Explore

Jump to a category

Politics

Trump’s Russian diesel deal draws bipartisan criticism in Congress

Trump says he struck a deal with Putin to import Russian diesel to lower U.S. fuel prices. Lawmakers say it could support Russia’s war in Ukraine and violate U.S. law.

“The harm to the Ukrainians is real”
William Taylorformer U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and Atlantic Council senior fellow

Former DOGE staff raise at least $500 million for private firms

At least two dozen former DOGE staff have moved into private businesses, and firms they co-founded or invested in have raised at least $500 million.

Katie Zacharia begins term as White House press secretary

Katie Zacharia is starting her term as White House press secretary. President Trump said she will hold an introductory news conference Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

Trump’s plan to import Russian diesel draws bipartisan criticism

Trump says Russia will supply diesel to help ease high fuel prices, but seven senators say the plan conflicts with a 2022 ban on Russian energy imports.

Judge orders halt to taxpayer-funded ads promoting Trump

A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from airing taxpayer-funded ads promoting the president and ordered it to cancel the remaining advertising purchase.

Trump says he may meet North Korea's Kim in November

Trump said he may meet Kim Jong Un during a November trip to Asia, which includes stops in Manila and Shenzhen. No meeting has been confirmed.

Federal agents search Ilhan Omar’s Washington home

Agents searched the home of Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Omar called the search political intimidation; no charges against her were announced.

Federal agents searched the Washington home of Ilhan Omar, a Democratic member of Congress from Minnesota.

The Justice Department said the search was carried out under a court-authorised warrant as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, but did not name Omar or explain the investigation.

News reports linked the search to a fraud inquiry about immigration paperwork filed by Omar’s late father when she was a child; officials have not confirmed that link.

Omar, who came to the United States from Somalia as a child, said the search was an attempt to target political opponents.

Read full story →

Los Angeles moves to make some nitrous oxide sales a crime

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a ban on cannabis and tobacco retailers selling or distributing nitrous oxide. The mayor plans to sign it, and violations could bring jail time.

Rialto became the first city to restrict certain sales of nitrous oxide.

State lawmakers passed SB 758, restricting nitrous oxide sales by tobacco and cigarette retailers.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 758 and SB 936.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved the city measure.

The ordinance is expected to take effect about a month later.

Elon Musk gives more than $276 million to Republican groups since July

Musk has donated more than $276 million to Republican groups since July, making him the biggest known donor of the 2026 midterm elections. The largest share went to a group backing Republican Senate candidates.

Total donations since July
More than $276 million
Senate Leadership Fund
$158 million
America PAC
More than $76 million
Federal political giving, 2025-26 cycle
Roughly $366 million

US archbishop urges Catholic soldiers to avoid planned Hasan execution

Archbishop Timothy Broglio told Catholic service members to seek exemption from the planned firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, which the Pentagon wants to livestream in December.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Purpose of public broadcast

Broglio questioned the value of broadcasting the execution and said it could harm the military’s reputation.

Hegseth said making the event public would help people understand the serious consequences of such acts.

Participation by Catholic service members

Broglio urged Catholics assigned to the firing squad to request exemption because participation would violate Church teaching.

Hegseth described using military members to carry out the execution; the sources do not state his view on religious exemptions.

Tillis says Trump’s Russian diesel deal may break the law

Senator Thom Tillis says Trump’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel may violate US law. Tillis says the move could affect his support for year-end funding.

World

Drones hit two ships off Bulgaria; one sinks and 11 crew are missing

Two cargo ships were hit by drones in the Black Sea off Bulgaria. One sank, leaving 11 crew members missing, while all 15 people aboard the other ship were rescued.

“This is absolutely unacceptable: yet another attack in close proximity to Bulgaria’s territorial waters”
Rumen RadevBulgarian prime minister

Nuremberg airport suspends flights after aviation emergency alert

Nuremberg airport in Germany suspended flights after an unclear aviation emergency was reported. Police said an aircraft landed safely, and the cause is under investigation.

Two Turkish citizens detained in Germany over fire at Polish Starlink station

German police detained two Turkish citizens suspected of setting fire to a Starlink station in central Poland. Polish officials say they will face sabotage charges in Poland.

