Reports say Benjamin Netanyahu pressured Israel’s military to consider action against Iran and urged Donald Trump to renew attacks, as Netanyahu’s coalition trails ahead of Israel’s close election. Netanyahu denied one report, and the Defense Ministry said it had no intention of launching operations against Iran; polls suggest neither bloc is set to win a parliamentary majority.
Key Facts
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu and military chief of staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir clashed over an unspecified military directive concerning Iran.
Channel 12 said Zamir asked for the directive to be presented to him in writing.
Netanyahu denied the report about the directive, and the Defense Ministry denied plans to carry out military operations against Iran.
CNN reported that Netanyahu had tried to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to launch renewed attacks on Iran; the report echoed an earlier Financial Times account.
CNN reported that Trump ruled out such action until after the U.S. congressional elections.
Netanyahu posted an AI-generated image showing a nuclear explosion over Tel Aviv and warned voters about the risk of Iran’s nuclear program.
Polls cited in the article show the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot ahead of Netanyahu’s coalition, but neither bloc is expected to reach the 61 seats needed for a majority.
Eisenkot said his bloc would not allow the military to become a pawn in Netanyahu’s effort to stay in power.
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Vincent Battiloro, 18, pleaded not guilty to two first-degree murder charges in the deaths of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, both 17. Prosecutors allege he intentionally struck the girls with an SUV while they rode an e-bike in Cranford, New Jersey, in September 2025; authorities have not commented on a motive.
Key Facts
Battiloro entered his plea at an arraignment in Union County on Oct. 26, 2026.
Niotis and Salas died on Sept. 29, 2025, after a Jeep Compass struck them on a residential street in Cranford.
The complaint says the SUV had major front-end damage and an e-bike embedded in its front.
The complaint says Battiloro fled on foot and later told police that a masked person with a knife had carjacked him.
Battiloro was 17 when he was arrested two days after the crash and was initially charged in juvenile court.
He was transferred to adult court in June and indicted earlier this month on two first-degree murder counts.
The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 14.
The victims’ families asked the New Jersey attorney general to investigate law enforcement’s dealings with Battiloro and his family.
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Dictionary.com named “maxxing” its 2026 Word of the Year. The term, shortened from “maximizing,” describes doing something to the fullest or optimizing it as much as possible, and its use has grown across social media and digital media.
Key Facts
Dictionary.com said digital media used “maxxing” nearly 19 times more in August 2026 than the 2025 monthly average.
People use the word alone or attach it to another word to describe maximizing an activity or result.
Fitness and wellness influencers use terms such as “proteinmaxxing,” “fibermaxxing” and “sleepmaxxing.”
“Looksmaxxing” describes efforts to meet specific standards of attractiveness, including standards for jawlines, eyes and physique.
Dictionary.com also considered “affordability,” “data centre,” “odyssey” and “unc” for its 2026 choice.
The word appeared in the opening song of the 1990s television show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Dictionary.com previously selected “demure” and “67” as its Words of the Year.
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Owners of Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, have reported cracks and display problems. Apple acknowledged an issue affecting a small number of units and advised customers with display problems to contact AppleCare for a replacement; analysts said there is not yet enough evidence to assess how widespread the issue is.
Key Facts
The iPhone Duo went on sale globally on Friday and starts at $1,999 (£1,499).
Apple said a small number of units have an issue affecting the inner display.
Some owners posted reports of cracking sounds and screen malfunctions on social media and Reddit.
One Australian owner said Apple replaced their phone, but the publication could not verify the account.
Bloomberg reported similar user complaints in the United States and India.
Apple said early-user response had been positive and demand for the device had been exceptionally strong.
The phone has sold out, and the next shipments are reportedly not expected until January.
Analysts said it is too early to determine whether the screen issue signals a wider problem.
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The 2026 Minnesota Senate race has tightened, with the Cook Political Report shifting it from Likely Democratic to Lean Democratic. Fraud allegations tied to a COVID-era child nutrition program have become a central campaign issue as Democrat Peggy Flanagan and Republican Michele Tafoya compete to succeed retiring Senator Tina Smith.
Key Facts
Recent polls show a close contest between Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and retired broadcaster Michele Tafoya.
Tafoya raised $4.3 million in the third quarter of 2026, compared with Flanagan’s $3.8 million.
The Feeding Our Future case involves alleged fraudulent claims for child nutrition programs and has been described as a $250 million scheme.
The Justice Department investigation began under the Biden administration and has resulted in dozens of indictments.
