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Classified estimates indicate the National Security Agency is paying billions of dollars to test artificial intelligence models, according to a new report. The figures suggest US intelligence agencies are pouring major funding into evaluating advanced AI systems, sparking debate about surveillance implications, government oversight, and the scale of public money flowing into AI development.

World Rivers Day is drawing attention to the worsening state of the world's rivers, with many suffering from shrinking flows, drought and overuse. Coverage is focusing on why waterways are 'running on empty' and what declining river health means for ecosystems, agriculture and the communities that depend on them.

China has introduced new travel rules that are causing concern among major technology companies and their employees, particularly those working in artificial intelligence and other high-tech fields. The measures are reported to affect the movement of expertise and capital, raising questions about how firms and skilled workers will operate, with observers warning of growing uncertainty for the country's tech sector.

The Wall Street Journal examines warning signs that could indicate the current artificial intelligence investment boom is heading toward a bust. The piece weighs the enormous capital flowing into AI infrastructure against questions about sustainable returns, reviving comparisons to past technology bubbles such as the dot-com crash.

Iraq and the United States have agreed to resume shipments of US dollar cash into Iraq, according to Middle East Monitor. The agreement eases a disruption that had affected dollar supplies to Iraqi banks and the local currency market, where the greenback is widely used for trade and savings. Observers are watching whether the renewed flows will stabilise the Iraqi dinar and relieve pressure on the country's financial system.

The European Union has called on member countries to reduce their gas consumption as concerns grow over supply. The request reflects fears that gas flows may become insufficient, and it asks national governments to take measures lowering demand. The move is drawing wide attention across Europe as countries weigh how to respond and what it means for households and industry.

Djibouti has called on the international community to provide assistance as the war in Yemen pushes a growing flow of refugees and migrants across the Red Sea to its shores. The small Horn of Africa nation says it is struggling to cope with the influx, and is seeking support for shelter, food and aid services for those fleeing the conflict.

Investors are weighing whether IBM's long-standing dividend can hold up as the company shifts from its legacy hardware and services business toward software, cloud and artificial intelligence. The payout endured decades of upheaval at the old IBM, but analysts are asking whether the new, faster-growing yet still-transitioning company will generate the cash flow needed to keep it intact.

A new AI model is being used to monitor illicit activity on the Bitcoin network, as researchers say criminal transactions have evolved from simple transfers into complex, hidden networks designed to evade detection. The development highlights growing interest in machine learning tools for tracing money laundering and other illegal flows in cryptocurrency markets.

Syria's state news agency reports the country expects more than $1 billion in foreign capital to flow into newly established banks. The announcement signals an effort to rebuild the war-damaged financial sector and attract international investment. With banking flagged as a growing topic, observers are watching whether foreign lenders will commit funds and how new institutions will operate under Syria's current economic conditions.

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces is reportedly extracting transit fees from oil flowing through Heglig, where production has reached 26,000 barrels per day. The development highlights how the paramilitary group is monetising control of key oil infrastructure during the country's civil war, raising questions about the future of Sudan's oil revenues, which are vital to both the state budget and exports via South Sudan's pipeline network.

The Central Bank has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its foreign exchange regulations, aimed at easing bottlenecks in international trade. The reforms are expected to simplify currency access for importers and exporters and improve the flow of hard currency through official channels. Details of the specific measures and their timeline have not yet been fully disclosed.

The Premier League has put forward a New Deal proposal that would more than double solidarity payments to EFL clubs, but the offer comes with conditions attached. The plan would significantly increase the money flowing from the top flight to lower-division English football, though the strings attached are likely to shape negotiations between the two bodies.

Home Depot's dividend remains secure even as the housing market stagnates, analysts say. The company's steady cash flow supports the payout, though the pace of future dividend increases could moderate while home improvement demand stays subdued amid high mortgage rates and weak housing turnover.

Kohl's and Macy's, two of America's best-known department store chains, are both contending with weak sales and store closures, raising questions about whether their dividends remain sustainable. Analyst commentary is weighing which retailer has the stronger balance sheet and cash flow to keep paying shareholders as department store traffic continues to decline across the US retail sector.

Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is active for Baltimore's matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Brazil, confirming he will play in the NFL's international game. The news matters for fantasy managers and Ravens fans who were waiting on his availability, as his status had been in question leading up to kickoff in São Paulo.

Adform says AI assistants can now access 800 of its advertising platform's capabilities. Buyers using its FLOW platform received 29 read-only skills in July, while Dell and Publicis Groupe tested the wider server at Cannes. Industry observers are asking whether these agents can actively change live campaigns or only read data, a key question for how much control advertisers will hand over to AI.

A powerful nor'easter continues to batter the New York tri-state area with strong winds, and forecasters warn that major coastal flooding is possible on Sunday. Residents along the coast are being urged to prepare for inundation as the storm's onshore flow pushes water into vulnerable shoreline communities.

Willson Contreras successfully challenged a called strike three using MLB's Automated Ball-Strike system, and the pitch was overturned to a ball, keeping his at-bat alive. The moment is drawing attention as the ABS challenge system continues to feature prominently in games this season, fueling debate over the technology's impact on umpiring and game flow.

New genetic research on cuckoos indicates that differences in host preferences are not enough on their own to divide the wide-ranging birds into separate species. The findings suggest that despite specialised egg-laying habits targeting different host birds, gene flow across populations keeps the wandering species genetically unified, complicating how scientists classify parasitic cuckoo lineages.

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is set to play after what was described as a positive workout in Rio. The report came via ESPN, indicating the fitness check went well enough for the wideout to be available. Fans and fantasy managers are watching closely for official confirmation from the team ahead of kickoff.

Ethereum is showing a rise in failed transactions alongside muted whale inflows, according to CryptoQuant analysis. The pattern suggests current network activity is being driven more by retail traders and DeFi users than by large holders moving funds. Analysts say such a mix can signal speculative, smaller-scale activity dominating the network rather than accumulation by big investors.