Taipei Times

• Starting this Sunday, the European Union is implementing sweeping transparency rules requiring firms to label deepfakes and other AI-generated content. • The mandate aims to ensure that European citizens can immediately distinguish between authentic online content and synthetic media. • This measure is part of the EU's comprehensive AI law, designed to combat misinformation and increase accountability for AI developers.

• Pro-democracy activist Wu Chi-wai has been granted permission by the UK government to remain in the country as a visitor. • The move follows Wu's release from a Hong Kong prison, where he had been incarcerated for more than five years. • This development allows Wu to reunite with his wife and son, providing a safe haven for the activist after his long imprisonment.

• The Seoul Central District Court sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, for violating election laws via false statements during his 2022 campaign. • In Central America, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced that the country will no longer hold elections, effectively removing the possibility of an electoral challenge to his power. • These developments signal significant legal and political shifts, with Yoon facing judicial accountability and Ortega further entrenching the authoritarian rule he shares with his wife.

• Alphabet Inc. recorded its first-ever cash burn of US$5.9 billion during the second quarter, signaling a significant financial shift for the Google parent company. • The loss is attributed to soaring expenditures on artificial intelligence infrastructure and development, which are straining the company's typically high profitability. • This development has alarmed investors and serves as a warning for other Big Tech firms facing similar pressures as they race to scale AI capabilities.

• Artificial intelligence infrastructure has emerged as a critical growth engine for China's economy, helping to prevent a "harder landing" during a period of significant economic weakness. • Data indicates that electronics and information technology sectors contributed more than half of the overall economic expansion during the April-to-June quarter. • This surge in AI investment is offsetting declines in other sectors, providing a vital buffer as the country navigates one of its weakest economic stretches in years.

• South Korea issued its first-ever emergency heatwave alert under a new warning system launched this year, advising citizens to avoid outdoor activities. • Data from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reveals a significant rise in extreme temperatures, with heatwave days increasing from eight in the 1970s to 19 over the last five years. • Tropical nights have also surged during the same period, jumping from an average of four to 14.

• Beijing is considering implementing restrictions to curb overseas access to China's most advanced artificial intelligence models. • The move follows public concerns voiced by state media and Zhou Hongyi, the founder of cybersecurity firm 360 Security Technology. • This shift highlights a strategic push for China to develop its own independent "Mythos" and technological ecosystem to reduce external dependencies.

• Japanese political commentator Akio Yaita, CEO of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Thinktank, was punched in the face by a Chinese national at a hotel lobby in Taichung on Monday. • The suspect, a 33-year-old man surnamed Liao traveling on a Hong Kong passport, was arrested at Taichung International Airport while attempting to flee to South Korea. • In response to the assault, the Executive Yuan is now considering legal amendments to specifically address and penalize acts of cross-border repression.

• Taiwan’s women’s taekwondo team won the overall title at the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Mongolia this past Sunday. • The team's victory was secured through a total of four medals, including two golds, one silver, and one bronze. • This achievement is significant as it guarantees the team's qualification for the upcoming Asian Games.