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Daily brief

Today's essential news — August 18, 2026

10 stories · Published · News that ends.

  1. Conflict

    Trump says talks with North Korea's Kim are at positive stage

    President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded to his request for a conversation and described contacts as being at a positive stage, Al Jazeera and the Guardian reported. Trump also criticised South Korea for staying out of the Iran war after ordering reduced joint military drills.

  2. Markets

    Anthropic's annualized revenue run rate reaches $65 billion

    Anthropic told investors its annualized revenue run rate reached $65 billion by the end of July, up from $47 billion in May and $9 billion late last year, according to CNBC, TechCrunch and Techmeme. The model maker added about $18 billion in annualized revenue in two months and grew roughly sevenfold year over year.

  3. Markets

    China's 10-year bond yield falls to 13-month low

    China's benchmark 10-year government-bond yield fell to its lowest level in 13 months as weak economic growth pushed investors toward sovereign debt, the Financial Times reported. The move reflects stronger demand for government securities while markets assess the outlook for activity, inflation and policy support in the world's second-largest economy.

  4. Basketball

    Jeanie Buss challenges sale of family's remaining Lakers stake

    Jeanie Buss is reportedly trying to stop her siblings from selling the Buss family's remaining 17.8% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger. Four outlets reported that Buss opposes the transaction because it would remove her as controlling owner and team governor.

  5. Politics

    Hichilema wins second term in Zambia

    Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema won a second term with about 61% of the vote, compared with roughly 38% for his main challenger, according to Al Jazeera and France 24. He campaigned on economic recovery and debt restructuring but faces pressure to deliver more jobs and opportunities.

  6. Consumer

    Apple software video points to camera-equipped AirPods

    A video found in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate appears to demonstrate camera-equipped AirPods using Visual Intelligence, according to MacRumors, 9to5Mac and Techmeme. In the short clip, a user holds up a book so the earbuds' camera can identify its title, suggesting the previously rumoured product may be nearing release.

  7. Markets

    Hyperscaler borrowing unsettles credit and rates markets

    Credit and interest-rate markets are being reshaped by the growing volume of debt issued by large technology hyperscalers to finance artificial-intelligence expansion, according to the Financial Times. The surge connects AI infrastructure spending more directly to borrowing markets, where investors must absorb issuance from companies funding unusually capital-intensive data-centre plans.

  8. Business of Sport

    FIFA sacks operations chief after Infantino plan criticism

    FIFA dismissed chief operating officer Kevin Lamour three weeks after he publicly criticised President Gianni Infantino's proposal to sell parts of major competitions to private investors. Lamour said the FIFA administration had been deceived and acknowledged that his opposition could cost him his job, according to three outlets.

  9. Politics

    US Supreme Court rejects Trump's second E Jean Carroll appeal

    The US Supreme Court declined President Donald Trump's second attempt to overturn the outcome of E Jean Carroll's sexual-abuse and defamation case, Al Jazeera and BBC World reported. Trump has already paid the writer more than $5 million in damages arising from her allegations about a 1996 assault.

  10. Security

    Actively exploited Mac screen-sharing flaw prompts update warning

    A serious macOS screen-sharing vulnerability has been exploited in the wild, according to four technology outlets citing the Netherlands' National Cyber Security Center. The flaw can let attackers view screens and open files. Apple issued fixes for Tahoe, Sequoia and Sonoma, while users are advised to disable screen sharing when it is not needed.

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