By Daniel Flynn and Max Hunder KYIV, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Ukraine struck a Russian oil refinery on Thursday, after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was "done" supporting a ceasefire on energy targets announced by US President Donald Trump and ignored by Russia. Since Trump's surprise announcement on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to halt attacks on energy, Kyiv had suspended attacks on Russian refineries, which Trump blames for raising diesel prices on global markets. But in the days that followed, Russia rained down deadly missile and drone strikes, including on energy targets such as power stations, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people. In an interview with the Financial Times published on Thursday, Zelenskiy said Ukraine's patience had run out. "The block (on attacking refineries) is out. We're done," he told the newspaper. Zelenskiy also made clear he believed that changes in the capability of the military version of SpaceX's Starlink receptors this week, which have curbed Ukraine's ability to use them to pilot its drones, were a policy decision. "It was not a technical problem, it was the will," he told the FT. In a social media post overnight, SpaceX boss Elon Musk said usage of the military version of Starlink, known as Starshield, was ultimately up to Trump, as president of the United States. "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS," Musk wrote. BIGGEST RIFT WITH WASHINGTON OF THE WAR By effectively walking away from Trump's demand that Ukraine halt attacks on refineries, Zelenskiy risks deepening the biggest rift between Kyiv and Washington since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Although Trump has described the ceasefire as a requirement for both Moscow and Kyiv, his public comments have focused mainly on Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries, which he said over the weekend had "damn well better stop". Trump has long had a testy relationship with Zelenskiy and berated him in the White House in February 2025. But his sharp turn against Kyiv in recent days has little precedent. He first angered Ukraine last week by abruptly lifting sanctions on Russian diesel, and then called on Ukraine to replace Zelenskiy. Ukrainians worry that the rift could have severe consequences on the battlefield, where the Ukrainian military still depends on technology provided by Washington. Over the past several days, Ukrainian officials have reported that they have not received the usual warnings from Western allies about incoming Russian missiles, which rely on US satellite detectors. Trump has denied withholding intelligence. Zelenskiy said the failure to provide the warnings had been presented to Kyiv as a technical glitch. At the same time, military-grade Starlink receptors have stopped working in Ukraine when mounted on fast-moving objects, interfering with the performance of Ukrainian drones that rely on them for onboard guidance systems over Ukrainian territory. A source in Ukraine's defence ministry said on Thursday that the receptors were now working when in motion, but only at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour (160 kph). Ukrainian officials have said that is too slow for mid-range attack missions and interceptor drones that defend against Russian drones. REFINERY SUPPLYING MOSCOW HIT Ukraine has been using its long-range drones to target Russian refineries and logistics in recent months, which it says is its only answer to nearly five years of relentless Russian bombardment. The attacks have caused fuel shortages in Russia. Trump, under pressure to lower fuel prices, especially for diesel which has reached record highs since he launched a war against Iran in February, says the Ukrainian attacks are driving up global prices. Ukraine's latest target was a refinery in the Ryazan region southeast of Moscow, which is owned by state oil major Rosneft and accounts for nearly 5% of Russia's refinery throughput, helping supply the capital. Regional governor Pavel Malkov said in a post on Telegram that a major Ukrainian drone attack had caused a fire at the refinery. Damage was being assessed and emergency services were at the scene. A Ukrainian official confirmed that Ukraine had hit a Russian refinery overnight in response to Moscow's heavy ballistic missile and drone attacks this week that violated the energy truce. In the latest attacks on Ukraine, three people were killed and six wounded in the central region of Kirovohrad overnight, as Russia launched more than 500 drones. State-owned energy company Naftogaz said a gas extraction facility in Poltava was damaged and operations were suspended. The Kremlin said on Thursday that Ukraine's targeting of Russian energy infrastructure ran counter to US peace efforts. It said earlier this week that the scope of the energy ceasefire had never been determined and work was still ongoing to do so. BREAKDOWN IN RELATIONS In the FT interview, Zelenskiy criticised Washingtons eagerness to strike business deals with Moscow and Trumps apparent admiration for Russia's Vladimir Putin. The rift has raised concern in Kyiv and European capitals about the heavy reliance in Ukraine on US intelligence and technology. Under Trump, Washington has already halted weapons supplies to Ukraine while allowing its European allies to continue buying US arms on Kyiv's behalf. But Europe has no ready-made alternatives to Starlink, or to US satellite systems used to detect Russian missile launches. Zelenskiy has said that Ukrainian military officials had been warned by US counterparts that Washington would block intelligence unless they halted strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Asked whether Ukraine would be open to halting energy strikes as a way of repairing relations with the White House, Zelenskiy told the newspaper he could agree only if in return he were given more US-made Patriot interceptors, calling it the minimum that would be acceptable. Ukraine's navy said on Thursday it had destroyed six Russian Su-34M military aircraft in an overnight strike on the Borisoglebsk airfield in Russia's Voronezh region. The navy said on Telegram it used its Neptune coastal missile system in the attack. (Reporting by Daniel Flynn, Max Hunder, Dan Peleschuk, and Lina GolovnyaEditing by Tom Hogue, Edwina Gibbs, Jason Neely, Peter Graff) This article originally appeared on Reuters at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/zelenskiy-says-ukraine-resume-strikes-060307306.html Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:04:48 +0000

