Quiet News

Meta gives away code to put its Muse AI in household gadgets

Meta is releasing the code for its Muse AI agent for free so that it can be built into devices such as televisions and other home appliances.

Sanders proposes ban on federal use of Flock licence plate readers

Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill that would bar the federal government from using Flock's surveillance systems, with the proposed ban extending to all automated licence plate readers.

Quiet Atlantic hurricane season raises questions about El Niño's role

For the first time in three decades, September passed without a single Atlantic hurricane, even though it is normally the most active month. Forecasters are asking whether El Niño conditions could mean none form this year.

California sues to stop rollback of fuel economy rules

California has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from weakening vehicle fuel economy standards. It is the state's 97th suit against the administration in the past year and a half.

Iran jails hard-line lawmaker, revealing rifts in its leadership

Hamid Rasaei, a vocal opponent of a diplomatic deal with the United States, has been convicted of publishing false information intended to harm the Parliament speaker. The case exposes deep divisions within Iran's leadership.

Judge halts border wall construction in Texas's Big Bend

A judge has blocked construction of a border wall in the Big Bend region of Texas, a setback for the administration's plans for hundreds of miles of barriers that have faced local opposition.

India's street magicians face a shrinking stage

India's street performers are finding it harder to make a living as audiences dwindle and public spaces become more difficult to access, putting a traditional art form under pressure.

Justice Department will not reopen inquiry into Jerome Powell

The US justice department is not reopening a criminal investigation into former Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell over cost overruns on the central bank's building renovation. Attorney general Todd Blanche said he has not ruled out further scrutiny of the project's oversight.

Protesters rally against Trump's proposed arch in Washington

Democratic lawmakers, veterans and residents gathered in Memorial Circle to oppose the arch President Trump wants to build there. Opponents are pinning their hopes on a lawsuit and on next month's midterm elections.

Hispanic voters drifting from Republicans could decide the midterms

Hispanic voters are growing less supportive of Republicans, a shift that could prove decisive in the upcoming midterm elections.

Trump directed taxpayer money to ads praising his presidency

President Trump directed the use of federal funds for government advertisements praising his presidency, illustrating how far he has been able to use public money for his own aims.

Programmer gets Doom running inside an SQL database

Someone has made the classic game Doom run in an SQL database, using about 1,300 lines of SQL queries to render accurate bitmapped graphics at 35 frames per second.

Lula leads huge Rio rally ahead of Brazil's election

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva led a large rally through Rio before Sunday's election, saying he is seeking a fourth term because he believes only he can keep the family of his far-right rival Flavio Bolsonaro from returning to power.

Sean Parker rebuilds Stability AI with a focus on music

Sean Parker, once a disruptor of the music industry, is reshaping Stability AI around music, this time with the backing and funding of the record labels.

Meta open sources code for building Muse AI gadgets

Meta has open sourced code that lets people build their own devices featuring its new Muse AI agent. Suggested projects include an E Ink display for reminders and an HDMI stick to show Muse on a big screen.

Former congressman gets ten years for lobbying scheme

A former US congressman has been sentenced to ten years in prison over a $50m lobbying scheme. His former housemate, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, testified that he knew nothing of the activities.

Hawaii's 550-year-old Holei Sea Arch crumbles into the sea

The lava rock arch on the cliffs of Volcanoes National Park, a landmark for centuries, fell away some time last weekend.

Amazon's $1bn data centre pledge meets fresh criticism

Amazon's billion-dollar plan to address opposition to its data centres has drawn praise for ending non-disclosure agreements but criticism for downplaying the facilities' pollution.

Netflix steps back from prestige production deals

Netflix has ended several multiyear deals with acclaimed directors such as David Fincher and Shawn Levy, partnerships behind many of its critically praised hits. The moves suggest a broader shift in the streamer's strategy.

Argentina offers citizenship to major foreign investors

Argentina's new programme would grant citizenship to people who make large investments in the country. Similar schemes have brought significant income to small economies but have also carried risks.

Judge lets unions' lawsuit over AI surveillance of noncitizens proceed

A New York federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit by unions accusing federal immigration agencies of using AI to monitor noncitizens' online activity, finding immigration law does not bar the case because it does not challenge any individual's removal proceedings.

Cameron Winter's Carnegie Hall concert film hailed as instant classic

Paul Thomas Anderson's film of the Geese frontman's solo acoustic show at Carnegie Hall, screened at the New York Film Festival, is praised as both swoony and austere, capturing a mesmerising end to Winter's breakout year.

Outbreak readiness drill finds many health facilities fall short

In a preparedness exercise, actors wearing makeup and showing fake symptoms visited 73 healthcare facilities. About 40 percent of the facilities failed the test.

Sling TV ends its one-day cable passes

Dish-owned Sling TV is dropping Sling Pass, the feature launched last year that let viewers buy a single day, weekend or week of cable programming at a time.

Skechers asks Delaware court to dismiss investor appraisal claims

Skechers has asked the Delaware Chancery Court to throw out actions by a group of investment funds seeking a court appraisal of their shares' fair value after 3G Capital Partners' $9.4 billion takeover of the footwear company.

Tribunal orders South Korea to pay Elliott $48 million over Samsung merger

An arbitration tribunal has ordered South Korea to pay US hedge fund Elliott about $48 million after the government lost, on remand, an investor-state dispute accusing it of interfering in a 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates.

Germany's centrist parties search for direction after fringe gains

Centrist politicians in Germany are reassessing their position after electoral gains by the far right and far left. Weak coalitions, political fragmentation and a struggling economy are prompting comparisons with the country's past.

Advisory firm sues ex-employee over AI note-taking app and trade secrets

A compensation and business risk advisory firm says in a Colorado federal court complaint that a former employee used an unapproved AI note-taking app to record confidential client meetings before leaving for a competitor with company trade secrets.

Lyft settles driver misclassification lawsuit for $272.5 million

Lyft has agreed to pay $272.5 million to settle a landmark lawsuit over classifying its drivers as independent contractors. Critics argue the workers are still owed considerably more.

Patent board invalidates some claims in surgical AR patent dispute

After the Federal Circuit faulted the Patent Trial and Appeal Board for upholding a Novarad patent on augmented reality technology for surgeons, the board found on remand that Medivis had shown some claims invalid, while others survive.

King Charles to address Britain's colonial past on Caribbean tour

Buckingham Palace says King Charles III will acknowledge Britain's colonial history and role in slavery during a tour of Caribbean countries this month. He will visit the Bahamas and Guyana before joining Queen Camilla in Antigua and Barbuda for a Commonwealth heads of government meeting.

Cerence settles copyright lawsuit against Microsoft over text-to-speech

Artificial intelligence company Cerence has agreed to a deal ending its copyright lawsuit against Microsoft in Delaware federal court over text-to-speech technology.

How the 2008 crisis reshaped US energy use and emissions

An analysis argues the 2008 economic crisis changed the United States' relationship with energy, with carbon emissions decoupling from GDP growth in a shift that was not obvious at the time.

SEC fines smart lock maker Latch $1 million over revenue misstatements

The smart lock company formerly known as Latch has agreed to pay $1 million to the SEC to resolve claims of incorrect revenue recognition and accounting and internal control violations tied to its merger with a blank check company.

Judge dismisses Salvadoran journalists' spyware suit against NSO Group

A federal judge has dismissed claims by journalists at a Salvadoran news outlet that their iPhones were hacked with NSO Group spyware, ruling they failed to adequately allege wrongful conduct by the Israeli company in California.

Missouri man learns Doobie Brothers singer is his biological father

Michael Goessling discovered that his biological father is Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers. The revelation came as a shock during their first phone call together.

National Science Foundation diverts $1.4 billion in research funds

The National Science Foundation redirected $1.4 billion that Congress had mandated for science, about a fifth of its main research budget. The move is seen as another sign of the White House asserting more control over grants.

US arrests tech CEO over alleged $300 million Nvidia chip smuggling

US authorities have arrested a technology chief executive accused of smuggling $300 million worth of Nvidia chips into China, the latest in a series of arrests over chip export violations.

Former congressman David Rivera gets ten years in lobbying case

David Rivera, a Miami Republican and former Florida representative, was sentenced to ten years after being convicted of secretly lobbying Washington officials on behalf of the Venezuelan government in 2017 and 2018.

Cerence sues Sony over voice-control patents in PS5 and headphones

AI company Cerence has sued Sony in Texas federal court, accusing the PlayStation 5 and Sony noise-cancelling headphones of infringing its speech recognition and voice-control patents.

Researchers warn AI could link Georgia voters to their ballots

A Princeton researcher found that publicly available election records in Georgia could be combined with AI to connect voters to the ballots they cast. The finding raises questions about whether secret votes can stay secret.

What hunter-gatherer societies can teach us about sleeping well

A sleep scientist who has spent much of his career studying the last contactable hunter-gatherer societies shared his findings with the BBC. His observations may offer lessons for a modern society that is widely sleep deprived.

Six science stories worth a second look this week

Ars Technica rounds up six science stories that nearly slipped by, including quantum effects at the Large Hadron Collider, evidence of psychoactive use in the Ice Age, and yeast that could help build homes on Mars.

New US foreign aid strategy takes effect, drawing praise and criticism

A new America First approach to US foreign aid began on October 1, requiring a memorandum of understanding as a condition of healthcare and development assistance. Supporters say it promotes self-reliance; critics object to the conditions.

Apple tightens macOS disk access controls over AI agent risks

Apple plans new controls around the Full Disk Access permission in macOS. The company says increasingly capable AI agents make broad access to files, messages, mail, and browsing history riskier.

Big pickup and SUV sales dip as fuel prices climb

Sales of large pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles have slipped as fuel prices rise. More Americans are choosing hybrids and smaller cars instead.

Republicans shift Senate campaign money from North Carolina to Kansas

The Senate Leadership Fund is pulling resources from the North Carolina Senate race and diverting them to Kansas, which has become a growing worry for Republicans as they try to hold their majority in the midterms.

New DOJ fraud division reshapes department and spurs corporate reviews

The Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division, created less than six months ago, is rapidly reshaping the department and prompting more internal corporate investigations, according to white collar experts.

Shivon Zilis announces split from Elon Musk on X

Shivon Zilis, who has four children with Elon Musk, announced on X that the two have broken up. She did so by quote-tweeting a post from an account that tracks which accounts follow and unfollow each other.

US military retires long-running missile launch detection program

The US military has ended a long-running program for spotting missile launches. A newer system has been operating since 2011, and the next generation could launch within twelve months.

Blackstone's Jas Khaira to speak on AI at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Jas Khaira of Blackstone will appear on the Builders Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to discuss building the next generation of AI companies.

Olivia Dean faces copyright lawsuit over Bill Withers song

Mattie Music Group, which owns Bill Withers' back catalogue, has filed a copyright lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court accusing Olivia Dean of plagiarising Just the Two of Us on her track I've Seen It.

A look at New York's free battery program for window air conditioners

An Ars Technica writer describes staying cool with New York City's free battery program for window AC units. The Every Electric batteries also turned out to be popular with the household cats.

CBS Sports and Tony Romo part ways

CBS Sports says its split with commentator Tony Romo is a mutual parting. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback leaves a month after pleading no contest to a charge of driving while intoxicated.

Onsemi and Synaptics revise merger to $5.7 billion cash deal

Onsemi and Synaptics have amended their $7 billion merger agreement after an unsolicited competing bid for Synaptics, revising the value to $5.7 billion and switching from all-stock to cash.

Judge keeps data breach claims alive against law firm Keesal Young

A California federal judge has let negligence and consumer privacy claims proceed against Keesal Young & Logan over a 2024 data breach affecting more than 316,000 people, finding the plaintiffs have standing because their data apparently appeared on the dark web.

Beehiiv raises prices, drawing complaints from creators

Newsletter platform Beehiiv, a popular alternative to Substack, is increasing its prices, and many users are unhappy. Cofounder and CEO Tyler Denk says the change will let the company keep investing in its core platform.

Supreme Court begins term with no change to long oral arguments

Chief Justice John Roberts voiced frustration last term at lengthening oral argument sessions and suggested changes over the summer, but as the new term opens Monday none have been announced, and advocates see little need for them.

Nacon unveils PS5 controller with built-in settings screen

Nacon has announced the Revolution 5 Unlimited, which it calls the first officially licensed PlayStation 5 controller with a built-in screen. The screen adjusts settings like joystick sensitivity and button mapping, and can mix audio from a phone and console.

Spanish parliament rejects emergency housing measures as protests grow

Right-wing lawmakers in Spain joined forces to defeat two decrees from Pedro Sanchez's Socialist-led coalition aimed at easing the housing crisis, including a ban on evictions until 2030 and regulation of temporary lettings. A protest movement over housing has swelled in recent days.

Parler co-founder awarded $11 million over his removal

A Nevada jury found Parler co-founder John Matze is owed nearly $11.1 million, including $250,000 in punitive damages, for the stake he lost after business partner Rebekah Mercer and others allegedly changed the company's constitution to oust him.

Trump to appoint Jay Clayton as AI czar

President Trump plans to name Jay Clayton to serve as AI czar. The director of national intelligence will help develop new policies and potentially regulations for the fast-moving technology.

Tesla posts weaker third-quarter sales as Cybertruck demand slides

Tesla sold fewer cars in the third quarter of 2026 than in the same period of 2025, meeting analysts' expectations. Cybertruck sales fell sharply.

Both parties file lawsuits ahead of possible post-election disputes

A wave of lawsuits shows Republicans and Democrats preparing for challenges after the election. Republicans are using the courts to look for noncitizen voters, while Democrats worry the effort could make voting harder and lay groundwork to contest valid results.

England to overhaul school inspections again after teacher complaints

Education secretary Lucy Powell will tell Ofsted to go back to the drawing board on school inspections in England, the second overhaul in a year. Teachers had raised serious concerns about the new system introduced under her predecessor, Bridget Phillipson.

UK train leasing bosses paid £3.5m as firms pay out £400m dividends

The chief executives of three companies that rent trains to Britain's railways were paid a combined £3.5m last year, while the firms paid nearly £400m to shareholders. Rail unions accused them of profiting at passengers' expense.

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery merger to close as Skydance

Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are set to combine under the Skydance name. The deal, worth roughly $110 billion, is expected to close on October 6.

OpenAI's Dots takes aim at Muse with a business focus

OpenAI released Dots this week, a product that closely resembles Muse but is aimed at business users, at least for now. It costs a minimum of $100 per month and lets users create a small Dot character.

Pope Leo XIV says AI-generated images lack the spark of humanity

Pope Leo XIV wrote that there is an ontological difference between art and what a machine generates through statistical calculation based on millions of images created by others. Algorithms, he said, lack the spark of humanity.

Latin America and Europe depend heavily on US diesel exports

Economies in Latin America and Europe rely on diesel from the United States. Halting those exports could push some countries into recession and reduce their trade with the US.

FTC proposal signals scrutiny of undisclosed personalised pricing

A proposed FTC policy statement on undisclosed personalised pricing suggests businesses may need to disclose not only how they use consumer data but how it shapes the prices people see, a legal commentator writes.