Court orders new hearing in case over passport error that stopped family’s Thailand trip

A passport error listing a child’s sex incorrectly stopped a Krasnodar family from travelling to Thailand. A court overturned earlier rulings and sent the compensation case back for a new hearing.

Hezbollah to offer up to $14,000 to Lebanese families with destroyed homes

Hezbollah says it will pay eligible Lebanese families whose primary homes were destroyed or made uninhabitable in the war with Israel, with payments spread over a year.

Polish foreign minister says a European army could form by 2030

Radosław Sikorski said a joint European force could be formed by 2030, possibly limited to the Baltic states and the eastern flank.

MI5 chief warns Iran and Russia are stepping up threats to Britain

MI5 chief Ken McCallum said Iran is seeking to target harder sites, including military locations, while Russia is increasing hybrid operations against Ukraine’s allies. He also warned that AI could help terrorists develop biological weapons.

MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned of growing state threats to Britain in a speech in London on Tuesday.

He said Iran had shifted towards targeting harder sites, including military locations, although he could not discuss an investigation into a suspected plot involving RAF Fairford.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Tehran was highly likely to be behind that suspected plot, but Iran has denied involvement.

McCallum said Iran-linked operations had led to more than 50 arrests over the past year.

Read full story →

Eight people injured in stabbing at Incheon supermarket

A man stabbed eight people at a supermarket in Incheon, South Korea. Police detained the suspect and are investigating the attack.

A man attacked people with knives while moving on an escalator in the supermarket building.

Shoppers subdued the suspect, and police arrested him.

France boards Russia-linked tanker in Indian Ocean

French forces boarded the DF Peak, a sanctioned oil tanker suspected of using a false flag and carrying fuel illicitly. The vessel is being escorted to Réunion for further checks.

Vessel
DF Peak
Location
More than 450 nautical miles south of Réunion
Flag
Benin
EU sanctions status
Listed among the EU-sanctioned ships

UK says Iran was highly likely behind RAF Fairford security incident

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard almost certainly directed a suspected plot near RAF Fairford. Britain has sanctioned two people and says further sanctions may follow.

UK government Iranian government

Responsibility

Burnham said the incident was highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by the IRGC.

Iran rejected any suggestion it was involved and called the accusation unfounded and malicious speculation.

Evidence

British authorities cited their assessment and said investigators found accelerants but no viable explosives in vans.

Iran called on Britain to present evidence supporting its allegations.

Zelensky says Russian strikes violated Trump’s proposed energy ceasefire

Zelensky says Russian attacks hit Ukrainian energy facilities after Trump announced a mutual pause in such strikes. Russia has not confirmed agreeing to the ceasefire.

Business

Chip stocks fall as investors weigh AI spending and Chinese competition

Chip shares fell across Asian markets after Broadcom CEO Hock Tan warned that some AI investors may not understand their bets and Chinese chipmaker CXMT reported progress on a new design.

“A lot of investors have no clue what they are investing in”
Hock TanBroadcom chief executive

Lotte to present mobility businesses at Japan trade event

Six Lotte companies will showcase mobility technologies and services at Japan Mobility Show Bizweek 2026 in Chiba from Oct. 13 to 16, seeking global business partnerships.

Hyundai Green Food adds care support for employees’ older relatives

Hyundai Green Food has partnered with Careling to offer employees discounted home care, free hospital accompaniment and advice for caring for older family members.

APR shares slide on forecast for weaker-than-expected third-quarter profit

APR shares fell sharply in Seoul trading after an analyst forecast that its third-quarter operating profit would miss market expectations, despite revenue expected to meet them.

Shoe retailer Shoemarker joins Baemin’s shopping service

Shoemarker will begin selling shoes through Baemin’s shopping service on Oct. 14, starting with 30 stores in the Seoul metropolitan area. Baemin plans to expand the service to 50 stores by year-end.

Samsung Electro-Mechanics executive receives Industry Medal for MLCC work

Kim Wi-heon, who leads MLCC manufacturing technology at Samsung Electro-Mechanics, received an Industry Medal for work on core technologies and new products.

