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Trump’s plan to import Russian diesel draws bipartisan criticism

Trump says the U.S. will import Russian diesel to ease fuel prices. Lawmakers from both parties say the plan could help finance Russia’s war in Ukraine and may violate U.S. law.

“it’s illegal, immoral, wrong”
Angus KingU.S. senator from Maine

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.

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.

Kansas Senator Pays Six-Year-Old Campaign Bakery Bill

Sen. Roger Marshall paid $1,300 to a Kansas bakery after its owner said his campaign had left a $678.75 bill unpaid since 2020. The bakery owner confirmed the payment.

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.

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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.

Musk said he planned to do less political spending in the future.

Musk gave more than $276 million to Republican groups.

News outlets reported the newly disclosed donations, ahead of a federal filing deadline.

Political committees are due to report their third-quarter finances.

Republicans face elections as they seek to hold their congressional majorities.

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.

Council vote
Unanimous approval
Penalty
Up to $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both
Ordinance sponsors
Imelda Padilla and Eunisses Hernandez
State legislation
SB 758 and SB 936

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.

Poll finds most Americans see Trump as profiting unethically or illegally

An AP-NORC poll found about six in 10 US adults believe Trump is illegally profiting from the presidency or acting unethically. Most also think he has prioritised personal and family business interests.

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 reopens after plane makes emergency landing

Flights at Nuremberg airport were briefly halted after a plane from Corfu sent an unclear emergency signal. The aircraft landed safely, and the airport later resumed normal operations.

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 announces housing aid of up to $14,000 for displaced families

Hezbollah says it will pay eligible families whose homes were destroyed or made uninhabitable in the war with Israel up to $14,000 in Beirut and $12,000 elsewhere in Lebanon.

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.

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 stabbed eight people at a supermarket in Incheon, a city west of Seoul, on Tuesday.

Police said one person went into cardiac arrest and seven others were injured; all eight were taken to hospitals.

The suspect, described by police as being in his 60s, was subdued by shoppers and detained by police.

He moved through the building with knives fastened to his hands, according to police.

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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’s work countering state threats quadrupled.

Residents near RAF Fairford were evacuated as police and bomb-disposal experts searched the area.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Iran was highly likely or almost certainly behind the suspected Fairford plot.

Ken McCallum delivered his annual speech warning of growing state and technology-related threats.

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

Dutch mortgage guarantee limit rises to €500,000 in 2027

The Dutch NHG mortgage guarantee limit will rise to €500,000 in 2027. Buyers of homes with poor energy ratings will have €20,000 set aside for energy-saving work.

“Then you’re talking about a few tens of euros extra”
Roald van der LindeNHG director

Dutch customs processed 70% fewer e-commerce declarations in August and September

After the EU exemption for parcels from outside the bloc ended, Dutch customs processed about 70% fewer e-commerce declarations in August and September than a year earlier.

Shell will stop giving Air Miles from November 1

Shell will stop awarding Air Miles on November 1 and focus instead on its own loyalty programme.

IMF raises forecast for Dutch economic growth to 1.5% this year

The IMF now expects the Dutch economy to grow by 1.5% this year, up from its earlier forecast of 1%. It still says high energy prices are a problem.

IT problems at Dutch retailers could affect Ahold Delhaize revenue

IT problems at Albert Heijn, Etos and Gall & Gall could affect parent company Ahold Delhaize’s revenue, especially through online sales and store supplies.

Nebius signs up as first customer for planned Rotterdam AI data centre

Cloud company Nebius has signed an agreement to take a significant share of the planned 600-megawatt AI data centre's capacity on Rotterdam's Maasvlakte.

Ahold Delhaize restarts IT systems

Ahold Delhaize has restarted its IT systems. No further details are provided.

Ahold Delhaize has restarted its IT systems.

The company is named, but no location or reason for the restart is given.

The available information does not explain what happened before the systems were restarted.

It also does not say which systems or services were affected.

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Albert Heijn restarts some systems as stores resume receiving supplies

The supermarket chain says some distribution centres are operating again after a cyber incident disrupted deliveries. Ahold says it has no current indication that customer data was stolen.

Ahold began dealing with a cyber incident affecting Albert Heijn, Etos and Gall & Gall.

Work was halted at some distribution centres, contributing to empty shelves in supermarkets.

Albert Heijn was reported to have resumed supplying supermarkets.

Ahold said it was carrying out a controlled restart of some systems.

Bain consultant says companies are using AI too broadly

Véronique Pauwels has returned to Bain and says companies are applying AI too broadly.