Laytr app saves articles, recipes, videos and more for later

Laytr's new app lets users save articles, recipes, screenshots, videos and PDFs to read or watch later. The archive stays private and syncs across Apple devices.

UK national museums stay free for international visitors

After months of talks among ministries, the tourism sector and London museums, the UK government has decided its 14 national museums, including the British Museum and National Gallery, will remain free to foreign visitors, continuing a 25-year policy.

G7 agrees to release 100 million barrels of oil

G7 nations will release 100 million barrels of oil, including diesel, in response to a global supply crunch that has sent diesel prices sharply higher. The release begins immediately and runs over four months, with a substantial diesel release in the first 20 days.

Student protests spread across France

Demonstrations by students that began in Paris have spread across France in the days since, in a video report explaining the reasons behind the protests.

Winners of the 2026 Dog Photography awards revealed

The annual contest's 18 winning images were chosen from about 1,900 entries from 50 countries, celebrating the diversity and charm of dogs around the world.

Scientists untangle biology of a hard-to-target cancer gene

Researchers have made progress understanding a gene found in 70 percent of cancers that acts as a master orchestrator yet has long resisted drug treatment.

Nvidia Shield TV Pro price rises by $100

The Nvidia Shield TV Pro, first launched in 2019, now retails for $299.99, a $100 increase attributed to AI-driven demand.

India's Cockroach movement stages new protests over voter roll changes

Thousands gathered in Mumbai as the youth-led Cockroach Janta party launched fresh nationwide protests, demanding the chief election commissioner resign amid concerns that millions of citizens are being unfairly removed from the voter roll.

Late-night hosts take aim at Trump's taxpayer-funded campaign ads

Seth Meyers and other late-night hosts discussed Donald Trump's use of taxpayer money for recycled campaign ads and his unpopularity with Republican midterm candidates who are distancing themselves from him.

US jobs market slows sharply ahead of midterm elections

Unemployment rose slightly as American employers paused hiring, with midterm elections just a month away.

AMD buys AI lab World Labs in week of major deals

This week's deal roundup includes AMD acquiring AI model developer World Labs, Brixmor and Everview Partners buying Slate Grocery REIT, and cyberintelligence firm REDLattice merging with blank check company Bold Eagle Acquisition Corp.

Clay CEO to discuss GTM engineers at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026

Clay co-founder and CEO Kareem Amin will join the AI Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 to talk about the rise of the go-to-market engineer.

Keurig's new machine brews with plastic-free coffee pucks

Keurig's Alta single-serve machine uses AltaRounds, pressed coffee grounds wrapped in a plant-based coating, instead of plastic and aluminium pods, while keeping the convenience of its earlier appliances.

Judge denies class status in Planned Parenthood tracking lawsuit

A California federal judge declined to certify a class of people alleging Planned Parenthood let third parties intercept sensitive data via website tracking tools, finding their proposed common evidence amounted to speculation and conjecture.

US charges California man with smuggling AI servers to China

Federal authorities arrested a California technology company owner accused of helping smuggle more than $300 million of high-end servers with export-controlled Nvidia components to China, the Justice Department said.

Side Event applications for Founder Summit 2026 close tonight

Applications to host a Side Event during TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 in Boston, running November 1 to 7, close at midnight Pacific time tonight.

Justice Barrett takes on 'zombie nouns'

SCOTUSblog describes Justice Barrett as a slayer of 'zombie nouns', the grammatical kind.

SpaceX completes launch triple-header as Rocket Lab wins contract

This week's Rocket Report covers three SpaceX launches, a big contract for Rocket Lab, and Blue Origin seeking FAA approval for up to 50 New Glenn launches and 50 booster landings a year.

US adds just 29,000 jobs in September

Employers added 29,000 jobs in September as unemployment edged up to 4.2 percent. Gains for July and August were revised down by a combined 60,000, extending a weak stretch for the job market.

Combined Paramount and Warner Bros. company will be named Skydance

Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison said the company will be called Skydance once its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery closes next week, choosing a name meant to give the combined business its own identity.

Tesla delivers more than 486,000 EVs in third quarter

Tesla delivered over 486,000 electric vehicles in the third quarter, below last year's record but showing continued momentum despite difficulties in the US market.

Supreme Court to weigh investment choices for retirement funds

The justices will debate a case about how investment choices are made for retirement funds.

Epic pauses product development to fix security bugs

The health software giant behind the widely used MyChart system will spend the next few weeks fixing security flaws that put patients' data at risk, halting other product work in the meantime.

Rivian sets sales record on strength of R2

Rivian delivered more than 19,000 EVs in the quarter, up roughly 45 percent from a year earlier, helped by its new R2 model.

Tesla's third-quarter sales dip but beat Wall Street estimates

Tesla sold fewer vehicles than a year ago, when buyers rushed to use expiring federal EV tax credits, but still exceeded analysts' expectations. The company produced 464,391 vehicles in the quarter.

Antarctic wind farm saves 122,000 gallons of diesel over 15 years

Three turbines on Ross Island, built in 2008 and 2009, have powered McMurdo Station and offset roughly 122,000 gallons of diesel as they near the end of their working lives.

US Coast Guard intercepts boats carrying fuel to Cuba

The Coast Guard says it stopped two small boats carrying illegal fuel to Cuba as the United States enforces a fuel blockade aimed at the island's Communist government.

Supreme Court adds three cases as new term begins

The court granted three new cases ahead of its new term. President Trump again criticised the justices he appointed.

Amazon pledges more local funding and openness on data centers

Amazon says it will put more money into local communities and be less secretive about its data center projects. It is the latest technology company trying to respond to growing local opposition to such developments.

Rivian recalls a small number of R2 vehicles over battery packs

Rivian is recalling R2 vehicles whose battery packs may not have been tightened properly. The company says around 14 vehicles may be affected and that the problem has been fixed on the assembly line.

US adds fewer jobs than expected in September

The US economy added 29,000 jobs in September, well below the roughly 84,000 to 90,000 economists had forecast, and unemployment edged up to 4.2%. It is the last jobs report before the midterm elections.

Spreading school protests unsettle French government

A student protest movement that began nearly two weeks ago has spread across France, and young people on the streets have historically meant trouble for the government, writes Hugh Schofield.

Indian police detain hundreds at protests over voter roll removals

Police in India detained hundreds of people rallying against what opposition groups call vote theft. The groups want the election chief to resign over the removal of 130 million voters from the rolls, which the government says it did not influence.

Five Supreme Court cases to watch this term

The Supreme Court opens its October term on Monday with cases that could shape climate change tort litigation, expand religious freedoms and parental rights, and let states require proof of citizenship for presidential election registration.

US suspends consular services in Brazil before Sunday's election

The State Department has suspended consular services in Brazil, citing unspecified security concerns, in an unusual move on the eve of a closely fought presidential election taking place on Sunday.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer revives the thrill of podracing

A reviewer who loved the podracing sequence in The Phantom Menace says the new game Star Wars: Galactic Racer fulfils a childhood dream of racing over Tatooine terrain alongside the film's alien competitors.

Cities weigh how to make huge data centers less unpopular

Data centers have grown from unassuming office-like buildings into vast hyperscale facilities housing AI infrastructure. A San Antonio councilmember reflects on how that shift has changed local attitudes and whether disguising them could ease opposition.

Amazon urges communities to back AI data center projects

In a blog post of more than 3,000 words, Amazon Web Services chief Matt Garman argues that blocking AI data centers would harm the US economy and national security, pushing back on public concerns about jobs and power demand.

Gordon Ramsay's UK restaurants narrow losses as sales pass £100m

The UK arm of Gordon Ramsay's restaurant group recorded sales of almost £101m, up 3%, and cut its losses to £5.8m from £9.4m. The group credits a Netflix documentary and the opening of its 100th outlet.

Supreme Court benefits cases to watch this October

Former Intel workers are asking the US Supreme Court to revive a lawsuit over retirement plan investments. It leads a set of four October oral arguments that benefits lawyers will be following.

Polanski says Green leadership does not hinge on byelection result

Green party leader Zack Polanski says his position does not depend on winning next week's Holborn and St Pancras byelection, where he is trying to take Keir Starmer's former seat from Labour in a contest he calls roughly 50/50.

Closed copper mine's 30-year clean-up effort wins award

Operators of a closed copper mine in British Columbia have been honoured for three decades of monitoring and reclamation work. The province was the first in Canada to require approved reclamation plans for mines by law.

UK diesel price reaches record £2 a litre

The average price of diesel at UK forecourts has hit a record £2 a litre, up 40.5% since late February as disruption to Gulf oil supplies pushes up costs. Motorists and small businesses are feeling the pressure.

Experts weigh the risks of autonomous AI agents

A look at AI agents, which are presented as friendly and helpful but raise serious safety questions. One expert expects a rough period ahead as the technology matures.

Why diesel costs more than regular gasoline

Diesel was not always pricier than gasoline; that changed in 2004 because of air quality standards, demand, and taxes. This week's Indicator newsletter explains the shift and also looks at spending on fun and ways to lower tax bills.

TCL challenges Samsung's use of the Mini LED label

TCL is questioning whether Samsung's televisions deserve the Mini LED name, and a columnist argues the challenge is fair, asking whether a set can be Mini LED without a full-array local dimming backlight.

San Francisco weighs AI cameras' role in falling car crime

City leaders say AI-powered Flock cameras helped drive a sharp drop in car crime. The report examines the evidence and asks whether San Francisco can keep the surveillance system without giving up civil liberties.

Albania's building boom draws star architects and critics

Sixty leading architecture firms have proposed around 500 projects across Albania under Prime Minister Edi Rama, prompting protests. A new 800-page book, The Albanian Files, gathers the designs, from twisting towers in Tirana to coastal resorts.

Grouper's Liz Harris on streaming scams and her band Helen

After a rare track went viral on TikTok, ambient musician Liz Harris found fraudsters trying to claim her royalties. The experience reinforced her DIY approach, while reuniting her trio Helen reminded her of the pleasures of collaboration.

Opinion: Star Wars should move beyond the Skywalker saga

Reports that Jon Watts may make a new trilogy about the Skywalker family prompt a writer to argue the franchise should explore new corners of its galaxy, as it has with bounty hunters and smugglers.

Dating app Feeld pays record dividend after strong sales growth

Feeld, a UK-based dating app for non-monogamous, queer and kinky users, reported revenue up 32% to £64m and paid its founders a record £3.8m dividend. Nearly 90% of its revenue comes from users outside the UK.

What recent EEOC cases teach about religious accommodation

Recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforcement actions focus on religious accommodations at work. A lawyer advises employers to assess the real burden of an accommodation, separate operational hardship from co-workers' objections, and watch how it is implemented.

Suno adds AI-generated speech to its music tools

AI music company Suno has launched a Speech feature in public beta on web and mobile that generates spoken voices from scripts or prompts, letting users create voiceovers with background music at the same time.

Steve Backshall wants to make nature cool for children

Naturalist Steve Backshall says growing up with rescue animals inspired his passion for nature, which he now hopes to pass on to children.

New book argues Democrats overlook quieter wealthy business owners

As billionaires become a favourite political target, a new book urges Washington to pay attention to a much larger and less visible group of wealthy business owners.

Carmel-by-the-Sea adopts street addresses after 110 years

The California beachside village reluctantly introduced street address numbers this summer to help emergency services find homes, prompting concern among residents about the loss of its distinctive identity.

Soaring diesel prices squeeze US truckers

Truckers are among those most affected by the high cost of diesel, with a fill-up now topping $1,000. Some are staying on the road for months to cope, while others have parked their rigs.

NPR's weekly news quiz tests your memory of the week

This week's quiz asks who said 'the ideological clowns are out', and checks how well you know your pandas and fat bears.

AIPAC's campaign spending becomes an election issue itself

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is spending millions to back favoured candidates, but its involvement has become a campaign issue, with some candidates treating its opposition as a badge of honour or rejecting its support.

Inside the Trump administration's search for UFOs

The administration is hunting for evidence of unidentified flying objects and alien life, which one expert calls potentially the biggest discovery in human history. So far the effort has turned up mostly blurry photos and unconfirmed reports.

Sherrod Brown seeks return to Senate with union support

Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown lost his Senate seat in 2024 after 32 years in Congress as many working class voters backed Trump. With control of the Senate in play, he is counting on union voters to send him back to Washington.

Cairo mural of Tutankhamun and Nefertiti sparks dispute over skin colour

A 66-metre mural painted by a volunteer youth group for Xi Jinping's state visit to Egypt was painted over by city authorities after claims that its depiction of the pharaohs with dark skin revived Afrocentric arguments about their origins.

Kew Gardens prepares to move 1,300 plants for Palm House overhaul

The Palm House at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London is about to undergo a major makeover, and around 1,300 plants need to be moved out of the famous glasshouse before the work begins.

Activists challenge police exclusion orders around Perth weapons expo

Activists and a Greens MP in Western Australia are threatening legal action after police used new state powers to ban at least 12 people from a security zone around the Land Forces expo opening in Perth on 6 October.

Why some fans are returning to CDs, DVDs and vinyl

Readers explain why they are moving back to physical media, citing freedom from algorithms and streaming interruptions, support for artists, and the pleasure of handling vinyl and cassettes.

Review: Greg Freeman's ambitious double album All Set the Bone

The Maryland singer-songwriter's third album is bigger in scale than last year's breakout Burnover, mixing restless guitar and prog-tinged road songs, but the reviewer finds it less immediately appealing.

UK nursing union ends partnership with Israeli drug firm Teva

The Royal College of Nursing has dropped Teva UK as a commercial partner and event sponsor, citing the company's links to Israel's military and its record of corporate misconduct.

Japanese mayor who took maternity leave named to TIME100 Next list

Shoko Kawata, the first mayor in Japan to take maternity leave, has been included on the TIME100 Next list. Her leave drew mixed reactions in a country trying to lift its birth rate.

This week's good news: alternative Nobel, ageism progress, gorilla boost

Positive News rounds up the week's encouraging stories, including the 'alternative Nobel prize', global progress against ageism, and good news for gorillas.

Farmers scramble for funding in six-hour application window

A brief six-hour window to apply for farm funding has been likened to the rush for Oasis tickets, adding to pressure on farmers already concerned about their finances.

BBC staff expect closure of BBC Three and BBC Scotland channels

The BBC has begun a redundancy process in its TV and streaming division, fuelling expectations that director general Matt Brittin will announce next week that two channels go online-only as part of a £500m savings plan.

Australian regulator says gaming platforms fall short on child safety

Australia's online safety regulator says Steam and Roblox have significant gaps in child safety measures, and has told Fortnite and Minecraft to improve as well.

China moves to curb heavy everyday use of AI

As Chinese citizens adopt AI for entertainment, babysitting and farming advice, the government is stepping up efforts to set limits on how much it is used.

Brazil's patron saint becomes flashpoint in deadlocked presidential race

Speculation that Flávio Bolsonaro might try to strip Our Lady of Aparecida of her status has stirred a row ahead of Sunday's vote, with him and President Lula level in the polls.

