US troops devastated by Ukrainian drones? The training results revealed five months later

US armored brigade took heavy losses against Ukrainian drones in August, Wall Street Journal reported Army's official military journal publishes analysis of exercise — drone-related casualties drop from 70% to under 30%, two enemy lines breached simultaneously The Wall Street Journal reported Aug. 13 that Ukrainian drone units inflicted heavy losses on a US armored brigade during the "Combined Resolve" exercise held in Germany. Although the engagement was simulated, it drew wide attention as a demonstration of drone power in modern warfare. According to the report, US forces advanced with Abrams tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, but dust kicked up by the moving vehicles made their positions easy to spot for Ukrainian reconnaissance drones. Bomb-dropping drones and first-person-view drones then moved in, and US vehicles were declared destroyed one after another. Ukraine's 412th Unmanned Systems Unit "Nemesis" participated in the exercise as the opposing force. So how did US forces respond after suffering those heavy drone-inflicted losses? An analysis of the exercise has since been published in Military Review, the US Army's official professional military journal. Written by Army officers who took part in the exercise, the piece covers not only the early drone-related casualties but also how US forces adapted and what the final results looked like. According to the report, roughly 70 percent of the simulated casualties sustained by the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team "Greywolf" of the 1st Cavalry Division during the first three days of the exercise were caused either by direct drone strikes or by artillery fire directed through drone observation. As the exercise progressed, however, US forces began changing their approach. They dispersed their units, made aggressive use of terrain and cover, and started relocating quickly after being spotted by enemy drones — moving before incoming rounds could land. They also deployed electronic warfare equipment to jam enemy drone communications. Some systems achieved jamming effects out to 2 kilometers, though their effectiveness was limited by the need to operate from fixed positions, making it difficult to protect units on the move. As a result of these tactical adjustments, drone-related casualties as a share of total simulated losses fell to under 30 percent by the end of the third day. In the latter stages of the exercise, US forces also operated more than 700 drones of their own, using them to detect enemy positions and acquire targets for direct strikes and artillery fire. US forces ultimately succeeded in breaching enemy defensive lines at two points roughly 6 kilometers apart simultaneously. The opposing force failed to identify the main axis of the US attack and could not stop the breakthrough at either location. US forces also destroyed enemy reserves before they could be committed to the fight. The report emphasized that the enemy had not reduced the intensity of its attacks during the exercise — rather, US forces had changed the way they fought. That said, not every drone threat was overcome. Fiber-optic guided drones, which are resistant to jamming, remained a particularly difficult challenge. Electronic warfare equipment proved effective at protecting fixed zones, but the exercise confirmed that armored units on the move remain vulnerable to drone attack. Rather than supporting the conclusion that tanks and armored vehicles have been rendered obsolete by drones, the exercise illustrated the new challenges facing armored forces on a drone-dominated battlefield — and what it will take to fight effectively in one.

Oct. 23, 2026

Japanese novelist Murakami Ryu, known for 'Almost Transparent Blue,' dies at 74

Japanese novelist Murakami Ryu, known in South Korea for works including "Almost Transparent Blue" and "Coin Locker Babies," has died. Local media including NHK reported Friday that Murakami died at his home on Saturday at the age of 74. Murakami's office and his publisher, Gentosha, announced his death in an obituary statement, saying the funeral was held quietly as a private family ceremony. Born in Nagasaki Prefecture in 1952, he rose to prominence in Japanese literary circles when "Almost Transparent Blue," a novel he wrote while still a university student, won the Akutagawa Prize in 1976. He went on to build his reputation with works including "Coin Locker Babies," "The Melancholy of Tennis Boy," "69" and "Love and Pop." He also worked as a film director, including on "Tokyo Decadence." Murakami was acclaimed for depicting the dark underbelly of postwar Japanese society — violence, drugs and alienation — in a bold, visceral prose style. His work captured the rebellious spirit and underground culture of Japan's younger generation while offering a sharp critique of contemporary society. "The sudden passing of Murakami Ryu, who consistently published provocative works aimed at younger generations beginning with 'Almost Transparent Blue,' fills us with profound grief," Gentosha said in a tribute. "We pray for the repose of a great writer who was always ahead of his time."

Oct. 23, 2026

Putin says goal is final peace deal, not temporary truce; claims eastern Ukraine is 'Russian land'

