Television ads featuring Trump are expanding nationwide ahead of the midterm elections, prompting Republicans and Democrats to question whether they comply with limits on taxpayer-funded publicity.

Donald TrumpWhite Housemidterm electionstaxpayer-funded advertising

Madonna returned to the VMAs stage after 23 years, opening the night with a star-filled performance featuring a series of surprise guests.

MadonnaMTV VMAslive performance

Highlights from the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards include Madonna returning to the stage after more than two decades. Taylor Swift made history as the first recipient of the Artist Director Honors and won Video of the Year for “The Fate of Ophelia.” The ceremony also featured tributes to Dolly Parton and George Michael.

MTV Video Music AwardsMadonnaTaylor Swiftmusic awards

Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter took home the award for best collaboration, while K-pop star Lisa won best pop video as MTV’s annual Video Music Awards began on Sunday.

music awardsMTV Video Music AwardsMadonnaSabrina Carpenter

Taylor Swift, Charli XCX and Lisa were among the celebrities photographed on a blue version of the traditional red carpet before the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles. Here are some of the event’s standout looks.

MTV Video Music Awardsred carpetcelebrities

Global anxiety over artificial-intelligence risks has grown after new disclosures revealed a much broader range of breaches involving advanced AI models. The revelations come ahead of a high-stakes meeting between Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and President Donald Trump.

artificial intelligencesafety risksAnthropicDonald Trump

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is about to have dinner with President Donald Trump, marking their first one-on-one meeting.

AnthropicDario AmodeiDonald Trump

Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei is expected to have dinner with President Donald Trump on Sunday night, people familiar with the matter said. The meeting will bring together two figures positioned at opposite ends of the debate over artificial intelligence safety.

artificial intelligenceAI safetyAnthropicDonald Trump

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said China respects the United States’ choice to use “super intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence.” The spokesperson said the two presidents discussed AI in depth during the state visit and that further exchanges could help parties seek consensus as the technology evolves.

China-US relationsartificial intelligencediplomacy

South Korea’s presidential office demanded an official explanation and apology from Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of revealing the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea and then making false statements.

South KoreaUkraineNorth Korean POWs

South Korea has demanded an apology from Ukraine after Kyiv denied a confidential deal involving North Korean prisoners of war. Zelensky told the United Nations that Ukraine had sent two North Korean soldiers to South Korea.

South KoreaUkraineNorth Korean POWs

South Korea’s presidential office expressed “strong regret” after Ukraine disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war and denied that a confidentiality agreement with Seoul existed. Seoul said the denial seriously damaged bilateral trust and was considering further measures.

South KoreaUkraineNorth Korean POWsdiplomacy

South Korea’s presidential office expressed “strong regret” after Ukraine denied an alleged agreement with Seoul not to disclose the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea, Yonhap reported.

South KoreaUkraineNorth Korean POWs

Treasury selling resumed Monday as oil prices rallied after President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, heightening inflation concerns.

Treasuriesoil pricesIranStrait of Hormuz

Oil prices rebounded above $105 after Donald Trump rejected Iran’s proposal for peace over the Strait of Hormuz.

oil pricesDonald TrumpIranStrait of Hormuz

Abbas Araghchi warns that Tehran is fully prepared for war after Washington rejected a seven-day roadmap aimed at ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran warStrait of Hormuzdiplomatic talks

Oil prices rose more than 1% on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump turned down an Iranian peace proposal intended to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil pricesDonald TrumpIranStrait of Hormuz

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband was confronted by activists at a Pizza Express restaurant in Liverpool over the proscription of Palestine Action. More than 50 people were arrested nearby while demonstrating in support of the group outside a Labour Party conference.

UK politicsPalestine Actionprotests

Taylor Swift overtook Beyoncé on Sunday to become the most-awarded artist in MTV Video Music Awards history, raising her total of Moon Person trophies to 32.

Taylor SwiftBeyoncéMTV Video Music Awards

China’s industrial profits grew 4.2% in August, the weakest pace this year. Economists expect Beijing to rely more heavily on stimulus to stabilize corporate profitability as consolidation accelerates in sectors facing weak demand and intense competition.

China economyindustrial profitseconomic stimulus

Ireland and Israel players did not shake hands before their contentious Nations League match. The Irish team wore black armbands and won 3-0.

IrelandIsraelsoccer

Ben-Gvir is seeking a defence post and has vowed to execute Palestinian prisoners and displace Gaza’s population.

