Iniaes

In Germany

Four years after the Nord Stream pipeline attacks, Ukrainian defendant Serhii K is due to go on trial in Germany. He is accused of involvement in a plot to destroy the pipelines carrying Russian gas to Germany.

In banking

Bank of America faces more than $1.21 billion in U.S. regulatory penalties and settlements after authorities found widespread failures in its anti-money laundering controls. Authorities also found that the bank delayed reporting suspicious financial activity.

In U.S. elections

Elon Musk began channeling more than $276 million into Republican efforts to retain their congressional majorities in July, the New York Times reports. That includes $158 million for the Senate Leadership Fund, Senate Republicans’ main super PAC. The Times says his contributions account for a large part of Republicans’ outside-spending advantage over Democrats.

In North Carolina, the State Board of Elections says it will send letters this week to roughly 1,400 registered voters identified as potential noncitizens after being flagged by a Department of Homeland Security database, the Charlotte Observer reports.

In Iran

Iran is reinforcing its borders and sensitive nuclear facilities amid the prospect of renewed U.S. strikes, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Institute for Science and International Security says satellite images show new earthworks around Natanz and Pickaxe Mountain, where nuclear infrastructure is buried underground. The Journal reports that the barriers are intended to hinder a ground assault.

In Philadelphia

Eric Lewis faces murder and other charges in the killing of Officer Shane Seiber and shootings targeting ten other officers. Seiber, 40, was killed early Saturday. Another officer is recovering from at least a dozen gunshot wounds. District Attorney Larry Krasner says Lewis was acquitted in a separate murder trial in 2023 amid concerns about the police investigation and inconsistent testimony.

At Royal Mail

The Communication Workers Union says Royal Mail is losing 400 postal workers a week, with departures increasing since a new delivery system was introduced. The union says that system is not working in hundreds of delivery offices.

At OpenAI

OpenAI says it found a hidden recording device in one of its offices and referred the matter to the FBI. An employee has been arrested. The company described the device as sophisticated and said it used one of its AI models to help understand it and its origins.

At the White House

Press Secretary Katie Zacharia says President Trump has asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign as ambassador to Greece. The request comes amid allegations that Guilfoyle sought $100,000 from a donor.

In public health

Pennsylvania recorded its sixth measles-related death on Friday as the state faces its worst outbreak in 35 years. Measles is vaccine-preventable.

The Tupac Shakur murder case

Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for orchestrating Tupac Shakur’s murder. Davis, 63, was convicted in August of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon. He is the only person ever charged in the killing of Shakur, who was 25 when he died following a drive-by shooting in 1996.

Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Ebola cases have passed 9,000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s deadliest outbreak on record. The Bundibugyo strain is driving the outbreak. Health workers are facing community mistrust as efforts to contain transmission falter.

In U.S. politics

Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece on October 13 after the White House asked her to step down following reports of alleged misconduct. She denied wrongdoing and pledged to defend her reputation.

With the November midterms approaching, an Associated Press–NORC poll finds most Americans believe President Trump cares more about his wealth than helping people like them. Fifty-six percent say he has prioritized his business interests “a lot” during his second term. Separately, Gallup puts Democrats ahead of Republicans on favorability, 43 percent to 35 percent, and gives Democrats an edge on the economy.

A medication recall

More than 112,000 bottles of Amazon-brand extra-strength acetaminophen are being recalled after reports of discolored tablets.

Smart glasses and privacy

An EU watchdog is urging smart glasses to clearly signal when they are recording, amid growing concern that the devices are being used to secretly record girls and women.

At Cornell University

Cornell says it has suspended all parties and social events at fraternity houses for the rest of the year following allegations of a gang rape on campus.

Pope Leo’s surgery

The Vatican says Pope Leo XIV successfully underwent surgery to remove a small lung nodule at Rome’s Gemelli hospital. The 70-year-old pontiff said it was detected early during a recent check-up. The Vatican gave no further details about his condition.

In oil markets

OPEC has lowered its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2026, projecting an increase of roughly 200,000 barrels a day over 2025. The downgrade comes amid persistent shipping risks from Iran and its proxy groups.

Student protests in France

Tens of thousands joined student protests across France. In Paris, video posted on social media appeared to show protesters clashing with riot police around Place Vauban, beside Les Invalides.

Fatal house fire

A murder investigation is under way after Philip and Kim English and two of their children died in a fire. Two more of their children are critically injured.

