AI can make China’s political language sound more threatening, scholar warns
SCMP •

AI can make China’s political language sound more threatening, scholar warns

China is being urged to use human translators to refine AI renderings of its political messaging, amid concern that literal translations can make Beijing’s language sound more threatening abroad. An article in a state-affiliated academic newspaper said the country should strengthen its translation capacity and guard against AI-generated distortions to improve how its policies and intentions were u...

China leverages short-video ecosystem, lower costs to carve out lead in AI video
SCMP •

China leverages short-video ecosystem, lower costs to carve out lead in AI video

Chinese artificial intelligence companies are carving out a distinct lead over their US rivals in video generation, leveraging vast short-video ecosystems, looser copyright rules and aggressive pricing to dominate an arena where compute alone does not dictate success, analysts say. While US tech giants such as OpenAI and Anthropic continue to lead in frontier closed-source large language models (L...

Singapore to auction luxury goods, properties from US$2.4 billion money laundering case
SCMP •

Singapore to auction luxury goods, properties from US$2.4 billion money laundering case

More than 1,000 luxury items and 80 real estate properties forfeited in Singapore’s S$3 billion (US$2.4 billion) money laundering case would go under the hammer from September 7, audit firm Deloitte said on Saturday. The properties will be auctioned by SRI, Edmund Tie & Company and Knight Frank, while auction house Hotlotz will handle the luxury goods, comprising jewellery, watches and handbags. S...

A former Illinois school is now a $1.35M accessible park with an inclusive playground and splash pad

A former Illinois school is now a $1.35M accessible park with an inclusive playground and splash pad

Times of India •

On August 26, Galesburg proudly unveiled Cooke Park, a fully accessible neighborhood space built on the site of the former Cooke Elementary School. This ambitious $1.352 million project features an inclusive playground and splash pad, showcasing the community's dedication to inclusivity. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by local officials and community leaders, marking a significant partne...

Plug-in solar panels could save households up to $370 a year – if Australia made them legal as in the UK

Plug-in solar panels could save households up to $370 a year – if Australia made them legal as in the UK

The Guardian •

A plug-in solar kit that costs about $1,000 ‘pays for itself in three years’, one expert saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMillions of Australians could be saving up to $370 a year on energy bills and doing their bit for the climate crisis if Labor followed the UK’s lead in legalising plug-in solar panels, an advocacy group has said.Plug-in solar refers to small standa...

US families hold out hope for relatives lost in Nepal floods

US families hold out hope for relatives lost in Nepal floods

SCMP •

Mukti Patel has huddled with family and friends at her parents’ Richmond, Virginia, home since her dad, sister and two other relatives went missing in the catastrophic flash floods along the Nepal-China border. She knows the hotel they were staying in was swept away. But as she shared memories of them on Friday, she caught herself. “I shouldn’t talk in past tense yet,” she said. “We don’t know any...

Rakshabandhan in NYC: Zohran Mamdani celebrates with South Asian seniors

Rakshabandhan in NYC: Zohran Mamdani celebrates with South Asian seniors

Times of India •

During a heartfelt celebration of Rakshabandhan at India Home, NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the festival's profound themes of protection, support, and unity. Drawing parallels to the rakhi's significance, he reaffirmed his dedication to ensuring the welfare of all New Yorkers. The mayor commended India Home for nurturing a sense of community and belonging among seniors, encouraging resident...

Live: UN, Nepal warn of climate threat after flood death toll tops 680

Live: UN, Nepal warn of climate threat after flood death toll tops 680

France 24 •

Nepal's foreign minister and the UN climate chief on Saturday warned of the growing threat from climate change to the Himalayas, three days after devastating floods swept along the border with China, engulfing entire villages. At least 675 people were killed in Nepal, according to the country's disaster authority. Another seven people were confirmed dead in Tibet, Chinese state media reported. Fol...

Nepal-Tibet floods live: Rescuers race to find 100 workers trapped in tunnels as death toll tops 680

Nepal-Tibet floods live: Rescuers race to find 100 workers trapped in tunnels as death toll tops 680

France 24 •

Nepali army rescue teams raced Saturday to reach more than 100 people trapped inside hydropower tunnels, three days after devastating floods struck the site. At least 675 people were killed in Nepal, according to the country's disaster authority. Another seven people were confirmed dead in Tibet, Chinese state media reported. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Nepal-Tibet floods live: Rescuers race to find 100 workers trapped in tunnels as death toll tops 675

Nepal-Tibet floods live: Rescuers race to find 100 workers trapped in tunnels as death toll tops 675

France 24 •

Nepali army rescue teams raced Saturday to reach more than 100 people trapped inside hydropower tunnels, three days after devastating floods struck the site. At least 675 people were killed in Nepal, according to the country's disaster authority. Another seven people were confirmed dead in Tibet, Chinese state media reported. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Nepal-Tibet floods live: Death toll passes 600, nearly 3,000 people missing