In the midterm elections, meat is on the menu. As Democrats and Republicans argue over high prices and the Iran war, they're also having a food fight over who's the most red-blooded carnivore. The latest example came this week in Mississippi, where Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom released a video with a snippet of Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith saying that if consumers are upset over high beef prices, you know you have so many proteins to choose from. The video cuts to a man grilling burgers who says, Pick another protein? I'd rather pick another senator instead. The Mississippi race is somewhat unusual because it's the Democrat hammering the Republican over beef. Elsewhere, Republicans have branded Democrats as vegans or otherwise opposed to meat, trying to show that they're culturally out of step with voters, hostile to local cattle industries or just not manly enough. In Texas, Republicans seized on an old interview in which Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico boasted that his campaign, then for the Texas statehouse, was going vegan. Talarico has since been publicly scarfing down barbecue to rebut allegations that his dietary choices mean he's not a real Texan. In Colorado, Republicans have gone after Democratic congressional candidate Manny Rutinel for his activism against meat production and factory farming. In college, he was photographed shirtless with a banner for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals around his chest. In 2021, Rutinel founded Climate Refarm, which advocated for cutting down on the use of meat and has signed onto letters advocating for raising taxes on meat and dairy. He also supported a 2024 ballot measure to ban a lamb slaughterhouse in Denver, which failed. Rutinel, 31, is now running against Republican Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado's 8th district, which includes a vast swath of the northeastern part of the state dotted with ranches, dairy farms and meat processing facilities, including the headquarters of beef production titan JBS Swift. Republicans have hammered Rutinel over advocating veganism, to the point that the conservative media group Daily Wire this week released an undercover video of a campaign official saying Rutinel eats meat as little as possible. Rutinel, who's made a point of publicly eating steak tacos on the campaign trail, scoffed at such arguments. I don't think Coloradans care about what's on my plate, I think they care more about what's on theirs, Rutinel said in an interview after a recent campaign stop. Evans said the issue goes beyond Rutinel's meal preferences. I don't care what he eats personally, Evans said in an interview. I care that he wants to use the power of the government to make everyone eat that way. Republicans have gone after two other Democratic House candidates on meat hammering Lindsay James in Iowa's 2nd district, an area filled with hog farms, for supporting meatless May in a 2020 Facebook post, and Amish Shah in Arizona's 1st district for his longstanding vegetarianism and animal rights activism. Also in Iowa, Republican Senate candidate and current Rep. Ashley Hinson slammed her opponent, state lawmaker Josh Turek, for opposing a bill banning lab-grown meat from being sold in the state. Hed rather have meat that comes from a lab than from our family farms, she said at a campaign appearance. Democrats have hammered on meat as well, but mainly just as one of the staples that cost more under Trump, squeezing voters' pocketbooks. Trump has tried to lower prices by opening U.S. markets to beef imports, especially from Argentina, which is governed by a close Trump ally. However, those moves have angered U.S. producers as prices have remained stubbornly high, creating a potential weakness in Republican-leaning states where Democrats hope to gain ground this year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average pound of ground beef cost $6.79 last month, up from $5.55 in January of 2025, when Trump returned to office. That was the dynamic that Hyde-Smith, a cattle rancher and former state agriculture commissioner, was addressing in her interview that was clipped in Colom's video. The prosecutor who also delivers the pick another senator line in the spot is running a longshot challenge in Mississippi. A spokesman for Hyde-Smith's campaign argued that the Democrats deserve blame for high prices. It is Scott Colom who supports Biden-era policies that drove up inflation, said Nathan Calvert. ___ Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report.This article originally appeared on Associated Press at https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/everyone-same-midterms-wheres-beef-040657006.html Thu, 15 Oct 2026 04:06:57 +0000

