Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent an offering to Yasukuni Shrine during its traditional autumn festival, Kyodo reported. She did not visit in person to avoid diplomatic problems with South Korea and China, which react sharply to such pilgrimages.

Japanese politicsYasukuni ShrineJapan-China relations

A group of US House members introduced a bill to halt Russian diesel supplies to the United States. It would revoke relevant licenses, bar new exemptions for Russian energy restrictions for three years, prohibit the US International Development Finance Corporation from joining Russian energy agreements, and require the administration to tighten anti-Russian sanctions. Seventeen House members backed the bill.

US CongressRussian dieselRussia sanctions

US Representative Gregory Meeks introduced legislation on Oct. 16 to block the Trump administration’s plan to import Russian diesel. It would bar the DFC from investing in Russian energy products, require sanctions on Russian fuel and void existing Treasury licenses. Meeks said the deal would not lower costs for Americans and would give Putin money to keep killing Ukrainian civilians.

US politicsRussian dieselsanctionsUkraine war

US President Donald Trump said the Ukrainian crisis must end at a rally for Republican supporters in Georgia. He criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, saying Biden gave Ukraine $350 billion in equipment and cash, and said the US military had largely been rebuilt.

Donald TrumpUkraine warUS politics

Missiles struck Aden International Airport in southern Yemen on Friday. A Saudi-led military coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile headed for Yanbu, a Red Sea city and key Saudi oil hub that provides an export route avoiding the Strait of Hormuz.

YemenAden airportmissile attackSaudi-led coalition

Yemeni government forces have launched a counteroffensive, backed by Saudi air support, to retake areas captured by the Houthi militia.

YemenHouthi movementAden airportmissile interception

Yemen’s internationally recognised government says the Houthis fired two missiles near the runway at Aden International Airport, about 500 metres from a plane preparing to take off; passengers and crew were safe. The Houthis said they targeted a Saudi forces command centre and a weapons depot in Aden province. Government forces also claimed advances in Marib and said they had neutralised more than 430 Houthi fighters in 24 hours.

YemenHouthisAden airportmissile attack

Aden police said at least two missiles launched by the Houthis landed near Aden International Airport. Preliminary information indicated no casualties. Police said it was the second such attack on the airport in less than a week.

YemenHouthisAden airportmissile attack

Pope Leo XIV urged Putin to accept a truce in the besieged Ukrainian city of Oleshky during a call at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic. The Pope was recovering well from surgery and celebrated his first Mass since the operation that same day.

Pope Leo XIVVladimir PutinOleshkytruce

The Vatican said Pope Leo expressed concern to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Russian-occupied Oleshky, Ukraine. He called for a local ceasefire to enable aid deliveries and civilian evacuations. Around 2,000 people remain trapped amid severe food and medicine shortages; Putin blamed Ukraine for the crisis.

UkraineOleshkyPope Leohumanitarian crisis

Pope Leo XIV spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the severe humanitarian situation in Alyoshki, Kherson Region, the Vatican press office said. Leo called for a ceasefire to allow food and medicine deliveries and the voluntary, safe evacuation of civilians, and reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to dialogue and peace.

VaticanVladimir PutinPope Leo XIVKherson Region

During a phone call with Vladimir Putin, Pope Leo XIV voiced “deep concern” over the dire humanitarian situation in Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson region, and urged a ceasefire to enable aid deliveries and safe, voluntary civilian evacuations. The Kremlin said Putin blamed what it called the “Kyiv regime” for the situation and that both sides agreed to cooperate on keeping residents safe and delivering supplies. Drone attacks have left residents without food, electricity, or adequate medical care, and they cannot safely leave the city.

Pope Leo XIVVladimir PutinOleshkyhumanitarian crisis

The Kremlin said Putin gave Pope Leo XIV a detailed account of the difficult humanitarian situation in Alyoshki, in the Kherson Region, and blamed Kiev. Putin backed the Vatican’s plan to help safeguard residents and arrange vital supplies; the two sides agreed to cooperate.

Vladimir PutinPope Leo XIVAlyoshkihumanitarian situation

ABC News contributor Don Mihalek discusses the bystander credited with stopping the suspected gunman and the ongoing investigations.

