American politician, businessman and media figure, 45th president (2017-2021)
A US judge has approved a consent decree that settles a 12‑state antitrust challenge and clears the way for Paramount Skydance to complete its takeover of Warner Bros. The five‑year settlement requires at least 30 US theatrical releases a year, separate cable negotiations, and independent editorial boards for CNN and CBS. Ynon Kreiz will join as co‑CEO on Oct. 5.
Paramount has completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery and has rebranded the combined company as Skydance. The new firm unites Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., HBO Max, Paramount+, CBS, CNN and dozens of cable networks and franchises under co-CEOs David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz. The deal closed after settlements with US states and other legal hurdles.
The UK has borrowed £18.3bn in August, the ONS has reported, topping City and OBR forecasts and leaving year‑to‑date borrowing at £77.3bn — £8.1bn above the OBR projection. Rising gilt yields have pushed debt interest to record August levels and are narrowing Chancellor John Healey’s fiscal headroom ahead of the 28 October Budget.
The US‑backed Board of Peace has presented a six‑month, $2.45bn, 66‑project recovery programme for Gaza while warning that full reconstruction will require about $71.4bn over the next decade. Implementation has not begun because the plan depends on Hamas disarming, Israeli cooperation and major donor funding that remains largely unpaid; Israeli forces continue to control large parts of the Strip.
Maritime trackers have reported that Middle East crude exports have returned to near or above pre‑war levels in late September. Ship‑to‑ship transfers, US naval escorts and pipeline bypasses — notably Saudi Arabia's East‑West line and UAE links to Fujairah — have restored large volumes, but attacks on tankers and high insurance and freight costs are persisting.
Diesel prices have surged to new highs in the UK amid global supply disruptions linked to the Iran war and Russia-Ukraine conflict. The US is weighing export bans to ease domestic pain, while Europe and the UK face rising costs and tight supplies. Authorities warn prices will likely rise further as markets react.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing mounting opposition from European and some global federations over his bid for a fourth term. Backlash followed his plan to sell stakes in World Cup rights to private investors, which leaders say undermines governance. Several federations have withdrawn support; discussions intensify as voters prepare for the March election in Rabat.
Protests in Pristina and across Kosovo have intensified after the Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers convicted former President Hashim Thaci and three other KLA leaders of war crimes. Lawmakers face pressure as opposition pushes to limit the court’s mandate, with parliamentary votes and potential early elections shaping the political crisis ahead of an EU-mentioned path to reform.
The Israeli election has left both Netanyahu’s supporters and his opponents short of a 61-seat majority in the Knesset. Polls show the blocs remain tightly divided with Arab parties potentially pivotal, and opposition leaders pledge to cooperate while avoiding intra-bloc clashes ahead of the October 27 vote.
Iran has seen its currency hit new lows as US-Israeli actions tighten sanctions and blockades. Indirect talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz continue, while mediatior efforts and new sanctions aim to pressure Tehran. The government has unveiled plans to mitigate shortages and economic decline in the face of ongoing conflict.
A joint South Korean–UN investigation has concluded that North Korean mines caused a September 21 blast in the DMZ that wounded three South Korean soldiers. Seoul has demanded an official apology and is conducting mine-clearing; Pyongyang has denied responsibility and has launched a ballistic missile from Wonsan, escalating tensions.
Kallas says the EU is ready to deploy observers as Palestinian President Abbas sets a Nov. 28 date for legislative elections, the first in nearly two decades. A possible Hamas-Dahlan alliance could shape the race amid logistical challenges and regional dynamics.
Parliament replaces Agila Saleh with Al-Salhin Abdelnabi Al-Obeidi, amid ongoing efforts to unify Libya’s fractured institutions. The shift follows Haftar ally Saleh’s weakening position as Saddam Haftar consolidates influence in the east; US-led diplomacy seeks a path to national cohesion.
The Supreme Court is considering whether federal law preempts state climate liability suits against ExxonMobil and Suncor, a Boulder, Colorado case that could limit local claims seeking damages for climate-related costs. Justices are weighing jurisdiction and federal preemption as the term opens, with the outcome potentially affecting dozens of similar cases.
The Parti Québecois has formed a minority government in Quebec after the provincial election, ending a decade-long wait for power. Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon vows to pursue a referendum on independence after Trump leaves office, while Ottawa and provincial rivals plot how to shape national unity amid new tariffs and economic strain.
The Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal on a high-profile case over a slogan worn on student sweatshirts, leaving a lower-court ruling in place that allowed a middle school to ban the phrase Let’s Go Brandon as vulgar speech. The case centers on a U.S. school district that banned the shirts, arguing the political message is outweighed by vulgarity in a school setting. The decision touches on limits of political expression in schools as well as how vulgarity is defined in youth apparel.
A Russian lab worker has died amid reports of pneumonic plague in Irkutsk. The case has prompted quarantines and widespread monitoring as officials assess risk to the general population. U.S. and international health authorities are watching closely while cautioning that immediate threats remain limited.
President Donald Trump has approved a U.S. Army firing‑squad execution for Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the Fort Hood gunman convicted for a 2009 attack that killed 13 people. The Army secretary will set time and place. Hasan can seek civilian habeas review, which could delay the execution for years.
The Parti Québécois has won the Quebec provincial election, returning the separatist party to power for the first time since 2014. It falls short of a majority, setting up a minority government and leaving the question of a referendum on Quebec’s independence in play as Ottawa faces potential friction over immigration and other provincial matters.
The United States has deepened Arctic security ties with Denmark and Greenland while preparing to advance energy and defense cooperation across Iceland, Greece, and Portugal. The trip accompanies scrutiny of ambassador conduct and a renewed focus on LNG exports to Europe.
The White House says President Trump has offered U.S. assistance to Russia after a laboratory worker died following a suspected pneumonic plague incident in Irkutsk region. The CDC and WHO say the risk to the broader public remains low, while officials assess details of the case and potential international coordination.
US televangelist Jim Bakker, a onetime PTL Club founder, has died aged 86. His career rose from a religious broadcasting empire to prison and back, ending with a renewed TV ministry. Lori Bakker announced the death, but the cause remains undisclosed.
President Donald Trump has drawn sharp criticism after telling a Nebraska rally that higher gas prices are "a small price to pay," adding "let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego." California leaders have called the comments "deranged" and "dangerous," while the White House has dismissed the reaction as a "media freakout."
The Education Department has extended the auto-pay incentive, lowering interest by up to 1% for borrowers who enroll or already participate. The program runs through June 2028, with new deadlines and enrollment steps clarified for borrowers in default or on fixed payments.
Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have completed a high‑stakes merger, creating Skydance. The deal unites Paramount+, HBO Max, CNN and Warner assets under billionaire David Ellison and co‑CEO Ynon Kreiz. The combination expands the streaming library, raises questions about consumer costs, jobs, and future content strategy while signaling further consolidation in the industry.
A 28-year-old woman at the Irkutsk Anti-plague Research Institute in Siberia has died under investigation for suspected pneumonic plague. Authorities say no cases have been detected among staff connected to the case, and a wide circle of contacts is under daily monitoring. The World Health Organization says risk to the wider public remains low while researchers conduct tests.
Gold Star families are attending a White House reception honoring the fallen as questions persist about the March 1 Port Shuaiba strike in Kuwait. Families report confusion over invitations and information, with critics urging transparency while the Army and Pentagon decline comment.
The Irkutsk case has prompted the WHO to demand more information as officials in Russia contest the link to a plague outbreak. Western officials warn that incomplete data risks a broader health scare.