David’s view You don’t have to imagine what Los Angeles would look like under Mayor Spencer Pratt. AI already did it for you. In one of the reality TV star-turned-candidate’s campaign videos, happy firefighters, cops, and mothers celebrate “Pratt Summer” and how it solved the city’s problems: “I’m allowed to ...
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EU seeks social media lawsEU seeks social media laws
The News The European Commission is preparing new regulations on social media companies, in a bid to curtail endless scrolling, push notifications, and other features it terms “addictive design.” Also under consideration is a delay on when children are allowed to make accounts, the latest in a decade-long attempt to ...
Thinking Machines previews ‘interaction models’Thinking Machines previews ‘interaction models’
If you ever thought, “I wish my AI interrupted me more,” Mira Murati has got a product for you. The new models from Thinking Machines Lab, called “interaction models,” launched in research preview Monday, giving us a window into what she’s been up to since she left OpenAI in 2024 ...
CBS’ Tony Dokoupil to broadcast from Taiwan after failing to get China visa in timeCBS’ Tony Dokoupil to broadcast from Taiwan after failing to get China visa in time
The Scoop CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil will broadcast from Taipei this week after failing to obtain a visa to China in time, a stumble in the network’s efforts to play a leading role in this week’s dominant global story. American broadcasters are planning extensive coverage from the Chinese capital ...
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is wading into an international M&A dealMayor Zohran Mamdani is wading into an international M&A deal
The Scoop New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is bringing his populist bent to bear on a little-noticed merger. Mamdani is urging New York State’s top financial regulator to block Western Union’s $500 million deal for Intermex, a money transferrer that mostly services immigrants sending remittances back to Latin America. ...
Vision 2030’s biggest breakthrough isn’t in the chartsVision 2030’s biggest breakthrough isn’t in the charts
Wael’s view On paper, Vision 2030 is succeeding. The Saudi government’s latest annual report on its diversification strategy shows real GDP up 4.5% in 2025, while non‑oil activities now account for more than half the economy, and unemployment is at historic lows. The machinery of 1,290 initiatives and nearly 400 ...
Russian ship bound for N. Korea sank in ‘mysterious circumstances’, report findsRussian ship bound for N. Korea sank in ‘mysterious circumstances’, report finds
A Russian ship reportedly carrying two nuclear reactors bound for North Korea sank in mysterious circumstances off the coast of Spain, a CNN investigation found. The 2024 sinking of the Ursa Major — which the outlet said had a hole in its bow with the damaged metal facing inward, suggesting ...
CIA kills cartel boss in secret Mexico operationCIA kills cartel boss in secret Mexico operation
The CIA reportedly killed a cartel boss in a secret operation in Mexico, the latest sign of Washington’s increased interference in Latin American security. US President Donald Trump has made stopping drug flows across the southern border and cracking down on cartels a priority in his second term. The moves ...
Big Bang origin theory disputed by scientistsBig Bang origin theory disputed by scientists
The largest-ever survey of physicists found they disagree on some of science’s greatest questions. Popular understanding of science thinks of the Big Bang as the moment time itself started, but only 20% agreed with that; 68% thought it was just a hot, dense state. They also disagreed over whether Schrödinger’s ...
Mubadala-backed M42 pitches genomics data platform to the worldMubadala-backed M42 pitches genomics data platform to the world
The Scoop Abu Dhabi healthcare company M42 has begun pitching its genomic sequencing platform to governments and pharmaceutical companies around the world, and is rolling out AI chatbots tailored to patients with chronic diseases, its CEO told Semafor. It is part of a data-led push that will see M42 launch ...