DPM highlights importance of IWT to Pakistan’s water security RADIO PAKISTAN
IWT is a perfectly valid instrument Dawn
Issue Brief on “Safeguarding Pakistan’s Water Rights: PCA Verdict Upholds Indus Waters Treaty Commitments” Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI)
India says international court lacks authority to rule on Pakistan water treaty Reuters
India can’t unilaterally suspend IWT, says FM Dar Dunya News
Delays continue on Sydney train network as peak hour begins
Buses have been requested to supplement trains on Sydney’s airport rail line, as delays on some of the city’s busiest routes have continued into peak hour.
In a statement, Sydney Trains said passengers should continue to allow extra travel time on T2, T3 and T8 Airport and south services after delays following a track fault between Town Hall and Central stations this morning:
As well as increased service gaps, stops and departure platforms may change at short notice,
Buses have been requested to supplement the T8 line between Central station and Sydney Airport’s domestic and international terminals, as well as between Campbelltown and Macarthur.
Key events
Fire ants appear to have spread, nests founds in five central Queensland mines
Joe Hinchliffe
More fire ants have been detected in central Queensland mines as authorities scramble to contain an outbreak of one of the world’s worst invasive species.
The Invasive Species Council has questioned how the invasive ants, which threaten livestock and people, have travelled so far in Australia. Photograph: National Fire Ant Eradication Program
The National Fire Ant Eradication program dogs sniffed out fire ant nests at five mine sites in Central Highlands and Isaac Council regions between 12 and 14 August.
The ants were detected about 800km from the closest known infestation zone in central Queensland for the first time in history in July, with a major outbreak at a BHP Broadmeadow coalmine.
The eradication program has issued a statement saying its teams are working across central Queensland to contain the outbreak and to determine “whether equipment or materials that can carry fire ants have moved from the affected mines, potentially spreading the invasive species further”.
Penry Buckley
Delays continue on Sydney train network as peak hour begins
Buses have been requested to supplement trains on Sydney’s airport rail line, as delays on some of the city’s busiest routes have continued into peak hour.
In a statement, Sydney Trains said passengers should continue to allow extra travel time on T2, T3 and T8 Airport and south services after delays following a track fault between Town Hall and Central stations this morning:
As well as increased service gaps, stops and departure platforms may change at short notice,
Buses have been requested to supplement the T8 line between Central station and Sydney Airport’s domestic and international terminals, as well as between Campbelltown and Macarthur.
Andrew Messenger
Adani to invest $50m in Queensland Charmichael coalmine
Multinational mining firm Adani will invest $50m in its central Queensland Carmichael coalmine, the company said today.
Production at the mine is expected to increase by a third over four years. Photograph: Wikimedia
The capital investment will increase production at the thermal coalmine by a third over the next four years to 16m tonnes a year.
Bravus Mining and Resources chief operating officer, Mick Crowe, said the company had already increased production to more than 10m tonnes per annum over the past three years.
Engineering studies and assessments have been completed, and work to deliver increased production will begin by adding more capacity to the Carmichael mine accommodation village.
The Australian company Bravus Mining and Resources is part of the global Adani Group, founded and chaired by Indian magnate Gautam Adani.
Qld police service opposes pro-Palestine march across Brisbane Story Bridge
The Queensland police say a planned pro-Palestine march across Brisbane’s Story Bridge this Sunday will create security risks and disrupt business.
A spokesperson for the police said it had suggested alternative routes to organisers that would minimise the risk to public safety and disruption to the community.
If the march goes ahead across the Brisbane Story Bridge, there will be a strong police presence. Photograph: Nicky Dowling/Getty Images
It said safety concerns include that the proposed bridge route is not designed for pedestrian gatherings, and that serious disruption would occur to traffic, emergency vehicle access and local businesses. There is also a need to maintain essential access routes for community safety, the spokesperson said.
The QPS respects the right to peacefully assemble; however, this must be balanced with the need to ensure public safety and minimise disruption to the broader community.
While the QPS has concerns if the march goes over the Story Bridge, the service will always respect the decision of the courts.
Brisbane police will have a strong presence on the day to ensure public safety, manage traffic and respond to any incidents.
Liberal’s Dave Sharma criticises government’s decision to cancel Simcha Rothman’s visa
Liberal senator Dave Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, has taken issue with comments made by Katy Gallagher, this afternoon, about “open dialogue and discussion”.
Liberal senator Dave Sharma says the government’s position on diplomatic relations is confused. (File image) Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
Here’s what he told the ABC:
They have gone and cancelled the visa of a member of parliament of Israel, who sits within the government and Coalition. So how can you say you’re committed to dialogue and diplomacy and open channels when you are preventing any interaction from occurring? I think those two statements are at odds with one another.
