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Saturday, 17 October 2026 Daily Edition

The Daily Edition

Saturday, 17 October 2026

360 stories across 8 sections

The Takeaway

Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former Kano State Governor, has been accused by the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council of acting in President Bola Tinubu's interests. The council's Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, made this accusation in a statement. Meanwhile, in Thailand, two Nigerian men, aged 25 and 30, were apprehended by authorities for possessing six grammes of cocaine hidden inside a cooker hood in their shared apartment.

In other news, the Petroleum Division in Pakistan has presented measures to boost the supply and distribution of LPG, including the transparent disposal of locally produced LPG. Additionally, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, criticized presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Peter Obi, labeling them as political gamblers.

On the culture front, Swizz Beatz revealed that Michael Jackson had a crush on his wife, Alicia Keys, and the two musicians met at Jackson's house shortly before his death in 2009.

Written by urgent.news from the day's reporting.

AI

AI

North Korea says tested AI-assisted torpedo system

The announcement came days after Pyongyang said it had test-fired two types of cruise missiles from a submarine after weeks of friction with Seoul over a landmine explosion along their border.

·channelnewsasia.com·8 outlets

North Korea has announced the successful testing of a new AI-assisted torpedo system, according to state media. The super-speed Zam-2.0 torpedo system, capable of precise guidance through artificial intelligence, was tested underwater on Thursday to confirm successful technical updates. This development follows weeks of tension between North Korea and South Korea, which escalated after Pyongyang test-fired two types of cruise missiles from a submarine.

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Beyond Transcripts: Building an AI-Powered Empathy Engine for Mental Health

In the world of mental health counseling, the "magic" happens in the nuances—the pauses, the shifts in tone, and the emotional resonance between the therapist and the client.

  • Audio Intelligence pipeline converts raw audio to structured human connection representation
  • Silero VAD, Deepgram, GPT-4 power the pipeline for empathy intensity and emotional valence analysis
  • Counselor dashboard displays insights into therapeutic approach based on empathy metrics

·dev.to

Labelling AI-written articles and synthetic media under Article 50

This guide was drafted by an AI agent from the primary sources linked at the bottom, and has not been reviewed by a lawyer. It is general information, not legal advice. The original is at https://mdodeja.github.io/eu-ai-act-article-50-guide/guides/labeling-ai-written-articles.html . Short answer.

·dev.to

Tech

Tech

How to Format, Validate and Minify JSON

JSON is the default format for APIs, config files, logs and data exchange. It looks simple, which is exactly why small mistakes are so easy to make and so hard to find: a single misplaced comma can break a 400-line document. A JSON formatter does three jobs at once: it validates your syntax, it pretty-prints the document so a human can read it, and it can minify it to save space. Here is how each…

·dev.to

JSON has become the standard format for APIs, configuration files, logs, and data exchange. While its simplicity can be deceiving, small errors like a misplaced comma can cause significant issues in a lengthy document. A JSON formatter performs three essential tasks simultaneously: validating syntax, pretty-printing the document for human readability, and minifying it to save space.

Here's a breakdown of how each of these functions operates, along with a debugging workflow for when API responses or configuration files behave unexpectedly.

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A software handover should prove one recovery path

Before agreeing to support an unfamiliar application, ask a practical question: can the team recover one important workflow using the handover material?

  • Assess unfamiliar application materials for recovering key business workflow.
  • Conduct walkthrough in isolated test environment with dummy data.
  • Document process, access boundaries, and escalation route in concise runbook.

·dev.to

Build a Real-Time Voice Translation App

Getting Started with a Real‑Time Voice Translation App Building a real‑time voice translation app feels like science‑fiction, but with today’s cloud APIs it’s a very achievable side‑project.

  • Real-time voice translation app possible with cloud APIs
  • ElevenLabs provides top-notch TTS and voice-cloning features
  • Latency crucial: 1 sec STT, 200-400 ms translation, 1 sec TTS

·dev.to

Your Dashboard Says "Live" — Prove It With Freshness Watermarks

I once shipped a monitoring page that said LIVE in confident green letters. It stayed green for eleven days while the ingest job behind it had been dead for nine of them. The label was a CSS class.

  • "Freshness watermarks" track data source confirmation timestamps
  • Lag between watermark and current time measures data freshness
  • Alarm triggered when lag exceeds expected update cadence threshold

·dev.to

Offline PDV: how a cash register keeps selling when the internet goes down

Internet caiu no meio do pico de vendas. Fila no caixa, cliente com o carrinho cheio e o sistema na nuvem fora do ar. Quem trabalha com varejo já viu isso acontecer.