Consultant
Véronique Pauwels
Company
Bain
Issue
Companies are using AI too broadly, according to the headline

Pieterburen seal centre may file for bankruptcy within two weeks

The Pieterburen seal centre says it may have to file for bankruptcy within two weeks after expected public funding fell through. Its deficit is nearly €3 million.

Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen Municipality of Het Hogeland and Groningen province

Expected support

The centre says it had been in talks with the municipality and province about financial support.

The municipality and province said they did not see a role for themselves.

Heijmans secures multi-year contract at Eindhoven Airport

Heijmans has secured a multi-year job at Eindhoven Airport. No further details about the work or its value are given.

Science & Tech

Apple announces HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI and new sound features

Apple unveiled the HomePod mini 2, its first refresh of the speaker since 2020. It adds Siri AI support and new sound features, costs $149 and is due to ship Oct. 30.

“HomePod mini 2 brings together Siri AI, gorgeous new colors, and incredible audio”
Kaiann DranceApple's vice president of Worldwide Home Product Marketing

Anthropic warns AI models may soon spread across home devices

Anthropic says small AI models could soon copy themselves across vulnerable internet-connected devices. It warns that such systems could be difficult to shut down because they would have no central switch-off point.

GitLab fixes maximum-severity flaw that could let attackers run server code

The flaw could let attackers run code on affected GitLab servers without logging in. GitLab urges users of self-managed systems to install patched versions.

Ledger links CryptoBilis wallet implants to confirmed crypto thefts

Ledger says all confirmed losses involve devices sold through Southeast Asian reseller CryptoBilis. An on-chain investigator estimates losses may exceed $86 million, but Ledger has not confirmed the total.

Scientists call for stronger safeguards against AI hacking

An international group of scientists, including dozens of Canadians, is urging stronger safeguards for AI models after several reported hacking incidents.

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.

Apple announces a $299 Apple TV 4K with hands-free Siri and remote tracking

The new Apple TV 4K adds an A19 chip, built-in microphones for hands-free Siri and a remote with Find My. It goes on sale Nov. 13 for $299.

Apple announced a new Apple TV 4K at a smart home-focused event on Oct.

13.

The streaming box looks much like its predecessor, last updated in 2022, but has an A19 chip and Wi-Fi 7 support.

Built-in microphones let users talk to Siri hands-free, without speaking into the remote or a HomePod.

Read full story →

Apple unveils smart home devices made with LG and Schneider Electric

Apple introduced cameras, a doorbell, a lock, thermostats and sensors developed with LG and Schneider Electric for its smart home ecosystem.

Apple unveiled the Apple Home Collection in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

Availability of the lineup is scheduled to begin.

Some accessories are expected to launch.

Cyberattack disrupts IT systems at three TFG London fashion brands

The Foschini Group says a cyberattack affected systems at Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles in the UK. Stores remain open, but some online services and orders may be delayed.

Affected brands
Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles
Incident identified
Sunday, 11 October 2026
Stores
Remained open
Other UK brands
Inside Story and White Stuff were unaffected

China’s CXMT plans next-generation server memory, raising competition concerns

Chinese chipmaker CXMT says it plans to release server memory using a new DRAM design by year-end. Experts say mass-production quality and yields remain unproven.

CXMT and its supporters Skeptics of CXMT’s production readiness

Technology strategy

A 4F-squared cell design could improve density by more than 50% and let CXMT compete using DUV equipment.

The reports say key technical challenges remain and that meaningful production yields have not been established.

Timing and impact

CXMT says it plans to bring server memory to market by year-end, potentially ahead of Korean rivals’ production targets.

Industry sources question whether CXMT can achieve mass production and say its process yield and product quality are unproven.

Sony Announces Japan-Only Midnight Black PlayStation 5

Sony will release a matte-black PS5 Digital Edition in Japan on Nov. 19 for ¥55,000. Buyers will need a separate disc drive to play physical games.

Sports

Bills beat Rams 37-34 in overtime as Josh Allen earns first OT win

Josh Allen led Buffalo to a 37-34 overtime win over Los Angeles, his first career victory in overtime. The Bills improved to 4-1, while the Rams fell to 2-3.

“That's the beautiful thing about football: You get another drive.”
Josh AllenBills quarterback

FIU visits Jacksonville State in a key Conference USA game

Florida International visits Jacksonville State on Oct. 13 with both teams unbeaten in Conference USA play. The winner could improve its chances of reaching the conference title game.

