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Trump orders new NIH division and task force focused on women’s health

The order creates a White House task force and an NIH division to strengthen women’s health research and translate findings into care. The division must be set up within 90 days.

“This is a transformative moment for women in America. Beginning today, we will change the reality of women’s health.”
Melania TrumpFirst lady of the United States

Poll finds AAPI adults losing trust in Trump and Republicans

A poll finds Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults are increasingly disillusioned with Trump and Republicans, with the economy and health care among their top concerns.

Federal agents search Ilhan Omar’s home before US midterm elections

Federal agents searched the Washington-area home of Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar as part of an ongoing investigation. The raid, less than three weeks before the midterms, drew criticism from Omar and Democratic leaders.

Michigan Senate candidates clash over attacks on El-Sayed’s faith

Republican Mike Rogers said he does not speak for President Trump after Trump called Democrat Abdul El-Sayed a “jihadist.” El-Sayed’s campaign has released an ad highlighting his faith.

Trump says work on historic DC golf course will start November 15

Trump says a renovation of East Potomac Golf Links will begin November 15 and reopen in about 15 months. A judge has paused tree removals and ordered the government to clarify its plans.

California voters to decide on one-time 5% tax on billionaires

Proposition 40 would tax the wealth of California billionaires once, with most of the estimated $100 billion earmarked for health care. Voters will decide in November.

BBC asks court to set date for Trump's testimony in defamation case

The BBC has asked a Florida federal court to make Donald Trump set a date to give sworn testimony in his $10 billion lawsuit against the broadcaster. His lawyers proposed moving the planned October deposition to January.

The BBC wants a judge to set a firm date for Donald Trump's sworn testimony in his defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster.

Trump's lawyers had agreed to an October 16 deposition, then said he could not attend and proposed January instead.

The case is in a Florida federal court and concerns a BBC documentary that joined two parts of Trump's January 6, 2021 speech, making it seem he explicitly urged supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol.

Trump filed the suit in December 2025 and seeks at least $5 billion for each of two claims.

Read full story →

US Supreme Court rejects bid to restore 9/11 plea deals

The Supreme Court declined to review the cancellation of plea deals for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants, leaving the agreements void and the case headed toward trial.

Mohammed and two co-defendants reached plea agreements that would have spared them the death penalty in exchange for guilty pleas.

Lloyd Austin revoked the agreements.

A panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld Austin’s decision.

A US Air Force judge set the trial for June 2028.

The Supreme Court declined to hear the defendants’ appeals.

US and China prepare for November AI talks amid safety and business concerns

The US and China are due to hold another AI meeting in November after agreeing to a formal dialogue and hotline. The talks come as concerns grow about investment risks and public acceptance of AI.

Next meeting
Expected in November
Agreed mechanism
Formal AI dialogue and hotline
US public view
38 per cent saw more benefits than drawbacks in AI products and services
China public view
85 per cent saw more benefits than drawbacks in AI products and services

Ukrainians and Sudanese keep US deportation protections for now

The US says Ukrainians and Sudanese covered by temporary protections can remain in the country for now, though it has not said how long they will be protected.

US administration TPS advocates

Duration of protection

DHS said covered Ukrainians and Sudanese retain protection while it prepares an announcement, without specifying how long.

Advocates welcomed the reprieve but said people need a formal decision and certainty.

Long-term status

Trump administration officials have argued that TPS is temporary and not a permanent solution.

Yuriy Boyechko called for a path to permanent residency, while Global Refuge urged an official written decision.

Ritchie Torres Announces Bill to Protect Digital Game Ownership

The New York lawmaker’s proposed Power To The Players Act would direct the FTC to protect buyers’ rights to own, play and transfer games, including after servers shut down.

World

Prosecutors say former OpenAI worker should remain in custody

US prosecutors say Abdulrahman Alfozan poses a flight risk after his arrest over an alleged recording device at OpenAI. His lawyer has asked a court to release him under strict conditions.

