Iniaes

Near the Channel Tunnel

At least 19 people were injured when a freight train struck a passenger minibus near the French entrance to the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles. French authorities say none of the injuries are life-threatening. The minibus had reportedly overturned before the collision. Ambulances, a helicopter and police responded.

Antarctica’s shrinking ice

Researchers at UC Irvine and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory project that Thwaites Glacier could add up to 30 millimetres to global sea levels by 2100, roughly twice earlier forecasts, even without further warming. Their model accounts for tides pushing relatively warm seawater beneath grounded ice, accelerating melting. The study, published in Nature Communications, also estimates a 60 percent chance that the glacier will detach from a key stabilising underwater ridge before 2100.

Europe’s manufacturing rules

France has dropped its opposition to including Britain in the EU’s proposed “Made in Europe” legislation, on condition that Britain aligns with the bloc’s position on tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. The shift brings France alongside Germany in supporting British inclusion. The proposed Industrial Accelerator Act is designed to protect domestic manufacturing from cheap Chinese competition.

At the FBI

Fired FBI agents and analysts are suing to regain their jobs, saying they were dismissed for working on the investigation into Donald Trump’s handling of classified records. That investigation led to the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago, where agents recovered classified records, and a federal indictment charging Trump with dozens of felony counts.

British housebuilding

New home construction in England, Scotland and Wales fell 11.5 percent in August compared with a year earlier, the eleventh consecutive monthly decline on that basis. Labour remains committed to building 1.5 million homes by the end of parliament. Separately, 72 percent of firms surveyed by the Construction Plant-hire Association said they had cut or frozen recruitment following higher employer National Insurance contributions.

U.S. election offices

Several states, including Oklahoma, Ohio and Louisiana, have confirmed that election offices received letters containing suspicious substances.

Charlotte police resignations

Three Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers have resigned, and three more face termination after investigators uncovered a racist group chat. WBTV, citing anonymous sources, reported that officers discussed a competition to arrest the most Black people. Police Chief Estella Patterson said a review board unanimously recommended firing the officers. The messages surfaced during a state investigation into an officer charged in July with illegally accessing a government computer.

In U.S. news

Police in a Chicago suburb say they thwarted a potential mass shooting at a Hindu temple. A teenager is accused of plotting the attack.

Voters in Idaho and Missouri will decide abortion measures on November 3. Idaho’s initiative would restore access. Missouri’s would reinstate a near-total ban overturned by voters in 2024 and prohibit gender-affirming care for minors. Campaign organizers targeting young voters say housing costs and other economic concerns are competing for their attention.

Drought in England

Severe drought has been declared in parts of six English counties following scarce rainfall and five heatwaves between May and September. Wimbleball Reservoir in Exmoor is just 14.9 percent full. Authorities are increasing monitoring and checks on businesses taking water from natural sources. The government says household water supplies will not be interrupted.

In the Middle East

A Palestinian mother was killed and her young daughter rescued after an Israeli airstrike set their Gaza City home on fire. The Council on American-Islamic Relations urged Congress to condemn the attack.

Syrian state media report that authorities arrested Ali Kayali, also known as Mihrac Ural, the main suspect in the 2013 Baniyas mass killings, while he was trying to cross the border.

In tech and security

OpenAI alleges in a Wednesday court filing that a former employee transferred more than 100 confidential hardware files to personal accounts before returning to Apple, and presented product plans to Apple executives. Apple says it found no evidence supporting those claims. OpenAI has sought time to investigate possible counterclaims in Apple’s trade-secrets lawsuit, but has filed none and has not established that Apple received or used the material.

Britain’s Legal Aid Agency says its April 2025 cyberattack also exposed around 250,000 records from before 2007, including one dating to 1978. That expands the previously reported scope. Compromised information could include financial details and criminal case records. The figure counts records, not confirmed affected individuals. The Ministry of Justice says probation records were also accessed, but none concern crime victims.

At the Vatican

Pope Leo underwent surgery this week after a lung cancer diagnosis. The Vatican says he slept well as his recovery continues.

China and North Korea

have opened their largest land crossing, a three-kilometer bridge over the Yalu River. Proposed more than 12 years ago, the project was delayed as relations cooled. Its opening comes amid closer ties.

