Thursday, October 8, 2026

Texas executed Jamaal Howard, 46, Wednesday evening for the 2000 robbery-murder of convenience store clerk Vickie Swartout, after the Supreme Court declined to halt it; Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented. His attorneys had cited Tennessee's September 30 failed execution of Christa Pike, who survived two doses of pentobarbital, arguing the same drug posed similar risks. Pike is reported conscious but confused; a Nashville judge has ordered Tennessee to preserve evidence from her failed execution.

Federal authorities arrested Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, a U.S. citizen of Somali descent, Tuesday in a Minnesota park, charging him with plotting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the Mall of America. He had been under investigation since December 2024 and allegedly bought an AK-47 and 200 rounds of ammunition for $600 from an undercover FBI informant, telling the informant he intended to kill 30 to 60 people. He faces one federal firearms-terrorism charge. Sen. Amy Klobuchar praised law enforcement Wednesday, calling for more anti-terrorism investment.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development under President Trump is investigating Wells Fargo's mortgage programs aimed at boosting Black and minority homeownership, saying the race-based initiatives may violate the Fair Housing Act. Officials called the programs "immoral" and "un-American." Wells Fargo shares slipped after the probe was announced. The bank has not commented publicly on the matter.

The University of Arizona put all 21 Interfraternity Council chapters under interim activities suspension following multiple misconduct reports. Dean of Students Chrissy Lieberman had said earlier this week that nearly half of the chapters had multiple reports, citing allegations including assault, drug use and hazing. The suspension, initially described as affecting most chapters, now applies to all 21 while investigations continue.

Cornell University students held a seven-hour sit-in Wednesday to protest the university's handling of allegations that Jane Doe was sexually assaulted by members of the Chi Phi fraternity nearly two years ago. Records show Doe gave her account of the incident to a university hearing panel seven months after the alleged assault. Attorney Mark Geragos said the case is "a lot more complex" than people think, calling it "a tough, tough mountain to climb if you're a prosecutor."

A Congressional Research Service report found the US military has lost or sustained damage to at least 81 aircraft and drones since the war with Iran began, nearly double the 42 identified in May. Losses include 12 F-15E Strike Eagles, an F-35A, seven KC-135 tankers, an E-3 Sentry and 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones. Estimated replacement costs range from $3.3 billion to $5.1 billion, depending on the outlet's calculation.

The U.S. Army has scheduled the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage, for Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. CDT, according to a memo obtained by NewsNation. The execution would be carried out by firing squad and would be the first military execution in more than 65 years.

The Democratic National Committee sued the Trump administration on Wednesday, alleging taxpayer-funded ads featuring the president violated a federal law banning use of appropriated funds for

At a Texas rally, President Trump said the U.S. would not allow Iran to strike Los Angeles or San Diego, addressing earlier comments in which he said

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife are expected to face additional US charges this week alleging they played a role in the torture of Americans held in Venezuelan prisons, according to US officials and media reports. An attorney for Maduro said he had not been given notice of any additional charges. His wife is separately seeking release from US jail.

Officials raised the death toll from Russia's overnight missile and drone barrage on Kyiv and a dozen regions to 22, as rescuers continued pulling bodies from rubble. In a separate attack, Ukraine said a Russian strike hit a crowded bus in a frontline city, killing 33, accusing Russia of targeting civilians. President Zelensky called the strikes a "gift" Putin gave himself for his birthday.

A day after Houthi strikes on two Saudi airports killed three people, explosions were reported in Riyadh on Thursday with their cause unclear. Saudi Arabia and Syria are discussing sending Syrian troops to Yemen to fight the Houthis, US officials said, while Pakistan confirmed it has troops in Saudi Arabia as the kingdom is pulled deeper into conflict with the Iran-backed group.

Russia's public health watchdog denied reports that a second person was infected after a 28-year-old researcher at an Irkutsk plague institute died of pneumonia on October 2. Russian officials say the cause was pneumonia of unknown origin, not linked to her lab work. President Trump said Wednesday he does not think the case is a bioweapon, saying Russia has it "under control." The WHO has asked Russia for more details on the cause.

France suspended police use of stun grenades at student protests after a 15-year-old lost a hand to a police-fired grenade. The protests, which began in Paris in mid-September over education funding and school conditions, have spread nationwide and into Belgium, where police made at least 139 arrests in Liège. More than 6,500 people, mostly minors, have been arrested in France. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said his policy response would come later this month.

A serving member of Britain's Royal Navy has been charged under the National Security Act with preparing to disclose sensitive information to a foreign power, London police said. Counter terror police described the alleged offenses as "very serious." The serviceman was due to appear in court in London. The foreign country allegedly involved was not identified.

Kenya recorded its first-ever Ebola case in a patient who traveled by road and air through DR Congo, Uganda and Kenya for weeks before being detected in Nairobi. Ten people linked to the patient have been quarantined. Health officials are now examining how the case went undetected across multiple border crossings and screening points.

South Korea decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine in protest after Kyiv disclosed that two North Korean prisoners of war had been transferred to South Korea. The move escalates a diplomatic dispute between the two countries over the disclosure.

Myanmar's military leader, U Min Aung Hlaing, arrived in Malaysia, the ninth stop on his international trips since he began appearing in civilian clothes. Malaysia's prime minister said the country will work toward Myanmar's full reintegration into ASEAN. The visit coincides with criticism over repatriations of Myanmar nationals.