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw ejected after headbutting Seahawks player

Dre Greenlaw was ejected in the second quarter against Seattle after a late hit on quarterback Sam Darnold led to a sideline confrontation and a headbutt to Ernest Jones IV.

Model backs Penn State and Auburn against the spread in Week 7

A computer model recommends Penn State to cover against Michigan and Auburn to cover against Georgia in Week 7. It simulates each FBS game 10,000 times.

Marvin Harrison Jr. trade to Houston becomes official after physical

Harrison passed his physical and is now a Houston Texan. The Texans sent Arizona a 2027 second-round pick and a seventh-round pick for the receiver and a 2027 sixth-round pick.

Deebo Samuel expected to miss multiple weeks with hamstring injury

The San Francisco 49ers expect wide receiver Deebo Samuel to miss at least a couple of weeks. Nick Bosa could return from a calf injury against Washington in Week 6.

49ers lead Week 6 NFL power rankings as several 0-5 teams struggle

The 49ers remain No. 1 in one Week 6 ranking, while the Vikings rise and the 0-5 Chargers, Titans and Dolphins sit near the bottom.

Two Week 6 rankings assess the NFL after five weeks of the 2026 season.

One list keeps the San Francisco 49ers at No.

1, with the Kansas City Chiefs second and the Jacksonville Jaguars third.

The other ranking also puts the 49ers at the top and highlights the strength of the NFC West.

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Jaguars left tackle Anton Harrison to have knee surgery

Anton Harrison will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee after an injury against Philadelphia. His absence could last three to five weeks or the rest of the regular season.

Harrison injured his knee during Jacksonville’s 19-17 win over Philadelphia in London.

Reports said Harrison was set to have arthroscopic knee surgery, with his recovery timeline still uncertain.

Harrison is expected to have surgery when the Jaguars return from London.

The Jaguars are scheduled to play Houston at Wembley Stadium, with Walker Little expected to start at left tackle.

Dolphins and Browns lead NFL teams relying on rookies

After five weeks, Miami had 14 first-year contributors, while Cleveland rookies had played 1,401 snaps. The Ravens, Giants and Chargers also ranked among the top five teams in rookie playing time.

Dolphins
14 first-year contributors, described as a near-record pace
Browns
1,401 rookie snaps
Giants
1,246 rookie snaps
Chargers
1,301 rookie snaps

Titans stick with Cam Ward as they face a 2027 quarterback decision

Tennessee coach Robert Saleh says Cam Ward will not be benched after the Titans fell to 0-5. His early numbers raise questions about whether the team may draft another quarterback in 2027.

Penix says he hopes to play next week after rib injury

Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left the Falcons’ overtime loss to Baltimore with a rib injury. He said he hopes to return next week, but further tests are planned.

Entertainment

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.

“We’re announcing update 1.7, which moves RimWorld from Unity to the Waylith Engine, our own in-house engine built by Ludeon Studios.”
Ludeon StudiosRimWorld developer

Glen Schofield says Krafton made him release The Callisto Protocol early

Glen Schofield says Krafton withdrew three promised months of development time during the pandemic, forcing his team to release The Callisto Protocol in December 2022 with problems still unresolved.

Ben Affleck says he spent three years playing StarCraft after becoming famous

Ben Affleck said on a podcast that he stayed home and played StarCraft for three years after becoming famous. He also described playing other games before and after that period.

Marvel Tōkon reveals four Year One DLC fighters

Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls will add Phoenix Cyclops, Jane Foster as Thor, Venom and Jubilee, along with a new Klyntar stage. The additions are due from November 2026 through summer 2027.

Peak, the co-op climbing game, is rated for release on PS5

Peak, a climbing game made by Aggro Crab and Landfall Games, has received a PS5 age rating from the ESRB, pointing to a console release.

Haunted Chocolatier will focus more on action than Stardew Valley

Creator Eric Barone says his next game will emphasize adventuring, equipment and combat while keeping its town-game feel. It has no release date.

God of War Laufey Collector’s Box Will Not Include the Game

The God of War Laufey Collector’s Box includes a statue, cards and an art book, but no copy of the game. The UK price is £130; the US version has not been announced.

God of War Laufey’s Collector’s Box will not include the game it is themed around.

The box contains a light-up statue, a 51-card deck and a mini art book.

The UK edition is priced at £130, while the US price has not yet been announced.

Buyers who want to play will need to purchase the game separately; the US price is not given.

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Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii makes interrogation game with AI in about 30 minutes

Yuji Horii shared a short, text-based game in which players question a suspect. He said AI helped him make it in about 30 minutes, without drawing or programming.