Fuel prices in Kenya

Kenya has raised fuel prices to contain surging government spending linked to the Middle East war. State-mandated petrol prices are now 20 percent above prewar levels, and diesel is up 31 percent. The increases pushed September inflation to its highest rate in almost three years.

In the UK economy

Britain’s economy grew by 0.1 percent in August, beating forecasts of a small contraction but slowing from July’s 0.4 percent growth. Official figures put growth over the three months to August at 0.7 percent. The Office for National Statistics attributed that increase to upward revisions to services output. Consumer spending fell, with the figures arriving ahead of Labour’s budget update this month.

Flooding in Istanbul

At least two people have been killed as heavy rain and widespread flooding shut down Istanbul. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality says some areas recorded their heaviest rainfall since 1985.

Reform UK figures filmed

Five Reform UK figures were caught on camera making racist remarks and lewd jokes about women. One called for King Charles the Third to be beheaded, citing an unsubstantiated claim that the King is Muslim.

Child neglect charges in San Jose

Prosecutors have charged Gabrielle Hanson and Jacob Randolph with felony child neglect after the death of eight-year-old Aurora Williams. They allege the couple ignored repeated warnings about dangerous conditions in their home and waited eight hours to seek help during her severe asthma attack. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, identifying medical neglect as a significant contributing factor. Six other children were taken into protective custody.

School collapse in Pakistan

A school roof collapse in northwest Pakistan has killed at least 27 children and a teacher. Building collapses are common in the country, where construction standards are often poorly enforced.

Chesapeake Bay’s health

Chesapeake Bay earned a C+ in the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s 2026 report card, its highest grade since records began in 2006. Eight of its 15 regions improved. Researchers say pollution held steady or fell, but water clarity worsened and chlorophyll increased. Scientists credit restoration efforts alongside dry weather that reduced polluted runoff.

In artificial intelligence

TSMC says its third-quarter net profit rose 68.7 percent to a record, driven by strong global demand for AI hardware. Separately, eight states have filed lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging ChatGPT endangers children, deceives parents and violates consumer protection laws.

Security firm HiddenLayer says it tricked a browser agent using TypeSafe AI’s Jev model into clicking a deceptive ad in a simulated store. A conventional language model also fell for the attack, though Jev did so less often. Researchers also reported bypassing Jev’s prompt-screening checks by adding extra letters to harmful prompts. TypeSafe AI, which says Jev cannot hallucinate, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In U.S. elections

The Justice Department has threatened California with possible legal action, saying it believes noncitizens have received mail ballots. Separately, election officials in Ohio, Louisiana and Oklahoma report receiving packages containing suspicious white powder. Law enforcement is investigating.

With less than three weeks before the midterms, the Wall Street Journal reports Republican groups are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to defend seats across an expanding battleground. Democrats are targeting more Republican-leaning territory, while President Trump and Vice President JD Vance campaign in Republican strongholds. A Fox News poll puts Trump’s approval at 36 percent, his lowest in the network’s polling across either term, with 64 percent disapproving.

In North Korea

State news agency KCNA says North Korea tested two submarine-launched missiles. The agency says the tests demonstrated the country’s regional war deterrent capabilities.

Flooding in Istanbul

A teenager has died as heavy rain floods Istanbul. Roads have collapsed and hospitals have taken in water. The flooding has also shut schools and halted traffic in Turkiye’s largest city.

Omar’s citizenship

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Trump administration is seeking to revoke Representative Ilhan Omar’s U.S. citizenship. According to the newspaper, investigators have subpoenaed relatives and examined immigration records.

Brazil’s workweek vote

Brazil’s Congress has approved a constitutional amendment capping the working week at 40 hours and banning six-day workweeks. The change could affect up to 30 million workers, giving some an extra day off. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva strongly backed the measure as he seeks to overcome far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro’s first-round lead in a presidential runoff less than two weeks away.

Russell Brand’s trial

A UK prosecutor described Russell Brand as a “ruthless sexual predator” as his trial began. Brand has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault.

Military execution broadcast

Seventy-two retired U.S. officers have urged the Pentagon to cancel a livestream of Nidal Hasan’s execution. Their letter warns that broadcasting it would taint the honor of the military and the nation.

Wisconsin plane crash

Authorities say all six people aboard a plane were killed when it crashed Tuesday night in rural Wisconsin.