Nepal-Tibet floods live: Death toll passes 600, nearly 3,000 people missing

France 24 •

Rescuers in Nepal and China's autonomous region of Tibet were still battling Saturday to locate thousands of people missing days after deadly flash floods swept through the Himalayan region, engulfing villages. The number of missing rose to nearly 3,000 on Friday as emergency teams said they had recovered 633 bodies. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Nepal-Tibet floods live: Death toll passes 600, nearly 3,000 people still missing

Nepal-Tibet floods live: Death toll passes 600, nearly 3,000 people still missing

France 24 •

Rescuers in Nepal and China's autonomous region of Tibet were still battling Saturday to locate thousands of people missing days after deadly flash floods swept through the Himalayan region, engulfing villages. The number of missing rose to nearly 3,000 on Friday as emergency teams said they had recovered 633 bodies. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Nepal-Tibet floods live: Death toll passes 600, nearly 2,500 people still missing

Nepal-Tibet floods live: Death toll passes 600, nearly 2,500 people still missing

France 24 •

Rescuers in Nepal and Tibet were still battling Saturday to locate thousands of people missing days after deadly flash floods swept through the Himalayan region, engulfing villages. The number of missing rose to 2,426 on Friday as emergency teams said they had recovered 626 bodies. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates.

Faster, higher, funnier: what we learned from China’s robot games

Faster, higher, funnier: what we learned from China’s robot games

The Guardian •

Five-day showcase reveals leaps Beijing has made in humanoid tech, but also its limitations as US rivals come up from the rearWith exploding pelvises, enough comic pratfalls for a Buster Keaton show reel and the odd moment of ruthless violence, the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing gripped the world this week with an unsettling mixture of hilarity, trepidation and relief.The five-day showcase ...

Hilarity, unease and relief: games show China is not over the finish line in humanoid robot race

Hilarity, unease and relief: games show China is not over the finish line in humanoid robot race

The Guardian •

World Humanoid Robot Games showcased leaps Beijing has made in the tech, but also highlighted limitations as US rivals prepare their own launchesWith exploding pelvises, enough comic pratfalls for a Buster Keaton show reel and the odd moment of ruthless violence, the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing gripped the world this week with an unsettling mixture of hilarity, trepidation and relief.The...

‘Winter panic’: EU gas stores at their lowest level in 13 years

‘Winter panic’: EU gas stores at their lowest level in 13 years

The Guardian •

As one of Europe’s biggest consumers of gas the UK may be particularly exposed to heightened price volatilityEurope is on course to enter the cooler months with gas stores at their lowest level in 13 years, which has triggered “winter panic” among energy traders, experts have warned.The EU’s gas stocks were 63% full in the last week of August, well below the 80% average for late August over recent...

Ireland will be united, says Gordon Brown

Ireland will be united, says Gordon Brown

The Guardian •

Former PM believes Northern Ireland will leave UK in the long term – but remains opposed to Scottish independenceThe former prime minister Gordon Brown has said it is inevitable that Ireland will become united at some point in the future, in a wide-ranging interview with the Guardian.While he added that any union would necessarily be “a long process” and based on mutual agreement, Brown’s comments...

Germany risks missing gas storage target as industry faces cold-winter threat

Euronews •

Germany will miss its November gas-storage target if injections continue at their current pace, the country’s storage association has warned. Although there is no immediate gas shortage, low storage levels combined with a very cold winter could threaten industrial production in the country.

Hong Kong legal sector welcomes making bay area practice scheme permanent

Hong Kong legal sector welcomes making bay area practice scheme permanent

SCMP •

Hong Kong’s legal community has hailed a move by mainland China to make permanent a pilot scheme allowing lawyers to practise in Greater Bay Area cities, predicting the demand for such cross-border legal services will continue to grow. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok said on Saturday that amendments passed by the country’s top legislative body the previous day would further accelerate the...

Hong Kong lawyers gain route to practise in 9 Guangdong cities under new law

Hong Kong lawyers gain route to practise in 9 Guangdong cities under new law

SCMP •

Hong Kong and Macau lawyers will be able to practise in nine Guangdong cities from next week after passing an examination and obtaining the required qualifications under legal amendments passed by mainland China’s top legislative body. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed amendments on Friday to China’s Lawyers Law, which will take effect on September 1. To qualify, Hong...

China-Nepal floods: 9 Chinese tunnel experts sent to aid rescue in race against time

China-Nepal floods: 9 Chinese tunnel experts sent to aid rescue in race against time

SCMP •

China has sent nine specialist tunnel rescuers to Nepal to help with emergency operations following a direct request from Kathmandu, as search teams race against time to find survivors from Wednesday’s devastating floods. Seven people have been confirmed dead on the Chinese side, with 544 still missing as the rescue operation passes a critical 72-hour window. In Nepal, at least 675 have died and n...