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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

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.

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.

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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.

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.

Funding raised
At least $500 million
Former staffers identified
At least two dozen
DOGE operating period
January 20 to July 4, 2025
DOGE claimed savings
$215 billion

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

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.

“The incident at RAF Fairford “is not unique. There have been other examples, not just in the U.K. but around the world,”
Ken McCallumMI5 Director General

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.

Russian drone strike on Rivne university injures 20

A Russian drone struck a building at Rivne State University of the Humanities in western Ukraine on Oct. 13, injuring 20 people. The university’s Department of Musical Arts building burned down.

Spanish royals visit Ceuta after deadly migration crisis

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta to show support for residents after a mass border crossing from Morocco. They are due to travel to Melilla on Wednesday.

Zelenskyy says Ukraine received no warning before Russian missile strike on Kyiv

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said partners gave Ukraine no early warning before five Russian ballistic missiles hit civilian infrastructure in Kyiv. Russian strikes also killed four people in Kharkiv, he said.

Bus and tram collide in Marseille, leaving four people injured

A bus and a tram collided in Marseille’s 4th arrondissement on Tuesday morning. Four people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, and an investigation is under way.

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.

German police detained two Turkish citizens over a fire at a Starlink station in Masovia, central Poland, in late September.

Polish officials say the suspects will face charges of sabotage and acting for a foreign intelligence service, and will be tried in Poland.

The station, owned by state telecommunications company Exatel, carries internet traffic through Poland, including to Ukraine.

The fire was intended to disrupt internet access, including for Ukraine’s military, according to Polish officials, but the station remained operational.

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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.

The passport of the family’s minor daughter was issued with incorrect information about her sex.

Officials seized the passport, and the family could not pass passport control or use its paid tickets to Thailand.

The district court rejected the mother’s claim, and the appeal court upheld that decision.

The Fourth Cassation Court overturned the earlier rulings and sent the case back for a new hearing.

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.

Proposed timeline
By 2030
Potential initial scope
Baltic countries and Europe’s eastern flank
Speaker
Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s foreign minister
Venue
Warsaw Security Forum

Trump’s diesel deal with Russia draws anger from European allies

A U.S. diesel agreement with Russia has angered European officials. Ukraine’s president questioned Washington’s motives, while European allies said they would maintain pressure on Moscow.

Trump and the U.S. European allies and Ukraine

Agreement

The U.S. reached a diesel agreement with Russia.

European officials recoiled from the agreement, and Ukraine called it “a gift” to Putin.

Response to Moscow

Not stated.

Allies vowed to keep pressure on Moscow.

Suspect in Sandra’s killing held after conviction for earlier partner’s murder

Antoine Moïse has been charged and held in custody over Sandra’s killing near Toulouse. Her family says it did not know he had previously been convicted of murdering a former partner.

Business

Türkiye’s wind capacity could cut gas imports by $4 billion a year

The Turkish Wind Energy Association says Türkiye’s wind power capacity of more than 16 gigawatts could reduce annual natural gas import costs by nearly $4 billion at current prices.

“Türkiye’s wind power capacity, which exceeds 16 gigawatts, provides the opportunity to save nearly $4 billion annually in natural gas imports at current energy prices”
İbrahim ErdenTurkish Wind Energy Association chairman

Turkey’s auto production and sales fall as domestic vehicle sales rise

In the first nine months of 2026, Turkey’s vehicle production and total market shrank, but sales of domestically made cars and light commercial vehicles increased.

Türkiye’s fresh vegetable exports reach $822.7 million in nine months

Türkiye earned $822.7 million from fresh vegetable exports between January and September, up 10% from the same period a year earlier. Tomatoes and peppers made up about 70% of export revenue.

Nine face legal action in second wave of Turkish check-fraud probe

Authorities launched operations in Ankara and other provinces in a second wave of a check-fraud investigation, identifying 11 new suspects and starting legal proceedings against nine.

Oil exploration planned in a major tourism area

A headline says oil exploration is planned in an area described as a tourism hub, but gives no further details.

Dollar trades near 49.24 lira and euro near 55 lira in Turkey

On Tuesday, October 13, the dollar traded at about 49.24 lira and the euro at around 55 lira in Turkey.

Pegasus to end Sabiha Gökçen–Tuzla flights after October 23

Pegasus plans to end flights between Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, after October 23. Wizz Air is expected to be the only scheduled airline serving Tuzla this winter.

Pegasus plans to stop flying between Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Tuzla, a city in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The last flight is scheduled for October 23, and the route will not operate in the 2026/27 winter season.

Pegasus has also paused ticket sales for next summer, though the company’s future plans for the route are not detailed.

AJet stopped flying the same route in June, so Wizz Air is expected to be Tuzla’s only scheduled airline this winter.

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Turkey sets e-notification rules and deadlines for tax groups

Turkey has set deadlines for tax groups required to join its electronic notification system, with a 30 November deadline for those not yet enrolled.

Taxpayers already enrolled could continue using the system with their existing user codes and passwords.

The regulation was published in the Official Gazette, and eligible taxpayers who had not enrolled were required to join by November 30.

The deadline for eligible taxpayers who had not yet joined the system.

Newly established taxpayers required to use the system must enroll within this period.

Türkiye’s retail sales rose 10.1% year on year in August

Türkiye’s overall trade sales volume rose 0.6% from a year earlier in August, while retail sales volume increased 10.1%, official data showed.

