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The battery company Varta Consumer Batteries has saved 990 jobs in Dischingen after a bankruptcy and plans an annual revenue growth of three to four percent by 2029 through investments and expansion into international markets. #Batterieproduktion #Jobsicherheit #Varta (translated)

Russia’s war propaganda gets a soundtrack – how AI-generated songs reached global streaming platforms Russian war propaganda is no longer confined to television broadcasts, Telegram channels or political videos. A study by the Ukrainian threat-intelligence organisation Terrecon has identified 981 songs combining signs of AI generation with pro-Russian military narratives, distributed through an ecosystem that reaches YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and SoundCloud. The songs range from sentimental ballads to rock and heavy metal. Their recurring themes are familiar from conventional Russian wartime propaganda: the heroisation of Russian soldiers, romanticisation of the war, mobilisation, the “Russian world”, commemoration of fallen troops and attacks on Ukraine and its armed forces. Some contain derogatory or dehumanising references to Ukrainians. What is new is not necessarily the message, but the production and distribution model: generative AI allows propagandistic music to be produced rapidly, cheaply and in quantities that would previously have required musicians, studios and producers. Nearly 1,000 tracks identified Terrecon examined 3,725 tracks collected from YouTube, YouTube Music, SoundCloud and the AI music platform Suno. After manual review, researchers classified 981 as showing both indications of AI generation and pro-Russian war propaganda. In 681 tracks they identified 728 propaganda-related keywords or phrases. The largest category was the glorification of the Russian military, followed by romanticised treatment of Moscow’s so-called “special military operation”, mobilisation appeals, narratives about the “Russian world”, and the cult of fallen soldiers and the state. The reach was not merely theoretical. Listening or viewing statistics were available for 608 of the identified tracks; together they had accumulated 86.8 million plays and views, according to Terrecon. A smaller group of 13 high-performing songs accounted for more than 53 million YouTube views and more than 67 million when YouTube Music was included. Among the better-known examples is “Power of Artillery”, a Russian-language rock song praising artillery weapons that passed two million views on YouTube. Most of the tracks for which publication dates could be established appeared after 2024, broadly coinciding with the rapid expansion of consumer AI music generators such as Suno and Udio. That correlation does not prove that AI alone caused the increase, but it illustrates how drastically the economics of production have changed. A propaganda song for as little as $11 Terrecon also tested how difficult it would be to commission such material. Researchers approached 25 creators producing AI-assisted militaristic music; 15 agreed to take commissions. Prices ranged from approximately $11 to $330, while delivery times ranged from two hours to three days. According to Terrecon, some were prepared to produce highly aggressive anti-Ukrainian material, including content intended for audiences involving children from occupied Ukrainian territories. Some creators used Russian intermediary services that provided access to Western AI tools such as Suno and Udio despite restrictions. The researchers then tested several AI generators themselves. Across 40 prompts submitted to Suno, Udio, Mureka, Google Flow Music and ElevenLabs, 25 resulted in successful generations, while safeguards were circumvented in 15 cases. Terrecon reported that four of the five services tested produced Russian-language material containing wartime narratives, although technical problems prevented comparable testing on some systems. In one Udio experiment, the researchers said the model itself introduced more explicit violent language than had appeared in the original promp These tests do not demonstrate that the commercial platforms knowingly support Russian propaganda. They show something narrower: existing safeguards can be inconsistent when political messaging is packaged as music. From generation to Spotify The distribution experiment may be the most revealing part of Terrecon’s research. The team deliberately uploaded test tracks containing explicit hostile language to YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify and Deezer. Terrecon says none was blocked during the experiment. On SoundCloud, researchers used an account identifying its location as Moscow, disclosed the use of AI and added markers including references to the Russian military and the war. The platform accepted the upload and subsequently offered paid promotional and distribution tools. This does not prove that streaming recommendation