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Chernihiv plunged into darkness following ‘massive’ Russian attack
ReutersThe Ukrainian city of Chernihiv is in total blackout following what the authorities describe as a “massive” assault by Russian missiles and drones, with hundreds of thousands of people affected.
Across the wider Chernihiv region, four people are reported to have been killed as residential neighbourhoods were struck in the town of Novhorod-Siverskyi.
Ten others were injured, including a 10-year-old girl.
The country’s most northerly region is the latest to be hit in an intensifying series of attacks on civilian infrastructure as Russia targets energy supplies, the rail network, homes and businesses in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“I personally heard the drones flying overhead,” 55-year-old Oleksandr Babich said.
The Chernihiv city resident spoke in matter-of-fact terms about a night filled with the low whine of Iranian-designed Shahed drones, a sound now being increasingly heard far from the war’s front lines.
“Unfortunately, our region is very close to our scheming neighbour,” he said, adding an expletive for good measure.
The Chernihiv region shares a border with both Russia and Belarus, giving the air defences here less time to react to any incoming attacks.
In a raid involving more than 100 Shahed drones – each of which carry a 50kg warhead – and six ballistic missiles, the direct strikes on Chernihiv’s electricity generating facilities left the whole city without power, as well as large parts of the surrounding area.
Andriy Podorvan, the deputy head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration, told the BBC that it was part of a pattern across much of the country, with things getting much worse in recent months.
“For around half a year we have been experiencing targeted strikes on the energy infrastructure in our region,” he said.
“The number of attacks has significantly increased over the last two months.”
When I asked him if he believed that any of the targets were of military value – Moscow’s usual justification for these sorts of attacks – he pointed out that Russia has even been targeting petrol stations.
“I can only see strikes on civilian infrastructure,” he said.
The attack on the electricity grid has also meant the loss of power to water pumping stations, seriously impacting supplies. Residents have been told to stock up on bottled water or are having to rely on emergency deliveries.
ReutersWith the attacks ongoing in the morning, electrical engineers had to delay their initial response – but were later able to begin working to restore power.
The wider concern is that, if the intensity of Russia’s bombardment continues, it risks rapidly depleting the country’s energy resilience, taking a heavy toll on the economy and – with a harsh winter ahead – dealing a psychological blow to the public too.
Up until now, the country’s generating companies – working together in a war-time spirit of co-operation – have been able to restore power relatively quickly, but stocks of replacement equipment are not unlimited.
A single transformer can take more than a year to produce, with added time for transportation and installation.
The country is having to look for all the help it can get.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington may have been seen as a strategic disappointment, coming away without having secured a supply of long-hoped for long-range Tomahawk missiles.
But his meetings with the heads of leading US energy companies, in which they discussed ways of helping Ukraine to shore up and modernise its energy sector, were reportedly a success.
Some estimates put the total cost of the damage to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure so far at more than $16bn (€13.7bn; £11.9bn).
In Chernihiv, the regional official Andriy Podorvan told the BBC that he believes Russia is unable to make any significant progress on the front lines and so now sees the civilian population as a weak point.
But he thinks this is misjudged.
“People understand who the enemy is and who is guilty in this situation,” he said. “It will lead to the even greater unity of the population.”
Mr Babich agrees.
“Although, yes, there are inconveniences, the majority of the population is ready for this,” he insisted.
Many have been going to work as normal, he pointed out, with back-up generators in place for important facilities like hospitals and government buildings, and neighbours are helping each other.
“The hero city of Chernihiv did not give up and is not going to give up. Morale is high.”
Leerink raises Quest Diagnostics stock price target to $210 from $203
Quest Diagnostics stock price target raised to $210 from $203 at Leerink
Nicolas Sarkozy, Former French President, Sentenced to Prison
new video loaded: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy Is Imprisoned
Nicolas Sarkozy, the president of France from 2007 to 2012, began a five-year prison term after he was found guilty of conspiring to seek funding from Libya for his 2007 presidential campaign. He has appealed the verdict.
By Nader Ibrahim
October 21, 2025
Warner Brothers Contemplates Sale After Receiving Interest from Multiple Parties; Stock Surges 11%
Warner Bros. Discovery announced Tuesday it has initiated a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives, Wall Street-speak for considering a sale process, as rumors have swirled for months that one of Hollywood’s legacy studios could be acquired. The company disclosed in a press release that it had received “unsolicited interest from multiple parties for the entire company” and for its iconic Warner Bros. segment. Paramount Global, itself recently acquired by David Ellison, the son of Trump ally Larry Ellison, reportedly made a $20-per-share bid earlier this month. Netflix, the dominant streamer turned Hollywood power player, has also been rumored as a potential acquirer, although co-CEO Greg Peters downplayed it earlier this month and it is not known as an active M&A player.