Simcha Rothman has described Palestinian children in Gaza as “enemies” and called for Israel’s total control of the West Bank. On Monday, he was denied entry into Australia before he was scheduled to join a “solidarity tour”.
Explaining his decision, the home affairs minister Tony Burke said: “our government takes a hard line on people who seek to come to our country and spread division”:
If you are coming to Australia to spread a message of hate and division, we don’t want you here. Under our government, Australia will be a country where everyone can be safe, and feel safe.
Katy Gallagher: Australia’s relationship with Israel not broken
The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, says Australia’s diplomatic relationship with Israel is “not at all” broken.
Israel’s foreign minister has revoked the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority, citing Australia’s “unjustified refusal” to grant visas to Israeli figures and its intention to recognise Palestinian statehood.
Katy Gallagher says Australia should be able to maintain relationships even with countries it has disagreements with. (File image) Photograph: Dominic Giannini/AAP
In a post to X on Monday night, Gideon Sa’ar said the decision was made after the Albanese government cancelled Simcha Rothman’s visa on Monday before his speaking tour schedule for this month.
Gallagher told the ABC the decision was “very unfortunate” and that the government would “always stand for dialogue and diplomacy, particularly in times of conflict”.
Australia has to be able to have positions on matters about other countries, or in this case recognition of the Palestinian state, and still maintain relationships with other countries.
We will not agree on everything … It’s about open dialogue and discussion, even if there are areas of disagreement. It’s the way we will continue to operate across the world.
NSW $334m regional roads fund to be scrutinised by auditor-general’s office
A large fund for road projects will be scrutinised as more money is tipped into road upgrades in a region approaching a crucial byelection, AAP reports.
The NSW government’s $334m Regional Roads Fund – some of which has not yet been allocated – will be examined by the state’s auditor-general’s office.
It is assessing whether Transport for NSW designed and implemented the grants program in compliance with guidelines for the administration of public expenditure and relevant legislative requirements, focusing on grants to 19 local councils.
The roads minister, Jenny Aitchison, says it is a standard investigation.
She told a budget estimates hearing the audit office’s interest stemmed from the previous government’s method of funding, which included allegations of pork-barrelling.
One project – the Thornton Bridge duplication project – is near the minister’s home in the Hunter region’s Maitland electorate.
She denies any conflict of interest.
There are 20,000 or 30,000 other people who live in that area. That road is of no material benefit to me or my family.
Research foundation calls for alcohol law overhaul to help protect women and children
The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education has called for an urgent overhaul of alcohol laws after the South Australian royal commission into domestic, family and sexual violence found it was a significant factor in violence.
The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, has accepted seven of the royal commission’s 136 recommendations. The state government will respond to the rest of them by the end of the year.
Several of the royal commission’s recommendations related to the sale and supply of alcohol.
The foundation’s chief executive, Ayla Chorley, welcomed the recommendations:
Survivors have consistently told us you cannot address violence towards women and children without considering the impact of alcohol harm – now they’ve finally been heard.
Sarah Basford Canales
Barred far-right Israeli politician slated to speak virtually
The right-leaning Australian Jewish Association says it will host an online event with far-right Israeli politician, Simcha Rothman, saying the “Jewish community won’t bow down to Tony Burke or Penny Wong”.
Rothman, a member of the far-right Religious Zionism party, was scheduled to appear in person as part of a “solidarity tour” later this week before his visa was cancelled on Monday because of fears his visit would ignite tensions in the community.
Rothman, a member of Netanyahu’s governing coalition, is a vocal critic of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, and has called for Israel’s total annexation of the occupied West Bank territories.
The AJA today said the group intended to host an online event with Rothman in defiance of the visa cancellation.
The show will go on. The Jew-haters will not win … The Jewish community won’t bow down to Tony Burke or Penny Wong.
A date has not yet been set for the online event.
Marles: Israel’s visa decision ‘disappointing and unjustified’
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, says Israel’s decision to revoke the visas of Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority is “disappointing and unjustified”.
In a post to X on Monday night, Gideon Sa’ar said the decision was made after the Albanese government’s cancellation of Simcha Rothman’s visa on Monday before his speaking tour, this month.
The Israeli foreign minister said he had also instructed the embassy in Canberra to “carefully examine any official Australian visa application for entry to Israel”.
Marles addressed the issue during a press conference:
This is a disappointing and unjustified reaction to Australia and our decision around the recognition of a Palestinian state.