Hong Ra-hee to give Lee Jae-yong Samsung shares worth about 2.6 trillion won

Hong Ra-hee plans to transfer 11.158 million Samsung Electronics shares to chairman Lee Jae-yong, worth about 2.6 trillion won. The transfer is scheduled for November 12.

Hong Ra-hee plans to transfer Samsung Electronics shares to chairman Lee Jae-yong in a family transaction.

Samsung Electronics disclosed that the gift involves 11.158 million shares worth about 2.6 trillion won, based on the stock’s October 13 closing price.

The transfer is scheduled for November 12.

Once it is completed, Lee’s stake in Samsung Electronics is expected to rise from 1.58% to 1.75%.

Read full story →

South Korea to create 3 trillion won fund for overseas construction projects

South Korea plans a 3 trillion won fund to help companies win overseas construction work, with more support for projects that combine development, building and maintenance.

South Korea recorded a current-account surplus of $46.11 billion, according to Lee.

Lee announced plans for a 3 trillion won overseas construction fund at a government economic meeting in Seoul.

A South Korea-India finance ministers’ meeting was scheduled to support economic cooperation projects.

South Korea’s early October exports hit a record, led by chips

South Korea exported $26.1 billion in goods in the first 10 days of October, up 102% from a year earlier. Chip exports rose 170.9% and made up 46.7% of the total.

Exports
$26.1 billion
Year-on-year export growth
102%
Semiconductor exports
$12.2 billion; up 170.9%
Semiconductor share of exports
46.7%

South Korea completes first Arctic container voyage to Europe and back

The PanStar Acro completed a 50-day round trip via the Arctic. South Korea plans further trials before aiming to start regular services by 2030.

South Korean government Opposition lawmaker Kang Seung-kyoo’s office

Commercial prospects

The government plans further trial voyages and aims to launch regular service by 2030, with economic viability expected around 2040.

Kang’s office said the voyage had yet to prove commercial viability, citing cargo figures and the lack of imports.

Lee Jae-yong’s Samsung Electronics stake rises to 1.75%

Lee Jae-yong’s stake in Samsung Electronics rose from 1.58% to 1.75%. The report gives conflicting details on whether the shares were bought or gifted by his mother.

Science & Tech

Honeybee stingers keep pumping venom after detaching from the insect

Researchers at Macquarie University filmed detached honeybee stingers pumping venom into a gel that mimics skin. Their findings reveal how the stinger’s tiny valves and lancets keep the venom flowing.

“We’ve known since as early as 1910 that the venom sac of a honey bee stinger empties into a chamber with little pumping elements called valves, but until now we didn’t know exactly how they work”
Dr Fiorella Ramirez-Esquivellead author, Macquarie University

Amazon fires and a strong El Niño threaten regional rainfall

Rising fires in Amazonas and a potentially record-strength El Niño could worsen drying in parts of the Amazon, weakening rainfall that supports farming, reservoirs and cities across Brazil.

Researchers try to restore California kelp forests by reintroducing sunflower sea stars

Researchers off Monterey are placing sunflower sea stars on the seafloor to help control purple sea urchins, which have consumed much of California’s kelp forests.

Mining pressures protected areas as wildlife populations decline in Africa

WWF’s Congo Basin director says mining has no place in protected areas as new analyses highlight industrial pressures and steep wildlife declines.

Maynooth Researchers Build a DNA Computer That Needs No Continuous Power

Researchers at Maynooth University built a DNA-based computer that can perform calculations without continuous electricity. It can be reused for up to 25 calculations, though it is slower than silicon computers.

Ringed barn owls will help assess wildlife-friendly farming

Barn owls on National Trust farmland are being ringed so researchers can track them and assess whether habitat measures support the birds over time.

Pacific buoy recorded a 17.6-metre rogue wave nearly three times its neighbours

A buoy near Ucluelet, British Columbia, measured a 17.6-metre wave in 2020. Research published in 2026 found a possible warning signal, but precise prediction remains out of reach.

