Ars Technica reports that Polymarket saw $600 million in election trades after the election outcomes were effectively settled, with millions continuing to change hands long after the results were decided. This follows WIRED reports that more than $600 million was traded on contracts after races in Ethiopia and Romania had ended; an expert told WIRED the trading was obviously some form of volume manipulation.
Elon Musk has assembled what WIRED describes as a presidential-level field operation for this midterm cycle, taking over much of the Republican Party's get-out-the-vote effort. This follows The Hindu's report that Musk spent $276 million on midterm elections to help Republicans retain control of Congress, and The Globe and Mail's report that he donated more than US$276 million since July to try to save Republican majorities.
Judi Dench has joined cast and crew of The Archers in urging the BBC to keep recording the Radio 4 drama in Birmingham. The Guardian reports that they wrote to the BBC director general after the corporation planned to stop recording the show in the city, where it has been made for 75 years.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sent civil investigative demands to OpenAI and Anthropic seeking documents about safety incidents and company safeguards, marketing materials and privacy policies. Axios reports that the probe is focused on potential consumer protection violations and that the agency plans to compel top AI executives to testify; The Globe and Mail also reports on the demands and the records they cover.
New research identifies the Treble Clef, a strange radio formation beyond the Zone of Avoidance, as a radio phoenix. The formation resembles a treble clef symbol, and its origin had been difficult to determine. This follows earlier reports that researchers using NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory thought it was likely caused by a supermassive black hole outburst followed by a collision of two galaxy clusters.
A 9to5Mac deals roundup published Oct. 16 reports the first discount on the next-generation Apple TV 4K and says Amazon can ship it sooner than Apple. It also notes ongoing HomeView deals as items begin selling out, $430 off a 24GB/1TB M5 Pro MacBook Pro, preorder offers for iPhone Duo, and a $50 price drop on AirPods Pro 3. This follows a 9to5Mac Oct. 14 roundup on HomeView preorder savings and Apple accessory discounts.
Deutsche Welle reports that EU leaders pledged support for Ukraine’s self-defense as winter approaches; CBC says the EU was debating Ukraine funding. Zelensky criticized Trump’s diesel deal with Russia, called Moscow’s stance a parody of peace negotiations and welcomed a greater European role in talks, according to The Straits Times and CBC. This follows earlier reports that Zelensky defended Ukraine’s right to self-defense after Trump criticized Ukrainian strikes.
At an EU leaders’ summit in Brussels on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for an extra 70 billion euros next year to help Kyiv continue fighting Russia, France 24 reports. France 24 also says Zelensky said Ukraine depends on Starlink to intercept jet-powered Russian drones after reported disruptions to the satellite system. The South China Morning Post reports that U.S. President Donald Trump called Ukraine’s resumed strikes on Russian refineries a disgrace and said they were keeping global energy prices elevated; The Japan Times says Kyiv would no longer abide by Trump’s demands not to strike the sites. This follows earlier reports that Zelenskyy was due to visit Britain and that Burnham had pledged support for Ukraine.
Amazon’s Echo Dot Max smart speaker is discounted 25% to $89.99. The compact Alexa speaker offers stronger bass and fuller sound.
The New York Times examines whether the war of words between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could threaten U.S. support for Ukraine. It says how the dispute will end is uncertain, but continued tensions could jeopardize crucial operational help Ukraine still receives from the United States.
Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury has written to Andy Burnham warning that choosing US rival Lockheed Martin to build the UK’s Skynet military satellites could cost the country a key role in Europe’s space industry. The £2.4bn contract is the focus of a last-minute lobbying effort, and Faury warned that the choice could affect the UK’s position in military satellites for decades.
A Nature news article reports that a study of more than 100,000 people found a connection between brown fat and improved mental health, and links the fat to a wide range of health benefits. A separate Nature research article examines artificial intelligence-enabled clinical phenotyping of human brown fat.
9to5Mac reports that iPhone Duo preorders opened today, but buyers who did not order right away likely cannot get one before 2027; it calls the launch a major success and a missed opportunity for Apple. This follows earlier reports that delivery estimates slipped into next year within minutes, while CNET said orders were backordered until January.
Saudi Arabia endorsed a UN Security Council statement condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, Middle East Eye reports. The council also condemned attacks and threats against Red Sea shipping and affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to self-defence under international law. This follows earlier reports that Saudi Arabia further suspended flights after a deadly Houthi airport attack.
MIT professor Sherry Turkle warns that people have become dangerously enmeshed with chatbots. The WIRED article questions whether chatbots should use first-person pronouns such as “I” or “me.”
A fossil skull fragment hidden in London’s Natural History Museum for about 100 years has been identified as a new dinosaur species, Invictibellatrix amberina. The dinosaur lived about 120 million years ago and is the first megaraptoran known from Europe, according to the reports.
Hong Kong authorities found that lifts in another 39 buildings lacked proper door-frame components, and police arrested a contractor director and two registered lift engineers on suspicion of deception over replacement work on 48 lifts at two public housing estates, the South China Morning Post reports. The investigation follows inspections that found serious deficiencies and alleged corner-cutting and false declarations involving fire-safety components in work by Taizoom Elevator.
A fake WhatsApp clone has amassed more than 500,000 downloads on the Play Store, Android Authority reports. The Verge says a Reddit user saw the clone in a sponsored slot above the real WhatsApp listing.
The Administrative Office of the US Courts says a cyberattack on government contractor BAE Systems took down the notice system used by federal bankruptcy courts, according to BleepingComputer. The Register reports that some court operations continue, but paper and electronic notices are delayed until further notice.
As Apple's iPhone Duo nears, 9to5Mac has published accessory recommendations and reports that cases are ready to order, including fabric, leather, aramid-fiber and metal options, with some priced at $27 or less.