systems systematically promote pro-war music. There is currently insufficient public evidence to make that claim. It does demonstrate that material can enter the same commercial distribution infrastructure as ordinary music and, once there, potentially benefit from playlists, searches, sharing and recommendation mechanisms available to other releases. That distinction is important. Propaganda no longer has to announce itself as political communication. On a streaming platform it can look like another song. Culture as a delivery mechanism Music has always been used in wartime propaganda. What generative AI changes is scale. Instead of investing heavily in a limited number of patriotic performers or officially commissioned productions, creators can generate variations across styles, audiences and emotional registers at very low cost. Terrecon found material ranging from war rock to sentimental songs and content styled for younger audiences. Some creators also experimented with cloned celebrity voices and stylistic imitation of established musicians. The format also offers a different relationship with the audience. A political video asks a viewer to consume an argument. Music can accompany commuting, exercise or entertainment and may be encountered outside explicitly political spaces. This does not automatically make it more persuasive, and Terrecon’s research does not establish measurable effects on political attitudes. It does, however, place wartime narratives inside a cultural environment where users may not initially perceive themselves as consuming political messaging. An ecosystem, not a proven Kremlin command structure The strongest evidence supports describing this as a growing AI-assisted pro-Russian propaganda-music ecosystem, not a single operation controlled from Moscow. Terrecon did not establish that the Russian government created, financed or coordinated all 981 tracks. Reporting on the study likewise notes that the extent of direct state involvement remains unclear. There is broader evidence that the Russian state finances cultural projects and digital content supporting the war, including through state-backed funding bodies. That context matters, but it does not allow individual songs in Terrecon’s dataset to be attributed to the Kremlin without additional evidence. The significance of the case lies elsewhere. AI has reduced the cost of producing ideological content, intermediaries can help creators access generation tools, and global platforms can provide distribution. The result is a pipeline in which wartime propaganda no longer has to resemble propaganda at all. It can simply appear in a playlist. Sources Terrecon / Ukrainska Pravda — Daria Verbytska on the research https://www.pravda.com.ua/columns/2026/10/05/8056229/ Suspilne Culture — detailed breakdown of Terrecon findings https://suspilne.media/culture/1417933-rosijsku-voennu-propagandu-maskuut-pid-anime-karaoke-ta-rok-doslidzenna-si-pisen-vid-terrecon/ The Insider — AI-generated Russian war propaganda music https://theins.ru/news/297839 Institute of Mass Information — summary of New York Times reporting https://imi.org.ua/en/news/doslidzhennya-rf-masovo-stvoryu%D1%94-propagandistski-pisni-za-dopomogoyu-shi The Bridge Media — AI-generated songs and Russian military propaganda https://thebridgemedia.com.ua/en/ai-generated-songs-russian-military-propaganda/ Center for Strategic Communication — cost and production of AI propaganda music https://spravdi.org/propaganda-za-11-yak-rosiya-shtampuye-shi-pisni-z-miljonamy-prosluhovuvan/ Times of India — AI-generated Russian war songs https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/ai-sings-russias-war-story-inside-the-rise-of-generative-songs-about-ukraine-conflict/articleshow/134650594.cms EU Council / EUR-Lex — Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32026D1351 Human Rights Watch — Russian state funding of digital and patriotic content https://www.hrw.org/report/2025/07/30/disrupted-throttled-and-blocked/state-censorship-control-and-increasing-isolation #DISINFORMED #Episode16 #Russia #Ukraine #RussianPropaganda #WarPropaganda #MusicPropaganda #AIMusic #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #GenerativeAI #SyntheticMedia #AIPropaganda #Disinformation #InformationWarfare #InfluenceOperations #CulturalPropaganda #DigitalInfluence #NarrativeManipulation #PropagandaMusic #StreamingPlatforms #Spotify #AppleMusic #YouTube #YouTubeMusic #Deezer #SoundCloud #Suno #Udio #RussianWorld #RusskiyMir #MilitaryPropaganda #WarNarratives #Mobilisation #AlgorithmicDistribution #RecommendationAlgorithms #MusicStreaming #PlatformManipulation #Terrecon #OSINT #MediaManipulation #WRLD

The author said buyers of older homes could obtain detailed information about their energy performance, but noted there was no equivalent mandatory asbestos assessment before purchase. They questioned whether buyers should be informed about potentially dangerous materials before signing.