Trump courts loyal supporters rather than swing voters ahead of midterms

President Trump spent the day addressing his most devoted fans rather than the voters Republicans will need to win races in states from Alaska to Maine.

Podcast: Flávio Bolsonaro bids for Brazil's presidency

Tom Phillips previews Sunday's presidential election, where Flávio Bolsonaro, son of the jailed former president, has real hopes of victory and is campaigning for his father's release.

OpenAI dismisses staff over handling of sensitive information

OpenAI has fired employees who were investigated for sharing data with an outside AI evaluation group.

Australia tightens rules on international students switching courses

Labor's latest migration crackdown will require international students to apply for a separate visa to transfer courses, and targets migration agents and lawyers accused of selling false hope.

California sets fines for robotaxis that block emergency vehicles

A new California law places fresh rules on autonomous vehicle operators, including fines when their robotaxis get in the way of first responders.

TechCrunch publishes founder guide to Disrupt 2026

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 is organised around how to build an enduring company in the AI era, and the outlet has released a guide to its programming and speaker lineup for founders.

California governor signs bill limiting privacy act lawsuits

California's governor approved legislation blocking private lawsuits under one provision of the state's Invasion of Privacy Act, and urged lawmakers to extend the ban to more website tracking claims.

Youth registration drive could reshape Kenya's next election

A voter mobilisation campaign aimed at making politics appealing to Gen Z has registered huge numbers of young Kenyans, though it remains unclear which candidates they will back.

California attorney general subpoenas OpenAI over cybersecurity risks

Rob Bonta has served an investigative subpoena on OpenAI as part of a probe into cybersecurity risks from its AI models, including an incident where its autonomous agents hacked the platform Hugging Face.

Spain's warming ties with China unsettle EU partners

Spain and China are drawing closer, to the irritation of many in the EU, in what the BBC notes is one of several unlikely alliances emerging amid global upheaval.

Judge restores Seattle federal prosecutor removed by Justice Department

A judge has reinstated Roger Rogoff as Seattle's top federal prosecutor after the Justice Department fired him. The dismissal was part of a wider effort to install preferred appointees without Senate confirmation.

How Nike lost its edge in the sportswear market

The world's biggest sportswear brand has stumbled in recent years, and a series of self-inflicted mistakes are seen as the cause of its decline.

New Mexico seeks up to $40 billion penalty against Meta

New Mexico asked a judge to penalise Meta $35 billion to $40 billion after a jury found it grossly misrepresented its data privacy practices; Meta argues no harm was proven and damages should be far lower.

Enter Shikari announce indefinite hiatus from end of 2027

The British rock band will go dormant at the end of 2027 but say they are not splitting up. They plan to tour the UK in November and Europe and the US next year, describing the decision as liberating.

Democrats sue Defense Department over overseas voter form changes

The Democratic National Committee is suing the Defense Department over changes made to a form used by overseas voters.

Edinburgh botanic garden installs new glass to shelter rare plants

After five years of work, 5,750 panels of toughened glass are helping protect hundreds of plants at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh from Scottish winter storms, though more work remains.

Cuban exiles in Florida grow hopeful of change in Havana

Wealthy Cuban Americans in Florida are increasingly optimistic that regime change in Cuba may be approaching, and are preparing for it.

Congress floats bipartisan bills to block foreign piracy sites

Both chambers of Congress have introduced related legislation that would let US courts order internet service providers to block foreign criminal and piracy websites.

Apple reportedly plans home camera that describes events in text

Apple is said to be developing a smart home security camera that gives users text descriptions of events rather than video footage, as part of a new smart home ecosystem, according to Mark Gurman.

Apple asks court to dismiss YouTube creators' AI scraping lawsuit

Apple urged a federal judge to toss a proposed class action alleging it scraped copyrighted videos to train AI, arguing YouTube's access controls were ineffective and so fell outside the DMCA.

Judge denies OpenAI legal fees after SpaceXAI suit dismissed

A federal judge rejected OpenAI's request for $1 million in attorney fees after it defeated a trade secrets suit from SpaceXAI, ruling the claims were not objectively baseless.

Amazon settles claims it excluded DC ZIP codes from Prime delivery

Amazon will pay $8.25 million to resolve allegations it quietly left two Washington, DC ZIP codes out of Prime delivery for years while charging full membership prices.

Housing finance chief moves to shrink agency's inspector general office

Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has moved to cut his agency's inspector general's office. Democrats have called for his resignation.

Washington DC bars landlords from refusing dogs by breed

A new law in Washington DC stops landlords from rejecting tenants' dogs based on breed, size or weight, or charging extra for them. Animal welfare groups welcomed the change as lowering barriers to pet ownership.

Venus's mysterious haze is explained as cosmic dust

A physical model suggests the haze in Venus's atmosphere comes from iron dust combined with sulfuric acid, which together produce the properties scientists have observed.

Plan for baseball game in Grand Teton park draws objections

Major League Baseball reportedly approached the White House about staging a one-day game inside Grand Teton national park in Wyoming. Locals and conservationists object, noting the park is home to grizzly bears, osprey and bison.

Judge dismisses Zillow tracking lawsuit over Microsoft software

A federal judge threw out a proposed class action claiming Zillow shared users' browsing activity via Microsoft tracking software, saying plaintiffs improperly added new claims against a prior order.

Edinburgh's restored Palm House reopens to the public

After six years of work, the Palm House at Edinburgh's Botanic Garden has been restored and is ready to welcome visitors again, with hundreds of plants returned to it.

Michigan Senate hopeful El-Sayed works to unite Democratic base

Progressive Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is reaching out to Jewish voters and campaigning with Kamala Harris to win over Black voters. Polling suggests the approach may be working.

Lyft pays $272.5 million to settle driver classification lawsuit

Lyft is settling a lawsuit dating from 2020 over how it classified its drivers. Gig economy drivers are now treated as contractors, but the question was still unresolved when the case began.

Kevin Mandia's security startup Armadin raises $255.5 million

Armadin, a new company from Mandiant founder Kevin Mandia, has raised $255.5 million at a $2.5 billion valuation. It uses swarms of AI agents to test and protect enterprises.

Times asks $TRUMP memecoin buyers to share their experiences

The New York Times is inviting people who bought the $TRUMP memecoin to describe why they did so and whether they made or lost money.

MLB fails to move app ticket security suit to arbitration

A federal judge denied an MLB unit's bid to compel arbitration in a class action over digital security breaches that allegedly caused tickets to vanish from the MLB app.

UK to stop airlines charging parents to sit with children

Under government plans, airlines would have to seat passengers under 14 next to a parent or accompanying adult free of charge. Fees to correct a name on a booking would also be dropped.

Federal Circuit declines to revisit vacated $12.7 million software award

The Federal Circuit refused to rehear a panel decision that vacated a roughly $12.7 million award a software developer had won against the government over unauthorised copies.

Ellison plans to keep CNN chief in place after merger

David Ellison is negotiating to retain CNN chief executive Mark Thompson, without oversight from CBS editor in chief Bari Weiss, once the networks' parent companies merge.

Loud birds, shared meals and asteroid samples in science roundup

NPR's Short Wave podcast looks at very loud birds, the benefits of eating with company, and what asteroid samples could reveal about the early Earth.

Streaming customers ask court to pause Paramount-Warner Bros. merger

Customers are asking the Ninth Circuit to halt Paramount Skydance's planned $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery until a court rules on whether their antitrust challenge will proceed.

Green transition continues as politicians talk less about climate

More politicians have stopped discussing climate change, but the shift to cleaner energy is still moving forward.

Google ad tech antitrust case heads to trial largely intact

A New York federal court has largely refused to dismiss antitrust claims against Google's advertising technology business, a win for Gannett, the Daily Mail and a class of website publishers in the multidistrict litigation.

Two federal agency hacks in a month expose sensitive data

Breaches at two US federal agencies within a single month have spilled large amounts of sensitive data, marking a poor stretch for government cybersecurity.

States' antitrust claims against RealPage survive federal settlement

A North Carolina federal court has declined to dismiss state enforcers' claims that RealPage software lets building owners inflate rents, even though the company settled with the US Department of Justice.

Sea ice researcher wins MacArthur fellowship

A climate scientist who studies sea ice is among 20 recipients of this year's MacArthur fellowship, which comes with a no-strings-attached stipend of $800,000.

Judge dismisses shareholder fraud suit against Super Micro

A California federal judge has thrown out, for now, a shareholder lawsuit accusing Super Micro Computer of violating an earlier SEC settlement over accounting problems, finding the allegations too vague.

Times reporter corresponds with hackers behind FBI data breach

Cybersecurity reporter Dustin Volz emailed the hackers behind a large breach of government data and received replies, in an effort to help readers understand the incident.

Administration asks court to remove Copyright Office chief during appeal

The Trump administration is urging the D.C. Circuit to let it remove Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter while her challenge to her firing proceeds, arguing a Supreme Court ruling protecting Fed governor Lisa Cook does not apply to her.

Congress adjourns as Republicans brace for a difficult midterm season

Republicans in Congress staged a series of votes expected to fail in their final hours, hoping to cast Democrats as obstructionists. Some in the party conceded that voters were more likely to punish Republicans in the midterms.

Google launches Guided Vision to describe what your camera sees

Guided Vision arrives in Gemini Live on compatible Android devices, using AI to give real-time audio descriptions of whatever the phone camera is pointed at. It can help read small text, describe surroundings, and find or identify objects.

Android Central to keep publishing after laying off its staff

Android Central, a blog covering the Android ecosystem, laid off its staff, but owner Future says the site will continue publishing. Four of its six listed staffers posted publicly about the layoffs.

Robotaxi designers weigh how to discourage unruly rider behaviour

Designers of autonomous vehicles are considering how cabin design can discourage riders, including content creators, from misbehaving in public in driverless cars.

Google launches first chip into orbit toward space data centers

Google has sent its first advanced chip into orbit as a step toward data centers in space. The company estimates SpaceX's Starship would need around 1,800 launches before such facilities become practical.

Amazon settles suit over slower deliveries to low-income areas

Amazon will refund $7.25 million in Prime membership fees to affected customers and pay a further $1 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the District of Columbia over claims of slow deliveries to low-income neighbourhoods.

Manchester City's rise shaped Andy Burnham's path to Downing Street

Critics say the prime minister's praise of Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners as a key partner in reshaping Manchester overlooks the public cost of the city's transformation, which drew heavy international investment during the club's trophy-winning years.

New AMD chip may be the one Valve needs for Steam Deck 2

Valve has long said it wants a chip offering a generational leap in performance and efficiency before building a Steam Deck sequel. An AMD chip called Gainsborough appears to have surfaced and may fit the bill, four and a half years after the original handheld.

Judge vacates policies behind Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee

A California federal judge has vacated the implementing policies underlying the $100,000 H-1B visa fee, finding the agencies responsible failed to follow rulemaking procedures required by the Administrative Procedure Act.

Judge permanently closes vandalism case against Olympic canoeist

A judge has permanently ended the case against an Olympic champion canoeist accused of vandalising the Reflecting Pool, saying Trump might have targeted him because he was politically active and donated to Democrats.

UK ministers weigh ending key disability benefit for under-25s

Ministers are drawing up sweeping welfare changes that could replace a key disability benefit for under-25s with a multibillion-pound support package to help young people into work. Whitehall sources say the plans are much bigger than previously thought.

Google launches satellite in bid to put AI data centres in space

Google's Project Suncatcher has launched a fridge-sized satellite carrying AI chips, a step in the company's moonshot effort to run AI data centres in orbit powered by solar energy.

First enhanced geothermal power plant finished in under two years

Fervo Energy has completed the world's first enhanced geothermal power plant in just 23 months. The company says later phases should connect to the grid even faster.

Brazil's attorney general condemns reported US plan to fund court campaign

Jorge Messias says foreign meddling in Brazil's institutions cannot be tolerated after a report that the Trump administration sought to direct funds to a campaign against the Brazilian supreme court. He called it a serious alert for sovereignty ahead of elections.

Labour insiders uneasy about Healey's approach to first budget

Senior Labour figures are privately worried that Chancellor John Healey's approach to his first budget lacks clarity and could unsettle markets. He faces volatile global bond markets, rising borrowing costs and soaring energy prices at home.

Nigerian man charged with running a fake government agency

A Nigerian has been charged with operating a bogus government agency, having secured office space in a federal building, opened bank accounts and held meetings with foreign diplomats. He says he is innocent.

Sycamore Gap tree stump sprouts ring of new shoots

Three years after Britain's famous Sycamore Gap tree was felled, new aerial images show the stump flourishing, with basal shoots already around three feet tall and growing fast.

States sue over repeal of power plant climate rules

A group of mostly Democratic-led states is suing over the Trump administration's repeal of climate rules for power plants, arguing the EPA acted unlawfully when it erased Biden-era limits on carbon dioxide from coal and gas plants.

Judge bars government from refiling Reflecting Pool charges

Citing exceptional circumstances, a D.C. judge has ruled that the federal government cannot refile its Reflecting Pool charges against former Olympian David Hearn, despite pressure from President Trump to do so.

OpenAI parts ways with three safety researchers

OpenAI has cut ties with three safety researchers after an internal investigation found they mishandled sensitive company information, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Marvel releases final trailer for VisionQuest

Marvel has put out one last trailer for its series VisionQuest ahead of release.

Appeals court clears Galderma in injection training trade secrets case

The Federal Circuit affirmed an order clearing Galderma of a medical training startup's claims that it misappropriated trade secrets for an injection training system and derailed a potentially lucrative deal with Allergan.

What Canada's possible associate membership of the EU could mean

The European Union's invitation for Canada to become an associate member raises questions about what such membership would look like in practice, the political obstacles involved, and how the United States fits in.

Marie-France van Heel set to be an unusually active PM's wife

Andy Burnham's wife, a former senior marketing executive, is expected to take on a bigger role promoting the UK than any Downing Street spouse in two decades, stepping up political engagements after stepping back from her corporate career.

The verbal tics that give away AI-written text

An analysis of AI writing habits finds Opus 5.5 leans on phrases like 'this matters' and uses the word 'dependable' 23 times more often than human writers do.

Memory makers expect RAM shortage to last until 2028

Executives at memory companies say the current RAM shortage is likely to continue through 2028, with prices for memory sold for 2027 already much higher than this year's.

Carney backs west coast oil pipeline amid US-Canada trade dispute

Prime Minister Mark Carney is promoting a west coast pipeline as Canada's answer to its trade dispute with the United States. The project is the first to be fast-tracked and will test his promise to global investors.

Maryland appointment could shape data center and energy debates

As states compete for data center investment, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown's upcoming people's counsel appointment may influence debates over electric rate increases, grid investment and the costs of the energy transition, according to a commentary.

Departing SEC commissioner Hester Peirce reflects on crypto and AI

Outgoing SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce says she does not mind being called "Crypto Mom" for championing the industry, but wants investors to understand that the government is never their mother.

