technology

Italy's parliament has approved a return to nuclear power, decades after the country shut down its reactors following referendums in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster. The move marks a major shift in Italy's energy policy and reflects a broader European reassessment of nuclear energy amid energy security concerns and climate targets. Details of timelines, technology and public reaction remain to be seen.

SpaceX is preparing to launch its Starship rocket to orbit for the first time, a milestone for the company's next-generation heavy-lift vehicle. The flight would mark a major step in Elon Musk's plans for deep-space travel, and the anticipation of the debut orbital test is drawing wide attention across the space and technology communities.

Russia has started rationing fuel following a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack that hit key energy infrastructure. Reports say Ukraine's long-range drone technology is outpacing Russia's defences, striking oil facilities deep inside Russian territory and disrupting supplies. The fuel shortages mark one of the most direct impacts of the war on ordinary Russians, with rationing measures now being introduced in affected regions.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used his final address to the UN General Assembly to renew calls for global oversight of artificial intelligence and an end to ongoing conflicts. His remarks coincide with the Security Council preparing to host a briefing with AI leaders on the risks and governance of the powerful technology.

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met in Washington for a summit that has drawn criticism over whether it produced real diplomatic results or served mainly as political theatre. Commentators have dubbed the spectacle 'diplotainment', questioning whether headline-grabbing moments masked a lack of concrete agreements. Observers are parsing the outcomes for signals on trade, technology and broader US-China relations.

Chinese state announcements say Beijing and Washington agreed to a $30 billion tariff reduction and to open a dialogue on artificial intelligence during Xi Jinping's visit. The news, reported by Reuters, suggests a tentative easing of tensions between the two economic rivals on trade and technology. Details are sparse so far, and readers should note the figures come from the Chinese side; US confirmation and the fine print of the deal are not yet clear.

Posts discuss a state dinner at the White House where President Trump hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with technology executives reportedly among the guests. Users are sharing clips and reactions to the meeting, with commentary focused on the symbolism of the two leaders dining together and the presence of tech industry figures at the table. The discussion appears to centre on US-China relations and what the gathering signals.

China has expanded overseas travel restrictions covering top AI professionals at private companies, now also applying them to the families of key personnel. The move, reported as an extension of existing exit controls, is being read as part of Beijing's effort to prevent sensitive AI expertise from leaving the country amid tightening US-China technology competition.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has imposed a €403 million fine on Google for breaches of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. The Irish Times reported the penalty on 21 September 2026. It is one of the larger GDPR fines issued against a major US technology company by the watchdog, which oversees many big tech firms' European operations from Dublin.

Anthropic and OpenAI are publicly raising concerns about AI safety while also seeking to influence how the technology is regulated, according to AP reporting carried across multiple outlets. The story highlights the dual role of the leading AI companies: warning about risks from advanced systems while lobbying to shape the rules meant to control them. Critics and observers are weighing whether industry involvement in regulation serves the public interest or the companies' own.

The United States and China have agreed to establish a dedicated communication channel on artificial intelligence, according to the White House, following a summit between the two countries. The channel is intended to allow the two governments to exchange views and manage risks related to advanced AI. It marks a further step in stabilising relations between Washington and Beijing amid ongoing rivalry over technology.

A divide has emerged between United Nations bodies and Washington policymakers over how artificial intelligence should be governed, with leaders offering competing visions for oversight of the fast-moving technology. The disagreement highlights ongoing international tension over whether AI regulation should be coordinated globally or shaped primarily by national interests and domestic policy priorities.

A New York Times analysis examines why China has resisted international appeals for stricter artificial intelligence safety commitments, suggesting Beijing views such calls through strategic and economic lenses. The piece argues Chinese officials see Western-led safety agendas as potential tools to slow China's A.I. progress, while Chinese leaders also weigh domestic priorities of technological competitiveness and state control.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson says a meeting between President Trump and leading technology chief executives will focus on finding balance in the government's approach to artificial intelligence. The talks are expected to weigh innovation and commercial interests against safety and regulatory concerns, as Washington comes under pressure to set a clearer national direction on AI.

The Wall Street Journal reports on how the United States is working to challenge China's dominance over critical minerals, materials essential for electronics, batteries and defense technology. The piece examines U.S. strategies to build alternative supply chains and reduce dependence on Chinese exports, a growing priority in the broader economic and strategic rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

Executives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Meta are set to attend a meeting at the White House to discuss artificial intelligence policy. The gathering brings together the leaders of the biggest AI developers with US government officials, underscoring Washington's growing focus on regulating and managing the risks of rapidly advancing AI technology.

A former Pentagon official said the United States needs to control China's access to advanced semiconductor technology, in comments carried by CNBC. The remarks feed into an ongoing debate in Washington over export controls on cutting-edge chips and chipmaking equipment, which US officials view as critical to maintaining a military and technological edge over Beijing.

SpaceX launched its Starship rocket on a flight taking the vehicle further than any previous test. The launch was broadcast live, with viewers watching as the giant spacecraft attempted new milestones in its development program. Commentators highlighted the flight as a significant step in SpaceX's efforts to advance reusable spaceflight technology and future missions to the Moon and Mars.

Bill Gates says reaching global cooperation on artificial intelligence is proving more difficult than the nuclear arms agreements of the past. His comments highlight concerns that rival governments are racing to develop AI technology faster than they can agree on shared rules for safety and control.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that if artificial intelligence development goes wrong, it could lead to as many as a billion deaths, according to a Washington Post report. Gates, who has been one of AI's most prominent backers while also urging caution about its risks, framed the stakes of getting the technology's development and control wrong in starkly human terms.

News reports say China and the United States have agreed to establish a new channel for dialogue on artificial intelligence safety, while continuing ongoing talks on trade and military matters. The reports describe a diplomatic step aimed at keeping communication open between the two countries on contentious technology and security issues. Coverage so far appears limited to a single news item, and details about what the AI safety channel will involve or who will participate are not included in the available posts.

Ukraine's digital minister Mykhailo Fedorov is pushing a plan to deploy an 'army of robots' to replace soldiers on the front line, Le Parisien reports. The initiative aims to use unmanned ground and aerial systems to reduce troop losses in the war with Russia, as Kyiv struggles with manpower shortages and continues positioning itself as a pioneer of battlefield technology.

A New York Times report argues that artificial intelligence is advancing faster than governments can regulate or even understand it. The piece highlights a growing gap between the speed of A.I. development and the capacity of public institutions to respond with effective policy, oversight, and legislation, raising concerns about accountability, safety, and democratic control of the technology.

At the United Nations, world leaders are framing the risks of artificial intelligence in starkly different ways. Some warn of autonomous 'killer robots' on the battlefield, while others point to the longer-term threat of 'super intelligence' beyond human control. The divide highlights the challenge of crafting international AI governance, with countries prioritising different dangers as they push for new rules on the fast-moving technology.