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Federal Court overturns heritage order affecting NSW gold mine

The court ruled a heritage protection order affecting Regis Resources’ McPhillamys gold project was invalid. The application will return to Environment Minister Murray Watt for redetermination.

“The court's decision and my reasons say nothing about the merits of the claim ... whether it's a significant area or under threat of injury or desecration ... those are matters within the authority of the minister ... not the jurisdiction of this court.”
James StelliosFederal Court justice

Outgoing Liberal senator urges party not to imitate One Nation

In his final speech to parliament, Tasmanian Liberal senator Jonno Duniam urged his party to return to its values rather than copy One Nation. He also called for national rules on artificial intelligence.

Shoebridge faces pressure over Greens’ opposition to military aid for Ukraine

Greens leader David Shoebridge defended the party’s opposition to military aid for Ukraine in a meeting with Ukrainian-Australian groups, who urged him to change course.

Page labelled on tertiary harmonisation contains subscription information

The page is labelled as an opinion piece on tertiary harmonisation, but its text consists of Business News subscription information and does not explain the issue.

Australia says nationalising Northern Minerals is an option

China-linked investors have not complied with orders to sell their shares in Northern Minerals. Resources Minister Madeleine King says nationalising the rare earths company is one option, but no decision has been made.

WA Liberals and Labor seek more certainty on gas policy

Western Australia's Liberal and Labor parties want greater certainty on gas policy. The available details do not specify what changes they are seeking.

Anne Aly condemns Angie Bell’s ‘stoned in the square’ remark

Liberal MP Angie Bell said Anne Aly and the prime minister should be “stoned in the square” during a debate over tax payments. Aly said she had received 19 death threats in a week.

Liberal MP Angie Bell said Anne Aly and the prime minister should be “shamed and stoned” during a speech in Australia’s House of Representatives.

Bell was criticising the government over the tax office’s plan to stop people paying tax bills by credit card.

Aly, Australia’s first Muslim woman elected to federal parliament, said she had received 19 death threats in the past week, including earlier threats using similar language.

She called Bell’s words racist, misogynistic and against Australian values.

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Senate blocks Labor plan to cut older Australians’ health insurance rebate

The Senate blocked Labor’s plan to reduce private health insurance rebates for people over 65. Health Minister Mark Butler says the government will reintroduce the bill on Thursday.

The government announced cuts to the automatic private health insurance rebate for people over 65 in the budget.

Anne Ruston and Jacqui Lambie moved a motion to discharge the bill from the Senate.

The Senate discharged the bill after support from the Coalition, Greens, One Nation and independent senators.

Butler said the government would reintroduce identical legislation.

The proposed changes were due to take effect.

Chalmers says he and Albanese agreed to pause ATO credit card ban

Jim Chalmers denied Anthony Albanese went over his head after the prime minister intervened in plans to stop credit card payments for tax bills. The government will fund a transition period until the end of the financial year.

Planned end of card payments
1 December
ATO's estimated annual cost
Almost $200 million
Small businesses using cards for tax bills
About 5%
Payment period funded
Until the end of the financial year

City of Perth appoints Garry Hunt as interim CEO

Garry Hunt will return as City of Perth chief executive on a 12-month contract while the council searches for a permanent replacement for Michelle Reynolds, who was sacked in September.

City of Perth council Michelle Reynolds

Decision

The council sacked Reynolds on September 22 after an investigation into claims against her.

Reynolds says she intends to challenge her sacking.

Allegations

The council’s investigation concerned claims against Reynolds.

Reynolds said the allegations were individually trivial and that she disagreed they collectively amounted to serious misconduct.

WA education minister and universities disagree over merger plan

Western Australia’s education minister, Tony Buti, and the state’s universities are at odds over a proposed merger. The available information does not explain the plan or what happens next.

World

Former Ukrainian Officer’s Nord Stream Trial Opens in Germany

Serhii Kuznietsov’s trial opened in Hamburg over the 2022 Nord Stream blasts. His lawyers asked the court to dismiss the charges, arguing he cannot speak about state secrets.

