Friday, 9 October 2026

Trump escalated efforts to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook by establishing a White House committee to investigate unsubstantiated mortgage fraud allegations against her, with a hearing scheduled for next month, continuing his campaign to oust the Fed's first Black female governor.

The Trump administration announced severe new sanctions directly targeting the International Criminal Court to restrict its resources and operations, hours after Nobel Peace Prize winner Navi Pillay—a former ICC judge—was honored for her work promoting international law.

Katie Zacharia, a conservative commentator and Trump Media adviser, was selected as the new White House press secretary, replacing Karoline Leavitt who departed in August.

Trump announced a major diesel deal with Russia to supply 300,000 tonnes immediately followed by 1.5 million more, lifting sanctions and attempting to ease fuel prices ahead of midterms but infuriating Ukraine and NATO allies.

A federal judge ruled that the Trump Justice Department's use of voter data to cross-reference an immigration database was unlawful, blocking a key component of the administration's election and immigration enforcement strategy.

The Pentagon confirmed that Nidal Malik Hasan's execution by firing squad will be public and livestreamed, drawing bipartisan condemnation from lawmakers and international criticism for echoing execution practices of Iran and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

ICE agents shot a man in a vehicle in New York City's Marble Hill neighborhood while his 5-year-old son was in the car, sparking protests and demands from Mayor Mamdani and Democratic lawmakers to abolish ICE and end enforcement operations in the city.

Trump urged Minnesotans to 'fight back' against Somali immigrants during a campaign appearance, drawing accusations of incitement to violence and racist rhetoric from advocates and local leaders.

Navi Pillay, a South African jurist and former ICC judge who led a UN inquiry concluding Israel committed genocide in Gaza, won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, an honor highlighting international law amid the Trump administration's assault on multilateral institutions.

Trump stated the US will not strike Iran before the midterm elections, citing concerns about timing and political impact, as Iranian media reported massive explosions in the Strait of Hormuz.