This is a moment where we need to be promoting dialogue between our countries, and this is a very disappointing and unjustified step, which has been taken by Israel.
Australia leading international action to protect humanitarian aid workers
Australia has pledged tangible action to protect humanitarian aid workers, at a time when people who dedicate themselves to helping others in war are killed in record numbers.
More than 380 humanitarian workers were killed in conflict zones in 2024, marking the deadliest year on record and a 31%rise from the previous year, according to Aid Worker Security Database statistics released on today.
Food charity World Central KitchenAid closed its centre in Gaza last year after seven of its workers were killed in an airstrike. Humanitarian workers around the world face danger when carrying out their jobs. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, is spearheading a pledge to protect humanitarian personnel after convening a ministerial group with several other nations at a United Nations conference in September 2024.
The international development minister, Anne Aly, has confirmed it will be launched on the margins of the United Nations meeting in New York during the final week of September:
The declaration will be an important demonstration of our collective commitment to upholding international humanitarian law. It will also include practical steps that will increase aid worker safety.
– AAP
Sydney train travellers face delays to afternoon commute because of unscheduled track repairs
Penry Buckley
Sydney commuters are being advised to allow for extra time before this afternoon’s peak hour, as a train track fault this morning has continued to cause delays on some of the city’s busiest lines.
In a statement, Sydney Trains said urgent track repairs were finished at 11.30am today after a fault between Town Hall and Central stations caused trains to stop running on the city circle via Museum station.
Trains resumed running at 12.00pm, but passengers on the T2, T3 and T8 lines are being warned of knock-on delays this afternoon. Train crew were displaced by this morning’s incident, which also led to a temporary speed restriction on other lines.
“It is easing as we get closer to the peak, but obviously we’re getting very close to the peak now,” said a spokesperson for Sydney Trains, advising commuters to allow plenty of time and check service updates.
Nick Visser
That’s all from me. Henry Belot will take over from here to guide you through the afternoon’s news. Take care.
Patrick Commins
EV popularity prompts consideration of broader road-user charges
Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers have all but confirmed an EV road user charge is in the works.
But Guardian Australia understands the government is considering phasing in the charge over a number of years, and that it could start with the country’s small fleet of electric trucks.
Rising sales of electric cars has prompted the government to consider broadening road user charges. Photograph: Nick Langley/PR IMAGE
While the vast majority of vehicles on the road remain petrol- and diesel-powered, that is expected to change in coming decades.
As combustion engines disappear, so will the revenue from the fuel excise – which is worth about $17bn a year and is ostensibly paid to the states to help them pay for road maintenance.
In fact, the money just pours into the federal government’s coffers like any other tax.
You can read more about the plan here:
Patrick Commins
NSW treasurer says its a ‘good time’ to figure out future of road user charges as EVs grow in popularity
Daniel Mookhey, the NSW treasurer, says as more electric vehicles hit the roads, “it’s a good time for us to be figuring out what is the future of the road user charging system”. He told the ABC earlier today:
I think it’s fair and reasonable that everybody who uses our roads should be making a contribution.
NSW has legislated a road user charge for EVs from mid-2027, starting at 2.9c per kilometre for battery and hydrogen fuel cell EVs, or 2.4c for a plug-in hybrid EV. Mookhey, who is representing the states and territories at this week’s economic reform roundtable, says:
We do think that shows one example of how the nation could make some quick progress here.
The NSW charge would not start if a national scheme is adopted beforehand.
Daniel Mookhey says all drivers should contribute to the upkeep of Australian roads. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Queensland legal challenge against Gaza protest to be heard Thursday
Andrew Messenger
A legal challenge against a planned pro-Palestine protest on the Brisbane Story Bridge will be heard on Thursday.
The Queensland Police Service is seeking to halt a march by Justice for Palestine Magan-djin planned for 1pm this Sunday. Brisbane magistrates court will hear the application at 9am.
Organisers say they expect about 7,000 people to attend.
Brisbane’s Story Bridge. Photograph: Darren England/AAP
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the bridge will be closed to traffic for the protest if the march is approved, but he says he is concerned about people’s safety. He says some marchers might use closed footpaths attached to the main deck of the bridge, which are currently closed for safety reasons. Schrinner says:
We’re also concerned about the safety of the wider community as well, and the harmony of the wider community.
Peaceful protests, they’re great, you know, it’s a right of every Australian. But there have been some points where it’s gone too far. And terrorist chants, waving around photos of terrorist leaders, [it’s] not something that contributes to a harmonious community.
Abbottabad – The District Health Department Abbottabad on Monday launched a dengue spray campaign in Nawan Shehr’s Mera Katha Razz following an alarming increase in cases and a recent death caused by the virus.