Ampath cyber incident

South African pathology firm Ampath Laboratories says it is responding to a recent cyber incident. The company disputes cybercriminals’ claims that they stole records affecting 80 million patients.

Britain’s China policy

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China says British departments pursue contradictory policies toward Beijing and have lost expertise after budget cuts. Its report recommends central coordination and diversified supply chains, warning that reliance on Chinese technology could expose transport and energy systems to security risks. The government says it balances cooperation with national security. China’s embassy rejects the findings and accuses the group of spreading disinformation.

Protests in Albania

Dozens were detained in Tirana after a student protest over education costs and corruption turned violent. Tens of thousands marched. Demonstrators set fire to the education ministry and two banks, threw stones at police and smashed storefronts. Police used water cannon and tear gas.

PFAS in waterways

Researchers detected PFAS chemicals in 96 percent of Pennsylvania waterways tested and 91 percent of those tested in New Jersey. Sampling ran from 2022 through 2024. The study was conducted by PennEnvironment, Environment New Jersey’s research and policy center, and Frontier Group. PFAS are linked to increased cancer risks and other health problems.

In U.S. news

Social Security says 76 million Americans will receive a 3.6 percent cost-of-living increase in 2027. Average retirement benefits will rise by about 75 dollars a month starting in January.

Bloomberg reports that President Trump called for executing people who leak information to the media. At a campaign rally, while criticizing coverage of the Iran war, he said, “In my opinion, leakers should be shot.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that his administration is investigating Representative Ilhan Omar to build a case to strip her citizenship and ultimately deport her. The investigation focuses partly on how she obtained citizenship and on actions by her late father.

In public health

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Gerber, alleging high levels of arsenic and lead in its baby food. Separately, Politico reports that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine views helped stall an Agriculture Department bird flu response plan, alarming lawmakers as winter migration begins.

Greenland’s resource rights

Denmark is pushing back against Trump’s promotion of Greenland oil and mineral deals. The recent U.S., Greenland and Denmark agreement excludes mining and drilling rights and reinforces Greenland’s sovereignty.

Ukraine’s Starlink access

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he feels betrayed by Trump following reports of restricted Starlink access for Ukraine’s military. Speaking in London, he accused Trump of siding with Russia.

Oil and the Strait of Hormuz

Brent crude is back above 106 dollars as Iran intensifies attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and global inventories fall. OPEC forecasts stronger oil demand next year, adding to concerns about tighter supplies.

Reform UK departures

Three councillors have left Reform UK after an ITV undercover investigation filmed party councillors and election candidates making threats of extreme violence and expressing racist and misogynistic views. The investigation aired Wednesday. Reform UK said it was investigating the initial revelations.

Ukraine and Starlink

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he feels personally betrayed by Donald Trump after Ukraine’s military reportedly had its access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service restricted. During a visit to London, the Ukrainian president accused Trump of siding with Russia.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis is pressing Musk for an explanation. Tillis described overnight disruptions to Ukraine’s military access and said he hoped they resulted from an error rather than a deliberate decision.

Separately, Bangladesh has arrested two people accused of luring citizens to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Police say twenty Bangladeshi citizens have been killed after Russian forces used them as bait to locate enemy positions.

Britain’s electricity grid

Britain’s National Energy System Operator has appointed independent investigators after whistleblowers alleged safety breaches and attempts to conceal operational records during extreme June heat. Energy regulator Ofgem is also reviewing the period. Neso chief executive Fintan Slye says no customers lost power and grid frequency remained within statutory limits. He says the review will identify lessons to improve resilience.

In U.S. news

The Justice Department has threatened California with possible legal action, saying it believes noncitizens have received mail ballots for next month’s midterm elections.

A federal appeals court has questioned the limits of presidential authority to deploy National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. The administration argues the president can deploy the Guard to aid civil authorities. D.C. argues the mission unlawfully uses the military for domestic law enforcement. A lower court ruled it illegal, but an appeals court pause has allowed troops to remain. The Defense Department has extended the mission through January 2029.

In Houston, a Texas prosecutor says an ICE officer appeared to deliberately hit a man with a vehicle. Local prosecutors are also investigating a separate fatal July shooting by a federal immigration officer.

