1Businesseasterneye.biz
Mark Zuckerberg's AI vision: 7 things to know about Meta's plan for ‘superintelligence’
Mark Zuckerberg has outlined a 6,500-word vision for artificial intelligence (AI) in which he wants advanced AI to be widely available rather than controlled by a handful of companies. The vision includes a call for faster AI development and less regulation. Zuckerberg argues that open-weight models could create a "balance of power" by allowing more people, businesses, and governments to access and adapt advanced technology. He also defended model distillation, where a smaller AI model learns from a larger one, and argued that US policy should reduce restrictions that make it harder for American companies to train open models. Zuckerberg also suggested that companies should share intermediate training checkpoints and technical staff with government testers, but did not argue for removing every safeguard.
2Politicsnst.com.my
Thai PM suspends gun licences as teen shooter, grandparents cremated
Thai's Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has suspended firearms licenses following a deadly school shooting last week that left a 14-year-old boy with six dead and six injured at his school. The bodies of the shooter and his grandparents were cremated at a Buddhist temple in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok. Charnirakul has ordered the interior ministry and police to stop issuing licenses to possess, purchase and carry firearms, and called for stricter controls and penalties. The shooter, who was not identified, used his grandfather's gun to kill his grandparents before heading to the school where he killed five teachers and staff and wounded a 12-year old girl. Thailand has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the region.
3Financemirror.co.uk
Energy bills forecast to rise again but experts say 'don't wait' to save cash
Energy bills are expected to rise again this winter, according to energy analysts. The Ofgem price cap increased by 13% in July due to the Middle East conflict, which caused a spike in wholesale costs. However, analysts have warned of another bill rise when the price cap updates again in October, just as temperatures start to drop. Cornwall Insight predicts the Ofgem's price cap will rise by another 2%. Ofgem has updated its methodology to reflect that people are now using less energy as a way to save money. The warning comes despite Prime Minister Andy Burnham announcing a temporary VAT cut on domestic energy bills from October.
4Worldza.headtopics.com
Colombia Earthquake: At Least 164 Dead, Thousands Affected
A powerful earthquake struck Colombia on August 10, 2026, killing at least 164 people and reducing multi-story buildings to rubble. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake also cracked apart one of the towers of a historic cathedral in Manizales. Rescue efforts are currently underway across Colombia, with emergency workers digging through collapsed buildings and flattened homes. The death toll is expected to rise as emergency teams search for survivors beneath debris. The quake also caused significant damage to infrastructure, with around 1,600 buildings reported damaged or collapsed. In Cali, home to about 2.2 million people, at least 85 people were killed and dozens of buildings were left leaning precariously or destroyed. The city of Pereira, capital of the hard-hit state of Risaralda reported 66 dead, with the city bearing some of the most visible destruction.
5Sciencesciencedaily.com
Black holes older than the Big Bang could explain dark matter
Researchers from the University of Portsmouth have found that black holes created before the Big Bang may have survived into the Universe we see today. These ancient objects could act as "cosmic fossils" and may even help explain dark matter, which plays a significant role in shaping galaxies across the Universe. The findings suggest that the Universe did not begin with a single explosive event, but instead emerged from a cosmic bounce mimicking inflation. These relics could help scientists understand what dark matter is and how the earliest galaxies and other large structures began to form. The researchers argue that quantum physics could naturally produce such a bounce at extremely high densities, which prevents matter from being compressed without limit. They also suggest that some objects larger than 90 meters in size could survive the transition and emerge after the bounce.
6Businessbellinghamherald.com
China's car sales extend slide as shift accelerates to overseas markets
China's car sales fell for a 10th consecutive month in July, with sales at home dropping 21.1% from the previous year to 1.47 million vehicles, while exports rose by 88.2% to 923,000. The decline underscores broader strains in China's economy, where sluggish household spending has left exports accounting for a greater share of growth. The China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) attributed the weakness to high fuel prices and decreased demand for entry-level sedans. Electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid exports grew 147.8% year-on-year, compared to a 3.9% drop in domestic sales. In the domestic market, some carmakers are also focusing on the premium segment with larger, feature-packed models. However, industry leaders, such as BYD and Leapmotor, have seen significant declines in domestic passenger vehicle sales.
7Businesswimz.com
Smithfield Foods trims full-year forecasts as consumers rein in spending
Smithfield Foods has cut its annual total sales and adjusted operating profit forecasts due to increased consumer spending and inflation. The company's shares were down 3% in premarket trading. Sales of its Hog Production unit fell 8.2% to $772 million from last year. Tyson Foods has also lowered its annual profit forecast, warning that losses in its beef business would widen due to tight U.S. cattle supplies. Smithfield Foods now expects fiscal 2026 sales to be roughly flat, compared to its previous expectations of low-single-digit growth. The firm also expects adjusted operating profits between $1.23 billion and $1.,38 billion, up from its previous forecast of $1,33 billion.
8Politicswnflsports.com
Latvia finds tunnel under Belarus border, vows to combat people smugglers
Latvia has discovered a tunnel under the border with Belarus and plans to combat networks assisting illegal immigrants. The country's Interior Minister, Janis Dombrava, announced that the protection of Latvia’s eastern border will be strengthened and the use of drones for early detection and detention of illegal migrants. This comes after Latvia used teargas and a warning shot to stop migrants from Belarus, which shares a 173-km border with Latvia. Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said criminal networks were facilitating the migration from Belarus into Latvia, bringing them inside Europe's borderless Schengen area. He pledged to target networks transporting the migrants from the border to their destinations and support points for migrants in Latvia.
9Politicsapr.org
Former Syrian President Assad sentenced to death in absentia
A Syrian court has sentenced former President Bashar Assad and his brother, Maher, to death in absentia for crimes against humanity and war crimes during the country's 14-year conflict. The sentences, which were broadcast live on state TV, are the first against Assad or his inner circle since his family's end to power 20 months ago. His maternal cousin, Atef Najib, was also sentenced to death for overseeing a crackdown in the southern province of Daraa that led to the uprising and civil war. Both Assad and Maher fled to Russia after the government's fall in December 2024 and have been granted political asylum.
10Healthfox11online.com
Taylor Farms recalls Target, Walmart products over salmonella risk
Taylor Farms products sold in Florida are being recalled by Target, Walmart and Target stores due to a salmonella outbreak linked to fresh jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors. The products are part of a recall from Taylor Farms, Target and Walmart stores in Florida. The salmonemonella risk involved fresh jaloapeñas supplied by the distributor Coast Citros Distributors, which are linked to a multistate salmonell outbreak.
