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Meta generated AI chatbots impersonating celebrities—including Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johansson, Anne Hathaway, and Selena Gomez—on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp without their permission. Three bots, including two of Swift, recorded over 10m interactions before being removed, Reuters reported.

Some bots mimicked minors, like 16-year-old actor Walker Scobell, and produced inappropriate images when prompted. Adult bots also responded to flirtatious messages and requests for intimate content.

Meta acknowledged these violated company policy, citing enforcement failures. The firm deleted about a dozen such bots before the report and is introducing new safeguards to protect teens from inappropriate AI interactions, according to Reuters.

Legal experts warn that using celebrity likenesses without consent may violate California’s right-of-publicity laws, as the bots’ content appears non-transformative and commercially exploitative.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that China supports the UN’s central role in global affairs and remains committed to “true multilateralism.” Xi said China would continue to be a reliable partner of the organisation, Al Jazeera reported.

Guterres, in turn, described China’s backing as “an extremely important element to preserve.”

The exchange took place on Saturday in China, where Guterres is attending the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Xi, as rotating chair, will preside over the high-level gathering in Tianjin, which brings together leaders from more than 20 countries and 10 international organisations.

According to Al Jazeera, the summit will focus on strengthening security, economic, and cultural cooperation, with outcomes expected to include the Tianjin Declaration and a long-term strategy for the next decade.

Former Speaker of Ukraine’s Parliament, Andriy Parubiy, has been shot dead in the western city of Lviv, officials confirmed. The attacker, disguised as a courier with a delivery bag, opened fire before fleeing on an e-bike. A large manhunt is under way, BBC reported.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the killing as a “terrible murder” and pledged all resources to capture the suspect.

Parubiy, 54, was a central figure in the 2014 Euromaidan protests, later serving as Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada and joining Ukraine’s territorial defence after Russia’s 2022 invasion. Leaders hailed him as a patriot and defender of Ukraine’s independence.

Luna Luitel has been crowned Miss Nepal World 2025, succeeding Ashma Kumari KC at the 31st edition of the pageant held in Godavari on Saturday.

The 26-year-old, a nursing graduate from Australia now pursuing a master’s in Public Health at the University of Sydney, stood out among 26 contestants. Luitel, who previously placed first runner-up in Miss Teen Nepal 2015, said she wishes to live by the motto “Learn, Earn and Return” and use her platform to support social causes.

Other titleholders include Dipshikha Nepal (Miss Nepal Cosmo), Urusha Bhandari (Miss Nepal International), and Sony Ghale (Miss Nepal Earth).

The event concluded with a final Q&A, where the top four addressed changing perceptions of beauty pageants. The judging panel featured figures from the arts, media and former Miss Nepal winners.

Yemen’s Houthi group says its prime minister, Ahmed al-Rahawi, was killed in an Israeli air strike on Sanaa along with several ministers. The attack hit a government workshop on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera.

Al-Rahawi, appointed in August 2024, led the Houthi-run administration in areas under the group’s control.

Israel confirmed striking what it called a “Houthi terrorist regime military site,” part of its ongoing campaign against the group. The Houthis have launched repeated missile and drone attacks on Israel and shipping routes in the Red Sea, declaring support for Palestinians in Gaza.

Earlier this week, Israeli strikes on Sanaa killed 10 people and wounded more than 90. Despite the losses, the Houthis say their operations will continue, Al Jazeera reported.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on Saturday, marking a significant step in strengthening Nepal-China relations. The meeting took place at the Tianjin State Guest House on the sidelines of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.

During his official visit to China, which will continue until September 3, Prime Minister Oli is set to address the SCO Plus Summit on September 1 and participate in events commemorating the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression on September 3. The visit also includes planned meetings with other world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh.

The discussions between Prime Minister Oli and President Xi focused on deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, infrastructure development, and regional connectivity. Both leaders also reviewed the implementation of agreements from previous high-level visits and explored opportunities for further collaboration within the SCO framework.

 

Gaza City faced heavy Israeli bombardment early Saturday as Israel advances its planned seizure of the territory’s largest area. At least 35 Palestinians, including aid seekers, were killed in attacks across Gaza since dawn, Al Jazeera reported.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned that the ongoing operation could displace up to one million people. Since the conflict began, over 63,000 Palestinians have died and nearly 160,000 were wounded.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they arrested eight people accused of passing sensitive military information to Israel’s Mossad during Israel’s June air campaign, which targeted Iranian nuclear sites and killed top commanders and civilians, according to Reuters.

The suspects reportedly received Mossad training online and were detained before carrying out their plans. Authorities also seized materials for bombs and explosives.

Earlier, Iran reported arresting thousands during the 12-day conflict and has executed several individuals on espionage charges, which human rights groups criticize as political repression, Reuters reported.