Global oil and gas prices have risen sharply due to conflicts in the Middle East, especially attacks near key shipping routes used to transport energy supplies. This has caused higher fuel costs in many countries and raised concerns about inflation and increased living expenses worldwide.
Key Facts
The price of oil is over $108 per barrel, up from $70 in June 2026, a 50% increase.
UK petrol prices have risen to above 170 pence per litre, the highest since 2022.
Natural gas prices in the UK and Europe have nearly doubled since July.
The cost of petrol in the US rose from $3.80 to $4.32 per gallon since July 2026.
Diesel prices in the US reached a record high of over $6 per gallon.
Conflict between Yemeni Houthis and Saudi Arabia caused attacks that closed a major Saudi pipeline used to export oil.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route, saw a reduction from 21 million to about 8.6 million barrels per day of oil passing through due to regional conflicts.
There are concerns about further disruptions in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea, both important oil transit points.
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Experts warn that distrust between the U.S. and China could cause problems with the future of artificial intelligence (AI), not just the technology itself. Leaders from both countries have expressed concerns about AI risks but disagree on slowing development, while global efforts to create shared safety rules continue.
Key Facts
Experts fear superintelligent AI might see humans as threats, risking survival.
U.S. AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic want to slow AI progress to stay safe.
China also raises AI safety concerns but sees calls to slow down as U.S. dominance efforts.
A U.S. study found security issues with China's WeChat app, which millions use.
Leaders, including Britain’s King Charles III, are meeting to discuss AI rules.
U.S. and Chinese researchers currently don’t cooperate much due to mutual distrust.
Some U.S. politicians worry that slowing AI will let China take the lead.
President Trump called AI threat warnings conspiracies and said whoever wins AI “wins.”
China’s President Xi Jinping supports global cooperation to keep AI under human control.
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The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has been quiet, likely because of El Niño, a climate pattern with warm Pacific Ocean waters. El Niño is forecasted to strengthen through late 2026 and may continue influencing global weather, including potentially wetter conditions in parts of the U.S. and higher global temperatures in 2027.
Key Facts
So far in 2026, five named storms formed in the Atlantic but none became hurricanes.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern with warmer Pacific Ocean waters that affects weather worldwide.
El Niño tends to reduce hurricane activity in the Atlantic but increase it in the Eastern and Central Pacific.
The Climate Prediction Center says there is over a 90% chance El Niño will become very strong by fall and winter of 2026.
Typical El Niño winters bring more rain to the U.S. Southeast and California, which may help with drought relief.
El Niño causes stronger winds in the Atlantic that can disrupt hurricane formation.
Experts say 2027 might become the warmest year on record globally due to El Niño’s effects.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year.
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Annie Dillard, an author known for her book *Pilgrim at Tinker Creek*, died at 81 in Massachusetts. She won the Pulitzer Prize for this book in 1975 and wrote many other works about nature, life, and religion.
Key Facts
Annie Dillard died at age 81 at her home in South Wellfleet, Massachusetts.
She wrote *Pilgrim at Tinker Creek*, published in 1974, about the natural world near her home in Virginia.
The book won the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction.
*Pilgrim at Tinker Creek* was included in a list of the 100 best nonfiction books by Modern Library in 1998.
Dillard wrote poetry, essays, novels, and an autobiography called *An American Childhood*.
Her 1982 essay *Total Eclipse* was named one of the 20th century’s 100 best essays by Joyce Carol Oates.
She was married to biographer Robert D. Richardson for 32 years until his death in 2020 and had a daughter named Cody Rose.
Dillard saw herself as a thinker about God and reality, not just a writer about nature.
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A Michelin two-star restaurant in Seoul was fined for using ants as a garnish on desserts, breaking South Korea's food laws. The restaurant owner used about 49,000 ants over nearly four years, mostly imported from the US, despite ants not being approved for human eating in the country.
