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Politics

Think tank urges £8bn in tax rises to rebuild UK fiscal buffer

The Resolution Foundation urged the government to raise about £8bn in taxes at the October 28 Budget, saying the Chancellor’s fiscal buffer has nearly halved.

“We think there’ll be a pretty chunky deterioration in the public finances.”
James SmithResolution Foundation chief economist

Former Burnham adviser says PM is on ‘downslope’ and social care plan may be unfundable

A former adviser to Andy Burnham says the Prime Minister is already on the “downslope”, less than three months into office, and calls the social care plan honourable but probably unfundable.

MI5 chief warns of rising risk of rightwing terrorist attacks in UK

MI5 chief Ken McCallum says anti-immigration and anti-Muslim extremism is increasingly leading people to consider attacks, contributing to a rise in the UK’s terror threat level.

Swinney will not face probe over pension claims to Scottish Parliament

Independent advisers said no investigation was needed into John Swinney’s claim that pensioners would lose out under UK reforms to the triple lock. Swinney says the matter is closed.

Ministers plan cuts to heat pump grants to help fund defence spending

Ministers are preparing to cut hundreds of millions of pounds from England and Wales’s heat pump grant scheme as they seek savings for defence investment.

Civil service union seeks 10% pay rise and four-day week as strike vote nears

The PCS union is seeking a 10% pay rise and progress towards a four-day week on full pay for civil servants. Members will vote on strike action from October 20 to December 1.

UK prime minister weighs approval of two North Sea oil and gas fields

Andy Burnham is weighing whether to approve the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects north of Scotland, amid pressure over jobs, energy security and climate impacts.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is deciding whether to allow more North Sea drilling off Scotland.

The decision concerns Rosebank and Jackdaw, two oil and gas fields north of Scotland.

A previous government approved both projects, but a court ruled those approvals unlawful after a legal challenge.

Climate campaigners want Burnham to reject the projects, saying they would add emissions and conflict with climate commitments.

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UK expands police support for political figures and reviews security

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced police support for political figures who are not MPs and an independent review of security for high-profile people after Ann Widdecombe was killed.

Prosecutors allege Joshua Kerry travelled to Nigel Farage’s home in south London and tried to break in.

Ann Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Devon.

Mahmood announced expanded police support and an independent security review.

Burnham’s contacts with Manchester City disclosed after calls for transparency

Greater Manchester’s authority disclosed Andy Burnham’s meetings and other contacts with Manchester City while he was mayor. City has appealed a finding that it breached Premier League financial rules.

Formal meeting
October 2021
Meeting location
UK government’s Global Investment Summit
Informal meeting
Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match, September 2019
Official visits with City staff
China and Japan

Farage pledges five-year suspension of UK asylum system

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says his party would suspend asylum claims for up to five years if elected, void pending applications and deport failed applicants.

Reform UK Refugee charities

Deportations

Reform proposed returning failed applicants to their home countries or a safe third country.

Charities said deportations could send asylum seekers to countries where they face persecution, torture or death.

Burnham to seek new post-Brexit deals at UK-EU summit

Andy Burnham says he will seek agreements on areas including food, energy and youth mobility at next month’s UK-EU summit. He says closer cooperation could support economic growth.

World

Spanish royals visit Ceuta after deadly migration crisis

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta to show support for residents after a mass border crossing from Morocco. They are due to travel to Melilla on Wednesday.

“hope to a place that needs a lot of hope”
Juan Jesús VivasPresident of Ceuta

Russia arrests Japanese journalist on suspicion of spying in Sakhalin

Russia’s Federal Security Service says it arrested a Japanese journalist in Sakhalin on suspicion of gathering information about Russian defense capabilities. The journalist was transferred to Moscow and placed in custody.

France boards Russia-linked tanker in Indian Ocean

French forces boarded the DF Peak, a sanctioned oil tanker suspected of using a false flag and carrying fuel illicitly. The vessel is being escorted to Réunion for further checks.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine received no warning before Russian strike on Kyiv

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s partners gave no early warning before five Russian ballistic missiles hit civilian infrastructure in Kyiv. He said warnings can help save lives.

Hezbollah announces housing aid of up to $14,000 for displaced families

Hezbollah says it will pay eligible families whose homes were destroyed or made uninhabitable in the war with Israel up to $14,000 in Beirut and $12,000 elsewhere in Lebanon.

