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The major averages rose in Thursday's regular trading session following Wednesday's first Federal Reserve interest rate hike in three years.

Anthropic and OpenAI have announced a flurry of AI infrastructure deals over the past year as demand booms.

The world made it to another Friday without an AI apocalypse, so here's the quiz! See you next week … maybe.

To counter a difficult political environment, two Trump-aligned super PACs have reserved more than $150 million in ads — primarily in deep red House and Senate races that have now become competitive.

As states push to regulate chatbots, tech companies are trying to write safety rules in ways that exempt some of their key products.

A heavily redacted email from last year, reported first by NPR, reveals that DHS personnel shared a list of jurisdictions that offer election materials in non-English languages. It's unclear why.

A bacterial infection is wiping out Florida's citrus trees. Growers hope a rootstock developed with gene-editing technology could keep the disease at bay.

Trump threatens to tear down the Kennedy Center amid court battle, Trump's other priorities also get pushback this week, Poland's PM warns Russia could strike countries that support Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that these potential strikes "intend to paralyze NATO" in an attempt to demonstrate that Article 5 "exists only in theory."

Locals describe their shock at witnessing the incident at Sorrento Beach on Friday morningFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA man has died after being bitten by a shark off Sorrento Beach in Perth’s north.Emergency services were called to the popular beach at about 10.30am on Friday after reports of a shark-related incident. Continue reading...

It is the first time the PM has used No 10 North to host an overseas visitRetail sales across Great Britain unexpectedly rose last month, the latest economic indicator to defy gloomy forecasts as the chancellor, John Healey, prepares to present next month’s budget. Mark Sweney has the story.Last night Sam Coates at Sky News released details of a 50-page policy memo produced by Keir Starmer’s aides earlier this year as they were struggling to find policies that would help him stay in office. The document, dated 23 April, says it contains “bold ideas that meet the moment”. Coates says it shows how much overlap there is between what Andy Burnham is doing now and what Starmer was doing anyway.Sky News has analysed this document and concluded that of the 50 ideas we studied, 20 were announced by Starmer before his departure in July; six have already been announced by Burnham, a further eight are expected to be announced in weeks.Then there are 16 more ideas worked up by Whitehall but not announced by either PM … Continue reading...

Liberal MP speaks of AI’s shortcomings as cyber chief tells inquiry the tech is needed to fend off ‘highly capable malicious cyber actors’Get our new political email, free app or daily news podcastWhen a man with a terminal illness wrote to his local MP Andrew Hastie, telling him he planned on ending his own life with voluntary assisted dying, Microsoft Copilot suggested Hastie reply with “congratulations!”, “great to hear from you” or “that is wonderful news!”.Hastie shared the episode at a parliamentary inquiry on Friday to underline the shortcomings of the American-run software as he called for AI run by Australians. Continue reading...

At least one person dead as stormy weather causes severe flooding in Barcelona and Valencia Intense and slow-moving thunderstorms broke out on Wednesday afternoon across parts of eastern Spain, bringing some severe flooding and killing at least one person.Storms first struck over the Castilla-La Mancha region during the afternoon before passing over Spain’s east coast, becoming very slow-moving and continuing overnight. Torrential rainfall, strong winds and large hail were reported in Valencia and Barcelona, causing widespread flooding in both cities. Weather stations west of Barcelona recorded some of the highest totals with more than 100mm (4in) of rain falling in the space of a few hours, and locally 70mm in just 30 minutes in the early hours of Thursday morning. Cars and roads were submerged, and flights were cancelled across the region. Continue reading...

Sharangan Maheswaran denies message he received about NSW minister was related to work for fugitive property developerFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastA former Labor councillor says he had a “common interest” with a conservative Liberal operative, but denied that a message he received about damaging the reputation of NSW Liberal minister David Elliott was related to political work for a fugitive property developer, an inquiry has heard.Sharangan Maheswaran told the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) on Friday that a message sent to him by lobbyist Jeremy Greenwood claiming “We have something that will kill Elliott” did not relate to work by Greenwood’s company Beckington for Jean Nassif.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here Continue reading...

More than 180 writers sign letter renewing calls for information on 12 authors detained incommunicado since 2001 crackdown on free speech by Isaias AfwerkiMore than 180 writers have signed a letter to Eritrean president Isaias Afwerki calling for proof of life for 12 writers arrested in 2001.Nobel laureates Olga Tokarczuk and JM Coetzee join prominent writers including Colm Tóibín, Elif Shafak, Isabel Allende, Ben Okri, Yann Martel, Kamila Shamsie and Tsitsi Dangarembga in signing the letter dated 18 September, marking 25 years since a government crackdown on the independent press. “Within days, Eritrea’s free press and the nation’s independent voices were systematically crushed,” opens the letter. Continue reading...

