My Aim Is True

A new CEPR analysis examines the true scale and structure of the European Union's debt, aiming to make the often opaque accounting of EU liabilities more transparent. The discussion centres on how much debt the EU and its member states actually carry, how it is recorded, and what the hidden obligations could mean for future fiscal policy and budget negotiations in Brussels.

Ukraine says its long-range drone and missile attacks have knocked out more than half of Russia's oil refining capacity, according to claims picked up by major outlets including ABC News. The strikes, aimed at refineries deep inside Russia, are intended to cut the fuel revenues funding Moscow's war effort. If accurate, the damage would be a significant blow to Russia's energy sector, though the scale of the impact is difficult to verify independently.

The Verge is running a piece taking aim at the growing habit of treating AI outputs as automatically true, under the pointed headline 'Well, if AI said it, it must be true'. The article, filed under AI and ethics, taps into ongoing concern about overreliance on chatbots and machine-generated answers without verification.

Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told France 24 that Vladimir Putin's main motivation for the war in Ukraine is a desire to secure his place in history books, framing the invasion as driven by historical legacy rather than security concerns. Kuleba's comments come as Western debate continues over Putin's aims and how to end the conflict, with the ex-minister comparing the Russian leader's imperial ambitions to those of past rulers.

A free artificial intelligence service is being promoted to self-employed workers in Spain, promising to transcribe up to one hour of audio into text at no cost in about five minutes. The pitch is aimed at autonomos who cannot afford professional transcription, with claims of zero euros and no catches. It is being shared alongside unrelated Spanish true-crime and corruption content.

Halloween: The Game is releasing downloadable content aimed at the franchise's most devoted Michael Myers fans. Polygon's write-up frames the DLC as tailored to hardcore devotees of the silent slasher, suggesting extra depth or content for players who want more from the killer. Reaction so far appears focused on how far the game is willing to cater to the character's most dedicated audience.

Elvis Costello reflects on his early days and the making of his 1977 debut album 'My Aim Is True', discussing how the record came together at the start of his career. The interview, published by Rolling Stone, revisits the sessions and circumstances behind the album that launched him as a major figure in new wave and rock music.

A question aimed at theists is circulating online, asking what else in their lives they accept as true simply because it cannot be disproven, besides God. The prompt is drawing discussion among religious and atheist users about the nature of faith, unfalsifiable beliefs, and how people justify what they hold to be true.

Ahead of Apple's new iPhone launch, reports are warning buyers to be careful when preordering, as scammers set up fake preorder links and phishing pages to steal payment details and personal information. Shoppers are advised to order only through Apple's official site or authorised retailers, and to be wary of deals that seem too good to be true during the preorder rush.