US sanctions Russian firm accused of evading restrictions

The US has sanctioned A7, a Russian financial firm, following reports that it used shell companies around the world to move funds on behalf of restricted Russian businesses.

Appeals court upholds Samsung win over impossible patent claims

The Federal Circuit found that wireless communications patent claims asserted against Samsung were invalid because they did not enable a skilled person to make and use the invention, describing the claims as covering a scientific impossibility.

Egypt arrests six journalists from fact-checking outlet

Egypt has arrested six reporters from Matsaddash, a well-known outlet that debunks false reports, claiming they spread disinformation for the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Court dismisses $8.5 million contract claim against the Army

The Court of Federal Claims dismissed an $8.49 million breach of contract suit, finding that a payment addendum which could have obliged the Army to exercise two remaining option years was not included in the final contract.

Judge throws out antitrust suits over Google's AI Overviews

A federal judge has dismissed antitrust lawsuits from Chegg and Rolling Stone owner Penske Media, which accused Google of driving away web traffic with its AI-powered search features. Judge Amit Mehta sided with Google in the ruling.

London makes part of Oxford Street car free

London is turning a stretch of Oxford Street, long central to the city's identity and sense of style, into a car-free zone, prompting a look back at the shopping street's history.

Startup aims to turn idle dealership cars into rental income

MyMonthlyCar founder Igor Dobrianskyi sees dealership lots as millions of dollars of depreciating stock and wants to rent those cars out instead. The startup will present at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco from October 13 to 15.

Judge dismisses suit accusing Meta of collecting California DMV data

A California federal judge threw out a proposed class action alleging Meta illegally obtained information from the state's DMV through its Pixel software, saying the plaintiffs had not shown Meta received any personal or embarrassing information.

Swiss glaciers shrink by nearly a fifth in recent years

Scientists say Switzerland's glaciers have lost nearly a fifth of their volume in recent years. One researcher called the finding a much-needed warning sign that countries must tackle human-driven climate change.

Sony brings AI upscaling to the standard PS5

Sony is launching Quick Spectral Super Resolution, a new tier of AI graphics upscaling built for the regular PS5. The technology comes out of the company's Project Amethyst collaboration with AMD.

Nathan Fielder's Elizabeth Holmes documentary hailed as a masterpiece

A review praises You Can See Everything, in which comedian Nathan Fielder moves in with Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes and her family, as a modern masterpiece about deceit, matching TV's grand illusionist with a convicted fraudster.

Florida police cannot say who owns unpermitted Flock cameras

Residents in Florida are concerned about 14 mysterious Flock surveillance cameras, and police say 11 of them have no clear owner.

Amazon releases its own decision model as Jev clones multiply

Amazon Web Services' Strand Labs has released Strands Decider 2B, the latest in a wave of Jev-like decision models appearing across the web.

Who pays for the power AI data centres need?

Data centres consume large amounts of electricity and require infrastructure upgrades, but it is hard to work out how much residential customers benefit and how much of the cost they end up carrying.

Shopify launches Canvas, an AI chat tool for building online stores

Shopify's new Canvas site builder lets merchants create and customise their online stores by chatting with its AI agent, Sidekick, while watching the changes appear in real time.

Judge tosses consumer class action over Google search default deals

A California federal judge dismissed a proposed consumer class action accusing Google of monopolising online search, saying the plaintiffs did not show that better options would have existed without Google's default search deals with Apple and others.

American University of Afghanistan faces closure after US funding cuts

The State Department has denied the university funding for the next two years, putting it at risk of closure and jeopardising the education of hundreds of female Afghan students.

California governor vetoes bill on secret recording with camera glasses

The California bill would have penalised people who secretly recorded others in public using wearables fitted with cameras and microphones. The governor has vetoed it.

Snell & Wilmer hires IP attorney from Morgan Lewis in California

Snell & Wilmer has hired a former Morgan Lewis & Bockius attorney to join its intellectual property group in California, with a focus on life sciences and technology.

SpaceX sends new crew to the International Space Station

A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral carrying two Americans, a Russian and a Canadian, who will spend up to six months aboard the International Space Station.

AI finally cracks Stratego, a game of hidden information

Stratego, where most information is hidden from players, had long stumped AI. The key to solving it was adding a second neural network that guesses the identity of hidden pieces.

Jessica Watkins leads four-person crew to the space station

SpaceX launched a NASA crew of four to the International Space Station on a mission lasting until spring. Commander Jessica Watkins, the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit, is making her second trip. The launch followed a three-week delay to fix the capsule's fuel system.

Swedish company uses AI likeness of Greta Garbo in advert

An advert produced by the manufacturing company SKF Group features a digital version of the Swedish American actress Greta Garbo. Not all viewers found the replica convincing.

Supreme Court takes up immigration case and religious zoning dispute

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in an important immigration case and in a dispute over religious zoning.

Meta's new VR glasses raise hopes for virtual reality

A Verge writer says Meta's $1,299 VR Glasses are too expensive for them, but argues the device changes the game, as nothing like these glasses has existed before.

Microsoft's Office and Teams chief Ryan Roslansky steps down

Ryan Roslansky, formerly CEO of LinkedIn, is leaving Microsoft after nearly 18 years. He took charge of Office last year and Teams earlier this year, and his departure has prompted another leadership reshuffle at the company.

Russia plans sharp rise in war spending and cuts to social programmes

Russia's 2027 budget envisions more debt, higher taxes and lower social benefits as it raises military spending. Both Russia and Ukraine are finding it increasingly difficult to finance the conflict.

Microsoft pitches Copilot as the operating system for work

Satya Nadella hosted an invite-only event for leaders from key enterprise customers last week, outlining the future of Copilot and pitching Microsoft's latest rethink of the AI assistant as the "OS for work".

What comes next for the world's most powerful particle accelerator

BBC Inside Science looks at the next steps for the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator.

Crude oil exports through Strait of Hormuz largely recover

Exports of crude from the Strait of Hormuz have largely returned to earlier levels as producers and shippers use pipelines and ship-to-ship transfers to move fuel out of the Gulf. Flows of refined products such as diesel remain constrained, pushing prices higher.

Tesla and Musk still vague on what 'abundance' means

A year after Elon Musk promised to get more specific about his vision of abundance for Tesla, the details are still absent.

Legal scholars weigh who is liable when AI goes wrong

Many believe artificial intelligence companies should be held liable for their runaway technology, but legal scholars say applying existing law to the question could be messy.

Canada moves to build its own rocket launch industry

As relations with the United States fray, the Canada Rocket Company is getting serious about developing a medium-lift launch capability for the country.

Chinese reactor achieves fusion with cleaner hydrogen-boron fuel

In a world first, Chinese engineers have achieved brief nuclear fusion using hydrogen-boron, a cleaner and more abundant fuel. A state-backed energy company used a laser and radio waves to generate the plasma, and an international review team called the result a significant advance.

Emergency applications leave Supreme Court justices without a summer break

The Supreme Court's traditional summer recess has been eroded by a steady flow of emergency applications. "Our summers used to actually be summers," one justice lamented.

New space station crew lifts off from Florida on Crew Dragon

A crew of four, including two NASA astronauts, a Canadian and a Russian cosmonaut, is heading to the International Space Station after launching from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule.

Airbnb's Brian Chesky says AI agents need their own operating system

In an interview, Brian Chesky discusses making Airbnb friendly to AI agents, the state of consumer AI, and why he believes the world needs an AI-native operating system.

Republicans in deep-red areas distance themselves from Trump on ICE

Republicans from strongly conservative areas are seeking to put distance between themselves and President Trump on the subject of ICE.

AdHawk shareholders sue former insiders over $15 million earnout

Two shareholders of flooring software company adHawk have sued its former directors and officers in Delaware Chancery Court, accusing them of diverting $15 million from a roughly $159 million sale to Cyncly and securing buyer equity denied to other stockholders.

Australian scientists identify causes of recurrent bacterial vaginosis

Melbourne researchers have identified two contributors to recurrent bacterial vaginosis, a common condition affecting about one in four women globally, building on their earlier breakthrough on how the condition is transmitted.

Eleven Future Fund staff paid more than Australia's prime minister

Nearly a dozen staff at Australia's Future Fund received more than $1m last year, including one executive on a $1.5m package, more than double Anthony Albanese's base salary. Critics call the pay insulting during a cost-of-living squeeze.

Climate adviser challenges approval of largest coal project in NSW history

Matt Kean, chair of Australia's Climate Change Authority, has questioned why the NSW planning commission did not weigh the economic cost of climate change before approving the Hunter Valley Operations mine to run until 2045.

Anthropic seeks opt-out model for AI training on Australian content

Anthropic has urged the Albanese government to allow AI firms to train on Australian copyrighted works under an opt-out model, having conceded it will not get a blanket exemption. The ABC and SBS want strict rules to compensate media organisations and protect journalism.

New York City's click-to-cancel subscription rule takes effect

From Thursday, businesses in New York City must make cancelling a subscription as easy as signing up. Residents struggling with recurring fees can now file complaints with the city government.

Regulator examines Adam Kinzinger's prediction market bets on his own pardon

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is looking into bets the former congressman placed on Kalshi in the weeks before he was pardoned in January 2025. The inquiry raises questions about trading on knowledge of one's own political fortunes.

Study tests AI against lawyers on large-scale document review

Attorneys at Redgrave compared lawyers' responsiveness and issue-coding decisions with AI predictions across 1,600 documents. They conclude the tools can reliably support discovery workflows, provided lawyers understand where guardrails are needed.

Merger review roundup: Paramount settlement, Fox-Roku probe, energy and rail deals

State enforcers settled their challenge to Paramount Skydance's planned $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery, while the Justice Department probes Fox's planned $22 billion deal for Roku. Regulators are also reviewing large deals in energy and railroads.

The Verge looks back at Kevin O'Leary's troubled Utah data center plan

A Verge podcast discusses the outlet's months-long investigation into Kevin O'Leary's plan for the world's biggest data center: a 40,000-acre AI campus in Utah with nine gigawatts of power, more than double the average usage of comparable facilities.

Photon raises $4.5M to replace mobile apps with messaging agents

The startup helps developers build AI agents that work over iMessage, SMS/RCS, email, and other messaging platforms. Its bet is that consumers will increasingly use agents instead of downloading apps.

Kirkland replaces disqualified firm as counsel in coal plant bankruptcy

West Virginia coal plant Omnis Pleasants LLC has hired Kirkland & Ellis in its contested Delaware Chapter 11 case. Its previous counsel, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, was disqualified because of earlier work for key creditors.

Hacking contest winner relied on open-weight Chinese AI model

The winner of a cybersecurity competition prevailed using an open-weight Chinese AI model. The result is seen as another sign that freely available AI systems may already be too powerful to regulate easily.

Renewable energy super PAC targets seven Republicans with $15 million

A super PAC backing renewable energy plans to spend $15 million against seven Republicans, including incumbents Lauren Boebert of Colorado and Victoria Spartz of Indiana. Most hold districts that President Trump won comfortably in 2024.

Three billionaires provide most funding for Wisconsin Republican governor nominee

The Republican nominee for Wisconsin governor has been largely funded by three billionaires. Under the state's current rules, no previous race has seen such a small number of donors supply so large a share of a campaign's money.

Amazon offers early discounts ahead of October Prime Day

Amazon is already discounting its own hardware and other popular products to build interest in October Prime Day. The sale runs from 3AM ET on October 6th through 3AM ET on October 8th.

Supreme Court to weigh climate liability suit against energy companies

The Supreme Court will consider whether a lawsuit seeking to hold energy companies liable for climate change may proceed.

Genetic study confirms Arabian Sea humpbacks are a distinct subspecies

A new genetic analysis appears to confirm that the Arabian Sea humpback whale is a separate subspecies from its Pacific and Atlantic cousins. The population was already known for its remarkably unique ecology.

Gears of War: E-Day reviewed as a confident prequel

The Verge reviews Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel to the Xbox series arriving twenty years after the original. The reviewer finds it a confident, tense action game that benefits from sticking closely to what it sets out to be.

Startup Legato launches AI-powered hearing glasses

Hearing tech startup Legato has launched glasses with built-in AI hearing assistance. The company aims to make hearing care more accessible by addressing the cost, comfort, and stigma of traditional hearing aids.

Audible adds tools to explore book worlds and chat with characters

Audible is rolling out features that help listeners keep track of characters and explore places and imagery mentioned in books. Listeners can also interact with characters using generative AI.

New Kindle drops raised bezel for thinner, lighter design

Amazon's new Kindle lineup features its lightest and thinnest designs yet, with a front-flush display that does away with the raised bezel.

Amazon launches Kindle Click, a $35 page-turning remote

Amazon has introduced Kindle Click, a compact $35 Bluetooth remote that lets readers turn pages without touching their Kindle.

Trump announces judicial nominees for Fifth Circuit and North Carolina

President Trump announced on Thursday that he is nominating Todd Butler, a managing partner at Phelps Dunbar LLP, to the Fifth Circuit, alongside a nomination in North Carolina.

Dutch leader says Europe is pooling intelligence against Russian threat

Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten says European countries are cooperating on intelligence to an unprecedented level in response to Russia. Separately, the EU Commission and several governments are discussing whether to release diesel stocks to ease fuel prices.

Hundreds of prisoners in England and Wales released early

Hundreds of prisoners are leaving jails in England and Wales under an early release scheme meant to ease overcrowding. The government says adult male prisons are at 98% capacity and the measure is needed while more places are built.

US bond yields reach their highest level since 2002

Yields on US government bonds have climbed to a level not seen since 2002. The pressures behind the rise, including high government debt and the conflict in Iran, are not expected to ease soon.

Student protests over class sizes spread across French schools

A wave of school protests is spreading across France as students object to overcrowded classes and teacher shortages. The BBC reports from Paris on what is driving the movement.

British Sikh activist freed from Delhi jail after nine years

Jagtar Singh Johal has been released from prison in Delhi after India's high court warned the government it would be in contempt if it kept him jailed despite a bail order. He had been held for nine years without a full trial.

Kanye West's Russia concerts cancelled after weeks of confusion

Kanye West's planned shows in St Petersburg have been officially cancelled following weeks of uncertainty. Confusion surrounded the events after the stadium said it had not agreed to host the rapper.

Britain and France abandon their Channel migrant returns deal

The French government has soured on a reciprocal agreement that let Britain return some migrants who crossed the Channel in small boats, and the two countries are giving up the landmark deal.

New Jersey datacenter ran unpermitted generators for nearly a year

Public records show the Microsoft-linked DataOne facility in Vineland, New Jersey, emitted large amounts of air pollution from 62 gas generators for almost a year before state regulators acted. The company was recently fined $1m for operating without permits.

Mamdani's antisemitism strategy draws praise and criticism

New York mayor Zohran Mamdani has released the city's first municipal strategy on antisemitism, covering synagogue security and Jewish history in schools. Critics note the 33-page plan does not mention Israel, while others praise it for keeping the two separate.

