September 2026
All columns and Brief analyses.
10 results
A Tanzanian fossil is the first Dinodontosaurus outside South America
Sci.News reported a Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology paper naming Dinodontosaurus isiyavamanda from Tanzania's Manda Beds, about 240 million years old, the first confirmed fossil of the genus outside South America. Newswise says a University of Bristol-led team chose a name that refers to the land of the Wamanda people.
Alexa+ opened in India with Hindi and Hinglish in early access
Amazon India opened Alexa+ in free early access on eligible Echo devices, Fire TV and the app, with English, Hindi and Hinglish, and said it stays free for Prime plan members after early access. The Times of India and Fortune India reported 2,000 rupees a month on the non-Prime path. Fortune India said 99 percent of existing Echo devices in India can run the service.
Anthropic merged Claude chat and Cowork into one window
Anthropic said Claude chat and Cowork are now one Claude, with Docs and Slides in beta. The Verge wrote the update rolls first to Pro and Max on web, desktop and mobile. TechCrunch described the same merge as one interface.
Anthropic signed a lease on a 32 billion dollar Queensland campus
ABC News said Anthropic signed to use part of a proposed 32 billion dollar Western Downs data centre, subject to Foreign Investment Review Board approval, with use aimed at 2027. Brisbane Times described the same Dalby-area project as Anthropic’s first Australian deal and said the company would take the entire capacity of the proposed AI factory.
Bessent will raise Iran finance ties with He Lifeng
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told the House Financial Services Committee he would meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng this weekend, before Xi Jinping's Washington visit, to discuss China's financial ties with Iran. The Financial Times headline places that meeting in New York ahead of a Trump-Xi summit.
CBO puts the Iran war at 38 billion dollars through 1 August
The Congressional Budget Office said the Iran war had cost the Defense Department about 38 billion dollars through 1 August 2026, with extra monthly costs of 2-3 billion dollars if fighting continues, and PCE inflation in the first quarter of 2027 0.5 percentage points above its February projection. Al Jazeera adds that replenishing munitions could take up to five years.
Costco widened Uber Eats delivery across the US market
Business Wire said Costco’s Uber Eats partnership grew from 17 to 47 in the US market, with nearly 600 warehouses. CNBC repeated the 47 figure. Members add a Costco membership at checkout, a retail price and membership check.
Dindefelo chimpanzees handed over 33 tools to younger kin
Frontiers and New Scientist reported 33 tool transfers among savanna chimpanzees at Dindefelo, Senegal. New Scientist gave 19 ant, 10 algae and 4 termite transfers, with 30 per cent mother-to-offspring. Frontiers said most transfers were recoveries and tolerated takes. This is a camera-trap count, not a human classroom.
Dong Jun warned against militarism at Xiangshan
Al Jazeera and Kyodo reported that China's defence minister Dong Jun opened the Beijing Xiangshan Forum with a warning against militarism and historical revisionism. Kyodo said no Japanese government officials were invited and counted about 2,000 participants. Al Jazeera noted he did not name the United States or Japan. Neither report carried an official Tokyo reply.
Dreamforce left no room for a new AI law
CNBC and TechCrunch reported that Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told Salesforce Dreamforce that safety is an engineering problem and that AI needs no new laws. CNBC said Dario Amodei appeared on the same stage after arguing for a slower pace. Huang called speed versus safe products a false choice. Neither report showed a bill text.