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday (local time) that he wants a final peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, not a short-term truce. According to Reuters, Putin made the remarks in an interview with Russian media, saying he is willing to return to US-brokered peace talks with Ukraine next month. "The goal of the talks is not a brief, temporary ceasefire but ensuring security for Ukraine and Russia after a final peace deal is concluded," Putin said. "We are ready to resume talks to achieve these goals." He also repeated his longstanding claim that Russia did not want war but that Ukraine had responded with hostility to Moscow's key concerns. On the question of eastern Ukraine, Putin said the territory is "historically Russian land" and that any discussions about it must take that fact into account. He also claimed that residents of the region voted to join Russia in a referendum held seven months after the war began. Trilateral talks resuming after about 9 months If trilateral peace talks among Russia, the United States and Ukraine resume next month, it would mark the first such meeting in about nine months since February. According to CNN and the Associated Press, Putin met with US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg on Thursday (local time) for about three hours to discuss matters related to the peace negotiations. Yuri Ushakov, Russia's presidential foreign policy adviser, said in an interview with state broadcaster Russia-24 that the trilateral talks could be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He said future negotiations would focus on "building a security framework for Russia and Ukraine after the end of the conflict," though he did not specify what conditions Russia would demand. Ushakov drew a line on the peace proposal that the US, Ukraine, Norway and other European leaders discussed in Oslo on Thursday (local time), saying it contained "almost nothing of substantive value in the context of resolving the Ukraine crisis." Earlier, US envoy Witkoff had met in Oslo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders to discuss a new peace proposal put forward by Ukraine. A US official said the meeting represented "meaningful progress." Russia's dismissal of those discussions, however, suggests that future negotiations will be difficult.

Oct. 23, 2026

Tom Skerritt, 'Top Gun' instructor Viper, dies at 93

Tom Skerritt, the American actor known for "Top Gun" and "Alien," died Wednesday (local time) at 93. According to The New York Times and the Associated Press, his family said that day he had died of natural causes. "The world knew him through his remarkable acting career, but to us he was a man of humor, curiosity, wisdom and generosity — someone who brought love to life," his family said in a tribute. Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1933, Skerritt enlisted in the Air Force immediately after high school and served for four years. He enrolled at Wayne State University but transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles after seeing "Citizen Kane" and becoming captivated by filmmaking. In his final semester, he was cast in "War Hunt," a film set during the Korean War, launching his acting career in 1962. He went on to deliver familiar yet varied performances on screen for six decades. After years of taking only minor roles, Skerritt won the National Society of Film Critics Award for best supporting actor for "The Turning Point" in 1977. He gained wider public recognition playing the spaceship captain in "Alien" and the flight instructor in "Top Gun." He also made his mark on television, winning the Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for the CBS series "Picket Fences" in 1993. Skerritt was known for playing authoritative, quintessentially American figures — law enforcement officers, military men and confident father figures. In 1997, he took on double duty in "Divided by Hate," serving as both director and lead actor. In a past interview with Film Comment, he said he was "drawn to work that encompasses every element of visual storytelling" and expressed interest in directing and screenwriting. Skerritt married Charlotte Shanks in 1957 and had three children with her before they divorced in 1972. He had one child with his second wife, Susan Ellen Arant, and another with his third wife, Julie Tokashiki, whom he married in 1998.

Oct. 23, 2026

US death row inmate stuck 10 times as executioners failed to find vein — and survived

What happened when a death row inmate came back from the brink Tennessee corrections officials stuck a death row inmate with needles about 10 times after failing to find a suitable vein during a botched execution, it has emerged. Randy Spivey, an attorney for death row inmate Christa Pike, said corrections officials spent roughly an hour securing intravenous lines in both of Pike's arms, according to the Associated Press on Thursday (local time). During the Sept. 30 execution attempt, officials spent six minutes trying to locate a vein in Pike's right arm. Finding a vein in her left arm proved far more difficult. Officials used about 10 needles in multiple spots on both arms during the process. Pike was seen grimacing in pain throughout. Corrections officials also expressed doubt about whether the IV line in Pike's left arm had been properly secured, with some remarking that the vein may have ruptured. Officials ultimately proceeded with the execution after concluding they had secured the left arm vein. But after the drug began to flow, Pike cried out that her arm felt like it was going to burst and was burning. Pike received two doses of the lethal drug pentobarbital but did not die. She was transferred to a hospital and regained consciousness about a week later. Tennessee regulations require a second dose to be administered if the first does not result in death. However, the rules do not specify what procedure to follow if the inmate survives the second dose as well. 'Pike is angry and confused about everything' Pike's attorneys held a press conference on Oct. 7 (local time), saying she "seems to be angry and confused about everything" and appeared furious over the failed execution, The New York Times reported. The attorneys said Pike was unable to use either arm, describing extensive blood clots, blisters and burn-like injuries on both. One attorney said Pike's hands had swollen so severely they looked "like surgical gloves blown up with air." Controversy over the botched execution continues to mount. Pike's legal team called for the state to preserve all evidence from the execution attempt, including the syringes and drugs used. Tennessee suspended all executions scheduled for this year following the failed attempt and launched an investigation. Frank Strada, the state corrections commissioner overseeing the matter, is set to step down by the end of this month. Pike's attorneys also argued that she had already suffered enough through the state's execution attempt, and called for her to serve the rest of her life in prison rather than face another execution. Pike was sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, whom she killed alongside her boyfriend when she was 18.