Retail sales volume
Up 10.1 percent year-on-year in August
Retail sales volume
Up 1.4 percent month-on-month in August
Overall trade sales volume
Up 0.6 percent year-on-year in August
Wholesale trade sales volume
Down 1.9 percent year-on-year in August

Turkey’s vehicle production fell 5.9% in first nine months of 2026

Turkey produced 971,159 vehicles from January to September, down 5.9% from a year earlier. Domestic vehicle sales also fell, while automotive exports rose in value.

Turkey says public funds will not cover liquidation of troubled investment funds

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz says no public money will be used to liquidate seven companies and 131 troubled funds, while investigations continue.

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

Apple reportedly plans HomeView smart home hub for November

Apple is expected to unveil its Siri-focused HomeView display on October 13 and begin shipping it around mid-November. A new Apple TV and HomePod mini are also expected.

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.

NASA’s Perseverance rover sets record with 45.2km driven on Mars

Perseverance has driven 45.2km on Mars, surpassing the previous record held by NASA’s Opportunity rover. NASA says the rover’s autonomous navigation system handles more than 90% of its driving.

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.

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

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.

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 for Josh Allen’s first OT win

Buffalo beat Los Angeles 37-34 in overtime after Josh Allen led a late drive and Tyler Bass kicked the winning field goal. It was Allen’s first career overtime victory.

“Guys kept chipping away, defense kept going out there making plays, special teams was big tonight”
Josh AllenBills quarterback

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.

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.

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.

Rams lose to Bills and look to reset before facing Cardinals

The Rams lost 37-34 to the Bills, leaving them 2-3 despite gaining 454 yards. Puka Nacua said the team must regroup and define its identity before hosting Arizona.

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.

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.

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.

Suspension
One game without pay
Teams
San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks
Players involved
Dre Greenlaw and Ernest Jones IV
Game result
San Francisco won 32-29

Rams' limited investment in special teams faces renewed scrutiny

After another overtime loss, coach Sean McVay again criticized the Rams' special teams. The team has ranked near the bottom in several measures of investment in that unit.

Two players ejected after opening-kickoff fight in London

Jacksonville’s Bryan Thomas Jr. and Philadelphia’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. were ejected after fighting during the opening kickoff. A 90-yard Jaguars return for a touchdown was called back because of penalties.

Entertainment

Ego Nwodim mocks Shane Gillis’s joke about women’s gym clothes

After Shane Gillis joked that women at the gym “dress like whores” on SNL, former cast member Ego Nwodim responded with a gym selfie and a pointed caption.

“Whore reporting for duty”
Ego NwodimFormer SNL cast member

Delta Goodrem to miss Strictly Icons Week with rib injury

Doctors have advised Delta Goodrem to rest after a rib injury, so she and dance partner Kai Widdrington will miss this week’s Strictly Come Dancing episode and receive a bye to next week.

Shane Gillis accidentally swears during live SNL sketch

Shane Gillis accidentally used an expletive during a Dr. Seuss-inspired sketch while hosting Saturday Night Live on Oct. 10. The show later worked the slip into the sketch.

Big Brother Season 8 contestant Amber Siyavus dies at 46

Amber Siyavus, who competed on Big Brother in 2007, died in Las Vegas on October 9. The cause and manner of death are pending.

BBC says Strictly edits out slogans under its standard editorial policy

The BBC says it edited the “Protect the Dolls” slogan from rehearsal footage of Strictly contestant Bethany Antonia under its standard policy on slogans and branding. Viewers criticized the edit as censorship.

Roman Reigns and Joe Hendry vs. JD McDonagh set for WWE Raw

Roman Reigns is scheduled to appear on WWE Raw on Oct. 19, and Joe Hendry will face JD McDonagh in a singles match.

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.

RJ Mitte, who played Walter White Jr. on the TV drama Breaking Bad, has died at age 34.

His co-star Bryan Cranston shared a tribute, recalling that Mitte joined the show at 14 and grew into a skilled actor.

Mitte had cerebral palsy and was an advocate for greater inclusion and representation of disabled people.

He also worked with disability-focused organizations and led the Mitte Foundation, a nonprofit supporting awareness and inclusion.

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RTL removes Unter Uns morning reruns ahead of planned end

RTL has replaced morning repeats of Unter Uns with Verklag mich doch!, but new episodes will continue in the afternoon until the soap’s planned end in March 2027.

RTL announced it would end production of “Unter uns” after more than 32 years.

RTL removed the morning reruns and scheduled “Verklag mich doch!” at 9:30 a.m.

The final episode of “Unter uns” is planned to air.

Hugh Grant backed out of replacing Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men

Chuck Lorre says Hugh Grant withdrew from talks to replace Charlie Sheen on the sitcom. Ashton Kutcher took the role instead, and the show ran for four more seasons.

Proposed role
Replacement for Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men
Reported offer
$750,000 per episode
Work week offered
Four days
Writing partner
Lee Aronsohn

Myha’la says bias may affect suspicion on The Celebrity Traitors

Myha’la says unconscious racial and cultural bias can shape suspicion on The Celebrity Traitors, but says her banishment was not a complete case of racism by her fellow contestants.

A fan alleging racism Myha’la

Reason for banishment

The fan said Myha’la was banished because she is Black and called the show racist.

Myha’la said she had given the others reasons to suspect her, including winking at Richard E Grant.

Bias on the show

The fan said unconscious bias affected Myha’la’s banishment.

Myha’la agreed that unconscious racial and cultural bias exists in the game, but said her case was not fully explained by that claim.

Actor Yuji Mochizuki appears in VIVANT episode after his death

Yuji Mochizuki, who died aged 41 last November, appeared as a guard in episode 20 of VIVANT. Fellow actor Yuichiro Arai paid tribute to him after the episode aired.

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.

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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.