Istanbul Times – Global & Local Highlights: October 19–26, 2025
World & General
Australia sees benefits from school phone ban
Two years after banning mobile phones in schools, Australia reports that students experience calmer classroom starts, fewer distractions, and increased face-to-face interaction. The policy also appears to boost learning and social skills, with students leaving phones in secure shelves until the end of the school day.
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Elon Musk’s Boring Company expands to Dubai
The Boring Company, which Musk founded in 2016 to reduce traffic through underground tunnels, is preparing its next major project in Dubai. The 17-kilometer “Dubai Loop,” set to open in 2026, will carry up to 20,000 passengers per hour, following the success of the 2.7-kilometer Las Vegas tunnel opened in 2021.
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Threads catches up to Twitter
According to Similarweb, the Threads app, launched as a competitor to Twitter, has now matched Twitter in daily active users, highlighting the rapid adoption of the new platform.
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Meta introduces ad-free Facebook and Instagram in the UK
Meta has announced that users in the United Kingdom can now enjoy Facebook and Instagram without ads for a monthly fee of £3. The company plans to expand this option to other countries soon, giving users more choice over how they experience the platforms.
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Amazon hires 250,000 temporary workers for the holiday season
The e-commerce giant, which now employs over 1 million robots, is preparing for the upcoming Christmas and New Year rush. Amazon will hire 250,000 temporary warehouse workers to help manage the surge in orders and ensure timely delivery during the busy holiday season.
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China completes the world’s highest bridge in Guizhou
After three years and eight months of construction, China has opened the Huajiang Bridge in the Guizhou region. Standing 625 meters above the valley and stretching 1.4 kilometers, it now holds the record for the longest bridge in a mountainous region. Visitors can reach a restaurant at the bridge’s piers via elevator, and a glass-bottom walkway provides breathtaking views for the daring.
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US H-1B visa fees to rise; China offers new K visa
US President Donald Trump has proposed raising the annual fee for the H-1B visa, widely used by tech companies to employ highly skilled foreign workers, to $100,000. In response, China has launched the “K visa,” allowing STEM graduates to live, study, and work in China even without a job offer, aiming to attract top talent from around the world.
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AI & Technology
AI Psychosis: a new mental health concern
Experts are now warning about “AI Psychosis,” a condition linked to obsessive use of AI tools like ChatGPT. The disorder can contribute to job loss, homelessness, and in severe cases, death. Cases surged after ChatGPT gained memory functions in 2025.
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OpenAI introduces parental controls
OpenAI now offers parental monitoring for users aged 13–18, alerting authorities and guardians if self-harm tendencies are detected. Additionally, the platform now allows direct purchases, and OpenAI reached a historic valuation of $500 billion this week.
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AI misuse leads to arrest
A 13-year-old in the United States was arrested for asking ChatGPT how to harm a friend. Police rejected his claim that he was “just trolling.” The case highlights the dangers of overestimating AI bots’ limits.
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Nuromova N1 headband tracks mental performance
The AI-powered N1 headband claims to monitor athletes’ focus, stress, fatigue, and emotional state via brain waves, aiming to boost performance. It is currently available through crowdfunding for $329.
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Innovation & Invention
World’s fastest car changes hands
The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme, tested in Germany, reached 496 km/h, surpassing Bugatti’s Chiron Supersport 300+ as the world’s fastest car. Only 30 units will be produced, powered by 3,000 HP and a 1,200-volt architecture.
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Ferrari unveils first electric car: Elettrica
Ferrari revealed details of its first electric model, the Elettrica, boasting 629 kW of power, a top speed of 310 km/h, a 530 km range, four doors, four seats, and a €500,000 price tag. The signature Ferrari engine sound will be recreated synthetically.
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Yamaha’s self-balancing e-bike Motoroid
Yamaha introduced several prototype bikes at Japan’s Mobility Fair, including the AI-assisted Motoroid, capable of autonomous riding and self-balancing, looking almost like a Transformer come to life.
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Epirus’ Leonidas disables 49 drones at once
The US defense startup showcased a non-lethal microwave weapon capable of disabling 49 unmanned aerial vehicles in a single shot, with rapid-fire capabilities.
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Vay remote driving technology
German startup Vay has created a system where users can call an electric car using an app and either drive it themselves remotely or let a professional operator take control to drive it for them.
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Humanoid robot Figure 03
Figure AI introduced its third-generation humanoid, Figure 03, powered by its Helix AI platform. Pricing has not yet been revealed.
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Charlotte construction robot
Crest Robotics and Earthbuilt Technology developed “Charlotte,” a spider-like robot capable of replacing 100 workers to build 200 m² of housing in just 24 hours.
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Micro robots in modern warfare
The US military is exploring micro-sized robots for intelligence and surveillance, including RoboBee drones, underwater “robo-jelly” jellyfish, and insect-like 10 cm devices.
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See you next week for more updates! Until then, I’ll leave you with a timeless thought from a wall inscription written in 1529 in Ascoli Piceno, Italy:
Those who can, don’t want to. Those who want to, cannot. Those who know, don’t act. Those who act, don’t know, and so the world goes wrong.
It’s a simple reminder that even long ago, people were thinking about the same things we still face today. 🙋♂️