A special fogging operation was carried out in areas where positive cases had been reported, while fumigation was also extended to the entire village, covering nearly 60 to 70 households.
The move comes after a woman, the widow of Abdul Waheed Khan, succumbed to dengue at Ayub Medical Complex last week. Her three sons, who are also infected, remain in critical condition at the same hospital. So far, more than 16 confirmed cases have been reported in Nawan Shehr Meera, raising concerns about the rapid spread of the disease in the area.
Residents expressed their gratitude to the District Health Officer Sardar Shakeel and Deputy District Health Officer Dr Shehzad Iqbal for timely fumigation, but also urged authorities to ensure consistent preventive measures to stop further spread of the outbreak.
Git 2.51 is out, and the release continues the long process of modernizing the version control system. The update includes several technical changes, but one of the most important areas of work is Git’s move toward stronger cryptographic security through SHA-256 support.
Git has relied on SHA-1 since its creation in 2005. SHA-1 has been showing its age for years, with researchers demonstrating collision attacks that make it unsuitable for long-term use. The community has been preparing for a transition to SHA-256, but the change is not simple. Git repositories are built around object IDs, which depend on the underlying hash function. A shift in algorithms touches nearly every corner of the system.
The 2.51 release moves this effort forward. While repositories are still created with SHA-1 by default, more internal plumbing now understands and supports SHA-256. This includes parts of the transport layer and the way objects are checked and verified. Developers who are experimenting with SHA-256 repositories will find that the ecosystem is slowly catching up, making it easier to test and report issues.
The work is careful and incremental. Backward compatibility is critical since Git is used by millions of developers and in countless automated systems. Git maintainers have to balance two goals. They must strengthen the cryptographic base to keep the system secure, and they must avoid breaking existing workflows that depend on SHA-1. The result is a transition period where both algorithms are supported, giving time for tools and hosting providers to adapt.
Alongside SHA-256, the release brings other improvements. Git now handles cruft packs more efficiently, which reduces storage bloat when repositories collect unreachable objects. There are also updates to stash handling, including better support for stashing files that are outside of the index. Performance tweaks continue as well, reflecting the project’s long tradition of refining speed and scale.
For developers, the most important message in Git 2.51 is not that everything changes today, but that the foundation is being laid for the future. If you are maintaining tooling that works closely with Git objects or transport, it may be worth experimenting with SHA-256 repositories. This can help uncover edge cases before the algorithm becomes the default.
The Git project has always been about durability. Its distributed model and object store are designed to ensure data integrity, and cryptographic hashes are central to that promise. Moving from SHA-1 to SHA-256 is a necessary step to keep that integrity strong as attacks evolve.
As with any Git release, the changes come from contributions across the community. Users who want the full technical details can find them in the official release notes.
Regulators urge safeguards for AI toys as children gain interactive companions that teach and engage instead of relying solely on human interaction or screens.
AI-powered stuffed animals are transforming children’s play by combining cuddly companionship with interactive learning.
Toys such as Curio’s Grem and Mattel’s AI collaborations offer screen-free experiences instead of tablets or smartphones, using chatbots and voice recognition to engage children in conversation and educational activities.
Products like CYJBE’s AI Smart Stuffed Animal integrate tools such as ChatGPT to answer questions, tell stories, and adapt to a child’s mood, all under parental controls for monitoring interactions.
The market has grown rapidly, driven by partnerships between tech and toy companies and early experiments like Grimes’ AI plush Grok.
At the same time, experts warn about privacy risks, the collection of children’s data, and potential reductions in face-to-face interaction.
Regulators are calling for safeguards, and parents are urged to weigh the benefits of interactive AI companions against possible social and ethical concerns.
The sector could reshape childhood play and learning, blending imaginative experiences with algorithmic support instead of solely relying on traditional toys.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Built for Galaxy fans, Buds3 FE offer essential features at a great price — now with a smarter, more stylish twist.
Samsung Electronics today announced the launch of Galaxy Buds3 FE,the newest addition to the Galaxy Buds lineup. As part of Samsung’s mission to expand its audio innovation to more people, Galaxy Buds3 FE are designed to deliver premium features at an accessible price. Buds3 FE bring more users into the Galaxy ecosystem with an iconic Blade design, upgraded audio performance and Galaxy AI1capabilities.
Galaxy Buds3 FE are designed to offer an enhanced audio experience. Impactful enhancements in the Galaxy Buds lineup build off innovations in core features including Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), call quality, battery life, comfort and more to allow users the freedom to listen where they want, when they want and how they want.
