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Business · 17 October 2026

Robust Earnings, Robust Fed, and a Briefing So Robust It Echoes Four Times

Helen Pell, Washington desk

A dry‑market parody where corporate earnings, the Federal Reserve and a press briefing all over‑use the word “robust,” leaving investors wondering if anyone ever said anything else.

Business · 17 October 2026

Robotaxi Waitlist Swells as Drivers and Politicians Target Wayve HQ

Iris Quay, London desk

More than 100,000 people on Uber’s robotaxi waitlist have sparked a protest at Wayve’s headquarters, with Uber drivers fearing for their jobs and politicians urging TfL to control licences.

Lighter · 17 October 2026

Bluetooth Hops When Cell Towers Fall

Lighter Desk

A teen's app uses Bluetooth to keep messages moving when cellular networks fail during disasters like earthquakes.

Business · 17 October 2026

Twelve vessels peppered near Hormuz as the City pretends oil‑price volatility is just a new form of market seasoning

Iris Quay, London desk

A UK maritime agency recorded a record twelve ship strikes near the Hormuz Strait in one week, slowing oil exports. London’s financial hub responded with typical bravado, treating the security disruption as a quirky bo…

Business · 17 October 2026

Robust, Robust, Robust, Robust: The Fed, Wall Street Earnings, and a Briefing That Couldn’t Stop Saying the Same Word

Helen Pell, Washington desk

A tongue‑in‑cheek look at how a Fed briefing that peppered ‘robust’ four times has inspired a chorus of equally over‑enthusiastic earnings releases, masking the market’s quieter tremors.

Technology · 17 October 2026

Microsoft’s $5,900 Surface Laptop Ultra: A MacBook‑lookalike That Gives Up the Battery Before You Finish Your First Game

Rita Knox, Washington desk

The Surface Laptop Ultra copies the MacBook Pro’s look and promises dev, AI and gaming power, but reviewers note its battery life is short and the price makes it a tough sell.

Business · 16 October 2026

Tesla Roadster 2 Takes Off, Flips, and Lands at Tesla Event

Iris Quay, London desk

Elon Musk unveiled the Roadster 2 at a Tesla event, where the car drove up a curved ramp, used SpaceX thrusters to lift, flip, and land back on the ramp.

Finance · 16 October 2026

Fed Chair Warsh Says No Rate Hike This Month—Inflation Still Holds the Mic

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Fed Chair Kevin Warsh indicated the central bank will not raise borrowing rates this month, yet persistent inflation could still force action.

Business · 16 October 2026

Character.AI Walks Into the Red After Google Poaches Its Founders

Noor Hale, World desk

Character.AI, which attracted millions of users, filed for bankruptcy after Google quietly hired its founders and licensed its chatbot technology, underscoring the risks for AI startups when a tech giant intervenes.