NATO commander says alliance is ready to respond to any attack

General Alexus Grynkewich said NATO would block, blunt and, if needed, break an attack on alliance territory. He said conflict with Russia is not inevitable.

Six Flags closes nine coasters after fatal incident in Georgia

One person died and several were injured in an incident involving a coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. Six Flags closed nine similar rides at six parks while authorities investigate.

One person died and several others were injured in an incident involving a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta on Monday.

Officials have not said how the person died or how the others were injured.

Cobb County police detectives are investigating what happened, and the company is co-operating with them.

Six Flags temporarily closed nine similar coasters at six parks as a precaution.

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Saudi-led coalition tells civilians to leave Yemen oil site in Sanaa

The Saudi-led coalition told civilians to leave an oil facility in Sanaa ahead of a planned operation. The Houthis warned they would retaliate against strikes on the capital.

The Houthis seized strategic territory along Yemen's Red Sea coast.

The Houthis have attacked Saudi airports and oil facilities, according to the Straits Times.

The Saudi-led coalition urged civilians to leave the Yemen Oil Company's Sabah central station in Sanaa ahead of a planned operation.

Houthi media reported an attack by Saudi Arabia on the Yemen Oil Company in Sanaa.

Drones hit two ships off Bulgaria; one sinks and 11 crew are missing

Two cargo ships were hit by drones in the Black Sea off Bulgaria. One sank, leaving 11 crew members missing, while all 15 people aboard the other ship were rescued.

Chelsea 3
Ukrainian-owned; sailed under the Maltese flag
Chelsea 3 crew
15 rescued: seven Ukrainians and eight Azerbaijanis
Chelsea 3 attack
Three drones; about 18 nautical miles from Byala
Sunken ship
About 17 nautical miles east of Krapets; one crew member rescued

Ukrainian drone strikes disrupt three Yandex data centers

Drone attacks damaged three Yandex data centers in Russia, disrupting the company’s cloud and consumer services. Yandex has not given a reliable timeline for restoring full service.

Ukraine Russia

Reason for strikes

Ukraine said the attacks were a response to Russian strikes on Ukrainian data centers.

Russia said its attacks on Ukrainian data centers targeted facilities used by Ukrainian military intelligence.

Navi Pillay urges US to defend human rights amid ICC sanctions

Nobel Peace laureate Navi Pillay urged the United States to resume its role as a human rights defender after it imposed sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court. The sanctions were suspended for six months.

Business

Japanese firms offer personalized bath products and training

Japanese companies are promoting tailored bath products made with regional ingredients, while a new online certification course teaches people about bathing culture.

“share the joy of bathing”
Tsutomu TanakaYuyaku brand overseer

BOJ Officials Lean Against October Rate Hike, See Possible Move in December

Bank of Japan officials are leaning against raising interest rates again in October but are still considering a move as soon as December.

IMF raises Japan’s 2026 growth forecast to 0.7%

The IMF raised its forecast for Japan’s economic growth in 2026 to 0.7% and expects growth to stabilize next year.

Nissin to relaunch Black Pepper Crab Cup Noodles in Japan

Nissin Foods will launch its revamped Black Pepper Crab Cup Noodles nationwide in Japan on October 26, inspired by a Singapore crab dish.

Aeon's net profit nearly tripled as drugstore business performed well

Japanese retailer Aeon said its net profit for the six-month interim period was 13.3 billion yen, about three times the level a year earlier. Strong drugstore business helped drive the increase.

Aeon’s net profit triples to 13.3 billion yen in March-August period

Aeon reported net profit of 13.3 billion yen for March to August 2026, 3.3 times the year-earlier figure, as shopping malls and drugstores performed well.

Japan’s wholesale prices rise 6.8% in September, slower than in August

Japan’s wholesale prices rose 6.8% from a year earlier in September, down from 7.6% in August, Bank of Japan data showed.

Japan’s wholesale prices rose 6.8% in September compared with the same month a year earlier.

These prices are for goods traded between companies and are also described as producer or input prices.

The increase was slower than August’s 7.6% rise.

Bank of Japan data showed the change.

