New York’s 119-year-old Plaza Hotel will close in January for a four-year cleanup of its celebrated facade, The Straits Times reports. This follows earlier reports that the hotel was set to close in 2027 for renovation and restoration work.
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October 2026 news
NDTV explains that Starshield is SpaceX's satellite program for governments and the military. This follows The Guardian's report of a restriction affecting Starshield and The New York Times' explanation that Ukraine relies on its military-grade satellite internet service.
China responded to a toilet-related jab by Trump's new press secretary Katie Zacharia with a visit-more-often reply, NDTV reports. NDTV's earlier article described her comments about her time in China and said Trump has boasted of his great relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Louvre could face closure unless it undergoes a major overhaul, the museum’s director warned. France 24 reported that the museum needed to be repaired, updated and transformed, while Euronews said it could be forced to close without a major overhaul. RFI reports that a complex plan is underway to address serious security gaps nearly a year after a jewellery heist, and that the work will require further investment.
Gianni Infantino apologized to FIFA's ruling council on Thursday for mistakes in a secretive World Cup investment plan, but did not provide details sought by his toughest critics, who want him ousted as president, PBS NewsHour reports. BBC News reports that Infantino apologized over his World Cup sell-off plan and was told he was still not fit to lead. Al Jazeera reports that the council meeting lasted over three hours and critics wanted more.
Pope Leo thanked well-wishers for their prayers after a cancer operation, Sky News reports. PBS NewsHour reports that Catholics across South America are praying after news of his lung cancer diagnosis and are concerned about whether he will make his physically demanding visit to the region next month. ABC News also reports prayers for his recovery from lung cancer surgery and growing uncertainty over the planned visit. This follows reports that an NBC News video headline said Pope Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer, after earlier reports that he was expected to have surgery to remove a lung nodule.
Ukraine attacked a Russian oil refinery and said it abandoned a brief truce over energy targets because Moscow did not heed it, The Hindu reports. PBS NewsHour says Ukrainian drones hit a refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region early Thursday, hours after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the truce was over; The Guardian reports that Russia and Ukraine traded strikes, including Russian drone attacks on infrastructure in central Ukraine and Moscow’s accusation that Kyiv struck the Ryazan refinery. Other reports say Ukraine would resume or had resumed refinery strikes after Russia continued its attacks, while Deutsche Welle says Russia reported two refinery attacks.
Fresh Houthi attacks on Saudi oil and aviation targets have demonstrated the movement’s growing military reach, RFI reports. Defence analyst Akram Kharief told RFI that the Houthis have expanded local weapons production since a 2022 ceasefire while retaining technological links to Iran; NDTV reports that the group has a large range of ballistic missiles and drones.
Los Angeles Times columnists commented in real time on the mayoral debate between Karen Bass and Nithya Raman. The Times also published columnists’ views on who won the final debate before the Nov. 3 election.
Pope Leo is due to enter hospital on Tuesday ahead of surgery to remove a small growth on his lung, The Globe and Mail reports. Leo said the nodule was found during a checkup and was well contained; Deutsche Welle raised the question of whether it could be cancer but provided no answer in its headline.
Al Jazeera reports that a Saudi national was charged with planting a listening device at OpenAI offices. The Globe and Mail reported that an OpenAI engineer was arrested after a listening device was found in a conference room, identifying the employee as 35-year-old Saudi national Abdulrahman Alfozan. The BBC published an explainer about the arrest, framed around toilet paper and secret recorders.
One man died and several people were injured on Monday after an incident on a ride at Six Flags Over Georgia, according to The Globe and Mail, which says witnesses saw him come out of his seat. The Globe and Mail reports that rollercoasters at Canada’s Wonderland and La Ronde were closed after the fatal fall. BBC News published accounts of witnesses’ reactions and an overview of what is known about the incident.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia continued striking Ukraine’s energy sites despite Trump’s ceasefire, with Moscow’s forces pounding the power grid and oil and gas facilities for a third straight night, The Globe and Mail reports. This follows earlier reports that energy prices rose after the ceasefire failed to move Russia or Ukraine and that Zelenskyy said Russia was not honoring it.
MI5 chief Ken McCallum says Iran is seeking to intensify attacks in Britain beyond traditional targets of Iranians opposed to its authorities, including targeting military sites. He says a suspected plot at the U.S.-run RAF Fairford base was not unique.
Donald Trump suggested that people who leak government information should be shot, Al Jazeera reports. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Trump was referring to leakers of military plans and describes the remarks as an escalation of his attacks on news-gathering; it says he has previously criticized government sources who speak to the press.
A 28-year-old researcher died from a mysterious infection while working in a Russian plague research laboratory, The Straits Times reports. The Sydney Morning Herald says the researcher worked at a remote anti-plague facility and that such labs across former Soviet states are shrouded in secrecy, with few foreign visitors. The New York Times also reports on plague research labs at the heart of a Russian mystery.
Five people who lived along a walking trail are dead, and police are hunting a killer, The New York Times reports. The Sydney Morning Herald says the victims were homeless men found along a 1.6-kilometre trail in a public park, and that the deaths have left a US city on edge.
The nature of the criminal investigation into US congresswoman Ilhan Omar is unclear, the BBC reports. Hindustan Times says investigators are examining how Omar obtained US citizenship and that revocation may be possible after an FBI search; it reports that Omar calls the probe political retaliation and vows not to be silenced. The BBC says the investigation follows officials casting doubt on her citizenship.
Hindustan Times describes Kimberly Guilfoyle as removed from her post as U.S. ambassador to Greece after reports linked her to an alleged request for $100,000 from a Trump donor; its headline says Donald Trump addressed her resignation. This follows earlier coverage that Guilfoyle had resigned: CBC linked the resignation to corruption allegations, while The Hindu and NPR described allegations of improper conduct.
Hindustan Times reports Social Security benefits could be cut by 22% in 2032, despite a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment in 2027 that it says would raise average monthly payments by about $75. This follows headlines from The New York Times, The Guardian and Al Jazeera that benefits are set to rise 3.6% in 2027; The Guardian described the increase as a promise by the Trump administration.