Building on Samsung’s understanding of sound as the most essential part of the user experience, Galaxy Buds3 FE were made for the quiet moments on a crowded train, a call on a windy street and the playlist that powers the walk home. With a larger speaker,2Buds3 FE deliver rich, powerful sound with deep bass and clear treble.3Enhanced ANC4 reduces ambient noise, creating a more immersive listening experience. Crystal Clear Call technology uses an advanced pre-trained machine learning model to isolate your voice, ensuring conversations remain clear even in noisy environments. The call experience is also improved by the adjusted microphone position, which is optimized for voice pickup with microphones facing towards the user’s mouth.
Ease of use is central to the Galaxy Buds3 FE design with intuitive controls that facilitate effortless interactions. Users can simply pinch the Blade to make selections or swipe for volume control. It’s also easier to connect via the pairing button on the cradle for transitions between Galaxy devices.5With Auto Switch, Galaxy Buds3 FE actively detect audio activity and transfer the connection seamlessly for continuous listening across all of your Galaxy devices.6
Additionally, AI features and the Buds3 FE design ensure that queuing up the next playlist or translating a conversation from one language to another is always just a word or long press away. When phrases like “Hey Google” are used, Buds3 FE can listen, understand, and respond without a screen or hands — just the user’s voice.7The experience is fast, natural and conversational, designed to feel more like talking to a friend than using a device. Users can also check their daily agenda or email without removing their phone from their pocket or bag. For translation,8they can use Buds3 FE with the Galaxy AI Interpreter9 app on their smartphone to listen to a lecture in a foreign language or have a conversation with someone in another language.
The Galaxy Buds3 FE Blade Design represents the Galaxy lineup’s distinct visual identity. With a matte dual-tone finish and semi-transparent accents, it reflects a balance of simplicity and expressive detail for a modern but playful aesthetic.
Galaxy Buds3 FE mark a new chapter in expanding the Galaxy Experience. Designed for users who want reliable performance, smart features, and a stylish design at a great value, Galaxy Buds3 FE make it easier than ever to join the Galaxy ecosystem. The earbuds also offer seamless integration with Galaxy devices, including quick access from system settings and app-free control from any screen.10
Galaxy Buds3 FE will be progressively available from Sept. 5.
For more details about Galaxy Buds3 FE, visit Samsung.com/galaxy-buds3-fe/.
Specifications
Galaxy Buds3 FE
Color
Black, Gray
*Available Colors may vary by market, carrier or retailer.
Dimensions
Earbud: 18.0(W) x 21.1(H) x 33.8(D) mm (Exclude eartips)Charging Case: 58.9(W) x 48.7(H) x 24.4(D) mm
*The typical capacity has been tested under third party laboratory conditions. The typical capacity is the estimated average capacity considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under the IEC 61960-3 standard. The rated capacity is 50mAh (earbuds), 500mAh (charging case). Actual battery life may vary depending on the network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
Music Time
Up to 6 hours / Total up to 24 hours (ANC on)Up to 8.5 hours / Total up to 30 hours (ANC off)*
*Earbuds provide up to 6hrs play time with ANC on (up to 8.5 hours with ANC off), while the case provides up to 24 hours of battery life (up to 30 hours with ANC off) when the case and earbuds are charged to 100%. Based on internal testing. Audio playback time tested by pairing a pre-production Galaxy Buds3 FE to a recently released Galaxy smartphone with default settings including ANC on. Actual battery life may vary and depend on usage conditions, settings, number of times charged, Bluetooth signal strength and other factors. Default setting refers to the original setting for the Galaxy Buds3 FE, simply with the power turned on.
Talk Time
Up to 4 hours / Total up to 18 hours (ANC on)Up to 4 hours / Total up to 18 hours (ANC off)*
*Earbuds provide up to 4hrs voice call time with ANC on (up to 4 hours with ANC off), while the case provides up to 18 hours of battery life (up to 18 hours with ANC off) when the case and earbuds are charged to 100%. Based on internal testing. Voice call time tested by pairing pre-production Galaxy Buds3 FE to a recently released Galaxy smartphone with default settings including ANC on. Actual battery life may vary and depend on usage conditions, settings, number of times charged, Bluetooth signal strength and other factors.
Android 11.0 or higher with more than 1.5GB of Memory
*Some features may not be available on non-Samsung devices. Availability may vary by market, operator or connected device.
Water Resistance
IP54*
*Earbuds only.
* Specifications may vary by market. ** All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice.