“Anyone who cannot speak out cannot be convicted.”
Jes Meyer-LohkampDefence attorney

French anti-terror prosecutors investigate 14-year-old over school shooting

A 14-year-old is suspected of shooting and wounding a principal and teacher at a school in Aubagne. Anti-terror prosecutors have opened a judicial investigation and requested his pretrial detention.

Woman rescued after spending 20 hours in the Ionian Sea

A 44-year-old woman from El Salvador was rescued after going overboard from a cruise ship in the Ionian Sea. A cargo ship’s crew spotted her life buoy and alerted the Greek coast guard.

Ivan Gudkov, 20, dies by suicide, his father says

Former Russian lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov said his son Ivan, 20, died by suicide. He said Ivan had struggled with serious personal problems for several years.

Trump Shares Video of Fatal Tiger Attack at English Wildlife Park

Trump reposted footage of a man fatally mauled after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The park remains closed as authorities investigate.

Burnham pledges faster missile deliveries as Zelensky visits London

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham met Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in London and pledged faster delivery of air-defense missiles, amid strained US-Ukraine ties.

MI5 chief says Britain is spending more on state threats than during Cold War

MI5 chief Ken McCallum said Russia remains the leading state threat and that the agency is devoting more resources to state threats than during the Cold War.

MI5 chief Ken McCallum says Russia remains Britain’s leading state threat.

He said Russia is trying to destabilize Europe through actions short of open conflict, including using criminals to carry out tasks.

In 2026, MI5 is spending more on state threats than during the Cold War.

McCallum said cases involving threats from other countries have quadrupled over the past decade.

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Russell Brand’s London trial begins with jury selection

Brand denies seven charges of rape and sexual offences involving six women. Jury selection began at Southwark Crown Court, with prosecutors expected to open their case on Wednesday.

Brand appeared at Southwark Crown Court as jury selection began, and the hearing was adjourned until Tuesday.

The 12-member jury was sworn in.

The prosecution began presenting its case against Brand.

Ukrainian drones hit Sberbank data center in Russia

Drones struck a Sberbank data center under construction in Balakovo, in Russia’s Saratov region. The bank said its services were unaffected; a regional governor reported one death and damaged homes.

Location
Balakovo, Saratov region, Russia
Facility
Sberbank data centre under construction
Planned area
55,000 square metres
Expected completion
2030

Trump defends Russian diesel deal as critics warn it could fund war

Trump says the US is still sharing intelligence with Ukraine while defending a deal to bring Russian diesel to global markets. Critics say easing restrictions could help finance Russia’s war.

Ukraine and European supporters Trump and supporters of the diesel deal

Sanctions

Zelenskyy said weakening sanctions without a lasting de-escalation agreement was a sign of weakness.

Trump defended the deal and said it would bring diesel prices down.

Effect on Russia

Ukraine said the deal undermined its strategy of damaging Russia’s refining capacity and could help fund the war.

Trump said the diesel was being released into the world, not to the United States.

Russia detains Japanese journalist on espionage allegations

Russia says it arrested Hokkaido Shimbun journalist Yuki Imai on Sakhalin and accused him of spying. Japan says it is seeking information and a fair process.

Business

Survey finds 1.7 million UK households plan to leave heating off this winter

A survey suggests 1.7 million UK households will not turn on their heating this winter, as energy costs rise and many fear they will be cold.

“It’s alarming to see so many households already planning to go without heating this winter, before the coldest months have even arrived.”
Ben GallizziUswitch energy spokesman

Freshfields partners explore carving out AI unit valued at billions

Freshfields partners are exploring a carve-out of the firm’s AI unit, which is described as worth billions. Leaked emails revealed the discussions.

Ben Frow to leave UK network 5 after 14 years

Ben Frow will step down from his day-to-day role at 5 next summer and leave the company at the end of 2027. The network plans to find a new creative leader.

Regulator warns English football faces serious financial risks

A draft report finds 94% of clubs in England’s top five divisions made losses last season. The regulator is calling for financial reforms and a new funding agreement between the Premier League and EFL.

