Politics

• US Sanctions ICC After Former Judge Gets Nobel Peace Prize
  The Trump administration imposed fresh sanctions against the International Criminal Court, signaling its determination to cripple the organization on the same day that a former ICC judge won the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Trump Officials Clash With Mamdani Over ICE Shooting in NYC
  Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the shooting of a man by an immigration officer in New York City and pushed back on calls from Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other officials to end immigration enforcement in the city.
• White House Forms Committee to Probe Federal Reserve’s Cook
  President Donald Trump is establishing a committee to investigate mortgage fraud allegations against Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and is forcing her to appear at a White House hearing to defend herself, a dramatic escalation in his efforts to oust her from her role.
• Hochul Opts New York Into Trump’s Divisive School Choice Program
  New York Governor Kathy Hochul is opting her state into the Trump administration’s controversial school choice program, according to a statement released Friday.
• Trump’s Security Chief Says Plane Ruse Breach Is Regrettable
  US Secret Service Director Sean Curran said it’s regrettable that a ruse to secretly switch President Donald Trump’s plane for a flight out of Turkey came to light, saying publicity about the maneuver risks making it harder to use the tactic again.
• US Judge Blocks DOJ’s ‘Dragnet’ Probes of Voter Fraud Nationwide
  A US judge blocked a key component of the Justice Department’s efforts under the Trump administration to obtain state voter records as part of a nationwide probe into alleged election fraud by non-US citizens.
• Mamdani Squeezed From Both Sides in Week Capped by ICE Shooting
  A slow-burning conflict between New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Trump administration over immigration turned into a fierce confrontation after a federal agent shot a man on a city street during an enforcement operation.
• Lockheed Unveils New Patriot For US Army Air Defense Contest
  Lockheed Martin Corp. unveiled a new missile interceptor designed to outperform its most capable Patriot variant, as the US Army seeks to expand its air defense capabilities against increasingly sophisticated threats like hypersonic missiles.
• Why Trump Is Targeting Green Card Path Used by Microsoft, Other Tech Firms
  From the start of his second term, President Donald Trump has made it a top priority to restrict opportunities for non-Americans to gain entry or remain in the US. In the latest action on that front, his administration said on Oct. 8 that it would indefinitely suspend the ability of a number of technology companies, including Microsoft Corp., to sponsor foreign employees for permanent residency in the US.
• FBI Arrests Suspect Allegedly Tied to ShinyHunters Hackers
  The FBI has arrested a person believed to have worked with hackers who broke into bureau computer systems, the agency’s top official said Friday, in a cybersecurity incident that’s exposed sensitive information about agency personnel.
• DOJ Urges Companies to Self Disclose Fraud and Avoid Prosecution
  The head of the US Justice Department’s Criminal Division is urging companies to self report possible fraud, favoring settlements with companies that proactively disclose potential violations over what could become costly and time-consuming prosecutions.
• Labour ‘Keenly Aware’ of Need for Competitiveness Ahead of Bank Tax Decision
  The UK’s City minister said the Labour government understands the importance of a globally competitive financial services sector, as Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey considers whether to hike taxes on banks at his upcoming budget.
• Labour Defeats Greens to Hold Starmer’s Former London Seat
  The UK’s Labour Party won a special election for a central London parliamentary seat early Friday morning, providing a boost to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and a blow to Green leader Zack Polanski.
• UK Tory Inheritance Tax Pledge Could Cost £11 Billion, Think Tank Warns
  The Conservatives’ plan to cut the number of Britons paying inheritance tax risks costing almost twice as much as the party estimates, a think tank warned
• Trump Says US Won’t Attack Iran Before Midterm Elections
  President Donald Trump said in a social media post that the US would “not be attacking Iran” before November’s midterm elections, citing what he said were “productive discussions” with the Islamic Republic.
• Netanyahu, Bolsonaro Pledge Close Israel-Brazil Ties If Both Win Elections
  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Brazil presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro vowed to “renew the deep friendship” between their countries in a phone call weeks before both face tense elections.
• Bolsonaro Leads Lula in Brazil Runoff Poll After First Round Surprise
  Right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro leads incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of Brazil’s presidential runoff, a new poll showed, building on momentum after a surprise showing in the first round vote.