The US military has developed new strike plans that include potentially using the so-called mother of all bombs to target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites should President Donald Trump give the order to resume combat operations either before or after the midterm elections, according to multiple US officials familiar with the matter. Using the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb or MOAB, the largest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal, for the first time in the conflict with Iran would mark a notable escalation, even though there are doubts over how effective it would be in accomplishing any of Trumps stated strategic objectives or tipping the balance of the war, multiple sources familiar with internal military planning discussions about potentially deploying the weapon said. Trump is facing pressure to bring an end to the deeply unpopular war as Republicans brace for potential political backlash from voters in the upcoming midterm elections and there is little indication the two countries are close to a negotiated resolution after more than six months of US bombing. While the US military continues to provide Trump with options for potential strikes against outstanding Iranian targets, some officials continue to privately question whether the White House has a strategy that incorporates those plans in a way that could actually end the war something only the president has the power to do. For months, Trump and his advisers have discussed options that could act as a definitive end to the war, at least from a messaging point of view, aware of how unpopular the conflict has become among Americans. While some administration figures have characterized the war as essentially won, Trump has been more guarded in recent remarks, stopping short of declaring victory and saying the US still has unfinished business in the country. Behind the scenes, Trump has also cast doubt on some outside allies who have encouraged him to simply bring US troops home and move on. Doing so, Trump has argued, would look like defeat. Over the course of the last several weeks, White House advisers have held meetings to discuss various options for Iran. While Trump announced publicly that he would not take new actions before the midterms, several advisers said privately they didnt know whether that statement was definitive or could change before Election Day. Trump has ordered the military to develop additional strike packages against Iranian targets that include a lot of energy infrastructure and the potential use of a MOAB, one of the sources told CNN. The same source said the phrasing used was that this attack would come prior to US retrograde in CENTCOM AOR (area of responsibility), indicating the administration could launch the additional strikes, attempt to declare victory and quickly pull everyone out. A second source told CNN that military plans for striking Iranian nuclear sites, including Pickaxe Mountain, also explicitly call for using the MOAB. In recent months, Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike Pickaxe, where the US and Israel believe Tehran has stored components of its nuclear program, even after pausing full combat operations earlier this year, and Trump continues to emphasize that his goal is to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.

Doubts MOAB would be effective

Another US official noted that when the military plans, it develops a menu of options for policymakers that range from the high-end to low-end. Higher-end targets, including those that are located deep underground, require bigger bombs, and the MOAB is the biggest, the official added. But there are questions around whether the MOAB would be an effective munition to use against Irans nuclear facilities and other sites that are located deep underground. While the GPS-guided bomb is capable of destroying an area equivalent to nine city blocks, it likely lacks the capability to penetrate deep enough under the surface to destroy the suspected nuclear facilities at Pickaxe, which is believed to be fortified by layers of granite, and other remaining Iranian nuclear sites, sources said.