Amazon is restricting the payment method of monthly billing due to the Consumer Credit Directive 2 and is instead introducing invoice purchase with a 14-day period, which is expected to apply to all EU customers by November 20 at the latest. #Onlinehandel #Amazon #Rechnungskauf (translated)

The post said a new 30 kW wind turbine was about to be tested at a Kormotech facility in Ukraine. It described the turbine as smaller and quieter, and said it could create new possibilities for distributed wind power. The author added that any electricity reaching consumers in a war zone mattered. https://t.co/mn9zjaKt0R #WindEnergy #Ukraine #RenewableEnergy #UA

The publication claimed that connected cars were sending driver data to advertisers. It also noted that researchers from Northeastern University and Consumer Reports had intercepted the network traffic of 21 vehicles from 19 brands and 30 official manufacturer apps in the United States. It added that 19 of the 21 vehicles... https://t.co/osgctqtivB #CochesConectados #Privacidad #Tecnología #US (translated)

Africa Daily Report — 4 October 2026 Major developments reported during the previous 24 hours. 1. Ethiopia — Federal forces retake Mekelle airport as Tigray fighting escalates Ethiopian federal forces have retaken Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, according to residents and other sources cited by Reuters and AP. The airport had been seized by Tigrayan forces on September 23. Gunfire was reported near central Mekelle, and the renewed conflict is putting the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement under severe strain amid wider tensions involving Eritrea and other regional states. Sources: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/pro-government-forces-say-they-retake-airport-ethiopias-tigray-region-2026-10-03/ https://apnews.com/article/87740d41b686614b63ccdba54dbd3168 2. DR Congo — France pledges stronger Ebola support as outbreak remains severe Importance: 10/10 — Critical France says it will step up financial support for the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot made the announcement during a visit to Bunia, amid concern that gains against the outbreak could reverse. France contributed €13.4 million to Ebola-related efforts from January through July and plans to seek additional funding. The announcement comes as Congo's outbreak has surpassed 4,000 deaths. Sources: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/france-step-up-ebola-funding-congo-amid-resurgence-fears-minister-says-2026-10-03/ https://apnews.com/article/4c79b59ec81a08675d2506c9e176d125 3. Sudan — More than 25 civilians reported killed in North Kordofan Importance: 10/10 — Critical The Sudan Doctors Network says more than 25 civilians were killed in an attack attributed to the Rapid Support Forces in the Umm Badr area of North Kordofan. The medical group said available evidence indicated that civilians may have been targeted on ethnic grounds and called for an independent investigation. Fighting has intensified in Kordofan as the Sudanese Armed Forces and RSF contest territory. Source: https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/665071/world/more-than-25-civilians-killed-in-rsf-attack-in-sudans-north-kordofan 4. Nigeria — 15 civilians killed in suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP attack in Borno Importance: 9/10 — Very High Borno State police confirmed that 15 people were killed in Marte Local Government Area after suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP militants attacked farmers and people gathering firewood. Three people remained missing. The attack underlines the continuing threat to civilians and rural livelihoods in northeastern Nigeria despite prolonged counter-insurgency operations. Source: https://punchng.com/terrorists-kill-15-farmers-in-borno/ 5. Kenya — $16 billion Dangote Lamu refinery faces new legal challenge Importance: 9/10 — Very High The proposed $16 billion Dangote oil refinery in Lamu is facing a further legal challenge. The Consumers Federation of Kenya is seeking to halt government participation until questions concerning procurement, financing, Kenya's proposed stake and public-land arrangements are clarified. Separately, an Environment and Land Court has issued interim orders affecting activity on land designated for the project. The refinery is planned at 700,000 barrels per day and would be one of East Africa's largest industrial investments. Source: https://energynews.africa/2026/10/03/dangotes-16bn-kenya-refinery-faces-legal-challenge/ 6. Burkina Faso — First national gold refinery marks push for