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• Harry Kane set a new Bundesliga record by becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals in the league during his 98th game. • The milestone occurred as part of the buildup to Saturday's football action, which includes a high-stakes Serie A match between Internazionale and Roma. • This performance cements Kane's status as a dominant offensive force in German football while Inter and Roma battle for the top of the Italian table.

• Apple's iPhone 18 Pro went on sale this week, as part of the company's latest product releases. • The iPhone 18 Pro's sales will be closely watched, as Apple's stock has been influenced by consumer demand for its flagship products. • The tech industry, including Apple, is also facing ongoing debates about AI safety and its potential impact on the market.

• Microsoft proposed a new AI code of conduct and the AI Energy Management Alliance worked to expand data grid capacity during the week of September 14-18. • A Salesforce outage occurred during this period, highlighting the operational risks associated with software dependency. • The use of Qwen, an open-weight model from China, in government-related contexts underscores the tension between data control advantages and national security concerns.

• Lawmakers and advocates are calling on the Trump administration to release over $1 billion in congressionally approved global health funding. • An analysis by Partners in Health shows the Office of Management and Budget is withholding $1.35 billion in bilateral funds. • Withholding these funds could lead to tens of thousands of preventable deaths from HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and childbirth complications.

• Armin Papperger, head of the German defense company Rheinmetall, recently stated that Germany's missile stocks remain at alarmingly low levels. • Papperger noted that the current shortage persists because it is simply impossible to produce missiles fast enough to meet demand. • Low missile reserves create a security vulnerability for Germany and its allies during a period of heightened regional instability.

• The Bank of England kept the United Kingdom's main interest rate unchanged on Thursday. • The central bank maintained the rate at 3.75% despite inflation hitting a five-month high. • Rising fuel prices caused by the fallout from the Iran war are increasing the cost of living for consumers.

Four of Nurat Osman’s alleged abductors were killed during rescue after she was taken from outside her home last weekA British woman kidnapped in Malawi last week has been rescued by police after a shootout in which four of her alleged abductors were killed.Nusrat Osman was abducted outside her home in the southern city of Blantyre on 11 September at about 12.30pm. Police had offered a reward of 30m Malawi kwacha (£12,950) for information leading to her rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators. Continue reading...

• Montana is granting the biotech industry broad authority to sell unapproved drugs, allowing patients to access experimental treatments regardless of federal regulations. • The state's move bypasses the standard FDA process, which typically requires three phases of clinical trials to assess efficacy, dosage, and adverse events. • This policy creates a legal pathway for patients with severe diseases to obtain treatments that are not yet approved for general use in the United States.

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...

Research shows tens of millions of people are being forced to use platform that amounts to ‘backdoor’ on their deviceOver the past 18 months, tens of millions of Russians have been forced to install a new app on their phones – a violet-blue button designed for messaging and payments, called Max.Authorities have touted it as a patriotic alternative to Telegram and WhatsApp; Russian glitterati have promoted it in rap videos and comic routines. This summer, it became the country’s most-used messaging app. Continue reading...

• Thailand has removed the requirement for foreign business licenses across seven specific service categories to streamline international operations. • The government also ended visa-free entry for individuals engaging in short-term business activities. • These regulatory shifts change how foreign entrepreneurs and consultants enter the country and establish legal business entities.

• The Supreme Court blocked President Trump's recent attempt to overhaul the rules for mail-in ballots ahead of the midterm elections. • The Department of Justice lost more than 20 court cases while attempting to collect voter data. • Election officials feared the proposed changes would disenfranchise tens of thousands of people by giving mail carriers authority to decide who could vote.

• Apple TV won the most Emmy Awards for the first time, led by the horror-comedy "Widow’s Bay." • "Widow’s Bay" secured 14 awards, while "The Pitt" won best drama for the second consecutive year. • Actors Matthew Rhys, Jean Smart, and Allison Janney set new industry records during the ceremony.

Rapper won prestigious award as an unsigned artist before breaking UK Top 10 and nurturing artists including KSIThe British rapper Sway, who proved inspirational to a generation of Black British musicians thanks to his independence and frank, dextrous storytelling, has died aged 44.The news was announced by the Mobo awards, with whom Sway won best hip-hop act in 2005, the first unsigned act to do so. “Proud to have him as part of our history. Our love goes out to his family, loved ones and fans,” the statement read. Continue reading...