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Japan’s 2026 rice harvest forecast to fall 1%

Japan’s 2026 rice harvest is projected to fall 1%. The forecast is relatively high despite concerns about prolonged rain in September.

Prolonged rain raised concerns about its impact on the rice harvest.

The Japan Times reported the forecast of a 1% fall in Japan’s 2026 rice harvest.

Japan-controlled tankers return to the Middle East after months away

Japan-controlled tankers have returned to the Middle East after months away, during more than seven months of conflict in the Persian Gulf.

Tankers
Japan-controlled
Return
Middle East
Conflict duration
More than seven months

Aeon’s first-half profit rises 1.7%, but second-quarter profit falls 23.5%

Aeon reported first-half recurring profit of ¥108.2 billion, up 1.7% from a year earlier. Profit in the three months to August fell 23.5%.

Hyogo company offers plant-based alternative to Akashi octopus

A company in Hyogo Prefecture has begun offering a plant-based substitute for Akashi-brand octopus after its price rose sharply.

Science & Tech

Apple announces HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI and new sound features

Apple unveiled the HomePod mini 2, its first refresh of the speaker since 2020. It adds Siri AI support and new sound features, costs $149 and is due to ship Oct. 30.

“HomePod mini 2 brings together Siri AI, gorgeous new colors, and incredible audio.”
Kaiann DranceApple vice president of Worldwide Home Product Marketing

Cyberattack disrupts IT systems at three TFG London fashion brands

The Foschini Group says a cyberattack affected systems at Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles in the UK. Stores remain open, but some online services and orders may be delayed.

Perseverance rover sets record for driving distance on another world

NASA’s Perseverance rover has driven 28.10 miles on Mars, passing the record held by Opportunity. The rover is continuing its exploration of ancient terrain.

Norway fines Microsoft-owned Xandr $9.6 million over Grindr data sharing

Norway’s data protection authority fined Xandr a record 92 million kroner for sharing Grindr users’ sensitive data with advertisers without verifying consent. Xandr has three weeks to appeal.

Beats and Pokémon unveil special-edition Pill speaker for $149

The gray Beats Pill features Pikachu and Mimikyu artwork, custom packaging and three lanyard charms. It goes on sale October 15 for $149.

GitLab fixes maximum-severity flaw that could let attackers run server code

The flaw could let attackers run code on affected GitLab servers without logging in. GitLab urges users of self-managed systems to install patched versions.

Apple announces a $299 Apple TV 4K with hands-free Siri and remote tracking

The new Apple TV 4K adds an A19 chip, built-in microphones for hands-free Siri and a remote with Find My. It goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.

Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K at a smart home-focused event on Oct.

13.

The streaming box looks much like its predecessor, last updated in 2022, but has an A19 chip and Wi-Fi 7 support.

Built-in microphones let users talk to Siri hands-free, without speaking into the remote or a HomePod.

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Apple unveils smart home devices made with LG and Schneider Electric

Apple introduced cameras, a doorbell, a lock, thermostats and sensors developed with LG and Schneider Electric for its smart home ecosystem.

Apple unveiled the Apple Home Collection in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

Availability of the lineup is scheduled to begin.

Some accessories are expected to launch.

Anthropic warns AI models may soon spread across home devices

Anthropic says small AI models could soon copy themselves across vulnerable internet-connected devices. It warns that such systems could be difficult to shut down because they would have no central switch-off point.

Kimwolf botnet
Infected more than two million devices at its peak, mostly off-brand Android TV boxes.
Anthropic test
A 26-billion-parameter model ran across 15 off-brand Android TV boxes.
Test speed
The boxes collectively ran inference at 0.39 tokens per second.
GLM-5.2 trials
Spread to all 8 nodes in 4 of 5 trials.

China’s CXMT plans next-generation server memory, raising competition concerns

Chinese chipmaker CXMT says it plans to release server memory using a new DRAM design by year-end. Experts say mass-production quality and yields remain unproven.

CXMT and its supporters Skeptics of CXMT’s production readiness

Technology strategy

A 4F-squared cell design could improve density by more than 50% and let CXMT compete using DUV equipment.

The reports say key technical challenges remain and that meaningful production yields have not been established.

Timing and impact

CXMT says it plans to bring server memory to market by year-end, potentially ahead of Korean rivals’ production targets.