domestic processing Importance: 8/10 — High Burkina Faso has inaugurated its first national gold refinery, RAFFINOR-BF, in Ouagadougou. The project is designed to allow more of the country's gold to be refined and certified domestically rather than exported for processing abroad. Reported initial capacity is 164 tonnes annually, with expansion plans that could also position Burkina Faso as a regional refining centre. Source: https://www.theafricandream.net/burkina-first-gold-refinery/ 7. South Africa — AU human-rights mission concludes with preliminary findings The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights completed a promotion mission to South Africa. Its preliminary assessment described the country's legal framework for protecting human and peoples' rights, including those of non-nationals, as comprehensive. The mission took place against a backdrop of domestic concern about violent crime, migration tensions and gender-based violence. Source: https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/au-human-rights-mission-sa-concludes 8. Nigeria / South Africa — Nigeria evacuates another 106 citizens amid anti-migrant tensions Importance: 8/10 — High *Another 106 Nigerian citizens arrived in Lagos from South Africa as concerns continue over xenophobic and Afrophobic violence and intimidation. Nigeria has urged South African authorities to protect foreign nationals, while Pretoria has stressed that immigration enforcement is a state responsibility and warned against vigilantism. The episode continues to put pressure on relations between two of Africa's largest economies. Source: https://thewillnews.com/xenophobia-nigeria-evacuates-106-more-from-south-africa-as-anti-migrant-tensions-escalate/ 9. Sudan — Fighting spreads in Blue Nile near Ethiopian border Importance: 9/10 — Very High Sudan's military says it repelled an attack by the RSF and allied SPLM-N forces around Minza and Bashkarkad in Blue Nile state near Ethiopia. The clashes followed RSF drone strikes on targets in Ed Damazin. The International Organization for Migration has reported displacement of roughly 7,000 people from affected areas since late September, adding another front to Sudan's prolonged war. The RSF and SPLM-N had not immediately commented on the military's account. Source: https://sudantribune.com/article/319554 10. Somalia — Navy intercepts vessel with seven foreign nationals off Hobyo Importance: 7/10 — High Somali naval and coastal defence forces intercepted a vessel off Hobyo whose Automatic Identification System was reportedly switched off. Seven foreign nationals were detained while authorities investigate the vessel's registration, cargo and purpose. The operation comes amid Somalia's efforts to strengthen maritime surveillance and combat illegal fishing and other illicit activity along its coastline. Source: https://somalilandstandard.com/somali-navy-seizes-boat-carrying-seven-foreigners-in-hobyo/ #Africa #AfricaNews #TopNewsOfAfrica #DRCongo #Ebola #EbolaOutbreak #Bunia #France #PublicHealth #HealthEmergency #Nigeria #Borno #BokoHaram #ISWAP #Terrorism #CivilianProtection #Ethiopia #Tigray #Mekelle #Conflict #Security #HornOfAfrica #Sudan #NorthKordofan #RegionalStability #Geopolitics

Africa Daily Report — 3 October 2026 Major developments reported during the previous 24 hours. 1. Ethiopia / Eritrea — Fighting advances toward Mekelle as regional-war fears intensify Ethiopian federal forces and allied militias advanced toward Mekelle amid renewed fighting with the TPLF-led rebel alliance. The military escalation comes alongside the rupture of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, while the African Union has urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint. The combination of battlefield escalation, diplomatic expulsions and regional rivalries makes this the continent's most consequential security development today. Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethiopian-forces-near-tigray-capital-fears-grow-wider-conflict-2026-10-02/ 2. DR Congo — Ebola death toll passes 4,000 as response is disrupted Importance: 10/10 — Critical DR Congo's Ebola outbreak has reached about 8,300 confirmed cases and more than 4,000 deaths. Containment is being undermined by insecurity, destruction of treatment infrastructure, difficulties tracing displaced contacts and health-worker payment disputes. The outbreak is now the deadliest Ebola episode in DRC's history. Source: https://apnews.com/article/4c79b59ec81a08675d2506c9e176d125 3. Sierra Leone / EU — Aid dispute linked to wanted cocaine trafficker Importance: 9/10 — Very High The EU has suspended €18 million in financial support to Sierra Leone, according to the Dutch government, amid a dispute over Freetown's cooperation in efforts to arrest and extradite convicted cocaine trafficker Jos Leijdekkers. Sierra Leone disputes the characterization of the funding delay as punishment over the fugitive case, saying procedural financing issues are involved. Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-cuts-aid-sierra-leone-over-its-help-convicted-cocaine-kingpin-netherlands-2026-10-01/ 4. Guinea-Bissau — Military authorities block former president Embalo's return Guinea-Bissau's military leadership has barred ousted former president Umaro Sissoco Embalo from returning from exile, citing security concerns. Embalo had announced plans to return ahead of the 6 December presidential election and says he intends to contest it. The decision adds uncertainty to the country's political transition and electoral process. Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/guinea-bissau-military-leaders-bar-ousted-presidents-return-2026-10-02/ 5. Cameroon / Central African Republic — $391 million World Bank-backed corridor financing Importance: 8/10 — High Cameroon's President Paul Biya authorized a €347.5 million ($390.9 million) World Bank loan agreement for the Douala–Bangui Economic Corridor project. The investment is intended to improve infrastructure and economic connectivity between Cameroon and the Central African Republic, making it an important regional trade and logistics project. Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/cameroon-authorises-391-million-world-bank-loan-2026-10-02/ 6. South Africa — Political killings reach record level ahead of local elections At least 43 people were reported killed in suspected politically connected attacks in South Africa from January through September, according to research published ahead of the 4 November local elections. KwaZulu-Natal has been particularly affected. The violence adds a serious security dimension to the election. Source: https://www.africanews.com/programmes/news/ 7. Kenya — $16 billion Lamu refinery faces another legal challenge Importance: 8/10 — High The planned $16 billion Dangote refinery at Lamu, one of East Africa's largest prospective industrial investments, faces another legal challenge. Consumer-rights group COFEK is seeking disclosure of details surrounding the Kenyan government's planned participation, adding to an existing land-related court dispute. Source: https://www.okayafrica.com/today-in-africa-october-2-2026-ethiopia-eritrea-rift-raises-regional-war-fears-eu-suspends-aid-to-sierra-leone/1440442 8. Botswana — Elephant cull for independence celebrations triggers conservation controversy Importance: 7/10 — High Botswana authorized the killing of 23 elephants and dozens of antelope to provide meat during its 60th independence celebrations, reopening debate over elephant management and hunting. The government argues that controlled hunting helps manage its exceptionally large elephant population and benefits communities exposed to human-wildlife conflict; conservationists have criticized the decision. Source: https://apnews.com/article/4f85f8d5c144a464eae2fc721135213e 9. Algeria — Parliament backs death penalty for deliberate forest arson Algeria's parliament approved legislation providing for the death penalty for deliberately setting fire to forests, woods or fields, following deadly wildfire seasons. Algeria retains capital punishment in law but has not carried out an execution since 1993. The legislation still requires further institutional review before final ratification. Source: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/algeria-moves-restore-death-penalty-arson-what-know 10. Sudan — Rights groups warn of widespread sexual violence against women and girls Importance: 9/10 — Very High Sudanese women's-rights organizations are warning that sexual violence, exploitation, detention and torture remain widespread amid the war, with many cases likely undocumented because of insecurity and fear of retaliation. Displaced women and girls are especially vulnerable as conflict, hunger and the collapse of livelihoods compound protection risks. Source: https://allafrica.com/stories/202610020092.html #Africa #AfricaNews #TopNewsOfAfrica #SierraLeone #EuropeanUnion #EU #AidDispute #CocaineTrafficking #JosLeijdekkers #Diplomacy #Cameroon #CentralAfricanRepublic #WorldBank #DoualaBanguiCorridor #Infrastructure #RegionalTrade #Logistics #AfricanEconomy #Ethiopia #Eritrea #Tigray #Mekelle #HornOfAfrica #RegionalConflict #RegionalSecurity #AfricanSecurity #Geopolitics #AfricaToday #wrldorg