Supermarket cyberattack in France

Hackers manipulated refrigeration systems at hundreds of French supermarkets, pushing some fridges and freezers to 50 degrees Celsius, according to Reuters. Fires and food losses were reported. The attack prompted an investigation and raised concerns about the security of internet-connected equipment.

Georgia roller coaster incident

One person has died and several others were injured in a roller coaster incident at an amusement park in the U.S. state of Georgia.

In Washington

Kimberly Guilfoyle has resigned as U.S. ambassador to Greece amid allegations that she offered access to Trump administration officials in exchange for money. The White House had asked her to resign. Guilfoyle denies the allegations.

Separately, the Supreme Court will review a dispute over how much information the Department of Government Efficiency must disclose in response to public records requests, the New York Times reports.

UK visa sponsorship

A GB News investigation with Cambridge Circus Research says 208 companies fined a combined £9.3 million for illegal working have remained continuously on the Home Office’s visa sponsor register since their fines. The investigation says it is unclear which, if any, met the department’s criteria for licence revocation.

Corporate staffing

Kroger plans to eliminate around 3,000 corporate jobs over three years, more than a third of its corporate workforce, as it seeks to cut costs.

Meta has scaled back plans to cut staff and rely more on AI agents after finding employees were spending increasing amounts of time fixing technical and security errors, Reuters reports.

UK bird populations

Figures produced by conservation bodies for the government show UK wild bird populations at their lowest recorded level. Average populations across 132 native breeding species fell 19 percent between 1970 and 2025, with farmland birds and seabirds hardest hit in recent years.

Russia’s draft budget

for 2027 would direct nearly half of spending to defence and security. Regions are reportedly diverting money intended for foster children and orphans to war payments.

Saudi Arabia and Yemen

The Houthis have threatened Saudi Aramco facilities and Saudi airports. Explosions were reported in Sanaa shortly after the Saudi-led coalition issued an evacuation order.

Ship sunk in the Black Sea

Bulgaria has summoned Russia’s ambassador after a merchant ship was sunk in a drone attack in the Black Sea. Bulgarian authorities say six crew members were rescued, but ten are missing.

Hurricanes in the U.S. and Mexico

Powerful hurricanes have killed several people and left thousands without electricity in the United States and Mexico. Experts warn that this year’s strong El Niño, a Pacific climate pattern that contributes to warmer global temperatures, could make storms longer and more destructive.

AI oversight

Banking regulators on both sides of the Atlantic are questioning financial institutions about their use of AI models, amid fears of risks to financial stability, Reuters reports. Separately, the Financial Times reports that Britain’s AI minister is preparing proposals for compulsory monitoring of frontier AI technology.

Borrowing costs and the AI economy

U.S. home sales have fallen to a 12-year low as mortgage rates topped seven percent. U.S. bond yields touched a 24-year high, while European borrowing costs reached levels not seen in decades. The United Nations warns that liquidity crises in several developing countries could push millions into poverty. Those countries now spend an average of 9.5 percent of government revenue on interest payments.

The IMF has slightly raised its global growth forecast, saying AI investment is outweighing rising debt for now. It still expects growth to slow and has raised its inflation forecast. Meanwhile, tech shares fell as investors questioned the financing of AI expansion, with South Korea leading Asian tech declines.

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee says AI investment is driving up costs for land, power, water and construction. He does not yet see economy-wide overheating. Fed Governor Lisa Cook has warned that raising interest rates to address sector-specific inflation could be a mistake.

In U.S. news

The United States has deported Yamile Alcantu, a Cuban woman who lived in the country for about 25 years, to Mexico. U.S. officials say Cuba has historically refused many deportees; U.S. lawyers describe Mexico’s acceptance of many Cuban nationals as an unwritten arrangement.

In Erie, Pennsylvania, the county coroner identified Matthew Stone Sr., 45, as the gunman who killed eight people, including seven relatives and two young grandchildren. Police Chief Rick Lorah said he thinks mental health played a role, but it was too soon to discuss a motive.

Russian energy purchases

The European Commission disputes Moscow’s claim that the EU has spent $320 billion on Russian energy since 2022. The commission puts the total at $209 billion.

Denmark’s data breach

Denmark’s government confirmed on October 5 that information belonging to 8.8 million people was accessed through misuse of a company’s authorized access to the national population register. Pays confirmed on October 9 that its access had been exploited. A person claiming responsibility told Politiken they used an account protected by the password “123456”. The newspaper reported that at least three company accounts shared that password, including an administrator account.