Oct. 23, 2026

Democratic voters shift from mail-in to in-person early voting amid Trump pressure

Executive order sought to restrict mail-in voting; voters say they no longer trust the postal service One Trump headline a day: when markets move on a single word from the White House, The Herald Business international desk curates the day's most market-relevant Trump news — from Wall Street's close to global asset markets — and delivers it in under a minute. Subscribe to the daily newsletter at The Herald Business website. As President Donald Trump continues his offensive against mail-in voting, Democratic-leaning voters are increasingly abandoning mail ballots in favor of in-person early voting ahead of next month's midterm elections, the Washington Post reported Thursday (local time). Researchers at the University of Florida analyzed voting patterns across eight states — including Georgia, Wisconsin and Nevada — and found that mail ballot requests had fallen compared with the 2022 midterms in six of those states, according to the Post. In Georgia, mail ballot applications dropped 40 percent from 2022, while in-person early voting surged. Wisconsin also saw a decline in mail voting; on Tuesday, the first day of in-person early voting, more than 55,000 people cast ballots — a 65 percent increase over the first day of early voting during the 2022 midterms. The shift away from mail voting and toward in-person balloting was particularly pronounced among Democratic voters. An analysis by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that among Democratic voters in North Carolina who had already cast ballots this year, more than half of those who used mail voting in 2022 had switched to in-person early voting. Political data firm VoteHub, analyzing early voting in Nevada, found that 18 percent of Democrats who voted in person early this year had used mail ballots in the 2024 presidential election. The shift is widely attributed to growing voter distrust as the Trump administration has repeatedly questioned the reliability of mail voting and sought to restrict it. Trump has long claimed that mail voting is exploited for electoral fraud by Democrats, and ahead of the current midterms he attempted to limit mail ballots through an executive order. The Supreme Court subsequently ruled that the administration could not restrict mail voting, but distrust and controversy over the administration's management of elections persist. Zachary Donini, VoteHub's head of data, told the Post that engaged voters who follow the news closely "would know that Trump tried to undermine the US Postal Service," adding that the reaction has been: "I can't trust the postal service. I'm going to submit my ballot in person." The Democratic Party has also been encouraging voters to cast ballots without relying on the mail — either by visiting a polling site directly or, if using mail, by sending ballots as early as possible. Rep. Karen Brownlee of Ohio, a Democrat, said voters have concerns about mail voting "but there are also ways to drop your ballot directly into a secure drop box. A lot of Democratic voters are doing that." Some Democrats have raised allegations that Trump's fixation on mail voting is aimed at suppressing turnout among Democratic voters. So far, however, there is no evidence that participation has declined; if anything, early voting is surging nationwide, the Post reported.

Oct. 23, 2026

Trump asked Google to rename the Atlantic Ocean. The CEO said no.

After Google's refusal, Trump floated renaming the Pacific instead Trump's every word moves global markets and economies. If keeping up with the flood of Trump news feels overwhelming, this daily briefing has you covered — delivering the key stories that matter to global asset markets, fast enough to read in under a minute. Perfect for your commute, lunch break, or bedtime. Subscribe to the newsletter on The Herald Business website. Donald Trump asked Google whether it could rename the Atlantic Ocean, only to be rebuffed. Trump had previously signed executive orders renaming the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario — which straddles the US-Canada border — to the Gulf of America and Lake America, respectively, sparking diplomatic friction with the countries involved. According to The Washington Post, Trump floated the idea of renaming the Atlantic during a campaign rally in South Carolina held ahead of the US midterm elections on Thursday (local time). Trump said he had called Google CEO Sundar Pichai to discuss the idea, arguing, "We have lakes and bays, and now we need rivers and oceans." He said he asked Pichai whether Google could handle the Atlantic rename the same way it had processed the earlier name changes — and was turned down. Pichai reportedly replied that oceans were a different matter because they border many countries, telling Trump: "We're not going to do this one. Please don't ask me to do that." Private companies that provide online map services, including Google, have largely accommodated Trump's name changes for users in the United States. Trump said that, given Google's refusal, he would probably not pursue renaming the Atlantic — but added that he was considering whether the Pacific Ocean could instead be renamed the American Ocean. Google did not respond to a request for comment.

Oct. 23, 2026

Trump calls it 'sad' as NYC votes to ban Central Park horse-drawn carriages from 2028

Teen tourist's death a decisive factor Animal welfare concerns over horse deaths also cited Horse-drawn carriage rides in New York City's Central Park — a beloved attraction for roughly 160 years — will be banned starting June 2028 after the New York City Council passed legislation to end the practice. The council voted Thursday (local time) to approve the ban, 40 to 7, according to The New York Times and other media outlets. Under the measure, carriage operations in Central Park will officially cease on June 1, 2028. The city plans to draw up a support program by April 1, 2027 to help coachmen and operators find new employment after the ban takes effect. The legislation also includes animal protection provisions, prohibiting horses that had pulled carriages from being sold for slaughter or transferred to other carriage operators. Calls to abolish the carriage trade have been debated for decades amid sustained criticism from animal welfare groups. Public pressure for a ban intensified after a teenage tourist from India died when she fell from a carriage in Central Park while visiting with her family, and after separate incidents involving horses dying on the job raised fresh concerns about safety and animal cruelty. The carriage industry has pushed back against the legislation. Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents the industry, issued a statement before the vote calling the bill "a catastrophe marred by constitutional violations and due process failures." President Donald Trump, a New York native, also weighed in on Truth Social, writing that it was "sad to see the end of the beloved Central Park carriage industry, which has lasted for over a century, based primarily on one tragic accident." He added: "When a car accident happens in the area, they don't ban cars from entering the park. So why ban carriages?" Carriages suspended for 6 days after teen's death The fatal accident that proved decisive in the push for a ban occurred in June. Romanchi Mahajan, an 18-year-old from India who had traveled to New York with her family to celebrate her high school graduation, died after falling from a carriage in Central Park, Yonhap reported at the time. The accident happened when the coachman stepped off the carriage briefly to take a family photo and the horse suddenly bolted, overturning the carriage. It was the first fatal accident involving a Central Park carriage in more than 150 years since the rides were introduced. The incident amplified public safety concerns, and carriage operations were suspended for six days while safety protocols were reviewed. According to the industry, 68 carriages are currently operating in Central Park, employing about 150 coachmen and using more than 180 horses. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio had pledged during his 2013 campaign to ban carriage rides on his first day in office, but the proposal failed to win support in the City Council and was never carried out.

