US retail sales grew more than expected in September, helped by higher gasoline prices. Spending in other areas was moderate, potentially tempering economists’ expectations for another quarter of robust consumer spending growth.
An AI-generated image of Mia Goth wearing a T-shirt aimed at her ex drew nearly 500,000 likes on Instagram, despite appearing on an account labeled as a fan page. Goth’s representative said they had previously complained about the account’s counterfeit AI images. Instagram later removed it for impersonating a public figure. AI-generated celebrity images and videos continue to attract huge audiences, with depictions of female public figures often overtly sexual.
DJI released Dock 4 on Wednesday, describing it as its first automated battery-swap drone dock. The system changes batteries in about 25 seconds, and DJI says the Matrice 5TD can relaunch within 45 seconds and fly for up to 59 minutes per sortie. The hardware bundle costs 167,999 yuan, with software, deployment and support extra. Overseas reviewers largely praised the design, though some called it expensive and cautioned that turnaround times may vary. DJI products on the FCC’s Covered List cannot receive US authorization. Dock 4 also works only with the Matrice 5TD, not existing Matrice 4TD fleets.
Several EU leaders firmly rejected transferring about 200 billion euros in immobilized Russian assets held in the bloc to U.S. control as a bargaining chip in peace talks. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called releasing the assets completely out of the question, while leaders said Europe would keep exploring ways to use them to support Ukraine.
US Special Envoy for Global Partnerships Paolo Zampolli said Russian athletes’ participation in international competitions matters to Americans. He said top champions want to defeat the best, and that competitions lose something when major athletes are absent for reasons unrelated to their individual conduct.
US Special Envoy for Global Partnerships Paolo Zampolli said sport could foster dialogue between the United States and Russia. He backed friendly hockey and football matches and proposed a joint sports channel, renewed youth and coaching exchanges, and transparent routes for eligible Russian athletes to return to competition.
US Special Envoy for Global Partnerships Paolo Zampolli said he would welcome an international friendly between the Russian and US national football teams. He said football can unite the world and help reopen conversation, while noting that one match cannot resolve every disagreement.
US Special Envoy for Global Partnerships Paolo Zampolli called the return of the Russian flag and anthem for Russian Paralympians in Italy a “meaningful step.” He said continued progress could create a credible route to fuller Russian participation at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Six Russian Paralympians won eight gold, one silver and three bronze medals, finishing third overall.
US Special Envoy for Global Partnerships Paolo Zampolli said sports could reopen doors in Russia-US relations that politics had kept closed. He said President Donald Trump understands this potential.
A Federal Trade Commission spokesperson said the new government task force on AI established by US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Thursday, as pressure mounts on Washington to address risks from the rapidly advancing technology.
Australian resources minister Madeleine King said emissions from the Beetaloo gas basin in the Northern Territory were accounted for and offset. But research found about 95% of projected emissions from four projects this decade would not need to be offset, prompting calls for her to correct the public record.
climate policyBeetaloo basingreenhouse gas emissions
A team led by Xu Disheng worked with Shanghai AI Lab’s Intern-S2 model to produce a rigorous proof of the 3D Ghys conjecture. A Peking University team independently verified the core theorems and the proof’s logical completeness using formal machine verification. The paper is on an international preprint platform, and the verification code is open-source.
Queensland’s Liberal National party has proposed controversial workplace-law changes that would let Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie break public-sector strikes in certain circumstances, including when deemed to be in the public interest. The plan would also tighten access to compensation for psychological injuries. Unions and the opposition condemned the proposals, while several business groups welcomed them.
Queenslandworkplace lawsstrikesLiberal National party
The Verge highlights eight recent games to try before the release calendar gets crowded again with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and Grand Theft Auto VI. The picks include a new Castlevania, a dressmaking game, old-school survival horror, and a co-op puzzle adventure.
Musician, YouTuber, and investigative journalist Benn Jordan has drawn attention for investigating Flock Safety and its automatic license plate reader systems, and recently testified at a Senate hearing. Amid mounting criticism and bipartisan backlash, hundreds of local governments have begun canceling Flock contracts. Jordan says the broader focus should be the opaque ties among private companies, government, and law enforcement, and finding practical ways to curb surveillance overreach.
