Monday, October 19, 2026

Former President Obama called the federal investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar's citizenship an effort to intimidate her, saying such targeting should

President Trump said Sunday that construction to rebuild East Potomac Golf Links near the National Mall will begin Nov. 15 and take about 15 months, under a plan developed with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and architect Tom Fazio. The announcement comes amid a federal lawsuit over tree removal at the course, which has included a Justice Department bid to disqualify the presiding judge. Trump said the rebuilt course would remain open to the public while hosting tournaments.

President Trump defended waiving sanctions and tariffs on Russia, writing on Truth Social that it keeps Moscow at the negotiating table amid bipartisan criticism. He said he is negotiating peace, hinted at a possible hostage deal without naming one, blamed Ukraine's energy crisis on Kyiv, criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, and called for Zelensky to go. Oil prices fell after the waiver, announced two days before sanctions were due to take effect.

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.

A National Guard member was shot in the leg on Sunday night in Southeast Washington, D.C., Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said. About seven or eight Guard members had exited a van to intervene in a fight when the shooting occurred; three discharged firearms. A suspect was also shot and arrested. Both the Guard member and the suspect suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to survive.

A semi-truck hauling more than 120 cattle overturned in downtown Kansas City, killing dozens of the animals and leaving dozens more loose on city streets. Crews spent hours searching for and rounding up the escaped cattle, with efforts continuing into the early afternoon. The cause of the rollover was not addressed by officials.

A man was injured during an incident involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in California. Separately, a bill has been proposed in Congress that would allow U.S. citizens wrongfully detained by ICE to seek compensation if it passes, according to Newsweek.

Temporary Protected Status for tens of thousands of Ukrainian immigrants and hundreds of Sudanese immigrants was set to expire on Monday, but the protections will continue for now. The Trump administration said it would make an announcement “at the appropriate time” rather than letting the designations lapse as scheduled.

Sen. Adam Schiff said Sunday that at least one envelope containing what he described as "a suspicious substance" was mailed to his California offices. Separately, Rep. Ritchie Torres said his employees found a suspicious substance in mail sent to his office. Neither lawmaker's statement detailed the substance's identity or any resulting injuries.

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.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he felt the public's "anger" and "shame" over rioting and looting during nationwide protests over rising living costs and poor school conditions, blaming much of the violence on far-left activists he accused of trying to "bring down the Republic." At least 2,400 people have been arrested, up from earlier tallies of 1,800 and 2,000. In Limoges, prefect Maurice Barate said fire caused the town hall's roof to collapse onto lower floors, with about two-thirds of its exterior destroyed.

Four Canadian service members died and dozens were injured after a fast-moving fire swept Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta on Saturday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said. Accounts suggest the blaze moved roughly a kilometer in 30 to 60 seconds. Those affected included members of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry who had traveled for training exercises. Defense Minister David McGuinty said fatalities and injuries resulted from an incident that sparked the fire, which spread quickly due to high winds. Officials say there is no indication of terrorism; the cause remains under investigation.

Ukraine launched over 1,000 drones at Russia overnight, striking an oil terminal and a data center in St Petersburg and causing fires and power outages. At least one person was killed and 15 injured, Reuters reported. Russian state media called it one of the biggest drone attacks of the year. The strikes came amid separate tension between Ukraine and the Trump administration over energy policy.

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.

Israeli police arrested at least 10 people suspected of involvement in attacks by Jewish settlers in the West Bank on a Washington Post photojournalist and European diplomats during the olive harvest. The arrests came amid US pressure over settler violence, after US Ambassador Mike Huckabee demanded an investigation. The photographer said she suffered several broken vertebrae and said Israel's military appears to protect settlers more than Palestinians.

Egypt's top security body said Sunday it had agreed to support Saudi Arabia amid escalating fighting between the kingdom and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had called on Egyptian lawmakers to authorize military assistance to Saudi Arabia, saying any support would be defensive. The move follows a major escalation in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a summit with President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, without including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Wall Street Journal reported. The report followed Trump's criticism of Zelensky for launching a weekend strike on Russian oil facilities, which Trump said showed Zelensky did not want to end the war. The proposal comes after Zelensky's Sunday call with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about resuming U.S.-Russia talks.

Independent lawmaker Helen Haines, 65, was struck by a car outside her electorate office in northeast Victoria, Australia, on Monday and is in critical condition. Police arrested the driver, and authorities describe the incident as a suspected attack. Australia's counterterrorism team was activated, the prime minister said.

Albertans voted on whether their province should separate from Canada. Premier Danielle Smith said she called the vote to put the issue to rest. Bloomberg reported 68% backed staying in Canada, while separatist supporters vowed to keep pushing for independence. Prime Minister Mark Carney has sought to keep the country united.

Kenya confirmed an eighth case of Ebola on Sunday, after another person tested positive while in quarantine as a contact of the first patient. Officials said there has been no community transmission so far. The cases come amid a wider Ebola outbreak in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, which authorities said has now spread to an eighth province in the country's north.