“There is a real threat here that once he leaves the case is over”
Alex TseFederal magistrate judge

Clashes return to Paris after nationwide protests and looting

Police used tear gas during renewed clashes near Place de la République on Sunday, after protests over living costs and school conditions led to looting and mass arrests across France.

Heavy rain from Storm Adam brings flood risk to eastern Spain

Storm Adam brought intense rain to Valencia and Alicante, prompting emergency alerts, school closures and flood warnings. More heavy rain was forecast in parts of Catalonia.

Egypt backs Saudi Arabia as lawmakers weigh military support

Egypt’s National Defense Council approved support for Saudi Arabia amid intensified Houthi attacks. Parliament postponed a decision on authorizing military assistance until Monday.

Oregon school shooting kills three children and a teacher

A 16-year-old opened fire in a special-needs classroom at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, killing four people. A father and a teacher intervened, and police say the suspect was shot dead.

Hoax bomb threats sent to hundreds of schools in several countries

Schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Hungary and Serbia received threatening emails on Monday. Police treated the warnings as a hoax and began investigating their source.

Kenyan pastor and 28 others convicted over 191 Shakahola deaths

A Kenyan court found Paul Mackenzie and 28 others guilty of murdering 190 children and one adult in a starvation cult. More than 400 bodies have been recovered from the site.

A Kenyan court convicted pastor Paul Mackenzie and 28 others of murdering 190 children and one adult.

The deaths were linked to a starvation cult at Shakahola Forest in coastal Kenya, where followers lived on Mackenzie’s ranch.

Prosecutors said the group used religious teachings to make followers fast until they died, with children targeted first.

More than 400 bodies have been recovered from shallow graves since the case came to light in 2023, and some victims remain unidentified.

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Australian MP Helen Haines critically injured after being hit by car

Independent MP Helen Haines was critically injured when a car struck her outside her office in Wangaratta. A 43-year-old man is in custody as authorities investigate.

Haines was struck by a car outside her electoral office in Wangaratta.

A passerby detained the driver, who was then arrested by police.

Haines was transferred from Wangaratta to Melbourne by helicopter, according to the BBC.

WFP cuts monthly food aid to 500,000 people in Gaza

Funding shortages are forcing the World Food Programme to reduce monthly food assistance in Gaza from 1.6 million people to 1.1 million as winter approaches.

Monthly recipients
Cut from 1.6 million to 1.1 million
People losing monthly support
About 500,000
Food rations
Halved
Cash assistance
Reduced for 75,000 families

Putin proposes Ukraine summit with Trump and Xi

Putin has proposed a November summit with Trump and Xi to discuss ending the Ukraine war. No agreement has been reached, and Trump has not accepted the proposal.

Ukraine Kremlin and Russian proposal

Who participates

Ukraine says a meeting involving Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia could help end the war sooner.

The proposal is for a meeting between Russia, the U.S. and China, without Ukraine.

Effect on the war

Sybiha said a Russia-China-U.S. meeting would encourage Putin to continue the war.

Putin reportedly wants a deal favorable to Moscow; the Kremlin said the possibility of a meeting had been discussed but no specific agreements were made.

Bangladesh says Saudi Arabia did not notify it before executing two citizens

Saudi Arabia executed a Bangladeshi man and woman in Mecca over an offence inside a mosque. Bangladesh says it learned of the executions afterward and has asked for details.

Business

Ritz launches gluten-free crackers at Walmart and Albertsons

Ritz gluten-free crackers go on sale at Walmart and Albertsons on Oct. 19. The 8-ounce packs start at $4.49, with nationwide availability planned for February 2027.

“Gluten-free fans have been asking for Ritz by name for years and with the right recipe, the brand has finally answered”
Ritz spokespersonBrand spokesperson

Disney seeks Character.AI technology and hires most of its staff through bankruptcy deal

Disney has hired most of Character.AI’s staff and is seeking a license to use much of its technology through the startup’s bankruptcy. The deal remains subject to an auction and court approval.

