The Age

Reports say a growing number of countries are taking a fresh look at nuclear options amid rising global tensions. Analysts point to eroding arms control agreements, ongoing wars, and shifting security alliances as drivers of renewed interest in nuclear deterrence worldwide. Observers warn the trend could mark the start of a new and dangerous nuclear era.

AI companies could draw useful safety lessons from the decades-long history of managing nuclear weapons, according to a new commentary in The Conversation. The piece argues that lessons from arms control, fail-safes, and institutional oversight developed during the nuclear age offer a useful template as governments and firms grapple with how to manage powerful AI systems.

Commentary is examining how climate change is increasingly framed as a human rights issue, with warming temperatures, displacement and resource shortages threatening basic rights to housing, food and safety. The discussion reflects a growing push to hold governments accountable for protecting vulnerable populations from climate impacts and to embed human rights obligations into climate policy.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, 18.8% of working-age people now use artificial intelligence tools. The figure highlights how quickly AI has moved from a niche technology into everyday work routines, covering uses such as writing, research and automation. The report is drawing attention as analysts weigh what rising adoption means for productivity and jobs.

Liu Huan, one of China's best-known singers and a pioneer of C-pop, has died at the age of 63. He performed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, singing alongside Sarah Brightman, and was regarded as a founding figure of modern Chinese popular music. Tributes are circulating as fans and musicians mourn one of the country's most iconic voices.

A new study shows how loss of parts of the Y chromosome, a common age-related change in men's cells, can promote cancer growth. Researchers report the missing pieces help tumours evade immune defences, offering a possible explanation for why some cancers in men are more aggressive and opening paths to new treatments.

EU health officials are recommending that people aged 35 and older undergo regular cardiovascular check-ups to catch heart disease earlier. The advice, reported by Medical Xpress, marks a shift toward preventive screening across member states. The recommendation is drawing attention as heart disease remains a leading cause of death in Europe and early detection can significantly reduce serious outcomes.

An international conference of NGOs hosted under the Council of Europe framework is putting climate risks, violence against women and social rights at the centre of its agenda. Delegates and civil society organisations are expected to debate how these interconnected issues should shape future human rights policy, with organisers framing the event as a key forum for international NGO cooperation.

New Norwegian science reporting says children and teenagers aged 9 to 18 increasingly turn to AI chatbots instead of Google for information and everyday questions. Researchers warn the consequences of this shift are unknown, raising concerns about accuracy, privacy and how young people learn to search and evaluate information online.

Researchers report that artificial intelligence can distinguish aged stem cells from young ones, a step that could improve understanding of ageing and regenerative medicine. The finding, circulated via a science news release, suggests machine learning can detect subtle cellular differences linked to age. Details of the study and its methods remain limited in early coverage.

A new survey reported in the Netherlands finds that roughly 80 percent of people aged 16 to 34 believe their smartphone use harms their everyday life. The finding has drawn attention online, with commenters discussing screen time, attention spans and habits among younger generations who grew up with mobile devices.

American Cardinal Robert McElroy has set out ideas for how the Catholic Church should engage with the digital age, discussing the issue through Vatican News. His reflections address how the Church can communicate and pastorally reach people in an increasingly online world. The remarks are drawing attention among observers of Vatican affairs and Church communication.

New research suggests donor hearts may take on the biological age of their recipients after transplantation, rather than retaining the age of the original donor. Reported by Scientific American, the finding could reshape how doctors think about organ aging, rejection risk and long-term outcomes for transplant patients.

One of the killers of toddler James Bulger is to have his parole hearing held in private. Venables and Thompson were both aged 10 when they abducted and murdered two-year-old James Bulger in Merseyside in 1993. Venables has been denied parole before, partly due to concerns over his behaviour in custody. The decision to close the hearing has drawn attention because of the lasting public interest in the case.

Reports are circulating that professional wrestler Pac, the British high-flyer known for his time in AEW and on the independent circuit, has died. Fans and fellow wrestlers are sharing tributes and memories of his career, which included runs in Dragon Gate and prominent tag-team work. Details about his age or cause of death have not been confirmed in the initial reports.

A new study suggests that retiring early may not benefit cognitive health, implying that staying mentally active through work longer could help protect the brain as people age. The findings challenge the common assumption that stopping work sooner is better for wellbeing, and are likely to feed ongoing debate about ideal retirement timing.

Al Jazeera reports that the booming longevity industry — anti-ageing treatments, supplements and clinics promising longer, healthier lives — is outpacing the scientific evidence behind many of its claims. The piece suggests consumers are spending on interventions whose long-term benefits and risks remain largely unproven, raising concerns about hype, regulation and safety as the market grows.

DARPA is developing a robotic spacecraft designed to service and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit, some 35,000 kilometers above Earth. The effort, covered by IEEE Spectrum, would allow maintenance of aging communications and military satellites that are otherwise unreachable after launch. It marks a step toward routine robotic servicing in the most valuable and crowded orbital region.

Dancing is being discussed as a possible way to lower dementia risk. Research into lifestyle factors that protect brain health has repeatedly highlighted physical activity, and dance adds social interaction and cognitive coordination. Health outlets are asking whether regular dancing could help keep the ageing brain sharp.

NVIDIA is calling for AI agent safety to be enforced at the silicon level rather than relying on the agents themselves to behave. The company argues that hardware-based safeguards offer a more reliable foundation as AI agents are increasingly given the ability to act autonomously. The proposal is drawing attention in security circles, where vendor-level enforcement is seen as a significant stance in debates over how to control agentic AI systems.

Ontario residents in priority groups can receive Covid and flu vaccines starting September 28. The early rollout covers hospitalized patients, hospital staff, people aged 65 and older, and residents and staff of long-term care homes, retirement homes and similar settings. The announcement sets up the province's fall respiratory illness campaign ahead of the wider public rollout.

Fortune reports that many baby boomers are choosing to stay in their current homes as they age rather than move, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on renovations. The remodeling work is typically aimed at making homes safer and more comfortable for older residents, from accessibility upgrades to larger-scale projects.

A new report finds that roughly one in nine older adults who use cannabis may meet the criteria for cannabis use disorder. The finding highlights growing concerns as cannabis use rises among older populations, raising questions about screening, education and support for this age group.

Rising temperatures, humidity and extreme weather are being reported as growing threats to cultural treasures worldwide, with damage ranging from aging frescoes to the wood used in Stradivarius violins. The story highlights how climate change affects not only nature and infrastructure but also irreplaceable art, instruments and historic monuments.

A wildlife photographer known for capturing images of Yellowstone National Park's oldest wolf has died at the age of 65. His work helped document the park's wolf population and brought attention to the animals' lives in the wild. Readers are remembering his photographs and his contribution to wildlife photography and conservation storytelling.

So Kuramoto, the Japanese screenwriter best known for the acclaimed television drama 'Kita no Kuni kara' ('From the Northern Country'), has died at the age of 91. Kuramoto was one of Japan's most respected television writers, and his work is credited with shaping generations of Japanese family drama. Tributes and remembrances of his career are circulating following the announcement.

The Mighty Sparrow, the calypso icon widely regarded as the genre's greatest performer, has died at the age of 91. Born Slinger Francisco in Grenada and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, he dominated calypso for decades with classics such as 'Jean and Dinah' and earned the nickname 'King of Calypso'. News of his death is prompting tributes across the Caribbean and beyond.

Reports highlight the growing functional nutrition sector in Asia, driven by demand from both young consumers seeking health-boosting products and older populations needing age-specific dietary support. Manufacturers are reformulating foods and beverages with added vitamins, probiotics and other functional ingredients to serve a market shaped by demographic change across the region.