• Mexico to Investigate Video of Alleged Cartel Members in Ukraine
  President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to look into the authenticity of a video that appears to show alleged Mexican cartel members armed for combat in Ukraine.
• Maduro Faces New Charge of Torturing US Citizens in Custody
  Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife face a new criminal charge that they are responsible for the alleged torture of US citizens detained in the South American country.
• Italy, EU Edge Closer to Agreement on Deal to Cap Energy Bills
  Italy and the European Commission are edging toward a deal that would allow the country to cap natural gas prices, giving Premier Giorgia Meloni a tool to shield voters from a rise in energy bills.
• EU and China Strike Deal to Cut Millions of Hybrid Car Exports
  The European Union said China will slash millions of hybrid car exports to the bloc under an agreement meant to ease mounting trade tensions.
• China Says It Has ‘Understanding’ With EU on Hybrid Car Exports
  China said it has reached an “understanding” with the European Union on hybrid car exports — a key source of friction between the two sides — without offering any details.
• Japanese Lawmaker Says Takaichi Lauded His Sanction by China
  A Japanese lawmaker known for his support of Taiwan said Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi lauded him for a sanction placed on him by China.
• Thailand Probes Israeli-Linked Sites Amid Foreigner Crackdown
  Thai authorities searched the premises of the Jewish Association of Thailand in Bangkok, as well as a Chabad House and the office of a company linked to the Jewish center’s business operations as part of a widening crackdown on illegal foreign-run businesses.
• China Rolls Out $82 Billion in Additional Stimulus for Provinces
  China has allowed its provinces to tap 550 billion yuan ($82 billion) in unspent bond quotas saved from previous years, as Beijing adds to a stimulus effort aimed at meeting this year’s growth target.
• Russia’s ICC Chief Extradition Request Regrettable, Japan Says
  A senior Japanese government spokesperson said it was regrettable that the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office had requested that Dutch authorities extradite International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and eight other officials.
• Turkey Drafts Law to Make Fund Managers Liable for Liquidations
  Turkish portfolio-firm managers will be held accountable for recovering losses and repaying investors trapped in liquidated funds, according to a draft law AK Party lawmakers submitted to parliament on Friday.
• Three People Killed in Attacks on Riyadh Airport on Thursday
  Three Saudi Arabians were killed and others were injured in two attacks on the main airport in the capital, Riyadh, on Thursday, Saudi authorities said, as the kingdom faces intense fire from the Houthis.
• Burnham Denies Playing Down the Case Against Manchester City
  Andy Burnham said the Premier League case against Manchester City should be “fully independent,” after the British prime minister faced criticism about earlier remarks that appeared to signal support for the football club’s UAE-based owners.
• Hochstein Says Republican Midterm Weakness Tied to War
  An adviser to former President Joe Biden said the Iran war is a significant vulnerability for Republicans and cast doubt on the political logic of escalating the conflict before the midterm elections.
• Republican Senate Hopeful in New Hampshire Campaigns Like Trump Doesn’t Exist
  Republican John Sununu is mounting an unexpectedly competitive bid to be New Hampshire’s next US senator by pretending, as much as practicable, that President Donald Trump doesn’t exist.
• Bessent Taps Former Fed Nominee Judy Shelton as Senior Adviser
  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent named Judy Shelton, a former nominee to the Federal Reserve board and a one-time gold-standard enthusiast, as an adviser to counsel him on issues including China’s financial system.
• More House Seats Leaning Toward Democrats, Cook Political Says
  Democrats are on track to pick up as many as 19 House seats in next month’s election, enough to secure the party a strong majority and oversight of President Donald Trump, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report said Friday.
• Greenlanders Still Seek Independence After US Deal
  Greenland’s push for independence remains firmly on the agenda after its new security deal with the US, according to the island’s lawmakers.
• German Far Right Taps Musk for Company Car After BMW Pulls Out
  Germany’s Alternative fuer Deutschland has asked Elon Musk to provide the party’s first state parliament leader with a company car after BMW AG refused to.
• Montenegro Police Detains Head of Russian War Blog Rybar
  Montenegrin police detained Mikhail Zvinchuk, head of the Russian military focused Telegram channel Rybar, which covers the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.