Canada’s fisheries minister plans to travel to China at the end of the month, as a tariff deadline affecting the lobster and crab industries approaches.
Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab met his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, in Damascus on October 15 to discuss strengthening security cooperation.
U.S. wholesale inflation rose faster than expected last month, driven by a sharp increase in fuel costs. Persistent price rises remain a challenge for consumers and a political problem for Republicans in the midterm elections.
U.S. inflationwholesale pricesfuel costsmidterm elections
Wholesale inflation accelerated more than expected last month, driven by a sharp rise in fuel costs. Persistent price increases remain a challenge for consumers and a political problem for Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.
Dmitry Polyansky said the EU is afraid Russia and the United States could settle the Ukraine conflict without it. He also said the US president had concluded that Vladimir Zelensky was uninterested in peace and was doing everything possible to hold on to power.
Germany’s labor minister and Social Democratic Party co-leader Bärbel Bas resigned from government and party roles, citing her stepdaughter’s death and the pressures of political life. The report examines an increasingly unforgiving political climate, amplified by social media, and the abuse faced by women politicians.
German politicsBärbel Bassocial mediawomen in politics
At least 10 people were killed and 66 injured across Ukraine over the past day, regional authorities said, as Russian drones struck locations nationwide. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had used 850 Shahed-type drones since 9 a.m. on Oct. 14.
A Russian drone crashed in Kyiv’s Pechersk District on Oct. 15, injuring six people, three of whom were hospitalized, and damaging a residential building, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. The blast also damaged nearby building facades and set a car on fire.
Amazon announced two Bee AI devices and an $11.99 monthly subscription. The devices listen to daily conversations and generate summaries, transcripts, and to-dos. Subscribers can also opt in to Amazon shopping suggestions and Alexa Plus integration.
Amazon-owned Bee has introduced its first new AI devices since its acquisition: an updated wearable and a credit-card-sized recorder that attaches to smartphones. They can summarize conversations, make to-do lists and integrate with Alexa and Amazon shopping, with prices starting at $74.99.
In the 1980s, some West Indies cricketers toured apartheid South Africa, breaking one of sport’s biggest boycotts and provoking outrage. The programme examines the money, morals and consequences behind the controversial tours.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said Ukrainian units destroyed a Russian drone-operator training center in occupied Khorly, Kherson Oblast, during an overnight operation on Oct. 11. It said the strike also demolished a residence for Russian officers, including those training the 18th Army’s sabotage groups.
China’s 140th Import and Export Fair opened in Guangzhou, where Premier Li Qiang urged stronger market connectivity and an open world economy. He said China was ready to work with all countries to expand the global market. In 70 years, the fair has drawn buyers from more than 220 countries and regions, with deals totaling $1.6 trillion.
Canton FairLi Qianginternational tradeopen economy
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 140th Canton Fair, scheduled to run in Guangzhou from October 15 to November 4. He said the fair has promoted trade between China and other countries for 70 years, and said China is ready to work with countries worldwide to uphold the multilateral trading system, stabilize global supply chains and expand mutually beneficial cooperation. Global entrepreneurs backed his message.
The 140th Canton Fair opened in Guangzhou as the event marked its 70th anniversary. A CGTN survey found that most respondents see the fair as advancing China’s opening-up, modernizing with AI and big data, and supporting trade and supply-chain cooperation through new-product and trade-service zones and a buyers’ alliance.
Canton FairChina tradeopening-upglobal supply chains
Chinese Premier Li Qiang gave a keynote speech on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the 140th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou.
Russia’s OSCE envoy Dmitry Polyansky said NATO nuclear exercises near Russia’s borders are forcing Moscow to prepare an appropriate military response. He warned the actions could lead to a direct nuclear conflict on the continent.
Protesters opposing Albania’s Socialist government clashed with police in Tirana for a third straight day. Demonstrators threw rocks at a police cordon, and officers responded with tear gas and water cannons. The previous day’s riots left 89 people injured, including 61 police officers. Prime Minister Edi Rama said governments change through elections and vowed not to resign.