Scholars warn Trump's conspiracy claims erode civil liberties

Legal experts and scholars say Donald Trump's frequent use of conspiracy theories against critics has weakened trust in the midterm elections, sidelined scientific evidence, and pushed prosecutions of opponents in ways that threaten US freedoms.

Satlyt raises $8M to run AI software on satellites

Satlyt, founded by a former Google and SpaceX product manager, has raised $8M to build open software for computing on satellites from many companies. It positions itself as the Android of orbital computing against SpaceX's closed approach.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao lives lavishly in UAE after pardon

Changpeng Zhao, who was jailed in the United States for a financial crime and later pardoned by President Trump, is now living a gilded life in the United Arab Emirates.

Protests follow Chief Justice Roberts to his Maine retreat

After decades of quiet summers on Maine's midcoast, Chief Justice John Roberts is facing rising anger and protests from Supreme Court critics, leaving him more isolated than before.

Writers and Guardian readers share the books they enjoyed in September

China Miéville, Sebastian Barry, Derek Owusu and Guardian readers discuss the titles they read over the past month, including Giada Scodellaro's Ruins, Child and Jordy Rosenberg's Night Night Fawn.

Trump's AI renaming sparks rush for Slovenian web domains

President Trump wants artificial intelligence to be called super intelligence, or SI, and demand for Slovenian website names, which use the same initials, has surged to unprecedented levels.

When book clubs turn dramatic: members share their stories

Book clubs can be fun and fulfilling, but many members have watched a meeting or group fall apart. One member recounts how her church book club of young mothers took an unexpected turn in its choice of reading.

PS5 emulation makes rapid progress on PC

PlayStation 5 emulation on PC is advancing quickly, with games such as Astro Bot and Demon's Souls now running capably without a console.

UK bookmakers profited from offshore casino deal, leak shows

Three UK bookmakers that have warned about illicit gambling also benefited from a deal with a large offshore casino network, according to the Casino Secrets leak of regulator files from Curacao.

NASA team describes unconventional effort to save the Swift observatory

NASA engineers took unusual steps, including pressing the Treasury and rapid coding, in a bid to save the Swift spacecraft. A team member said they did some really cool work and was disappointed not to get further.

Nicolas Cage likens Marvel movies to a glorified WWE

Speaking at a fan convention in Texas, Nicolas Cage criticised the Marvel Cinematic Universe as an overfunded spectacle, saying gifted actors over 50 put on ridiculous outfits for endless fight scenes. The Spider-Noir star said he spoke with love.

Meshell Ndegeocello's Synonym offers all-star reinventions from Dylan to J-Lo

On her new Blue Note album, the jazz-soul singer duets with stars from Chaka Khan to Bill Callahan and Cynthia Erivo on songs by Cher, the Human League and others. The record continues a career spanning jazz, R&B, rock, reggae and gospel.

Inside America's largest astrology conference

At the United Astrology Conference in Chicago, 1,500 attendees browse books, apps and software as practitioners of a $15bn industry debate who holds authority over reading the stars.

Who controls the undersea cables carrying the world's power and data

A long read on the undersea cables and pipelines that move trillions of dollars, oil and gas, and most of the world's internet traffic without any state's protection. It opens with a Finnish power cable that failed as a sanctioned tanker passed over it.

Ancient Greek artifacts returned from New York to Greece

New York authorities have repatriated millions of dollars' worth of ancient Greek artifacts identified at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, including bronze helmets, a marble bust of a Roman emperor, and pieces dating back to 2,700 BCE.

Hard Fork podcast begins its next chapter

The New York Times technology podcast Hard Fork is starting a new chapter this week.

Dutch intelligence warns car tech could enable spying

The Dutch intelligence agency AIVD says microphones, cameras and GPS trackers built into modern cars could be used by hostile states to monitor drivers, and is calling for awareness of espionage risks around vehicles, amid concerns over Chinese imports.

California governor candidates meet in debate

California's candidates for governor face off in a debate as the state grapples with affordability and other issues.

Tom Cruise film Digger takes aim at critics in new ad campaign

The marketing for Digger responds to poor reviews with an online ad in which Tom Cruise's character dismisses detractors, under the slogan 'Same film, different truth'. The approach echoes a similar campaign for Megalopolis that backfired.

UK long-term borrowing costs pass 6% as bond sell-off deepens

Britain's 30-year bond yield has risen to its highest since 1998 amid a global sell-off driven by fears the US deficit is unsustainable. Investors expect central banks may raise rates to counter inflation from persistently high oil prices.

Huawei unveils a huge add-on camera for its Mate 90 Pro Max

Following a trend among Chinese phone makers of offering clip-on teleconverter lenses, Huawei has released an unusually large add-on camera for its Mate 90 Pro Max flagship for long-distance photography.

Lemmo's first cargo e-bike uses a semi-solid state battery

The Lemmo 3, a premium step-through longtail cargo bike from the German e-bike maker, is among the first electric bikes to use a semi-solid state battery, which is considerably safer than conventional lithium-ion cells.

Kevin O'Leary's Wonder Valley project meets resistance in Utah

Celebrity investor Kevin O'Leary has been promoting his Utah project, Wonder Valley, on television and online, and in May claimed that Chinese agents were working against it. The Verge looks at the dispute between the investor and the people of Utah.

Brazil's favourite steak becomes an election issue

Four years ago Lula promised Brazilians they would be able to afford picanha again. As he seeks another term, the price of the country's favourite cut of beef is telling a different story.

Hong Kong journalist detained after covering protest-linked gathering

National security police in Hong Kong have detained Tang Ho-wing, founder of the independent outlet Boom News, after he covered a gathering linked to the 2019 protests, according to local media and watchdog groups.

Michael Jordan 'Last Dance' jersey sells for record $12.3m

A Michael Jordan jersey from his 'Last Dance' season has sold for $12.3m, about 9m pounds, a record for a piece of Jordan memorabilia.

Oil prices stay near $100 despite Gulf shipments resuming

Oil is flowing from the Persian Gulf again, but crude remains close to $100 a barrel because traders worry the conflict could resume and the world is drawing down its emergency stockpiles.

Texas governor race puts pressure on Democratic governors' group

Allies of Gina Hinojosa want the Democratic Governors Association to back her bid for Texas governor, putting pressure on its chairman, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear, who is weighing a presidential run.

County studies combined pollution from a cluster of proposed data centers

An unusual study aims to estimate the pollution and health costs of a group of proposed data centers together, rather than assessing each one on its own. The approach could change how such projects are evaluated.

Venezuela's loyal Chavistas puzzle over government's turn toward Trump

Longtime supporters of Hugo Chávez's movement are struggling to make sense of an ideological U-turn by Delcy Rodríguez's interim administration, which has embraced Donald Trump. Veteran state TV host Mario Silva is among those dismayed.

Michigan museum spotlights art made by US prisoners

Grand Rapids Art Museum is staging three solo shows by artists Julie Green, Gary Tyler and Ray Materson, aiming to humanise people who are incarcerated and show how creativity can be transformative behind bars.

Universal Studios adds sound barrier after neighbours complain about ride noise

Universal Studios Hollywood has pledged to build another sound barrier around its new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift attraction after residents complained about noise from riders. At a meeting of at least 350 people, executives also agreed to pause the ride between 8AM and 9AM.

Both parties court Latino voters in a Pennsylvania city

Republicans gained ground with Latino voters in the last election cycle, but the economy and frustration with Donald Trump's immigration policy have eroded that support. Both parties are now competing for these voters in a Pennsylvania city.

Comic explains how the census shapes state power and Trump's plans

A comic explains how the census determines each state's say in Congress and the Electoral College. President Trump failed to change the census in his first term and is trying again ahead of 2030.

Trade tensions keep Canadian snowbirds away from South Florida

A South Florida community that usually welcomes Canadians escaping winter is seeing fewer visitors this year, as trade tensions between the United States and Canada discourage them from coming.

Maine voters weigh heating oil, gas and tariffs in Senate race

Maine's Senate race between Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson has put rural Aroostook County in the spotlight, where voters along U.S. Route 1 are worried about heating oil, gas prices and Canadian tariffs.

Trump administration reverses position on disability community integration

The Trump administration has reversed its stance on integrating people with disabilities into the community. Advocates are angered but are rallying behind proposed legislation and working with states to strengthen protections.

Software CEO explains new AI tool for air traffic control

The FAA's overhaul of the air traffic control system comes amid rising public anxiety about AI. The chief executive of the company building the new software explains how it works.

States to pay a larger share of SNAP's running costs

The funding model for SNAP is changing, with states set to cover more of the cost of running the food assistance program as federal funding for operational costs shrinks.

NASA studies ancient Scottish rocks in search for life on Mars

NASA is heading to Clachtoll in the Scottish Highlands, where the US space agency says ancient rocks share similarities with those on Mars, to help its search for life on the Red Planet.

ICC judge describes daily life under US sanctions

Kimberly Prost, a Canadian judge at the International Criminal Court, says US sanctions have disrupted her daily life. She continues to hear cases and is challenging the sanctions in court.

Trump campaigns in Oklahoma for Republican candidates ahead of midterms

President Trump is making his first campaign stop of October in deep red Oklahoma, rallying support for Republican candidates before the midterm elections.

Analyst weighs Trump's campaign visit to reliably Republican Oklahoma

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with political analyst and columnist Ron Brownstein about why President Trump chose Republican-majority Oklahoma for a pre-midterm campaign visit.

Why listening is an overlooked leadership skill

Social innovator Ken Banks argues that listening is often overlooked as a leadership skill, yet it can challenge assumptions and lead to better decisions.

Australian tax office names large companies paying no income tax

The Australian Taxation Office has published data showing Microsoft's datacentre business, Singtel and major coal and gas companies earned billions in revenue in Australia while paying zero income tax. Netflix and other multinationals pay tax on only a small share of turnover; the office notes there can be legitimate reasons.

Slackliner crosses a high wire above central Seoul

Estonian slackliner Jaan Roose walked a 160-metre ribbon strung 120 metres above Seoul's main boulevard, near Gyeongbokgung palace, as lunchtime crowds watched. It was the first of two planned attempts between the Koreana hotel and the Dong-A Media Center.

New photo book charts a century of change in America

A new Taschen book collects 700 images from the National Geographic archives, tracing a century of dramatic change in the United States, from blimps and brass bands to burlesque.

K-pop singer receives suspended sentence over military service absences

A member of the K-pop band Winner has been convicted of violating South Korea's military service law and given a suspended prison sentence for repeated absences from his national service work.

Pressure grows on UK chancellor as energy bills rise 4%

Energy charges for a typical household in Great Britain rise from Thursday to an average of £1,723 a year, and John Healey is being urged to offer fresh support in next month's budget. The chancellor has warned that resources are limited and the budget will stress fiscal discipline.

Japan sharply raises residency fees for foreigners

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government has raised residency fees by 2,000 percent, making it harder for immigrants to stay in Japan. Critics say the move will undermine the country's ability to address its labour shortages.

Bank of England governor warns AI investment could shake markets

Andrew Bailey says the Bank of England is watching the waves of money pouring into artificial intelligence very carefully, warning that the AI boom could trigger shocks in financial markets.

Podcast explores how scientists locate and alter memories

Neuroscientist Steve Ramirez of Boston University, whose book How to Change a Memory was shortlisted for the Royal Society Trivedi science book prize, explains how researchers have located memories in rodent brains, triggered them artificially and even removed them, and what this could one day mean for humans.

Reserve Bank says Australia exposed to a global financial shock

The Reserve Bank of Australia's financial stability review says households are well placed to cope with rising interest rates and falling property prices, with fewer than one in 100 borrowers owing more than their home is worth, but warns the country would not be immune to a sudden collapse of the global AI investment boom.

Japan raises permanent residency fee twentyfold

Japan is increasing its permanent residency fee by 20 times as part of immigration policy changes intended to manage the country's growing foreign population.

Vivo's X Fold 6 goes global with an old-fashioned feel

Vivo's X Fold 6 was just another foldable when it launched in China in June, but as it heads to a global release its size and aspect ratio now seem oddly dated. The phone is much the same size as Vivo's previous foldables.

Newsom climbs the Golden Gate Bridge to sign a bill

California Governor Gavin Newsom scrambled up a bridge cable and signed a bill at the top of the Golden Gate Bridge's south tower, a stunt seen as part of his bid for a higher political profile.

Oasis block auction of unheard recordings worth over £1m

A collection of unheard Oasis tapes from the 1990s, including 63 live shows, rehearsals and candid conversations between Noel and Liam Gallagher, has been withdrawn from auction after the band took legal action. Littleton Auctions had listed the former sound engineer's collection at £1.2m to £1.6m.

Australia live: Queensland misses Thriving Kids deadline, Antarctic jobs open

Queensland has missed the deadline to join the federal Thriving Kids program, which shifts support for young children with mild autism or developmental delay away from the NDIS by 2028. The government also promoted its housing measures, and Antarctic job recruitment has opened.

Becerra leads polling in California governor race

Xavier Becerra, the Democratic candidate for California governor, has his largest lead of the election cycle in a recent poll, helped by strong support among unaffiliated voters.

Hegseth projects toughness as Republican doubts about his leadership grow

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has kept his job by cultivating a tough image, but his relationship with Republican lawmakers is reported to be at its lowest point.

Profile of Steve Hilton, Republican candidate for California governor

A look at Steve Hilton, the Republican running for governor of California, and his background.

Newsom signs laws protecting California workers from AI

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed laws banning employers from using AI to read workers' emotional state from biometric data, requiring written notice when AI drives mass layoffs, and barring AI-only firing decisions. He criticised the lack of federal AI regulation.

Swiss glaciers record another year of heavy ice loss

Switzerland's glaciers lost a large amount of ice this year, raising concerns about future water supplies. Scientists say such rapid melting is no longer surprising given the pace of climate change.

Judges debate whether courts will end up regulating AI

At a Federal Bar Association discussion in California on how AI will be regulated in the United States, the Northern District's new chief judge asked whether Congress's inability to pass laws will leave it to the courts to work out the rules.

California governor candidates expected to focus on affordable housing

Both candidates for California governor are expected to pitch solutions to the state's long-running affordable housing problem.

Appeals judges sceptical of X's lawsuit against research nonprofits

Ninth Circuit judges appeared doubtful of X Corp.'s attempt to revive claims against two nonprofits that scraped tweets to study online hate speech. One judge questioned X's contract damages claim and another doubted the groups could be liable for publishing true information.

Senators push to make AI makers liable for misuse of models

A bipartisan group of US senators is seeking to impose civil and criminal liability on makers and users of advanced AI models for misuse of those systems, arguing it would give companies more incentive to guard against cyberattacks by rogue AI agents and other harms.

Judge throws out $22.7m patent damages award against Gogo

A federal judge has set aside a roughly $22.7 million damages award against Gogo Business Aviation for infringing four SmartSky Networks in-flight Wi-Fi patents, saying SmartSky relied on "numerical mumbo jumbo" in presenting its damages case to a Delaware jury.

