New START

Iranian children are returning to school while the country remains under the shadow of war. The start of the academic year comes against the backdrop of ongoing regional conflict, raising questions about how students, families and teachers are coping with the situation and what conditions await pupils in classrooms this year.

The United Nations University argues that artificial intelligence regulation should be grounded in human rights rather than technology-specific rules. The piece contends that existing international human rights frameworks — covering privacy, non-discrimination and freedom of expression — already provide a basis for holding governments and companies accountable as AI systems spread into public services and daily life, and calls for these principles to anchor new governance efforts.

Meta is starting a new enterprise business, a move widely read as an effort to justify its enormous spending on artificial intelligence. The company has poured billions into AI infrastructure and models, and is now looking to businesses as customers to generate returns. Observers see it as a sign Meta wants its AI investments to pay off directly rather than only improve its advertising products.

Major League Baseball's playoffs begin Tuesday with Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers chasing a third consecutive World Series championship. Despite the Dodgers' dominance, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are drawing much of the early spotlight as coverage of the postseason gets underway.

NextEra Energy and Entergy topped U.S. solar project starts in the fourth quarter, according to Industrial Info Resources. The ranking highlights which utility companies drove the most new solar construction activity at the end of the year, underscoring continued momentum in America's renewable energy build-out despite a challenging policy environment.

Meta has hired CJ Desai, the CEO of database company MongoDB, to lead a new enterprise AI business, according to a report by SiliconANGLE. The move signals Meta's intent to expand its artificial intelligence offerings beyond consumer products and into tools sold to corporate customers. Details about the unit's products, timeline and Desai's start date have not yet been disclosed.

Tropical Storm Hanna has formed in the central Atlantic, becoming the latest named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters are tracking the system as it develops, and the naming marks the storm's official upgrade from a tropical disturbance. Early reports give no details yet on its projected path, strength or any threat to land.

Golden State Warriors centre Kristaps Porziņģis will miss the start of the team's training camp due to what the club describes as a personal health issue, and he is considered out indefinitely. No timeline for his return has been given, leaving the Warriors short-handed in the frontcourt as camp opens.

OpenAI says it will reopen its ChatGPT Pro subscription, priced at $200 per month, starting tomorrow. The top-tier plan, which offers expanded access to the company's most advanced models, had been closed to new sign-ups. The announcement drew attention on Hacker News, with users discussing pricing, demand and what the reopening signals about capacity.

Spain is recording a sharp rise in COVID-19, with estimated incidence climbing 69% in a week to 85 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, up from 50.4 the previous week. Test positivity for SARS-CoV-2 also rose steeply, from 19% to 25.8%. The figures point to a new wave of infections gaining momentum across the country.

New research suggests magnetic fields may have played a key role in the formation of the solar system, potentially influencing how material in the early solar nebula collapsed and clumped into the sun and planets. The finding adds to ongoing debate among scientists about the physical processes that set planetary formation in motion more than 4.5 billion years ago.

NFL Power Rankings entering Week 4 highlight the Las Vegas Raiders' surprise 3-0 start, with analysts pointing to multiple signs that their strong opening to the season could hold up rather than prove a fluke. The unbeaten run has made the Raiders one of the early talking points of the NFL season as the rankings are debated ahead of the Week 4 slate.

Vedomosti has published a rundown of the top five Russian storylines heading into the new NHL season, with Carolina and Florida among the teams drawing attention. The piece highlights how Russian players could shape the campaigns of clubs like the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers, and fans are weighing in on their chances ahead of the season's start.

SNAP benefit checks will increase starting October 1, giving food assistance recipients a modest cost-of-living bump. However, new rules being phased in may ultimately reduce benefits for some households, meaning the raise could be offset by stricter eligibility and work requirements ahead. Recipients and advocates are watching how the changes will affect monthly payments.

The New York Knicks held their media day with the team described as reigning NBA champions beginning preparations to defend their title. Players and coaches are meeting reporters as the new season gets underway, with attention on how the squad will handle the pressure that comes with entering a campaign as the team to beat.

The Philadelphia 76ers drew the most attention from NBA media day 2026, with their revamped roster topping highlight reels across coverage of the event. The team enters the new season with a reshaped lineup, and commentators focused on how the newcomers fit alongside the franchise's established core as training camp gets underway.

The organisers of the Stockholm Marathon have released additional start places for the race. The announcement gives runners who missed out on an entry another chance to secure a spot in one of Sweden's biggest running events. Interest in the marathon is high as the race approaches, and the new places are likely to go quickly, with runners in Sweden discussing the release and planning their entries.

Manchester United have made a poor start to the new season under manager Michael Carrick, and reports say the squad's attitude towards sacking him has now come to light. The story suggests players' views could be a factor in whether the club decides to change manager. United's form has put Carrick's position under scrutiny early in the campaign.

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has started transmitting data to Earth ahead of the start of its regular science observations. The agency tested whether ground stations could handle the incoming data stream once the telescope begins full operations. The trials involved ground stations operated by three agencies, including Japan's JAXA. The telescope's early data transmissions mark a key step toward the start of its planned survey mission.

Week 3 of the NFL season delivered a mixed bag, with the San Francisco 49ers continuing their strong start while the Los Angeles Chargers stumbled. In New England, quarterback Drake Maye had a difficult outing as his struggles drew attention from analysts. Experts at The Athletic rounded up the key takeaways from the week's games, assessing which teams are building momentum and which players are falling short early in the season.

Formula 1 has published an early overview of how drivers are measuring up against their teammates in qualifying and races in the 2026 season so far. The head-to-head comparison is drawing attention from fans tracking which drivers hold the upper hand at the start of the new campaign.

Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis has been ruled out indefinitely due to what the team is calling a health issue, with the 2026-27 NBA season approaching. The Warriors provided no timetable for his return, leaving his availability for the start of the season in doubt. Fans and analysts are voicing concern over his durability and what the absence means for Golden State's frontcourt depth.

England defeated Czechia in a UEFA Nations League match, with Anthony Gordon opening the scoring and Harry Kane doubling the lead. Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to the starting line-up and played a key role, with Tuchel commenting on his performance amid earlier rift rumours, while Bellingham started on the bench as England tried a new combination.

Week 4 NFL power rankings reward the league's remaining unbeaten teams, with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders all climbing at 3-0. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers are sliding sharply down the boards after poor starts. outlets including Sporting News and Yahoo Sports have published updated rankings heading into Week 4.

The MLB postseason is underway, with the Wild Card round drawing heavy attention across the US, UK and Australia. Fans are following wild card matchups including the Red Sox and Cubs storylines, Payton Tolle's Game 1 start in the Bronx, and playoff discussion threads. Coverage also notes pitchers setting a new fastball velocity record, averaging 94.8 mph this season.

South Africa face Australia in a Rugby Championship Test in Perth, with Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus making 13 changes to his starting side. The sweeping rotation comes after South Africa's series win over New Zealand, and fans are debating whether the heavily reshaped team can beat the Wallabies away from home.

Russian sports media are looking ahead to the new NHL season, with outlets ranking the top five Russian storylines to follow. Among the topics drawing attention is the projected contest in the standings between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers, with fans and analysts debating which of the two sides will come out on top.