The country’s migration settings have become a source of discontent – but will Tony Burke’s approach be seen as the right mix?Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTony Burke has promised to make Labor’s existing migration policy work better rather than announcing a dramatic cut in numbers, arguing that populist promises to slash net overseas migration will “trash Australian services and trash the Australian economy”.The home affairs minister’s message was immediately endorsed by employer groups, who over recent days have made it clear that steps to arbitrarily slash migrant numbers would compound already severe skills shortages and hurt businesses, especially those in the regions. Continue reading...

• Investors are paying a valuation premium for Apple because they prefer the company's approach to privacy and lower risk exposure in artificial intelligence. • This demand persists despite Apple experiencing slower growth than other major technology giants. • The trend indicates that some market participants are prioritizing safety and data protection over the aggressive growth seen in high-risk AI development.

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled his planned trip to the UN General Assembly in New York scheduled for next week. • The decision follows a landslide loss to the right-wing AfD party in recent state elections and declining approval ratings. • This withdrawal signals political instability for the German leadership as Merz's future in office becomes uncertain.

• A new Fox News survey reveals Donald Trump's job approval has fallen to 39% ahead of the House election. • Democrats now lead Republicans by 15 points regarding which party voters trust more to handle the economy. • This shift in economic trust and a 26-point endorsement gap may create challenges for GOP candidates seeking office.

• European mainstream political parties and governments are increasing their push for climate adaptation measures to handle extreme weather. • Far-right parties are beginning to acknowledge that extreme weather events require workable solutions. • This shift suggests a potential narrowing of the political divide regarding the practical necessity of climate resilience for European markets and citizens.

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a plan on Wednesday to invite frontier AI labs to collaborate on a cautious approach to artificial intelligence development. • The announcement occurred during her annual State of the Union Address. • This strategy creates a regulatory divide between the European Union and the United States, where President Donald Trump has characterized AI safety fears as a hoax.

Former 2GB and 2UE broadcaster has pleaded not guilty to 22 indecent assault and sexual touching chargesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn alleged victim of Alan Jones has told a Sydney court that an unwanted kiss from the former shock jock more than a decade ago is seared in his memory and he wished it never happened.The ex-sportsman, known as complainant M, agreed during cross-examination by the defence that he sent Jones a shirtless photo of him in Paris some months before the alleged kiss. Continue reading...

Government estimates that one in 60 adults in Fiji now living with HIV, as escalating use of methamphetamine fuels ‘epidemic’Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency amid a spike in infections as the Pacific nation grapples with a correlating rise in methamphetamine use.The country’s health and medical services minister, Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, said in a statement on social media that an outbreak-level response was no longer sufficient to address what he described an “epidemic”. Continue reading...

• Experian released a study showing that more than half of consumers are comfortable letting AI agents apply for credit on their behalf. • The research, titled AI in Risk: The Rise of Agentic Commerce, surveyed 6,247 credit-active consumers across 13 markets in EMEA and Asia Pacific. • This shift toward agentic commerce, where AI autonomously handles transactions, suggests financial services must adapt their risk models to handle non-human applicants.

• The United Nations appointed diplomat Martin Kimani as the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa to oversee political and peace operations across the continent. • Kimani will lead efforts to resolve conflicts through preventive diplomacy, mediation, and early warning analysis to address crises before they escalate. • This appointment means the UN will coordinate more closely with regional bodies like the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to manage political instability.

• The United Nations appointed Kenya’s Martin Kimani as the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, replacing Ghana’s Martha Pobee. • Kimani will lead political and peace operations across the continent, focusing on preventive diplomacy and mediation to resolve conflicts before they escalate. • The role requires coordinating with regional bodies like the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to manage political instability.

• President Trump rejected calls to slow the development of frontier AI and contacted Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to maintain the current pace of innovation. • The EPA repealed Biden-era greenhouse-gas limits on coal and gas power plants, a move the agency estimates will save the industry over $300 billion. • These policy shifts prioritize rapid technological growth and energy production over safety regulations and environmental protections.

Doorbell firm aims to replace WhatsApp or Facebook groups with platform where people can post about safety or lost petsAmazon’s doorbell camera maker Ring is to launch its Neighbours community app in the UK in an attempt to supplant neighbourhood WhatsApp or Facebook groups.The service is intended as a modern equivalent of a community message board, where neighbours can post about safety, community matters or lost pets. Continue reading...