1 Requires compatible Galaxy device. Galaxy AI features by Samsung will be provided for free until the end of 2025 on supported Samsung Galaxy devices. 2 Compared to the previous Galaxy Buds FE. 3 Requires a compatible smartphone. 4 Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) is on by default, and the Pinch and Hold gesture for ANC can be configured directly in the phone settings for devices running One UI 8.0 and later. For devices running on earlier versions of One UI, configurations can be found in the Galaxy Wearable app. 5 Connecting Samsung Galaxy Buds as Bluetooth Audio is available regardless of the OS. For devices running One UI 8.0 and later, settings can be configured directly in the phone settings. For devices running on earlier versions of One UI, configurations can be found in the Galaxy Wearable app. Additionally, to use the Galaxy Wearable app, Samsung Galaxy Buds must be paired with a smartphone running Android 11.0 or above with at least 1.5 GB of memory. * Samsung Account login is required to activate and change the Galaxy Buds3 FE settings on the Galaxy Wearable app. 6 Auto Switch feature is only available on Samsung Galaxy smartphones and Galaxy Tab devices with One UI 3.1 or later, and on Galaxy Watch4 or later. The devices must be logged in to Samsung Account to enable Auto Switch. Availability of certain features of Auto Switch may vary. 7 Voice wake-up is off by default and can be configured directly in the phone settings for devices running One UI 8.0 and later. The feature uses the phone’s default Digital Assistant setting. ** Gemini is a trademark of Google LLC. Results for illustrative purposes. Gemini Live feature requires an internet connection and Google account login. Service availability may vary by country, language or device model. Features may differ depending on subscription and results may vary. Compatible with certain features and certain accounts. *** Gemini voice wake-up is available on Galaxy Buds3 Pro, Galaxy Buds3 and Galaxy Buds3 FE with One UI 8.0 and later. 8 Galaxy Buds3 FE support Galaxy AI features such as Interpreter and Live Translate when paired with compatible Samsung Galaxy devices. Availability of Galaxy AI features may vary by device model. 9 Galaxy Buds3 FE support Galaxy AI features such as Interpreter and Live Translate when paired with compatible Samsung Galaxy devices. Availability of Galaxy AI features may vary by device model. ** Interpreter requires Samsung account login. Certain languages may require language pack download. Service availability may vary by language. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Availability and supported features may vary by country, region or carrier. Availability of supported languages may vary. Visit Galaxy AI page at samsung.com for details. *** Audio interpretation is only available when wearing Samsung Galaxy Buds and connected to a Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Interpreter feature is not directly provided by Samsung Galaxy Buds themselves. If Samsung Galaxy Buds are unavailable, the interpreted content is provided on the Samsung Galaxy smartphone screen. **** Galaxy AI features are supported on Galaxy S25 Series, Galaxy S24 Series, Galaxy S23 Series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Fold6, Galaxy Z Fold5, Galaxy Z Flip7, Galaxy Z Flip6, Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy Z Flip7 FE, Galaxy Tab S10 Series and Galaxy Tab S9 Series as of March 2025. Supported device list may be updated and is subject to change. The types of Galaxy AI features supported may vary by device. ***** Samsung Galaxy devices may require the latest software update to properly support Galaxy AI features. ****** To change Interpreter to Listening Mode, the settings must be configured on the Interpreter app. 10 Availability of functions may vary by country, language, device model or apps. Some functional widgets may require a network connection and/or Samsung Account login. Available on Samsung Galaxy devices with One UI 8.0 or above. Additional devices may be supported in the future.
BAR DALORI: In the middle of the night, by the glow of their mobile phones, rescuers and villagers dug through the concrete remains of flattened houses after massive rocks crashed down on a remote Pakistani village following a cloudburst. Using hammers, shovels, and in many cases their bare hands to clear the rubble and open blocked pathways, they searched through the debris in darkness, with no electricity in the area. In just minutes, a torrent of water and rocks swept down on the village of Dalori on Monday, destroying at least 15 houses, damaging several others and killing nine people. Around 20 villagers are still trapped under the debris. “A huge bang came from the top of the mountain, and then dark smoke billowed into the sky,” Lal Khan, a 46-year-old local laborer, told AFP. “A massive surge of water gushed down with the sliding mountain,” he added. The cloudburst above Dalori came a few days into heavy monsoon rains that have already killed more than 350 people across mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, along the northwest border with Afghanistan. Torrential rains in northern Pakistan since Thursday have caused flooding and landslides that have swept away entire villages, with around 200 people still missing. And authorities have warned of fresh flash floods in the coming days. Khan recalled seeing the hand of his neighbor sticking out of the rubble, where rescuers later retrieved her body along with those of her four children. “We are absolutely helpless. We don’t have the means to tackle this calamity that nature has sent upon us,” Khan added.