Estimates of taxpayer losses connected to the case range from $250 million to $1 billion.
Republicans have criticized Governor Tim Walz’s response to the scandal; his office says he sought more authority to address fraud.
Flanagan has said she supports an independent Office of Inspector General and harsher penalties for fraud.
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Apple announced an eighth-generation iPad mini starting at $699, with an 8.5-inch OLED screen, an A20 Pro chip and an IP67 rating. Preorders open October 28, and the tablet is scheduled to go on sale November 6.
Key Facts
The new display measures 8.5 inches, up from 8.3 inches, and uses OLED technology instead of the previous model’s IPS display.
Apple says the screen reaches 1,200 nits of peak brightness and can dim to 1 nit.
The tablet is 5.4 millimeters thick, and its chassis has an IP67 rating for water and dust protection.
The 128GB and 256GB models have a single 16-core Neural Engine and a five-core CPU; the 512GB model has a dual 16-core Neural Engine and a six-core CPU.
The front and rear cameras are both 12 megapixels, and Apple moved the front camera to the tablet’s long edge.
The 128GB Wi-Fi model costs $699. The 256GB and 512GB versions cost $799 and $999, respectively.
A nano-texture display option costs an extra $100 and is available only with the 256GB and 512GB models. The 128GB cellular model starts at $849.
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Twelve Catholic bishops met with President Donald Trump at the White House on October 22 and prayed over him in the Oval Office. After images and a recording of the meeting circulated, Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob regretted taking part, and Des Moines Bishop William Joensen said he should have anticipated that the event could be used politically.
Key Facts
The bishops met with Trump to discuss immigration enforcement and the treatment of religious workers.
A photograph showed 12 bishops gathered around Trump at the Resolute Desk as they prayed.
Grob said the recording was made without the bishops' knowledge.
Grob said the meeting was not intended as an endorsement of Trump.
Joensen said he should have anticipated the political uses of the event.
Trump held a Bible outside St. John's Episcopal Church in June 2020.
A “God Bless the USA” Bible, which included U.S. founding documents, was offered for $59.99.
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Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won reelection to an unprecedented fourth term, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro on Sunday. U.S. Democratic lawmakers and world leaders congratulated Lula, who is an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is commonly known as Lula.
Lula won reelection as Brazil’s president.
The win gives Lula an unprecedented fourth term.
Lula defeated Flávio Bolsonaro.
Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro.
Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year prison sentence.
U.S. Democratic lawmakers and world leaders congratulated Lula.
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Twelve Illinois counties and several townships are scheduled to hold non-binding referendums on November 3 about pursuing a split from Cook County and forming a new state. Supporters say rural communities have too little influence in state government, while Governor JB Pritzker has opposed the separation votes. The results would be advisory and would not themselves divide Illinois.
Key Facts
The November 3 votes will ask whether officials should pursue steps toward separating areas outside Cook County from the rest of Illinois.
The article says 33 counties had already voted in favor of pursuing separation.
Eleven counties are holding votes organized by the Illinois Separation Referendum group: Coles, Gallatin, Hamilton, Henderson, Macoupin, McDonough, Monroe, Piatt, Saline, Warren and Washington.
Ford County will hold a separate referendum asking state lawmakers to pursue legislation and constitutional measures to split Chicago and Cook County from Illinois.
Several Adams County townships will also hold referendums, but Adams County will not have a countywide vote.
The referendum results are non-binding and would indicate whether officials should take further steps.
Supporters argue Chicago has disproportionate influence over state decisions and that rural communities lack a sufficient voice.
Governor JB Pritzker has spoken against separation referendums.
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The article argues that natural hydrogen exploration and production could create work for oil and gas workers because the industries use similar skills. It calls for federal support for exploration and workforce training, and says producing hydrogen near fertilizer plants could support local fertilizer supplies.
Key Facts
The article reports that U.S. oil and gas extraction employment was 115,100 in June 2026, down from 187,300 in January 2016, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
It says U.S. oil and gas production remained near record highs despite the employment decline.
The article says the World Bank reported urea fertilizer prices rose above $850 per metric ton in April 2026, an 80 percent increase since February.
Natural hydrogen forms underground, and the article says its exploration and production can use skills such as geology, land negotiation, and drilling.
The author says workers may need targeted retraining to move from oil and gas work to natural hydrogen jobs.
The article says hydrogen is difficult to transport over long distances and may be converted into products such as ammonia near where it is found.
The author urges the federal government to include natural hydrogen in its hydrogen plans and support exploration and workforce development.