“It’s no surprise that the significant value of our portfolio is receiving increased recognition by others in the market,” CEO David Zaslav said in the press release. “After receiving interest from multiple parties, we have initiated a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to identify the best path forward to unlock the full value of our assets.”
Board Response to Offers
The company’s Board of Directors confirmed the review is taking place not only to continue with the previously outlined separation, but to consider a range of transactions. These include an outright sale of Warner Bros. Discovery as a whole, selling off separate divisions, or exploring frameworks for mergers and spin-offs that would maximize shareholder value.
The announcement comes amid a rapidly changing media landscape, where the value of content libraries, studios, and global distribution platforms has soared. Warner Bros. Discovery had already been preparing to divide operations to better position itself in streaming, film, and television markets. This process was expected to culminate by mid-2026 but is now joined by serious external interest, which could accelerate or reshape the company’s plans. Any acquisition—whether full or partial—would represent one of the biggest shake-ups in Hollywood history, given Warner Bros.’s vast portfolio, which spans HBO, DC Studios, CNN, Discovery Channel, and more.
Market Reaction and Implications
Investor response was instantaneous: Warner Bros. Discovery stock surged by over 11% after the news broke, as traders began to price in the possibility of a blockbuster deal. The timing of Warner Bros. Discovery’s announcement comes as tech titans and Hollywood moguls make aggressive moves. Most notably, Larry Ellison—Oracle CEO and recently the world’s richest man—has positioned his family as media power brokers, with his son David Ellison leading Paramount’s transformation.
David Ellison laid out a vision in July 2024 of Paramount becoming a “tech hybrid” that would one day be capable of competing with Netflix. Ellison has hired away former topline Netflix talent for Paramount in the form of programming chief Cindy Holland and he’s poached the creators of the “Stranger Things” smash, the Duffer brothers.
For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing.
Virginia will reveal the 2025 NCAA Championship Banner in a match against UNC this Friday
By Anya Pelshaw on SwimSwam
Virginia will unveil its 2025 Women’s NCAA Championship banner this Friday in its dual meet against UNC. There will be two sessions of the meet.
The 1000 freestyle will occur at 10 am on Friday morning and it will be a scored event. After the 1000 free will be all of the exhibition races during the morning session.
The 4:00 pm session includes the rest of the dual meet lineup with the NCAA Championship banner unveiled just before the start of the meet at 3:55 pm. Virginia has already revealed on Instagram that the banner is orange, contrasting its previous four banners of two blue and two white from the last four years.
The 4:00 pm session will feature its relays which will be scored 10 points for the winning team and five for the other team. This is different than the 11-4-2 scoring for most dual meet relays.
In addition, the 50 and 100 freestyles will not be competed at the individual level. Instead, the leadoff leg that touches for the freestyle relays will score an additional 5 points. The 200 medley relay will not award an additional five points for the 50 back.
The Virginia women sit at the top of SwimSwam’s Early Season Power Rankings while the UNC women sit at #13. The teams split their dual meet last year with the Virginia women winning 213.5-85.5. The UNC men won the meet 208.5-91.5.
Event Order
10:00 AM
- 1000 Free
4:00 PM
- 200 Medley Relay (1v1 scored 10-5)
- 200 Free
- 100 Fly
- 100 Breast
- 5 minute break
- 200 Free relay (1v1 scored 10-5 + bonus 5pts to lead-off winner)
- 100 Back
- 200 Breast
- 500 Free
- 5 minute break
- 200 IM
- 200 Fly
- 200 Back
- 10 minute break
- 400 Free relay (1v1 scored 10-5 + 5 bonus pts to lead-off winner)
Read the full story on SwimSwam: Virginia To Unveil 2025 NCAA Championship Banner Against UNC This Friday
Tips for Finding Affordable Car Rentals in 2025
I love road trips. You get in car and can just head off anywhere you want. There’s a freedom to a road trip that you can’t get with trains (and, don’t get me wrong, I love train travel too). Small towns, beautiful parks, historic buildings….whatever you see, you can stop for and can stay as little or as long as you’d like!
Over the years, I’ve been on dozens of road trips. Some destinations are just meant for them (think New Zealand, Ireland, Iceland, the United States, South Africa, etc, etc.).
