Author: Abhirami Priya

London: The latest artificial intelligence models from Anthropic and OpenAI displayed unprecedented levels of autonomous and deceptive behaviour during safety evaluations conducted by the UK AI Security Institute (AISI), raising fresh concerns about the capabilities and risks of advanced AI systems. In a report released, AISI stated that Anthropic’s Mythos model and OpenAI’s Sol model exhibited behaviours that went well beyond their assigned tasks. Researchers described the incidents as the clearest example so far of AI systems independently engaging in deceptive actions without being explicitly instructed to do so. During one cybersecurity evaluation, investigators noticed unusual data transfers from their…

London: Major retailers across London’s high streets are adopting new technology developed with the Metropolitan Police to strengthen the fight against shoplifting and speed up the identification and prosecution of offenders. The system allows businesses to upload CCTV footage, witness statements and other evidence directly to police officers within minutes. By speeding up the sharing of evidence, the technology enables officers to identify suspects, make arrests and build stronger criminal cases more quickly. Retailers including Tesco, Boots, Marks & Spencer and Greggs are already using the subscription-based platform across several London boroughs, including Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Greenwich. From…

London: Researchers are calling for a review of NHS breast cancer risk assessment guidelines after a new study found that the current criteria may fail to identify the vast majority of women under 50 who are at an increased risk of developing the disease. Published in the British Journal of Cancer, the study found that the existing recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) focus primarily on inherited genetic risk and family history, overlooking other important contributors such as lifestyle, reproductive history and hormonal factors. Under the current NHS screening programme, routine mammograms are generally offered…

Seoul: South Korea has recorded its highest temperature since modern weather records began in 1904, as an intense heatwave swept across the country and authorities urged residents to stop all outdoor activities in the worst-affected areas. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), the southeastern city of Yangsan reached 42.5°C on August 2 afternoon, setting a new national temperature record. Yangsan has experienced temperatures above 40°C for five consecutive days, while cities including Daegu and Busan have also recorded temperatures in the high 30s. The extreme heat has driven many residents indoors, with shopping malls, cafés and other air-conditioned venues…

London: Ariana Grande has announced that she will step away from public appearances after concluding her Eternal Sunshine Tour next month and has withdrawn from the upcoming London revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George. A representative for the 33-year-old American singer stated that Grande will be “taking a step back from visibility” once the tour ends. The decision comes after years of what the representative described as ‘endless, ongoing public scrutiny,’ particularly surrounding the singer’s physical appearance and health. Ariana Grande had been due to star opposite her Wicked co-star, British actor Jonathan Bailey, in the…

Washington: Fast-moving wildfires have scorched more than 250,000 acres across Washington state, forcing evacuations, cutting power to thousands of residents and prompting state authorities to declare a statewide emergency. Around 4,000 firefighters are battling more than a dozen active wildfires across the state as strong winds and high temperatures continue to fuel the blazes. Officials stated that no fire-related injuries or fatalities had been reported as of August 1 evening. Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and imposed a burn ban in response to the worsening fire conditions, warning that weather conditions are expected to make firefighting efforts even…

London: Moviegoers have been flocking to cinemas for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with the latest Marvel release earning praise from both critics and fans for its emotional storytelling and fresh direction. The film marks Tom Holland’s fourth standalone outing as Peter Parker. Picking up after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the story follows Parker as he protects New York City while adjusting to a life where everyone, including his closest friends, has forgotten his identity. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film is his second Marvel Cinematic Universe project after Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.…

Kinshasa, DRC: The latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become the fastest-growing in the virus’s recorded history, with health authorities reporting 3,360 confirmed cases and 1,487 deaths. The outbreak has spread across five eastern provinces, with an estimated case fatality rate of 45 percent, according to Congolese health officials. Ongoing conflict and insecurity in several affected regions continue to hamper response efforts and complicate disease control measures. The outbreak, officially declared on May 15, is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus and has surpassed the pace of the country’s previous 16…

New Delhi: India’s upper house of Parliament has approved legislation that significantly increases penalties for those involved in leaking exam papers. The move follows weeks of nationwide student-led protests demanding reforms to the country’s examination system, which culminated in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The bill, passed by the Rajya Sabha after hours of debate, had already secured approval from the lower house a day earlier through a voice vote. It now awaits the assent of President Droupadi Murmu before becoming law. https://twitter.com/DrJitendraSingh/status/2083044120835371111 Prison sentence and penalty Under the proposed legislation, the maximum prison sentence for individuals convicted…

Suffolk, UK: A major incident has been declared on England’s Suffolk coast after a large wildfire broke out at Dunwich Heath, prompting a massive emergency response as firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading further. The fire started shortly after 5:30 pm near Leiston, with thick smoke billowing into the sky and creating dramatic scenes visible across the area. Images and footage shared by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service showed dense plumes of smoke as crews battled the rapidly spreading blaze. Authorities noted that the major incident was declared because of the size and complexity of the wildfire, which…