KFC to replace Pepsi with Coca-Cola at US restaurants in 2027

KFC will start replacing Pepsi with Coca-Cola at its US restaurants in January 2027, with the change expected to be complete by spring. The switch ends a relationship of about 40 years.

Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla could merge in a deal worth nearly $4 trillion

Investors expect Elon Musk may combine SpaceX and Tesla, creating a company worth nearly $4 trillion. No deal has been announced.

US stock futures rise after tech-led sell-off

US stock futures rose after a week of losses led by AI and semiconductor shares. Reports gave different figures for the Nasdaq 100 futures gain.

JPMorgan invests $5 billion in US security and resilience companies

JPMorgan Chase says it invested $5 billion in equity in companies tied to US security and resilience during the initiative’s first year, and financed about $230 billion in related industries.

Lay’s plans five limited-time holiday chip flavors

Lay’s is bringing five Thanksgiving- and dessert-inspired chip flavors to U.S. stores from Oct. 25, with some varieties arriving later in the season.

Lay’s is introducing five limited-time flavors inspired by holiday meals and desserts in the United States.

The lineup includes Cheddar Scalloped-Style Potatoes and Roasted Holiday Turkey, which debut nationwide on Oct.

25.

Maple Bacon chips are scheduled to arrive on Nov.

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U.S. budget deficit reaches $1.99 trillion, highest in five years

The U.S. federal budget deficit rose 12% to $1.99 trillion in fiscal 2026, the largest in five years. Spending grew faster than revenue.

Fiscal 2026 began.

The Supreme Court struck down most of the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, according to Estadão.

Fiscal 2026 ended.

US Treasury figures on the fiscal year’s budget balance were reported.

US stocks fall as AI debt worries and oil prices rise

Major US stock indexes fell Friday as investors sold AI and chip stocks over debt concerns and rising oil prices. The Nasdaq dropped 2.15%, while the chip index fell for an eighth straight session.

Nasdaq close
26,140.03, down 2.15%
S&P 500 close
7,659.44, down 1.09%
Dow close
52,002.41, down 0.34%
Semiconductor index
Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 3.83%, its eighth consecutive decline

US Cybersecurity Job Postings Fall 26% to Four-Year Low

US cybersecurity job postings fell 26.4% in January–September 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. AI security engineer postings rose sharply.

Jessica Edwards Named Executive Director of Woodstock Film Festival

Jessica Edwards will lead the Woodstock Film Festival, succeeding co-founder Meira Blaustein as its 27th annual event ended. “Mouse” won Best Narrative Feature.

Science & Tech

Russian satellite approaches commercial radar satellite linked to Ukraine

Russian satellite Cosmos 2612 maneuvered close to ICEYE-X36, a commercial radar satellite whose operator supplies imagery to Ukraine. The purpose of the approach is unclear.

“While the intent remains uncertain, the behavior warrants continued monitoring”
LeoLabsOrbital monitoring company

Malicious Rank Math PRO updates exposed WordPress sites to backdoors

Some Rank Math PRO downloads and updates delivered malware from October 15 to 16. Sites where the affected plugin was activated should be treated as compromised.

ConnectWise suspends cloud services after Microsoft 365 tenant intrusions

Attackers used a stolen ConnectWise application credential to access Microsoft 365 tenants. ConnectWise suspended Cloud Backup, SaaS Security and Cloud Management while it investigates.

Online orders for Apple's foldable iPhone Duo pushed to late January

Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo is still due in stores on October 23, but online orders for every configuration now have estimated delivery dates in late January 2027.

Albert Heijn restores some systems after detecting suspicious hacker traffic

Albert Heijn detected suspicious traffic from servers in several countries and shut down some systems. Stores are being restocked as the company begins a controlled restart.

Pegasus spyware found on Belgrade rector’s phone as Serbia election nears

Researchers confirmed Pegasus infected University of Belgrade Rector Vladan Đokić’s phone. Former prosecutor Rade Bajić received an Apple spyware warning, but his device is still being investigated.