In U.S. news

The Associated Press has obtained emergency calls from Christa Pike’s botched execution. The calls indicate emergency services were delayed in reaching her.

The Wall Street Journal reports that video shows Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attending a New Year’s Eve party in Dubai alongside two men who were then wanted on federal healthcare fraud charges.

Prison releases in England and Wales

Hundreds of offenders are being released early on Tuesday under the government’s plan to ease prison overcrowding. About 2,000, including domestic abusers and violent offenders, are due to be freed this month, with another 3,000 following in stages over the next year. The planned total was reduced from 6,000 after an intervention by Andy Burnham. The probation union is moving towards strike action.

Cocaine trafficking in Europe

A four-month Guardian investigation reports that criminal networks from Latin America and the United States operate in at least 12 European countries, with close ties to local mafia groups. The investigation links their expansion to Europe’s growing cocaine trade and found that the quantity seized rose 471 percent between 2014 and 2024.

Storms in Mexico

Storms have killed five people in Mexico, with heavy rain and strong winds causing serious damage in Baja California and Guerrero. Authorities are searching for six missing people and deploying thousands of rescue workers amid the risk of further flooding. German nationals were among those airlifted to safety. Hurricane Simon weakened to Category 1 late Monday while moving slowly northwest along Mexico’s west coast.

Killing in South Korea

A woman in Jeju was fatally stabbed outside a hotel on October 12 while under police protection. She had reported the suspect for stalking and dating violence, but no restraining order had been issued against him.

Protest restrictions in Delhi

Protesters are demanding the removal of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of an electoral-roll revision that reportedly removed 130 million people from India’s register. Ahead of a Saturday protest, authorities cancelled 245 trains to Delhi, shut 45 metro stations, cut internet services in central areas and placed activists under house arrest. Barricades and paramilitary deployments restricted movement over the weekend.

Cyberattacks in Europe

The European Commission has proposed a European Security Council to respond to a recent surge in state-sponsored hybrid attacks, including cyberattacks and sabotage.

In France, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has ordered an investigation after hackers targeted hundreds of supermarkets, raising refrigerator and freezer temperatures to 50 degrees Celsius. Thousands of food products spoiled, and fires were reported in some stores.

In U.S. politics

Federal immigration officers raided Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington home before dawn Monday. The Justice Department says they executed a court-authorised search warrant in an ongoing federal investigation. A source close to the investigation said it concerns alleged immigration fraud, including paperwork Omar’s late father completed when she was a child. Omar accused President Trump’s administration of using the government to target a political opponent.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom endorsed Proposition 42 on Friday. If voters approve it, the measure would prohibit retroactive taxes imposed by Proposition 40, the proposed Billionaire Tax Act. Newsom is backing the measure to block that proposed one-time tax on the state’s billionaires.

In Ukraine

President Trump insists an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine remains in place. Ukraine’s president says Russian attacks on energy infrastructure are continuing, and strikes on Ukrainian energy sites have been reported. Separately, a Russian drone struck an apartment block in Kyiv, killing one woman and injuring at least five people.

In the global economy

The International Monetary Fund warns that a crash in artificial-intelligence stocks could spread across global markets and threaten financial stability. Its Global Financial Stability Report points to high AI company valuations and growing debt, alongside risks from government borrowing and cyberattacks.

The fund has also raised its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3.1 percent, citing resilient economies and AI investment. It expects eurozone growth of 1.1 percent. But the IMF warns that conflict-linked energy prices will weigh on growth, while low emergency oil stocks and overstretched government budgets could test the world economy’s resilience.

In French cybersecurity

A cyberattack targeting supermarket refrigeration systems in France has spoiled food and left shelves empty. Hackers reportedly raised refrigerator temperatures, with fires and losses running into the millions also reported.

At the SAS inquiry

An inquiry has heard testimony that military police were prevented from following evidence during an investigation into suspected murders involving the SAS. A military police investigator said the probe was dictated from above.

At Six Flags

One person has died and several others have been injured in a roller coaster incident at Six Flags. Aerial footage taken afterward showed a stuck roller coaster with riders being helped off.

In European security

Airbus and Kratos have completed the Valkyrie combat drone’s first European flight, testing rocket-assisted takeoff without a conventional runway and mission changes in flight. The companies aim to deliver a combat-ready aircraft for Germany and other European customers by 2029. Further trials will test autonomous missions under human oversight.

