Meta has settled child-safety-related claims for $18 billion, according to a roundup of risk and compliance news. The same briefing notes Florida's governor voicing concern over Flock surveillance cameras and the FBI dismantling a large China-linked hacking network.
wsj.com
· 2026-08-27
Apple confirmed its September event with the English tagline 'Surprise and shine,' widely seen as hinting at a foldable iPhone reveal. A Twitter user noticed that Google Translate's rendering of the Chinese-language version of Apple's event teaser reads 'A new chapter unfolds, dazzling and brilliant,' which some fans see as an intentional nod to a folding device.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-08-26
The Justice Department announced it has seized domains used by a Chinese state-linked botnet known as QTFY, run by Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Tech, disrupting its command-and-control infrastructure. The botnet reportedly enabled hackers tied to China's Ministry of State Security to infiltrate U.S. government and private-sector networks, including NASA, the Federal Reserve, several federal departments, and, as recently as this year, the Senate. Lumen, a network provider that assisted the FBI, said it had tracked the group profiling government, defense, and aerospace targets for roughly a year before the takedown.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-08-26
A massive landslide triggered by heavy monsoon rains and possibly an earthquake-induced glacier collapse struck the Gyirong Port border crossing between China and Nepal, engulfing a six-story building in seconds. Security camera footage shows people fleeing as mud swallowed the structure and destroyed nearby roads, communication towers and power infrastructure. At least 95 people have died and hundreds remain unaccounted for as authorities declared a national emergency.
futurism.com
· 2026-08-26
New tracking data shows gas-fired power capacity under development in the United States has surged past China's, reaching roughly three times the amount, driven largely by data center demand. The volume of U.S. gas power projects tied to data centers nearly doubled in just the first half of 2026.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-08-26
Bill Gates said in an interview that the AI industry has already crossed safety thresholds that companies had previously agreed would trigger action, yet no binding restrictions have followed. He argued the US and China should openly state their intentions on AI safety measures, such as monitoring AI models capable of designing dangerous molecules, even without formal agreements in place.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-08-26
Singer Dolly Parton has died at age 80, remembered for her philanthropic contributions to science alongside her music career. She provided early funding for Moderna's vaccine research and publicly received her own COVID-19 vaccination to counter public hesitancy, while her Imagination Library program continues distributing over three million books monthly to children worldwide.
nature.com
· 2026-08-26
Dreame, the Chinese vacuum maker turned aspiring tech conglomerate, has reportedly dissolved its automotive division 'Project Starry Sky,' which once had over 1,000 employees and produced a rocket-engine concept car shown in San Francisco. Only a small legal and HR team remains to wind down the unit, after Chinese regulators tightened scrutiny of the $3.4 trillion private fund industry and singled out Dreame's spending.
theverge.com
· 2026-08-25
A public showcase event in Shanghai let visitors interact directly with humanoid robots, part of China's broader effort to promote and accelerate its robotics industry. Organizers say such events matter because hands-on exposure builds public familiarity, even as humanoid robot development globally remains slow and uneven.
technologyreview.com
· 2026-08-25
China's State Administration for Market Regulation has recalled nearly three million Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, saying interior emergency door handles blend into cabin trim and are hard to find in a crash. Tesla must add warning labels and push an over-the-air update that lowers windows automatically after collisions. A separate recall was issued for almost 400,000 Xiaomi SU7 EVs over the same concern.
futurism.com
· 2026-08-25
Greenworks has launched the MaximusZ, an electric riding mower that uses five separate motors: two to drive the wheels and three to spin a trio of blades cutting a 54-inch swath in one pass. Powered by an 80-volt battery system combining four 6.0Ah packs and two 16Ah packs for 56Ah total capacity, the mower is rated for up to four acres per charge and recharges in about 3.5 hours using a proprietary charger.
theverge.com
· 2026-08-25
Chinese biotech firms and health-tech companies are increasingly partnering with low- and middle-income countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America, supplying vaccines, medical equipment financing and digital-health systems. Examples include equipment financing in Kenya and Côte d'Ivoire, pharmaceutical production in Zambia, and vaccine supply to Indonesia and Mexico during the pandemic. These bilateral deals are emerging as traditional multilateral aid budgets shrink worldwide.
nature.com
· 2026-08-25