The MOAB is a massive information operation type weapon that is great for huge area clearance but not much else, a third source familiar with military planning discussions around Iran told CNN. It is definitely not designed as a deep penetration warhead. If used, the MOAB would have devastating effects on the area that it impacts but likely only at the surface level, the sources noted. And the bombs massive blast radius would almost certainly raise concerns about the prospect of civilian casualties particularly if it is used to target Iranian infrastructure targets located near populated areas and in close proximity to non-military sites. Still, Trump could opt to use the MOAB as a psychological weapon at a time when the Iranian regime appears dug in and unwilling to bend to his diplomatic demands. While US officials warn that deploying it is unlikely to force Irans capitulation or achieve a strategic military victory it could provide Trump with an additional option, short of restarting full combat operations, to alter the conflicts current status quo. POTUS has unfortunately put himself in a situation where he is almost compelled to do something and, without the ammunition designed to penetrate that level you have to look at psychological effects for which the MOAB is well-equipped, the third source familiar with recent planning discussions added. Many within the administration as well as outside analysts agree that the only way to decisively defeat Iran would be through a major operation involving ground troops, a commitment that could potentially cost thousands of American lives. The Pentagon considers all scenarios, so those plans exist, but as of now no one in the administration is arguing for such drastic action. Trump has indicated he has little interest in putting US boots on the ground in Iran but his desire to end the conflict as soon as possible presents a political dilemma for a president who is keenly aware of how unpopular the war has become yet has been unable to secure a diplomatic agreement that would bring it to a close. Top Trump administration officials and military planners have been focused, for weeks, on finding an off-ramp that gives Trump a symbolic win at minimum he can try to sell to the American people without preventing a potential diplomatic breakthrough, starting with an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, CNN has reported. A fourth source familiar with the Pentagons recent planning discussions on Iran told CNN that military officials had developed some options that would amount to a fireworks show, with the goal of providing Trump an off-ramp from the conflict even if those strikes fail to accomplish his stated goals for starting the war in the first place. And despite Trumps recent pledge to hold off on launching additional strikes before the midterms, the US military already appears to be preparing for potential Iranian retaliation should the president give the go-order. The next turnover of US troops deployed to CENTCOM is also expected to take place within the next few weeks, according to a fifth source, a US official who acknowledged it is possible some of the personnel who rotate out of the region, may not be replaced by fresh service members. Asked about the plans, a White House official told CNN that they do not comment on sensitive military plans that may or may not exist, adding President Trump keeps all options on the table to ensure that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. In response to CNNs request for comment, a Pentagon official said: The Department of War plans for a wide range of operational scenarios to execute Presidential and Secretarylevel direction and to ensure mission success in any operational environment.

MOAB developed for psychological operations

Developed during the Iraq War, the MOAB is an air blast-type warhead that explodes before hitting the ground to project a massive explosion from all sides. During the final stages of testing in 2003, military officials told CNN the MOAB was mainly conceived as a weapon employed for psychological operations. Military officials said then they hoped such a huge blast would rattle Iraqi troops and pressure them into surrendering or not even fighting. As originally conceived, the MOAB was to be used against large formations of troops and equipment or hardened above-ground bunkers. The target set has been expanded to include targets buried under softer surfaces, such as caves or tunnels. Trump was the first US president to deploy the MOAB, during his first term when he authorized the military to use its most powerful non-nuclear bomb on ISIS positions in Afghanistan in 2017. unknown content item - That strike targeted a network of fortified underground tunnels that ISIS had been using to stage attacks on government forces killing 36 ISIS fighters, Afghan officials said. The blast destroyed three underground tunnels as well as weapons and ammunition, but no civilians were hurt, Afghan and US officials added at the time. At the time, the bombing marked a dramatic change in attitude for Trump, who advocated an isolationist, America first foreign policy during his first election campaign. Following the 2017 strike, US military officials were pressed on whether the 21,600-pound bomb was necessary for that particular target and would likely face similar questions if the munition is deployed against Iran. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.comThis article originally appeared on CNN at https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/15/politics/us-considering-mother-of-all-bombs-iran Thu, 15 Oct 2026 04:01:44 +0000