Polish authorities say two Turkish suspects have been arrested in Germany over a fire at a Starlink station that Warsaw links to Russia. Authorities say the pair will face sabotage charges.

At Six Flags Over Georgia

Police say one person died and several others were injured in an incident involving a roller coaster on Monday afternoon. Six Flags offered condolences after the death.

On Mexico’s coast

Two deaths have been reported as Hurricane Simon and storm Rachel hit Mexico’s coast. Simon caps a Pacific storm season of record-breaking intensity, with deadly storms affecting areas from Hawaii to Mexico.

In U.S. executions

Archbishop Timothy Broglio says Catholics serving in the U.S. military should not participate in firing squads. He also says a U.S. plan to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood attacker runs contrary to church teachings.

Separately, released 911 recordings from Christa Pike’s botched execution include an attorney reporting that Pike is still alive and breathing and requesting immediate life-saving care.

In Saudi Arabia

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is moving between heavily guarded palaces equipped with bunkers as Yemen’s Houthi movement intensifies attacks on Saudi Arabia, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing people familiar with his movements.

At a school in France

Prosecutors say a 14-year-old boy was detained after allegedly shooting and wounding a headteacher and a teacher at his secondary school in southern France on Monday, October 12. They say the shotgun was hidden in a guitar case.

The search of Omar’s home

Federal agents searched Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington home early Monday. Homeland Security Investigations agents were seen carrying out boxes. Omar accused the Trump administration of political intimidation.

Russia sanctions

President Trump suspended sanctions against Russia on Friday. He also blamed Ukraine for high energy prices.

In chips and AI

A new report says more than five percent of equipment and materials supplied to U.S. chipmakers originate in China, highlighting dependence within the semiconductor supply chain.

Meta released its Muse AI model on Monday. Mark Zuckerberg told the Financial Times that the company had reached the frontier of AI capabilities, pledged further spending and rejected calls to slow development.

In France

Major French supermarket chains said Monday that a cyberattack disrupted refrigeration in hundreds of stores, sending temperatures sharply higher. Spoiled food had to be thrown away, raising concerns about food security.

In U.S. courts

CBS News reports that federal agents searched Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington home in an investigation focused on her immigration paperwork. The Justice Department says Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a court-authorized warrant. The New York Times reports that it lists potential offenses including false statements, immigration fraud and conspiracy. Omar denies wrongdoing and calls the investigation an abuse of power aimed at political opponents.

Meanwhile, Trump’s lawyers are asking the Supreme Court to revive his dismissed racketeering lawsuit against Hillary Clinton and overturn roughly one million dollars in sanctions. A federal judge called the suit frivolous and brought in bad faith, and an appeals court upheld its dismissal. Trump’s team argues that the sanctions intimidate lawyers and that intervention is needed to protect presidential authority.

In the Middle East

Delta says it is delaying the launch of its Atlanta-to-Riyadh service until March 2027, following deadly attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on King Khalid International Airport. The airline cited evolving developments in the region.

In Israel, one teenager was killed and others were injured Monday when a Hezbollah munition exploded during a school trip.

On Mexico’s Pacific coast

Forecasters said Hurricane Simon was nearing landfall late Sunday as a Category 3 storm.

At the Vatican

Pope Leo is scheduled for surgery in Rome to remove a lung nodule. The Vatican expects the 71-year-old pontiff to spend a week recovering in hospital ahead of a scheduled Latin American tour.

In U.S. public health

Pennsylvania has reported its sixth measles-associated death this year. The Franklin County coroner says a 39-year-old woman who died October 10 had a recent measles diagnosis and several underlying conditions. Her vaccination status has not been disclosed.

The CDC reported 4,080 U.S. cases as of October 9, the highest total since 1991. Pennsylvania accounts for more than a quarter. The CDC lists only two deaths in the state because it counts deaths with measles recorded as the underlying cause, and those records can take weeks to arrive.

In science

Researchers report the first footage of the pumping mechanism inside a honeybee stinger. Using detached stingers in clear gel, they observed two collapsible valves moving in opposite directions like pistons. The findings help explain how a stinger keeps delivering venom after separating from the bee.

