Italy extended its suspension of border-free travel with Spain by another week, aligning it with Madrid's reciprocal measure, which The Hindu says Spain recently extended until October 22. The Straits Times and France 24, citing an Italian government source, link Italy's extension to a surge in migrant arrivals in Ceuta in late July. A Spanish government spokesperson told France 24 that the two countries' interior ministers would work over the coming week on lifting the controls. Euronews reports that Giorgia Meloni and Pedro Sánchez agreed to align the measures' expiry dates, while Rome and Madrid seek alternatives but remain at odds over migration.
EU leaders ended their Brussels summit without a budget deal, while a new €70 billion funding gap emerged for Ukraine, Euronews reports. The summit also featured open clashes over energy and migration, alongside fresh resolve to create trade-defence tools to battle China. This follows earlier coverage of summit discussions over energy prices, China, the budget and Ukraine.
A man has been arrested as police investigate a dispute over the founding of Your Party, according to POLITICO. The Guardian reports that London’s Metropolitan Police opened a criminal investigation after receiving a report in September 2025 about alleged unauthorised access to a political party’s database; it says the founding row split the left-wing party as it was established last year.
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says household chores and getting ready for TV appearances add three to four hours to her working day compared with male predecessors, Euronews reports. The New York Times says Takaichi described her schedule as busier than those of her male predecessors, and that her remarks point to the disproportionate share of household tasks in Japan that fall to women. ABC News reports that her day includes meetings and hourslong parliamentary sessions. This follows earlier reports that Takaichi cited housework among her responsibilities.
Lt. Stupnikov, a Russian officer, reportedly helped Ukraine target Russian forces before escaping to Kyiv. Hindustan Times says he provided troop locations, radio frequencies and military plans, helping Ukraine track movements and target troops and command posts; NDTV reports he helped Ukraine kill 300 soldiers and says his decision to turn against Russia grew out of opposition to the invasion.
Elon Musk unveiled what he described as a flying Tesla car equipped with thrusters during a livestreamed event on Thursday at a SpaceX facility, according to Phys.org and the South China Morning Post. The South China Morning Post reports that the Roadster was revealed at a SpaceX test facility in Texas and launched from a steep steel ramp during the demo. The BBC reported that Musk showcased the vehicle at a SpaceX-owned facility and that SpaceX helped develop it.
MapQuest now lets users see locations of known outdoor surveillance cameras in its app, Engadget reports. Android Authority describes the new map layer as a tool that can help users avoid Flock cameras.
The Philippines has protested remarks by China's ambassador, calling them a thinly veiled threat, and called for diplomatic restraint. The South China Morning Post reports that Ambassador Jing Quan said Beijing could easily win a military showdown in the region but had chosen peace, amid rising tensions over Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
France and Germany have unveiled a deal to ease EU pollution rules for new cars and allow Britain to count under “Made in Europe” rules, but Le Monde reports it still needs backing from other EU states and the European Parliament to become law. The agreement is aimed at protecting Europe’s struggling automotive industry; Deutsche Welle says it encourages development and research as European carmakers struggle to compete with Chinese electric-car companies. The Financial Times reports that Berlin secured concessions on combustion engines while Paris sought to limit partners’ access to “Made in Europe” rules, and RFI says the UK could be treated as a trusted partner under them.
Shipping estimates for Apple's iPhone Duo have slipped into 2027 after preorders opened, with ZDNET reporting estimated ship dates in late January and a record wait time for Apple customers. TechRadar says estimates moved to 2027 just hours after preorders went live, while The Straits Times says Apple's entry into foldable smartphones could propel the phone to 6 million unit sales in 2026. This follows earlier reports that estimated delivery dates slipped into the next year within minutes, according to 9to5Mac, and that the phone was backordered until January, according to CNET.
White House press secretary Katie Zacharia said in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that she did not pass the bar exam, after scrutiny over her legal career, The Guardian reports. The Guardian says Zacharia had previously said she practiced law, and President Donald Trump had described her as an attorney. This follows earlier reports of questions about Zacharia’s legal credentials and the White House’s defense of her.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called for an investigation into who initiated violence in an attack on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine in Abu Falah, in the occupied West Bank, saying the facts remain unclear. Middle East Eye reports that witnesses said about 80 masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian olive pickers and Levine, who was hospitalized; Levine said she was beaten repeatedly. Netanyahu’s office cited reports of about 200 Arabs and left-wing activists confronting around 40 Israeli youths, while witnesses described settlers attacking the group.
Analogue announced new versions of its Super Nt and Mega Sg retro consoles, called the Super Nt Plus and Mega Sg Plus. The Verge reports that they have a reworked design and built-in wireless connectivity, while Engadget highlights the consoles’ return to the 16-bit era and compatibility with old Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo cartridges.
A woman said she was left “bewildered and confused” by an alleged assault, the BBC reports. Brand denies the charges; he faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault, and is accused of offenses involving six women from 1999 to 2009. The Guardian reports that the first alleged victim to testify said she could not breathe and alleged Brand raped her at the 1999 Labour party conference after telling her “it’s just fun.” The Irish Times reports that a former flatmate described Brand as egotistical and preoccupied by sex.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Thursday that he supports lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility for heinous crimes from 18 to 16, in an interview with TV Globo’s Jornal Nacional. The Guardian describes the announcement as a reversal of his longstanding position and says it is widely seen as an electoral gambit ahead of a presidential runoff in just over a week; it reports that Lula faces an uphill battle against far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who won the first round and remains slightly ahead in polls.
Former US president Barack Obama cited the solidarity of Manchester cotton workers with enslaved African Americans as an inspiration for today, The Guardian reports. Speaking at a live event at Co-op Live in Manchester on Thursday, Obama also discussed modern challenges to democracy. Tens of thousands attended the event, where writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch interviewed him.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons and will not be forced to surrender, while saying the country was ready for dialogue. During talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Yerevan, he condemned US sanctions as unjustifiable and inhumane and called for closer ties with Georgia, Middle East Eye reports.
Russia has publicly acknowledged a Ukrainian drone strike on a major oil refinery this week and broadcast images on state media, while Trump called Ukraine’s renewed attacks on Russian refineries a disgrace. NBC News says his remarks are part of an effort to pressure the U.S. ally over rising gas prices that could cost Republicans in next month’s midterm elections. This follows earlier reports that Zelenskyy said a pause in attacks on energy sites was over after fresh Russian attacks.
TechRadar published guides on watching episodes 5 and 6 of The Celebrity Traitors 2026 online for free. Both summaries describe Claudia Winkleman hosting 21 celebrities at a Scottish castle, though the guide headed as episode 6 also refers to episode 5 in its summary.
Former police officer Campbell Petrie was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of physical and sexual abuse of two women between 2006 and 2022, the BBC reports. Earlier coverage reported that former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson was sentenced to 15 years for child sex crimes.
