IT industry

Ukraine's defense ministry says its forces struck six strategic oil refineries deep inside Russia in a single week, with targets up to 1,600 km behind the front line. Kyiv describes the campaign as a response to Russian attacks, saying every hit facility supplies fuel to Russia's defense industry and occupation forces. The claim has drawn wide attention as evidence of Ukraine's growing long-range strike capability against Russia's energy sector.

SpaceX is attempting the first-ever orbital launch of its Starship megarocket today, September 28, with the mission available to watch live. The test flight from Texas marks a major milestone for the vehicle that SpaceX intends to use for missions to the Moon and Mars. Space enthusiasts and industry watchers are closely following coverage of the attempt and its outcome.

Germany is channeling massive investment into rebuilding its armed forces, with defense spending increasingly framed as an engine for economic growth. Supporters argue rearmament can revive Germany's stagnant industrial base and infrastructure, while critics question whether arms production can replace the export manufacturing model that long powered Europe's largest economy. The debate reflects a broader European shift toward defense readiness amid security concerns in the region.

Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, is scheduled to brief the United Nations Security Council next week on artificial intelligence, according to Reuters. The session would place the head of one of the world's leading AI companies directly before the body charged with international peace and security, as governments weigh how to regulate advanced AI. Details of the briefing's agenda and who requested it were not immediately available.

President Trump is said to be considering restricting or banning exports of diesel from the United States, a move that would reshape global fuel markets. US diesel is a major export, and any restriction could raise prices for American farmers, truckers and industry while tightening supply for buyers abroad. Officials have not confirmed details or timing.

Dutch chip-equipment maker ASML has said it is not selling its chipmaking machines in Europe, warning that the region risks falling behind the United States, China and India in the semiconductor industry. The remarks have drawn attention in India and China, where ASML's role in global chip supply chains is a sensitive topic amid ongoing export-control tensions and competition to build domestic chip manufacturing capacity.

OpenAI says it has decided not to release its newest AI model, citing unresolved safety concerns. The announcement, reported by The New York Times, is drawing attention because it is unusual for a leading AI lab to withhold a finished model, and it is fueling debate about how companies weigh competitive pressure against safety risks.

Leading figures from the artificial intelligence industry are set to meet President Trump at the White House for discussions on the technology's future. The meeting comes as prominent voices in AI have issued stark warnings about potential risks posed by increasingly powerful systems. Details of the agenda and who will attend have not been confirmed, but the talks are expected to cover regulation, safety and American competitiveness in the sector.

A documentary about Elon Musk is being denied advertising on several major platforms, with TikTok and X reportedly barring promotional ads for the film. YouTube and Meta were also named in the report. The rejections raise questions about platform ad policies and whether Musk's ownership of X, and his prominence across the tech industry, is influencing which films can be marketed to users.

Ireland's Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403 million for breaching the EU's General Data Protection Regulation, according to the Irish Times. The penalty from Google's lead European regulator ranks among the larger GDPR fines issued to a major technology company, and the ruling is likely to fuel ongoing debate about how EU watchdogs police the data practices of large US platforms.

New Ukrainian intelligence indicates Russia is expanding its military cooperation with North Korea and Iran. According to the report, the partnerships involve continued weapons transfers and defense-industrial ties supporting Russia's war effort in Ukraine. The disclosure comes as Kyiv seeks to highlight the international networks sustaining Moscow's invasion and to press allies for stronger responses.

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.

SpaceX has carried out the first orbital test flight of its Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever built. The flight marks a major milestone for the company's program aimed at deep space missions, including eventual trips to the Moon and Mars. Analysts and space watchers are examining what the test means for the future of commercial spaceflight.

Ukraine's General Staff says its forces struck a Russian defense plant that produces components for missiles. The attack targets Russia's military-industrial capacity as the war continues. Further details on damage or casualties were not immediately provided, and Russia has not yet commented on the strike.

The United States has finalized new, lower fuel economy standards, easing requirements on automakers in a move that supports continued production and sale of gas-powered vehicles. The rollback of stricter efficiency targets is drawing attention for its implications for the auto industry, fuel costs, and US climate policy.

The European Commission has called on EU member states to reduce their gas and electricity consumption amid rising energy prices. The appeal comes as households and industry across the bloc face high bills, and it signals Brussels' push for demand-side measures to ease pressure on the market. Member states' responses and any binding targets remain to be seen.

The Trump administration is moving to roll back federal fuel economy standards, a policy change with direct consequences for American drivers. Weaker standards could mean cheaper vehicles upfront but higher gasoline consumption and costs at the pump over time, while also affecting automakers' production plans and US emissions goals. Coverage, including from PBS, is focused on explaining what the change means practically for consumers and the wider auto industry.

Russian authorities are instructing businesses to protect their own facilities from Ukrainian drone attacks, as strikes increasingly disrupt operations across the country. The move signals that Moscow's air defenses are struggling to intercept the growing number of drones targeting infrastructure and industry. The report, published by The Wall Street Journal, highlights the mounting economic strain the drone campaign is placing on Russia's war effort.

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.

Poland is rapidly increasing its military expenditure, standing out among NATO members as defence budgets climb across Europe. Analysts are debating whether the spending spree will act as an economic stimulus through jobs and industry investment, or strain public finances and crowd out other spending, threatening the country's reputation as one of Europe's fastest-growing economies.

Toyota plans to launch an electric version of the Corolla, the world's best-selling car. The move would put one of the most recognizable nameplates in automotive history into the rapidly growing EV market, where Toyota has so far lagged behind rivals. Industry observers are weighing what an electric Corolla could mean for mass-market EV adoption and Toyota's electrification strategy.

Insurers including UnitedHealth, Medicare Advantage plans, Cigna and Humana are increasingly using artificial intelligence algorithms to approve or deny coverage for medical care, according to a Vox report. Critics warn the tools can wrongly override doctors' judgments and delay or deny needed treatment, while the industry argues AI speeds up claims processing. Patients and physicians are pushing back as regulators scrutinize how these systems make coverage decisions.

The Trump administration is moving to roll back clean car regulations that were designed to reduce climate-warming emissions from vehicles. The plan would weaken emissions standards for cars and light trucks, reversing one of the flagship US climate policies of recent years. Environmental groups are expected to oppose the move, while automakers face uncertainty over which rules will apply.

SpaceX is preparing its Starship rocket for its first orbital flight, according to CNBC. The launch would mark the first time Elon Musk's company attempts to send the massive spacecraft, designed for missions to the Moon and eventually Mars, all the way into orbit, a major milestone in the rocket's development program.

The European Union has urged member states to reduce energy demand and fill gas storage facilities as it keeps watch over an emerging price crisis in Europe's energy markets. The appeal, reported by Bloomberg and carried by Japanese outlets, reflects concern that tight supplies could push prices higher and strain households and industry across the bloc in the coming months.