Oct. 23, 2026

Trump administration deported 980,000 immigrants in first 18 months, report says

Falls short of campaign pledge to deport 1 million per year Obama-era record of 432,000 formal removals annually remains unbroken Trump's words move global markets. The Herald Business international desk, working from 5 a.m., delivers a daily briefing — from Wall Street's closing numbers to the Trump news most likely to shake global asset markets — in under a minute. Subscribe to the daily newsletter on The Herald Business website. The United States deported about 980,000 immigrants in the 18 months following the launch of Donald Trump's second administration in January last year, the Washington Post reported Thursday (local time). The Post cited a report written by Marc Rosenblum, the Department of Homeland Security's former chief statistician, who stepped down last July. The tally covers both formal "removals" and "returns" as defined by the DHS. Formal removals involve an official order of removal and the physical expulsion of an individual from the United States, carrying administrative and criminal penalties for any future unauthorized reentry. Returns, by contrast, cover cases where individuals leave the country without a formal removal order — through voluntary departure, withdrawal of an application for admission or similar means. When limited to formal removals only, the Trump administration averaged about 380,000 per year — slightly below the 392,000 annual average recorded during Barack Obama's first term, the report found. It added that the single-year record for formal removals was set in fiscal year 2013 under Obama, when 432,000 people were removed. Trump has championed a hardline immigration policy and made a campaign pledge to deport 1 million immigrants per year. The Trump administration's refusal to release detailed deportation statistics had made it difficult to assess the full picture, the Post said, adding that some immigration hard-liners have criticized Trump for moving too slowly on deporting undocumented immigrants.

Oct. 23, 2026

Hospitals, disaster agencies, airlines go offline as PHP security flaw triggers wave of shutdowns across US, Europe, Japan

Since a security vulnerability was discovered in the programming language PHP, websites across the United States, Europe and Japan have been going temporarily offline as a precautionary measure against hacking, drawing growing complaints from users. Governments are urging organizations to take their sites offline if patches and other fixes have not been applied, while working to develop national-level cybersecurity responses. In the United States, news that AI had detected the PHP vulnerability spread Wednesday (local time), prompting universities and research institutions to take their websites offline from Wednesday through Thursday as a precautionary measure. UCLA, Georgetown University, the University of Virginia and Rutgers University temporarily shut down their sites to protect research databases and registered user information, with some universities saying they were in the process of applying security updates. In California, city councils including that of Half Moon Bay suspended access to some web content, including meeting agendas. Across Europe, government portals, broadcasters and universities suspended their websites. In the United Kingdom, 32 government services went temporarily offline. The BBC also took down some of its web portal services that day. The University of Freiburg in Germany said it shut down its site Wednesday and restored it Thursday. The Czech Republic closed its official government website starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday for security patching, and Finland's national IT center shut down public government web services as a precautionary measure against hacking. In Japan, the National Tax Service suspended its online services, making it impossible for users to check or pay their taxes online. In Tottori Prefecture, authorities temporarily suspended a disaster information portal as a typhoon approached, leaving residents unable to access information on the storm's speed, location or river water levels. The Japan Meteorological Administration also suspended its website in the early hours of Thursday, cutting off access to regional weather forecasts. The agency said it began restoring the site in stages from Thursday evening. Medical institutions including Osaka Habikino Medical Center and Hokkaido City Kushiro General Hospital also took their websites offline, making it impossible to book or change medical and health checkup appointments. In Kanagawa Prefecture, a website for scheduling driver's license renewals was down for about 15 hours from early Thursday morning, resuming only late that afternoon after emergency repairs. Tourist sites including the Imperial Palace and Sento Imperial Palace in Kyoto also suspended their reservation systems. Japanese airline ANA said it had suspended its website and app services, including Apple Wallet boarding passes. Experts recommended taking websites offline if security patches and other fixes have not been applied, even at the cost of some inconvenience to daily life. Governments have largely heeded that advice, convening emergency meetings to coordinate responses. Japan's Metropolitan Police Department called an emergency meeting Thursday, instructing agencies to consider measures including data encryption and the deletion of unnecessary personal data. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party decided Thursday to formally propose strengthening cyber defenses by deploying white-hat hackers. The plan calls for training such hackers at a high-level cybersecurity talent development facility run by the Information-technology Promotion Agency, which falls under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and for establishing personnel and pay systems that would allow the government and public institutions to hire private-sector white-hat hackers at market-competitive rates. Meanwhile, ahead of any government response, warnings emerged that PHP-based organizations should first check whether their systems have already been compromised. Spencer Young of US cybersecurity firm Delinea said that if attackers had already exploited the PHP vulnerability, they may have obtained passwords or digital keys, which could allow them to re-enter systems even after the flaw is patched. "This means security risks could linger long after the immediate threat is addressed, with attackers retaining the means to re-infiltrate and waiting for another opportunity to strike," he said.