Addison Lee founder sells Regent’s Park mansion for £11.5 million

John Griffin sold his Regent’s Park mansion for £11.5 million, far below the £20.7 million he paid in 2013, amid a subdued market for prime London homes.

Water firms could return £107m to English and Welsh customers

Ofwat says draft penalties for missing performance targets could lower bills by £107m in 2027-28. Some suppliers that met targets could raise bills instead.

Wayfair and two other firms fined over misleading sales tactics

The UK competition watchdog fined Wayfair, Appliances Direct and Gold’s Gym for misleading offers or unclear prices. Appliances Direct and Gold’s Gym must also refund affected customers.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority fined three companies a total of £6 million over sales practices it found misleading.

Online retailer Wayfair was fined £4.8 million for advertising deals as time-limited when many products remained available at the same price or lower after the deadline.

Appliances Direct was fined £1.2 million for similar offers and for adding paid services to some orders without customers’ express agreement.

Gold’s Gym was penalised for not clearly showing membership prices including required joining fees; reports give different figures for its fine.

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IMF Praises UK Borrowing Plans but Urges Further Action on Public Finances

The IMF has praised the UK’s plan to reduce borrowing and raised its growth forecast, while urging the government to keep repairing public finances and prepare for spending cuts.

Silvana Tenreyro urged the UK to continue its public-finance consolidation at the launch of the IMF’s World Economic Outlook in Bangkok.

IMF officials praised the UK’s plans to reduce borrowing at the fund’s annual meeting.

Betfred owners took £30m dividend before warning of possible job cuts

The Done family took a £30m dividend from Betfred as the gambling firm warned that higher taxes on slot machines could lead to shop closures and job losses.

Dividend
£30m interim payment to shareholders
Betfred winnings
£996m from British punters in the year to the end of March 2026
Pre-tax profit
£64m in the year to the end of March 2026
Proposed duty rate
Increase from 20% to 40%

Zavvi Enters Administration and Cannot Fulfil Orders

UK entertainment retailer Zavvi has entered administration and ceased trading. It says it cannot fulfil outstanding orders or pre-orders, and advises customers to contact their payment providers.

UK and Indian businesses announce more than £1 billion in new deals

A UK trade delegation visiting India has signed a growth partnership with businesses in Maharashtra as the two countries promote more than £1 billion in new commercial deals.

Science & Tech

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.

“We take the cybersecurity incident very seriously”
Albert HeijnSupermarket chain

CISA adds exploited Ivanti Connect Secure flaw to its vulnerability list

CISA added an actively exploited flaw in Ivanti Connect Secure to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Federal agencies must fix it by October 16, 2026.

Ledger says tampered wallets stole users’ recovery phrases

Ledger says implants in devices sold through Southeast Asian reseller CryptoBilis captured recovery phrases and enabled thefts. It has not confirmed the total losses.

Japan municipal information provider reports possible data leak affecting millions

Arcadia says unauthorized access may have exposed up to 3.1 million records, including email addresses and phone numbers. Some emergency alert services have been suspended.

Denmark registry breach exposed records linked to 8.8 million people

Denmark confirmed that data linked to 8.8 million people was accessed through a company's account to the national register. The person claiming responsibility says an account used the password “123456.”

Siemens, Schneider Electric and Rockwell issue industrial security advisories

The companies disclosed vulnerabilities in industrial control products, including a critical Rockwell flaw that could let an unauthenticated attacker take over an ArmorBlock device.

Microsoft and partners disrupt phishing network behind 1 billion messages

Microsoft, Health-ISAC and partners seized domains used by three cybercrime services linked to more than 1 billion phishing messages. The messages targeted over 75,000 organizations in more than 150 countries.

Microsoft and Health-ISAC seized domains used by three cybercrime services called YAM Store, CoGUI and Iron Man.

A US federal court order allowed them to take control of the domains, disrupting services that supplied criminals with accounts, phishing kits and online infrastructure.

The operation followed an investigation that began after Japan’s National Police Agency alerted Microsoft to scam campaigns targeting people in Japan.

The services enabled more than 1 billion malicious messages since January 2026, according to Microsoft, targeting over 75,000 organizations in more than 150 countries.

