Police arrest owner of drug company linked to deaths of 21 children in India

Indian police arrested G. Ranganathan, owner of Sresan Pharma, after a cough syrup produced at his plant was linked to the deaths of at least 21 children under five in Madhya Pradesh. The syrup, sold as Coldrif, was found to be contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic industrial chemical. Authorities have banned the product in multiple states, while the World Health Organization has sought … Continue reading Police arrest owner of drug company linked to deaths of 21 children in India

Putin says Russian air defenses were to blame for Azerbaijani jet’s crash last year, killing 38

President Vladimir Putin publicly admitted that Russian air defenses were responsible for downing an Azerbaijani jetliner in December 2024, killing 38 people, after missiles targeting a Ukrainian drone exploded near the plane. Speaking with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev in Tajikistan, Putin cited a technical malfunction and pledged to punish those responsible and provide compensation. The crash had strained previously warm Moscow-Baku relations, which were further … Continue reading Putin says Russian air defenses were to blame for Azerbaijani jet’s crash last year, killing 38

Poland charges former registry office employee with providing false identities for Russian spies

A former Warsaw city council employee, identified as Tomasz L., was charged with espionage for allegedly providing Russia with false identities for its spies. Authorities say he copied civil registry records from 2017 to 2022 while working in the archives of births, marriages, and deaths. The stolen information reportedly allowed Russian intelligence to create fake identity papers for agents abroad. Tomasz L. was detained in … Continue reading Poland charges former registry office employee with providing false identities for Russian spies

Protesters rally across Morocco in final push for reforms before king’s expected address

Morocco’s youth-led “Gen Z 212” movement returned to the streets Thursday, demanding the dismissal of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and broader reforms to tackle corruption and improve public services. The protests, sparked by the deaths of eight women in a public hospital in Agadir, criticize government spending on infrastructure over healthcare and education. Demonstrators, organized via social media, called on King Mohammed VI to intervene, … Continue reading Protesters rally across Morocco in final push for reforms before king’s expected address

Russia strikes Kyiv apartments, energy sites in major attack

Kyiv was hit early Friday by a “massive attack” from Russia, targeting critical infrastructure and causing widespread power and water outages, fires in high-rise apartments, and nine injuries. Ukrainian officials reported drone and missile strikes, while the energy ministry said experts were working to minimize damage and restore services. Russia also struck Zaporizhzhia, killing a seven-year-old and injuring others, while Ukraine retaliated with drone and … Continue reading Russia strikes Kyiv apartments, energy sites in major attack

South Korean prosecutor indicts Unification Church leader in probe linked to ex-first lady

South Korean authorities indicted Hak Ja Han, 82, leader of the Unification Church, over allegations she instructed church officials to bribe the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol and a conservative lawmaker. Han and her former chief secretary face charges including bribery, embezzlement, violations of political funding laws, and instructing the destruction of evidence. Investigators claim the church offered luxury goods and cash … Continue reading South Korean prosecutor indicts Unification Church leader in probe linked to ex-first lady

US diplomat fired over relationship with woman accused of ties to Chinese Communist Party

The U.S. State Department fired a diplomat for concealing a romantic relationship with a Chinese woman alleged to have ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This marks the first known dismissal under a ban introduced late last year prohibiting U.S. personnel, contractors, and their families in China from engaging in such relationships. The decision followed a review by President Trump and Secretary of State Marco … Continue reading US diplomat fired over relationship with woman accused of ties to Chinese Communist Party

Russia moves to withdraw from plutonium agreement with the United States

Russia’s lower house of parliament approved withdrawing from the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA) with the United States, which aimed to dispose of at least 34 tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium from Cold War stockpiles. The agreement, signed in 2000 and in force since 2011, sought to convert plutonium into safer forms like MOX fuel or irradiate it in reactors for electricity production. Russia cited … Continue reading Russia moves to withdraw from plutonium agreement with the United States