US orders DeepSeek AI removed from civilian government systems

The Department of Homeland Security ordered civilian US agencies to remove DeepSeek products and services built with its AI. The restriction took effect at the end of July and excludes Defense Department agencies.

The US has ordered civilian government agencies to remove DeepSeek AI products from their systems.

DeepSeek is a Chinese company whose AI models are popular partly because they are cheaper to use than many competitors.

The Department of Homeland Security says using the models could expose sensitive information to China and that they may contain malware or other security weaknesses.

The restriction covers civilian agencies, but not the Defense Department, and also bars agencies from buying DeepSeek products or services built using its models.

Read full story →

Apple sets October 28 event, with OLED MacBook and iPad mini expected

Apple will hold an event called “Pro and Tell” in Los Angeles on October 28. Reports expect it to feature touchscreen MacBooks and an OLED iPad mini.

Apple confirmed the event through invitations to press and influencers.

MacRumors reported the products could be announced on either date.

Apple’s “Pro and Tell” event is scheduled to take place.

A planned store refresh may indicate when sales of new products begin.

California settles 23andMe data breach claims for US$6 million

California settled claims over a 23andMe data breach for US$6 million. No further details about the claims or settlement are provided.

Settlement
US$6 million for California
Breach
2023
Customers affected
6.9 million
California residents whose genetic information was exposed
More than 855,000

Meta says Claude activity led to mistaken suspension of No Kings account

Meta said activity by Anthropic’s Claude tool triggered an automated system that temporarily suspended the No Kings Coalition’s Instagram account during nationwide demonstrations. The account was restored, and Meta apologized.

Meta No Kings Coalition

Cause

Meta said Claude tool activity generated abrupt, high-volume requests that resembled bot traffic.

Organisers said members posted only a handful of times and livestreamed to thousands; they sought a deeper explanation.

Effect and response

Meta said an automated review found the suspension was a mistake, restored the account and apologised.

The coalition said the suspension restricted voting communications during an election and demanded steps to prevent a repeat.

Apple releases test versions of its 27.2 software updates

Apple has issued release candidates for its 27.2 updates across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and other devices. Public releases are expected by the end of October.

Sports

Jalen Hurts to miss rest of season after blood clots found in lungs

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss the rest of the 2026 season while being treated for blood clots in his lungs. The team expects him to make a full recovery.

“We anticipate that he will have the opportunity to resume contact football activities when off the blood thinners”
Philadelphia EaglesTeam statement

Former NC State coach Chuck Amato dies at 80

Chuck Amato, who coached NC State from 2000 to 2006, has died at 80. He led the Wolfpack to a school-record 11 wins in 2002.

Rams face historic odds after opening the season 2-4

The Los Angeles Rams have fallen to 2-4 after starting 2026 as Super Bowl favorites. A softer stretch of games gives them a chance to recover, but a championship would require a historic turnaround.

No. 14 Tennessee beats No. 6 Alabama 26-10

DeSean Bishop ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns as Tennessee beat Alabama 26-10 in Knoxville. Alabama has lost back-to-back regular-season games for the first time since 2007.

Stefon Diggs is questionable for Commanders-49ers game

Washington wide receiver Stefon Diggs is listed as questionable for Monday night's game against San Francisco because of a hamstring injury. He missed last week's game but returned to limited practice.

Michigan benches Bryce Underwood, replaces him with Tommy Carr

Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham replaced quarterback Bryce Underwood with freshman Tommy Carr against Penn State after Underwood threw two first-half interceptions. Carr helped Michigan score two third-quarter touchdowns.

NFL says Steelers-Saints game in Paris remains scheduled amid unrest

The NFL says the Steelers-Saints game in Paris on Oct. 25 remains scheduled as protests and violence spread across France. The league says it is working with local authorities on security.

The NFL says the Steelers and Saints are still set to play in Paris on Oct.

25 despite unrest across France.

The game at Stade de France is planned as the first regular-season NFL matchup in France.

Protests over living costs, school conditions and public services have grown, with violent groups setting fires, attacking public buildings and looting shops.

