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AI

Spotify announces AI persona badges

True artist-fan connection can only be built on a foundation of trust and authenticity. In music, that means listeners need to be able to trust that the artist behind the music is who they say they…

  • Spotify introduces AI persona badges to identify AI-generated artists
  • Badges will appear on artist profiles mid-September
  • AI Personas excluded from personalized recommendations by default

AI

Hong Kong firm bets on Chinese open-weight models to rival CoreWeave

The rise of Chinese open-weight models has shaken up the global artificial intelligence (AI) market in recent months. With China’s systems offering high performance at a lower cost, businesses around the world are looking at shifting away from Silicon Valley’s leading providers.

Culture

Accra is more like a place for the big boys, but Kumasi is for hustlers – Nigerian filmmaker Ramsey Nouah

Nigerian actor and filmmaker Ramsey Nouah has shared his impressions of Kumasi, describing the Ashanti regional capital as a city filled with hardworking, entrepreneurial and down-to-earth people.

  • Kumasi described as vibrant city with hardworking, entrepreneurial, down-to-earth individuals
  • Ramsey Nouah compares Kumasi to Lagos and Abuja, notes entrepreneurial spirit
  • Kumasi perceived as more down-to-earth than Accra, offers relaxed social life

Tech

Airtel Launches Starlink Mobile in Africa

Kayode Tokede Airtel Africa and Starlink have launched satellite-to-mobile service in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marking the first commercial deployment in Africa.

  • Airtel Africa partners with Starlink to launch satellite-to-mobile service in DRC.
  • Service provides connectivity in areas without traditional infrastructure.
  • Starlink's constellation of 650 satellites enables light-data applications.

Science

Scientists map the microscopic roots of chaos in dusty plasma using supercomputer simulations

Research Matters Staff Writer(s) Jammu 17 Aug 2026 Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in understanding the chaotic world of turbulence by tracking the movement of millions of individual…

  • Scientists map microscopic origins of turbulence in dusty plasma using supercomputer simulations.
  • Understanding dusty plasma turbulence could improve plasma containment in nuclear fusion reactors.

Culture

Dodgers Place All-Star Starting Pitcher on IL

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed All-Star starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski on the 15-day injured list with forearm inflammation.

  • Justin Wrobleski placed on 15-day injured list due to left forearm inflammation
  • Kyle Hurt recalled from Triple-A to replace Wrobleski
  • Tyler Glasnow expected to return by end of August for Dodgers' road series

Business

ENDING THE CYCLE OF WASTE

President Tinubu’s directive that the refineries be run as profitable ventures must be adhered to, writes SOLA ADEMORITAN For decades, Nigeria’s refineries have stood as perhaps the most frustrating…

  • President Tinubu aims to make Nigeria's refineries profitable.
  • Removal of fuel subsidies signals financial prudence.
  • Successful overhaul could boost energy security and jobs.

Health & Medicine

Medics share stories ahead of Chinese Doctors' Day

It's a career path she never expected, but Dr Carol Ng says she wouldn't have it any other way. The paediatric radiologist at Hong Kong Children's Hospital uses cutting-edge imaging and virtual…

  • Dr Carol Ng, paediatric radiologist, uses advanced imaging for rare congenital heart diseases
  • Samuel Lo, blood vessel surgeon, performs precise surgeries on acute aortic aneurysm
  • Chinese Doctors Day, celebrated on August 19, honors medical professionals

AI

State agencies to ramp up AI usage

Five state agencies plan to adopt agentic artificial intelligence (AI) to support their complex tasks, from detecting foreign nominees buying land in Thailand to identifying fake parentage in civil…

  • Five Thai state agencies to boost AI usage
  • Agencies to use agentic AI for complex tasks
  • Aim to improve efficiency and accuracy

Tech

Linux Kernel 7.2 Has Been Officially Released with Many New Features

Linux Kernel 7.2 has just been officially released with a slew of new features, reports the blog 9to5Linux. Highlights of Linux 7.2 "include cache-aware load-balancing support, initial HDMI 2.1 FRL…

  • Linux Kernel 7.2 officially released with cache-aware load-balancing support
  • Initial HDMI 2.1 Full Rate Line Rate (FRL) support for AMDGPU driver added
  • Fair(er) GPU scheduler improves graphics processing resource allocation

AI

AI and monetary policy

Dinner speech by Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank, at the closing conference of the European System of Central Banks Research Network on Challenges for…

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