Clashes between protesters and police continued for a third day on Thursday in Albania. Prime Minister Edi Rama denounced the “chaos” that damaged government buildings, while thousands called for his resignation and improved study conditions for Albanian students.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said he would not resign over student-led demonstrations. Protesters and police clashed in Tirana for a third consecutive day, with police using tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds as protests spread to other cities. Demonstrators are demanding Rama’s resignation and better support for students, citing poor university conditions and high tuition fees.
Demonstrators and riot police clashed in Tirana on Wednesday as student protests entered a second day. Students are demanding better university conditions and Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation. Protesters erected makeshift barricades while police used water cannon; overnight violence had led to 16 arrests and severe damage to government buildings.
Microsoft says months of improvements have made Windows 11 up to 20 percent more responsive. Better memory management benefits PCs with 8GB of RAM, while updates, taskbar options, Windows Hello sign-in, and Bluetooth pairing have also been improved. A faster Windows Search is available to Insiders and is expected to roll out more broadly later this year.
Petroleum product shipments from Far Eastern ports reached a four-year high in August, the Bank of Russia reported. Some supplies were rerouted from southern ports because of shipping restrictions, while steady Asian demand supported oil and coal shipments.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and energy facilities were undermining US peace efforts. He said Russian diesel had begun entering global markets and would help stabilize energy markets, though not fully, and called European countries’ stance on the Russia-US diesel agreement destructive.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that countries beyond the US are interested in Russian diesel. Russian oil companies are ready to supply global markets at any time, while commercial terms are being negotiated. Russia has also outlined planned supply volumes for the US and other partners.
Dmitry Peskov said sizeable volumes of Russian diesel have begun reaching global markets and should have a positive effect on oil-market stability, but would not be enough to stabilize markets fully. He described the Moscow-Washington diesel deal as an energy deal, questioning why it was being called diplomatic.
An Al Jazeera data investigation found major gaps in claims that an Israeli counter-film to NAZA had more than 44 million views. Its website counter showed over 43.7 million, while the full film on its YouTube channel had fewer than 130,000 views by October 14; independent traffic estimates were also far lower.
Innovation can do more than produce new technologies: research and development investment may also lower product costs, open markets and reshape economic growth. As China advances innovation and its energy transition, CGTN’s Wang Tao speaks with John Ross about the forces driving change and their possible implications for China and the global economy.
China economyinnovationenergy transitionresearch and development
Romania said seven people were missing on Thursday after drone attacks on two ships in the Black Sea. Several vessels have been struck there recently in what is suspected to be fallout from the Ukraine war.
Kenya reported a second Ebola case on Wednesday, about a week after its first known infection. The 39-year-old man is a close family member of the first patient and was already in quarantine when he became ill on Tuesday. The first patient, who had lived in Congo, died at a Nairobi hospital on October 5.
A Ukrainian Defence Ministry source says the military’s Starshield satellite connection has been restored after a reported disruption between Tuesday and Wednesday. Kyiv is seeking an explanation from SpaceX. Elon Musk denied SpaceX was involved and said the US government controls the service and decides any restrictions.
Ukrainian soldiers reported restrictions on Starshield on the morning of October 14, and Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said the system was working again the next morning. Zelensky warned the outage could cost lives, while Musk said usage limits are set by the US military. The White House denied involvement or declined to comment. Senator Thom Tillis called for an inspector general investigation, saying the worst case would be a deliberate move to clear the way for a Russian attack.
International Security Management Association (ISMA) President Marcelo Rodriguez warns in an opinion piece for Euronews that companies face rising cyber risks and broader security threats. He argues that Europe’s businesses, executives and employees face unprecedented levels of risk.
French cryptocurrency unicorn Ledger says artificial intelligence is changing the security landscape. CTO Charles Guillemet says finding and exploiting vulnerabilities costs almost nothing, making it a new challenge for the security industry to raise defenses; he sees hardware as part of the solution.
Americans are putting off root canals and skipping doctor visits as health expenses emerge as a leading affordability concern for both low-income and wealthy voters.