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Microsoft’s October update fixes more than 1,400 security flaws

Microsoft’s October security update fixes a record number of vulnerabilities, including a Windows flaw already exploited by attackers. It also addresses bugs in Windows features and other products.

Microsoft released its October Patch Tuesday security updates.

News outlets reported the record-breaking number of fixes and the actively exploited Windows flaw.

CISA’s deadline for federal agencies to address CVE-2026-96951.

Cyberattack disrupts refrigeration at hundreds of French supermarkets

Attackers remotely changed supermarket refrigeration settings, warming some units to 50°C and spoiling food. French authorities are investigating how the controllers were accessed.

Maximum reported temperature
50°C
Intermarché and Netto
300 stores affected, according to Les Mousquetaires
Coopérative U
80 stores affected, according to its chief executive
Affected controller series
Danfoss AK-SM and AK-SC

Cybersecurity incident disrupts Ahold Delhaize grocery services

Ahold Delhaize took some systems offline after identifying a cybersecurity issue, disrupting websites, apps and online orders at grocery brands in the U.S. and Europe. Its stores remain open.

Ahold Delhaize Reports of service disruptions

Impact on customers

The company said its stores were open and, according to SecurityWeek, said its ability to serve customers had not been affected.

Reports described disruptions to online orders, deliveries, customer service and in-store pricing at some brands.

Hirudo malware replaces banking apps to bypass Android security checks

Hirudo replaces some Indonesian banking apps with modified copies that evade security checks. It can steal credentials and give attackers remote access to infected phones.

Sports

Tyreek Hill found liable for two battery claims, ordered to pay $500,000

A Florida jury found NFL wide receiver Tyreek Hill liable for two battery claims brought by his ex-wife, Lakeeta Vaccaro, and awarded her $500,000. The NFL is still reviewing the case.

“treated me like I was, just, a man”
VaccaroPlaintiff

Bills beat Rams in overtime as Cook's fumbles draw warning from Brady

Buffalo beat Los Angeles 37-34 in overtime, but James Cook fumbled twice. Coach Joe Brady said Cook's playing time could fall if his ball security does not improve.

Jaguars coach to adjust play calls after penalties against Eagles

Jacksonville coach Liam Coen says he will get play calls in faster after three delay-of-game penalties against Philadelphia. Eagles running back Will Shipley could miss multiple games with a foot injury.

Michigan adds Alex Bauman and Jeremiah Earby through transfer portal

Michigan has enrolled former Miami tight end Alex Bauman and former Boise State cornerback Jeremiah Earby after both received temporary restraining orders granting them another season of eligibility.

Drake Maye’s improved play has the Patriots back in contention

After a rocky start, New England has won its past two games and improved to 3-2. Drake Maye has cut turnovers and restored his deep passing.

Dre Greenlaw’s appeal denied, leaving him suspended for one game

The NFL rejected the 49ers linebacker’s appeal after he head-butted helmetless Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV. Greenlaw will miss San Francisco’s game against Washington.

Bo Nix says good and bad play can be a matter of narrative

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said good and bad play can depend on how the ball bounces. Denver’s poor offensive numbers contrast with its record of second-half comebacks.

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix says good and bad play can be a matter of narrative rather than a clear difference in how he performs.

Denver is 3-2, but its offense ranks third-worst in the NFL, averaging 269 total yards per game.

Nix’s passing numbers have been modest, including 123 yards in Denver’s 23-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The team has also built a record of turning games around: since 2025, it has the NFL’s most comeback wins, with 15.

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NFL playoff projections shift after the season’s first five weeks

Early projections put the Patriots and 49ers among the stronger playoff contenders, while the Cowboys and Chargers face weaker odds. The 14-team postseason begins in January.

Green Bay had a 13.3% chance to make the playoffs after losing to Atlanta.

Green Bay’s playoff chance was above 35% after a win over Chicago.

Dallas lost to Tampa Bay, and its playoff odds fell by almost 15%.

Fox Sports reported playoff betting odds from bet365.

ESPN published updated playoff projections using its Football Power Index.

The NFL wild-card round is scheduled.

