President Trump's approval rating has dropped to 36% two weeks before the midterm elections, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll. Many voters disapprove of his handling of the economy, cost of living, and the ongoing Iran conflict.
Key Facts
The poll surveyed about 3,494 likely voters in October.
59% of respondents disapprove of President Trump’s job performance.
52% said they plan to vote for Democratic candidates in the midterms.
73% disapprove of how Trump is handling gas prices, which are over $4.25 a gallon.
69% disapprove of his handling of the cost of living; 64% disapprove of his handling of the economy.
Around 65% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the war with Iran, which has lasted nearly eight months.
Democratic candidates are using cost-of-living issues to attract undecided voters.
Despite the challenges, Republicans are still campaigning hard to keep their congressional majority.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
France is preparing for another weekend of protests involving high school students and the "Yellow Vest" movement. The French government is increasing security and police forces to try to prevent violence and disorder during these demonstrations.
Key Facts
The protests include high school students and members of the "Yellow Vest" movement.
The government expects more demonstrations nationwide this weekend.
French authorities plan a large police presence to maintain order.
Recent protests have led to arrests and trials for those involved in riots.
Local curfews have been imposed in parts of Paris due to unrest.
Police recently arrested a suspect after an arson attack on a town hall in Limoges.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has promised strong security measures.
The protests are connected to broader tensions involving unions and public policy.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Jeffrey Donaldson, a former political leader in Northern Ireland, is being investigated by London police for an alleged rape that happened in 2016 inside the Houses of Parliament. He was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison for child sex offences and is appealing those convictions.
Key Facts
Jeffrey Donaldson is a former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
Police in London are investigating an alleged rape by Donaldson that took place in Westminster in 2016.
The alleged victim has already been interviewed by Police Service of Northern Ireland officers.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the investigation involves a 63-year-old man but have not arrested anyone.
Donaldson was sentenced recently to 15 years for child sex crimes from 1985 to 2008, including one count of rape.
The woman alleges Donaldson tried to get her to drink vodka, kissed her, and touched her inappropriately in his office at Parliament.
This investigation is new and still in the early stages.
Some reports also mention Donaldson's controversial behaviour was noted before, including being drunk in Parliament.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump announced he will require data centers in the U.S. to generate their own electricity. He said any extra power produced should be shared with nearby communities to help reduce rising electricity costs.
Key Facts
President Trump made the announcement on Truth Social.
Data centers store and manage large amounts of digital information.
He aims to stop rising electricity prices by making data centers self-sufficient in energy.
Data centers will need to produce their own power rather than relying on the public grid.
Excess electricity generated by data centers should be given to nearby communities.
This plan is intended to support local energy needs and lower costs.
President Trump said he has been closely monitoring data centers before making this decision.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Students, teachers, and civil servants in Greece are protesting to ask the government for more money to improve public education. They are concerned about too few staff, bad school buildings, and rising living costs. Protests are happening in Athens and Thessaloniki, with tents set up in public areas.
Key Facts
Protests are happening in Greece on October 21, 2026.
Students, teachers, and civil servants are involved.
They want more funding for public education.
Complaints include staff shortages and poor infrastructure in schools.
The high cost of living is also a concern for protesters.
Protesters have set up tents in central spots near Parliament in Athens and on a street in Thessaloniki.
The protests show support for similar student movements in France and Spain.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff called Russian President Vladimir Putin "a humanitarian" after Putin released an American citizen who had been imprisoned in Russia since 2022. Former U.S. ambassador William Taylor responded to this statement, expressing his opinion about it.
Key Facts
Steve Witkoff, U.S. envoy to Russia, described President Putin as "a humanitarian."
This comment followed the release of a U.S. citizen imprisoned by Russia since 2022.
The U.S. citizen was held by Russia for roughly two years.
Former U.S. ambassador William Taylor publicly reacted to Witkoff's remark.
The article includes video coverage featuring these statements and reactions.
The news is part of broader coverage involving U.S.-Russia relations and diplomacy.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Brad Lander, a New York congressional candidate, said he was stopped and held by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) while picking olives in the West Bank near Nehalim. He stated that working in the olive grove is not illegal and called the military control of the area unlawful according to international law.
Key Facts
Brad Lander is running for Congress as a Democrat from New York.
He was detained by the Israel Defense Forces in the West Bank.
The incident happened while he was harvesting olives near Nehalim.
Lander said picking olives is not against any law he knows.
He described the Israeli occupation of the West Bank as a crime under international law.
The West Bank is a territory with ongoing conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians.