Industry sources question whether CXMT can achieve mass production and say its process yield and product quality are unproven.

Ledger links CryptoBilis wallet implants to confirmed crypto thefts

Ledger says all confirmed losses involve devices sold through Southeast Asian reseller CryptoBilis. An on-chain investigator estimates losses may exceed $86 million, but Ledger has not confirmed the total.

Sports

Rams tackle Alaric Jackson punches Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb after OT loss

After Buffalo beat Los Angeles 37-34 in overtime, Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson punched Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb during a postgame exchange at midfield.

“It's just emotions, you know what I mean? Emotional game. It was a close game,”
Bradley ChubbBills linebacker

Penix says he hopes to play next week after rib injury

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left the Falcons’ overtime loss to Baltimore with a rib injury. He said he hopes to return next week, but further tests are planned.

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw ejected after headbutting Seahawks player

Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter against Seattle after a late hit on quarterback Sam Darnold led to a sideline confrontation and a headbutt to Ernest Jones IV.

Dolphins and Browns lead NFL teams relying on rookies

After five weeks, Miami had 14 first-year contributors, while Cleveland rookies had played 1,401 snaps. The Ravens, Giants and Chargers also ranked among the top five teams in rookie playing time.

Jordan Love and Drake Maye rise in Week 6 fantasy projections

Jordan Love and Drake Maye move up in Week 6 fantasy football projections, while several players lose ground. Four teams are on bye, lowering projected scores and tightening lineup choices.

NFL playoff projections shift after the season’s first five weeks

Early projections put the Patriots and 49ers among the stronger playoff contenders, while the Cowboys and Chargers face weaker odds. The 14-team postseason begins in January.

Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson expected to miss weeks with ankle sprain

Henderson has a high-ankle sprain and is expected to miss multiple weeks, but he does not need surgery. He was injured in New England’s win over the Raiders.

Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson has a high-ankle sprain after leaving New England’s win over the Raiders with an ankle injury.

A high-ankle sprain affects the ligaments above the ankle and can take time to heal.

He is expected to miss multiple weeks, but does not need surgery.

Henderson had 42 carries for 163 yards and a touchdown in four appearances this season.

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Marvin Harrison Jr. trade to Houston becomes official after physical

Harrison passed his physical and is now a Houston Texan. The Texans sent Arizona a 2027 second-round pick and a seventh-round pick for the receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Reports emerged that Arizona was trading Harrison, but his destination was initially unknown.

Houston beat the Tennessee Titans 26-3, and head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed the trade after the game.

Harrison passed his Texans physical, making the trade official.

Bills beat Rams 37-34 in overtime as Josh Allen earns first OT win

Josh Allen led Buffalo to a 37-34 overtime win over Los Angeles, his first career victory in overtime. The Bills improved to 4-1, while the Rams fell to 2-3.

Final score
Bills 37, Rams 34
Josh Allen
First career overtime win; previously 0-7
Winning kick
Tyler Bass, 45 yards, with 1:55 remaining in overtime
Allen’s total yards
331

Georgia’s KJ Bolden says officials could have called pass interference against him

Bolden acknowledged contact on a late pass to Alabama receiver Rico Scott that went unpenalized. Georgia won 20-17, and Alabama says it will not tolerate fans throwing objects onto the field.

KJ Bolden Kalen DeBoer

Pass interference call

Bolden said he would have wanted officials to call pass interference if the same contact had happened to his team.

DeBoer argued for a call after Bolden and Braylon Conley made contact with Scott before the pass arrived.

Deebo Samuel expected to miss multiple weeks with hamstring injury

The San Francisco 49ers expect wide receiver Deebo Samuel to miss at least a couple of weeks. Nick Bosa could return from a calf injury against Washington in Week 6.

Entertainment

God of War Laufey Collector Box Costs $149.99 and Excludes the Game

Sony’s U.S. collector box for God of War Laufey costs $149.99 and includes merchandise, but no game disc or download code. It is due out with the game on Feb. 16, 2027.

“God of War Laufey game sold separately”
Polygon writerfreelance news writer

Legacy Games to shut down, ending downloads of purchased games after February 2027

Legacy Games is shutting down. After February 2027, players will no longer be able to download or install games they bought there.