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINNs National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) andHotline.RAINN.organd en EspaolRAINN.org/es. Police are investigating a report that a woman was sexually assaulted during a fraternity party near the University of Chicago campus, an allegation that has drawn widespread attention as colleges and fraternities face renewed scrutiny over sexual violence and campus safety. The incident was reported shortly after 2 a.m. local time on Oct. 11 at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house, according to the University of Chicago Police Department's daily crime log. The log states that "a victim reported being sexually assaulted by an unknown suspect while at a party" at the off-campus residence. The University of Chicago, a private school with about 18,000 students enrolled, said in a statement that a woman who is not affiliated with the school reported that she was sexually assaulted at around 1:50 a.m. local time during a party at the fraternity house. Another person intervened, and the suspect fled before police arrived. In an update on Oct. 13, the university said a person of interest had been identified through witness statements and video evidence from university cameras and license-plate readers. The person of interest is not a student, has no affiliation with the school, and has been banned from campus. University officials said the school's Department of Safety and Security shared the evidence with the Chicago Police Department, which is leading the criminal investigation. As of Oct. 14, the Chicago Police Department said no arrest had been made and that the investigation remained ongoing. "Since the CPD investigation is still active and charges have not been filed, the University is not at liberty to disclose the name of the person of interest," the university said in the statement. "Separate from CPDs ongoing investigation, the University will continue to determine whether violations of University policy occurred, and will initiate disciplinary actions as warranted." USA TODAY reached out to the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity for comment.

'I was brutalized': Cornell rape allegations, investigation, lawsuit

Report: Group allegedly cheered as woman was sexually assaulted

The Chicago Police Department confirmed to USA TODAY on Oct. 14 that a 21-year-old woman reported the assault to police and "self-transported" to University of Chicago Hospital for treatment. According to The Chicago Sun-Times, which obtained a police report, the victim told police she had been dancing and drinking at the fraternity party before she "began feeling unwell." She reported being sexually assaulted inside the fraternity house. The newspaper reported that two friends of the woman told police they forced their way into a bathroom to intervene and a group of men attempted to block them from entering. The men were seen "cheering and appearing to encourage the activity inside," according to the report cited by the Sun-Times. The woman's friends found her and a man inside the bathroom, both partially undressed, the newspaper reported. The woman was described in the report as "not fully conscious," according to the Sun-Times. The Sun-Times reported that one friend told the man to get off the woman, and "he responded that everything was 'cool.'" The newspaper also reported that when the woman and her friends later confronted the man outside the fraternity house, another man claimed they had identified the wrong person and directed them elsewhere before fleeing. One of the victim's friends briefly pursued the man before encountering a university police officer and reporting the incident, according to the Sun-Times.

'Baffling': Early Cornell rape investigation troubles experts

Fraternities under renewed scrutiny nationwide

The University of Chicago described the report as "deeply concerning" and said supporting the alleged victim and assisting police remain priorities. University officials noted that fraternities are not recognized student organizations at the university and are not formally affiliated with the school, though students remain subject to university policies and disciplinary procedures. The reported assault comes at a time of heightened national attention on sexual violence allegations connected to college campuses. Much of that attention has centered on Cornell University, where a woman alleged in a lawsuit that she was drugged and repeatedly sexually assaulted by fraternity members during an incident in 2024. The allegations became public last month and sparked criticism of the school's handling of the case. Though Cornell conducted its own investigation and imposed disciplinary actions, no criminal charges were filed. The men accused in the lawsuit have denied wrongdoing. In response to the controversy, Cornell University announced this week that it is suspending fraternity events through the rest of this academic year, saying it plans to involve the New York State Police in future investigations of campus sexual assault allegations. The changes came amid mounting pressure from students and advocacy groups seeking a stronger response to reports of sexual misconduct. Fraternities have also come under increased scrutiny at the University of Arizona, which earlier this month temporarily suspended fraternity activities following reports of assault, hazing, and other misconduct. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police investigate reported sexual assault at frat party near UChicagoThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY at https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/10/15/university-chicago-sexual-assault-investigation/92256497007/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:17:30 +0000