A buoy near Ucluelet, British Columbia, recorded a 17.6-metre wave on 17 November 2020.

The wave was nearly three times as high as the surrounding waves, making it exceptionally large compared with nearby water, though not the tallest ever measured.

Scientists say it likely formed when waves of different sizes and frequencies temporarily combined.

Rogue waves matter because they can threaten ships, offshore structures and, if close enough to shore, people on beaches.

Read full story →

Political identity shapes trust in science in Brazil, columnist argues

The column links political views in Brazil to trust in scientists and examines the Bolsonaro camp’s approach to Covid-19, climate change and research funding.

A survey of 2,206 young Brazilians found that 54% considered scientists might be exaggerating about climate change.

Jair Bolsonaro called data showing rising Amazon deforestation false and suggested that INPE director Ricardo Galvão served an NGO; Galvão was dismissed.

A survey of 2,771 Brazilians found Bolsonaro supporters knew less about coronavirus and said they were less concerned about the pandemic than their opponents.

Flávio Bolsonaro discussed climate change on Jornal Nacional, saying there are cyclical periods and that extreme events are not related only to human influence.

International timekeepers set to vote on ending leap seconds

The 69 member states of an international standards body are due to vote on a proposal to end leap seconds, which keep atomic time aligned with Earth’s uneven rotation.

Leap seconds added
27 times since 1972
Voting body
69 member states of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures
Meeting location
Versailles, near Paris
Most recent leap second mentioned
End of 2016

Cape Town plans to relocate two baboon troops from Simon’s Town

Cape Town authorities plan to capture two baboon troops near Simon’s Town and move them to enclosures for the rest of their lives, as part of a wider change to baboon management.

Cape Town authorities Some experts

Removal

Authorities plan to capture and permanently relocate the two troops to separate enclosures.

Some experts say the removal plans are not convincing.

Urban baboon management

Authorities say a “hard reset” will allow resources to be redirected to management efforts with better outcomes.

The experts say baboons should be kept out of urban areas, but the article does not give further details of their preferred approach.

Super El Niño strengthens to unprecedented levels, with impacts expected into 2027

The El Niño is expected to peak in December, with widespread effects later this year and into 2027. Drought and flood disruption is already being reported in several regions.

Sports

Alexander Zverev guaranteed to finish 2026 as year-end world No. 1

Carlos Alcaraz’s defeat at the Shanghai Masters and Jannik Sinner’s season-ending knee injury mean Zverev cannot be caught in the rankings. He will be the first German man to finish a season at No. 1.

“It's been a fantastic season for me winning in Paris and New York and knowing that I will finish the year on top of the rankings is just a dream come true”
Alexander Zverevtennis player

Zverev and Bublik meet in the Shanghai Masters round of 16

Alexander Zverev and Alexander Bublik are set to face each other in the round of 16 in Shanghai.

Alex Eala and Zeynep Sonmez lose in Wuhan Open doubles first round

Eala and Sonmez lost 6-2, 6-3 to Dayana Yastremska and Anhelina Kalinina. Eala is expected to play in Ningbo, Tokyo and Hong Kong over the next three weeks.

Zheng Qinwen and Mirra Andreeva withdraw from Wuhan Open

After meeting in the China Open final in Beijing, Zheng Qinwen and Mirra Andreeva both withdrew from the Wuhan Open. Zheng cited fatigue after a demanding run of matches.

Rafa Jódar faces Botic Van de Zandschulp for a place in Shanghai quarter-finals

Jódar meets Van de Zandschulp in the Shanghai Masters round of 16, with a quarter-final place at stake. The match is scheduled for about 6 a.m. Spanish time.

Alexander Bublik smashes racket and cooler, then wins at Shanghai Masters

Bublik smashed his racket and a drinks cooler after losing the first set to Brandon Nakashima, cutting his hand. He recovered to win in three sets.

Zverev beats Bublik to reach Shanghai Masters quarter-finals

Alexander Zverev defeated Alexander Bublik 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 in Shanghai. He will face Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals.

Alexander Zverev beat Alexander Bublik in the Shanghai Masters round of 16.

