COP31 leaders’ summit begins in Antalya, with electrification as central focus
World leaders are set to gather in Türkiye’s Mediterranean city of Antalya on Wednesday for a two-day summit at the COP31 UN climate conference, with the Turkish presidency putting electrification at the center of its push to turn climate pledges into action.
Türkiye is seeking support for a proposal to raise electricity’s share of global energy use to 35% by 2035. Electrification involves replacing fuels used directly in transport, buildings and industry with electricity, such as by switching to electric vehicles or heat pumps. Negotiators are also seeking progress on the transition away from fossil fuels.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are scheduled to address the opening session at the Antalya Expo Center. Heads of state and government will deliver national statements over two days, alongside roundtables and bilateral meetings.
Home appliances could be next, warns EU cyber chief
After hacks on supermarket fridges across Europe and suspected attacks on U.S. military base freezers, home appliances could be next, EU cybersecurity chief Juhan Lepassaar warned Tuesday.
“Today it was fridges, tomorrow it could be routers, the day after tomorrow it could be home appliances,” said the head of ENISA, the bloc’s cybersecurity agency.
Lepassaar urged Europe to invest more, saying cybersecurity “is not cheap.” ENISA’s report warns AI is shrinking exploitation time to near zero.
France blamed Iran’s Revolutionary Guards for its attacks, while the Pentagon is investigating freezer failures at base grocery stores as a suspected hack.
Paging Dr. Frankenstein: Israeli scientists use DNA to bring artificial matter to ‘life’
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science say they have used DNA to bring non-living matter to life, creating artificial materials that can move, change shape, and beat in rhythm.
The peer-reviewed research could pave the way for advanced therapies that target diseased cells, as well as for soft robotics ranging from internal medical devices to flexible prosthetics.
The research, led by Dr. Alexandra Tayar of Weizmann’s Chemical and Biological Physics Department, was published in two separate studies in Nature Materials and Nature Physics.
Google’s new AI robot ‘trained not to harm babies’
Google DeepMind’s robot AI is so physically advanced that it is being trained not to harm babies and pets.
On Tuesday, the company released footage of its new Gemini Robotics 2.5 model, which was said to be nearing “human-level dexterity”. The robots could tie ribbons on gifts, serve food with tongs, open catches on bags, empty bins and sweep up using a dustpan and brush.
Robots running the software were also placed on the production line at Mercedes-Benz in Germany and Hungary, where they successfully sorted automotive parts into the correct order so they could be assembled by humans.
British city council votes to allow a boycott of Israel with shouts of ‘Free Palestine’
The Birmingham City Council chamber in Great Britain erupted with chants of “Free Palestine” after a motion to review investments with the option to divest from Israel passed last Tuesday, with 54 votes to 19.
Boston Area Muslim Leader Hassan El-Alami Prays to Allah to Kill the Zionists at Least 8 Times This Year
A Muslim Leader named Hassan El-Alami has preached from a mosque in Chelsea, Massachusetts, praying to Allah at least 8 times this year alone for God to defeat “the aggressor Zionists,” “kill them, and strike them with a severe blow.” He made the statements from the minbar of the Al-Huda Society, where he serves as board president.
Amazon’s Ring unveils flying drone and robot to patrol homes and businesses
Amazon’s Ring is going deeper into surveillance with an indoor drone for home monitoring and an autonomous robot designed to patrol businesses.
The company on Tuesday unveiled the $250 Ring Drone Cam, a security camera that can fly from room to room, including upstairs, as well as capture footage during the day or at night. When an alarm or sensor on windows, doors and home security devices is triggered, the textbook-sized drone travels a preset path to investigate suspicious activity. Users can also deploy the drone at any time, the company said.
EU flags Bosnia’s divided digital ID oversight as barrier to alignment
The European Commission has called for Bosnia and Herzegovina to strengthen its digital identity framework, improve interoperability and align legislation with EU standards, according to its 2026 country report.
The Commission reiterated its recommendation for a single nationwide supervisory authority for electronic identification and trust services. It said a Republika Srpska law that took effect in June 2026 creates a separate supervisory structure, contradicting the EU’s recommendation.
Ebola tops 11,000 cases in Congo’s deadliest outbreak
Congo’s Ebola outbreak has topped 11,000 cases, the government said Wednesday, a stark figure that underscores the severity of the situation as the country grapples with the spread of the disease.
According to the latest health ministry data, 11,042 people have been infected with the deadly virus that has now killed 5,387 — nearly half of those infected in what has been Congo’s deadliest outbreak.
The outbreak was declared in mid-May, and since then Congolese authorities have struggled to contain it due to several factors, including armed conflicts, a health system crisis, poor roads and violence from residents fueled by mistrust and misinformation.