Science & Tech news · 17 October 2026
China proposes sweeping export curbs on AI, solar and biomedicine technologies
Beijing's Announcement No. 48 proposes to prohibit or restrict exports of 40 cutting-edge technologies, including large AI models, chip designs and photovoltaic processes, as a counter to Western chip controls.
UN warns next climate summit faces a test of trust as disasters mount
Three weeks before COP31 opens in Antalya, Türkiye, UN officials say world leaders must turn pledges into action with warming already on track for 2.8°C and Africa, which emits only 3% of greenhouse gases, bearing the worst damage.
AI moves into online dating, from Bumble match-making to Hinge profile help
CNN reports Bumble is dropping the swipe for AI-driven matchmaking, Hinge is adding AI profile and conversation help and Grindr is piloting bot-to-bot date vetting, raising concerns that users are outsourcing dating itself.
Antarctic sea ice slides to record daily lows after third-lowest winter peak
The National Snow and Ice Data Center says Antarctic sea ice has been at record-low daily values since October 2, after a September winter maximum of 17.76 million sq km - the third-lowest in the satellite record.
Should AI chatbots alert police to violent threats? A test case in Canada
Al Jazeera examines whether OpenAI and rival AI firms must report users who plan violence, after lawsuits filed by British Columbia and victims' families following the Tumbler Ridge school shooting.