Monday, October 19, 2026

A National Guard member was shot in the leg late Sunday around 11:10 p.m. near the 400 block of 8th Street SE in Southeast Washington, D.C., while trying to break up a fight, police said. About seven or eight Guard members exited a van to intervene; three fired their weapons. A suspect was also shot and arrested. Both were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to survive. Investigators have not determined which Guard member's shot hit the suspect.

A federal judge, Ana C. Reyes, questioned Interior Department lawyers Monday about plans to shut down and renovate East Potomac Golf Links next month, despite a prior court order limiting tree removal. The Justice Department clashed with Reyes over testimony from government witnesses about the decision-making process. Trump called the judge a "crazed lunatic" on social media and said construction would begin "immediately."

President Trump continued defending his waiver of Russia sanctions, saying it keeps Moscow at the negotiating table, blaming Ukraine's energy crisis on Kyiv, criticizing Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, and calling for Zelensky to go. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had warned the White House of "unintended consequences" from the waiver. Trump also struck a deal for Russia to supply diesel to the US and global markets; Zelensky called that deal "very dangerous."

Former President Obama said federal agents' search of Rep. Ilhan Omar's home was a 'transparent' effort to intimidate a Trump critic, calling the investigation 'so appalling.' Federal investigators are examining whether Omar committed immigration fraud, including whether her birthdate was altered on her citizenship application, along with earlier allegations of financial fraud and an improper marriage to gain her brother U.S. residency, which Omar has disputed.

The Supreme Court on Monday denied petitions from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Mustafa al-Hawsawi and Walid bin Attash, accused plotters of the September 11 attacks, seeking to restore 2024 plea agreements that would have spared them the death penalty. The deals were revoked by the Pentagon. The court gave no explanation; Justice Brett Kavanaugh recused himself. The men face a military trial, keeping the death penalty possible.

Police in Wichita, Kansas, said the 34-year-old woman who drove a pickup truck onto a field at Stryker Sports Complex on Saturday, killing 6-year-old Adrian Cole and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer and injuring about 10 others, has been released without charges. Investigators interviewed more than 30 witnesses, including two children who were in the truck, before questioning the driver. Her release is pending toxicology testing and a mechanical examination of the vehicle; no cause has been determined.

The Department of Homeland Security again kept Temporary Protected Status in place for more than 100,000 Ukrainian nationals and nearly 1,800 Sudanese nationals after it was set to expire Monday. This follows a similar last-minute extension last month. DHS said it has not made a final decision on the programs' long-term status and will announce one

President Trump signed an executive order on Monday establishing a Women's Health Division at the National Institutes of Health and a White House Women's Health Task Force, aimed at boosting women's health research. The initiative was pushed by first lady Melania Trump, who said the task force will hold its first meeting this week, co-chaired by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

Elon Musk said on X early Monday that he will give one of his SpaceX shares to every child in America next year, calling it "the first of many." He did not specify whether that meant all minors under 18 or some other group. At Friday's closing price of $146.03, giving a share to each of the roughly 72 million Americans under 18 would be worth about $10.5 billion. The pledge followed Anthropic's announcement that it would dedicate 5% of its shares to a public benefit fund.

The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear Department of Justice v. McNutt, a challenge to an 1868 law banning distilling spirits at home. Violating the ban carries up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The 5th Circuit ruled the ban unconstitutional in April, while the 6th Circuit upheld it in a separate case, prompting the Supreme Court review. Plaintiffs argue Congress exceeded its taxing powers; the government says the law prevents tax evasion.

Houthi forces fired ballistic missiles at a government military camp in Yemen's Shabwa province, officials said. Casualty figures vary widely: Reuters cited sources saying at least 18 were killed, Newsmax reported at least 20, the AP reported at least 53, and local authorities told the BBC 50 security recruits died. Officials said the camp was being used to train new recruits.

Saudi Arabia postponed its Future Investment Initiative conference, known as 'Davos in the Desert,' originally scheduled for Oct. 26-29 in Riyadh, until 2027. The announcement followed a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi airports. Organizers said the delay would ensure the 10th edition delivers the scale and quality expected by partners and delegates, without mentioning the attacks. Replacement dates will be announced soon.

Protests in France turned into rioting and looting over the weekend as President Emmanuel Macron called for calm. The unrest began in September at a high school in a Paris suburb, initially focused on teacher shortages and deteriorating building conditions, before spreading to other parts of the country.

Canada has sent 50 investigators to examine a fire at a Canadian military base that killed four soldiers and injured 39 others, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday. Questions are mounting over why training continued despite officials knowing a fire was burning nearby. The cause remains under investigation.

An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sunday night after a bomb threat. The plane, carrying 51 passengers and six crew, landed safely at 8:42 p.m. A security search found no danger, and the flight continued to Vienna the same night. Bulgaria's BTA news agency said an Austrian citizen not on board made the threat as the plane neared the Romanian border.

Albertans voted Monday on whether the province should hold a referendum on separating from Canada. Premier Danielle Smith said she called the vote to settle the issue. Bloomberg reported 68% backed remaining in Canada, while separatist supporters vowed to keep pushing for independence. Prime Minister Mark Carney has sought to keep the country united.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a three-way summit with President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during an October 9 call, aiming to discuss ending the Ukraine war without Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Wall Street Journal reported. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed talks have occurred but said no firm plan exists. The Kremlin wants it held alongside the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said nothing is certain, and a U.S. official said Trump hasn't agreed. Ukraine's foreign minister Andrii Sybiha criticized excluding Kyiv.

President Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reelection bid on Sunday in a Truth Social post, calling him a "Great Warrior Prime Minister" and giving his "Complete and Total Endorsement." Trump said any other leader would be the "wrong Leader" and that without Netanyahu, the U.S. would have to confront Iran itself. Axios reports this is the first time a U.S. president has explicitly endorsed a candidate in Israeli elections, held October 27, with most polls showing Netanyahu's coalition short of a majority.

At least 12 migrants, including an infant, drowned when boats capsized off Greek islands on October 19, 2026. The capsizings occurred as part of ongoing migrant crossings in the Aegean Sea. Coast guard and rescue teams responded to recover survivors and bodies. No cause for the capsizings was given.

A Kenyan court on Monday convicted Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, leader of a Christian doomsday cult, of murdering 190 children, many by starvation. Mackenzie had told followers in a remote forest to fast for salvation. He faced 191 murder charges in total after hundreds of bodies were exhumed.