Russia is staging an election that matters to almost no one — except President Vladimir V. Putin and his inner circle.

It’s hard to tell whether Israelis are enraged by “NAZA” because they think it’s full of lies, or because they know or fear it’s true.

The news has reignited speculation about whether the progressive representative from the Bronx is considering a run for senator or president.

It is up to all of us, through our government, to shape what A.I. becomes.

The Times has witnessed the country’s transformation. It will keep its eyes open.

The economy has been resilient despite higher prices stemming from the war in the Middle East, but that could change quickly if cold weather forces countries to tap depleted gas reserves.

Organizers of a referendum to repeal an abortion ban in deep-red Idaho are far more focused on how the ban has broadly affected health care in the state.

Representative Ashley Hinson is hoping to keep a crucial Senate seat red in Iowa, where the president has created major headwinds for her party.

The cost of heating oil, which is similar to diesel and used extensively in Northeastern states, has climbed sharply because of the war in Iran.

Missy Mazzoli, whose “Lincoln in the Bardo” opens at the Metropolitan Opera this fall, writes politically urgent, musically eclectic works for a new generation of operagoers.

“The Social Reckoning” and other movies reflect growing discontent with Silicon Valley founders. But such films may be at the mercy of the companies themselves.

Loafer-wearing young Spaniards, often called “Cayetanos,” are flexing their countercultural muscles after eight years of left-wing government.

As the Alternative for Germany party seeks to control a state government for the first time, its push for “patriotic” art has drawn comparisons with Nazi policies.

Russia is staging an election that matters to almost no one — except President Vladimir V. Putin and his inner circle.

The Campaign for North Africa, a staggeringly complicated World War II board game, has stymied players for decades. Now two guys in England are giving it a serious go.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the French territory off the coast of Canada’s Newfoundland, is experiencing a surge in visitors after three unrelated events raised its profile.

The former prime minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak, was convicted in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal. He’ll serve out his time at a luxury home.

Loafer-wearing young Spaniards, often called “Cayetanos,” are flexing their countercultural muscles after eight years of left-wing government.

As the Alternative for Germany party seeks to control a state government for the first time, its push for “patriotic” art has drawn comparisons with Nazi policies.

They are among more than 300 cancer patients now known to have been affected in County Durham

Denise Howarth is one of several women who have been told by the NHS that their breast was removed unnecessarily.

The gunman, a 16-year-old student, is among the dead in what is the third school shooting in the country since June.

One trader says her "heart sank" after discovering she had lost money through a scam festival invitation.

Nicholas Brandram's sisters give the BBC a list of reasons as to why their brother was not the jogger who pushed a woman into the path of a bus on Putney Bridge.

Th Sikh activist from Dumbarton was arrested in 2017 in India in connection with alleged terror offences.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi told to be patient after playing back up to Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in Sri Lanka series.

Harry Kane could become first Ballon d'Or from England since 2001, but striker focused on Bayern Munich trophies.

The risk of a protest vote was too high at the Duma elections so a pre-election crackdown was carried out.

‘Aid influencers’ are being accused of exploiting Nepal flood victims to boost social media followers.

The backlash against the Gaza documentary is part of a broader refusal to confront the reality of the genocide.

Evidence shared exclusively with Al Jazeera shows ISIL supporters sharing ways to bypass AI safeguards.

A strike on a train that imperiled former European leaders and CIA officers is among a spate of attacks that risked a dangerous escalation with the West, experts say.

Japan Raises Interest Rates in a Decision Muddied by U.S. Pressure  The New York TimesBank of Japan raises interest rates to 31-year high, flags concerns over inflation  CNBCYen Falls After Bank of Japan Raises Key Rate to 30-Year High  WSJJapan raises interest rate to new 31-year high to curb rising prices  BBCJapan’s central bank raises benchmark interest rate to 1.25%, the highest in 31 years  AP News

Kim Kardashian diagnosed with oesophagitis  YahooKim Kardashian Reveals She Was Hospitalized for Illness Related to Dad Robert’s Death From Cancer  instyle.comKim Kardashian Reveals Health Condition Related to Death of Dad Robert Kardashian  people.comKim Kardashian Reveals Secret Health Scare in New ‘Kardashians’ Trailer  TV Insider‘The Kardashians’ Season 8 Trailer: Kim Reveals Health Scare That Landed Her in the Hospital, Kendall Denies Cara Delevingne Romance Rumors  The Hollywood Reporter

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that these potential strikes "intend to paralyze NATO" in an attempt to demonstrate that Article 5 "exists only in theory."