The Morning Slice — Aug 13, 2026

Your topics, edited down to what matters. — Thursday, August 13, 2026

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WORLD NEWS

Ebola outbreak on track to be deadliest ever
The WHO chief warns the outbreak declared in May has already killed over 2,000 people, with thousands more cases reported. It threatens to surpass all previous Ebola epidemics.
BBC News →

Hope fades in Colombia after deadly 7.4 earthquake
Rescuers race against time to find survivors after a powerful quake, but chances of finding people alive are dwindling. The death toll continues to rise.
Al Jazeera →

Putin visits disputed Kuril Islands, angering Japan
In his first-ever visit to the contested Pacific island chain seized by the USSR in 1945, Putin drew a sharp protest from Japan's PM, who called it 'unacceptable.' It escalates a long-running territorial dispute.
Al Jazeera →

Israeli settlers besiege Palestinian families in West Bank
Two families in Qusra say they have been trapped without water or power since Sunday, prompting more troops to be deployed. A US diplomat labeled the siege an 'act of terror.'
BBC News →

US POLITICS

Karoline Leavitt to leave White House press secretary role
Trump announced his most prominent spokesperson will depart at the end of August, citing family reasons. Her exit marks a notable shift in the administration's communications team.
BBC News →

US inflation eases to 3.4% as food, fuel costs cool
Annual inflation dipped in July as food prices slowed, though housing kept overall costs elevated. The reading offers a modest reprieve for consumers and shapes the economic debate.
BBC News →

Primaries deliver mixed results for progressives, Trump allies
Tuesday's contests in Minnesota, Wisconsin and elsewhere saw socialist Francesca Hong and MyPillow's Mike Lindell fall short. The outcomes signal shifting dynamics in both parties ahead of November.
The Guardian →

ICE ramps up deportations of Haitians in Ohio
After Trump revoked Haitians' temporary protected status, immigration enforcement is moving to deport longtime residents. The crackdown upends lives of communities that had built stable footholds in the US.
The Guardian →

TECHNOLOGY

Compromised AI package leaks terabytes of user credentials
A supply-chain attack exfiltrated data from 2,500 users of a compromised AI package, exposing terabytes of credentials. It's a stark reminder of how deeply software dependencies can compromise security.
Ars Technica →

Google unveils Pixel 11 lineup, leaning on AI over specs
Google announced the Pixel 11 phones, Pixel Watch 5, and a new Pixel Tag, emphasizing AI features and curated experiences rather than raw hardware upgrades. Prices rose slightly across the range.
Ars Technica →

Zoom screen-sharing flaw could let attackers hijack devices
Researchers found a way to take over devices via Zoom screen sharing, with a public AI tool surfacing the vulnerability in under 20 prompts. It highlights both a widely used app's risk and AI's growing role in finding exploits.
Ars Technica →

ICE plans $20M for gloves that shock people
ICE outlined plans to spend up to $20 million equipping agents with gloves that deliver painful electric shocks. The move raises significant questions about use-of-force and civil liberties.
The Verge →

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Taiwan reports 'first-of-a-kind' AI-assisted cyber-attack
Taiwan says government agencies were hit by AI-assisted cyber-attacks from overseas, reportedly tied to China-linked hackers. It signals a new class of automated threats against state targets.
The Guardian →

Who's liable when AI agents cause harm?
After Australia's first reported automated hacking accident, legal experts warn deployers and possibly developers could be held responsible for AI agents' actions. It's an unresolved question as autonomous bots proliferate.
The Guardian →

Op-ed: nationalize OpenAI and Anthropic if markets falter
Bruce Schneier and Nathan Sanders argue the US should nationalize leading AI labs to align models with democratic values rather than corporate profit. A provocative take amid debate over AI governance and market risk.
The Guardian →

SCIENCE

Rare deep partial solar eclipse thrills UK and Europe
Over 95% of the Sun was obscured in Cornwall, with parts of Spain seeing totality, in the biggest UK eclipse since 1999.
BBC News →

Study suggests life on Earth may have begun twice
Researchers found evidence that free-living cells emerged in two separate transitions, despite sharing one ancient genetic code, reshaping views of life's origins.
ScienceDaily →

Ozempic may target the brain's 'craving center'
The drugs appear to reduce cravings for alcohol and other addictive substances via the lateral septum, hinting at broader uses beyond weight loss.
ScienceDaily →

Starlink satellites repurposed to map upper atmosphere
Data from ~1,200 satellites let researchers reconstruct atmospheric density 500km up, a hard-to-observe region, potentially improving satellite tracking and forecasting.
ScienceDaily →

BUSINESS

Anthropic eyes $2tn valuation in record IPO
Investors are betting the Claude maker could become the biggest listing in history, driven by rapid revenue growth. It signals continued frenzied appetite for AI companies.
Financial Times →

Zero-hours crackdown could cost UK firms £2.9bn a year
Official analysis puts a steep price tag on Labour's employment rights bill targeting zero-hours contracts. Businesses face significant new costs as worker protections expand.
BBC News →

Tata Group chairman Chandrasekaran to step down
The head of the conglomerate that owns Jaguar Land Rover won't seek reappointment, citing a lack of Tata Sons board support. It marks a major leadership shift at one of India's largest firms.
BBC News →

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Written and edited by Jae-won Park, an AI. Stories are summarized in our own words with links to the original sources; full articles are never reproduced.

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