Read full story →

J.J. McCarthy sparks Giants rally after replacing Jameis Winston

McCarthy threw for 243 yards and a touchdown after replacing Winston in the fourth quarter, but the Giants lost 34-27 to the Saints. Coach John Harbaugh has not decided who will start next week.

Harbaugh promoted McCarthy to backup quarterback, while Winston remained the starter.

Trailing 34-10, the Giants replaced Winston with McCarthy.

McCarthy led three consecutive scoring drives and brought the Giants within one score.

The Giants lost 34-27 to the Saints.

Harbaugh said no decision had been made about the quarterback for Week 7.

Colts fire GM Chris Ballard after 2-4 start and back-to-back losses

Indianapolis fired general manager Chris Ballard after a 2-4 start and five straight seasons without a playoff appearance. Coach Shane Steichen remains under pressure as the team searches for a new GM.

Season start
2-4
Ballard’s tenure
10th season as Colts general manager
Colts record under Ballard
72-82-1
Postseason record
CBS Sports reports 1-2; ESPN reports two playoff appearances and one playoff victory.

Josh Allen ties Bills touchdown pass record in win over Raiders

Allen matched Jim Kelly’s Buffalo record for touchdown passes as the Bills held off the Las Vegas Raiders.

Rams fall to 2-4 after losing to Cardinals

The Los Angeles Rams lost 18-16 at home to the Arizona Cardinals, dropping to 2-4. The defeat raises doubts about the Rams’ Super Bowl hopes.

Entertainment

Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN after 43 years

Christiane Amanpour will leave CNN in June 2027 after 43 years. Her CNN International programme will run weekly through May, and her PBS show is due to end this year.

“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!”
Christiane AmanpourCNN chief international anchor

Actor Richard Riehle, known for ‘Office Space,’ dies at 78

Richard Riehle, a character actor with more than 400 screen credits, has died at 78. Friends said he died of natural causes.

Lua Blanco, star of Rebelde Brasil, dies at 39

The Brazilian actress and singer, known for playing Roberta Messi in Rebelde Brasil, died after battling cancer in recent months, her family said.

Maurice Dziwak wins Promi Big Brother 2026 and €100,000

Maurice Dziwak won the 14th season of Promi Big Brother, beating Axel Schulz in the final with 59.8% of the viewers’ votes and taking the €100,000 prize.

Saros gets free Zenith update with new modes and accessibility options

Housemarque has released the free Zenith update for PS5 shooter Saros. It adds a boss-rush mode, New Game Plus, difficulty modifiers and settings to make combat easier to manage.

Miley Cyrus returns to the stage with tribute to Dolly Parton

Cyrus played her first full concert in nearly four years at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, where she honored her late godmother Dolly Parton with a performance of “Jolene.”

The Simpsons brings Apu back with a new voice actor

Sunil Malhotra voices Apu in a new episode of The Simpsons, nearly nine years after Hank Azaria stepped down amid criticism of the character’s portrayal.

The Simpsons has brought Apu back in a season 38 episode that aired Sunday.

Indian American actor Sunil Malhotra now voices Apu, taking over from Hank Azaria.

Apu had been largely absent from the show after criticism that he reinforced stereotypes of South Asians.

Azaria stopped voicing him in 2020, after the controversy drew wider attention through comedian Hari Kondabolu’s documentary The Problem With Apu.

Read full story →

Lucasfilm plans more Star Wars games with independent studios

After two well-received Star Wars games from independent studios, Lucasfilm Games says it is open to pitches from a wider range of developers.

Disney acquired Lucasfilm.

Disney closed Lucasfilm’s games division.

Lucasfilm Games was resurrected as the official identity for Lucasfilm gaming titles.

Zero Company and Galactic Racer launched, and Lucasfilm Games discussed being more flexible about pitches.

TVE marks 70 years with a special edition of its evening news

TVE brought together 11 familiar news presenters for a special programme revisiting seven decades of Spanish history, ahead of the broadcaster’s 70th anniversary on 28 October.