Key Facts
The restaurant, Evett, was fined 15 million won, and its operating company was fined 10 million won.
Ants are not on South Korea’s list of 10 insect species allowed for human consumption.
The approved insects include grasshoppers, locusts, and some types of silkworms.
The owner used 3 to 5 ants to add a sour taste to some dishes, including sorbets.
The use of ants was discovered after the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety found online reviews with photos.
Tests showed the ants had heavy metals above safety standards.
The owner said they did not know ants were banned and said diners could choose an alternative topping.
Eating ants is common in some cultures in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where they are considered a delicacy.
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Rachida Dati, a former French culture minister, is on trial in Paris for corruption related to payments she received from a Renault-Nissan subsidiary while she was a member of the European Parliament. Prosecutors say the money was for illegal lobbying, but Dati denies the charges and says she was paid for legal work.
Key Facts
Rachida Dati is accused of accepting €900,000 in fees from a Renault-Nissan subsidiary while she was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP).
Prosecutors claim she was paid to lobby illegally for the carmaker, which is banned for MEPs.
Dati’s lawyers say she only provided legal services, denying all corruption accusations.
The trial also involves Carlos Ghosn, former Renault-Nissan CEO, who is being tried in absentia after fleeing Japan.
Investigators found a contract from 2009 where Dati was paid €300,000 annually, which prosecutors say disguised lobbying work.
Dati served as French justice and culture minister and is currently mayor of part of Paris.
If found guilty, she could face up to 10 years in prison, a fine, and a ban on holding public office.
Dati faces other investigations for undeclared payments and assets but denies wrongdoing.
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Sweden’s recent election showed a small decline for the far-right Sweden Democrats, who dropped from the second to the third largest party. The centre-left Social Democrats are likely to form a government, but it may take time to build a coalition.
Key Facts
The far-right Sweden Democrats have been influential in Sweden’s government for four years.
In the current election, the Sweden Democrats lost some voter support for the first time in 16 years.
The Social Democrats, a centre-left party, appear ready to return to power with a narrow majority.
The election result contrasts with Germany’s recent rise of a far-right party in a state government.
Sweden’s political parties have adopted some far-right ideas, especially on immigration.
Experts warn that mainstream parties copying far-right views can strengthen extremist ideas.
The Sweden Democrats’ influence is expected to continue despite their election setback.
The election outcome shows Sweden may be reconsidering its far-right experiment, but nationalist views still shape politics.
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The European Union has offered Canada the chance to become its first associate member. This offer comes as Canada strengthens ties with Europe amid pressure from President Donald Trump's U.S. policies.
Key Facts
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed Canada become the EU's first associate member.
This is an unusual and new type of membership offer from the EU.
The offer reflects closer relations between Canada and the EU.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called the relationship a "unique alliance."
The move responds in part to pressure from policies by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The announcement was made on September 16, 2026.
Associate membership would allow Canada closer cooperation with the EU without full membership.
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Roya Mahboob is an Afghan entrepreneur who uses technology to help girls in Afghanistan access education under Taliban rule. She co-founded a nonprofit that offers online learning, including AI tutoring, to girls who cannot attend traditional schools due to restrictions on female education.
Key Facts
Roya Mahboob experienced Taliban rule as a child and saw her books and TV destroyed.
She co-founded the Digital Citizen Fund to improve access to technology and education for girls and women.
Mahboob helped start the Afghan Dreamers, a female robotics team featured in documentaries and films.
The Afghan Dreamers Academy offers free education with live lessons, AI tutors, mentoring, and offline learning options.
The Taliban bans girls from school beyond sixth grade and restricts women's rights in many ways.
Since 2021, the Taliban has issued over 100 rules discriminating against women and girls.
UN Women reports that nearly two-thirds of Afghan women feel their lives have worsened under Taliban control.
Only seven percent of Afghan women have jobs compared to 84 percent of men, and many women’s organizations are closing.