Oct. 23, 2026

7.0-magnitude earthquake strikes China's Tibet, killing at least 16 and toppling 300+ homes

Three villages within 5 km of epicenter; strongest quake in the area in 5 years A magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck the Tibet Autonomous Region in western China. China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, citing the China Earthquake Networks Center, reported Thursday that the quake hit Baqing County in Nagqu, Tibet, at 10:33 p.m. (local time). The China Earthquake Networks Center initially reported the quake at around magnitude 6.7 based on automatic measurements taken immediately after the event, but later revised the figure to 7.0 following formal analysis. The epicenter was located at 32.40 degrees north latitude and 93.79 degrees east longitude, with a focal depth of 10 kilometers. Xinhua said three villages — Lengda, Puqin and Gaizaka — lie within 5 kilometers of the epicenter, while Gangti Township and Malu Township are within 20 kilometers. According to the China Earthquake Networks Center's earthquake bulletin records, 54 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater have occurred within 200 kilometers of the epicenter over the past five years, making Thursday's quake the largest in the area during that period. As of 2:25 a.m. Friday (local time), 11 of the injured were in serious condition and 21 had sustained minor injuries, while more than 300 homes had collapsed, Xinhua reported. Authorities are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage as relief operations are underway.

Oct. 23, 2026

Netanyahu says overthrowing Iran's regime is 'only solution,' hints at renewed military operation with US

Trump quoted as saying he's 'ready to finish the job' Netanyahu orders IDF, Mossad to pursue regime change White House rules out attack before US midterms Washington Post sees possible election-season political posturing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the only way to eliminate the threat posed by Iran is to topple its current government, hinting at the possibility of resuming military operations alongside the United States. President Donald Trump also claimed he was ready to finish the job on Iran, though the White House drew a line at any attack before next month's midterm elections. According to the Washington Post, Netanyahu made the remarks in a speech at an Israeli military officer commissioning ceremony on Thursday, claiming that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was seeking to restart Iran's nuclear weapons program. "He has decided to follow in his father's footsteps and again attempt to develop the bomb of death," Netanyahu said. "The only way to eliminate this threat once and for all is to topple the Iranian regime." He added that this was the directive he was issuing to the Israel Defense Forces, the Mossad and the country's security agencies, saying the threat to Israel would not disappear as long as the current Iranian government remained in power. Netanyahu also said Trump had recently told him he was "ready to finish the job," though he noted that Trump indicated he would only do so with Israel's help. The remarks came amid growing speculation that the United States was weighing a resumption of military operations against Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Israel on Tuesday and met with Netanyahu. The Pentagon described the meeting as routine consultations, but some American media outlets raised the possibility that the two sides were preparing to resume military action. The US government, however, has said it has no immediate plans to strike Iran. Trump has publicly stated he would not attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly reaffirmed that position in a statement Thursday, saying the United States would not attack Iran before the midterms. She said Iran was "in very bad shape economically and militarily" and that the US maritime blockade was proving effective. Some analysts suggested Netanyahu's hawkish remarks may have been a political message timed to the election season. Trump faces the midterms, while Netanyahu himself is set to contest Israel's general election on Tuesday. Whether a military operation could actually bring down the Iranian government remains unclear. Military experts say airstrikes alone are unlikely to topple a regime and that an external attack could in fact strengthen internal cohesion within Iran. Regime change could require a ground invasion, but Trump has been reluctant to expand ground operations out of concern over potential US military casualties. Given these military challenges, the Washington Post said the threats raised by Trump and Netanyahu appeared to reflect "some of the political rhetoric of the election season." Even so, the United States has been raising its military pressure in the Middle East by deploying additional carrier strike groups and troops to the region — moves aimed at ensuring it can respond immediately should Trump decide to resume strikes.