The Israel Defense Forces often enforce security measures in this area.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Yemeni city of Taiz faces a severe humanitarian crisis as it is surrounded by Houthi forces, cutting off water, food, and fuel supplies. Aid groups warn that fighting and shortages are causing many deaths and worsening living conditions, while international aid is falling short.
Key Facts
Taiz has more than 900,000 people and is nearly surrounded by Houthi forces allied with Iran.
Heavy fighting has damaged residential areas, especially near the city’s old airport.
The conflict escalated after airstrikes in July broke a ceasefire deal from 2022.
Water, fuel, food, and medicine are running dangerously low in Taiz.
Prices for basic goods like fuel and potatoes have risen sharply.
Hospitals lack medicines, and wounded people cannot leave the city due to the blockade.
International aid funding for Yemen has been reduced by countries like the UK, US, and Germany.
The UN says only 23% of the money needed for Yemen's humanitarian relief has been secured this year.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United States has added a new national park called Chiricahua. This brings the total number of national parks in the country to 64, with four located in Arizona.
Key Facts
Chiricahua is the newest national park in the United States.
There are now 64 national parks in total across the country.
Arizona is home to four national parks.
National parks are protected areas for nature and recreation.
Chiricahua offers opportunities for outdoor activities and nature exploration.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Researchers found that a certain repeated DNA sequence is linked to higher chances of having Alzheimer's disease. The study showed that Chinese people with many repeats of a gene sequence called CCG had about double the odds of having Alzheimer’s compared to those with fewer repeats, with a weaker link found in Europeans.
Key Facts
The study focused on the gene FAM193B and a repeated DNA sequence called CCG.
People with 18 or more repeats of CCG had twice the odds of Alzheimer’s compared to those with 11 or fewer repeats.
The research involved over 3,000 Chinese participants and data from the UK Biobank with mostly European participants.
The link was stronger in Chinese participants than in Europeans.
Alzheimer's disease risk is influenced by a mix of genetics, lifestyle, and environment.
This research looks beyond single DNA changes to repeated sequences, which may explain more about Alzheimer’s risk.
Experts believe these findings could help improve Alzheimer's risk prediction and possibly point to new treatments.
The study was published in the journal Nature Neuroscience on October 12.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Andy Burnham supports making suicide prevention training mandatory for social workers after Matilda Davis, a mother and carer, died by suicide shortly after meeting with untrained social workers. The change aims to help social workers recognize and respond to signs of suicide risk, preventing similar tragedies in the future.
Key Facts
Matilda Davis, a 36-year-old mother caring for her disabled son, died by suicide minutes after a meeting with social workers.
The social workers involved had not received suicide prevention training.
Social workers did not ask Matilda if she had suicidal thoughts, despite knowing she was under significant stress.
The coroner ordered Warwickshire council to require suicide prevention training for 600 staff members, mostly social workers.
Andy Burnham agreed to support this training for all local authorities in England.
Manuela Perteghella, a Liberal Democrat MP, called for mandatory training to prevent further deaths like Matilda’s.
Matilda’s family believes the training could have saved her life because she would have honestly answered questions about her feelings.
Mental health experts say it is important to ask direct questions about suicidal thoughts when supporting someone at risk.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A chemical tank exploded in Toledo, Ohio, causing hundreds of people to leave their homes or stay inside due to the risk of toxic chemicals in the air. Emergency teams are monitoring the situation but have not yet approached the tank because it could still explode.
Key Facts
The explosion happened around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Toledo, Ohio.
The tank held 5,500 gallons of glycidyl methacrylate, a chemical used in plastics, paints, and coatings.
This chemical can cause eye, skin, nose, and mouth irritation and may cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
A sheriff’s deputy was hurt while responding to the explosion; no update on the deputy’s condition yet.
More than 900 people were evacuated from a one-mile radius around the explosion site.
Residents within 3 miles were told to stay inside with windows closed to avoid breathing toxic air.
Emergency teams and hazardous materials (hazmat) crews are waiting for safer conditions before approaching the tank.
The fog on Wednesday morning was unrelated to the explosion but delayed monitoring efforts.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Trials have started in Paris for people arrested during violent protests on October 17, 2026. Those accused face charges like attacking police, resisting arrest, and handling stolen items, with authorities working quickly to process over 2,500 detainees from that day.
Key Facts
On October 17, 2026, protests in Paris involved clashes with police and looting.
Over 2,500 people were arrested and taken into police custody during the events.
Trials began on October 19-20, dealing with various charges such as assaulting officers and possessing stolen goods.
Four courtrooms were used instead of the normal one or two to handle the large number of cases faster.