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The third Russia-Africa Summit will take place in Moscow at the end of October to strengthen ties between Russia and African countries. Russia is increasing its influence in Africa, partly as a response to tension with the US and Europe, while some African nations seek closer economic and security relationships with Russia. Additionally, an estimated 3,000 Africans have been recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine.
Key Facts
The third Russia-Africa Summit is scheduled for late October in Moscow.
Russia wants to increase its influence in Africa due to strained relations with the US and Europe.
African countries are interested in improving economic, diplomatic, and security connections with Russia.
Around 3,000 Africans have reportedly joined Russian forces fighting in Ukraine.
These developments come about four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began.
The Kremlin sees Africa as a region for expanding partnerships despite Western isolation.
The article features insights from journalist Noé Michalon on this topic.
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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), members of the opposition group called C64 protested in the capital city Kinshasa. They are against a plan supported by the government to change the country’s constitution, and the protests happened as parliament started a new session.
Key Facts
The protests took place in Kinshasa, the capital of DR Congo.
The opposition coalition involved is named C64.
They have opposed the proposed constitutional change for several months.
The constitutional change is supported by the ruling majority in parliament.
The protests coincided with the start of a new parliamentary session.
The article includes a report and video by Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula.
The protests reflect ongoing political disagreement in DR Congo.
The constitutional change details or reasons were not specified in the article.
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Large stars end their lives in explosions called supernovae, creating neutron stars or black holes. A new study suggests that neutrinos—tiny particles that can change their type or "flavor"—may explain why some supernova models don’t match what scientists observe in space.
Key Facts
Supernovae happen when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse under gravity.
The explosion throws off most of the star’s outer layers, leaving behind a dense object like a neutron star or black hole.
Current models of supernovae rely heavily on neutrinos, particles produced in huge amounts during the collapse.
Neutrinos have the ability to change "flavor," meaning they can switch identities among three types.
This flavor-changing feature is not yet fully included in supernova models.
Observations show fewer supernovae than expected based on how many big stars form.
Some types of big stars, like red supergiants, seem to explode less often than predicted.
A better understanding of neutrino behavior might help explain these differences and improve supernova models.
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A Paris court awarded Kim Kardashian €1 in damages after she was robbed at gunpoint in 2016. The court found eight people guilty of the robbery, which involved the theft of over $6 million in jewelry from her hotel room.
Key Facts
Kim Kardashian was robbed during Paris Fashion Week in 2016 by armed robbers disguised as police.
The robbers tied her up and took more than $6 million worth of jewelry.
Eight people were found guilty of robbery, kidnapping, and related charges.
The robbers were mostly older men in their 60s and 70s, called "the grandpa robbers" in France.
Kardashian requested only €1 in damages, which the court awarded.
A hotel receptionist who was also traumatized was awarded over €100,000.
The hotel received €50,000 in damages, and a stylist present during the robbery was also awarded €1.
None of the robbers went back to prison after trial because of time served and no appeal was filed.
Kardashian expressed gratitude to the French justice system and emphasized accountability and healing.
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A group of international organizations has asked a United Nations official to declare surrogacy as a modern form of slavery. They argue that surrogacy treats children as objects to be bought or sold, which fits the definition of slavery under international law.
Key Facts
Surrogacy is banned in many countries like France, Spain, China, and Italy.
Some countries allow altruistic surrogacy where no money changes hands.
The 1926 Slavery Convention defines slavery as having control over a person as if they were owned.
The petition says surrogacy reduces children to objects of contracts, violating their dignity and rights.
Surrogacy also involves women consenting to contracts that some say exploit their bodies.
UN officials have expressed concern that surrogacy treats women’s bodies as commodities and may amount to child selling.
Critics worry wealthy people exploit poorer women through surrogacy.
Some organizations and experts support banning surrogacy globally to protect women and children.