Ransomware and artificial intelligence

Eighty-four percent of ransomware victims in a new survey said their attackers used artificial intelligence as part of the scheme. Cybersecurity company Semperis and research consultancy Censuswide surveyed 1,200 IT and security professionals across nine countries and eight industry sectors for the report.

In Ukraine

Overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv killed one person and injured 20 others. Ukrainian authorities say some strikes targeted energy infrastructure, just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire.

In U.S. courts

A federal judge on Tuesday extended an order blocking the Trump administration from banning reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. The outlets can retain access while the case continues. The judge has said the ban is likely illegal.

Separately, seven former detainees filed a class-action lawsuit against ICE in Washington, D.C., on October 13, 2026, alleging the agency withheld their belongings after release. One plaintiff alleges officers threw his wallet and belt into a bin during detention.

In business

Netflix is cutting roughly 1,000 jobs, about six percent of its workforce, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. Most cuts affect product, technology, legal and human resources teams. Reuters describes the layoffs as the company’s largest since 2022, as Netflix competes for viewers with established rivals and YouTube.

U.S. authorities have fined Bank of America $1.2 billion, saying the country’s second-largest bank violated money laundering and sanctions laws.

In materials research

Researchers led by teams at UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Oxford say two experimental niobium-titanium-based alloys stayed tough at minus 253 degrees Celsius. Microscopic changes in their crystal structure allowed them to keep deforming rather than cracking. The findings, published in Nature, could guide metal design for extreme-cold uses in energy, transport and aerospace.

At the Vatican

The Vatican says Pope Leo is recovering well after surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his lung. The 71-year-old pontiff is recovering at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.

In tech and security

The FBI has arrested a former OpenAI employee accused of planting a recording device in an executive conference room. The employee allegedly concealed a USB device inside a television.

The Netherlands’ tax agency has scrapped its Microsoft 365 public-cloud rollout after an assessment flagged security risks, vendor lock-in and an inadequate exit strategy. It plans on-premises email and calendars in 2027, still using Microsoft software, alongside a limited shift to European open-source tools.

In Yemen

Aid groups warn renewed fighting risks a humanitarian catastrophe, with almost one million people cut off from food aid and health services overwhelmed by wounded people.

In U.S. elections

Reuters reports the Justice Department gave California officials 48 hours on Tuesday to review a list of alleged noncitizen voters or face legal action, ahead of next month’s elections.

In Turkey

Turkish authorities raided independent broadcaster Halk TV in Istanbul on Wednesday, October 14, and appointed a trustee to take control of its operations. Police barricades surrounded its headquarters.

In Ukraine

Kyiv says restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink system are affecting front-line operations. Ukraine relies on the satellite network to help defend its skies and guide drones toward Russian targets.

China’s export surge

China’s exports rose 36 percent year on year in September, taking its 2026 trade surplus to almost a trillion dollars. Chinese firms have shifted toward other markets as U.S. and EU restrictions limit access. Producers in Southeast Asia and Africa warn that the influx threatens their industries, while China’s property crash and rising youth unemployment weigh on domestic consumption.

Curfew in Mauritius

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has imposed a curfew after days of unrest that began over water shortages. Mauritius has experienced its worst riots in decades after police shot a woman.

In cybersecurity

Security firm XBOW says researchers using AI agents built a Chrome attack in six days, chaining three previously unknown bugs. The company says loading a web page could have allowed code to run on a Windows computer. Google has confirmed and fixed all three bugs.

Separately, Dutch security company ThreatFabric says a new Android banking trojan, Hirudo, replaces legitimate banking apps with modified versions designed to bypass their internal security checks.

In U.S. news

A federal court is set to hear a challenge to North Carolina’s new mail-in ballot rules one day before early voting begins, the Raleigh News & Observer reports. The Republican-majority elections board approved the rules in a last-minute vote.

Politico reports that the Trump administration is delaying detailed IRS figures showing how Republicans’ 2025 tax cuts affected taxpayers across income brackets, as it promotes the law ahead of the midterms.

Also in North Carolina, six Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers face dismissal recommendations over a group chat in which officers allegedly competed to stop the most Black drivers.

Britain’s apology to bereaved parents

Yvette Cooper has issued a government apology to parents whose stillborn babies were taken from them in hospitals and buried in communal graves between the 1930s and 1980s. Some parents spent decades not knowing where their babies were buried.

