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Business · 1 October 2026

Film Commission Folds 20‑Year Core Funding, Leaving Indie Studios to Hunt for Cash

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

The NZ Film Commission has discontinued its Core Funding Programme, a staple of the industry for over two decades, sparking concern among independent producers and prompting a frantic search for new financing channels.

Finance · 1 October 2026

GDP Re‑boost: UK Income Rises, City Cheers Resilience, Treasury Sec. Gets a Pre‑budget Power‑Up

Iris Quay, London desk

A revision of UK Q2 income growth has the Treasury Secretary John Healey looking dapper before the budget, while the City dashes to the market to celebrate a ‘resilient’ economy, all without the usual jargon.

Business · 1 October 2026

EEOC Sues Harvard Seeking Data on Alleged ‘White Man’ Bias in Hiring

Helen Pell, Washington desk

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit demanding that Harvard University disclose hiring data it claims shows discrimination against white men, sparking a debate over privacy, fairness and a…

World · 1 October 2026

Mid‑Air Melee: Flydubai Pilot’s Stab‑And‑Crash Plot Foiled by Passengers Turned Vigilantes

Tariq Bell, World desk

A Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was saved when a pilot attempted to stab his colleague and crash the aircraft, only to be stopped by passengers and crew who turned the cabin into an improvised security team.

Entertainment · 1 October 2026

Ted Gets Animated, Peacock Slotted for December Debut – Mark Wahlberg, Amanda Seyfried and Jessica Barth Return to Voice Their Ego‑Laden Companion

Sam Orbit, World desk

The cult‑classic butt‑in‑the‑face franchise gets an animated makeover, with its original voice cast back on deck. Peacock will stream the first eight episodes on December 17, promising more episodes in 2027.

Business · 1 October 2026

Energy Bills to Reach Nearly £2,000 a Year – The City’s Wallets Feel the Heat

Iris Quay, London desk

A new forecast predicts the average British household will pay almost £2,000 a year for energy, a 16% jump that will leave the City’s finance teams clutching their coffee cups. The figure marks the biggest quarterly r…

Business · 1 October 2026

White House AI Pact Relies Entirely on the 'Sword of Damocles' of Peer Pressure

Helen Pell, Washington desk

US tech executives have agreed to a "morally binding" framework for AI safety that experts describe as effectively a moat around their own profit margins. The new guidelines rely less on regulation and more on the collec…

Business · 1 October 2026

Epic’s AI ‘Safety Net’ Uncovers a Privacy Black Hole

Helen Pell, Washington desk

A new Anthropic-powered AI designed to tidy medical records has exposed a slew of vulnerabilities, raising the stakes for patient privacy.

Sports · 1 October 2026

Djokovic Beats Nuno Borges in Beijing, Defying Both Gravity and Bureaucracy

Tom Wick, London desk

Novak Djokovic returned to the tour in Beijing to extend his 30-game winning streak at the China Open, defeating Nuno Borges in a performance that defied several laws of physics and athletic decay.