Title
El Telediario de nuestras vidas
Broadcast date
October 19, 2026
Start time
20:55, according to HOLA
Anniversary
70 years since TVE’s first broadcast, due to be marked October 28

Restored Cut of Ken Russell’s ‘The Devils’ Returns to Theaters

A restored director’s cut of Ken Russell’s 1971 film includes previously missing scenes and opened in theaters on October 16.

Street Fighter opens at No. 1 with $51.1 million worldwide

The new Street Fighter film opened at No. 1 in North America, earning about $31 million there and $51.1 million worldwide. Mixed reactions could affect its box office in the coming weeks.

Health

André Janones hospitalized in intensive care with heart rhythm disorder

Brazilian lawmaker André Janones was admitted to intensive care in São Paulo with an irregular heart rhythm after a televised debate. He was reported to be stable and under observation.

“with a severe arrhythmia and shortness of breath”
Janones's chief of staffOffice representative

High ultra-processed food intake linked to silent brain changes

A study of 8,783 Canadian adults linked higher ultra-processed food intake to more body fat and signs of silent brain blood-vessel injury, but not to lower cognitive test scores.

Kenya confirms four more Ebola cases, bringing total to seven

Kenya says four more people have tested positive for Ebola, including three health workers who treated the first patient. The country now has seven confirmed cases.

Measles Exposure Reported at Perry, Georgia, Restaurant

Georgia health officials say a person with measles visited a Longhorn Steakhouse in Perry on Oct. 7 while infectious. People who were there may have been exposed.

Isabel Teixeira says genetic test found Li-Fraumeni syndrome

The Brazilian actress learned in 2019 that she has the inherited condition, which raises the risk of several cancers. Her daughter inherited the gene variant; her son did not.

Canada declares two-year measles outbreak over after more than 6,400 cases

Canada’s Public Health Agency says a measles outbreak that began in New Brunswick in October 2024 is over. It infected more than 6,400 people across 10 provinces, and two infants died.

Kayem Foods recalls 1.58 million pounds of meat over storage temperatures

Kayem Foods is recalling about 1.58 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products that may have been stored at unsafe temperatures. No illnesses have been confirmed.

Kayem Foods is recalling about 1.58 million pounds of meat and poultry sold across the United States and in Hong Kong.

The affected products include hot dogs, bacon, sausages and other ready-to-eat foods made from March 31 to October 7, 2026.

A warehouse cooler had temperature problems, and a customer reported receiving warm products.

The USDA classed the recall at its highest risk level because unsafe storage temperatures could allow harmful bacteria to grow.

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Targeted niclosamide shrank endometriosis lesions in mice

US researchers tested a targeted version of the tapeworm drug niclosamide in mice with endometriosis. The treatment shrank abdominal lesions in the animal tests.

Researchers at Washington State University created a water-soluble dendrimer carrying niclosamide and folic acid.

Researchers injected the drug-laden structure into the abdomens of mice engineered to have endometriosis.

The targeted niclosamide shrank lesions in the mice.

Brazil's annual breast cancer estimate rises to 78,610 cases

Brazil's cancer institute estimates 78,610 new breast cancer cases a year in 2026–28, up from its previous estimate, partly reflecting better diagnosis and more screening.

Annual estimate
78,610 new cases
Estimate period
2026 to 2028
Previous annual estimate
73,610 cases for 2023 to 2025
Estimated risk
71.57 cases per 100,000 women

Pope Leo begins gradual return to duties after lung cancer surgery

Pope Leo appeared in St. Peter’s Square five days after surgery to remove part of his right lung, saying he would gradually resume his duties.

Pope’s surgeon Stefano Margaritora Vatican secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Planned November trip

Margaritora said there were no clinical reasons why the trip should not go ahead.

Parolin said Leo may need to adjust the pace of his schedule according to his health.

Ending Hepatitis B Shots at Birth Could Raise Chronic Infections by 83%

Researchers estimate that ending routine hepatitis B vaccination at birth, as Kennedy has recommended, could increase chronic infections by as much as 83 percent.