £400,000 from the Scottish National party and the impact it had on her reputation.To Nicola, Love Peter will examine the couple’s relationship over the 12-year period that Peter Murrell diverted funds from the SNP while he was the chief executive to spend on items including a £124,550 motorhome and more than £2,600 on a pair of luxury salt and pepper grinders. Continue reading...

Yorgen Fenech tells jury he had nothing to do with killing and alleges top adviser to Malta’s then PM was instigatorA businessman on trial for the murder of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has spoken about the charges for the first time in court since his arrest seven years ago, telling the jury he was framed by police and had nothing to do with the killing.During four days of questioning by defence and the prosecution lawyers, Yorgen Fenech, 44, accused the most senior adviser to Malta’s prime minister of giving the go-ahead for the murder. Continue reading...

• Companies across the Asia-Pacific region are increasing their investments in artificial intelligence to keep pace with rapid adoption. • Executives are facing significant pressure to transition from experimental AI use to achieving measurable business gains within the next year. • This shift highlights a critical move toward operationalizing AI to ensure that high spending translates into tangible productivity or revenue growth.

• The National League of Cities has partnered with CyberAlliance to provide local governments with an AI-powered platform for cybersecurity risk assessments and guidance. • This initiative comes as cybersecurity incidents among municipalities surged by 42% in 2025, leading state CIOs to express concern over the safety of critical public-sector data. • Local leaders have emphasized that the MS-ISAC program is critical to their operations and are actively advocating for the restoration of federal funding.

• AI is rapidly transforming China's microdrama industry, disrupting traditional production methods and reducing the need for physical studio spaces like Hengdian. • The shift has sparked concerns among creatives regarding the future role of human actors and artists in an increasingly automated entertainment landscape. • To maintain quality, the streaming app Hongguo recently implemented higher production standards for AI-generated content to ensure viewer satisfaction.

• Content Europe 2027 will take place in Lisbon from April 20-22, featuring a five-track conference program. • The event is expanding its focus to include new dedicated tracks for drama and documentary content to better address scripted and factual programming. • In partnership with FRAPA, the event will host the International Format Awards Gala Final to honor the most creative shows of the previous year.

• Muon Space has secured $250 million in Series C funding, marking the largest verified deal in the last 12 hours. • The investment targets satellite manufacturing, communications capacity, dual-use space systems, and the development of on-orbit compute. • The company is redesigning nuclear steam systems to enable factory manufacturing and easier transport, aiming to reduce the high costs and long timelines typical of nuclear projects.

• The US has signaled an increase in economic pressure on Iran and imposed new sanctions against Hezbollah amid stalled wartime diplomacy. • President Donald Trump has threatened "crushing economic warfare," though analysts note Iran has developed a "survival economy" to withstand long-term sanctions. • To increase effectiveness, the US Treasury suggests cracking down on clandestine trade and banking networks operating primarily through Singapore, Hong Kong, and the UAE.

Prof Katya Rubia withdraws support for The Great ADHD Myth? as other leading figures voice criticismsA key contributor to a controversial Channel 4 documentary on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has withdrawn her support for the programme, saying it was biased and could lead to an increased suicide risk by encouraging parents to take their children off medication.Katya Rubia, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London, also said The Great ADHD Myth? misrepresented her views. Continue reading...

• The Taipei Music Expo (TMEX) 2026 will take place from August 27 to 30 at the Taipei Music Center under the theme "Tune in to Taiwan. Sync with Asia." • The event will feature "JAM JAM ASIA," a showcase across seven stages on August 29 and 30, featuring over 80 musical acts from 14 different markets. • This edition expands its industry reach by including music export agencies from Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and Taiwan's TAICCA on the exhibition floor.

• Palo Alto Networks has officially launched a new AI-driven defense program designed to enhance cybersecurity capabilities. • The initiative focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence to proactively detect and neutralize sophisticated cyber threats. • This move is significant as it reflects the growing industry trend of integrating AI to counter automated attacks and reduce response times.

• The Taipei Music Expo (TMEX) 2026 is scheduled to take place from August 27 to 30, operating under the theme "Tune in to Taiwan." • The event combines a four-day professional industry market with the JAM JAM ASIA festival, featuring headliners such as HYUKOH, Taeko Onuki, Asian Dub Foundation, and Accusefive ft. Mayday Masa. • This platform serves as a critical hub for the Asia Pacific music industry, facilitating networking and showcasing diverse regional talent.