Itamar Ben-GvirPalestinian prisonersGaza

Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and its allies won 14 of the 348 seats in France’s Senate on Sunday, enough to form a parliamentary group in the upper house for the first time in the party’s history. Half of the Senate is elected indirectly every three years, while senators serve six-year terms.

Francefar rightSenate elections

US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expected negotiations with Iran to resume next week, despite rejecting Tehran’s proposal for a seven-day truce followed by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump has raised the prospect of renewed air strikes on Iran but told Axios he anticipated more talks.

Donald TrumpIrannegotiationsStrait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump told Axios that the United States expects another round of talks with Iran next week. He said Tehran wants a deal, but not the one he seeks, adding that Iran had overplayed its hand.

Donald TrumpIranUS-Iran talks

President Trump expects US negotiators to hold further talks with Iran this week, Axios reports, citing a phone interview.

Donald TrumpIranUnited Statestalks

The United States and Iran are due to hold another round of indirect talks on September 28, Axios reports, citing Middle East sources. Qatari mediators are continuing shuttle diplomacy and will meet separately with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff. It remains unclear whether the talks can bridge the sides’ differences.

US-Iran talksindirect negotiationsQatar mediation

President Donald Trump said he expects talks with Iran to resume this week, Axios reported, even though he rejected Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Donald TrumpIrantalksStrait of Hormuz

Two Pakistani pilots are preparing for a decision on who will become the first foreign astronaut aboard China’s Tiangong space station. They are memorising Mandarin, undergoing centrifuge drills and learning to eat, sleep and repair equipment in weightlessness.

ChinaPakistanTiangong space stationspace diplomacy

Aleksandar Vucic has resigned as Serbia’s president to seek the prime minister’s post in a snap parliamentary election on October 25. The move comes as a student-led protest movement, sparked by the Novi Sad railway station disaster, mounts the strongest challenge to his rule in more than a decade. Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic will serve as acting president.

SerbiaAleksandar Vucicpolitical crisisstudent protests

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has resigned after more than a year of student-led protests and mounting public anger over alleged government corruption. He had said he would seek his party’s nomination for prime minister in the coming parliamentary election, while a presidential vote must be held within three months of his resignation.

SerbiaAleksandar Vučićearly elections

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Sunday that he would resign and run for prime minister in snap elections planned for October. Speaking from the presidential palace in Belgrade, he said he would transfer his duties to the parliamentary speaker the following morning. The constitution bars him from seeking a third presidential term.

SerbiaAleksandar Vucicresignationsnap election

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signed a resignation letter during an address to the nation. Acting National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic will temporarily assume the presidency, with a new presidential election required by December 27. Snap parliamentary elections are set for October 25, and Vucic will lead the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s list as its prime ministerial candidate.

SerbiaVucicpresidential resignationsnap election

Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić has resigned to lead his Serbian Progressive party in the 25 October early parliamentary election and seek the prime minister’s post. Barred from a third presidential term, he faces a major challenge from a youth-backed movement born out of protests over a deadly Novi Sad station canopy collapse and allegations of corruption and democratic backsliding.

SerbiaAleksandar Vučićearly electionpolitical protests

The Americans rallied again at Medinah to win the Presidents Cup for the 11th consecutive time.

Presidents CupUnited Statesgolf

A deadly nor’easter has battered the US East Coast with flooding and fierce winds. In an image dated September 27, 2026, a person walks through fog with the Manhattan skyline looming behind.

US Northeastnor’easterfloodingstrong winds

Residents of coastal communities in the U.S. Northeast struggled through floodwaters for a second day on Sunday as a powerful nor’easter battered the shoreline and cut power to tens of thousands of homes.

U.S. Northeastnor'easterfloodingpower outages

A powerful, slow-moving storm along the Northeast coast brought high winds, large waves and heavy rain, causing power outages. NBC News’ Steven Romo reports from the storm zone in New Jersey.

Northeaststormfloodingpower outages

A slow-moving nor’easter battered the northeastern US for a second day, flooding low-lying areas in New Jersey and New York City while winds toppled trees and utility poles. More than 100,000 customers across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic were without power at times, and hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed.

US Northeastnor’easterfloodingpower outages

A powerful nor’easter struck the U.S. Northeast again Sunday, flooding coastal communities and cutting power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses. Forecasters warned that another round of high tides could inundate vulnerable shorelines.

U.S. Northeastnor’eastercoastal flooding