Urgent.News

What's breaking now, across thousands of outlets.

The Daily Edition

Thursday, 22 October 2026

400 stories across 8 sections

The Takeaway

10 independent outlets reported on the surge in oil prices as the US ordered diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia due to escalating tensions. The Houthis launched multiple attacks in the country, prompting the relocation of some diplomats and their families, and crude oil prices rose by 1.2% to $110.11. Meanwhile, in the tech world, Apple's new foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, was unveiled with a price tag of S$3,099, featuring a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner OLED screen.

In other news, Meta's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg committed to residing in California for another eight years as part of a new share deal, while the company faced a class-action lawsuit in Australia over alleged social media harm to children. On the finance desk, Jio Platforms' IPO drew strong demand from institutional buyers, with the Rs 30,213 crore offering seeing QIB subscription nearly five times over.

Additionally, Canadian publisher announced that novelist Thelyson Orelien used AI to write his novel, which Orelien denied, and Tesla cut spending ahead of a potential SpaceX deal, with Elon Musk betting the company's future on AI and robots.

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

AI

AI

Canadian publisher says novelist Orelien used AI to write novel

MONTREAL — The publisher of top-selling Haitian-Canadian writer Thelyson Orelien said Wednesday it had confirmed that he used artificial intelligence to help write his novel "It Was Either That or Die." Orelien has denied allegations that he used AI on his breakthrough novel and, last week, Canadian publisher Boreal said it was standing by the 38-year-old writer. But on Wednesday, Boreal said it…

Montreal - The publisher of renowned Haitian-Canadian author Thelyson Orelien announced on Wednesday that it had confirmed the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of his novel, "It Was Either That or Die." Orelien adamantly denied any allegations of AI involvement in his groundbreaking work. However, Canadian publishing company Boreal, which had stood by the 38-year-old author, disclosed on Wednesday that it had carried out a more thorough investigation into the claims.

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How I decide what to fix in my AI video workflow

While building an AI-assisted video workflow for a TikTok commerce creator, I ran into a problem with the storyboards generated by a language model. The scripts covered the product, but the shots were not tight enough for the short videos we wanted to make. I could rewrite the scenes myself.

Tech

Tech

Apple iPhone Duo hands-on: So what do you get for S$3,099?

Apple's first foldable iPhone Duo starts at S$3,099, featuring a 7.6-inch OLED display, the A20 Pro chip and cool multitasking capabilities. But is it worth buying?

Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, launches at S$3,099, making it the most expensive iPhone to date. The device comes with a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner OLED screen, which is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The internal screen boasts a matte finish, reducing reflections and glare for improved viewing and reading experiences.

The iPhone Duo features a titanium frame with a mirror finish and incorporates Apple's Ceramic Shield technology, providing excellent protection against scratches and dust. It uses the IP68 water and dust resistance rating, allowing it to withstand immersion in more than 1m of water for over 30 minutes.

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Arista Networks vs. CrowdStrike: Which Tech Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

Arista boasts a high profit margin and zero debt, while CrowdStrike just reported its best quarter in history because of AI.

  • Arista Networks grows 33% YoY to $10.5B, with 38% net margin
  • CrowdStrike secures $5.4B in revenue YoY 24% growth, net margin under 1%
  • CrowdStrike's valuation suggests confidence in AI-driven cybersecurity demand

Merck Opens New Molybdenum Production Facility in South Korea to Advance Next-Generation Semiconductor Manufacturing

Merck is expanding its semiconductor materials manufacturing capabilities in South Korea with a new molybdenum precursor production facility, strengthening its supply chain for advanced memory and logic semiconductor manufacturing.Merck Korea announced the opening of a new molybdenum dioxide dichloride (MoO₂Cl₂) production facility at its…

Business

Business

Tesla aims to sell Cybercab robotaxis by end of year despite federal probe

Tesla is aiming to start selling its Cybercab robotaxis to the public by the end of this year, its engineering chief said on Wednesday, even as the US auto safety agency probes the vehicles that come without manual controls, which federal regulations typically require.

Tesla aims to start selling its Cybercab robotaxis to the public by the end of this year, according to its engineering chief Lars Moravy. Despite an ongoing federal probe, the two-seaters, featuring butterfly doors and without manual controls, are a key focus of CEO Elon Musk's ambition to transform Tesla into an AI and robotics company.

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With Jackdaw approved, what’s next for the North Sea?

