Paul Mackenzie Guilty: Kenya Cult Leader Convicted of 191 Murders
A Mombasa judge convicted Shakahola cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 28 others of murdering 190 children and one adult, rejecting claims they fasted by choice.
Michael Haverford
Keen Sword 27 Begins: U.S. and Japan Open Island Defense Drills Near Taiwan
Keen Sword 27 opens with about 45,000 Japanese and 12,000 U.S. troops drilling to defend Japan’s southwest islands to Oct. 29. Charts and reactions.
Disney’s Character.AI Deal: $20 Million License, Staff Hires and a Bankruptcy Fight
Disney Character.AI deal explained: a $20 million license, most of the startup’s staff hired, and lawsuits left behind in Chapter 11. What states want.
Blue Hill Avenue Bus Lanes Debated at Grove Hall Hearing
Councilors aired concerns about the Blue Hill Avenue bus lanes and an Orange Line idea at an Oct. 14 Grove Hall hearing, while the Wu administration defended it.
Russian Missile Attack on Kyiv Cuts Power to 550,000 Homes as Ukraine Says It Got No U.S. Warning
Sixteen ballistic missiles and 269 drones hit Ukraine overnight, damaging more than 10 energy facilities, as Kyiv and Washington clash over missing early warnings.
Iran–U.S. War Update: Trump Warns of ‘Finishing the Job’ as Hormuz Attacks Climb and Lavrov Visits Tehran
Iran war update for Oct. 19, 2026: Trump’s warning, a third IRGC mine claim in Hormuz, oil above $105, Iran’s ceasefire plan and Lavrov’s Tehran visit.
Proofpoint Agrees to Buy Varonis for $6.3 Billion in Bet on AI Data Security
Proofpoint will buy Varonis for $49.75 a share in cash, about $6.3 billion, closing in early 2027. Terms, premium, AI security context and reactions.
Anthropic Commits 5% of Its Shares to New Public Benefit Fund
Anthropic will put 5% of its shares into a new Public Benefit Fund, pending stockholder approval, with 2% more per 50% rise in value. What is known.
Keen Sword 27: U.S. and Japan Open Largest-Ever Island Defense Drills
The largest U.S.-Japan drill yet sends Marine anti-ship missiles to Yonaguni and moves Japan’s Type 25 missile off base for the first time.
Germany and Nvidia Set to Unveil Industrial AI Pact in Berlin
The Germany Nvidia AI pact, worth several hundred million euros, is due Monday at Invest in Germany as Merz meets Jensen Huang. What’s in it and who’s involved.