KYIV, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Ukraine has resumed its attacks on Russian refineries with a strike at an installation in the Ryazan region, the regional governor said on Thursday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy voiced his anger at a "dangerous" withdrawal of US intelligence. Since US President Donald Trump's surprise announcement of an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, Kyiv had refrained from attacking Russian refineries, which the US leader had blamed for raising diesel prices on global markets. But Zelenskiy had voiced increasing frustration with Russia's continued attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, which he said on Wednesday had left 600,000 people without power. He warned that Ukraine would not suspend its own attacks indefinitely if Russia did not reciprocate and also criticised what he said was Trump's favouritism toward Russia. In an interview with the Financial Times published on Thursday, he said Ukraine's patience had run out. "The block (on attacking refineries) is out. Were done, he told the newspaper. Pavel Malkov, the governor of Ryazan, said in a post on Telegram that a major Ukrainian drone attack on the region had sparked a fire at an oil refinery. "The material damage is now being assessed. Emergency services are working at the scene," he said. In his interview, Zelenskiy criticised Washingtons eagerness to strike business deals with Moscow and Trumps apparent admiration for Russias Vladimir Putin. Trump on Saturday called for Ukraine to replace Zelenskiy and railed against Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil infrastructure, one day after announcing a diesel supply deal with Russia, aiming to lower fuel prices that have soared since the US-Israeli war with Iran began in February. Despite Ukraine's suspension of refinery attacks, Ukrainian officials complained that they had not received any US early-warning alerts in recent days for incoming Russian ballistic missiles. They also said the military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite communications service had been slowed across the country, hampering frontline operations and medium-range strikes against Russian military sites. Musk said on Wednesday in a post on X that Starshield - the military version of Starlink - was owned and controlled by the US government, which decided on any limits on speed. Zelenskiy has said that Ukrainian military officials were warned by their US counterparts that Washington would block intelligence unless they halted strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. In the FT interview Zelenskiy said the suspension was presented to Kyiv as a technical glitch, but he dismissed the idea that failures of the Starlink satellite system might have been caused by a fault. It was not a technical problem, it was the will, he told the FT. Asked whether Ukraine would be open to halting energy strikes as a way of repairing relations with the White House, he told the newspaper he could only agree if in return he was given more US-made Patriot interceptors, calling it the minimum that would be acceptable. (Reporting by Daniel Flynn and Rhea Rose Abraham in Bengaluru; editing by Tom Hogue, Edwina Gibbs and Jason Neely) This article originally appeared on Reuters at https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/zelenskiy-says-ukraine-resume-strikes-060307306.html Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:38:18 +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

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

WASHINGTON (AP) For the first time in more than a quarter-century, Americans have a new option when shopping for sunscreen: a skin-protecting chemical thats long been a go-to option in Europe and other parts of the world. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved bemotrizinol sometimes called BEMT in June. The first sunscreens containing it are now hitting U.S. store shelves, including formulas from Neutrogena and other manufacturers. Dermatologists say the chemical fills an important market gap by offering broad protection, like the most well-established sunscreen ingredients, but without their cosmetic downsides, including white streaking. BEMT has decades of safety data behind it, including studies showing it has minimal absorption into the skin. Thats been a concern with some older sun-blocking chemicals. Its not a brand-new ingredient that youre going to be the first person to try, said Dr. Jennifer Stein, a dermatologist at NYU Langone Health. Heres what to know:

New ingredient offers broad protection without streaks

To be effective, sunscreens must protect against both forms of ultraviolet light that can damage the skin UVB rays, which cause most sunburn, and UVA rays that pose the greatest risk of skin cancer and wrinkles. Sunscreens that block both forms are labeled broad spectrum protection. Those that dont must carry an FDA warning label. BEMT is the first chemical-based sunscreen in the U.S. that offers this dual protection. Previously, manufacturers had to mix multiple ingredients to protect against both UVA and UVB light. This ingredient provides a solution for what is currently a big gap with respect to providing strong UVA protection, said David Andrews, chief science officer of the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that advocates for higher sunscreen standards. A different class of sunscreens, using minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, has long been shown to offer strong protection against both forms of ultraviolet light. These mineral-based formulas work by physically blocking harmful rays from the skin. But some people particularly those with darker complexions tend to avoid them because they cause white streaking and discoloration. In other cases, people dont like their texture or consistency. Those are good sunscreens, Stein said. But for people who arent so inclined to use them maybe they dont like how it feels on their skin this is a nice option.

There's less skin penetration with the new formula

The fact that chemical-based sunscreens are absorbed into the skin means they have to be carefully studied to make sure they aren't building up in the body at unsafe levels. Last month, the FDA revoked approval of an older chemical ingredient, oxybenzone, after determining it was absorbed through the skin to a greater extent than previously understood. Thats not a problem with BEMT. Its a molecule thats too big to really penetrate through the skin and get absorbed into the bloodstream, Stein said. The older chemical sunscreens had small molecules. As part of its safety review, the FDA reviewed studies of BEMT in more than 500 patients conducted by Dutch manufacturer DSM Nutritional Products. Levels of the chemical absorbed into the skin were nearly undetectable, the studies found. Agency reviewers said research in people who used the sunscreen daily for up to three weeks showed that BEMT did not cause irritation or allergic reactions. As a result, the FDA designated the ingredient as generally recognized as safe and effective, alongside the older mineral ingredients zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. More than a dozen other ingredients are currently used in U.S. sunscreens, but the FDA has said they will require additional evidence to support their safety and effectiveness. The FDA review is part of an ongoing effort to overhaul U.S. sunscreen ingredients that kicked off in 2019.

More evidence is needed about the impact on coral reefs

Scientists have shown that some sunscreen ingredients can trigger bleaching and damage coral reefs. That's led to bans on two chemical ingredients oxybenzone, the ingredient recently targeted by the FDA, and octinoxate in Hawaii and parts of Florida. It's estimated about 25% of the sunscreen people apply to their skin washes off while swimming or wading in the ocean. The U.S. government doesn't classify the environmental impact of sunscreens, and marketing claims like reef safe or reef friendly have no standard definition or requirements. The European Union's environmental agency has found limited evidence of environmental toxicity with BEMT, but longer-term research is needed. Mineral ingredients like zinc oxide are generally considered safer for the environment, although some experts recommend staying away from so-called nano formulations. Those products are made with tiny particles that are more likely to be inhaled or absorbed by marine organisms.

Older chemicals were often unstable

Experts say BEMT has one other key advantage, in that it doesnt quickly break down in the sun. Thats been a particular issue for avobenzone, the only other chemical-based ingredient that filters UVA light. Avobenzone has been known to be particularly unstable on its own, and a lot of work and reformulation efforts have gone into trying to find ways to stabilize it, said Andrews. BEMT is significantly more stable. As with all sunscreens, dermatologists say its important to reapply every few hours more frequently if youre swimming or sweating a lot. Also, people shouldnt rely on sunscreen alone when spending time outside, Stein said. Taking breaks in the shade, wearing a hat and sun-protective clothing are all important protections. Sunscreen is just one part of an overall sun-protection plan, Stein said. Clothing is even better. ___ The Associated Press health and science coverage receives financial support from the AP Fund for Journalism and private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.This article originally appeared on Associated Press at https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/first-sunscreen-type-25-years-160414246.html Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:04:14 +0000