New START

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree immediately increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military personnel. The decree replaces all previous ones on army size and is described as the seventh expansion of Russia's military staffing since the start of the war in Ukraine. Commentators see it as a continuation of Russia's gradual force buildup.

India begin a one-day series against the West Indies as part of their build-up towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are absent, giving young pacers a chance to press their claims in the new-ball rotation. West Indies captain Shai Hope says his side are wary of the India challenge despite the missing stars, with fans in India, the UK, Canada and Australia following closely.

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.

Samsung has begun rolling out One UI 9, the latest version of its Android-based software, with Galaxy S24 owners worldwide reporting the new update arriving on their phones. The release brings refreshed features and security improvements, and is drawing attention from Samsung users in India and Brazil tracking when it lands on their devices.

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.

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.

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.

Readers are checking horoscope predictions for Capricorn for October 1. SB Belarus published a daily horoscope covering the sign, and search interest around 'Capricorn' is rising in Russia as people look up what the day holds for them. Daily zodiac forecasts remain a popular morning habit, and the start of a new month typically boosts attention to astrological predictions.

October brings a wave of changes drawing attention worldwide. Japan is raising prices on more than 3,000 food items this month, while India sees a series of financial shifts from October 1, covering banking, tax and savings rules, plus multiple bank holidays across the month. Russian crude exports are also rising as a diesel ban limits gains from higher oil prices. Many readers are checking date-wise lists of the new rules and closures.

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.

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.

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.

The so-called Trump Accounts, a savings program designed to help lower-income families build wealth, are drawing attention for a slow start: few families have signed up so far, even though analysts say the accounts could benefit them the most. Coverage is focusing on the gap between the program's potential and its low enrollment.

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.