Fellow resident Gul Hazir said not one but several cloudbursts from two sides of the village struck the remote valley. “It was like an apocalyptic movie. I still can’t believe what I saw,” Hazir said. “It was not the water that struck first, but a massive amount of rocks and stones that smashed into the houses,” Hazir told AFP. Local administration official Usman Khan told AFP at the site that many of the houses had been built in the middle of the stream bed, which worsened the scale of destruction. “There was no way for the water to recede after the cloudburst struck at least 11 separate locations in the area,” he said. “It is immensely challenging to carry out operations here, as heavy machinery cannot pass through the narrow alleys.” Saqib Ghani, a student who lost his father and was searching for other relatives, tried to claw through the concrete with his bare hands before rescuers pulled him away and villagers gave him water. The single road leading to the village was demolished at several points, while gravel was scattered across the settlement. Despite the challenging conditions, excavators were working at several sites to remove debris that had clogged the drainage channels and blocked the flow of water. Dalori has already held funerals for five victims, while women mourned in darkened homes with no electricity since the disaster. In the village’s narrow alleys, unattended cattle wandered freely amid the devastation. “I will not live here anymore,” said a grieving woman, draped in a large shawl, as she followed a coffin being carried through the street. Over the past few days, the villagers had been collecting money to help people in neighboring flood-hit areas, until they too were overwhelmed by disaster and lost everything. “We didn’t know we would be needing help ourselves,” Hazir added.
We sent Terence the script for Song for Marion, and he just turned up at the office. He buzzed the door and said: “Is Paul there?” There was a new person working in our office at the time, and she said: “No, no one’s in at the minute. Who’s calling?” He said: “It’s Terence Stamp.” And then she was like: “Well, he’s not here, shall I leave a message?” She didn’t invite him up or anything. She left him standing there. And he didn’t give a shit about that, to be honest.
Me, Terence and Gemma Arterton, who played the music teacher in Song for Marion, went to lunch at a vegan cafe in Shoreditch. His character, Arthur, was someone who loved his wife (played by Vanessa Redgrave), and would do anything for her, but always moaned, was always cantankerous, and found it very difficult to show any form of love to his son.
He was someone who I based on my grandad, and bits of my dad. When his wife dies, it’s Gemma’s character who brings him out of his shell a bit, and encourages him to sing.
We were talking about this character and he looked at me like I was talking in French. I stopped and said: “Well, you can always just wing it.” He went, “Yeah, let’s wing it.”
Working with him, I learned that veteran actors do like to be talked to, in terms of being directed. I also learned, without him telling me, that he had insecurities as well. When I met him, the first thing he said was: “I’m only going to do one take. That’s it.” But then when you got to know him, he was like, “Oh, don’t be silly.” He had his bravado.
But he was a very underrated, very understated actor. When he sang Lullabye by Billy Joel in the film, he broke everyone. It was obviously very good, but it was so sad.
‘When he sang, it broke everyone’ … Terence Stamp in Song for Marion. Photograph: Steel Mill Pictures/Allstar
As a kid, I loved him as the baddie in the amazing Superman and Superman II. He’s good at frustration. He punches his hands in rage at one point. When we were shooting Song for Marion, I remember him coming over to give me a massage, because I’d said my back was sore. I’ve never been in more pain in my life. He was not the most tender of men.
Terence was super, super fit. During filming, I went to the apartment where he was staying. He had this set of rotating press-up handles. They’re on the ground, and you put your hands on them, and as you go, you can turn them. He said: “Go on, do one.” I was like, “Fucking hell, I don’t know if I can.” He did loads, and I did one. I was in the peak of health, about 39 years old. He was 74 when he did Song for Marion.
He was so healthy. He didn’t drink. He didn’t do any bad stuff at all. He was supposed to eat a chocolate bar in the film, and we had to swap it for a carob date bar, otherwise he wouldn’t touch it.
We always used to go to a place on Berwick Street for tea – a herbal tea, because I thought he’d really like that. He had this blue carrier bag with him. In it, he had his script and a load of raw beetroot and carrots. He said: “I’m going to make a wicked salad: beetroot, carrot, that’s it. A bit of vinegar – gorgeous.” That’s what I remember.
When we made Song for Marion, he was obviously still known. He had just done The Adjustment Bureau, and he had done Steven Soderbergh’s The Limey, which wasn’t a massive hit, but it was a really respected film. I didn’t expect him to like this kind of script, because it was more commercial in terms of the story itself. But we talked about the fact that it reminded him very much of the relationship he had with his father. The troubles he had with his dad were not dissimilar to his relationship with Christopher Eccleston in the film. There was a jealousy of the mum’s attention.