Security measures at the court were increased to prevent further trouble.
The Justice Minister, Gérald Darmanin, called for a strict legal response to the protests.
A lawyer group protested outside the court, warning against political influence on the trials and criticizing the government’s approach.
Some defendants, like a 21-year-old student named Victor B., claim police used excessive force during their arrest.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
On October 20, 2026, protests against artificial intelligence (AI) took place in over 50 US cities. Many people are worried about AI causing job losses, while Silicon Valley is seeing large investments in AI development despite public concerns.
Key Facts
Protests happened in more than 50 cities across the United States.
Demonstrators want a pause (moratorium) on AI development.
A recent study shows 71% of Americans think AI will cause people to lose jobs.
Silicon Valley is experiencing record investments in AI technology.
There is a conflict between public fear and growing AI business activity.
Some AI companies have signed a voluntary safety agreement with President Donald Trump’s administration.
The FBI recently arrested a Saudi OpenAI employee for allegedly spying on a San Francisco office.
Protests reflect widespread uncertainty and worry about AI’s impact on society.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Steve Witkoff, a special envoy, called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian" after Putin released an American held in Russia. Lawmakers criticized Witkoff for his remark. President Donald Trump personally asked Putin to release Stephen Hubbard, an American teacher accused of being a Ukrainian mercenary.
Key Facts
Steve Witkoff is a special envoy involved in diplomatic efforts.
Witkoff called President Vladimir Putin a "humanitarian."
The comment came after Putin released an American named Stephen Hubbard.
Stephen Hubbard had been held in Russia for several years.
Hubbard was accused of being a Ukrainian mercenary by Russian authorities.
President Donald Trump made a direct appeal to Putin for Hubbard’s release.
Lawmakers criticized Witkoff’s positive description of Putin.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new CNN/SSRS poll shows that the Democratic Party leads the Republican Party by 10 points in voter preference for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. The poll asked people which party’s candidate they would vote for in their Congressional district.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by CNN in partnership with SSRS.
49% of people surveyed said they would vote for a Democrat.
39% said they would vote for a Republican.
The poll measures the "generic ballot," which means voting for a party’s candidate without naming specific individuals.
The survey was done less than two weeks before the 2026 midterm elections.
The 10-point lead suggests stronger support for Democrats at this time.
Midterm elections decide who controls Congress in the United States.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Brad Lander, a U.S. Democratic candidate for Congress, was released by Israeli military forces after being detained while helping Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the West Bank. Around 80 volunteers, including rabbis and international helpers, were detained, but many remain held by Israeli authorities.
Key Facts
Brad Lander was detained by Israeli soldiers while volunteering in the West Bank.
He was released with a warning because of his public profile as a political candidate.
Lander has not yet officially become a member of Congress.
About 80 volunteers were detAINED near the village of Nahalin, outside Bethlehem.
The group included people from the U.S., Israel, Palestine, Britain, and Canada.
Israeli forces said the area was a closed military zone.
Volunteers were taken to a police station after Israeli forces arrived.
The Israeli government has not provided a comment on the incident.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Polymarket, a prediction market platform, removed a betting market where people could wager on whether seven Cornell University students accused of sexual assault would be officially charged. The market was taken down after public criticism.
Key Facts
Polymarket is a platform where users can place bets on the outcomes of events.
The removed market involved the legal fate of seven Cornell students accused of sexual assault.
The students are linked to a 2024 incident at a fraternity house.
The betting question asked if any of the accused would be charged formally.
Public backlash occurred due to the sensitive nature of the topic.
Polymarket responded by archiving (removing) the market from active betting.
Prediction markets like Polymarket allow people to speculate on future events but can face ethical concerns.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
CBS Mornings is offering exclusive discounts through their website, cbsdeals.com, where viewers can find products aimed at improving daily life. The site earns commissions when people buy items through its links.
Key Facts
CBS Mornings promotes special deals on everyday lifestyle products.
These deals are available on the website cbsdeals.com.
Purchases made through cbsdeals.com generate commission revenue for CBS.
The segment highlights new items that viewers might find useful.
This promotion is part of the regular CBS Mornings Deals feature.
The deals are updated and shared frequently during the show.
The focus is on helping consumers save money while improving their lifestyle.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump praised the physical appearance of Senator John Husted (R-Ohio) during his campaign events before the midterm elections. He specifically complimented Husted’s backside and legs multiple times.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke about Senator John Husted during campaign stops.
He described Husted’s backside as muscular.
This is not the first time Trump has made similar comments about Husted.
These remarks occurred as the midterm elections approach.
Senator Husted is a Republican from Ohio.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