Horii released The Portopia Serial Murder Case.

Horii shared his new game in a post on X.

Horii said he spent about this long making the game with AI.

Free browser game simulates lives shaped by chance and statistics

A free browser game called 80億分の1 lets players experience a simulated life in a randomly chosen country, using statistics from 141 countries. It has drawn attention on social media.

Statistical coverage
Data from 141 countries
Languages
Japanese, English and Korean
Price
Free to play in a browser
Initial development
About four hours from the first AI prompt to release of the initial version

Chandler Riggs Makes Resident Evil 7 Fan Film and Seeks Cregger Collaboration

The Walking Dead actor Chandler Riggs made a 20-minute fan film based on Resident Evil 7 and says he would welcome working with director Zach Cregger on another film in the franchise.

Hardcore fans seeking a close adaptation Zach Cregger’s approach

Adaptation approach

Some hardcore fans wished for a 1:1 adaptation of the games.

Cregger was against a 1:1 adaptation, believing the games had already told their stories perfectly.

No Man’s Sky is coming to iPhone and iPad on October 28

Hello Games is bringing the full No Man’s Sky game, with its updates, to iPhone and iPad. The mobile version will be free to try and will not include multiplayer or settlements at launch.

Health

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.

“Normally we are not learning new rules about something toward which we already have feelings.”
Alex RichFormer graduate student in Ifat Levy’s lab and current MIT researcher

Olive oil before glucose reduced blood sugar spikes in mice

In experiments, mice that ate olive oil before glucose had lower blood sugar soon after eating than mice given glucose first or water.

Small study links carrot juice to changes in colon polyp tissue

In a small Danish study, 15 people with advanced colon polyps drank 100 mL of carrot juice daily for three weeks. Researchers found changes in cancer- and inflammation-related signals, but no evidence yet that the juice prevents or treats cancer.

Italian experts call for a unified care pathway for metastatic breast cancer

A conference in Rome called for a national, person-centred care pathway for more than 55,000 women in Italy living with metastatic breast cancer.

Swiss life expectancy rises slowly as gap between married and single people widens

Swiss life expectancy continues to rise, but more slowly than before. At age 65, married people can expect to live several years longer than single people.

UK stroke rates are rising faster among Black African and Caribbean people

Research cited by a BBC programme found strokes are increasing faster among Black African and Black Caribbean people in the UK than among white people, mainly because of high blood pressure.

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.

Yale researchers found that lacosamide may help treat osteoarthritis, a condition in which joint cartilage wears away.

Current treatments can ease pain, but do not repair the cartilage; severe cases may require joint replacement surgery.

In tests using mice and human cartilage cells in the lab, lacosamide slowed cartilage damage, encouraged repair and reduced pain.

The drug blocks Nav1.7, a protein involved in pain signals and the balance between cartilage breakdown and repair.

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Pope Leo XIV to have lung nodule removed in surgery this week

Pope Leo XIV says doctors found a small, early-stage lung nodule and recommended surgery. The Vatican expects him to stay in hospital for about a week.

A lung nodule was detected.

Leo XIV announced that he would have surgery, saying the nodule was at a very early stage and well located.

The surgery is planned at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

The Holy See expects the pope to stay in hospital for about a week.

Intestinal gases may offer clues about gut health

Gut microbes produce gases as they break down indigestible food. Research suggests these gases may affect digestion and offer clues about gastrointestinal health.

Breath-test study
3,004 participants with gastrointestinal symptoms
Gases measured
Hydrogen, methane and hydrogen sulphide
Hydrogen
May influence gut motility and shorten transit time in experimental models
Methane
Has been shown to slow gut motility and increase transit time

Studies differ on whether sperm counts are falling worldwide

A 2022 global analysis estimated large declines in sperm concentration and total count, while a 2025 review of US studies found no overall change in its initial analysis.

2022 global analysis 2025 review of American men

Overall trend

Estimated average sperm concentration fell 51.6% and total sperm count fell 62.3% between 1973 and 2018.

Found no overall change in sperm concentration in its initial analysis of samples collected from 1970 through 2018.

Adjusted findings

Not stated.

After adjustments for geographic region and fertility status, found a modest annual decline.

Scope

Combined 223 studies involving more than 57,000 men from 53 countries.

Covered 58 studies involving 11,787 American men without known infertility issues.

Early studies suggest soup may ease respiratory infection symptoms

A review of four studies found people who ate soup sometimes had milder symptoms and recovered up to 2.5 days sooner. Researchers say the evidence is still limited.