Tennessee death row inmate conscious after botched execution
Christa Pike, a 50-year-old Tennessee death row inmate, is conscious and speaking in hospital nearly a week after the state’s attempt to execute her failed, her attorneys said. Pike survived two doses of pentobarbital during last Wednesday’s lethal injection procedure and was taken from the execution chamber by ambulance; she was temporarily placed on a ventilator and remains hospitalised with severe injuries to both arms, according to her lawyers. She is reportedly receiving critical care while handcuffed. Her attorneys are seeking to have her death sentence commuted to life imprisonment without parole. Pike was the first woman Tennessee has attempted to put to death in 200 years.
Trump approves firing-squad execution for Fort Hood shooter
President Donald Trump has approved the execution by U.S. Army firing squad of Nidal Hasan, the former Army psychiatrist convicted of killing 13 people in the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, the Pentagon said. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recommended the execution and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced the approval. Hasan was sentenced to death by a military jury in 2013. If carried out, it would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first by firing squad since 1945. An email indicated a 3 December execution date, although the Army had not formally announced a date and location.
Paramount completes Warner Bros. takeover, forming Skydance giant
Paramount has completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, creating a combined entertainment company named Skydance that began trading on Wall Street on Tuesday. The deal, which followed a bidding contest with Netflix and a legal challenge by 12 U.S. states that was settled, unites major film studios and news operations including CBS News and CNN, plus cable networks such as Comedy Central and TNT. Reported deal values ranged from $81 billion to $110 billion. Critics in the industry warned of potential job cuts and raised concerns that CNN’s editorial independence could be compromised, while consumer groups questioned whether the consolidation could lead to higher prices.
Former German spy chief arrested on treason suspicions
August Hanning, who led Germany’s foreign intelligence service, the BND, from 1998 to 2005, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of espionage and treason, federal prosecutors said. He is accused of paying for secret intelligence documents and using them to prepare an analysis for a foreign intelligence service. A former chief of staff was also arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting attempted treason. The case has raised concerns that it could strain Berlin’s relations with allied spy agencies.
Trump remarks on Iran bombing California cities draw backlash
President Donald Trump sparked bipartisan criticism after suggesting at a political rally in Nebraska on Monday that Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego. He told supporters that losing the cities would be a “small price to pay” to keep the world safe, saying, “Let ’em take out Los Angeles. Let ’em take out San Diego.” California Governor Gavin Newsom called the remarks “dangerous and deranged,” and Jim Desmond, the Republican candidate for a San Diego-area House seat, also pushed back. A White House official said the comments were taken out of context.
Kenya reports first Ebola death amid regional outbreak
Kenya has recorded its first-ever Ebola death after a Kenyan national who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo died following his return to the country over the weekend, health authorities said. The man is reported to have travelled from DR Congo via Uganda. Kenya is the fourth country to register a case in the current outbreak, which was declared in eastern DR Congo in mid-May and has killed more than 4,000 people there this year. Health officials said they are on high alert and monitoring for further cases.
Francis Halzen wins Nobel Prize in Physics for neutrinos
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Francis Halzen, an 82-year-old Belgian-born physicist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, for his work on high-energy neutrinos. Halzen helped build the IceCube observatory at the South Pole to detect the so-called ghost particles from deep space, which scientists say carry clues about the development of the universe. The Nobel committee described the neutrinos as “ghostly messages from space.”
Cornell names Sally Yates to review sexual assault response
Cornell University has retained former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent review of how the institution responds to reports of sexual assault and misconduct. The review follows growing criticism of the university’s handling of allegations of a 2024 gang rape at a fraternity house. Yates will examine Cornell’s sexual assault investigations, disciplinary process, campus police response, student support services and oversight of student organisations.
Lionel Messi scores in final Argentina farewell match
Lionel Messi ended his 21-year international career with a final appearance for Argentina in a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires, which Argentina won 3–0. Messi scored one goal and set up two others in an emotional farewell. The match drew fans from around the world, including one supporter who travelled from India to be present.
Trump says super PAC will pay for taxpayer-funded promo ads
President Donald Trump said his political action committee, MAGA Inc., will pay for a television ad campaign that had been funded with taxpayer money, after the promotions drew bipartisan criticism. The ads, which cost at least $1.5 million in federal funds, glorified the president ahead of the midterm elections. In a social media post, Trump defended the spots and said he would cover the cost with money raised for the super PAC.
Televangelist Jim Bakker dies at 86 after scandals
Jim Bakker, the U.S. televangelist who built a multimillion-dollar religious broadcasting empire with his first wife Tammy Faye, has died at the age of 86. Bakker co-founded “The PTL Club” before his downfall over a sex scandal and a 1989 fraud conviction for defrauding followers through a scheme tied to a Christian theme park. He served four and a half years in prison.
Israel marks three years since Hamas's October 7 attack
Israelis on Wednesday began commemorations marking three years since Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken. This is the first time that all hostages or their remains have been returned to Israel. Ceremonies and memorial events were under way across the country.