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Maye Musk, a supermodel and mother of Elon Musk, appeared on CBS Mornings to talk about her new book, "Timeless: The Art of Reinvention and Resilience at Any Age." She discussed her experiences in modeling, overcoming an abusive relationship, and her role as Elon's mother.
Key Facts
Maye Musk is a well-known supermodel.
She is the mother of Elon Musk, the business leader and entrepreneur.
She wrote a memoir titled "Timeless: The Art of Reinvention and Resilience at Any Age."
In the interview, she shared stories about her modeling career.
She spoke openly about escaping an abusive relationship.
She reflected on her life lessons and personal strength.
The interview aired on the CBS Mornings show.
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Japan has joined India in military exercises aimed at countering China's influence. These exercises show Japan's increasing ability to take part in military operations.
Key Facts
Japan is participating in joint military exercises with India.
The exercises are meant to address concerns about China's growing power.
This marks an increase in Japan's military activities abroad.
India and Japan are strengthening defense cooperation.
The military drills are part of broader regional security efforts.
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The article talks about how picking a baby name can be hard, especially when someone watches the TV show "Law & Order: SVU" while pregnant. The author explains how thinking about characters’ names from the show made choosing a name more complicated, but they eventually found a name they liked.
Key Facts
Choosing a baby name can take a lot of time and thought.
The author started thinking about baby names late in pregnancy.
Watching "Law & Order: SVU" influenced the author’s baby name choices.
The author and her husband practiced saying names out loud and imagined their child with those names.
They also thought about how nicknames would sound with their last name.
The chosen baby name appeared in "Law & Order: SVU" much later in the show, so it wasn’t a problem.
The article comes from a series about the author’s experience as a new mom.
The author shares her story on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave an exclusive interview from his wartime office. He said he does not believe Russian President Vladimir Putin truly wants peace or an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Key Facts
The interview was conducted by CBS News reporter Aidan Stretch.
Zelenskyy spoke from his office used during the ongoing war.
He expressed doubt about Russian President Putin’s stated desire for peace.
The war referred to is the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy’s comments address the ongoing tensions and fighting.
The interview was featured on CBS News and in their app.
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Meghan Markle joined a school WhatsApp group and shared her cellphone number with other parents, which was later shared in media reports. This incident comes after Prince Harry's successful lawsuit over phone hacking and highlights ongoing concerns about the security of their private information.
Key Facts
Meghan Markle joined a Year Three school WhatsApp group before her children started school.
Her phone number was visible in the group and a screenshot of her message was shared in the media.
There is no evidence Meghan’s phone was hacked or that the sharing was done with bad intent.
The couple moved their children from the school due to security concerns, including traffic and protection logistics.
Prince Harry previously sued a newspaper for phone hacking and received damages.
Harry has called for continuous police protection for his family, citing past security breaches.
Meghan’s sharing of her number contrasts with Harry’s strong stance on security and privacy.
The Sussex family asked for privacy related to their new home and their children’s school.
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US officials met with Houthi leaders in Oman and decided not to support Saudi Arabia militarily in Yemen despite the Houthi advance. The Houthis assured the US that their 2025 ceasefire agreement stands and they will not attack US ships, only Saudi-linked vessels, leading President Trump to reject direct US involvement.
Key Facts
US officials met with Houthi leaders at the Yemeni embassy in Muscat, Oman.
The Houthis confirmed the 2025 ceasefire agreement remains in effect.
Houthis said they do not plan to attack US ships, only those linked to Saudi Arabia.
President Trump condemned the Houthi advance but refused military support for Saudi Arabia.
The US is already involved in a costly conflict with Iran, which backs the Houthis.
The US labeled the Houthis a terrorist group but maintains direct contact with their leaders.
Saudi Arabia alleges the Houthis fired a drone at Mecca, which was intercepted; the Houthis deny this.
The Houthis claim to have shot down a Saudi F-15 plane and attacked an oil facility, though no evidence was provided.
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