Maurice Cohen, head of Ireland’s Jewish Representative Council, said the Herbert Park Hotel declined to host an international conference combating antisemitism and withdrew about 70 delegate rooms after its manager asked whether the Israel Defense Forces would be involved. Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon said that, if accurate, the report exemplifies the antisemitism the conference aimed to combat.
Russia accused Ukraine of acting against US peace efforts after a Ukrainian drone struck an oil refinery in a region south of Moscow overnight. Moscow also said Russian diesel had begun reaching global markets following a deal with US President Donald Trump.
Applications for US unemployment benefits edged higher last week, while layoffs remained historically low and most American workers continued to enjoy job security.
Russian Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic Alexey Chekunkov said more than 100 ice-class commercial vessels will be built for the Northern Sea Route. Russia’s eight nuclear-powered icebreakers will be joined by four more, as infrastructure work advances on railways, waterways, ports, satellites and emergency-response fleets.
Russia’s international reserves fell by $9.7 billion, or 1.3%, over the week to $723.5 billion as of October 9, 2026, largely due to negative revaluation, the Central Bank said. Reserves stood at $733.2 billion on October 2.
India’s banking system deposits reached a record 284 trillion rupees ($2.99 trillion) in the second half of September, central bank data showed, with a dollar deposit scheme helping drive the increase.
A proposal published Thursday could once again allow Norway’s sovereign wealth fund to invest in companies that make nuclear weapons. The world’s largest such fund has more than €2 trillion in assets.
The campaign of Texas Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico says it raised $64 million in the third quarter of 2026, a total that would set a new record.
In her new film, German director Doris Dörrie imagines a care robot that helps an elderly woman who can no longer live alone and can provide assisted dying under specified medical conditions if she explicitly wishes it. The film uses dark humor to examine aging, care costs and whether such a choice is truly free.
Lung cancer specialist and University College London professor Siow-Ming Lee says lung cancer comprises many different diseases. Advances in molecular oncology, minimally invasive surgery and immunotherapy are reshaping how it is understood and treated, including in people who have never smoked.
Vinicius says referees treat him unfairly and calls for protection for players such as himself, Lamine Yamal and Julian Alvarez, who bring something different to the game. He spoke after Madrid’s Champions League comeback win over Roma, hours after receiving a four-match Spanish league suspension for pulling an opponent’s hair and protesting against the referee.
Vinicius JuniorReal MadridrefereesChampions League
A dated estimate spanning three weeks shows direct deposits and pooled holdings bearing the cost of inactive staked capital, while new validators wait to start earning.
After Russian strikes devastated residential buildings in the capital, Ukrainians accused the US of gambling with their lives. Zelenskyy said Trump was on the wrong side of history as Washington struck a diesel deal with Moscow.
Russian Deputy Energy Minister Dmitry Islamov said international prices for thermal and metallurgical coal could fall by only a few percent next year. He said the sector’s financial performance depends on global prices, export volumes and ruble fluctuations; margins are 10–15% for exporters heading east and 2–10% for those heading west.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the price of Russian diesel for the US market would be settled through commercial negotiations. He said discussions currently cover diesel supplies only, with no talks on other commodities or on extending the license beyond April 2027.
With Grand Theft Auto VI about a month from release, Rockstar Games has released a brief 90-second “launch” trailer that showcases its Miami-inspired atmosphere and features a new track by electronic duo Justice. Rockstar says the trailer was captured entirely on PS5. The game launches November 19 on PS5 and Xbox.
Representatives of Türkiye and other countries left as Israel’s president spoke at a security summit in Baku. Türkiye’s foreign minister urged members of CICA to support Palestinian rights.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Belgium on Oct. 15 and plans to discuss finances with Prime Minister Bart De Wever before attending an EU leaders’ summit. Zelensky called for more pressure on Russia and defense support for Ukraine, and is seeking consensus on using about 200 billion euros in Russian assets immobilized in Europe.
Microsoft President Brad Smith warned that the Trump administration’s move to restrict green-card access for skilled foreign workers could weaken US technological competitiveness and push talent overseas, Politico reported on Thursday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed the CICA summit in Baku, urging member states to stand firm against what he called Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.
