American politician, 44th U.S. president (2009–2017)
Ukraine has reported that Starlink's military variant, Starshield, was slowed in mid‑October, degrading its drone and air‑defence operations. The Wall Street Journal has reported Donald Trump phoned Elon Musk and asked him to restore full service; Trump and SpaceX deny a formal White House order. Kyiv says speeds have only been partially restored and the disruption has cost defensive capability.
The European Parliament has awarded its 2026 Sakharov Prize to the International Criminal Court as the Hague tribunal has faced sweeping US financial sanctions announced in October. The EU and many member states have pledged support; the ICC and UN officials have condemned the US measures, while Israel and the Trump administration have welcomed them.
The Independent reports a six-book Booker shortlist chaired by Mary Beard, spanning romance, history, and sci‑fi, with praise for prose and world‑changing ideas. The Guardian reflects on whether historical novels endure, highlighting Yiyun Li’s Music Against the Night and a Jamaica‑set exploration of identity in The Disappearers. Hadley’s Alone With a Book surveys the art of reading and memory.
Developing contests across the U.S. see heavy spending from national committees and super PACs. Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, and Kansas are among the states where ads and funding shifts aim to influence close races. The dynamic spending reflects a broader scramble to protect or seize Senate control as Election Day approaches.
President Donald Trump has approved a U.S. Army firing‑squad execution for Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted for the 2009 Fort Hood shootings that killed 13 and wounded more than 30. The Pentagon has said the Army will set the time and place; officials have indicated the execution will be livestreamed and scheduled for December 3.
Cornell University has suspended all parties and social events at Interfraternity Council houses through the 2026–27 academic year, has introduced a zero-tolerance enforcement policy, and has pledged to transfer criminal investigations to New York State Police while adding survivor support staff and outside reviewers to examine the university's handling of a 2024 sexual‑assault allegation.
Margaret Hamilton has died at 90. The MIT computer scientist has led development of the onboard flight software for NASA's Apollo program, coined the phrase "software engineering," and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. Her daughter has confirmed she died on 30 September in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Lisa Cook’s lawyers have told the White House that a November 5 hearing cannot proceed because she will be performing Federal Reserve duties in Europe and preparing for the December FOMC meeting. Attorney Abbe Lowell has also warned that the White House committee is biased, citing members’ prior comments and unspecified additional allegations that must be disclosed before any fair hearing.
Mike Ditka, Hall of Fame tight end and legendary Bears coach, has died at age 86. The announcements come from his family and from Jarrett Payton on air, with tributes highlighting his impact on the game, the Bears’ 1985 team, and his broader influence on football and popular culture.
President Donald Trump has repeated that he should have won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize after the committee awarded it to former ICC judge Navi Pillay. He has called the decision a “disgraceful and embarrassing” stain on Norway, claimed credit for settling multiple conflicts, and criticised Pillay as hostile to Israel.
Trump has publicly urged Sen. John Fetterman to switch parties, a move that could reshape Senate dynamics. Fetterman has rejected becoming a Republican, while observers note the potential impact on party control and midterm prospects.
Homeland Security Investigations has executed a court-authorised search of Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence on 12 October as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. Agents have seized phones, notebooks, a passport and other items; grand jury subpoenas have been issued to some relatives. No charges have been announced.
Religious leaders, including Archbishop Broglio, are opposing the Pentagon's plan to livestream the Dec. 3 execution of Nidal Hasan, a Fort Hood shooter. They argue the broadcast could demean human dignity, harm the US military’s image, and set a dangerous precedent for public executions.
Democrats have surged in unusual Senate and governor races in red states, leveraging outsider candidates to challenge incumbents. Texas, Kansas and South Carolina show tossups in closely watched races, while independents and unconventional figures reshape the field. The broader map hints at a potential expansion of the political playing field, though outcomes remain uncertain.
The UK has sanctioned two Iranian nationals over alleged “hostile activity” linked to an incident near RAF Fairford, where five British men were arrested and later released on bail. MI5 warns of Iran’s ambition to strike harder targets as investigations continue and the US pulled bombers from the base amid security concerns.
