Exclusive: Number of times AI lies, ignores instructions and pursues goals in harmful ways almost doubles in JulyIncidents of AIs escaping users’ control to lie, ignore instructions and pursue goals in harmful ways have hit a new high, according to research that also suggests the severity of deception and misalignment is worsening.Analysis of real-world loss of control incidents involving AI models flagged by businesses and individuals almost doubled in July compared with June, with more than 300 cases in the month, according to the Loss of Control Observatory, which monitors reports made by AI users on the social media platform X. Continue reading...
• In an article dated August 28, 2026, Lucas Leiroz de Almeida reports that Donald Trump’s "Middle East Agenda" and military campaign against Iran are causing widespread domestic instability.
• The report highlights that the negative consequences of this conflict extend beyond the military sector, creating significant economic disruptions within American agribusiness.
• This shift matters because it suggests that geopolitical aggression toward Iran is directly harming the livelihoods of American farmers and the broader agricultural economy.
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted expedited approval to daraxonrasib, a first-of-a-kind oral medication designed to treat the most common form of pancreatic cancer.
• Developed by Revolution Medicines, the drug functions as a Ras multiselective inhibitor, targeting specific genetic drivers of the disease.
• This approval is significant because it provides patients with a more effective treatment option for one of the deadliest types of cancer, which often has limited therapeutic alternatives.
• Security researchers discovered a vulnerability where AI coding agents can be manipulated into executing malicious code by following instructions within a company's own llms.txt or llms-full.txt files.
• The flaw exploits a growing industry convention of using these text files to provide LLM agents with structured guidance on APIs, documentation, and installation workflows.
• This is significant because it allows attackers to trick AI agents into installing attacker-controlled packages inside Fortune 500 companies, bypassing traditional security boundaries.
Australian government announces 24 expeditioners based at research station on Macquarie Island will be evacuated over possible ‘prolonged psychological stress’A dolphin has died from H5 bird flu in South Australia, marking the second native mammal species known to have contracted the virus.It comes as the federal government announced it would withdraw researchers from the subantarctic Macquarie Island research station due to the “psychosocial risk” of witnessing potential mass seal deaths from H5N1 during the upcoming seal breeding season. Continue reading...
• SPARK Industries Corporation announced on May 27, 2026, that internal validation of 1,000+ clinical MRI cases showed consistent signal relationships for TBI, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prostate cancer.
• Following these successful internal results, SPARK is now moving forward with blinded third-party validation trials to further verify its findings.
• In a separate development, KŪR Health has acquired intellectual property, key assets, and select talent from Catbird Health.
• Recent scientific studies have unveiled a series of extraordinary breakthroughs across the fields of physics, medicine, and the natural world.
• Key discoveries include the identification of novel material states and the development of advanced genetic therapies.
• These findings are significant as they redefine fundamental scientific understanding and provide unprecedented solutions to complex historical challenges.
Rescue teams are searching for nearly 1,500 missing people, mostly tourists, after floods kill at least 165Nepal-Tibet flash flood – latest updatesRescue teams in Nepal are searching for at least 33 British nationals who are among those missing after flash floods ravaged its border with Tibet, killing at least 165 people.Nearly 1,500 people are missing, the majority of them tourists, authorities have said, after a glacier collapse triggered devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet, roaring down valleys and razing entire villages. Continue reading...
Report shines light on ‘catastrophic situation’ where young people make themselves more ill to avoid losing supportSome of the most vulnerable children and young people in care are deliberately self-harming to avoid being abandoned when they get better or turn 18 and face a “cliff edge” of no further support, according to research.Abi Booth, a psychotherapist who works with children and young people, said some were in a “catastrophic situation” in which they were hurting themselves to keep their place in therapeutic facilities.In the UK, the youth suicide charity Papyrus can be contacted on 0800 068 4141 or email [email protected], and in the UK and Ireland Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123. In the US, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is at 988 or chat for support. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...
Giant burrowing cockroaches with added cameras and medical injectors are being tested as potential ‘first responders’ in earthquakesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFor people trapped under rubble in an earthquake or similar disaster, the arrival of a fleet of cockroaches could one day be the difference between life and death.Biorobotics engineers have been working on the design of six-legged cyborg insects with cameras and miniature medical injectors for search and rescue missions. Continue reading...