We were the closing night film at the Toronto film festival. Terence was there, and behind him was his younger brother, Chris, who had managed the Who. Chris was crying his eyes out, and Terence was very comforting towards him, because they recognised their old man.
He did like to talk about himself. I’ll give him that. He would always go on about how big guys in gyms would beg him to say: “Kneel before Zod.” He told me, obviously, about going off to India, about how he was absolutely broke and he had to borrow coins to call his agent to find out about Superman. He’d tell stories about him and Jim Morrison. The thing is, he did have an amazingly interesting life.
He was low-key, but when he put a suit on, he looked good. He is possibly the best looking man I’ve worked with. My old drama teacher came to our screening at the London film festival, and the first thing he said to her was that she had wonderful shoes. She’s still dining out on that.
He was the most charming grump I’ve ever met. He was great to work with, but he was such a moaner. Then he would smile, and you’d think, he knew what he was doing.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, speaks during the Federal Reserve Integrated Review of the Capital Framework for Large Banks Conference in Washington, D.C, U.S., on July 22, 2025.
Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images
There's a bubble forming in the artificial intelligence industry, according to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
"Are we in a phase where investors as a whole are overexcited about AI? My opinion is yes. Is AI the most important thing to happen in a very long time? My opinion is also yes," Altman said.
"I'm sure someone's gonna write some sensational headline about that. I wish you wouldn't, but that's fine," he added. (Apologies to Altman.)
Altman's AI company is currently in talks to sell about $6 billion in stock that would value OpenAI at around $500 billion, CNBC confirmed Friday.
In another conversation, Altman warned that the U.S. may be underestimating the progress that China is making in AI.
Given the above premises, should investors be more cautious about OpenAI? Altman was not posed this question, but one wonders whether his opinion would also be "yes."
Outside pure-play AI companies, the money is, likewise, still flowing. Intel is receiving a $2 billion injection of cash from Japan's SoftBank.
It's a much-needed boost to the beleaguered U.S. chipmaker. Intel has fallen behind foreign rivals such as TSMC and Samsung in manufacturing semiconductors that serve as the brains for AI models.
But going by Altman's views, the investment in Intel might not be a good bet by SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son.
Not everyone agrees with Altman, of course.
Wedbush's Dan Ives told CNBC on Monday that there might be "some froth" in parts of the market, but "the actual impact over the medium and long term is actually being underestimated."
And Ray Wang, research director for semiconductors, supply chain and emerging technology at Futurum Group, pointed out that the AI industry is not heterogeneous. There are market leaders, and then there are companies that are still developing.
In the real world, bubbles delight because they reflect their surroundings in a play of light. But the bubble Altman describedcould be one doesn't show the face of its observer.
— CNBC's MacKenzie Sigalos and Dylan Butts contributed to this report
What you need to know today
Trump-Zelenskyy meeting paves the way for trilateral talks with Putin. At the White House meeting, the U.S. president also discussed security guarantees for Ukraine — which would reportedly involve a purchase around $90 billion of American weapons by Kyiv.
Intel is getting a $2 billion investment from SoftBank. Both companies announced the development Monday, in which SoftBank will pay $23 per share for Intel's common stock. Shares of Intel jumped more than 5% in extended trading.
The artificial intelligence market is in a bubble, says Sam Altman. Separately, the OpenAI CEO said he's "worried about China," and that the U.S. may be underestimating the latter's progress in artificial intelligence.
U.S. stocks close mostly flat on Monday. The three major indexes made moves that were less than 0.1 percentage pointsin either direction as investors await key U.S. retail earnings. Asia-Pacific markets were mixed Tuesday. SoftBank shares fell as much as 5.7%.
[PRO] Opportunities in one area of the European market. Investors have been pivoting away from the U.S. as multiple European indexes outperform those on Wall Street. But one pocket of Europe still remains overlooked, according to analysts.
And finally...
Tatra National Park, Tatra Mountains.
Stanislaw Pytel | Digitalvision | Getty Images
American money pours into Europe’s soccer giants as club valuations soar
European soccer is a bigger business than ever, with clubs in the continent's five top leagues raking in 20.4 billion euros ($23.7 billion) in revenue in the 2023-2024 season. American investors have been eyeing a piece of that pie.
U.S. investors now own, fully or in part, the majority of soccer teams in England's Premier League. That now includes four of the traditional Big Six clubs, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal all attracting U.S. investment.