President Trump has cancelled plans to livestream the Dec. 3 firing‑squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan after bipartisan domestic and international outrage. The administration has said the execution will proceed at Fort Hood and that immediate family members of victims may attend in person; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has faced criticism for announcing the broadcast plan.
Voters are facing high prices and inflation ahead of the midterms. Polls show broad concern about the economy, with independents and Democrats signaling demand for change. Trump’s approval remains low, while Democrats gain a narrow edge on congressional control ahead of November elections.
Democrats have intensified ads tying Republican candidates to the president as affordability and Iran policy dominate voters’ concerns. Republicans are defending deep red districts, while Democrats see opportunities in rural areas previously considered safe for the GOP.
Winnie-the-Pooh marks 100 years since the first Milne tale, celebrated with stamps, exhibitions, and a New York Public Library show. UK and US outlets highlight Pooh’s enduring popularity and the cross‑Atlantic tug‑of‑war over the bear’s home.
Katie Zacharia has left the White House press secretary post five days after taking it, following a troubled debut briefing and scrutiny over her legal credentials. President Donald Trump told reporters he had advised her to "reconsider" the job; the White House has not named a permanent replacement.
Federal agents have raided Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C. home as part of an investigation into her immigration status. The White House says the inquiry is aimed at restoring law and order, while Democrats call the move an abuse of power. Obama has weighed in, arguing the investigation risks weaponizing the federal government against critics ahead of the midterms.
The United Nations faces heightened pressure as the U.S. administration has intensified diplomatic efforts to influence votes on the Cuban embargo resolution ahead of the General Assembly meeting. Havana accuses Washington of threatening visas, sanctions, and financing opposition groups to sway member states.
Zelensky and US envoys in Oslo with Finnish President Stubb and Norwegian PM Støre are pushing for a constructive diplomatic path amid strained US-Ukraine ties. Talks focus on early warning intelligence, Starlink access, and Patriot missiles as Washington weighs its broader role in ending the Ukraine conflict.
The US midterm elections are shaping the final years of Donald Trump’s term, with control of Congress and key states at stake. Democrats seek to seize the House and Senate, while Republicans defend majorities. Early voting and spending highlight intensity as voters prepare for November 3.
The president has launched a campaign stop in Kansas as Democrat challenger Adam Hamilton narrows the race in a state long viewed as GOP stronghold. Marshall remains the Republican incumbent but faces a closer contest amid local economic strain and tariff tensions.
Barbara Bush has donated to James Talarico’s Texas Senate campaign while Neil Bush backs his nephew’s opponent, Ken Paxton. The endorsements reflect a rare fissure within a prominent Republican family ahead of the November midterms as polling shows a tight race in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows broad voter dissatisfaction with Trump and growing Democratic motivation ahead of the midterms; Republicans are pragmatic but risk a blue wave, while independents are turning away from Trump in key races.
The midterm landscape is being shaped by high energy costs and tariff-driven pressure on farmers, with Trump and Obama campaigning in key states. Obama is pushing turnout while Trump is rallying supporters and casting ballots in Florida as polls tighten across swing states.
Donald Trump has intensified rhetoric linking Abdul El-Sayed to Muslim extremism at a Port Huron rally, claiming he would be a security risk if elected to the U.S. Senate. Opponents dismiss the claims as unfounded, while Michigan voters weigh a high-stakes race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers with national implications.
Former FBI director James Comey has been accused in newly unsealed court filings of transmitting and conspiring to transmit national defence information tied to a 5 October 2016 New York Times story. Comey has denied wrongdoing, his lawyers have moved to dismiss and the Justice Department has filed an "information" to toll the statute of limitations.
A grand jury in Washington has rejected prosecutors’ bid to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide, in connection with her 2022 congressional testimony about Jan. 6. The move signals continued challenges for the DOJ in politically sensitive cases ahead of midterm elections.