Lead Story
Trump says Iran "could take out" Los Angeles or San Diego, drawing bipartisan backlash
At a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska on Oct. 5, President Trump defended his administration's military strikes on Iran despite rising costs for US consumers, saying "they can take out a city — let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay." California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the remarks "deranged and dangerous" and said he was directing the state's Threat Assessment Center to monitor for any sign foreign actors might treat the comment as an invitation to target California. White House communications director Steven Cheung disputed the characterization, saying Trump was describing the threat a nuclear-armed Iran would have posed had it not been stopped.
Read more →Lead Story
Trump says Iran "could take out" Los Angeles or San Diego, drawing bipartisan backlash
At a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska on Oct. 5, President Trump defended his administration's military strikes on Iran despite rising costs for US consumers, saying "they can take out a city — let them take out Los Angeles, let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay." California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the remarks "deranged and dangerous" and said he was directing the state's Threat Assessment Center to monitor for any sign foreign actors might treat the comment as an invitation to target California. White House communications director Steven Cheung disputed the characterization, saying Trump was describing the threat a nuclear-armed Iran would have posed had it not been stopped.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico race to keep White House access as court-ordered reprieve nears expiry
The three outlets sued the Trump administration after the president banned them from White House grounds on Sept. 19 over coverage he called "fake news," and US District Judge Timothy Kelly granted them a 14-day temporary restraining order restoring their credentials while the case proceeds. With that order set to expire Oct. 8, the news organizations have asked Kelly for a preliminary injunction to keep their access intact until a final ruling, arguing the ban amounts to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination and violated their due-process rights by revoking credentials without notice or a chance to contest it. The Justice Department has countered that White House access "is a privilege, not a right."
Read more →CNN, MS NOW and Politico race to keep White House access as court-ordered reprieve nears expiry
The three outlets sued the Trump administration after the president banned them from White House grounds on Sept. 19 over coverage he called "fake news," and US District Judge Timothy Kelly granted them a 14-day temporary restraining order restoring their credentials while the case proceeds. With that order set to expire Oct. 8, the news organizations have asked Kelly for a preliminary injunction to keep their access intact until a final ruling, arguing the ban amounts to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination and violated their due-process rights by revoking credentials without notice or a chance to contest it. The Justice Department has countered that White House access "is a privilege, not a right."
UK ties Iran to RAF Fairford terror plot as Tehran denies involvement and summons British envoy
British counter-terrorism police arrested a dual UK-Iranian national in Westminster on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, after five British men were stopped in vans carrying gasoline near RAF Fairford — the Gloucestershire airbase from which US bombers struck Iran — and later released on bail when no explosives were found. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there are "strong indications" Iran played a part, noting Iran's Revolutionary Guard had declared the base a legitimate retaliation target back in July after it was used in US strikes. Iran has called the accusations baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran in protest, while investigators also continue to examine Russian sabotage and a homegrown Islamist plot as alternative explanations.
Read more →UK ties Iran to RAF Fairford terror plot as Tehran denies involvement and summons British envoy
British counter-terrorism police arrested a dual UK-Iranian national in Westminster on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, after five British men were stopped in vans carrying gasoline near RAF Fairford — the Gloucestershire airbase from which US bombers struck Iran — and later released on bail when no explosives were found. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there are "strong indications" Iran played a part, noting Iran's Revolutionary Guard had declared the base a legitimate retaliation target back in July after it was used in US strikes. Iran has called the accusations baseless and summoned the British ambassador in Tehran in protest, while investigators also continue to examine Russian sabotage and a homegrown Islamist plot as alternative explanations.
Spain's Constitutional Court clears the legal path for Puigdemont's return after nine years in exile
Spain's Constitutional Court voted Oct. 6 on reports covering former Catalan officials Jordi Turull and Dolors Bassa, approving a ruling that contradicts the Supreme Court's narrower reading of the amnesty law and orders it applied to the embezzlement charges tied to the 2017 independence referendum. The decision effectively compels the Supreme Court to lift the arrest warrant against former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Belgium since fleeing prosecution in 2017. Puigdemont told the Sunday Times last month he wants to "immerse himself in today's Catalonia," and officials on both courts now expect him to be able to return within October.
Read more →Spain's Constitutional Court clears the legal path for Puigdemont's return after nine years in exile
Spain's Constitutional Court voted Oct. 6 on reports covering former Catalan officials Jordi Turull and Dolors Bassa, approving a ruling that contradicts the Supreme Court's narrower reading of the amnesty law and orders it applied to the embezzlement charges tied to the 2017 independence referendum. The decision effectively compels the Supreme Court to lift the arrest warrant against former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Belgium since fleeing prosecution in 2017. Puigdemont told the Sunday Times last month he wants to "immerse himself in today's Catalonia," and officials on both courts now expect him to be able to return within October.
Lionel Messi closes his Argentina career with a goal in a 3-0 farewell win over Benin
Messi made his 207th and final appearance for Argentina on Oct. 6 at River Plate's Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, a friendly the Argentine FA arranged specifically to give its captain the send-off he "truly deserves" after he announced his international retirement in August. Argentina led 2-0 through goals from Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz before Messi won and converted a 71st-minute penalty for his 126th and last international goal, sealing a 3-0 win. The 39-year-old leaves international football with a 2022 World Cup title and two Copa América crowns (2021, 2024) from a two-decade career with the national team, with members of the World Cup-winning squad among those invited to watch him go.
Read more →Lionel Messi closes his Argentina career with a goal in a 3-0 farewell win over Benin
Messi made his 207th and final appearance for Argentina on Oct. 6 at River Plate's Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, a friendly the Argentine FA arranged specifically to give its captain the send-off he "truly deserves" after he announced his international retirement in August. Argentina led 2-0 through goals from Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz before Messi won and converted a 71st-minute penalty for his 126th and last international goal, sealing a 3-0 win. The 39-year-old leaves international football with a 2022 World Cup title and two Copa América crowns (2021, 2024) from a two-decade career with the national team, with members of the World Cup-winning squad among those invited to watch him go.