Peru’s Congress removes President Boluarte as a crime wave grips the country

Peru’s Congress voted early Friday to impeach President Dina Boluarte over her government’s failure to address a rising crime wave, with 124 lawmakers voting in favor and none against. The move followed a concert shooting in the capital and came after multiple previous attempts to remove her, which had failed. Boluarte, who became Peru’s first female president in 2022 after her predecessor Pedro Castillo was … Continue reading Peru’s Congress removes President Boluarte as a crime wave grips the country

Senate passes mammoth annual defense policy bill

The Senate approved its annual defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), 70-20, funding the military at $924.7 billion for fiscal year 2026 amid the ongoing government shutdown. The passage allows House and Senate committees to begin the conference process to reconcile differences with the House version, which proposes $893 billion. The bill cleared over a dozen partisan and 50 minor amendments, including … Continue reading Senate passes mammoth annual defense policy bill

IRS announces new federal income tax brackets for 2026

The IRS announced new federal income tax brackets and standard deductions for 2026, raising income thresholds across all brackets. Long-term capital gains brackets, estate and gift tax exemptions, and earned income tax credit eligibility were also increased. For 2026, the top tax rate of 37% applies to individuals earning over $640,600 and married couples earning over $768,700. The standard deduction will rise to $32,200 for … Continue reading IRS announces new federal income tax brackets for 2026

US buys Argentinian pesos, finalizes $20bn currency swap, says US Treasury

The Trump administration purchased Argentine pesos and finalized a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina’s central bank to stabilize the country’s struggling finances. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized swift U.S. action to support Argentina, whose peso recently fell sharply amid dwindling foreign reserves. The deal has drawn criticism from U.S. farmers and Democratic lawmakers, who argue it acts as a bailout while Americans face economic … Continue reading US buys Argentinian pesos, finalizes $20bn currency swap, says US Treasury

Government shutdown will extend into next week as Senate adjourns without breaking stalemate

Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over reopening the government, with the Senate rejecting competing bills for the seventh time Thursday. The House-passed Republican bill failed 54-45, with three Democrats crossing the aisle, the same number as last week. The Senate will not reconvene until Tuesday, leaving the shutdown unresolved for the week, CBS News has reported. Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, insist on extending health … Continue reading Government shutdown will extend into next week as Senate adjourns without breaking stalemate

7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes offshore from southern Philippines

A 7.4-magnitude offshore earthquake struck Friday morning near Davao Oriental province in the southern Philippines, centered about 62 kilometers southeast of Manay town. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers due to movement along a fault. Authorities warned of potential damage and aftershocks in the affected area, ABC News has reported. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said hazardous waves could occur within … Continue reading 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes offshore from southern Philippines

US sending 200 troops to Israel to support and monitor Gaza ceasefire deal

The United States is sending about 200 troops to Israel to help monitor and support the ceasefire deal in Gaza, working alongside partner nations, NGOs, and private-sector teams. The troops, part of U.S. Central Command, will establish a civil-military coordination center to facilitate humanitarian aid, logistics, and security support, though no Americans will enter Gaza. Forces from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE will join … Continue reading US sending 200 troops to Israel to support and monitor Gaza ceasefire deal

New York Attorney General Letitia James charged in fraud case

New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted on mortgage fraud charges connected to a 2020 home purchase in Virginia. James, a Democrat who previously sued Trump over alleged financial fraud, called the indictment baseless and accused Trump of weaponizing the justice system for political revenge. The case was presented to the grand jury by Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide with no prior federal … Continue reading New York Attorney General Letitia James charged in fraud case

Three shipwrecks from biblical times uncovered off the coast of Israel

Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of three Iron Age shipwrecks and their cargoes in the ancient harbor of Dor on Israel’s Carmel Coast, marking the first such finds in Israeli waters. Dating from the 11th, 9th, and 7th/6th centuries BCE, the shipwrecks provide rare insights into trade during the First Temple Period, challenging assumptions that little commerce occurred under the biblical kingdoms. The discoveries, made … Continue reading Three shipwrecks from biblical times uncovered off the coast of Israel