In the Middle East

Saudi Arabia has suspended flights at Riyadh’s main international airport until October 17, 2026, after another round of Houthi missile attacks killed one person and caused further damage. Saudi authorities say Saturday’s attacks killed 13 people and injured more than 300. A military spokesperson said the Houthis fired more missiles toward Saudi cities on Monday. Gulf Air has cancelled its Riyadh flights through the suspension.

EU foreign ministers have also approved a civilian-military mission to train Lebanon’s armed forces. It will not replace the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, whose mandate ends in December. Personnel numbers and participating countries have yet to be confirmed.

On Ukraine

Multiple outlets report that the Trump administration threatened to cut intelligence sharing and weapons sales to Europe for Ukraine unless Kyiv stops deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. The reports say the State Department and Pentagon delivered those warnings to Ukrainian and European officials over the weekend.

In U.S. news

More than three dozen voting laws passed in Republican-controlled states are taking effect for the first time this year, the Associated Press reports. They include changes to identification accepted for first-time registration and proof-of-citizenship requirements. The AP says President Trump’s separate efforts to impose federal citizenship and voter-ID requirements, and restrict mail voting through Postal Service changes, did not succeed in time to affect this year’s midterms.

Federal agents reportedly raided Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington home early Monday as part of an ongoing immigration investigation.

In France

Officials have launched an inquiry into a fire that destroyed the Marché des Enfants Rouges, Paris’s oldest covered food market, early Monday, October 12. Firefighters were alerted at about 4:15 a.m., according to reporting from the scene.

Separately, Intermarché and Cooperative U say a cyberattack caused supermarket refrigerators to defrost. The retailers estimate that 150 to 200 Intermarché stores and almost 100 Cooperative U outlets were targeted.

In tech and energy

Google, Meta, Microsoft and Nvidia say their AI computers will stay connected to the electricity grid during faults. Large data centres can disconnect instantly, creating a sudden drop in demand that can destabilise the grid. The companies published a grid specification through the Open Compute Project.

Battery fire risks

A three-year-old girl died and three other people were injured in a Philadelphia rowhome fire that officials say started with an e-bike battery.

In a separate safety warning, fire officials say saltwater exposure can damage lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, hybrids, e-bikes and scooters, triggering fires days or even weeks after flooding.

In renewable energy

Researchers co-led by a UC San Diego team report improved perovskite solar cells with efficiencies of roughly 24 to 26 percent. Their method uses additives to control crystal growth during heating, producing larger, more uniform crystals with fewer defects. The devices retained most of their initial efficiency after eight weeks under simulated sunlight. The findings appeared in Science.

In Greece, the island of Agios Efstratios has gone from relying entirely on fossil fuels to generating more than 90 percent of its electricity from renewables in ten months, through an EU-funded project.

On Lundy

A severe water shortage has raised the possibility of evacuating Lundy’s 28 residents. The island off Devon has capped visitors, closed its campsite and imposed strict restrictions. Reserves fell to 13 percent of capacity, enough for one week. Imported water and extraction from a freshwater pool have helped, but that pool is drying up. A new 300,000-litre storage tank has been commissioned.

In Washington

A Justice Department spokesperson says Representative Ilhan Omar’s home was searched as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

President Trump has agreed to a deal for hundreds of thousands of tonnes of Russian diesel despite a congressional import ban. The agreement has drawn bipartisan criticism.

Separately, Axios reports that Trump has privately expressed doubts about livestreaming the firing-squad execution of the former Army major who murdered 13 people at Fort Hood. The outlet says lawmakers from both parties and advisers inside and outside the White House have pushed back against the idea.

In France

A 14-year-old student has been arrested after a headteacher and teacher were shot at Joseph-Lakanal Middle School in Aubagne, near Marseille, according to the mayor. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening. Police said a third staff member was grazed, and no children were reported injured. France 3 reported that school staff restrained the pupil before police intervened. Prosecutors confirmed the arrest.

In Senegal

Human Rights Watch says security forces have tested people arrested for same-sex conduct for HIV without informed consent, then used positive results to bring additional criminal charges.

In China’s water industry

A Tangshan plant has begun trial production recovering fresh water and chemical feedstock from desalination waste. The South China Morning Post reports that every three tonnes of waste brine yield two tonnes of fresh water and one tonne of concentrated brine for a nearby soda ash factory.

In DR Congo

A report says forces belonging to U.S. security contractor Erik Prince suffered major battlefield losses last month. They have been deployed to secure mineral-rich areas and curb smuggling as the Congolese army fights Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.