Oct. 23, 2026

US Forces Japan bans BYD vehicles from bases, with possible expansion to Korea

BYD barred from largest US overseas air base Move aims to block potential intelligence collection US Forces Japan has banned all vehicles made by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD from entering its bases, in a move aimed at preventing sensitive military information from leaking through cameras and sensors embedded in the cars. The measure could also be extended to US Forces Korea bases, observers say. According to a US Forces Japan official Friday, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture announced it will bar all BYD vehicles from entering the installation beginning Monday. Security personnel from the 18th Security Forces Squadron — the unit responsible for protecting key assets and maintaining order on the base — will block BYD vehicles at every gate. The ban covers all BYD vehicles regardless of type or purpose, including privately owned cars, contractor vehicles, taxis, delivery vehicles and commercial vehicles. The base said no exceptions will be permitted under any circumstances. Kadena is the largest US Air Force base overseas and serves as a critical hub for US Pacific security operations, including the defense of Japan and the deterrence of North Korea, China and Russia. The base also hosts the Typhon mid-range missile system, which carries Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of 1,600 kilometers — enough to reach Beijing from western Japan. The ban is intended to prevent the leakage of information related to military operations at the base, as well as details about the fighter jets, transport aircraft, radar systems and munitions operated by the 18th Wing of the US Fifth Air Force stationed there. The concern centers on software-defined vehicles, which use advanced sensors and cameras to scan and collect data on their surroundings. Electric vehicles equipped with real-time cloud transmission or remote-control capabilities could effectively function as mobile intelligence-gathering devices. The US Department of Defense designated 188 Chinese companies — including tech giants Alibaba and Baidu — as "Chinese military companies operating directly or indirectly within the United States" last June, adding them to its Section 1260H procurement restriction list. BYD was included on that list. Within US Forces Japan, there is growing speculation that the BYD ban could be extended to other major installations, including Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, as well as to USFK bases. The Pentagon banned the sale and use of smartphones made by China's Huawei and ZTE at military base exchanges worldwide in 2018, citing security concerns. It also restricts the use of Huawei telecommunications equipment near military facilities and overseas installations. Japan has also been tightening regulations on Chinese IT equipment and cloud and data center services. Relations between Tokyo and Beijing deteriorated sharply after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested last November that Japan could intervene in a Taiwan contingency. China has since condemned the Takaichi cabinet's push to expand Japan's defense capabilities as "neo-militarism."

Oct. 23, 2026

FCC bans devices with Huawei subsidiary's surveillance chips

The US Federal Communications Commission has banned the import and sale of electronic devices containing surveillance semiconductors made by a subsidiary of China's Huawei, marking the first time sanctions have been extended from finished telecommunications equipment to the "smart" components inside them. The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology announced Thursday that it had confirmed two devices — a dashcam and a wireless video transmitter — contained surveillance chips made by HiSilicon, a Huawei subsidiary, and barred their retail sale in the United States. HiSilicon has marketed the chips as "designed for the surveillance market" and featuring built-in human facial recognition algorithms. The action marks the first enforcement under the FCC's "logic circuit (smart) component" regulation, which took effect Oct. 13. The agency's existing rules had prohibited approval only for finished devices made directly by sanctioned companies; the new regulation extends that prohibition to any device incorporating smart components produced by those companies. HiSilicon, as a Huawei subsidiary, is listed on the US government's roster of national security threat entities. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said in a statement that video devices containing surveillance chips made by national security threat companies "pose a clear and unacceptable risk to our nation and our people," adding that the agency would "continue to act decisively to strictly enforce our rules and protect the security of America's communications networks." He said the Office of Engineering and Technology had also prevented potential spyware from receiving sales approval in the United States. The FCC has been tightening regulations to keep Chinese technology products out of critical advanced infrastructure sectors — including advanced robots, power inverters and wireless routers — in line with the Trump administration's push to strengthen national security.