The German won 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 in a match decided by two tiebreaks.

Both players relied heavily on their serves, and the third set remained close after early breaks.

Zverev won the final tiebreak 7-1 to secure the match.

Read full story →

Zheng Qinwen wins China Open for first title in two years

Zheng beat French Open champion Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4 in Beijing to become the first Chinese woman to win the China Open. The victory ends a two-year title drought after elbow surgery.

Zheng underwent elbow surgery.

Zheng reached the US Open quarter-finals as a qualifier.

Zheng beat Andreeva in the China Open final.

Arthur Gea beats Ben Shelton in straight sets at Shanghai Masters

Frenchman Arthur Gea defeated US Open finalist Ben Shelton 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) in the third round of the Shanghai Masters on Sunday.

Match score
Gea won 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3)
Round
Third round
Winner
Arthur Gea, 21-year-old Frenchman
Shelton ranking
Fourth, according to L'Equipe

Alcaraz loses to Bergs in Shanghai after struggling with unpredictable bounces

Carlos Alcaraz lost to Zizou Bergs in straight sets at the Shanghai Masters and said he struggled to adapt to the ball’s inconsistent bounce. He called it one of his most painful recent defeats.

Carlos Alcaraz Zizou Bergs

Bounces

Alcaraz complained that the balls bounced unpredictably, sometimes rising and sometimes sliding forward.

Bergs said he had noticed some unusual bounces.

Conditions

Alcaraz said he struggled to adapt to the conditions and found the sensations slower than in earlier sessions.

Bergs said the court and balls were generally good.

UN rights office condemns racist abuse aimed at Coco Gauff

The UN human rights office condemned racist abuse posted online against Coco Gauff after her match against Sun Xinran at the WTA 1000 event in Beijing.

Entertainment

Selma Blair charged with assault after flight incident in New York

Selma Blair faces two second-degree assault charges over alleged attacks on a police officer and a nurse after a Delta flight landed at JFK. She was released on bail and has a court hearing scheduled for January.

“This was not an intentional assault.”
Shawn BarnesBlair’s lawyer

God of War Laufey Collector Box Costs $149.99 and Excludes the Game

Sony’s U.S. collector box for God of War Laufey costs $149.99 and includes merchandise, but no game disc or download code. It is due out with the game on Feb. 16, 2027.

Bryan Cranston mourns Breaking Bad co-star RJ Mitte, who died at 34

Cranston paid tribute to Mitte, who played his son on Breaking Bad, remembering his acting and disability advocacy. Accounts differ on whether his death was officially confirmed as suicide.

IDFA to open with film following Myanmar resistance recruits

The 39th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam will open with “White Tiger Column,” following young recruits as they train with Myanmar’s resistance movement. The festival runs Nov. 12 to 22.

The Social Reckoning opens to $5.5 million, far below its predecessor

Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up to The Social Network took in $5.5 million in its domestic opening weekend, against a reported production budget of about $30 million to $42 million.

RimWorld moves to its own engine, with faster performance and saves intact

Update 1.7 moves RimWorld from Unity to Ludeon Studios’ Waylith Engine. The studio says it runs two to four times faster, and existing saves and most mods still work.

Thélyson Orélien denies using AI to write novel, admits plagiarism

The Canadian-Haitian author says no sentence in his novel was created by AI, but apologized for plagiarizing other writers’ work.

Thélyson Orélien denies that AI wrote any sentence of his novel, “C’était ça ou mourir.”

The Canadian-Haitian writer says he used tools for research but wrote the book himself.

He apologized and accepted responsibility for plagiarizing texts by established authors after moving to Canada.

He says he began writing the novel in Quebec in 2017 and finished a first draft in 2019.

Read full story →

TNA ends Max Caster’s run after Riyadh attack reference at Bound for Glory

TNA said Max Caster will no longer wrestle for the company after his entrance rap at Bound for Glory referred to attacks in Riyadh. TNA apologized and removed the segment from replays and social media.

Wrestling Observer dated the attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh to this day.

Caster performed an entrance rap referencing the Riyadh attacks before his match against Moose at Bound for Glory.