At least 160 people have died, while officials believe 340 foreign nationals from India, the US, UK, Australia, Malaysia and Ukraine among those missing. Follow the latest newsFlash floods on Nepal-Tibet border leave scores dead and hundreds missingTell us: have you been affected by the flash floods?Authorities in Nepal and Tibet have said they fear the death toll from catastrophic flooding could be much higher than 160 people already killed, as search and rescue efforts to locate the hundreds missing continue.A huge wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river on the Himalayan border of Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, triggering the flash flood which washed away houses, roads and border crossings.Rescue teams are rushing on Thursday to find hundreds of people missing after the flood and landslides killed at least 160 people. Many of the missing were foreign tourists, officials said.Nepali police said they had recovered 157 bodies after “devastating floods”, with officers working to move families in flood-risk areas to safety. Chinese state media reported “major casualties” from a mudslide at a Tibet border hub, reporting three dead and another 265 missing. The overall death toll appears likely to rise.Tibet government officials mobilised nearly 800 emergency workers and 150 vehicles as well as sniffer dogs and speed boats to help the rescue efforts, China’s official Xinhua news agency said.At least 403 tourists – 341 of them foreigners – were unaccounted for several hours after the disaster struck on Wednesday morning, according to Nepal’s tourism ministry. The missing foreigners included 142 Indians, 33 from the UK, 47 from the US, 34 from Australia and 24 from Canada as well as others from South Korea, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Portugal and South Africa, the tourism board said. Nine South Koreans were missing, the country’s foreign ministry said.At least 28 Nepal police officials were missing, a police spokesperson said.Entire villages and markets were “wiped out”, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said. It was dispatching emergency supplies including blankets, first aid kits, stretchers and body bags.United Nations chief António Guterres said UN teams and partners were mobilising supplies and personnel in Nepal to support affected communities.Surveillance video from the Chinese side of the border showed a raging wall of mud and debris crashing over a building several storeys high, engulfing it as dozens of people flee for their lives below. The surge sweeps away buses and cars.Experts warned that a lingering blockage upstream on the Nepal-China border river could produce a second flood.The cause of the flooding was not immediately clear. Nepalese foreign minister Shishir Khanal said an earthquake likely triggered a landslide, which in turn blocked a river, sending water gushing downstream. Nepal’s disaster authority said satellite data indicated a “snow-rock landslide” on the Nepal-China border may have caused the flood. Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region.Chinese leader Xi Jinping said “the most urgent task is doing everything possible to search for and rescue the missing people”, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.The US Geological Survey first reported a magnitude-4.4 earthquake early on Wednesday, about 66km (41 miles) north of Kathmandu, near the border. It later updated to call the shaking a 5.2-magnitude landslide. Continue reading...
• Ten European countries have restored border checks, signaling a potential decline in European solidarity and the viability of the Schengen common area.
• The tension escalated on August 26, 2026, after Italy imposed restrictions on travelers from Spain, prompting an immediate retaliatory response from Madrid.
• These diplomatic frictions are driven by an ongoing migration crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish exclave located in North Africa.
• Two recent NASA-funded studies have revealed how ancient events in the Sun's history influenced the development of Earth's unique climate.
• The research suggests that these solar events may have been the primary drivers behind previously unexplained climatic shifts on our planet.
• This discovery is significant because it highlights the profound, long-term impact the Sun's evolution has on planetary habitability and atmospheric stability.
• Prof Michel Chossudovsky and Drago Bosnic released a video on August 24, 2026, discussing a Medical Professionals Report submitted to the U.S. Congress regarding President Trump.
• The report claims that the President presents a "clear and present danger" to both the United States and the global community.
• Key medical concerns cited in the letter include an escalating loss of self-control and other psychological instabilities.
• Peter Koenig and Prof Michel Chossudovsky released a video on August 23, 2026, titled "The War Economy To the Detriment of Humanity."
• The presentation argues that rising global defense spending is causing financial instability and the collapse of welfare states.
• The authors claim that corrupt politicians are prioritizing military expenditures over societal programs, negatively impacting the world's 8 billion residents.
Ombudsman Iain Anderson says he is concerned police ‘had no clearly understood definition of racial profiling’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe commonwealth and ACT ombudsman has criticised the Australian federal police for failing to clearly define “racial profiling” after police in Canberra pulled guns on an Indigenous teenager who they mistook for a suspect in an aggravated burglary.The scathing investigation, released on Tuesday, made eight recommendations to the Australian federal police (AFP) and ACT Policing after investigating the November 2025 incident. ACT Policing sits under the AFP as the community policing arm. Continue reading...
• In an article dated August 21, 2026, Prof Michel Chossudovsky and Felicity Arbuthnot report that medical experts have declared Donald Trump "mentally unfit" and are calling for his urgent removal from office.
• The report alleges that the White House is contemplating nuclear war under a strategy described as "Make Nuclear Weapons Great Again."
• Key details include claims that Pentagon specialists are discussing the deployment of nuclear weapons under the leadership of Peter Hegseth.
Researchers hope contest – similar to Fat Bear Week – starting Monday will be latest wildlife watching crazeMonday sees the start of what researchers hope will be the latest wildlife watching craze – Fat Marmot Week.Last winter was tough for marmots living high in the Colorado mountains, where researchers say two-thirds of one population died while hibernating because of insufficient snow cover. Continue reading...