Oregonschool shootinginvestigation

Police said Friday that a teacher threw her phone at the teenage gunman, then tackled and fought him, likely saving lives. A father who followed the shooter into the school shot him after he killed four people.

school shootingOregonteachergun violence

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said a teacher fought the suspected shooter and tackled him after throwing her cellphone at him. The victim was identified as Griffin J. John II, who previously attended Silver Rail Elementary. The investigation is ongoing.

Oregonschool shootingpolice investigation

Police said Friday that a teacher threw her phone at the teenage gunman, then tackled and fought him after he killed four people at an Oregon elementary school. A father who followed the shooter inside shot him, and the teacher’s actions likely saved lives.

Oregonschool shootingpolice investigation

The NRA and Donald Trump praised the person who killed the gunman in the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, calling them a “great hero.”

Oregon school shootingNRADonald Trump

Mourners quietly grieved at a makeshift memorial outside an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, one day after three children and a teacher were killed. A 16-year-old shot through locked doors to enter the school and was killed by someone who had followed him inside.

school shootingBendOregon

A New Mexico judge dismissed an indictment against actor and director Timothy Busfield that included four counts of sexual contact with a minor.

Timothy BusfieldNew Mexicocriminal case

A New Mexico judge dismissed sexual assault charges against actor Timothy Busfield on Friday, according to court documents.

Timothy BusfieldNew Mexicosexual assault chargescourt ruling

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia held the post for just five days, surpassing the previous shortest-tenure record set by Anthony Scaramucci in 2017. Trump said he had advised her to resign, and Fox News reported that she was leaving. Trump said he was in no hurry to choose a successor and had no shortlist.

White HouseKatie ZachariaDonald Trumpappointment

The BBC confirmed that Katie Zacharia is leaving her post as White House press secretary after facing heavy media criticism over her first briefing and her credentials. Donald Trump said he had advised her to reconsider the job. Democrats portrayed her abrupt departure as a sign of failure in the Republican White House.

White HouseKatie Zachariapress secretaryDonald Trump

President Donald Trump signaled that White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is set to leave the post after only a week on the job, as he plans to rally Republicans in Georgia.

U.S. politicsWhite Housepress secretary

Al Jazeera confirmed that White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is leaving the role less than a week after taking it. Trump said he had advised her to “reconsider” the job, citing harsh scrutiny from the media and public.

US politicsWhite Housepress secretary

Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer while working as a commentator for conservative outlets including Fox News and Newsmax.

White HouseKatie Zachariapress secretary

Donald Trump advised Katie Zacharia to reconsider serving as White House press secretary after media criticism of her credentials. Zacharia said she had not passed the bar exam and is leaving the role after five days.

White HouseKatie ZachariaDonald Trumppress secretary

Along with Katz and Ben-Gvir, prosecutors named 12 senior Israeli military, police and prison officials as suspects in the probe.

ItalyGaza flotillaabuse probeIsrael

Elon Musk proposed to Donald Trump that Starlink service in Ukraine be slowed, and Trump agreed, The Daily Telegraph reported, citing sources. The agreement cleared the way for the Pentagon to restrict Ukraine’s access to Starshield, the military version. Musk said on X on October 14 that he was not responsible for the limits; sources suggested he feared a negative reaction from European consumers.

Elon MuskDonald TrumpUkraineStarlink

Brazilian government data show Amazon forest clearance fell 41.8% over the past year to 3,335 sq km, its lowest level since records began in 1988. The result comes ahead of a presidential runoff between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, whose sharply different visions leave the gains uncertain.

Brazilian AmazondeforestationBrazil electionLula

Selma Blair’s representative defended her on Friday, days after the actress pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault stemming from a physical incident on a plane.

Selma Blairairplane incidentassault charges

Selma Blair’s team has spoken out after the actor was recently arrested. She was accused of injuring two flight attendants during a flight from Los Angeles to New York on Oct. 11.

Selma Blairin-flight incidentarrest

Oil prices jumped on reports that Saudi Arabia-led forces intercepted and destroyed missiles aimed at major energy hubs. Brent crude rose above $110 to a five-month high amid continuing tensions in the Middle East.

oil pricesBrent crudeMiddle East tensionsenergy supply