Qatar’s finances

Qatar Investment Authority executive Mohsin Pirzada says the fund is maintaining its investment pace despite a 42 percent fall in government revenue amid the Iran war. An Iranian attack knocked out about 17 percent of Qatar’s existing LNG capacity. The Financial Times reports cuts of around a third to government department budgets and about 85 percent to overseas aid.

In the West Bank

Settlers set fire to a mosque as Israeli forces raided villages. In a separate incident, settlers attacked a boy in Beita, south of Nablus.

At the Vatican

Pope Leo has undergone successful surgery for lung cancer, according to the Vatican. Surgeons removed the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican says he spent a peaceful night in hospital after the operation.

In Ukraine

Overnight Russian attacks across Ukraine have killed at least six people and cut power in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky says strikes hit critical infrastructure and left 600,000 people without electricity.

In U.S. safety

Six Flags has temporarily closed nine additional roller coasters across six parks after 42-year-old Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem died following an incident involving Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia. Officials say the closed rides are similar to Goliath, which uses only a lap bar to restrain riders. The company says the closures are precautionary.

Separately, federal vehicle safety regulators are investigating more than 535,000 GMC Sierra 1500 trucks from model years 2022 through 2024 over grille parts that can detach. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reviewing 118 complaints, including 21 involving trucks already repaired under a recall.

In Greenland

Donald Trump signed a security agreement with Greenland’s and Denmark’s leaders in September allowing the United States to build two military bases in Greenland’s south and east. Trump described the island as second to none for the security of the United States and Europe.

In banking

Bank of America admitted on Tuesday that it deliberately broke U.S. anti-money-laundering law. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network imposed a $1.2 billion penalty for failures to report suspicious transactions linked to Chinese laundering networks and border-related illicit finance.

In Turkey

Police have raided opposition broadcaster Halk TV, halting its live broadcasts. The station says staff cannot enter its Istanbul building and a new manager has been appointed.

In energy markets

Oil prices rose following reports that Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz. European gas prices hovered near a four-year high. Asian shares were mixed, while European stocks opened higher.

In Saudi Arabia

Sri Lankan authorities say Saudi Arabia has overturned Anojan Sivarasa’s death sentence over a Facebook comment. The case prompted widespread concern in Sri Lanka and diplomatic efforts to secure clemency.

In Saudi Arabia

Saudi authorities say they intercepted Houthi missiles targeting Riyadh and Dhahran. They also report that falling debris injured people.

In banking

The U.S. Treasury has imposed three penalties totaling more than $1.21 billion on Bank of America for sanctions and other violations. The Treasury says the bank failed to adequately flag transactions linked to potential Chinese money laundering networks.

At the United Nations

Fifteen countries have won seats on the UN Human Rights Council in an uncontested vote. Rights groups say the lack of competition undermines accountability and allows countries with poor human rights records to secure seats.

In Ukraine

Russian ballistic missiles struck Kyiv for a second consecutive day. President Volodymyr Zelensky says one hit the city's CHP-4 power plant, and he criticised Western allies for failing to provide advance warning. The strike came despite President Trump's claim that an energy ceasefire was in effect.

In India

Voters are protesting changes to electoral rolls, putting pressure on Narendra Modi's government. In West Bengal, Shahida Fakir was left off the final revised voter list in April despite presenting her Indian birth certificate, family land records dating to 1962, and evidence that both her parents had been registered voters for decades.

On the U.S. power grid

The Energy Department has authorized PJM Interconnection to use additional generation to reduce blackout risks during unusual October heat and scheduled maintenance. PJM serves more than 60 million people across parts or all of 13 states and Washington, D.C. The order runs through October 16 and permits certain generators to exceed normal restrictions if needed. PJM says it does not expect everyday customers to be affected, but warns that demand is growing faster than new generating capacity.

In Jamaica

Jamaica has accepted its first U.S. deportation flight carrying people from countries other than Jamaica. Opposition leaders are questioning why the agreement with the Trump White House has not been made public.

In Colombia

Colombia's peace tribunal has charged former FARC rebels with crimes against Indigenous communities. The accusations include torture, murder and displacement.

In Pacific weather

Tropical Storm Trudy formed on Tuesday and is forecast to strengthen rapidly into a major hurricane over the next few days.