Today’s contests will help shape the fiercely contested midterms this fall to determine control of CongressA tale of two Dan Sullivans: Republicans with same name contest Alaska primarySign up for the US Breaking News emailPresident Donald Trump posted an image of a map of the strait of Hormuz on his social media platform Truth Social, with a circle around the strait and the words “New US Territory” as the title on Tuesday morning.This follows comments made on Friday at a speech at a police academy on Long Island, New York, where Trump said “After we finish defeating Iran, which is being very badly defeated, pretty soon I’ll be declaring the Hormuz strait a territory of the United States. … Essentially, that’s what it is. We have the blockade. No ships get through unless we want them to.” Continue reading...

• India is evolving its foreign policy from a historical stance of Non-Alignment toward a strategy of "Strategic Autonomy" to better navigate 21st-century geopolitics. • The Indian government is actively lobbying for a permanent seat on an expanded UN Security Council, arguing that the current structure fails to reflect modern global realities. • New Delhi has positioned itself as a primary advocate for the Global South, focusing on critical issues like climate finance, food security, energy access, and technology transfer.

Marine conservationist says deliberate attack would be ‘act of extreme cruelty’ against an endangered populationSpanish officials have launched an investigation after the matriarch of an orca pod known for jostling and ramming boats off the Iberian Peninsula was spotted with wounds suggesting she had been shot by a pellet gun.On Friday, Spain’s environment ministry said Toñi, the oldest living member of the pod, had been seen swimming in the Strait of Gibraltar with markings on her dorsal fin that were “consistent with shots from a pellet gun”. Continue reading...

Russia is losing 30,000 casualties a month, and the country’s regions are under pressure to feed the ‘meat-grinder’. Experts say it may not be enoughIn kitchens and Telegram chats across Russia, the same question is being asked with growing frequency: will Vladimir Putin order another mobilisation?Nearly five years into the war, Russia is scrambling to find enough soldiers to replenish its ranks, as voluntary recruitment slows and its forces suffer heavy losses on the battlefield in Ukraine. Continue reading...

• The Lok Sabha passed 11 bills during its recent session, though the vast majority were rushed through without any formal discussion. • Amidst significant ruckus and parliamentary chaos, only the legislation addressing paper leaks received substantive attention. • This trend highlights a growing concern over the erosion of legislative scrutiny, as critical laws are passed on paper without debate.

South American fish with razor-toothed jaws was probably released by someone who owned it as a pet, officials sayAn eight-year-old boy fishing for bass in Pennsylvania was stunned to catch something more associated with the Amazon – and countless horror movies – than the rolling landscape of the eastern US.Seamus Coffey, who was fishing with his father Michael in a lake near Philadelphia, hauled in a large red-bellied piranha, complete with the razor-toothed jaws that the fearsome breed is so famous for. Continue reading...

Amid doubling prices and fraying tempers, shoppers hunt for elusive eyewear to prepare for rare eclipse of sun• Europe solar eclipse – latest updatesA secretive WhatsApp group was pinging with notifications throughout Wednesday, letting its members know where in London the latest “drop” would take place.The group’s focus, rather than being for an illicit substance, was for the much coveted eclipse glasses, which have prompted a frantic rush on shops before the celestial event. Continue reading...

• NDA and INDIA bloc MPs engaged in a heated face-off at Parliament’s main gate on Tuesday, requiring security personnel to form a cordon to separate the opposing groups. • The confrontation was sparked by protests over "brutal" police action against job aspirants in Jharkhand and allegations regarding the theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. • The clash highlights the deepening political divide between the ruling coalition and the opposition over law enforcement conduct and religious administration.

• Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that nine new television productions have been selected for California's film and television tax credit program. • The state's office estimates that these specific awards will generate over $600 million in production spending within the local economy. • This initiative matters as it aims to incentivize production companies to keep their projects in California rather than relocating to other states or countries.

• Governor Gavin Newsom announced nine new television projects to launch the second year of California’s expanded tax credit program. • The slate includes high-profile dramas and reboots, such as a new version of *The Rockford Files* starring David Boreanaz, *Ascent* with Viola Davis, and *Newlyweds* with Jamie Lee Curtis. • The initiative aims to strengthen the local economy and sustain the state's creative workforce by incentivizing productions to film within California.

• Governor Gavin Newsom has directed state agencies to establish a new AI Cyber Defense Program to protect California's critical infrastructure and local governments. • The initiative builds upon the state's 2023 and 2026 Executive Orders on Artificial Intelligence to strengthen cybersecurity coordination across government. • The program aims to counter increasingly fast and sophisticated cyberattacks that threaten essential public systems and family services.