Rams' Alaric Jackson suspended two games for punching Bills player

The NFL suspended Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson for two games after he punched Bills linebacker Bradley Chubb following Buffalo’s 37-34 overtime win. Jackson can appeal the suspension.

Suspension
Two games without pay
Game score
Bills 37, Rams 34, in overtime
Jackson’s missed games
Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders
Incident location
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Commanders and Giants tie after Washington fails to stop the clock in overtime

Washington let the clock expire while in field-goal range, ending its chance to beat New York. Coach Dan Quinn and quarterback Jayden Daniels accepted blame for the mistake.

Dan Quinn NFL.com analysis

Responsibility for the final sequence

Quinn said the sequence did not fall on Daniels and that the instruction to throw the ball away or stop the clock had to come from him.

NFL.com said Daniels should have thrown the ball away when the play went wrong, while also placing the brunt of the blame on Quinn.

Rams release Harrison Mevis and sign Blake Grupe as kicker

Los Angeles released Harrison Mevis after two missed field goals in its overtime loss to Buffalo and signed Blake Grupe from the Jets’ practice squad.

Entertainment

Ocarina of Time remake updates the classic for Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo’s Switch 2 remake refreshes the 1998 Zelda game with new visuals and smoother controls. Preview players say it keeps the original’s story and dungeons while adding modern features.

“Ocarina of Time controls like a dream on Switch 2”
Polygon reviewerpreview writer

New ‘Sense and Sensibility’ adaptation centers the Dashwood sisters

Georgia Oakley’s new adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel stars Daisy Edgar-Jones as Elinor and Esmé Creed-Miles as Marianne, with the sisters’ bond at its heart.

Singer EliZe and former footballer Hedwiges Maduro reportedly split

Dutch singer EliZe and former footballer Hedwiges Maduro have reportedly ended their relationship. EliZe is said to have a new love, but the available details do not identify that person.

Big Thief Launches Free Archive of Live Concert Recordings

Big Thief has launched a free online archive with 10 complete concerts and plans to add a new show each month. The band also shared a live recording of “Incomprehensible” from Dublin.

Whalefall follows a diver trapped inside a sperm whale

In Whalefall, scuba diver Jay is swallowed by a sperm whale while searching the ocean for his late father’s remains. The survival thriller also explores their troubled relationship.

Three Game Boy Advance Classics Join Nintendo Switch Online

Nintendo added Monster Rancher Advance, Metal Slug Advance and Kururin Paradise to its Game Boy Advance library for Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers.

Rockstar says its next game should take less time to develop

Rockstar says the engine, tools and team built for GTA 6 should help it make future games faster. The studio has not said what its next game will be.

Rockstar Games says its next game should take less time to make than GTA 6, which is due out on November 19.

The company’s leaders say the engine, tools and team built for GTA 6 can help speed up future development.

Rockstar has more than 4,700 employees across 12 offices, including more than 4,000 in development and quality assurance.

Its previous game, Red Dead Redemption 2, came out in 2018, and GTA 6 has taken years to complete.

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Ocarina of Time remake trailer reveals boss replay room ahead of Switch 2 launch

Nintendo’s new overview trailer for the Switch 2 remake reveals a Hall of Fallen Foes where players can revisit defeated bosses. The game launches on November 5, with pre-orders open.

A Nintendo Direct showcased around 15 minutes of footage from the remake.

Nintendo premiered a pre-order trailer on its Dutch YouTube channel.

Nintendo released an overview trailer and opened pre-orders.

The remake is scheduled to launch on Nintendo Switch 2.

Marvel’s VisionQuest follows White Vision as he searches for his identity

The Marvel series began with two episodes on Disney+, following White Vision as he tries to understand who he is while people seek to capture him. The remaining episodes are scheduled to arrive weekly.

Premiere
Two episodes
Streaming service
Disney+
Release date
October 14, 2026, according to TheWrap and TechRadar
Brazilian launch time reported by Exame
10 p.m. on October 13

Led Zeppelin approves ‘Stairway to Heaven’ for Narnia film trailer

Greta Gerwig secured Robert Plant and Jimmy Page’s approval to use “Stairway to Heaven” in the first trailer for Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. It is not yet known whether the song is in the film.