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 28 Starlink satellites

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched for the 29th time on Tuesday, carrying 28 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The rocket’s first stage, Booster B1071, successfully landed on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, just shy of SpaceX’s reuse record of 30 flights. The upper stage deployed the satellites into low Earth orbit about 60 … Continue reading SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 28 Starlink satellites

Blue Origin rolls out powerful New Glenn rocket for testing ahead of Mars launch

Blue Origin rolled out the first stage of its second New Glenn rocket to the Cape Canaveral launch pad on Wednesday in preparation for an upcoming liftoff. The mission, expected late this month or in November, will carry NASA’s twin ESCAPADE probes to Mars to study the planet’s atmosphere and its interaction with solar wind. Standing 320 feet tall when fully stacked, New Glenn features … Continue reading Blue Origin rolls out powerful New Glenn rocket for testing ahead of Mars launch

Astronomers catch rare glimpse of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it flies by Mars

Astronomers captured rare images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passed near Mars on October 3, using ESA’s ExoMars and Mars Express orbiters. The comet, one of only three interstellar objects observed entering our solar system, was about 18.6 million miles from the orbiters and extremely faint compared to usual targets. First spotted in July by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Chile, … Continue reading Astronomers catch rare glimpse of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it flies by Mars

Discord says 70,000 users may have had their government IDs leaked in breach

Discord has identified about 70,000 users whose government ID photos may have been exposed in a customer service data breach, spokesperson Nu Wexler told The Verge. The incident involved a third-party vendor, not Discord’s own systems, and came after claims on social media that 2.1 million photos were compromised. Discord says these numbers are exaggerated as part of an extortion attempt. All affected users have … Continue reading Discord says 70,000 users may have had their government IDs leaked in breach

IMF and Bank of England join growing chorus warning of an AI bubble

The IMF and Bank of England have warned that global stock markets could face turbulence if investor enthusiasm for AI falters. IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva highlighted signs of market vulnerability, citing soaring gold prices, high U.S. tariffs, and elevated stock valuations amid AI-driven euphoria. She cautioned that easy financial conditions may mask weakening trends, which could shift abruptly. The Bank of England similarly noted stretched … Continue reading IMF and Bank of England join growing chorus warning of an AI bubble

Gold shatters $4,000 milestone, silver belts record high as investors rush to safety

Gold surged past $4,000 per ounce for the first time on Wednesday, fueled by geopolitical and economic uncertainty and expectations of U.S. interest rate cuts, with silver also hitting record highs. Spot gold rose 1.52% to $4,044.09, while December U.S. gold futures settled at $4,070.50, up 1.7%. Silver climbed 2.4% to $48.97, after briefly reaching $49.57, with tight supply and strong demand supporting the rally. … Continue reading Gold shatters $4,000 milestone, silver belts record high as investors rush to safety

China expands rare earth export restrictions ahead of possible Trump-Xi meeting

China has tightened export controls on rare earths and related technologies, barring citizens from unauthorized mining overseas and requiring foreign entities to obtain licenses for exports containing over 0.1% of Chinese rare earths or using Chinese technology. The new rules aim to prevent misuse in military or sensitive sectors, denying permits to companies linked to foreign militaries or on export-control lists. Restrictions now extend beyond … Continue reading China expands rare earth export restrictions ahead of possible Trump-Xi meeting

Gunman kills 3 in Houston-area shooting spree, police say

Three people were killed Wednesday in a series of shootings in the Houston area, linked to a gunman who later died by suicide. The first victim, a woman in Sugar Land, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in her SUV; she had been in a relationship with the shooter. About 30 minutes later, the gunman shot a mechanic at an auto shop six miles away … Continue reading Gunman kills 3 in Houston-area shooting spree, police say