Manufacturer, which makes Jaecoo and Omoda brands, will open facility in Bedfordshire in autumnThe Chinese carmaker behind the irreverently nicknamed “Temu Range Rover” is plotting further UK expansion with a major research and development centre in England.Chery, which makes the Jaecoo and Omoda car brands, said the launch of a new R&D site was “the next step in our long-term plan” for Britain as it also moves towards manufacturing its cars in the UK. Continue reading...
New findings further call into question scientific judgment of current health leaders in the Trump administrationA French researcher whose work was praised by Donald Trump and Dr Mehmet Oz during the Covid-19 pandemic published hundreds of papers with “substantial” ethical and legal concerns, according to a new analysis.An international team of scientists found concerns in 853 articles published by the Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, or the IHU, hundreds more than previously flagged by past investigations into work at the large research hospital. Of those, institute founder Didier Raoult was listed as co-author on 758 of them, according to one of the researchers behind the new analysis. Continue reading...
• The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced over $1.5 billion in funding for foundational research to bolster American technological leadership.
• The investment is being distributed through 12 new notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) targeting both basic and use-inspired scientific inquiry.
• According to acting Director Brian Stone, this initiative aims to empower researchers to explore discovery frontiers and accelerate transformational breakthroughs.
• Following a January 2026 attack on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro, Donald Trump has announced plans for military intervention in Mexico.
• The report, authored by Prof Michel Chossudovsky on August 18, 2026, alleges a connection between Trump's policies and drug cartel activities.
• The author critically frames these actions under the satirical phrase “Make Money Laundering Great Again” (MMLGA), suggesting a motive of financial corruption.
Funding boost worth $100,000 has recently materialized in form of new marmot-themed cryptocurrencyScientists who turned to OnlyFans to help save long-running research into marmots have raised more than $100,000 after harnessing the support of another, very modern, funding avenue – cryptocurrency.The 60-year project of continuous study of marmots – stout, ground-dwelling rodents that are the largest members of the squirrel family – across the US west was facing termination following science funding cuts imposed by Donald Trump’s administration. Continue reading...
Lily Hooper has not been seen since leaving for a hike in Nattai national park, south-west of Sydney, on 12 AugustGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe family of missing 18-year-old bushwalker Lily Hooper say they are “absolutely devastated” that she has not been found after a multi-agency search.On Tuesday, search efforts for the teenager continued through the dense tree canopy and rugged terrain of Nattai national park, about 90km south-west of Sydney, for a seventh day. Continue reading...
• Recent research highlights the efficacy of GLP-1 medications, specifically semaglutide, in improving liver scarring for patients with advanced MASH and early cirrhosis.
• A Mayo Clinic study identified a distinct biological subtype of obesity that responds more effectively to tirzepatide, a medication mimicking two appetite and blood sugar hormones.
• These findings are significant as they move the field of obesity treatment toward precision medicine, explaining why weight loss results vary among individuals.
• AI is being utilized by scientists to develop next-generation batteries designed to replace current lithium-ion technology.
• Researchers are using AI to discover novel porous materials, which could lead to the creation of more powerful and efficient energy storage.
• This breakthrough is significant as it addresses the limitations of existing battery tech and may improve sustainability and performance.
Searchers dig through collapsed buildings and debris after 7.7 magnitude quake killed at least 47 peopleRescue crews dug through collapsed buildings and landslide debris in eastern Indonesia on Sunday as they searched for bodies and possible survivors a day after a powerful earthquake killed at least 47 people, injured more than 100 and displaced thousands.At least 24 people died in Manggarai regency and 17 in neighbouring East Manggarai, with additional fatalities reported in Sikka, Ngada and Ende regencies, the national disaster management agency said. Rescuers were still searching for people feared buried beneath landslides triggered by the quake across six regencies on Flores, a predominantly Catholic island in Muslim-majority Indonesia. Continue reading...
• SBI Research reports that India's economy remains resilient despite global challenges, projecting strong growth, rising deposits, and robust corporate performance.
• Data for assessment year 2026 shows a significant rise in high-earners, with taxpayers earning ₹100 crore and above increasing 39% to 576, and those earning over ₹1 crore rising 14% to 5.36 lakh.
• This growth highlights increasing wealth concentration and corporate strength as the nation approaches its 80th Independence Day.
Most owners would consider installing aircon as heatwaves lead buyers to focus on ability to stay cool, Rightmove saysSearches for homes for sale in the UK with air conditioning have more than doubled this summer as heatwaves push staying cool up the list of priorities for homebuyers, alongside nearness to good schools and transport links.In the week of the UK’s fifth heatwave, in which temperatures in parts of England hit 38C, the property website Rightmove said the heat was influencing how Britons thought about their homes, with more people paying attention to how comfortable a property would be during hotter weather. Continue reading...
• Lam Research (NASDAQ: LRCX) has announced plans to invest over $3 billion over the next five years to expand its global R&D lab network.
• The investment aims to increase experiment capacity by more than 50% and compress product development cycles to better serve customer needs.
• This expansion is driven by the AI era's demand for semiconductor breakthroughs, including chips with new architectures and advanced materials.