Big Naughty announces marriage to longtime love

South Korean singer Big Naughty told fans he would spend his life with the person featured in songs including “Vancouver.” One headline says the couple have completed their marriage registration.

Health

Helen Branswell, acclaimed infectious disease reporter, dies at 69

Helen Branswell, a longtime Canadian health journalist who covered outbreaks including COVID-19, Ebola and SARS, has died of cancer complications at 69.

“Throughout her career, Helen demonstrated an unwavering commitment to evidence, science and truth, helping the public understand some of the most complex and consequential health challenges of our time”
Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusWHO director-general

Arrowhead’s experimental drug lowers Alzheimer’s-linked tau in early trial

Arrowhead said its experimental RNA drug cut tau levels by an average of 73% at the highest dose in a small early trial. The study involved healthy volunteers, not people with Alzheimer’s.

Lancet commission warns nuclear war and malicious AI could threaten humanity by 2100

A Lancet commission says nuclear conflict and malicious uses of AI carry a small but non-zero risk of human extinction this century. It lists 15 other major health threats that policy could help reduce.

WHO vaccine trial for Ebola in Congo set to begin before October ends

The WHO says the Tumaini clinical trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo is expected to start before the end of October, initially using the Ervebo vaccine. The outbreak has caused more than 9,000 cases and 4,000 deaths.

Japanese comedian Koisan to pause work for throat cancer treatment

Koisan of comedy duo Shampoo Hat said he has oropharyngeal cancer and will stop working from Oct. 19 to focus on treatment. He says he is feeling well but needs to regain weight.

Davina McCall describes severe memory loss after brain tumour surgery

The presenter says she struggled to remember people and recent events after surgery to remove a benign brain tumour in 2024. She described 2025 as a very difficult year.

Congo Ebola outbreak exceeds 9,000 confirmed cases

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has reported 9,066 confirmed Ebola cases and 4,381 deaths. Fear of infection is also keeping some women and children from routine healthcare.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has confirmed 9,066 Ebola cases and 4,381 deaths, according to Health Ministry figures released Tuesday.

The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain, has spread across seven provinces and is the country’s largest and deadliest on record.

There is no approved vaccine or treatment for this strain, and fighting, shortages and mistrust are hindering efforts to contain it.

Fear of Ebola is also leading some women to skip prenatal care or give birth at home, while children miss routine vaccinations.

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Verastem reports early results for experimental cancer drug

Verastem said its experimental drug showed signs of activity in a small study involving three types of cancer. The company plans larger trials, starting with pancreatic cancer.

Revolution Medicines won FDA approval for Rasonque, according to BioPharma Dive.

Verastem released early data on VS-7375 and announced a $250 million stock offering.

Verastem said its Phase 3 pancreatic cancer trial would begin.

Verastem expects to enroll the first patients in colorectal and lung cancer Phase 3 trials.

Walmart to make more than 250 medicines free for employees in 2027

Walmart will cover more than 250 prescriptions at no cost for employees in 2027, including some insulin, inhalers and diabetes drugs. Its coverage will not include GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss.

Medicines
More than 250 prescriptions
Start year
2027
GLP-1 drugs
Ozempic and Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes after a new prior authorization
Weight-loss coverage
GLP-1s from Novo and Eli Lilly are not covered for weight loss

CVS to pay $315 million to settle US opioid prescription claims

CVS agreed to pay $315 million to settle a US Justice Department lawsuit alleging it unlawfully filled opioid prescriptions. The company denies wrongdoing and agreed to new safeguards.

US Justice Department CVS

Allegations

The department accused CVS of unlawfully filling unnecessary and excessive opioid prescriptions.

CVS said it strongly disagrees with the claims.

Settlement

The department described the settlement as part of efforts to combat the opioid epidemic.

CVS said the settlement admits no wrongdoing and will allow it to put the litigation behind it.

About 1 in 5 Giardia infections in cats may involve human-infecting types

A study of more than 157,000 cat stool samples found Giardia in 6.3% of samples. Nearly one in five positive samples carried types that can infect people.