What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?

Here are 10 of today's biggest news stories (Sunday/Monday, October 12, 2026):

1.Saudi airport hit again — King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was struck by an unidentified projectile Sunday, injuring people a day after a deadly missile attack at the same site raised questions about whether the United States would join another conflict in the region, with Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation confirming injuries but not providing a count. South Korea has upgraded its travel alert for all of Saudi Arabia to Level 3, advising departure, following this second attack.

2.Trump weighs joining the fight against the Houthis — Following the latest Riyadh strike, President Trump signaled the U.S. could enter the conflict against Yemen's Houthi rebels, as the broader Iran war and Yemen's civil war continue to dominate Middle East coverage.

3.Russia-Ukraine "energy truce" confusion — President Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an "energy truce" to halt attacks on each other's energy facilities, but Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said this was the first time he had heard of it, adding that if Russia agrees first, Ukraine will also agree.

4.Pentagon's planned livestream execution draws fierce backlash — President Trump said he will make the final decision on the broadcast of the execution after criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. The execution of Nidal Hasan is scheduled for Dec. 3 and would be livestreamed, drawing denunciation from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, while some religious figures backed the plan.

5.DHS Secretary defends the execution plan — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the Pentagon's plan to livestream the execution of an ex-Army major convicted of the 2009 killing of 13 people at Fort Hood, saying he doesn't see heightened security risk.

6.Bipartisan pushback on the livestream — Senator John Curtis (R) publicly questioned the morality of broadcasting the execution, while Trump said he hadn't yet decided whether to approve the livestream, and Vice President JD Vance distanced himself from the idea.

7.Seoul murder-abduction case — A man in his 20s was apprehended by police on charges of murdering his mother-in-law and abducting his wife in Songpa-gu, Seoul, just 11 days after a domestic-violence restraining order against him was lifted.

8.Korean official discipline order — South Korea's Minister of the Interior and Safety ordered an official inspection of the head of the Gwangju Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, seen as a move to enforce discipline amid her public criticism of a candidate for a top administration post.

9.U.S. federal holiday observance — Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day is being observed nationally, with most federal establishments closed and USPS post offices shut for the federal holiday, affecting banking, mail, and government services.

10.Ongoing U.S. government funding drama — Lingering political fallout continues from 2026's record run of federal shutdowns — which totaled 123 days of funding lapses over the past 12 months, including a 76-day Department of Homeland Security shutdown that was the longest lapse in U.S. history — as lawmakers face the next funding deadline in December.

Sports/culture note: this is also the weekend of the ATP Shanghai Masters finals and major NFL/NBA/NHL matchups, alongside Breaking competition action at the 2026 Asian Games.

Citations (12)

1nbcnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.84
Saudi airport attack: Trump says U.S. could join fight against Houthis
Source excerpt: “An unidentified projectile struck Saudi Arabia’s main international airport Sunday, injuring people a day after a deadly missile attack at the same si...”
2sbs.co.krNews and media
Morning Wide: Today's Major News (October 12, 2026)
Source excerpt: “Saudi International Airport Targeted Again Just a Day Later... "Travel Advisory Issued" Just a day after a Houthi missile attack killed 12 people, the...”
3sbs.co.krNews and media
Morning Wide: Today's Major News (October 12, 2026)
Source excerpt: “"Russia-Ukraine Energy Truce Agreed"... "First Time Hearing This" U.S. President Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to an "energy tr...”
4christianpost.comNot yet classified
Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffress among Christian leaders reacting to public execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan
Source excerpt: “President Donald Trump on Saturday said he will make the final decision on the broadcast after criticism from Republicans and Democrats, according to ...”
5christianpost.comNot yet classified
Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffress among Christian leaders reacting to public execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan
Source excerpt: “The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops denounced the plan Friday, and Pastor Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas, backed it on soc...”
6cbsnews.comNews and mediaquality 0.88
DHS secretary defends livestream of Fort Hood shooter's execution, says he doesn't see an "elevated risk" to U.S. - CBS News
Source excerpt: “Washington — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Sunday defended the Pentagon's plan to livestream the execution of an ex-Ar...”
7soapoperaspy.comNot yet classified
Nidal Hasan's Execution Livestream: Justice Or Entertainment? - Soap Opera Spy
Source excerpt: “”* While President Donald Trump supported the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad, he said he hadn’t yet decided whether to approve the livestre...”
8sbs.co.krNews and media
Morning Wide: Today's Major News (October 12, 2026)
Source excerpt: “Mother-in-Law Murdered and Wife Abducted Just 11 Days After Restraining Order Lifted A man in his 20s has been apprehended by police on charges of mur...”
9sbs.co.krNews and media
Morning Wide: Today's Major News (October 12, 2026)
Source excerpt: “Minister of the Interior and Safety Orders Inspection of Gwangju Medium and Small Business Administration Head Im Eun-jung Minister of the Interior an...”
10sundayguardianlive.comNews and media
Columbus Day 2026: What’s Open and Closed in the US on October 12? Check Holiday Closure Status of Banks, USPS Mail, Schools, Stock Market & More
Source excerpt: “Most federal establishments will not work for the day. ”
11sundayguardianlive.comNews and media
Columbus Day 2026: What’s Open and Closed in the US on October 12? Check Holiday Closure Status of Banks, USPS Mail, Schools, Stock Market & More
Source excerpt: “United States Postal Service (USPS) post offices will be closed on Monday, October 12, 2026, for the federal holiday. ”
12fedtools.comData and tools
Government Shutdown October 2026: Senate Passes CR 90-6 — House Vote Next
Source excerpt: “## 123 Days of Shutdown in the Past 12 Months | Lapse | Dates | Length | What happened | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Full shutdown | Oct 1 to Nov 12, ...”