  • Cash registers can sell offline using PDV system
  • Sales recorded directly on cash register during internet outage
  • Offline queue synchronized with server when internet restored

·dev.to

CVE-2026-84869: a ScreenConnect client bypass and the spread that followed it

CVE-2026-84869: the ScreenConnect client flaw and the worm-like spread that followed ConnectWise published an advisory for CVE-2026-84869 on 3 September 2026 and shipped the fix in ScreenConnect 26.6.5 on 8 September.

  • CVE-2026-84869 vulnerability affects ScreenConnect client software
  • Missing authorization check allows unauthorized file transfers during remote sessions
  • Organizations urged to upgrade to version 26.6.5 by 14 September 2026

·dev.to

How I Automated My Shopify WISMO Tickets With a Custom Tracking Widget

When I first started helping out with a small Shopify store, I thought the hardest part would be getting the initial sales. I was wrong. The real nightmare began a few weeks after launch, when the support inbox started flooding. It wasn't complaints about product quality. It was almost entirely WISMO—"Where Is My Order?"—tickets.

  • Author automated Shopify WISMO tickets with custom tracking widget
  • Widget integrated into Shopify order status page via App Embed blocks
  • Backend listens to Shopify fulfillment webhooks for real-time updates

·dev.to

Business

Business

Electoral reforms: NA passes motion to form parliamentary body

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday approved a motion authorizing Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to constitute a parliamentary committee, in consultation with the chairman Senate, to recommend electoral reforms aimed at ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in the country. Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry moved the motion in the House, seeking the…

·brecorder.com

The National Assembly in Pakistan voted on Friday to endorse a motion enabling Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to assemble a parliamentary committee in coordination with the Senate chairman. The panel's purpose is to propose electoral reforms for guaranteeing free, fair, and transparent elections throughout the nation. Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, proposed the motion, advocating for the adoption of modern technology in the electoral process and the formulation of requisite legislation.

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Tax audit, assessment: FBR implements faceless system

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has implemented a comprehensive framework for conducting tax audits, income tax assessments and related income tax and sales tax recovery proceedings against the taxpayers through the National Faceless Centre (NFC) with the help of artificial intelligence from October 15, 2026.

·brecorder.com

Zelenskiy blasts Trump’s diesel deal

BRUSSELS/KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy took aim on Friday at US President Donald Trump’s diesel deal with Russia and welcomed the prospect of European allies stepping up their role in talks, calling Moscow’s stance a “parody” of peace negotiations.

·brecorder.com

Finance & Markets

Finance & Markets

Bristol-Myers Squibb vs. Johnson & Johnson: Which Healthcare Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

Bristol-Myers trades at a significant valuation discount, but its higher leverage and patent risks contrast sharply with Johnson & Johnson's diversified stability.

·fool.com·2 outlets

When contemplating healthcare stocks for a long-term investment portfolio in 2026, two prominent contenders stand out: Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Both companies operate in the biopharmaceutical sector, yet they possess distinct characteristics that influence their appeal to investors. Bristol-Myers Squibb specializes in developing innovative medicines for serious diseases, focusing on oncology, hematology, and cardiovascular health.

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SECP detects discrepancies in SE’s IPO prospectus

ISLAMABAD: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) is initiating regulatory action over material discrepancies in the IPO prospectus of SE Fruits and Vegetable Limited, which was based on information provided in the company’s audited financial statements.

·brecorder.com

US budget deficit balloons to highest in five years

The US budget deficit grew to almost US$2 trillion over the past year, government data showed Friday, reaching its highest level since 2021 despite President Donald Trump's promises to cut public…

  • US budget deficit hit $1.99 trillion in 2026, highest since 2021
  • Interest payments on debt soared to $1.36 trillion, up $144 billion
  • Revenue from Trump's tariffs failed to materialize as expected

·news.rthk.hk

World

World

Teacher fought Oregon school teen gunman before father of two shot him dead

A TEACHER fought back against a teenage gunman who killed four people at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon throwing her phone at him before tackling him in an attempt to stop the attack, police said. Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz described the tea...

·thevibes.com·10 outlets

On Thursday afternoon, a driver witnessed the 16-year-old gunman, Griffin J. John II, dispose of his weapon and climb over a fence at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. He then shouted at the attacker, who responded by firing three shots at the driver's vehicle, though the driver was unharmed. Later that day, 36-year-old father-of-two Kaylub Giamanco encountered the gunman as he entered the school, shooting him multiple times.