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More than 300 Boston Dynamics employees signed a petition asking executives to stop a sale of modified Spot robot dogs to ICE. The company defended the deal, saying the robots can help keep people safe and would not be weaponized; the $1.3 million contract covers four robots intended for inspection and observation tasks.
Key Facts
Employees sent the petition to Boston Dynamics executives in early September, before the contract was awarded on September 25.
The petition’s more than 300 signatories represent about half of the company’s approximately 1,400 workers; roughly half of the signatures were anonymous.
The Department of Homeland Security contract awarded $1.3 million to Connecticut-based Radeco to provide ICE with four modified Boston Dynamics Spot robots.
Radeco’s modified robots are marketed as Cerberus and are equipped with radiation and gas sensors, cameras, and infrared thermal imaging.
The contract describes uses including detecting hazards, inspecting confined spaces, and supporting remote observation missions.
The robots can navigate complex industrial environments and perform repeatable autonomous missions with limited human intervention, according to the contract.
Boston Dynamics said ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations unit would primarily use the robots; the article notes that the unit has also conducted deportations and workplace raids.
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Brazilian voters reelected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who defeated Flávio Bolsonaro with 51.8% of the vote to 48.2%. The result blocks a conservative victory in Latin America’s largest country and complicates U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure Brazil’s cooperation on regional security and access to critical minerals, though both governments have reasons to pursue ties.
Key Facts
Lula won 51.8% of the vote, while Flávio Bolsonaro received 48.2%.
The result ended a run of seven consecutive conservative presidential victories in Latin America over 18 months.
Flávio Bolsonaro refused to concede and called for the result to be annulled.
As of Monday morning, Trump had not publicly acknowledged Lula’s reelection, according to the article.
The Trump administration has sought Brazil’s participation in a U.S.-led security coalition against cartels.
Washington wants access to Brazil’s rare earths, while Lula’s government seeks foreign investment and tariff relief for Brazilian exporters.
Lula has pursued ties with China and greater influence through BRICS while supporting Brazil’s tradition of nonalignment.
Trump imposed tariffs on some Brazilian goods in response to Brazil’s prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro over an alleged coup plot.
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The Vatican said Pope Leo will make his South American trip as planned from 6 to 17 November, visiting Uruguay, Argentina and Peru. He had surgery on 13 October to remove a localized tumour from his right lung and has been gradually resuming work while recovering.
Key Facts
The 71-year-old Pope underwent a 90-minute operation in Rome on 13 October.
Doctors discharged him from Gemelli hospital on 17 October.
The Pope's surgeon said his condition was satisfactory and there were no clinical reasons to cancel the trip.
The Vatican said Leo would visit 10 cities during the tour.
The itinerary includes stops in Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Lima, Chiclayo, Cuzco and Pucallpa.
Leo lived and worked in Peru for several years and holds Peruvian citizenship.
The Vatican said Leo would cancel a planned visit to Assisi on 27 October on his doctors' recommendation.
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Microsoft is reportedly offering buyouts to as many as 60,000 employees to cut costs as it adapts to changing workforce needs and increased use of artificial intelligence. Bloomberg reported that employees in divisions including Xbox, Windows and Copilot may be eligible, while some roles in cybersecurity, data centers and marketing are excluded.
Key Facts
Microsoft has a global workforce of about 223,000 employees, according to the article.
In April, Microsoft offered voluntary retirement to about 7% of its roughly 125,000 U.S. employees at the time.
Microsoft executive Amy Coleman said the offer gives eligible workers support if they choose to leave and gives participating organizations another way to adjust staffing.
Meta announced plans in April to cut about 8,000 jobs, or 10% of its staff.
Oracle cut 21,000 jobs in June, nearly 13% of its workforce; the article links the cuts to AI.
A working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 90% of 9,000 surveyed senior executives said AI had not yet increased productivity at their companies.
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A small UCLA study found that breast cancer survivors who took oxaloacetate for eight weeks reported improved cognitive-function scores and less fatigue. The study had 18 participants and no comparison group, so it cannot establish that the supplement caused the changes or confirm its effectiveness.
Key Facts
The study was published October 20 in JCO Oncology Advances.
Researchers enrolled 18 women with early-stage breast cancer who were at least 12 months past primary treatment and had no evidence of active or recurrent disease.
Participants took 500 milligrams of oxaloacetate twice daily for eight weeks.
The group’s average score on a self-reported cognitive-impairment scale rose from 29.1 to 55.5; scores below 54 indicate impairment.
