Top stories
1. Meta fined $25bn for ’lies’ over user data privacy
Meta has been fined $25bn over “lies” related to user data privacy. It is the largest penalty to date against Facebook’s owner, exceeding an $18bn deal with California.
Source: BBC World
2. Nigeria confirms Ebola case as outbreak spreads into western Africa
Nigeria’s health ministry confirmed an Ebola case in Abuja in a woman who arrived from Uganda and later tested positive. She developed symptoms on 7 October and was hospitalized four days later; her arrival date in Nigeria is unknown.
Source: The Guardian World
3. Government websites go dark after AI-discovered flaw sparks security scramble - Reuters
Reuters reports that government websites went offline after an AI-discovered software flaw triggered a security scramble. Authorities are racing to assess the risk and patch the issue, spotlighting the dual-use nature of AI in vulnerability research.
Source: Reuters World (via Google News)
World news
1. Pope does not need further treatment after lung cancer surgery
Test results confirmed that the Pope has localized lung adenocarcinoma. After surgery, he does not need further treatment.
Source: BBC World
2. Controversial US-backed vaccine trial in African newborns halted
A controversial US-backed hepatitis B vaccine trial in newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been halted, the lead researcher said. He wrote that the study will not proceed because the necessary governmental approval was not granted.
Source: The Guardian World
3. UK borrowing and £3 trillion debt herald tough budget for Healey - Reuters
Reuters reports that rising UK government borrowing and a debt pile of £3 trillion signal a tough budget ahead for Healey. Fiscal pressure is mounting as the debt burden reaches that level.
Source: Reuters World (via Google News)
4. House prices falling in every Australian capital city for first time in 15 years
House prices are falling in every Australian capital city for the first time in 15 years, Domain’s September quarter report shows. Sydney prices fell 4.7% to A$1.66m, a two-year low.
Source: The Guardian World
5. Top Indian non-bank lenders flag early signs of stress in loans against gold - Reuters
Several top Indian non-bank lenders have flagged early signs of stress in loans against gold, Reuters reported. The signal points to rising risk in a key retail credit segment backed by bullion collateral.
Source: Reuters World (via Google News)
6. Pound gains against dollar, euro as inflation data cements future rate hike bets - Reuters
The pound rose against the dollar and euro after UK inflation data reinforced expectations of future interest rate hikes. The data supported sterling in currency markets.
Source: Reuters World (via Google News)
7. Rupee climbs to six-week high as Jio IPO-linked inflows bolster recovery - Reuters
The Indian rupee rose to a six-week high, supported by inflows linked to the Jio IPO, bolstering its recovery. The move reflects market optimism over capital inflows.
Source: Reuters World (via Google News)
8. US Social Security Agency corrects nearly 15% of records in database cleanup - Reuters
The U.S. Social Security Agency corrected nearly 15% of records during a database cleanup, Reuters reported. The report did not provide further details.
Source: Reuters World (via Google News)
9. Pakistan arrests man wanted by US over $126m postage fraud case
Pakistan has arrested Faheem Akram, wanted by the United States in a $126 million postage fraud case. He allegedly sold more than 5 million fake postage labels for $2 each.
Source: BBC World
10. Kenya cult leader’s children still being starved weeks before trial, son says
Dan Mackenzie says the children of a Kenyan cult leader are still being starved weeks before trial. He initially defended his father but later felt compelled to report his own grandmother.
Source: BBC World
11. ‘Huge moment’: long-awaited extension to Sydney’s metro line to open next week
Sydney’s south-west metro extension will open on Friday 30 October, ending more than two years of replacement buses for local residents. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced the opening in an Instagram video.
Source: The Guardian World
12. NSW passes ‘human compost’ laws with several MPs saying they will utilise practice after they die
New South Wales passed Australia-first laws allowing human composting as a third legal option for bodies besides burial and cremation. Several state MPs said they want to use the practice after they die.
Source: The Guardian World