Pope Leo has resumed work in hospital while recovering from lung surgery to remove a cancerous growth, Al Jazeera reports; doctors said his recovery was proceeding, and he met a top Vatican aide. This follows an earlier NBC News headline saying he had lung cancer and earlier NBC and CBS reports that he was expected to undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule. CBS News reported an outpouring of support for Pope Leo from Trump and Chicagoans amid his cancer diagnosis.
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October 2026 news
Ukraine's president told Elon Musk that any restriction on Starlink's system cost lives, the BBC reports. This follows earlier reports of Ukraine's Starlink access restrictions, including Kyiv's accusation that SpaceX throttled terminals and reports linking the limits to political circumstances. Al Jazeera's article asks what Starshield is and who limited Ukraine's access to it.
Thames Water has asked its creditors for an additional £2.4bn in short-term funding, saying it could run out of cash by the end of 2026 or early 2027. The Guardian reports that the UK’s largest water company says it needs the money to survive long enough to reach a longer-term deal over its debt.
The UK has threatened to block Eritreans from entering unless a deal is agreed on returning rejected asylum seekers and criminals. Eritrea’s government called the threat a “perfunctory political gimmick” and said the UK had failed to engage in meaningful dialogue, according to The Guardian.
Protests have taken place in Azerbaijan over school rules after pupils wearing hijabs were turned away, according to BBC News. This follows earlier reporting on a reported headscarf ban in Azerbaijan and reactions in Turkey.
A guide explains what the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage are. It asks how much each is worth.
Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in a dramatic Rugby League World Cup opener in Sydney, according to the BBC, with debutant Jack Bostock scoring a hat-trick to help the hosts win late. The Guardian reports that Australia survived a scare as New Zealand helped launch the tournament, while the BBC describes the match as an epic opener.
The Financial Times says the EU’s hybrid car deal with Beijing eases tensions only briefly and argues Europe cannot rely on trade barriers to counter China. This follows earlier reports from the South China Morning Post that Europe was moving toward a tougher trade stance on China and EU leaders would urgently call for new trade tools to tackle the China shock.
DW reports Turkish police raided the Istanbul headquarters of pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV on Wednesday, the day jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was set to begin his defense against corruption charges. This follows earlier reports that police took Halk TV off air during a raid and arrested 11, according to Euronews.
A Hamburg court jailed two men over a plot to attack Jewish leaders on behalf of Iran, Deutsche Welle reports. The men were found guilty of espionage and attempted murder, and the court said they planned to attack the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany and the president of the German-Israeli Society. An earlier Deutsche Welle headline described them as Iranian agents and said the plans targeted Jewish leaders in Germany.
Labour groups sharing power with Green councillors have been told to review local agreements and end them unless their partners condemn the Greens’ “Zionism is racism” policy, according to The Guardian. The Guardian says Labour chair Bridget Phillipson issued the call; the BBC reports Labour could end local coalitions over the policy, while the Financial Times says Labour will end power-sharing with Green councils that back the statement.
TechCrunch's Oct. 15 notice called it the last day of Disrupt 2026 and invited more than 10,000 tech leaders, offering 75% off passes. An Oct. 14 promotion had offered 50% off tickets and described the final two days as taking place at Moscone West in San Francisco.
Graham Brougham, 74, pleaded guilty to raping a woman whose husband drugged her and invited men to sexually assault her while she was unconscious, the Guardian reports. The BBC reports that another man has admitted raping the woman and describes the case as spanning more than 20 years.
The International Energy Agency is to release more than 20 million barrels of diesel as soon as possible, CNBC reports. CNBC says the Trump administration pushed Europe to release diesel stocks as U.S. prices surged to record highs in September. This follows earlier coverage of questions about how Trump's diesel deal with Russia could affect the United States and Ukraine.
On October 10, New Delhi faced a near-lockdown after the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party called for protests, France 24 reports. Authorities imposed a 24-hour internet blackout, but protesters found ways around it, including using Bluetooth, according to the outlet. This follows an earlier report that Indian protesters described rough police treatment and that a sea of protesters flowed through the capital after lockdown.
Former US president Barack Obama told more than 12,000 people at a major venue that the drift towards extremism is not inevitable, as he addressed challenges facing the world, BBC News reports.
One year after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s death, Kenyans are reflecting on his contribution to democracy and national reconciliation. His handshakes with political rivals remain a subject of debate, while questions remain about whether Kenya can preserve the democratic space he helped create.
Pope Leo has resumed some papal duties after surgery, the Vatican says. CBS News does not specify which duties he resumed.
Wholesale prices rose 6.3% year over year in September, their biggest gain since 2022, CNBC reports. This follows reports that consumer prices rose 3.7% annually in September as gas prices surged and Social Security benefits were set to increase.
France has charged a teenager over a school shooting, and the teen cited revenge for bullying, according to France 24. The site's later video headline repeats that account.