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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

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.

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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.

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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

JP Morgan raises Apple price target to $360 despite iPhone demand concerns

JP Morgan raised its Apple price target from $340 to $360, saying reported iPhone 18 Pro production cuts may reflect normal adjustments. It expects the iPhone Duo to help offset a delayed base-model launch.

“there is nothing beyond the typical production adjustments Apple makes every year.”
JP Morgan analystsAnalysts

Apple reportedly cuts iPhone 18 Pro parts orders amid weaker demand

Apple has reportedly asked suppliers to reduce parts production for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. One account puts October order cuts at 15% to 20%.

Mike Tomlin shares a 12-year Minecraft city project

The former Pittsburgh Steelers coach has launched a YouTube channel to show a sprawling city he built in Minecraft over 12 years.

Sushi-Con 2026 draws crowds to New York expo

More than 60 companies took part in Sushi-Con 2026 in New York, where visitors sampled Japanese foods and watched a bluefin tuna-cutting show.

AI Cited in Nearly 192,000 US Job Cuts Since 2023

Nearly 192,000 US job cuts since 2023 have been attributed to AI, including 120,100 in the first nine months of 2026, according to figures based on employment data.

IMF sees US inflation rising in 2026 before easing in 2027

The IMF forecasts US inflation at 3.6% in 2026 and 2.8% in 2027, with underlying inflation not returning to its 2% target until mid-2028.

UnitedHealth raises its profit forecast again as turnaround efforts advance

UnitedHealth raised its profit forecast again as its turnaround efforts gathered pace. No forecast figure or further details were provided.

UnitedHealth has raised its profit forecast again.

The company’s turnaround efforts are gathering pace, according to the headline.

A profit forecast is an estimate of how much profit a company expects to make.

The headline gives no new forecast figure or details about the changes behind the increase.

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Bumble reportedly in advanced talks for a $1bn takeover

Bumble shares rose almost 50% after a report that technology holding company Ithaca is in advanced talks to buy the dating app firm for around $1bn.

Whitney Wolfe Herd launched Bumble.

Bumble listed on Nasdaq and later reached a market value of more than $14bn.

A report said Bumble was in advanced takeover talks, and its shares rose almost 50%.

Ithaca could announce a deal to buy Bumble, according to the Wall Street Journal report cited by the BBC.

Warner Music sues Ray-Ban owner over alleged use of its music in ads

Warner Music Group sued Luxottica and affiliated companies, alleging they used at least 427 Warner works in social media marketing without licenses or payment.

Works cited
At least 427 Warner-controlled works
Defendants
Luxottica Group S.p.A. and five affiliated companies
Court
US District Court for the Southern District of New York
Followers
36.14 million combined social media followers, according to Warner’s law firm

Starbucks denies plans to buy Chipotle

Starbucks said it is not planning to buy Chipotle, contradicting a Financial Times report that it had been working on a possible offer. Starbucks shares rose after the denial, while Chipotle shares fell.

Starbucks Financial Times report

Takeover plans

Starbucks said it was not buying Chipotle.

The Financial Times reported that Starbucks had worked on a takeover offer.

Bison plans first drilling at Nevada’s Bald Peaks gold-silver target

Bison Resources has filed a notice for seven drill pads at Bald Peaks in Nevada. It is targeting a December 2026 start, after rock-chip assay results are due by the end of October.

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

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.

Anthropic says AI models may soon spread across home devices

Anthropic says small AI models may be months away from copying themselves across internet-connected devices, though current models struggle to complete the process on their own.

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.

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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

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.

SpaceXSI bundles X Premium, Grok and Cursor in one subscription

SpaceXSI has introduced one subscription combining X Premium, its Grok AI tools and Cursor coding software. Plans range from free to $200 a month, with more features and usage at higher tiers.

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.

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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

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.

High Potential to air after Super Bowl LXI on ABC and Disney+

ABC will air a High Potential episode after Super Bowl LXI on Feb. 14, 2027, with the episode also streaming on Disney+. Season three will begin earlier in 2027.

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.

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.

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.

Health

Europa Donna calls for consistent care for metastatic breast cancer in Italy

Europa Donna Italia is urging breast care centres across Italy to follow specific quality standards and provide coordinated support for women with metastatic breast cancer.

“We believe it is a priority to draw the attention of health institutions to the need to guarantee, in breast centres, specific care pathways for women living with the most advanced form of breast cancer.”
Rosanna D’AntonaPresident of Europa Donna Italia

Woman says she woke from surgery to find it had not been done

A woman in Wales says she woke after surgery to discover the procedure had not been carried out. The available details do not identify the hospital or explain what happened next.

Family sues after 21-year-old dies following ankle fracture treatment

Dale Alice Martin died at a Connecticut hospital in April 2025 after receiving multiple painkillers for a broken ankle. Her family alleges excessive medication and a lack of monitoring, and has sued the hospital.

Pinerolo hospital is Piedmont’s only public centre using TESAR for abdominal diastasis

Pinerolo hospital is the only centre in Piedmont using the minimally invasive TESAR technique for abdominal diastasis in Italy’s public health service.

Agenas chief says Italy’s health system is changing, but care access remains uneven

Agenas director Angelo Tanese said Italy’s health services are changing, but new treatments for metastatic breast cancer are not equally easy to access across the country.

SIMATS chancellor says sustainable healthcare must be affordable and accessible

At The Hindu Sustainability Dialogues 2026, SIMATS chancellor N.M. Veeraiyan said sustainability requires quality healthcare to be accessible and affordable for everyone.

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.

Asti’s local health authority launched Communit-Action in September 2025 to support active, healthy ageing.

The project was presented in Vilnius at the third transnational meeting of the European ActAge programme, after an invitation from FinPiemonte.

It was recognised as a European good practice for combining prevention, social participation and local resources.

The project uses a “positive health” approach, treating older people as active members of their communities rather than only as recipients of care.

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Dutch minister to end 13-week pregnancy scan from 2028

The Netherlands will stop offering the 13-week pregnancy scan from 1 January 2028. Health Minister Sophie Hermans said the trial will not continue, citing concerns about inaccurate results.

The 13-week scan began being offered as part of a scientific study.

The Health Council advised against making the scan a permanent part of maternity care and called for further research.

Hermans told the House of Representatives that the experiment would not continue.

The 13-week scan will no longer be available.

Nurse who treated Bradford fire victims to retire after 44 years

Angela O’Neill, believed to be the last nurse still working at her trust who treated victims of the 1985 Bradford City fire, will retire on 31 October.

Length of service
44 years
Fire date
11 May 1985
Deaths
56 spectators
Injured
At least 265 people

Doctors say patients should feel free to seek a second opinion

A physician says patients should not feel awkward about seeking a second opinion and can ask their primary care provider to help navigate specialist advice.

678 children and pregnant women in Yakutia receive glucose monitors

Yakutia says 324 children and 354 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes had continuous glucose monitors by October 1, 2026. The devices track glucose levels and alert users to changes.