However, when you don’t have your own car, renting one can be a pain in the ass. No one likes doing it and we all (rightly) worry we’re getting ripped off. There’s always a lot of questions that go with renting a car.
Where can I find the best deals?
How do I know this cheap car rental site is legit?
What are things I should watch out for?
And what about insurance? Do I really need that? Or is my credit card’s insurance good enough?
In this post, I am going to share my tips and advice to help you find a cheap (but reliable) car rental and how to avoid common pitfalls that many travelers make.
Step 1: Join Rental Company Mailing Lists & Loyalty Programs
Most rental car companies advertise deals to their subscribers first. As soon as you know that you’re going on a road trip, join the mailing lists of the major car rental company. That way, you can snag any deals on offer as soon as they are announced.
To find the main rental car companies in your destination, simply visit the website of the airport you’re arriving at and see what car rental companies are available there.
Additionally, like airlines, many car rental companies have loyalty airlines that offer perks like discounts, bonus upgrades, and free rentals. Enterprise, Avis, Alamo, and Hertz are some of the major players on the market that offer free loyalty programs. Sign up for them so you don’t miss out on any perks, offers, or upgrades.
Step 2: Search for a Car with Discover Cars
While you can certainly check each car rental company individually for a deal, the best way to compare prices is to use an aggregator. These websites compile information from every car rental website so you don’t have to spend time manually comparing prices before you book.
Discover Cars is the best car search aggregator to use as it pulls more cars from more websites to ensure you find the best deal (it searches over 500 websites for deals). It cover 165 countries and 50,000+ locations worldwide!
You can use the widget below to check prices and get a quote quickly and easily to compare rental car deals with DiscoverCars comparison tool for cheap rentals:
Be sure to compare weekly and daily rates as well. For example, if you need a car for 4 days, compare the price for a 7-day trip as well. Sometimes it’s cheaper to rent for a whole week and just return the vehicle early.
Step 3: Check for Discounts & Deals
Some car rental websites share discounts directly on their website. For example, b oth Budget and Avis have “last minute deals” sections on their website where you can find incredible discounts as long as you’re flexible with your dates and destination.
Most major car rental companies also offer discounts and deals to certain groups as well. For example, Avis offers up to 35% off to AARP members (AARP is an interest group in the U.S. for people 50 and over) while Budget offers up to 35% off to veterans. Check and see if there are any discounts or deals you qualify for before you book, such as corporate discounts, government discounts, senior discounts, or discounts that stem from any hotel or airline programs you are a part of.
Many travel credit cards also have perks or discounts for car rentals.
Step 4: Check the Sharing Economy
Now that you’ve found the best deal, it’s time to do a quick comparison with sharing economy websites like Turo. Turo is like Airbnb but for cars. Locals list their vehicle and a price per day and you can browse the options and book a vehicle. It’s not available everywhere (they’re currently only in the United States, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada) but you can find it in most major cities. Depending on your needs and the duration of your trip, you might be able to find a cheaper deal.
Renters need to be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver’s license, and have proof of a good auto insurance score. You can either pick up the car, have it dropped off, or meet the owner somewhere to get the keys.
Prices can be as low as $25 USD per day, making it an affordable option if you book early.
And, if you’re looking for an RV, check out RVShare, which is similar to Turo but focused solely on RVs and campervans. They have the largest inventory out there.
There’s also the website Imoova.com, where you relocate people’s vehicles for them. You’ll be on a deadline as vehicles need to be delivered by a certain date, however, rates are usually just $1 per day — and many include some money for gas too.
Step 5: Book Your Car (and Book Early!)
Book early. Like booking flights, the closer you are to the date, the more expensive the car will be — assuming there are any left to rent! The recent pandemic saw car rental prices skyrocket as people shifted from trips abroad to road trips at home. The best time to rent a car is when you know you need to rent a car! Don’t wait.
You can click here to get a quote directly from DiscoverCars aggregator for global rental comparisons.
9 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Rent a Car
Now that you’ve found a cheap car rental, here are some considerations to keep in mind before you book your rental:
1. Are there driver requirements? – Some countries charge extra if a driver is under 25 years of age. Others require a certain amount of driving experience before one can rent a car (usually one year). Each country has different requirements, so make sure you read the fine print before you book. You can learn more about getting an international driver’s license on this blog post.
2. What does your travel insurance policy require? – Car companies always push you to get extra insurance when you rent a car. But should you? That depends on whether you have your own travel insurance with collision coverage, your own car insurance, or coverage through your travel credit card.
