Wednesday, October 21, 2026

A New Mexico judge, Francis Mathew, ordered Meta to pay a $25 billion civil penalty on Wednesday, after a jury found in September that the company misled Facebook users about its data privacy practices. The case stemmed from the 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which the firm harvested data from more than 50 million Facebook users. New Mexico was the only state not to settle its claims. Meta said it plans to appeal.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to lift a lower court's order blocking a Bureau of Prisons policy that would have tapered or ended hormone treatments and certain surgeries for transgender federal inmates, with Justices Thomas and Alito dissenting. The unsigned order means the administration must continue providing gender-affirming care while litigation over the policy continues.

The Federal Aviation Administration approved Boeing's 737 Max 10 for passenger service on Tuesday, clearing the way for deliveries to airlines. The approval comes nearly a decade after Boeing unveiled the stretched variant, the largest in its 737 Max family, following a six-year delay amid regulatory scrutiny. The certification marks a milestone for Boeing as it expands its 737 Max lineup.

A New Jersey food importer filed a lawsuit on Tuesday challenging President Trump's authority to impose a 50% tariff on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. The suit argues Trump improperly invoked a Depression-era law to levy the tariffs.

New Mexico's attorney general filed a civil lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein's longtime attorney Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn, accusing them of helping finance and conceal Epstein's sex trafficking operation, including abuse of young women and girls at his Zorro Ranch. The suit also seeks to block the pair from accepting payments from Epstein's estate, of which they serve as co-executors.

A tank containing glycidyl methacrylate exploded late Tuesday night at a facility in north Toledo, Ohio, releasing a chemical plume. Officials ordered evacuations for residents in parts of the area, with estimates ranging from more than 900 to nearly 1,000 people, while others nearby were told to shelter in place. The leak was continuing as of Wednesday.

A federal judge sentenced a 39-year-old Guatemalan man to 30 years in prison on Tuesday for his role in a 2022 smuggling operation in which 53 migrants died after being left in an overheated tractor-trailer in Texas. The Washington Times reported the victims died from overheating inside the truck's trailer.

Israeli military forces detained Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander on Wednesday while he was helping Palestinian farmers harvest olives near Nehalim in the occupied West Bank. He was released hours later. About 80 other Americans and Israeli rabbis and activists participating in the harvest were also detained, with dozens remaining in custody afterward. Lander wrote that "the occupation is a crime under international law," adding that harvesting olives "isn’t a crime under any law I know."

Justice Elena Kagan said Tuesday that recent Supreme Court decisions on voting rights, gerrymandering and campaign finance have deepened political divisions and weakened democracy in the United States. She made the remarks during a public discussion, criticizing rulings by her conservative colleagues, two weeks before the midterm elections. Reuters quoted her calling the rulings "destructive to democracy."

The FBI said it is investigating reports that someone threw an incendiary device at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday night. FBI personnel and evidence response technicians were on site collecting evidence, the agency said in a statement. The FBI said there is no known threat to public safety. No injuries or suspects have been reported.

During a three-hour meeting in St. Petersburg Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff he agreed in principle to resume trilateral peace talks with Ukraine and the U.S., with Russian officials saying talks could resume after November 10. Before the meeting, Russia released American Stephen Hubbard, 74, held over four years after being seized in eastern Ukraine in 2022. Jared Kushner joined the meeting virtually.

The British government approved the Jackdaw gas field off Scotland, ending an approvals process that had stalled over climate concerns. Officials cited energy security and rising energy prices as reasons. Gas is expected to begin arriving onshore within days to weeks. Environmental advocates say the decision undercuts the UK's pledge to reduce carbon emissions.

Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in the current outbreak, in the wife of a diplomat based in Abuja who had traveled to Kampala, Uganda, on vacation. The case marks the spread of a multi-country outbreak in East and Central Africa that has sickened nearly 10,000 people to West Africa. Kenya, which confirmed its first case earlier in October, has recorded nine infections as authorities monitor whether quarantine measures contained further spread.

Independent lawmaker Helen Haines has had both legs amputated after a driver allegedly rammed her repeatedly outside her electorate office on Monday, her husband said. A man has been charged and has appeared in court. Some describe the attack as apparently targeted, though authorities have not stated a motive.

Hungarian authorities detained Gyorgy Matolcsy, former governor of the National Bank of Hungary and a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, early Wednesday. Prosecutors are investigating allegations of embezzlement, fraud and abuse linked to foundations established under his leadership at the central bank.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that foreign leaders, including those "on the other side of the Atlantic," were exploiting France's social unrest for political gain, calling such claims "stupid." The remarks followed a weekend of street violence and looting in France and came after President Trump linked the unrest to Muslim migrants. Macron also said Trump does not like France and distorts its troubles.

Libya's parliament unanimously approved a maritime boundary agreement with Turkey on Tuesday, reversing years of opposition and marking ratification by both of Libya's governments. The agreement sets disputed maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, contested by Greece, Cyprus and Egypt. Turkey moved closer to expanding gas exploration in the area following the ratification.