Oct. 23, 2026

France restricts protests after violence; demonstrators vow to defy ban

Macron bans non-union rallies on Saturday; Marseille, Lyon impose full protest bans Police bar Paris city-center marches; Yellow Vests, students push back Public sites, shops brace for unrest; France-Germany bond spread hits widest since eurozone crisis The French government has imposed full or partial bans on demonstrations in major cities to prevent further violence, announcing that protests by anyone other than trade unions will be restricted on Saturday, when large-scale rallies are planned. President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that the "overall recommendation" was for there to be no protests in the coming days, according to BBC and other outlets, after he chaired a security meeting with intelligence chiefs. "If those who want to continue demonstrating are unions, the prefect will offer an alternative route," Macron said. "If they are not unions, they will be banned as much as possible." Macron said restoring calm was his top priority. He also said he would chair a security meeting with key cabinet ministers Friday to decide on "next steps" in response to nationwide protests planned for after Saturday. Macron again blamed far-left groups for the violence that erupted Saturday, saying there had been "political and violence-inciting acts by far-left groups intent on bringing down the republic." Local authorities had already moved to ban protests in their jurisdictions. Planned demonstrations in Paris, Lyon, Lille, Grenoble, Toulon and Rouen were prohibited Thursday. Paris police banned gatherings from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. around key state institutions — including the Elysee Palace and both chambers of parliament — as well as the Louvre, the Champs-Elysees, Place de la Bastille, Place de la Republique and Les Halles. A police source said the Paris ban was issued because organizers were "unable to prevent acts of violence and vandalism." Lyon also banned a march planned by the National Union of Students of France, citing "serious concerns about public order given the current situation." Paris and Lyon had been under partial overnight curfews for three consecutive nights beginning Monday. Marseille and Lyon — France's second- and third-largest cities after Paris — announced full bans on all protests Saturday. The Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, of which Lyon is the capital, said in a statement that the prefect had decided to ban all demonstrations in the city of Lyon on Saturday "in light of the events of the 17th." Student groups have called for a major demonstration Saturday, and the Yellow Vest movement, which has joined the protests, said it would march in Paris that day. The government said it would respond forcefully. Jean-Didier Berge, deputy interior minister, told BFMTV that authorities planned to deploy 20 percent more security personnel than the previous week. About 60,000 police and gendarmes were mobilized for the Oct. 17 demonstrations. Despite the ban, thousands took to the streets in Paris on Thursday, according to AP and France 24. Organizers said a court had granted their request to overturn the Paris police ban, though details of the ruling were not immediately available. The largely young crowd marched peacefully in southeastern Paris under heavy police presence, chanting slogans. One banner read: "Even without tear gas, our future looks bleak." AP and AFP noted that the right to protest is constitutionally guaranteed in France, and that the bans have drawn criticism for infringing on that right. Demonstrators condemned the restrictions. Labor activist Gael Quirante said: "The right to protest must be upheld. The government offers no solutions — only repression and brutality." University student Mathi Aversanc said: "We will keep protesting, keep organizing and assert our right to demonstrate." Clashes between protesters and police are widely anticipated Saturday. Paris police said demonstrators would be permitted to march from Place de la Bastille through eastern Paris on Saturday but would not be allowed into the city center, where shops and public facilities are concentrated. The Yellow Vest movement, which co-organized the march with unions, said it "cannot accept" those terms, AFP reported. Anxiety is mounting among institutions and businesses despite the government's hard line. The French Culture Ministry announced that major Paris museums — including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay — would close Saturday, and Art Basel Paris said it would end its run Friday, two days ahead of schedule. Luxury boutiques and other shops in central Paris have been boarding up their windows and stepping up security in anticipation of vandalism and looting. France's government bonds have fallen in value day after day as fiscal uncertainty compounds the country's political and social turmoil. The yield on France's 10-year government bond climbed as high as 5.145 percent during trading Thursday before easing slightly to 5.11 percent — still its highest level since 2002. Reuters reported that French 10-year yields surpassed their US counterpart for the first time since 2013. German bonds rose as investors sought safe-haven assets, pushing the spread between French and German 10-year yields to 1.78 percentage points — the widest since the eurozone debt crisis of 2011.

Oct. 23, 2026

63% of US voters in their 20s say they'll vote against Trump, poll finds

Harvard poll: 62% say US heading in wrong direction; NYT survey shows 70% of young voters back Democrats — up 15 points from 2024 presidential election In an era when a single word from Trump can shake global markets, our daily Trump briefing cuts through the noise — delivering the essential news in under a minute, from US market closes to the moves that matter for global assets. Subscribe at The Herald Business website. Two-thirds of American voters in their 20s — members of Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012 — say they plan to vote against President Donald Trump, according to new polling. The Harvard Public Opinion Project, a polling body under Harvard Kennedy School's Institute of Politics, released the findings of its youth poll on Thursday (local time), as reported by Axios. Among voters aged 18 to 29 surveyed, 63 percent said they would cast their ballot to oppose Trump, while only 14 percent said they would vote to support him. Some 77 percent said they do not support Trump's economic policies — a view shared by more than half of young Republican voters. Among Democratic-leaning respondents, 50 percent said they would vote, compared with 34 percent of Republican-leaning respondents. The survey also revealed deep anxiety and frustration among young voters about the future. Some 62 percent said the United States is heading in the wrong direction, while only 9 percent said it is on the right track — the lowest figure ever recorded in Harvard's youth poll series. Respondents identified rising prices and the cost of living (79 percent), the power of large corporations (68 percent) and the trade war (68 percent) as the most serious threats to their future financial stability. For the first time, more respondents expected to be worse off economically than their parents' generation (27 percent) than better off (25 percent). Asked whether they feel hopeful or fearful about America's future, 69 percent said fearful, compared with 26 percent who said hopeful — more than a two-to-one margin. A separate poll by The New York Times showed a similar trend. According to the NYT-Siena College survey, 70 percent of voters aged 18 to 29 said they support or lean toward the Democratic Party — 15 percentage points higher than a poll conducted just before the 2024 presidential election, and comparable to levels seen during the 2008 presidential race that brought Barack Obama to the White House. "In the last presidential election, young voter support for Democrats hit a 20-year low, but this poll shows those voters are returning to the party in large numbers two years on," The New York Times said in its analysis. The Democratic lean among voters in their 20s stands out compared with other age groups. Support for Democrats rose 5 percentage points among voters aged 30 to 44, and 2 points among those 65 and older, while voters aged 45 to 64 showed no change. Only 16 percent of voters in their 20s approved of Trump's job performance. The group also held strongly negative views on the economy and the war with Iran. Some 94 percent said economic conditions were poor or merely fair, 86 percent opposed Trump's economic policies, and 87 percent opposed the war with Iran. "Young people generally have lower turnout and make up a smaller share of the overall electorate, but even small shifts in support and participation can decide outcomes in competitive districts," The New York Times noted. The Harvard youth poll was conducted by the Harvard Public Opinion Project in partnership with Ipsos from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7, surveying 2,024 people aged 18 to 29. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.61 percentage points for the full sample and plus or minus 3.19 percentage points for registered voters. The New York Times poll was conducted from Oct. 12 to Oct. 19 among 3,494 adults nationwide, including 536 respondents aged 18 to 29, with a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points.

