What are the most important events and topics in the news today?

Here's a roundup of the most significant news stories as of today, October 4, 2026:

U.S. Politics

Government funding/shutdown relief: Congress narrowly averted a government shutdown ahead of the midterms. President Trump signed a continuing resolution on September 2 keeping the government funded through December 11. However, the reprieve may be temporary — the government is funded through December 11, 2026, but only three of the 12 full FY2027 appropriations bills have passed the House, and the Senate has advanced none. Analysts warn a Democratic flip of the House or Senate could spark a fiscal standoff once the new Congress is seated. This comes after a brutal stretch of instability: the US has survived three funding lapses in the past 12 months totalling 123 days, including the longest shutdown in US history.

Trump announces senior payments: Trump announced a plan to send $90 payments to millions of seniors, with the White House saying the one-time payments would be drawn from a fund set up to improve Medicare.

Midterms heating up: With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Al Jazeera describes the political climate as "bordering on angry" as the state of play as US midterms enter final month.

Weather

Hurricane Nolo: A major storm is churning in the Pacific. Nolo strengthened into a major hurricane Saturday in the remote Pacific Ocean, far to the west of Hawaii's main islands, with maximum sustained winds rapidly intensifying to 120 mph. Fluctuations in intensity are possible, but Nolo could still strengthen through Sunday as it continues to accelerate toward the west, expected to cross the International Date Line. Earlier in its lifecycle, the storm already dropped heavy rain across Maui and the Big Island, with the highest reported rainfall amounts at 21.99 inches in Laupahoehoe.

International/Security

Yemen conflict escalation: Yemen's army says it targeted Houthis in hundreds of strikes, killing 700.

Security threats in Europe: Authorities disrupted a plot in the UK — Iranian men reportedly scouted a UK synagogue for a bomb plot.

Aviation mystery: A medical transport airplane is missing off Massachusetts, according to the Coast Guard — also referenced as an air ambulance missing on a flight from Bermuda to Boston.

Israel political tensions: An Arab political leader was forced out while a far-right figure was cleared in Israel, highlighting what's being called an election double standard.

U.S. Domestic Incidents

Tech/Business

OpenAI security breach: OpenAI revealed another hack into an Australian government agency.

Sports

If you'd like, I can dig deeper into any one of these stories — especially the midterms, Hurricane Nolo's path, or the Yemen situation.