Free browser game simulates lives shaped by chance and statistics

A free browser game called 80億分の1 lets players experience a simulated life in a randomly chosen country, using statistics from 141 countries. It has drawn attention on social media.

Epic delays Marvel and Star Wars game amid reported AI-first shift

Epic Games has delayed an unannounced shooter featuring Marvel and Star Wars characters, with developers reportedly told to use AI tools for its production. The game has no new release date.

Gears of War: E-Day tops Xbox digital stores in several countries

Gears of War: E-Day reached No. 1 on Xbox digital stores in the US, UK and other countries. Estimates put its sales at 230,000 copies across Xbox and Steam.

Xbox CEO reportedly says new game ideas are vital to the company’s future

Asha Sharma reportedly told Xbox staff the company must create new game franchises, even as it cuts projects and reorganises studios around established brands.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reportedly told staff the company needs new game ideas to survive.

She made the comments at an internal town hall last week, according to a transcript cited by Windows Central.

Sharma said Xbox must build lasting new franchises as well as support its best-known games.

Her remarks come as Microsoft reorganises its gaming division around established brands such as Fallout and other major series.

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RimWorld moves to its own engine, with faster performance and saves intact

Update 1.7 moves RimWorld from Unity to Ludeon Studios’ Waylith Engine. The studio says it runs two to four times faster, and existing saves and most mods still work.

Rock Paper Shotgun reported Ludeon Studios’ announcement of the move to Waylith in update 1.7.

PC Gamer reported that update 1.7 was available on the unstable beta branch.

GTA 6 leaker threatens full-game release if meme coin reaches $30 million

Anonymous leaker CyberLeek says it will release an alleged playable version of GTA 6 if its Solana meme coin reaches a $30 million market value. The build has not been verified.

Coin
Solana meme coin associated with CyberLeek
Target market capitalization
$30 million
Earlier footage
Reported as 24 minutes by GamesIndustry.biz and 25 minutes by SC Media and Security Affairs
Build status
CyberLeek’s claim to possess a playable build remains unverified

Chandler Riggs Makes Resident Evil 7 Fan Film and Seeks Cregger Collaboration

The Walking Dead actor Chandler Riggs made a 20-minute fan film based on Resident Evil 7 and says he would welcome working with director Zach Cregger on another film in the franchise.

Hardcore fans seeking a close adaptation Zach Cregger’s approach

Adaptation approach

Some hardcore fans wished for a 1:1 adaptation of the games.

Cregger was against a 1:1 adaptation, believing the games had already told their stories perfectly.

Health

Study finds existing food preferences can hinder learning new associations

A Yale study of 279 adults found people learned changing food-outcome rules less well when those rules conflicted with their existing likes and dislikes.

“Normally we are not learning new rules about something toward which we already have feelings.”
Alex RichFormer graduate student in Ifat Levy’s lab and current MIT researcher

Large study finds abrupt shifts in health markers at menopause

A study of more than one million women found sudden changes in several health markers around menopause. Researchers say the findings are observational and need further study.

Researchers found sudden shifts in health markers around menopause in data from more than one million women in the United States and Israel.

The study analyzed more than 300 million lab tests and separated the effects of age from the timing of menopause.

Changes appeared in bone, liver and kidney measures, blood chemistry and blood fats; some iron and hemoglobin levels rose as menstrual bleeding stopped.

The shifts were not seen in men of similar ages, suggesting they may be linked to menopause rather than aging alone.

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Four medical staff suspended after cannula found in woman’s abdomen

Two assistant professors and two postgraduate students at Kakinada Government General Hospital were suspended for one month after a cannula was found in a woman’s abdomen following surgery.

The woman underwent delivery-related surgery and delivered a baby girl.

The woman was discharged from the hospital.

She was readmitted with stomach pain, and examinations revealed a cannula inside her abdomen.

The cannula was removed during a subsequent surgery, and the woman remained under medical observation.

The Hindu reported that four medical staff had been suspended for one month.

Doctors plan aortic valve replacement with future procedures in mind

At a cardiology meeting in Milan, specialists said the first valve replacement should be planned around possible future procedures. New European guidelines lower the recommended age for TAVI to 70.

Annual TAVI procedures in Italy
More than 14,400
New guideline age
70, down from 75
Long-term planning horizon
20 or 30 years
Congress location
Milan