China restricts AI chatbots that imitate human relationships

Beijing has cracked down on AI chatbots designed to replicate human relationships, and experts are debating whether the move is the right approach and whether other countries will follow.

Trump criticises Canada again as trade dispute escalates

President Trump departed from his prepared remarks at a Hispanic Heritage Month event to call Canadian leaders "very bad" and say Canada is being "taught a little lesson", as trade actions between the two countries escalate.

Dispute over tiny image in Nikon microscopy photo contest

A small image has caused a backlash in Nikon's annual Small World In Motion contest. Dr Ning Xu denies breaking the competition's rules.

Paramount names Mattel chief Ynon Kreiz as co-CEO

Paramount is appointing former Mattel chairman and CEO Ynon Kreiz as co-CEO ahead of closing its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. He will lead alongside David Ellison, who will focus on long-term strategy and creative direction.

Pentagon asks Musk and Luckey to lead study on military's future

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has launched a 120-day study on the future of warfare led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich. Critics note that Musk's and Luckey's companies already sell the kinds of technology the study may recommend.

Trump courts Hispanic voters with wide-ranging White House remarks

At a White House reception for Hispanic Heritage Month, President Trump strayed from the planned topic to talk about ICE, his ballroom project and himself while seeking to win over wavering Hispanic voters.

AI tools aim to tell farmers the best time to harvest

New AI tools promise to help farmers judge when fruit is ready to pick, raising the question of whether growers will trust the technology over their own experience.

Excavations on Scottish island reveal sixth-century monastery

Community-funded archaeological digs on Lismore, a small island near Oban, have uncovered remains of a sixth-century monastery. The finds shed light on how Irish missionaries spread Christianity into northern Britain and rewrite the island's early history.

Swiss glaciers lose more than 5% of their ice in a year

Switzerland's glaciers are shrinking at a record pace, with more than 5% of their ice gone this year alone. Scientists warn the loss affects water supplies and ecosystems across Europe.

Judge lets nearly 15,000 gamer arbitrations against Valve close

A federal judge in Seattle has refused to issue a preliminary injunction to stop the closure of nearly 15,000 antitrust arbitrations brought by gamers against Valve Corp., finding the plaintiff had not shown the closures would cause irreparable harm.

Former Verint directors sued over sale to Thoma Bravo

A former shareholder of customer service software company Verint Systems has accused several of its former directors of letting shareholders approve an undervalued sale of the company to private equity firm Thoma Bravo last year.

OpenAI's Brockman withdraws second $25 million super PAC donation

Greg Brockman, OpenAI's president and co-founder, has backed out of a second $25 million donation to the AI super PAC Leading the Future, saying internally that it had become a distraction for the company.

Patent board rulings erode Stratasys's $28m trial win

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has invalidated as obvious nearly all the claims Bambu Lab challenged in three Stratasys 3D printer patents, including claims underlying $2.8 million of Stratasys's $27.6 million infringement verdict in Texas.

Judge orders Bureau of Prisons to restore union protections

A federal judge, Vernon D. Oliver, has ordered the Bureau of Prisons to restore union protections for its staff, citing public statements by the bureau's director that weakened the agency's case.

Brothers' dispute over cannabis business emails heads to trial

A Michigan federal judge has ruled that a legal fight between two brothers who once co-owned cannabis businesses must go to a jury, finding genuine questions over one brother's downloading of the other's emails.

Rare moth recorded in nature reserve for the first time

Experts describe the discovery of an incredibly sparse moth species in a nature reserve, where it had never been recorded before, as a special surprise.

Trump tours Republican strongholds to shore up midterm support

President Trump is campaigning in deep-red areas ahead of the midterms, playing defence in places where Republican enthusiasm is reported to need a boost.

Asteroid impact crater may have hosted life for millions of years

New research suggests the crater left by the asteroid impact that ended the age of dinosaurs may have been teeming with life, with hot, nutrient-rich water persisting for more than five million years afterwards.

Drone makers' trade secrets lawsuit allowed to proceed

A Utah federal judge has let two military drone companies continue most of their lawsuit accusing a former executive and his new company of misappropriating trade secrets to compete in the military drone market.

Meta contests proposed $1.1bn privacy judgment over Flo app data

Meta has urged a California federal judge not to enter a partial final judgment of more than $1.1 billion against it for unlawfully obtaining sensitive data from users of the menstrual tracking app Flo, arguing the judgment would violate its due process rights.

Hegseth tells officers he has transformed the US military

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told hundreds of junior officers and enlisted leaders that the Trump administration has achieved a cultural shift in the military, leaning into culture war themes.

Lawsuit says DraftKings uses AI to target losing bettors

A proposed class action filed in Massachusetts federal court alleges DraftKings uses artificial intelligence to identify gamblers who tend to lose and then sends them promotions encouraging more bets to boost the company's revenue.

Federal Circuit declines partial ParkerVision appeal against Qualcomm

The Federal Circuit found it could not consider ParkerVision's challenge to a lower court's construction of some patent claims in its suit against Qualcomm while other claims from the same patent remain undecided, saying courts cannot enter final judgments in such situations.

Joby's trade secrets case against Archer narrowed but continues

A California federal judge has allowed Joby Aviation to pursue a slimmed-down lawsuit alleging rival air-taxi developer Archer Aviation misappropriated its trade secrets, while again rejecting Archer's counterclaims about government contracts and alleged China ties.

FCC grants waiver so cable firms can modify banned routers

The Federal Communications Commission has issued another waiver allowing certain companies to alter foreign-made routers it has barred from import, aiming to ease the supply chain shortages the ban created.

Tribunal rejects Iranian family's $555m claim against South Korea

An international tribunal has dismissed a roughly $555 million claim by Iran's Dayyani family, who accused South Korea of delaying payment of an earlier $68 million arbitral award linked to a failed Daewoo Electronics deal, the South Korean government said.

Judge upholds 23andMe bankruptcy sale over California's privacy objection

A Missouri federal judge denied California's bid to undo the $305 million bankruptcy sale of 23andMe, which the state argued sidestepped its consumer data protections, ruling that California lacks standing and that the court's good-faith findings were not clearly erroneous.

Senator Blackburn sues over subpoena from Trump inquiry

Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee has filed a lawsuit over a subpoena issued by Jack Smith during the Trump inquiry. The case tests the reach of the Constitution's speech or debate clause.

US border agents can search phones without a warrant

A reminder for returning travellers that the so-called border exemption allows the government to search phones without a warrant, a gap in the usual privacy protections.

Google launches Hollywood venture to ease fears of technology

Google has formed 100 Zeros, a collaboration with Range Media Partners, to gain a foothold in film, television and emerging entertainment formats and to persuade Hollywood to be less wary of technology.

Google seeks to end lawsuit over Gemini access to private messages

Google is asking a court to permanently dismiss the third version of a proposed class action alleging its Smart Features unlawfully give Gemini AI access to users' private correspondence, arguing its privacy policy permits automatic collection of such data.

AI hardware-design startup Flow Engineering valued at $750 million

Flow Engineering, which applies AI agents to hardware design, has raised funding from Valor, Atreides and Sequoia at a $750 million valuation. Sequoia's Roelof Botha joins as an angel investor and board member.

Researchers link implants by sending signals through the body

Scientists have shown that a local network of medical implants can communicate by sending electrical signals directly through human tissue, using the body itself as the wiring.

Pentagon to cut 20% of generals and admirals

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the US military will reduce its number of generals and admirals by 20 per cent, one of several announcements in his "state of the force" address.

TSA tells agents to stand during airport ID checks

The Transportation Security Administration now requires agents to stand while examining travellers' documents, calling the move a welcome change. The union representing the agents is less enthusiastic about the new rule.

Court lets data breach lawsuit against HR services firm proceed

A Georgia federal court narrowed but refused to dismiss a proposed class action accusing a human resources services firm of failing to protect customer information before a 2024 data breach.

Neon announces Creative Commons SCP Foundation film after A24 backlash

Studio Neon says it will make an SCP Foundation movie released under a Creative Commons licence, as the online horror community requires. The move follows criticism of rival A24, which announced its own SCP film without contacting the wiki's team or committing to the licence.

Attackers exploit critical Zimbra flaw to steal emails

A critical vulnerability in Zimbra email software is being actively exploited. A single crafted email lets attackers remotely inject operating system commands and steal messages.

Factory CEO accuses former board adviser of spying for rival Cognition

Venture capitalist Chris Degnan, formerly a board adviser to Factory AI, has joined competitor Cognition as chief revenue officer. Factory's chief executive has accused him of spying, sparking a public argument on X.

Trump's voluntary AI oversight plan echoes Biden-era approach

President Trump's plan to let AI companies police themselves resembles the approach taken under President Biden. Critics question whether self-regulation is sufficient given growing examples of companies failing to put safeguards on the technology.

Google releases Gemini 4 Argon with limited initial access

Google has announced a new AI model, Gemini 4 Argon, with added guardrails. For safety reasons it will at first be available only to selected companies and organisations focused on cybersecurity defence before a wider release.

Ohio parents sue Netflix over children's data collection

Ohio parents have filed a proposed class action claiming Netflix marketed itself as kid-friendly while collecting children's data for advertising. It is at least the third lawsuit accusing the company of harvesting families' personal information.

Investors pour money into preventative body-scan startups

Neko Health, founded by Spotify's Daniel Ek, has raised $700 million to offer full-body health scans and has now launched in the US. Midjourney and Function Health are pursuing similar preventative-health products, and TechCrunch's Equity podcast asks why investors are betting so heavily on the category.

FCC opens two spectrum bands for satellite broadband

The Federal Communications Commission has opened two portions of spectrum totalling more than 1,000 megahertz to expand satellite broadband, part of a long-range plan to free up airwaves for space-based services.

Appeals court asks Georgia judge to explain refusal to sanction patent holder

The Federal Circuit has ordered a Georgia federal judge to explain why sanctions were not appropriate against Epic Tech LLC, given three major signs that the patent it asserted against Pen-Tech Associates was invalid.

Justice Department rebukes federal judges for speaking to the press

The Justice Department has criticised federal judges who spoke to The New York Times. Judge Patrick J. Schiltz had warned that the administration's actions threatened the rule of law, and the attorney general accused him of obvious bias.

Google announces Gemini 4 Argon, not yet publicly available

Google has announced its Gemini 4 Argon AI model, but the public cannot use it yet. The announcement appears to leapfrog an expected Gemini 3.5 Pro release.

Reddit adds further restrictions to Old.Reddit.com

Reddit is placing more limits on its legacy Old.Reddit.com interface. The company says the changes are aimed at fighting automated abuse of the site.

Judge overturns $14 million patent verdict against Anker

A Delaware federal judge has wiped out a $14 million jury verdict against electronics maker Anker Innovations, finding that Fundamental Innovation Systems International failed to properly prove the apportionment part of its charger patent case.

RFK Jr. says AI will free people from reliance on medical experts

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has argued that artificial intelligence will free people from what he calls the tyranny of medical facts and expertise. Ars Technica notes that AI remains an imperfect source of medical information.

Hackers steal millions of US military personnel records in long breach

The Department of Defense has notified millions of current and former US military personnel that their personal information was stolen during a data breach that lasted several months.

Disney protests highlight risks of streaming consolidation

Ars Technica argues that recent protests against Disney showed how hard it is for consumers to boycott a company that controls so many streaming services, and that this points to the risks of further mergers in the industry.

DoorDash unveils six-propeller aircraft for drone deliveries

DoorDash showed off the six-propeller drone it will use for its new delivery business at its annual Dash Forward 2026 event, a strategy it says grew out of its ground delivery operations.

Sensata must face class action over ransomware breach

A Massachusetts federal judge ruled that Sensata Technologies must face a lawsuit from former employees over a ransomware attack, finding they adequately argued that the breach exposed them to a risk of identity theft.

BMW's new electric 3 Series costs $4,400 less than petrol version

BMW has built its new 3 Series in both petrol and electric versions, and the electric model is $4,400 cheaper. The pricing shows how quickly electric vehicles have caught up with fossil fuel cars on cost.

First-time US passport applications move fully online next year

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the process of applying for a first US passport will be fully online from next year, meaning applicants will supply their own photos rather than getting them taken at a drugstore.

OpenAI's Decisions API points to demand for fast, cheap AI

OpenAI has released a Decisions API that TechCrunch describes as a clone of Jev, which could help the company manage swarms of AI agents. The move is seen as confirming the importance of fast, inexpensive models.

Stella McCartney shows wool-free, ocean-themed collection in Paris

Stella McCartney presents a Paris fashion week collection with no wool, built around a sea-life theme. She highlights wool alternatives including Brewed Protein, a fermented material developed with Japanese biotech firm Spiber, continuing her long advocacy for animal-friendly fashion.

Trump AI safety plan relies on voluntary testing by companies

The Trump administration has secured agreements from dozens of AI firms to run voluntary safety tests. Critics note the approach depends on large tech companies policing themselves rather than binding rules.

FTC opens investigation into OpenAI and Anthropic

The Federal Trade Commission is examining whether AI labs including OpenAI and Anthropic have broken federal laws against unfair and deceptive practices, looking at potential harms to consumers.

Abortion-ban states ask Supreme Court to challenge shield laws

Louisiana, Alabama and Arkansas have filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court against shield laws that protect providers who mail abortion pills. The case escalates the dispute between states that outlaw abortion and those supporting access by mail.

Pentagon completes withdrawal of US troops from Iraq

The Pentagon says it has formally finished withdrawing US troops from Iraq, two years after the pullout was agreed and twelve years after the mission began. Trump called it a great day for America, while Iraqi analysts debate what comes next.

Amazon and investor argue over limits on company records in Delaware

Amazon and a stockholder seeking company records argued before the Delaware Supreme Court over whether the investor may use the documents only in Delaware litigation. The stockholder calls the condition too broad; Amazon says it prevents duplicative lawsuits.

US trade regulator investigates Anthropic, OpenAI and other AI labs

The Federal Trade Commission has opened an industry-wide investigation into Anthropic, OpenAI and other AI labs over potential risks to consumers. It is the first official US enforcement action focused on autonomous AI agents.

Downing Street tests public support for rejoining the EU

Senior Downing Street officials are consulting thinktanks and pollsters to gauge public backing for the UK rejoining the EU. Momentum is building for a rejoin pledge in the next Labour manifesto.

Senate Democrats block Republican congressional stock-trading bill

A Republican measure to limit, but not ban, stock trading by members of Congress failed in the Senate after Democrats blocked it. The vote denies the GOP a pre-midterm win on an issue that has frustrated voters.

Congress heads into midterms without passing AI legislation

Senate Democrats blocked a measure that would have encouraged states to protect consumers from power rate rises tied to data centre growth. The bill set no limits on AI use, leaving Congress with no AI progress before the midterms.

Calder sculpture Mountains and Clouds restored in Senate office building

Alexander Calder's monumental sculpture Mountains and Clouds has been restored, reuniting its two halves after a long effort. Donors and legislators from both parties stepped in to overcome repeated snags.

