Topic, event or source
1529 stories
The fast-spreading Norte Fire in San Clemente forced thousands of residents to evacuate; about 4,600 homes and nearly 16,000 people were in the evacuation zone. The fire damaged or destroyed seven homes; by Saturday evening all evacuation orders were lifted, containment stood at 25%. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, and two firefighters were injured.
According to The Economist, the Iranian rial has lost half its value in a year, inflation has reached 90%, and last month, for the first time since 1979, no oil was shipped for export. The US has supplemented sanctions with a military blockade of ports. Whether the pressure will force Tehran to stop the war now in its eighth month remains unknown.
According to the Uzhydromet forecast for October 17, variable cloudiness without precipitation is expected in most regions of Uzbekistan, with temperatures of 20–25 degrees. In Tashkent, 22–24 degrees. Rain is possible in foothill and mountain areas, in high mountains turning to snow in places.
Actor and entrepreneur Mark Wahlberg presented at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco the concept of Municipal Gym — the first club, spanning 32,000 square feet, will open in December near Las Vegas. The project is positioned as an affordable alternative to expensive longevity clubs: for $99, they promise three blood tests and an hour with a doctor, while competitors charge tens of thousands of dollars per year.
The Australian government has introduced the Digital Duty of Care bill to parliament, which would require social media platforms to let users turn off recommended content and see only posts from accounts they follow. The initiative was backed by the 'Fix Our Feeds' campaign; critics, including the Trump administration, fear censorship, while implementation raises doubts given difficulties with the already existing social media ban for children.
In Hamburg, the trial continues of Christina Block, accused of organizing the violent abduction of two children from Denmark. The case has led to the biggest spy scandal in Germany in recent years: in October, former intelligence chief August Hanning was arrested on charges of treason.
The Norte fire in Orange County destroyed or damaged several expensive homes in San Juan Capistrano, having started in San Clemente. The fire covered about 465 acres, mass evacuations were ordered. The Bryson fire near Malibu and the Henderson fire near Camp Pendleton base are also raging. Strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity and unusual heat of up to 38°C create a high fire risk through the weekend; tens of thousands of people in Los Angeles County were left without electricity due to preventive power line shutdowns.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told the BBC that the US restriction of Ukraine's access to satellite systems and intelligence is a 'major mistake' that risks prolonging the war. Earlier, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized Trump's deal to buy diesel from Russia.
Donald Trump signed an executive order implementing the Graham sanctions law against Russia and Iran, but simultaneously suspended the tariffs and most of the sanctions it provided for, citing US national interests. The decision drew criticism from congressmen of both parties, a welcome from Moscow, and an escalation of the conflict with Zelensky.
BBC economics editor Faisal Islam summed up the annual IMF meetings in Bangkok: the global economy is being pulled in different directions by an energy shock, trade conflicts and war on one side, and massive AI investment on the other. The IMF called the UK a 'model pupil', and Chancellor John Healey linked strong growth data to AI investment. A separate theme was the 'second China shock' in electric vehicles and the UK's rapprochement with the EU.
A growing number of schools in England are introducing two-week autumn half-term breaks instead of one week. Parents view the change differently: some struggle with expensive childcare, others save on holidays. Teachers mostly support the reform, noting a drop in sickness absence.
Outgoing White House press secretary Katie Zacharia thanked Donald Trump, calling working for him an honor. Earlier, Trump told reporters he had advised her to 'reconsider' and said the media had treated her 'badly.' Zacharia was appointed to the post at the beginning of the month after the departure of Karoline Leavitt.
According to the BBC, in 2026 the top Halloween costumes include the heroine of the horror film Obsession, Claudia Winkleman from 'The Traitors', characters from 'Wuthering Heights', 'The Odyssey' and 'Scream 7', as well as Dolly Parton, Trump and Putin. Stylists note a pull toward escapism and gothic aesthetics, while young people increasingly make DIY costumes instead of buying them.
According to ONS data, over 1.1 million UK residents who have never smoked use vapes, and their number is growing. The BBC story's subjects describe psychological dependence and habit, experts point to marketing and risks, while support for quitting vaping remains limited.
The British press on 17 October 2026 discusses RAF fighter jets' encounters with unidentified drones over the North Sea, exercises in Poland rehearsing a deployment scenario for Ukraine, Devon and Cornwall Police's apology to women, as well as EU plans to employ young Britons and Apple's conflict with the regulator.
The Saudi-led military coalition said it destroyed Houthi ballistic missile launch pads in the northwest of Yemen's Saada province. Details of the operation were not disclosed.
In the sixth episode of The Celebrity Traitors, the trio of Traitors received the task to “kill with boredom”: they had to yawn in a common room to infect one of the Faithful with a yawn. Joe Lycett was banished at the round table with 11 of 14 votes and turned out to be a Faithful. Miranda Hart was moved to tears by his departure and spoke about an illness she had endured, while Leigh-Anne Pinnock taught her a Little Mix move.
China's Foreign Ministry responded to a Bloomberg report that the EU is preparing new trade powers to reduce the trade deficit with China. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning called on Brussels to uphold free trade principles and WTO rules, noting that dialogue at the second meeting of the consultation mechanism showed that differences can be resolved.