The 16 participants who continued taking the supplement also reported improved fatigue-related symptoms.
Researchers reported improvement in physical functioning and small, statistically non-significant changes in insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
Two participants stopped the supplement because of adverse effects; the article does not provide further details about those effects.
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Walter Koenig, the actor who played Pavel Chekov in the original Star Trek series and films, died Sunday in Los Angeles at age 90, his agent confirmed. He also appeared in Babylon 5 and other screen productions, and received a 2026 Independent Shorts Awards honor for his performance in Mr Fleischmann.
Key Facts
Koenig played Chekov on Star Trek from its second season in 1967 through the series finale in 1969.
He reprised Chekov in six original-cast Star Trek films released from 1979 to 1991 and appeared briefly in Generations in 1994.
He voiced President Anton Chekov in Star Trek: Picard in 2023.
In Babylon 5, he played Alfred Bester, a telepath associated with the Psi Corps.
Koenig was born in Chicago and grew up in Manhattan; his parents were Lithuanian immigrants.
He married Judy Levitt in 1965. She died in 2022.
Koenig is survived by his daughter, Danielle Koenig.
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Senior figures in Keir Starmer’s government said officials discussed moving staff from 10 Downing Street to open-plan offices elsewhere, citing concerns that the historic building’s layout hindered collaboration. The discussions remained at an early stage, and it is unclear whether Starmer was consulted; there was no proposal to change the prime minister’s residence.
Key Facts
James Lyons, who led Starmer’s communications operation from October 2024 to September 2025, said moving out of Downing Street had been discussed.
Two other senior figures confirmed that staff relocation was discussed.
One possible location was an open-plan office in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office building.
Sources said the discussions did not advance beyond an early phase.
The proposed move concerned staff workplaces, not the prime minister’s residence.
10 Downing Street is more than 300 years old and comprises more than 100 rooms.
Lyons and Iceland boss Lord Walker criticized the building’s suitability as a workplace.
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Six private citizens sued President Donald Trump’s administration in federal court in New York over restrictions on White House media access. They say they rely on independent reporting for work in areas including education, journalism, research and advocacy.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed Monday in federal court in New York.
The plaintiffs include a human rights advocate, a media watchdog, a university history professor, a high school teacher, a legal journalist and a student journalist.
The plaintiffs say restrictions on White House reporters limit access to information they need for their work.
The suit is the first described in the article to challenge the restrictions on behalf of news consumers rather than the affected outlets.
Last month, Trump barred journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from attending White House news conferences.
A federal judge ruled that the ban violated the First Amendment and ordered access restored; the administration continues to challenge the ruling.
Trump said he is considering moving the press to another location to free up space.
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Brazil’s real fell 12 percent against the U.S. dollar after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won re-election. Stocks and interest-rate futures also moved sharply as investors assessed his fiscal plans and uncertainty over Jair Bolsonaro’s response to the result.
Key Facts
The Bovespa stock index fell 10 percent, triggering a 30-minute trading halt.
Bovespa futures fell nearly 15 percent on Monday.
Interest-rate futures rose 3.1 percent after Lula’s victory.
Lula’s team aims to achieve a budget surplus of about 1.3 percent of GDP by 2030.
Brazil’s public debt exceeds 82 percent of GDP, while required spending limits potential savings.
Investors are watching Lula’s choice of finance minister for clues about his fiscal approach.
The article reports that Jair Bolsonaro had not conceded the election and that his objections added to market uncertainty.
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Voters in Massachusetts will decide whether to keep a 2024 law that requires firearm registration and expands restrictions on certain guns. Idaho voters will answer a nonbinding question about choosing an official state gun from six historic firearms, including the M1 Garand.
Key Facts
Massachusetts Question 9 asks voters whether to uphold the 2024 firearms law.
The Massachusetts law requires firearms to be serialized and registered with the state.
The law also restricts ghost guns and devices that enable rapid firing, expands the ban on assault-style weapons, and broadens the state's red-flag law.
Massachusetts residents face a registration deadline six days before the referendum, according to the article.
The law took effect in 2024 after Gov. Maura Healey signed an emergency provision, rather than waiting for the referendum.
Idaho's Republican-led Legislature placed a nonbinding question on the ballot asking voters for advice on naming a state gun.
Idaho voters will choose among six historic firearms; Neill Goodfellow said he plans to vote for the M1 Garand.
An estimated three in five Idaho adults live in households with guns, according to the RAND Gun Policy in America initiative.
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