President Donald Trump has shared new images of what he described as the fully renovated White House facade, saying extensive restoration work has given the historic building decades of additional life.Trump posted photographs of the South side of the White House to Truth Social early Thursday, highlighting restoration of the exterior as well as a new South Entrance and helipad.Actual pictures of our fully renovated White House facade, facing South, with the new South Entrance, and Heliport! Trump wrote.It had to be done, and I am very proud to be the President who did it! Trump added.

The work comes amid a much broader transformation of the White House complex during Trumps second term, including work on the North Portico, changes to the Rose Garden and extensive construction on the site of the former East Wing for a new ballroom and military complex.Trump said Thursday that the ballroom and military complex were on time, and on budget, describing them as an unbelievably beautiful addition to the White House.The project has been the subject of legal challenges and scrutiny over its cost and funding, with the Supreme Court allowing construction to continue in August while litigation over the project proceeds.Newsweek has contacted the White House and National Park Service for further comment.

What Changed at the White House?

Trumps newly released photographs focus on the South facade, one of the most recognizable views of the White House.The South Portico, with its curved colonnade and Truman Balcony above it, faces the South Lawn and has historically served as an arrival and departure point for presidents and foreign leaders.Trump said the work addressed deterioration to both the buildings exterior walls and decorative architectural features.Over the years, the facade, both North and South, suffered tremendous wear, tear, and damage, he wrote. The exterior walls and ornamentation, both missing and in bad condition, has been fully restored to the Highest Level, giving the White House many decades of additional life!The president did not provide a detailed breakdown of the restoration work or its cost. Work has also been underway on the White Houses North Portico. The Washington Post reported in September that workers had spent roughly two months repairing the historic columns and strengthening the entrance before coverings surrounding the structure began to be removed.The White House itself dates to the 1790s, although the building has repeatedly been rebuilt, expanded and renovated. The South Portico was constructed during James Monroes presidency in the 1820s, while the North Portico was added several years later under Andrew Jackson. The West Wing was constructed during Theodore Roosevelts presidency in 1902 and the White House underwent a near-total interior reconstruction during Harry Trumans presidency between 1948 and 1952.

Trumps White House Renovations

The facade restoration is part of a series of changes Trump has made to the White House and its grounds, among the most significant being the ballroom and associated East Wing redevelopment.The original East Wing was demolished as the administration moved ahead with plans for a large new ceremonial space and additional security and military infrastructure.Trump initially promoted the ballroom as a privately funded addition designed to give the White House a permanent space for large state events rather than relying on temporary tents. The project has since expanded to include substantial underground security infrastructure and other facilities.In August, the Supreme Court permitted construction to continue while a lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation proceeds.The Court said its ruling did not decide the ultimate legality of the project but found that the government was likely to prevail on its argument that the preservation group lacked standing. Trump has repeatedly said taxpayers will not pay for the ballroom itself.In September, he said the ballroom would cost close to $400 million and was being funded by himself and private companies. Internal contractor documents reported by The Washington Post, however, estimated the wider East Wing project at about $600 million, with approximately $293 million expected from private sources and the remainder associated with government-funded security, military and Executive Residence work.The White House has said those taxpayer-funded costs relate to security and other government functions rather than the ballroom itself. Trump reiterated Thursday that the work remained on schedule.Likewise, the Ballroom and Military Complex, is on time, and on budget, he wrote.Trump said the development would be the most significant addition to the White House since the West Wing was constructed.Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Tobias Meyjes and Tony Phillips.This article originally appeared on NEWSWEEK at https://www.newsweek.com/trump-shares-images-of-renovated-white-house-facade-12570869 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:53:37 +0000