A lot has happened since 1 June 2022, the date when ministers first granted permission to tap the Jackdaw gas field. The Conservatives were halfway through their ill-fated final term of three. Kwasi Kwarteng was the business secretary, with equally ill-fated aspirations for higher office.

Finance & Markets

Finance & Markets

Jio Platforms IPO draws strong demand within hours; Eternal Q2 net profit rises 92%

The qualified institutional investors showed strong interest for the IPO of Jio Platforms with subscription crossing 4x.

Jio Platforms executed a successful IPO on the opening day, receiving strong demand from institutional buyers within two hours. The Rs 30,213 crore offering saw QIB subscription nearly five times over. Jio's strategic focus spans telecom, AI, cloud services, and digital offerings, though retail and non-institutional investor engagement appeared limited.

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World

World

Meta share deal ties Zuckerberg to California amid wealth tax vote

Meta’s share deal is partly a financial incentive to keep Zuckerberg in California, where voters will decide in November on a temporary wealth tax targeting resident billionaires.

On Wednesday, Meta announced a new deal with its founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The agreement entails Zuckerberg receiving a fresh allocation of shares in Meta, while he commits to residing in California for another eight years. The company disclosed this news in a securities filing alongside its latest quarterly earnings report. This arrangement aims to incentivize Zuckerberg to stay in California, where voters will soon decide on a wealth tax proposal, known as Proposition 40, set to appear on the November ballot.

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Meta ordered to pay $25bn in user data privacy case

A judge in the US state of New Mexico has ordered Meta to pay $25 billion (€22.2bn) to the state after a jury found last month that the social media giant had deceived users in a case related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Science

Science

Africans reuse, repair, recycle and resell waste: What's needed to build on the circular economy basics

In many African cities, a broken fridge is rarely thrown away immediately. It may be repaired and resold, dismantled for spare parts or collected for its metal components.

In many African cities, broken appliances and clothes are not immediately discarded; instead, they undergo repair and resale, or are dismantled for spare parts and metal extraction. Leftover crop materials are converted into animal feed, compost, cooking fuel, or biogas. These actions are primarily driven by necessity, as incomes are limited and replacement expenses can be prohibitive.

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Health & Medicine

Health & Medicine

FDA patient, consumer reps often tied to pharma-funded groups

Patient and consumer representatives advising U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expert panels might actually be a Trojan horse for the pharmaceutical industry, a new study says.

A recent study raises concerns about the role of patient and consumer representatives advising the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The research, published in Health Affairs Scholar, suggests that these representatives may have hidden ties to organizations funded by pharmaceutical companies. A 10-year analysis of nearly 240 FDA advisory committee meetings revealed that almost 40% of these gatherings included at least one patient or consumer representative with active industry connections.

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Culture

Culture

John Anderson, Country Hall of Fame Singer, Dies at 71

The performer was known for hits "Seminole Wind," "Straight Tequila Night," "Black Sheep" and "Swingin'" The post John Anderson, Country Hall of Fame Singer, Dies at 71 appeared first on TheWrap .

John Anderson, a renowned country music singer, passed away at the age of 71, as confirmed by his family on Instagram. He was an esteemed member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, inducted in 2024, 10 years after joining the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. A cause of death was not disclosed. His family mourned his loss, describing him as their beloved husband, father, grandfather, and best friend, and highlighting his immense impact on their lives and the lives of countless others.

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New Netflix series starring Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo to premiere in December

"Tantara," a new Netflix original Korean series starring actors Song Hye-kyo and Gong Yoo, will be released on Dec. 11, the streaming platform said Thursday. Set in the 1960s-80s, the period drama follows Min-ja (Song), who overcomes poverty and ventures into the recording industry, and her childhood friend Dong-gu (Gong), who supports…

Athletics bet on youth with 31-year-old Taylor Smith to lead baseball operations

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Saying “the world is run by 31-year-olds today," Athletics owner John Fisher hired as his president of baseball operations someone he hopes continues the organization's rich history with analytics but also brings new ideas about where the sport could be headed.Taylor Smith's meteoric rise — seven years with the Tampa Bay…

  • 31-year-old Taylor Smith appointed as president of baseball operations for Athletics
  • Smith has seven years of experience with Tampa Bay Rays and two with Boston Red Sox
  • Owner John Fisher believes Smith's youth and fresh perspective will benefit team

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