A Hezbollah lawmaker said on Thursday that hundreds of kilograms of explosives seized by Lebanese security forces last week belonged to the group and were intended for an attack on Israel. Tensions continue over the government’s push to disarm the Iran-backed movement.
Kpler data showed Russian oil imports to India reached 1.82 million barrels per day in September, compared with China’s 1.49 million. Kpler forecast deliveries to India would stay broadly stable in October at 1.8–1.9 million barrels per day.
TV critic Dheepthika Laurent surveys this month’s highlights, beginning with the long-awaited return of Netflix’s most-watched French series, “Lupin.” Omar Sy is back as the gentleman thief, whose name someone apparently is using while stealing. Can he clear himself?
The highway could connect isolated parts of Brazil, but it also risks destroying carbon-rich rainforest, putting climate concerns in focus ahead of the election.
Ukraine’s parliament passed a package of legislation on Thursday to advance key demands from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, aiming to unlock billions of dollars in foreign aid.
UkraineEuropean UnionInternational Monetary Fundforeign aid
Doctors said Pope Leo XIV’s lung has recovered well after surgery to remove a cancerous nodule, and his post-operative tests were normal. He has resumed working from the hospital.
The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV had a “good night” in hospital after undergoing surgery on Tuesday at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. It disclosed that the growth was cancerous and that surgeons removed part of his right lung.
A school roof collapsed in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, on Thursday 15 October, killing at least 32 pupils and a teacher. Officials said the structure was weak and construction work had overloaded it. The school owner was arrested and an investigation opened.
A school roof collapsed in Peshawar, north-western Pakistan, killing at least 33 pupils and a teacher and injuring more than a dozen others. Rescue officials fear children remain trapped. Authorities say the building was structurally dangerous, and the school’s owner has been arrested as police investigate possible building-code violations.
At least 29 people, mostly children, died when a school roof collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan. Police arrested the owner and accused those responsible of severe negligence.
A roof collapsed at a private school in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least 28 children and a female teacher and injuring more than 50 others, a hospital spokesperson said. Rescuers searched the rubble for anyone still trapped. Six of the dead were girls.
A roof collapsed at the Al-Khair Education Centre, a private school in Peshawar, killing at least 28 students and a teacher and injuring more than 20 people. Rescuers are searching for survivors, while authorities have ordered an investigation into the cause.
The roof of a private school in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, collapsed, killing 28 children and one adult and injuring more than 40 people. Rescue operations are continuing, the school owner has been detained, and the cause is under investigation.
A hospital official said a school roof collapsed on Thursday in Peshawar, northwest Pakistan, killing a teacher and 27 pupils. More than 30 people were injured, six of whom were believed to be in critical condition.
Officials say a school roof collapsed in northwest Pakistan, killing and injuring dozens. More than 30 people were hurt, with six believed to be in critical condition.
An official said the roof of a private school in northwestern Pakistan collapsed, killing at least 17 students and a teacher. The headline reports at least 18 deaths and more than 30 injuries.
A school roof collapsed in Peshawar’s Afridi Abad area, killing at least 17 pupils and one teacher and injuring 12 others. Rescue workers cleared rubble and searched for survivors; the cause was not immediately known. Officials and local media say such collapses are becoming increasingly common in Pakistan.
A school roof collapsed in northwest Pakistan, killing a teacher and at least 17 children. Building collapses are common in the country, where construction standards are often poorly enforced.
A school roof collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing at least 17 students, all under 13, and one teacher, a local hospital spokesperson said on Thursday.
Vienna’s Neubau district has launched a dog-walking campaign advising owners to rinse urine with bottled tap water to reduce damage to tree bark and greenery. Free 270ml bottles are available at the town hall, and the voluntary scheme could spread to other districts.
The United States wants its global partners to call artificial intelligence “super intelligence,” a senior U.S. Treasury official told Reuters on Thursday, saying the new name better reflects the emerging technology.
Meat has unexpectedly become a political battleground in the U.S. midterm elections, with Democrats and Republicans disputing which party is more supportive of meat consumption.
U.S. midterm electionsmeat consumptionpolitical debate
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