Some travel insurance companies and credit cards want you to decline the insurance from the rental agency, while others insist you get it and make a claim with them first. Before you rent a car, make sure you understand what is required by your existing travel insurance plan. The credit cards listed here have really good car insurance coverage.
3. What is not included? – Once you find a rental car, companies usually try to sell you all kinds of extras. GPS, liability insurance, satellite radio, a children’s car seat — these are just some of the extras not included in most rental cars. Find out what is and isn’t included, so you aren’t surprised when picking up your vehicle.
4. Do you need to fill the tank at the end? – Some rental car companies allow you to drop off the car as is but that is really rare. Most insist you fill up the tank beforehand. If you don’t, they charge you a highly inflated fee for the gas when they fill it up. I always just fill the tank back up before I drop the car back off.
5. How can you avoid getting scammed? – Before you head out on your trip, take pictures and videos of the car. Specifically, the bumper, windshield, and tires as these are the most likely areas to get damaged. That way, when you return it, they can’t blame you for any pre-existing damage. I always walk through with the person handing me the car and do a walk through with someone when I drop it off.
6. Do you have unlimited mileage? – Unlimited mileage is slowly becoming standard. However, it’s not always the default, check that you have unlimited mileage for longer road trips. Otherwise, you’ll be counting miles so you don’t get billed extra.
7. Do they charge for an extra driver? – If you’re going on a road trip with friends or family, chances are you’ll be sharing the driving. Unless you’re going with a spouse or domestic partner (which some companies include as an additional driver for free), that means you need to pay a fee for an extra driver, usually $10-20 USD per day! Limit your extra drivers if that’s the case, otherwise you’ll be charged a fortune. Also, keep in mind that it’s illegal to charge fees for extra drivers in some places (such as California).
8. Where is the pickup/drop-off location? – Most travelers pick up their rental cars at the airport. While convenient, airports charge companies fees for operating there — fees that get passed onto the customer. It’s worth checking around to see if there’s a difference in price for off-airport locations. If they are easy to reach, chances are you can find a cheaper price there.
9. Is the car automatic or manual transmission? – If you’re from the US or Canada and are used to driving an automatic vehicle, you might be surprised when renting a car abroad, as manual transmissions are standard in most other parts of the world. Because of this, renting an automatic-transmission car is usually more expensive. Double-check that you’re renting a vehicle that you can actually drive (don’t take chances trying to teach yourself on a rental car).
Road trips are one of the best ways to explore a new destination and the freedom of having a car is unrivaled, allowing you to get off the beaten path and into all kinds of adventures. And knowing a few things before you rent a car can save you a lot of time, hassle, and expensive pricing.
How to Travel the World on $75 a Day
My New York Times best-selling book to travel will teach you how to master the art of travel so that you’ll get off save money, always find deals, and have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget travelers.”
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Want to Travel for Free?
Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.
Need a Rental Car?
Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
Toyota Land Cruiser FJ SUV aims to revolutionize accessible off-roading
Toyota’s just expanded its iconic Land Cruiser SUV lineup with the Land Cruiser FJ, a boxy little thing that’s meant to get more people off-roading in an accessible form factor. It’s coming mid-2026, and it might have a fun little surprise to boot.
The chunky FJ advances the 70-year-long Land Cruiser legacy with rugged styling mated to a compact 101-in (2,580-mm) wheelbase that should feel easy to handle for first-time SUV owners. Indeed, it’s more than 10 in (270 mm) shorter than the Land Cruiser 250 that debuted two years ago, and Toyota’s already talking up the FJ’s maneuverability and small 18-ft (5.5 m) turning radius while it’s still close to a year from rolling off the assembly line.
Under the hood, you’ll find a 2.7-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder gasoline engine powering a part-time 4-wheel drive system with a modest 160 hp and 180 lb.ft (246 Nm) of torque on tap. That makes sense for an entry-level off-roader.
CONCEPT MOVIE
The FJ is built on Toyota’s Innovative International Multi-purpose Vehicle (IMV) platform, which is shared by its lauded Hilux pick-up truck. The company says it’s worked to enhance body rigidity and add underfloor braces for added stability.
This five-seater features a no-fluff cabin that’s all about keeping it simple – from the single-color interior panels and seat fabrics, to the straightforward infotainment system, climate controls and instrument panel. The FJ’s dashboard and low beltline should make it easy to see the road even amid difficult terrain.
Toyota
Toyota says it’s also keen for FJ owners to customize their ride with neat accessories. There’s an optional round headlight set to replace the C-shaped ones for a retro look, MOLLE panels that can fit a wide range of outdoor gear in the trunk, and more to come. You can remove the front and rear corner bumpers individually if they’re damaged or you want to style the SUV differently.
