Monday, October 5, 2026

The Supreme Court heard over two hours of oral arguments Monday in Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, over whether Colorado's Boulder County can sue Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy under state nuisance law for damages tied to climate change. Eight of nine justices participated. After the arguments, it remained unclear how the court would rule. The case could affect similar suits by other localities against fossil fuel companies.

U.S. officials told the New York Times new warnings about an Iran-backed plot targeting RAF Fairford prompted the weekend withdrawal of all 12 B-1 bombers, a week after British authorities arrested five men near the base. The Pentagon confirmed the bombers returned to U.S. home stations but declined to comment on the new threat warnings. The UK said the base remains safe. Police are investigating whether the plot is linked to Iran.

The U.S. military said it struck a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea late Sunday, killing four people. U.S. Southern Command said the boat was operating along "established narco-trafficking routes" and that intelligence "revealed the vessel's active involvement in narco-trafficking." The strike is part of the Trump administration's yearlong campaign against alleged drug traffickers in Latin America.

President Trump's new "Super Intelligence Force," a White House task force on artificial intelligence led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton, has 120 days to research and report to Trump on the risks and benefits of AI and recommend policy, a White House official confirmed Monday. Clayton will remain DNI while chairing the group. Trump said the goal is to ensure America leads the world in the technology.

The FBI arrested Wanying Zhang, 34, of Irvine, California, at Los Angeles International Airport as she sought to board a flight to Shanghai. Prosecutors say she surveilled Taiwanese President's son and his family on behalf of China, and a complaint says she texted a Chinese handler license plate numbers while filming them.

Christa Pike remains unconscious and on a ventilator in a Tennessee hospital days after a failed execution attempt last week, her attorney said Sunday. Tennessee's outgoing Correction Commissioner Frank Strada had a history of execution missteps before Pike's case, officials said.

A Laotian citizen deported by the United States to Eswatini under the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policy was released on Sunday from a maximum security prison there, his lawyer said. He had been held for more than a year following his deportation. The reasons for his continued detention and subsequent release were not explained.

The Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear an appeal from two Michigan brothers who said their First Amendment rights were violated when their school barred them from wearing clothing bearing the slogan "Let's Go Brandon," a phrase used to mock former President Biden. The justices' decision leaves in place the school district's ban.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Roy Moore's appeal of a lower court ruling that had thrown out an $8.2 million defamation jury verdict he won over a 2017 campaign ad. The ad, funded by a Democratic-aligned super PAC during his Senate race, recounted sexual misconduct allegations against him. The decision ends Moore's legal fight over the ad.

The US Army conducted tests of counter-drone technology along the Mexican border as cartel use of drones has increased. The tests are intended to evaluate systems for detecting and countering drones in the border region.

Daria Shipilova, 28, a worker at Russia's Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, allegedly broke a test tube containing pneumonic plague pathogen on Sept. 25 and died Oct. 1-2 after hospitalization for severe pneumonia. Authorities imposed quarantines and placed nearly 200 contacts under observation, reporting no symptoms. Russian officials have not confirmed plague, citing "pneumonia of unknown etiology." Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is watching closely, calling it "cause for focus" but not alarm.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, has filed a judicial review with London's High Court challenging whether Thames Valley Police lawfully searched his homes near Windsor Castle and the Sandringham estate after his February arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office tied to his links to Jeffrey Epstein. He has denied wrongdoing. Police said their misconduct investigation continues while the legal proceedings over the warrants are ongoing. A hearing is set for Thursday.

Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, remains under arrest in Okinawa on suspicion of robbing and killing Anna Yagi, 39. He has denied the allegations, police said. Japan's government has lodged a "strong protest" with the United States. The case has prompted growing anger in Japan and renewed attention to the American military presence on Okinawa.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced an early general election for Nov. 29, after Parliament rejected emergency housing decrees last week aimed at reducing evictions and real estate speculation. The defeat came amid nationwide protests over housing affordability, fueled by outrage over the televised eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid last month. Sánchez said a broader progressive coalition is needed to address the country's biggest issues.

More than 5,000 supporters of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan began a dayslong march toward Islamabad after talks between his party and the government broke down. Protesters are demanding Khan's release, his transfer to a hospital and family visits. Reuters cited the party for the march's scale; other outlets reported thousands joined.

Saudi-backed Yemeni forces said they seized the Red Sea port city of Mokha and secured the nearby Bab al-Mandab Strait, at the start of an offensive against Iran-backed Houthi rebels who have disrupted tanker traffic there. A Saudi-led coalition said its jets bombed Houthi positions as the campaign continued. Brent crude held around $100 a barrel despite reports of increased Mideast oil flows.

Seven major oil-exporting countries—Algeria, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Russia and Saudi Arabia—agreed Sunday to maintain their September production levels into November. The decision comes as Brent crude trades above $100 a barrel amid the Iran war. The OPEC+ group said output targets would remain steady rather than increase or decrease.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia carried out a drone strike that sank a Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying corn in the Black Sea. The vessel's captain was killed, according to BBC News, though the Associated Press reported two deaths. Eleven crew members were rescued. Zelensky described the strike, calling it 'horrific.'

A 15-year-old had his hand and part of his lower arm blown off after picking up a police dispersal grenade during clashes in Lens, France, officials said. Pas-de-Calais prefect François-Xavier Lauch said his life is not in danger and that 200 to 250 protesters were throwing objects at police. The incident came amid nationwide student protests over school conditions, with up to 500 schools closed Monday.