Data centre power provider raises $540 million in IPO

Accelevation Holdings, which supplies power infrastructure for data centres, began trading publicly after raising $540 million in an initial public offering advised by Kirkland & Ellis and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.

ElevenLabs doubles valuation to 22 billion dollars

AI voice startup ElevenLabs has doubled its valuation to 22 billion dollars in a 300 million dollar employee share sale co-led by Wellington and T. Rowe Price.

EEOC sues Harvard for hiring diversity data

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has asked a judge to compel Harvard to hand over information on its hiring practices, which the agency says discriminated against white men.

Law360 rounds up AI copyright theory and Alamo trademark dispute

Law360's latest look at emerging copyright and trademark issues covers an unsettled theory about AI-generated works diluting the market for human creators, a trademark clash between Texas and an Alamo descendants' association, and an Indian copyright ruling.

Meta and OpenAI plan cute hardware for their AI agents

AI has struggled in dedicated devices, but Meta and OpenAI plan to test demand for physical hardware over the next year by pairing it with playful software agents, in a Tamagotchi-like approach.

Legal immigrants without green cards lose Medicaid eligibility

Under Trump's bill, many legal immigrants who do not hold green cards will no longer qualify for Medicaid, the health insurance programme for people on low incomes.

Most claims proceed in Pluto TV children's privacy case against Paramount

A California federal judge allowed seven claims to go forward in a lawsuit alleging Paramount Skydance unlawfully disclosed personal information of children who watched content on Pluto TV, finding the parents sufficiently alleged privacy harms.

FCC scales back environmental reviews for broadband projects

The Federal Communications Commission voted to substantially reduce federal environmental impact reviews of broadband deployment projects.

Gobi Desert fossil reshapes view of early mammal evolution

A well-preserved fossil from Mongolia's Gobi Desert, described in Nature, shows that an extinct mammal group called zhelestids were not close relatives of modern placental mammals, overturning a decades-old assumption.

Twenty-five states back appeal to preserve RealPage rent claims

A group of 25 states is supporting a Sixth Circuit appeal by other state enforcers who are challenging settlements in private litigation that could prevent them from seeking damages over claims landlords used RealPage software to collude on rents.

DeepSeek and Huawei team up to challenge Nvidia's software edge

As China pushes for self-reliance in AI, DeepSeek and Huawei are jointly developing software tools for advanced chips, targeting a key source of Nvidia's dominance.

Kristi Noem files for divorce after 34 years of marriage

Kristi Noem, former homeland security secretary and South Dakota governor, has filed court papers in South Dakota to end her marriage to Bryon Noem, an insurance salesman.

Immigration judge allows Cold War-era law to deport mosque president

An immigration judge ruled that Salah Sarsour, president of Wisconsin's largest mosque and a Palestinian rights advocate, can be deported under a Cold War-era law. A federal judge earlier found his detention was likely retaliation for his advocacy.

Watching a Damascus glassmaker at work in the summer heat

An NPR reporter visits a glassmaker in Damascus and finds that watching the craft in the scorching heat is a reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment.

Fed watchdog finds no crime in headquarters renovation overruns

The Federal Reserve's internal watchdog says the central bank mismanaged costs of its 2.4 billion dollar headquarters renovation but found no criminal violations. Trump had used the project to attack former chair Jerome Powell.

Senate Democrats block data centre energy bill as toothless

Senate Democrats blocked the Ratepayer Protection Act, meant to offset data centres' impact on electricity bills, calling it toothless. It failed 57 to 43, short of the 60 votes needed, though four Democrats backed it.

Reddit restricts Old Reddit access to fight AI scrapers

Reddit is further limiting who can use the Old Reddit interface as part of efforts to curb scraping and automated traffic. Users already need to log in, and further restrictions are due in the coming months.

Reddit ends RSS feeds and public API access

Reddit is dropping support for RSS feeds and ending public API access, citing AI bots, as it continues tightening access to its user-generated content.

New Jersey may renew RealPage antitrust claims against AvalonBay

A New Jersey federal judge ruled that the state can renew antitrust claims against AvalonBay Communities in a suit alleging the real estate trust and other landlords used RealPage's revenue management software to fix rents.

Dropbox contests sanctions request after winning patent trial

Dropbox is fighting what it calls completely unprecedented sanctions sought by a licensing company, which claims Dropbox introduced new, undisclosed expert opinions at a 2023 trial where a jury cleared the company of infringement.

Viral California viper photo turns out to be AI-generated

An image supposedly showing a Gaboon viper, a snake native to Africa, in a tree in Santa Ana, California caused alarm before it was found to be AI-generated.

Why frontier labs are wary of consumer AI

TechCrunch examines the difficult economics of consumer AI, arguing that frontier labs have grown cautious about consumer products for financial reasons rather than because the technology falls short.

Amazon delivery smart glasses reportedly take photos almost constantly

Bloomberg reports that Amazon's smart glasses for delivery drivers could capture several thousand images per shift, including people and private property, with the photos uploaded to Amazon's AI systems.

UK and France scrap one in, one out migrant scheme

The UK-France one in, one out migrant returns scheme has been scrapped just over a year after it began. Around 1,500 people were returned to France under the arrangement.

Hegseth expected to dismiss more senior US military officers

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to remove more top-ranking officers. Roughly 20 admirals and generals have already been fired or resigned since he took over the department.

ChatGPT teen version raises product liability questions, lawyer says

OpenAI's rollout of ChatGPT for Teens offers younger users a purportedly safer version of the software. Attorney Michael McCready argues it could also help plaintiffs asking whether earlier versions were safe for minors and when safeguards became feasible.

Michael Sheen's toxic waste campaign wins cross-party Senedd support

All parties in the Senedd have backed actor Michael Sheen's campaign on toxic waste sites, urging Welsh and UK ministers to make polluters pay to clean up contaminated land.

Chainalysis escapes most claims in Celsius fraud lawsuit

A New York federal judge dismissed most of the claims brought against blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis by the litigation agent for defunct crypto platform Celsius Network, leaving one claim intact.

Scottish screen boom raises questions about jobs and tourism

Scotland's film and TV sector, boosted by shows like The Traitors and major film shoots, is projected to be worth one billion pounds by 2030. Some worry about limited opportunities for local talent and overtourism at filming locations.

Russia gives update on long-delayed crewed spacecraft

Ars Technica looks at the status of Russia's new reusable crewed spacecraft, which Moscow describes as promising, after years of delays.

Asus stays quiet on how it avoided US router ban

The US banned future foreign-made consumer routers this spring unless makers satisfied national security concerns and committed to US manufacturing plans. Asus has cleared the bar but will not explain how.

Macron welcomes suggestion that the UK could rejoin the EU

Speaking at a news conference in Madrid alongside Pedro Sánchez, Emmanuel Macron responded warmly to Andy Burnham's suggestion that the UK could rejoin the EU, saying a return would be good news for Britain and for Europeans.

Pentagon changes absentee voting forms used by overseas Americans

The Pentagon has made last-minute changes to the forms many overseas US citizens use for absentee voting, removing a category of citizens that Republicans have been pushing to block from voting.

EDF chief calls new North Sea oil and gas projects a no-brainer

Simone Rossi, head of EDF Energy, says new UK oil and gas projects do not contradict net zero goals. He joins other renewables leaders backing more North Sea production as the government prepares to decide on two projects.

Microsoft gaming chief says Xbox is not for sale

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has denied reports that Microsoft is considering selling its Xbox business. The Information had reported that Satya Nadella and Amy Hood weighed spinning out Xbox but more recently backed Sharma's plans to overhaul it.

Meta denies its Muse agent read a user's private messages

Meta says its Muse AI agent cannot access a user's Messages without explicit permission, disputing a journalist's account that the agent read his private messages while the required Mac setting was switched off.

Judge approves Spirit Airlines settlement with Lufthansa unit

A New York bankruptcy judge signed off on a deal between Spirit Airlines and a Lufthansa Group unit, ending disputes over aircraft parts, a Spirit-owned engine and a tariff payment.

Google's payments to websites for AI answers remain small

Google's early effort to pay websites for use in AI answers is struggling, with many sites seeing just a tenth of one percent of their advertising revenue from the payments.

DoorDash launches AI agent that takes food orders by text

DoorDash has launched an AI agent that lets customers order food by text message, aiming to gain an edge over rivals Uber Eats and Grubhub.

Halide app adds full aperture control for the iPhone 18 Pro

An update to Lux Optics' Halide camera app for iPhone and iPad adds two new photography looks and support for the variable aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro's main camera.

Destro AI focuses on getting robots and humans to cooperate

Destro AI says its edge over robotics companies comes from not being a robotics company, focusing instead on getting robots and humans working from the same page.

Instinct users push back on unrequested product recommendations

Instinct is rolling out human-curated product and travel recommendations, but some users are unhappy about receiving suggestions they never asked for.

Google develops a way to watermark AI-designed proteins

Google has worked out how to watermark proteins designed by AI. The method is intended to help with biosecurity and works with a popular AI protein design tool.

Late-night hosts weigh in on Trump's tech ties and AI website

Seth Meyers and other late-night hosts discussed Trump cancelling $1bn in federal funds, a Maha summit in Washington, the White House's new AI-powered website and the president's relationship with tech leaders.

Labour ministers rally behind Burnham after conference speech

Labour ministers say they were moved by Andy Burnham's conference speech, in which the prime minister set out his plans and priorities. The mood in Liverpool was upbeat, with a Sugababes set at the afterparty.

FedEx orders 2,000 electric trucks from Harbinger

FedEx has placed a $300m order for 2,000 electric trucks from Harbinger, the startup's biggest order ever, as the company reportedly considers an IPO.

PS5 hacking scene advances with a broad new exploit

A new exploit marks a big step forward for the PS5 hacking scene, working on all but the most recently updated consoles.

Discord expands advertising tools to more advertisers

Discord is giving more advertisers tools to target its users, saying it is opening the platform to advertisers regardless of their budget.

Butterfly wing patterns create a motion dazzle illusion

Butterfly wing patterns and flight dynamics combine to produce a motion dazzle effect, similar to a barbershop pole, that makes it harder to gauge their speed and direction.

Australian house prices fall 5.2 percent from their peak

Cotality data shows Australian housing values have fallen 5.2% from their March peak, back to where they were a year ago. Prices are dropping in almost every suburb of the biggest cities, fastest in Brisbane, then Sydney.

Australia's cheapest mayonnaise rated the best in taste test

Consumer group Choice tested 29 store-bought mayonnaises and found the cheapest, Aldi's Colway Real Mayonnaise at $2.79 a jar, tied for first with a score of 80%, praised for its creamy texture and balanced flavour.

Study shows how fluttering wings help butterflies evade birds

British ecologists have found that brightly coloured butterflies stay safe from birds not through luck but through a visual illusion created by their whirring wings and bright patterns.

Government equity stakes complicate Trump's anti-communist message

The Trump administration has taken government equity stakes in more than three dozen private companies, a practice that sits awkwardly with the president's anti-communist rhetoric.

Google tests paying publishers for AI search contributions

Google has reportedly launched a pilot programme paying around 100 publishers for their contributions to its AI-powered search features, as it faces scrutiny over the effect of those features on web traffic.

AI safety pledge signed by Trump misspells the United States

President Trump and top AI leaders announced a signed pledge, the Joint Commitment on Frontier Responsibilities, promising more controls and safety measures for AI development. The document contains a misspelling of the United States.

BMW announces US pricing for the new 3 Series

BMW has revealed US pricing for its 3 Series line. The 2027 BMW 330 starts at $49,900, while the electric i3 50 xDrive carries a higher price at $61,500.

Google launches Fitbit Air in India at a higher price

Google has launched the Fitbit Air in India at around $146, roughly $47 more than its US price, which may limit its appeal to mass-market buyers.

Instagram introduces an AI video assistant for creators

Instagram is rolling out a conversational AI assistant that gives creators personalised feedback on their videos rather than generic advice.

Cerebras chief to discuss AI scaling limits at TechCrunch Disrupt

Cerebras Systems CEO Andrew Feldman will speak at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 about growing demand for compute, energy and infrastructure, how Cerebras approaches those constraints, and what happens if today's AI hardware reaches its limits.

Supreme Court to weigh court review of veterans' benefits disputes

The justices will consider when, if ever, federal district courts may review disputes over veterans' benefits.

Restate raises $20M for durable infrastructure for AI agents

Restate has raised $20m as demand for durable execution infrastructure grows with AI agents. Rather than building on an external database, it developed its own storage, replication and redundancy layers to stay fast and lightweight.

OpenAI pushes back its IPO and seeks more private funding

OpenAI is delaying its planned stock market listing, citing AI safety concerns, and is instead looking to raise another $30 billion from private investors.

Why Zach Cregger's Resident Evil film differs from other game adaptations

A games column argues that Cregger's Resident Evil adaptation, which drops the familiar heroes and locations, still ranks among the most faithful video game films because it recreates the feeling of playing the game.

SCOTUSblog looks at planes, beer, and forfeiture

A SCOTUSblog piece covers planes, beer, and forfeiture at the Supreme Court.

Chunky brown bear named Backpack wins Fat Bear Week

A brown bear nicknamed Backpack has won this year's Fat Bear Week, with one supporter praising its impressive bulk. The bear will soon begin hibernation, which can last up to six months.

Amazon's new Fire TV Stick 4K gets a redesigned remote

Amazon's latest Fire TV Stick 4K is slimmer and faster, but its most notable upgrade is a redesigned remote that is easier to use, particularly in the dark.

SCOTUSblog launches its first Supreme Court forecasting contest

SCOTUSblog is announcing its first contest inviting readers to forecast Supreme Court outcomes.

WhatsApp adds optional parental controls for teenage accounts

WhatsApp is introducing optional parental controls that let parents decide on the privacy settings for their teenager's account.

MI5 warns UK universities about Chinese front company taking research

Britain's security service says a company backed by China's intelligence service paid grants to UK universities to obtain technology research. MI5 is urging academics to stop working with the China General Technology Research Institute, which it calls a significant threat.

Verity review: Dakota Johnson leads an unconvincing erotic thriller

A review of Verity, adapted from Colleen Hoover's novel, finds the erotic mystery about a struggling writer hired to ghostwrite for a bestselling author unconvincing, despite a cast that includes Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett.

Chris Evans video helps bonded dog pair find a home

Actor Chris Evans shared a video urging someone to adopt two dogs from the Animal Rescue League of Boston that needed to stay together, and the pair, Greg and Carley, were adopted soon after.

Charter Space raises $5 million to insure space companies

Startup Charter Space has raised $5 million to offer insurance tailored to space companies, which it says traditional insurers often shy away from.

Tinder adds Group Hangouts feature for in-person social dating

Tinder is launching a Group Hangouts feature, continuing its push to move users toward more real-world, social experiences.

Supreme Court adds deportation case to December arguments

The justices have scheduled a deportation case for their December argument session. Separately, President Trump's second birthright citizenship order faces a new legal challenge.