TNA announced Caster would no longer wrestle for the promotion and said it had removed the segment from replays and social media.

Raye manually reviews ticket sign-ups after 1.8 million apply for 5,000 seats

Raye says AI bots and scalpers overwhelmed sign-ups for her Royal Albert Hall show in London. Her team is manually selecting fans for presale access, with remaining tickets due to go on general sale.

Sign-ups
1.8 million
Venue capacity
5,000 seats
Venue
Royal Albert Hall, London
Show date
23 October 2026

Collin Gosselin alleges abuse by mother Kate ahead of memoir release

Collin Gosselin says his mother, Kate, physically and emotionally mistreated him as a child. His memoir, “In the Shadow of Eight,” is due out Oct. 13.

Collin Gosselin Kate Gosselin

Alleged treatment

Collin says his mother dragged him by the ear and mistreated him and his siblings.

Kate previously said reports of abuse were unfounded.

His placement in an institution

Collin says he was removed from the home and placed in an institution, with little contact with his family.

Kate said he was sent for treatment for educational and social challenges and that the decision was the best thing she could do for him.

Julianne Moore’s son Caleb Freundlich marries Kibriyaá Morgan

Caleb Freundlich and Kibriyaá Morgan have married after dating for nine years. His mother, actor Julianne Moore, shared the news on Instagram.

Health

Muscle and liver cells may retain benefits of past exercise

Research suggests muscle and liver cells retain a memory of exercise after training stops. This may help people regain fitness faster when they return to exercise.

“At the cellular level, you probably weren’t.”
ResearchersExercise physiologists

France’s flu and COVID vaccination campaign starts October 13

France’s annual flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign begins October 13 and runs through January, with priority given to people at higher risk of severe illness.

World Health Summit calls for more funding for pandemic prevention

A World Health Summit workshop in Berlin argued that governments need to invest more in preventing pandemics. The discussion came as a major Ebola outbreak continues in eastern Congo.

Drinking water helps prevent dehydration but does not directly lower blood sugar

A diabetes educator says water can help prevent dehydration from worsening high blood sugar, but it does not lower glucose or replace prescribed treatment.

Epilepsy Drug Shows Promise for Osteoarthritis in Early Tests

Yale researchers found that lacosamide reduced pain and supported cartilage repair in mouse tests and human cartilage cells. The drug still needs testing in people with osteoarthritis.

More than 20,000 people in Yakutia received remote health monitoring

Since the start of 2026, 20,051 people with chronic conditions in Yakutia have had their health monitored remotely using devices that send medical data to health workers.

Sixth measles-related death reported in Pennsylvania

A 39-year-old unvaccinated woman in Franklin County is the sixth person reported to have died in Pennsylvania amid the state’s largest measles outbreak in three decades.

A 39-year-old woman in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, has been reported as the state’s sixth measles-related death in less than two months.

The woman was unvaccinated and had underlying medical conditions, the county coroner’s office said.

The coroner’s spokesperson said the probable cause was an acute cardiac event that may have resulted from measles complications.

Pennsylvania has confirmed 1,136 measles cases and 219 hospitalizations, with two-thirds of cases in adults.

Read full story →

Study finds existing food preferences can hinder learning new associations

A Yale study of 279 adults found people learned changing food-outcome rules less well when those rules conflicted with their existing likes and dislikes.

Researchers recruited participants in two cohorts and asked them to rate images of snack foods.

The study was reported by News-Medical and Infobae.

Italy to allocate €8 million over two years for heat plan

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said Italy will dedicate €8 million over the next two years to managing heat, as the country prepares for future environmental and health challenges.

Funding
€8 million
Duration
Next two years
Announced by
Orazio Schillaci
Event
Heatwaves and health – Summer 2026 report and future prospects

Exercise may improve mood and quality of life during menopause, study finds

A review of 12 trials involving more than 1,000 women found that aerobic exercise and activities such as yoga were linked to better mood or quality of life during menopause.

Asti healthy ageing project presented as European good practice

A health authority in Asti presented its Communit-Action project in Vilnius, where it was recognised as a European good practice for supporting healthy and active ageing.