Toyota
Now for the especially fun bit: Toyota’s working on an electric bike-like contraption it’s calling the Land Hopper, which it hopes you’ll use to explore travel destinations more freely. This thing has two little wheels in the front and a larger one in the rear, and it folds up to a compact size so it can be stowed away in your car.
Toyota
It isn’t clear whether the Land Hopper will be bundled along with the FJ exclusively, or whether you’ll be able to buy it on its own. Toyota also hasn’t revealed specs like power and range figures, so we’ll have to reserve our excitement until we hear more about that.
Toyota
The FJ will debut in Japan mid-2026, and other markets will follow. Pricing hasn’t yet been revealed. Paul Tan guesses it might be offered elsewhere with a range of diesel powertrains, and perhaps those will bring a bit more grunt. I’m into it already, and I hope it comes with a snorkel – and the Land Hopper – as standard.
Source: Toyota
Is modern society turning us into modern-day serfs?
As corporations rise and algorithms rule, are workers empowered or trapped in digital feudalism
Labels retaliate against Suno’s dismissal of YouTube stream-ripping accusations
Major record labels have fired back at Suno’s attempt to dismiss allegations that the AI music startup illegally downloaded copyrighted songs from YouTube.
They argued that Suno violated federal anti-circumvention laws regardless of any fair use defense.
In a reply brief filed on Monday (October 20) in Massachusetts federal court, and obtained by MBW, lawyers for labels owned by Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group defended their expanded lawsuit against Suno.
The music companies are suing Suno for mass infringement of copyright, alleging the AI startup used copyrighted recordings without permission to train its AI.
You can read the latest filing in full here.
In September, they filed a proposed amended complaint expanding the claims against Suno. They alleged that the AI company got its hands on the recordings by “stream-ripping” them from YouTube, i.e., by circumventing YouTube’s player window and downloading the files directly.
In response, Suno on October 3 asked the court to throw out the latest stream-ripping allegations. While Suno didn’t deny “stream-ripping” music from YouTube, the company’s lawyers argued that the practice is not illegal under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
“The violation lies in the circumvention, not the reason for it.”
Lawyers for UMG, Sony Music and Warner Music subsidiaries
“The Court should deny leave to amend to add this new claim because it is futile,” stated Suno’s response, which can be read in full here.
Lawyers for the music companies have argued that Suno bypassed YouTube’s “rolling cipher” encryption system, which regularly changes access codes to prevent external downloading of videos and audio files.
They are now arguing: “The violation lies in the circumvention, not the reason for it.”
They noted that Section 1201 of the DMCA prohibits the act of bypassing technological measures that control access to copyrighted works, separate from any copyright infringement claims.
They wrote: “If Suno wanted fair use to shield it from liability entirely, it could have acquired its training data lawfully. Instead, it chose a cheaper and faster route: stream-ripping from YouTube.”
“If Suno wanted fair use to shield it from liability entirely, it could have acquired its training data lawfully. Instead, it chose a cheaper and faster route: stream-ripping from YouTube.”
Lawyers for UMG, Sony Music and Warner Music subsidiaries
“Suno has asserted fair use with respect to its subsequent copying… but fair use cannot excuse its unlawful access to Plaintiffs’ works in the first place.”
Suno had argued on October 3 that the amended lawsuit represents “a gambit to try to evade application of the fair use doctrine to Suno’s technology development process.”
Suno’s lawyers argued that the relevant part of the DMCA bans circumventing access controls on copyrighted media, meaning technology designed to limit access only to certain people (for instance, paying subscribers), and not copy controls, meaning tech that prevents people from copying copyrighted material.
In response, the music companies’ lawyers said Suno “wrongly treats” controlling access under Section 1201 “as an all-or-nothing proposition, arguing that once a copyright owner makes a work accessible to the public to any degree, no ‘access control can exist”
Citing a court’s 2001 decision in Universal City Studios v. Corley, the labels’ lawyers wrote: “Fair use has never been held to be a guarantee of access to copyrighted material in order to copy it by the fair user’s preferred technique or in the format of the original.”
The labels asked the court to grant their motion for leave to amend, arguing that their proposed amended complaint “easily meets” the standard for stating a claim.
On Friday (October 17), Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Suno is in negotiations to raise over $100 million in a funding round that would value the company at more than $2 billion, a fourfold increase from the previous valuation.
Music Business Worldwide