Burundi agrees to take in migrants deported from the US

Burundi has joined several other African nations in agreeing to receive third-country migrants deported under President Trump's immigration policy. The announcement gave no details on numbers, timing or financial terms.

Kenneth Griffin gives Carnegie Mellon a record $3 billion

Kenneth Griffin has donated $3 billion to Carnegie Mellon University, the largest single gift in the history of US higher education. Most of the money is intended to help build a campus in Miami.

Poll suggests voters back Burnham plan to trim triple lock

A poll suggests voters support Andy Burnham's plan to scale back the pension triple lock to fund social care reform, by 48% to 28%. Burnham also argued for electoral reform, saying a party with under 30% of the vote could not legitimately govern alone.

FBI pursues hackers behind breach of employee data

The FBI says it is addressing a large data breach involving sensitive information about its employees and has vowed to go after the hackers it believes are responsible.

Experts say Trump would struggle to demolish the Kennedy Center

President Trump has entertained the idea of tearing down the Kennedy Center performing arts venue. Legal analysts say any such plan would face multiple daunting challenges.

Commentators rate Andy Burnham's speech highly

Andrew Marr judged Andy Burnham to be at least as good a platform speaker as Tony Blair, perhaps better, while the Mail asked who would pay for his 'New Jerusalem'.

Researchers say only 28% of spilled nurdles recovered

Scientists say just 28% of the plastic nurdles have been recovered and predict they will continue to wash up on North East beaches.

Pussycat Dolls reunion tour opens with Scherzinger in the spotlight

A review of the Pussycat Dolls' comeback show in Birmingham finds Nicole Scherzinger's star power carrying a decent spectacle from the trio, after a long-delayed tour marked by cancellations and a legal dispute.

Trump officials steer human rights fund toward rightwing causes

With funding about to expire, the Trump administration is pushing to direct more than $175m from the State Department's human rights fund to 43 awards, including an anti-communism fund and a group advancing white Afrikaner rights. Critics say the grants may anger US allies.

Becerra and Hilton to meet in California governor debate

Democrat Xavier Becerra, who served in the Biden administration, will debate Republican Steve Hilton, a former talk show host, on television in what is likely to be their only face-off before the California governor election.

Samsung overhauls the Galaxy Tab S Plus after two years

Samsung's Galaxy Tab S12 series pairs an Ultra model with few changes from last year's Tab S11 Ultra with a Plus variant that gets a bigger overhaul, as the company alternates updates between its regular and Plus tablets.

Samsung's SmartTag 3 is smaller and works with iPhones

Samsung has announced the Galaxy SmartTag 3, a third-generation Bluetooth tracker with a smaller squircle design, longer battery life, and cross-OS support that makes it easier to share tracking information with friends and family.

Two former Googlers raise $11.3M fund for enterprise AI startups

BAG Ventures, founded by two Google alumni, has closed an $11.3M first fund to invest in AI startups building products that enterprises will actually pay for.

Airbnb adds AI search and new social features

Airbnb is adding AI-powered search and more social features to its platform, and is launching services such as meal delivery and laundry in select locations.

UK banks are Europe's biggest coal financiers, report says

UK-based banks provided $8.3bn in coal financing since Cop26 in 2021, more than German ($4.9bn) or French ($3.4bn) banks, according to a report. Barclays and HSBC led the rise.

Last UK and US troops leave Iraq as coalition mission ends

The final UK and US troops have left Iraq, ending the coalition's anti-Islamic State mission. The withdrawal, under a deal agreed two years ago, was a key demand of the Iraqi government.

Dangote opens Kenya oil refinery despite land protests

Africa's richest man, Dangote, has launched an oil refinery in Kenya despite protests over land. The project is part of his bid to expand and help industrialise Africa by 2030.

Cloudflare plans quantum-safe TLS certificates

Cloudflare intends to issue quantum-safe TLS certificates as part of a major overhaul of the ecosystem for website authentication.

Apple's HomePad reportedly launches on October 13

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple will reveal its long-rumoured smart home hub on October 13, alongside a new HomePod mini and an upgraded Apple TV. All three will showcase Apple's overhauled Siri AI assistant.

Tokyo court rules AI clone of actor's voice violated his rights

A Tokyo district court ruled that voices enjoy the same legal protection as publicity rights, in a case brought by actor Kenjiro Tsuda against a TikTok account that cloned his voice for AI-generated videos.

Coastal golf course becomes wetland reserve for seabirds

A golf course on England's coast has been transformed into National Trust Sandilands, a wetland nature reserve already home to plovers, terns, avocets, and lapwings before opening to the public.

Jack Smith defends Trump investigations before Congress

Former special counsel Jack Smith defended the two criminal indictments he brought against President Trump during an appearance on Capitol Hill.

Bank of England governor calls for right to intervene in AI

Andrew Bailey said authorities must retain the right to intervene in the AI industry, describing the risks from rapidly advancing frontier models as real and increasingly significant.

Indonesia orders demolition of luxury prison compound

Indonesian lawmakers ordered the demolition of a controversial luxury compound inside a penitentiary near the capital after a public outcry.

Bailey says regulation is not the right starting point for AI

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey says AI needs rigorous testing and safeguards to contain risk, but that regulation is not the right place to start.

A writer swaps doomscrolling for solutions journalism for 48 hours

Oliver Balch stopped reading bad news for two days to find out what changes when you replace the daily doomscroll with journalism that asks what is working, not just what is wrong.

Van Gogh painting goes on show ahead of $180m auction

A Van Gogh painting, Chataigniers en fleurs, valued at $180m, has gone on display before being auctioned alongside 11 other works by artists including Cezanne and Monet from a long-private collection.

UK-France 'one in one out' migration deal set to expire

The UK's 'one in one out' deal with France, intended to deter small boat arrivals, is expected to expire on Thursday after talks stalled over French demands for a Europe-wide scheme.

Study finds insects protect and shelter animals across ecosystems

New research published in Nature Reviews Biodiversity shows insects do far more than feed vertebrates: they provide protection, sanitation and shelter to birds, bats, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. The authors say this makes insects a priority for conservation.

AI-generated fakes raise concern about election misinformation

Deepfakes and AI-driven misinformation are worrying legislators, advocates and voters. A fabricated image of a Georgia mayor spread widely on Facebook before being debunked, and she says it reflects poorly on the state of political discourse.

Singapore starts a matchmaking service for government workers

Singapore has launched FirstDate, a matchmaking service for public sector employees, as the ageing country grapples with a record-low fertility rate.

Teenagers brainstorm climate solutions at a hackathon

Sixteen teenagers took part in a hackathon to come up with ways of tackling environmental problems such as light pollution.

Research suggests ways to step back from the AI arms race

New research points to how the world might avoid the worst outcomes of a race to build ever more powerful AI. Even with the agreement tech leaders signed at the White House, the authors say progress will not be easy.

French politicians across the spectrum praise Pope Leo's visit

Pope Leo XIV's four-day visit to France drew praise from politicians of all stripes, including some of the country's most avowedly secular figures.

Tour company sues over national park surcharge for foreign visitors

An Arizona guide service is challenging rules that require foreigners to pay a $100 surcharge to visit 11 national parks, arguing that only Congress has the power to change park pricing.

Paxton privately said Trump's convention hurt Republican candidates

Ken Paxton, the Republican Senate nominee in Texas and a Trump loyalist, said that everybody's numbers dropped after the convention, according to audio obtained by The Times.

How to enjoy your music online or offline

Streaming services open up a nearly unlimited catalogue of audio, but keeping a downloaded digital collection has its own advantages.

Why effective new cancer drugs are not reaching more patients

Targeted gene therapies are highly effective at stopping cancers, but the sheer number of treatments, their cost and slow changes in practice are limiting how many patients get them.

Startup proposes nuclear-powered data center on Utah public land

Valar Atomics wants to install more than 450 reactors across over 9,500 acres of public land in Utah to power a huge data center project.

Meta uses AI data centers to cut its federal tax bill

Meta is drawing on a lucrative tax break meant to support research and experimentation to avoid billions in federal taxes on its AI data centers. Its own accountants describe the approach as risky.

Hispanic voters on the Texas border turn away from Trump

Hispanic voters along the Texas border were an essential part of the Republican coalition in 2024. Many now feel abandoned and angry, complicating the party's prospects in November.

The men who love reading romance novels

Straight men are often assumed to have no interest in romantic fiction, but many are sharing their passion in online forums. One reader, a 28-year-old school maintenance worker, gets through five or six a month on his Kindle.

Renoir and Love at the National Gallery celebrates life's pleasures

A new exhibition at the National Gallery in London gathers Renoir's light, joyful paintings of picnics, dances and long lunches. The critic calls it the happiest exhibition of the year.

Families sue for in-person visits with jailed relatives

A growing number of jails allow only virtual calls with inmates. Some families are going to court to seek the right to visit their relatives in person.

NPR names the finalists in its student podcast contest

After listening to nearly 1,500 student podcasts from across the United States, NPR has narrowed the field to 10 middle school and 10 high school finalists.

A year after the EV tax credit ended, are people still buying electric cars?

Congress scrapped the $7,500 federal tax credit for new electric vehicle buyers a year ago. NPR looks at whether Americans are still choosing EVs without it.

Montana begins Medicaid work requirements early, leaving patients confused

Most states will require Medicaid recipients to prove they are working, volunteering or studying from January 1, but Montana starts enforcing the rule on October 1. The early rollout is causing confusion among patients.

HHS report questions gender-affirming care, drawing criticism

A new HHS report claims gender-affirming care may radicalize people, the agency's latest step away from established health care models for transgender people. Critics say it casts transgender identity as illegitimate.

Honorable mentions announced in the 2026 Student Podcast Challenge

NPR has published the honorable mentions from this year's Student Podcast Challenge, chosen from nearly 1,500 entries.

Outside groups pour millions into races that could decide the Senate

New Hampshire's Senate race is one of a handful that could determine control of Congress next year, and outside money groups have spent some $50 million on it so far.

US military withdraws from Iraq after 23 years

The United States has withdrawn its forces from Iraq, 23 years after the invasion, as the country continues to contend with Iranian influence.

White House airs taxpayer-funded ads featuring Trump before midterms

With midterm elections weeks away, the White House is using public money to run campaign-style television ads featuring President Trump.

G20 trade ministers meet in Wisconsin and plan around their US host

Trade ministers gathering in Milwaukee face awkward positions because of President Trump's global tariff agenda. Many are expected to hold sideline meetings to discuss deals that work around the United States.

New Greens leader Shoebridge pushes a more combative approach

David Shoebridge says the Australian Greens must connect with millions of disaffected voters and make them believe in politics again, as the party's polling stays stuck at 10 to 12 percent while One Nation surges.

Hasidic man who protested an Israeli flag faces deportation

Yehonatan Ovadia, a member of an anti-Zionist Hasidic branch, opposed the mounting of an Israeli flag in a small New York town. He is now in ICE custody and may be deported.

On this day: Bizet's The Pearl Fishers premieres in Paris

163 years ago Georges Bizet's opera The Pearl Fishers debuted at the Theatre Lyrique in Paris. Set in ancient Sri Lanka, it tells of two men whose vow of friendship is tested by their love for the same woman.

Orionid meteor shower peaks in the night sky this week

The Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak in October as Earth passes through debris left behind by Halley's Comet, offering a chance to see shooting stars this week.

British energy bills forecast to rise by £276 a year in January

Forecaster Cornwall Insight predicts the government's energy price cap will rise 16% to the equivalent of £1,999 for a typical dual-fuel household from January, adding pressure on budgets through the coldest months.

England to plant half a million trees over three years

Environment secretary Angela Eagle is set to pledge half a million new trees across England within three years. Mayors, councils and charities will get funding to restore wetlands, river edges and meadows that help manage floods and droughts naturally.

Oceans absorbed a record 23 zettajoules of heat last year

A report finds the world's seas took in a record 23 zettajoules of heat last year, roughly 40 times the energy used by all humanity, alongside rising sea levels and continuing acidification.

Pricey menopause supplements no better than cheap multivitamins, Which? finds

Consumer watchdog Which? found many menopause supplements costing over £400 a year lack meaningful amounts of key nutrients, yet cost about 20 times more than a standard £22-a-year multivitamin.

NSW planning commission approves its largest ever coal project

New South Wales's Independent Planning Commission has approved the Hunter Valley Operations continuation project, allowing mining until 2045, saying economic benefits outweigh climate impacts. Climate groups, who called it a carbon bomb, condemned the decision after more than 10,000 public submissions.

Indonesia suspends prison officials over luxury inmate quarters

Five Indonesian prison officials have been suspended after investigators found an apartment-style compound with air conditioning, big-screen televisions and expensive cars allegedly used by inmates near Jakarta. The ombudsman said certain prisoners had access to facilities resembling villas.

Bear called Backpack wins Alaska's Fat Bear Week

A bear known as Backpack has been declared the winner of Alaska's annual Fat Bear Week, beating a rival known only as 910 in the final round of the competition.

AI version of Greta Garbo appears in a ball-bearing advert

An AI recreation of silent-era star Greta Garbo has appeared in a ball-bearing advertisement, and her descendants say they are ready to consider the digital likeness taking on a modern film role.

Nandy says under-16 social media ban is only a first step

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has told technology firms the UK's online safety crackdown is not finished, describing the ban on under-16s using high-risk social media apps as a staging post and promising further action.

Review finds AI Greta Garbo advert dull and humourless

A Swedish company's advert recreates Greta Garbo with AI for 99 seconds. The critic calls the result bizarre and humourless, and another reason to resent AI.

Los Angeles mayoral candidates court undecided voters

Mayor Karen Bass and her former ally Nithya Raman made their pitches to voters with five weeks remaining until the Los Angeles mayoral election.

Australian inflation rises to 4%, raising rate hike expectations

Australia's annual inflation rose to 4% in the year to August, up from 3.5%, prompting fears the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates again before Christmas. Treasurer Jim Chalmers blamed higher global oil prices rather than government spending.

Three takeaways from Trump's White House AI summit

A White House meeting on what the administration calls Super Intelligence took place as some technology leaders and experts call for tighter rules around AI.

Wicked's stars share the songs they love singing most

Performers and creators behind the hit musical Wicked, including original Elphaba Idina Menzel and composer Stephen Schwartz, pick the numbers they still enjoy belting out after hundreds of shows. Menzel won a Tony on Broadway and made a cameo in the recent film.

Devon exhibition explores the cultural world of fungi

An Exeter museum is hosting an exhibition on fungi, including a soundscape a musician made by collaborating with woodland fungi and their electrical signals, an artist's map of her own mycobiome, and a sculpture honouring Beatrix Potter's work as a mycologist.

Watchdog says Voice of America cuts damage US interests

The State Department's inspector general has assessed that cuts to Voice of America hurt US national interests, echoing concerns raised by critics of the move to close the broadcaster, including some Republicans in Congress.

Air Force major faces possible court-martial over Trump protest

An Air Force major has been recommended for a general court-martial after protesting against President Trump. The recommendation is not binding, but such recommendations are rarely ignored in the military justice system.