World News

Why a flaw in PHP has put the internet's underlying code under scrutiny

AI tools helped researchers uncover serious weaknesses in PHP, raising fresh questions about how artificial intelligence could transform both cyber-security and hacking

Saudi Arabia seeks access to foreign strategic oil reserves for Aramco

Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry is discussing access to government-held oil storage abroad as Houthi attacks on key infrastructure raise concerns over supply disruptions

Barclays to cut 5,000 jobs as the bank expands AI use to reduce costs

Barclays plans to cut about 5% of its workforce as it adopts AI to reduce costs, while third-quarter fixed-income trading revenue fell 19% and equities revenue jumped 47% year-on-year

Nokia Q3 profit beats estimates on AI data centre equipment demand

Nokia said it had increased the scale of its restructure, leading to full-year charges of as much as 1.1 billion euro, up from a previous forecast of 800 million euro

India likely to meet climate targets as UNEP warns of global emissions gap

UNEP says India is likely to meet its climate targets under current policies. However, global emissions must fall much faster to limit peak warming and return to 1.5°C by the end of the century

Apple limits iPhone Duo orders to two per customer amid supply crunch

Apple has capped iPhone Duo pre-orders at two units per customer, with launch-day delivery slots selling out soon after orders opened on October 16

Oil prices rise over $2 as Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia fuel supply fears

Brent crude rose 1.2% to $110.11 a barrel and US WTI gained 1% to $98.12 after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia killed three people and prompted Washington to order some diplomats' families to leave

Iran's IRGC claims four oil ships hit, three others strike mines in Hormuz

Iran's IRGC Navy said the four ships had crossed an "illegal route" despite warnings, while three other vessels struck mines in the western Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday night

Carney says Trump tariffs upend decades-old US-Canada trade relationship

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a multibillion-dollar plan to protect manufacturers, saying US tariffs have raised costs for American families and left Ontario businesses in uncertainty

Pope needs no further treatment after lung cancer surgery, say doctors

Vatican doctors said tests confirmed a localised lung adenocarcinoma following the Pope's October 13 surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, with no additional treatment required

UK tax authority plans digital ambassadors to counter AI misinformation

HMRC plans to deploy digital ambassadors on platforms such as Reddit and make official guidance easier for AI models to access, amid concerns that chatbots are spreading inaccurate tax advice

US accuses Russia of exhibiting 'threatening satellite behavior' in space

The Trump administration alleged that Russia's Cosmos 2612 military satellite manoeuvred dangerously close to a US-Finnish radar satellite reportedly providing intelligence to Ukraine

Meta's $25 bn penalty marks a massive win for New Mexico's attorney general

A judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion in a New Mexico case stemming from a privacy scandal, an amount that dwarfs the state's projected $14.8 billion general fund revenue for fiscal 2028

Chinese-linked hackers use AI to compromise firms globally: Microsoft

Microsoft said the incident demonstrated how threat actors were using AI agents to automate existing attack methods and attempt to compromise multiple organisations at greater speed

Iran warns of 'Father of All Bombs' as US, Israel weigh fresh strikes

The New York Times reported that US and Israeli militaries have prepared plans for a short, intensive operation targeting Iran's energy, nuclear and missile facilities, as Tehran warns of retaliation

Macron takes apparent dig at Trump, Netanyahu for comments on France unrest

Speaking in Doha during a Gulf visit, the French president criticised foreign leaders for using France's recent riots for political gain, saying some were campaigning at the country's expense

Asian markets slip, led by South Korea, despite upbeat US tech earnings

MSCI's Asia-Pacific index outside Japan fell 0.2%, while South Korean shares dropped over 1%. Concerns over AI spending and Gulf tensions offset stronger-than-expected US technology earnings

One killed, 8 injured in attack on Saudi Arabia's King Fahd airport

Saudi Arabia's Civil Aviation Authority reported 1 death and 8 injuries in the attack on King Fahd Airport in Dammam. Flights were diverted as drone strikes hit the country's Eastern region

Trump admin drops legal fight over student loan forgiveness programme

Justice Department withdrew 2 appeals after federal judges ruled in June in favour of advocates who argued that changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness programme risked political retribution

Tesla Q3 profit falls 44% as $1.5 bn free cash flow lifts investor outlook

Tesla reported net income of $787 million in the third quarter, down 44% year-on-year, while free cash flow rose to $1.5 billion, exceeding expectations amid heavy artificial intelligence spending