Oct. 23, 2026

Jensen Huang shrugs off memory oversupply fears: 'More is always better'

Nvidia CEO says HBM and LPDDR demand will continue; signals openness to CXMT chips Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has shrugged off concerns raised in some quarters about a memory chip oversupply in 2029. Speaking to CNBC at his company's GTC developer conference in Berlin on Thursday (local time), Huang said he did not believe a memory oversupply was coming. "I don't think so," he said when asked about the possibility. He added that "the real beauty of memory is that more is always better," predicting that demand for memory chips would continue to grow. The remarks appeared to push back against forecasts circulating in South Korea that a saturated market in 2029 would bring the so-called memory "super cycle" of exceptional growth to an end. Huang said high-bandwidth memory, or HBM — now a core component of AI chips — would remain in use "for years to come," and confirmed that Nvidia plans to continue using large volumes of LPDDR, a low-power memory type, as well. With the world's largest memory buyer publicly affirming rising demand, market anxiety over an anticipated oversupply is expected to ease considerably, and growth concerns surrounding South Korean memory manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are likely to be partly allayed. However, Huang also signaled openness to using chips from China's CXMT, which has been closing the gap on South Korean rivals. Asked whether Nvidia would consider sourcing from the Chinese chipmaker, he said, "Of course, we have an open mind," and praised China's capabilities in foundational infrastructure technology. He noted that US restrictions on China had ultimately accelerated the country's own semiconductor manufacturing capacity, while adding that American technology companies remain strong and ready to compete with anyone. Meanwhile, Huang defended the so-called neo-cloud companies — including CoreWeave, Nebius and Irent — which have recently drawn investor concern, saying demand for their services is growing at an explosive pace that is "off the charts." He argued that what constrains neo-cloud growth is not demand but working capital, and said the issue would be resolved because "what fundamentally matters is the value these companies provide."

Oct. 23, 2026

Musk invests $1b in Skydance, deepening Ellison alliance

Deal raises prospect of Starlink-media partnership expansion Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has invested approximately $1 billion in Skydance, the media company that recently acquired Warner Bros., according to multiple sources. US online outlet Semafor reported Thursday (local time) that Musk invested in Skydance, the media company led by David Ellison, citing multiple sources. The sources said Musk made the investment at roughly the same time as other investors, including Laurene Powell Jobs, a board member and widow of the late Steve Jobs. Skydance, which has faced a declining share price and cost-cutting pressure since taking on heavy debt to acquire Warner Bros., will be able to secure much-needed capital through the deal. Semafor said the investment reflects the close ties Musk has built with David Ellison and his father, Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison. Cable industry mogul John Malone had previously predicted an announcement between the two, noting that Larry Ellison helped fund Musk's acquisition of Twitter and that Larry Ellison had used Tesla shares to finance his initial investment in Skydance. Malone also raised the prospect that Musk, who owns satellite internet service Starlink, could pursue a media partnership with Skydance. Malone predicted that Musk would "redesign all the channels and figure out how to transition from traditional broadcasting to streaming." Musk has maintained a close relationship with President Donald Trump and served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the early days of the current administration. CNN, reorganized under Skydance, has maintained a liberal editorial stance and been critical in its coverage of Trump and Musk. However, David Ellison has said that CNN and CBS — the two news channels under Skydance — will maintain editorial independence.

Oct. 23, 2026

Trump blasts LeBron James over national anthem behavior

Posts video on Truth Social, calls NBA star 'totally disgraceful' and demands apology A daily briefing on Trump's most consequential moves — from Wall Street's closing bell to the global asset market shifts his words set in motion. The Herald Business international desk is on the story from 5 a.m., delivering the essential Trump news you need in just one minute. President Donald Trump publicly criticized LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday (local time), renewing a long-running feud with one of the NBA's biggest stars. Trump posted a video on Truth Social showing James moving around during the pregame national anthem, writing that James "is disrespecting our country while our national anthem is being played." The 22-second clip shows James on the court during the national anthem, making what appear to be golf swing motions with his bare hands and repeatedly practicing basketball shots. Trump said he had "said from the beginning that he was not a good person and is a total disgrace," adding that James "should apologize to all of the great American warriors and heroes who gave their lives for our flag and everything our country represents." Trump has long expressed hostility toward athletes who kneel during the national anthem in protest of racial injustice. His history of clashes with James also appears to have fueled Thursday's public attack. James is one of the most prominent anti-Trump voices in American sports. He endorsed Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Party candidate Trump defeated in the 2016 presidential election, and campaigned alongside her. During Trump's first term, James said Trump "made racism fashionable again" and that he was "frustrated and angry" that Trump was "using sports to divide us." When Trump canceled a White House invitation to the NBA champion in 2017, James called him "a bum." Trump fired back in 2018 after James sat for an interview with CNN anchor Don Lemon, writing that James "just did an interview with the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn't easy to do."

Oct. 23, 2026