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Trump mocks popularity of Mohammad as Muslim name during campaign speech

US President Donald Trump made a joke about the popularity of the name Mohammad in the Muslim world as he mocked Iran’s presidency during a campaign speech on Friday. “You know, if you’re in doubt about somebody’s name from the Middle East, just say ‘Mohammad’,” Trump told a crowd in Dalton, Georgia. “You have about a 65 per cent chance.

·scmp.com·5 outlets

ADC accuses Kwankwaso of working for Tinubu

The ADC has accused Rabiu Kwankwaso of working for Tinubu by calling on Atiku Abubakar to step down for Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Read More: https://punchng.com/adc-accuses-kwankwaso-of-working-for-tinubu/

·punchng.com·3 outlets

Science

Science

Why hasn't the UK had any named storms yet?

So far this autumn wet and windy weather patterns have been steered away from the UK. When could we see that change?

·bbc.co.uk

As November approaches, the United Kingdom has yet to witness its inaugural named storm of the season. This delay is attributed to the influence of deep Atlantic lows, which have been redirected by prevailing high-pressure systems. Unlike previous years, where discussions have centered around drought concerns, the present narrative is one of potential storm activity.

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Health & Medicine

Health & Medicine

New compounds target clumping enzyme to protect brain cells in Alzheimer’s models

An enzyme called GRK2 clumps up and damages cellular powerhouses in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's disease. Newly developed chemical compounds that prevent or eliminate these clumps helped preserve memory and slow brain cell death in the animals.

·psypost.org·2 outlets

A specific enzyme called GRK2, which is usually found in the fluid of healthy cells, clumps together and damages brain cells in mice with Alzheimer's disease. This clumping was found to contribute to the buildup of harmful proteins, leading to memory loss and cognitive decline. Researchers at ETH Zurich in Switzerland studied whether abnormal regulation of GRK2 played a role in brain damage seen in Alzheimer's disease.

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Pope Speaks with Putin, Denouncing Recent Attacks as He Shows Recovery from Lung Surgery Progressing

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV gave strong indications Friday that he was recovering well from lung cancer surgery and was very much in charge of running the Catholic Church, speaking on the phone with…

  • Pope Leo XIV recovers from lung cancer surgery
  • Pope calls Putin to discuss humanitarian crisis in Oleshky
  • Agreement reached to coordinate efforts for safety and supply delivery

·japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

AEW star PAC died of asthma attack, medical examiner rules

PAC, whose real name was Benjamin Satterley, has officially been deemed a natural death, with no foul play suspected.

  • PAC, also known as Benjamin Satterley, died at 40 from asthma attack.
  • Found unconscious in rental car, phone directed to O'Hare Airport.
  • Held multiple championships in WWE and AEW before passing.

·sports.yahoo.com

‘Trust Me, I’m a Doctor’ Review: Legal Drama About Anna Nicole Smith’s Physician Makes an Unconvincing Case

Kal Penn plays Dr. Sandeep Kapoor in this subpar biopic, which has an off-putting and dismissive attitude about the late supermodel's death The post ‘Trust Me, I’m a Doctor’ Review: Legal Drama About…

  • Biopic of Anna Nicole Smith's physician, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor
  • Dr. Kapoor scrutinized post-Smith's 2007 overdose death
  • Linda Hamilton delivers standout performance as his lawyer

·thewrap.com

Culture

Culture

Elizabeth Holmes’ Partner Thinks ‘She Looks Insane’ in ‘You Can See Everything’ Trailer

"I mean, I might think this is like the dumbest thing I've ever done," Billy Evans says The post Elizabeth Holmes’ Partner Thinks ‘She Looks Insane’ in ‘You Can See Everything’ Trailer appeared first on TheWrap .

·thewrap.com·2 outlets

Billy Evans, longtime partner of Theranos founder and convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes, shared his thoughts on Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's documentary, "You Can See Everything." During an appearance on the "All-In" podcast at the All-In Summit 2026, Evans admitted that Holmes appears "insane" in the film's trailer. The documentary, which has generated significant buzz, features footage of Holmes from the days leading up to her federal prison sentence for defrauding investors.

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Diablo Cody Shares Update on ‘Jennifer’s Body 2,’ Teases a ‘Sympathetic’ Take on Megan Fox’s Man-Eating Role

"There is absolutely, to me, a loneliness and a poignancy to that character," the screenwriter adds The post Diablo Cody Shares Update on ‘Jennifer’s Body 2,’ Teases a ‘Sympathetic’ Take on Megan…

  • Diablo Cody confirms 'Jennifer's Body 2' sequel is in development.
  • Megan Fox's portrayal praised for balancing Jennifer's sides.
  • Sequel will explore Jennifer's loneliness and poignancy.

·thewrap.com·2 outlets

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