As A.I. Agents Begin Shopping, Brands Are Changing Their Sales Pitch

New York Times - Oct 3, 2026

Faced with bots immune to traditional marketing tactics, marketers are racing to win them over with logic and data.

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Oct 3, 2026
The American Vacation Is Proving Surprisingly Resilient

Americans may be watching their wallets, but they aren’t giving up their vacations. New findings from MMGY’s 2026 Portrait of American Travelers™ “Fall Edition” reveal that travel demand is rebounding this fall, with Americans expecting to spend $5,655 on leisure travel over the next 12 months and take nearly four vacations, both up from the “Summer Edition” of the survey.

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Oct 3, 2026
New baby bank 'open to everybody'

The facility offers essential items for free, including clothes for babies and small children.

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Oct 3, 2026
Unsung Eats: 5 best places to eat in Milan during the World’s 50 Best Bars awards

Milan, Italy’s fashion capital and home to this year’s World’s 50 Best Bars awards ceremony, offers bites as exquisite as its reputation. For those checking out the awards this month, be sure to make time for the city’s food scene, which is every bit as compelling as its bar culture. Alongside traditional trattorias, a new generation of chefs with fine-dining pedigrees steps away from rigid traditions, experimenting with fermentation menus, sustainable work hours, and a fusion of cultures....

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Oct 3, 2026
Rising energy costs add to cost of living for Northern Ireland's consumers

Households across Northern Ireland face increasing pressure on the cost of living as energy price hikes have come into effect.

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Oct 3, 2026
G7 to release millions of barrels of oil and diesel after Trump threat

The co-ordinated release is aimed at heading off further price spikes and avoiding a ban on US diesel exports.

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Oct 3, 2026
Is adopting Chinese fashion appropriation or appreciation? Artisans weigh in on the debate

As international fashion companies increasingly incorporate traditional Chinese design elements into their collections, accusations of cultural appropriation have flooded social media. In recent years, brands such as Zara and Adidas have been criticised for adopting Chinese tailoring features such as Mandarin collars and pankou, or frog buttons. While Zara drew backlash for mislabelling these elements as generic “fireman clasps” without acknowledging their heritage, Adidas sparked debate over...

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Oct 3, 2026
White House Filing Claims President Has Authority to Bar News Outlets

The Trump administration again defended the decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House and to exclude journalists from the pool that covers the president in small spaces.

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Oct 3, 2026
35 Travel Products From Amazon Our Readers Are Loving In 2026

Thanks for these recs, jet-setters. View Entire Post ›

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Oct 3, 2026
Federal Watchdog Investigates Adam Kinzinger for Kalshi Bets on His Pardon

The inquiry by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission centers on bets the former congressman made on Kalshi in the weeks before he was pardoned in January 2025.

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Oct 3, 2026
US Sanctions A7, a Russia Firm That Helps Sidestep Economic Restrictions

The move followed reports detailing how A7, a Moscow firm, uses shell companies around the world to move funds for clients who are themselves subject to sanctions.

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Oct 3, 2026
The surprising history of beer in China, from li to Tsingtao

Munich’s Oktoberfest was never on my travel bucket list. But it offered a chance to meet up with good friends from Hong Kong and their adorable toddler, Joshua, who go to the festival every year as a family. So there I was, spending a weekend at Theresienwiese, surrounded by bewildering varieties of beer and their drinkers. The annual Oktoberfest, first held in October 1810 to celebrate a royal wedding, is about more than just beer. There are amusement rides, games, stalls selling things you...

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Oct 3, 2026
New fashion and homeware drops: Fendi, Hermès, Marimekko and more

These latest launches offer something for every taste, from reimagined icons and richly textured wardrobe staples to playful collaborations and unexpected home accessories. Whether you are looking for an elegant pair of slingbacks, embellished sneakers, a statement basketball hoop or vibrant glass tableware, there is plenty to discover. Fendi For her first Fendi collection – fall/winter 2026 – chief creative officer Maria Grazia Chiuri revisited one of the label’s signature shoes, the Colibrì...