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A second summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping reportedly avoided discussion of Taiwan, while Taiwanese figure Lien Hsien-ming argued the United States cannot win the AI race without access to Taiwanese chips. Observers see tension between Washington's chip dependence on Taiwan and its reluctance to raise the island's status directly with Beijing.

Leading artificial intelligence companies are investigating tens of thousands of security incidents, according to an Axios scoop. The scale of the probes points to the growing security burden facing major AI firms as their systems and data become high-value targets. Details of which companies are involved and the nature of the incidents were not immediately available.

A report by The Register describes long-standing file security vulnerabilities affecting Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows. The flaws, described as decades old, span all major desktop and mobile platforms, raising concerns about how widely shared code or inherited designs carried the weakness across the industry. Security professionals are discussing the disclosure and its implications for systems that have gone unpatched for years.

After the US Federal Reserve raised interest rates, attention is turning to whether the Reserve Bank of Australia will resume its own tightening cycle. Market watchers are speculating the RBA could restart hikes with a move in September, followed by another increase in November, as central banks worldwide continue battling inflation.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed a lower court's dismissal of internet advertising patents held invalid under Section 101 of the Patent Act, in a case involving Google. The ruling reinforces the judiciary's strict approach to abstract, computer-implemented ideas and is drawing attention from patent practitioners and technology companies watching how advertising-related patents fare.

The FBI has confirmed a cyber security incident connected to the hacking group ShinyHunters. Details about the scope of the breach and which organisations or data were affected have not yet been made public. ShinyHunters is a group previously linked to large-scale data thefts involving major companies, and the confirmation is drawing attention from security watchers awaiting further official information.

The Australian Senate has issued summons to the chief executives of OpenAI and Anthropic over an AI security breach, according to a report by Crypto Briefing. Details of the breach, the specific committee involved, and whether the executives will appear have not been confirmed, and neither company has publicly responded to the summons.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the 80th UN General Assembly, laying out Iran's positions on nuclear weapons, Israel and regional security. His speech drew wide attention, with many debating where Tehran drew its red lines amid ongoing tensions over its nuclear programme and confrontation with Israel.

Code spotted in Apple software suggests the company could bring an Android-style security feature to the iPhone. Details are scarce beyond the discovery itself, and Apple has not commented on any plans. If real, the move would see Apple borrowing a protection already standard on rival Android devices, tightening iPhone security for users.

The Ukrainian Air Force says its MiG-29 jets carried out a strike on a Russian command post in the northern sector of the front. According to the unit, Russian forces had been concentrating personnel in the building for some time and had been moving equipment and ammunition into the site. The claim is being widely shared, with supporters framing it as a sign of Ukraine's continued ability to hit high-value Russian targets behind the lines.

The United States has accused China of conducting secret nuclear weapons tests, raising fears of a new nuclear arms race between the two powers. The claim intensifies tensions in an already fraught strategic relationship, with concerns growing that both countries could resume explosive testing or expand arsenals. Arms control advocates warn the standoff undermines global non-proliferation efforts.

Russia has reportedly carried out a modernization of its secret "Perimeter" nuclear command complex in the Urals. The system, often described as a Cold War-era "dead hand" mechanism, is designed to guarantee a retaliatory nuclear strike even if Russian leadership is decapitated. The report has drawn attention amid heightened tensions over nuclear threats linked to the war in Ukraine.

Russia has carried out a major modernization of a secret underground command complex in the Ural Mountains linked to Perimetr, the Cold War-era nuclear retaliation system known in the West as 'Dead Hand', according to reporting by Danwatch based on military documents. The facility is believed to play a role in Russia's nuclear command-and-control infrastructure.

Nigeria and the armed group Boko Haram have reportedly reached a secret three-month ceasefire, according to a report cited by Genocide Watch. If confirmed, the deal would mark a significant pause in a conflict that has devastated northeast Nigeria for over a decade. Details of the agreement, including who brokered it and what each side receives, remain undisclosed, and there has been no formal confirmation from Nigerian authorities.

Analysts project that the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2027 is trending downward, which could mean a smaller benefits increase for retirees than recent years have delivered. Lower inflation expectations are driving the shift, and beneficiaries are watching closely because the COLA directly affects monthly checks and retirement budgets.

A national finance minister has met with his Georgian counterpart and the Hong Kong SAR financial secretary, according to a Fana News report. The trilateral meeting signals deepening financial and trade ties between the parties, though details of the agenda or any outcomes were not disclosed in the report.

A group of senators and congressmen have sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations near schools. They argue parents should be able to drop their children off at school without fearing detention, framing enforcement actions at these locations as harmful to families and children.

A newly launched group, the Partnership for a Competitive Puget Sound, is arguing that Washington must reform its tax system to stay economically competitive. The coalition contends the state needs tax structures that are simple, fair and competitive, while securing sustainable revenue for public services. The push highlights long-running concerns that Washington's tax code is regressive and leaves the state without stable funding.