What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?
Here are the 10 biggest news stories from today, October 13, 2026:
1. Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford Win the 2026 Nobel Prize in Economics
American economists Robert E. Hall (Stanford University) and Michael Woodford (Columbia University) have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized the pair "for microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilization," acknowledging their decades of research that reshaped how central banks and governments use monetary and fiscal policies to smooth out economic booms and busts.
2. Pope Leo XIV Admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for Lung Surgery
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to be admitted to Gemelli University Hospital in Rome late this morning to undergo surgery to remove a "small, localized lung nodule" discovered during a routine checkup. The Vatican has confirmed that all of the Pope's audiences have been suspended through October 20 as he undergoes a projected week-long recovery. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle will step in to preside over several of the Pope's scheduled events.
3. Backlash Mounts Over President Trump’s Russian Diesel Import Deal
Bipartisan pushback is growing in Washington following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import millions of tons of Russian diesel. Trump defended the move as a necessary measure to lower skyrocketed domestic fuel prices, but members of Congress argue the agreement directly violates a 2022 law banning Russian energy imports and provides a financial lifeline to Moscow during its war in Ukraine.
4. EU Formally Opens Two New Accession Clusters for Ukraine and Moldova
Following a unanimous agreement among the 27 EU member states, an intergovernmental conference is being held today in Luxembourg to formally open two major negotiating clusters—focused on the single market and competitiveness—with Ukraine and Moldova. This diplomatic breakthrough was unlocked yesterday when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a key minority-language education bill into law, satisfying a major, long-standing demand by Hungary.
5. Controversy Continues Over Unilateral "Energy Ceasefire" Announcement
Debate persists following President Trump’s unilateral announcement on Truth Social of an immediate "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly clarified that the announcement "was news to me" and noted that Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure have continued regardless. Several European leaders have reiterated their solidarity with Ukraine amidst the confusion.
6. Devastating Russian Missile and Drone Barrage Strikes Kharkiv
A massive Russian wave of missiles and specialized "Banderol" drones targeted northeastern Ukraine late yesterday. In Kharkiv, strikes severely damaged civilian and gas infrastructure, partially collapsing a section of a four-story residential building. At least 11 people have been reported injured, and search-and-rescue teams are actively working to pull survivors from the rubble.
7. Third Oil Tanker Explodes After Striking Naval Mine in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported that a third commercial oil tanker struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a massive engine room explosion and fire. Tensions remain at a wartime high in the strategic channel—through which 20% of the world's oil transit passes—as the U.S. and Iran remain locked in a regional maritime conflict.
8. Massive Flash Floods in Nepal Leave Dozens of Homes Swept Away
Emergency services in central Nepal are responding to catastrophic flash floods along the Budhi Gandaki river system. Triggered by a massive landslide near Chumchet in Gorkha district, the surging waters swept away up to 45 homes, destroyed four critical bridges, and severely damaged local hydropower infrastructure. At least five people are reported missing, while search and rescue operations are ongoing.
9. India Reshuffles Governors Across Six States
In a major gubernatorial reshuffle, Indian President Droupadi Murmu has announced significant shifts in state leadership. Notably, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been appointed as the full-time Governor of Tamil Nadu, and Om Prakash Mathur has been moved from Sikkim to take charge in Kerala. President Murmu also approved new gubernatorial appointments in Karnataka, Odisha, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand.
10. SpaceX Successfully Launches CRS-35 Resupply Mission to the ISS
Early this morning, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying the Cargo Dragon spacecraft on its 35th resupply mission to the International Space Station. The spacecraft is carrying over 6,300 pounds of supplies, critical scientific research, and the final pair of ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs), marking the completion of a multi-year power upgrade for the orbiting station.
Citations (29)
- bizjournals.com
Backs: “Hall (Stanford University) and Michael Woodford (Columbia University) have been awarded the 2026 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.”
- theguardian.com
Backs: “The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized the pair "for microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilization," acknowledging their decades of research that reshaped how central banks and governments use monetary and fiscal policies to smooth out economic booms and busts.”
- vaticannews.va
Backs: “Pope Leo XIV Admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for Lung Surgery. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to be admitted to Gemelli University Hospital in Rome late this morning to undergo surgery to remove a "small, localized lung nodule" discovered during a routine checkup.”
- ncregister.com
Backs: “Pope Leo XIV Admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for Lung Surgery. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to be admitted to Gemelli University Hospital in Rome late this morning to undergo surgery to remove a "small, localized lung nodule" discovered during a routine checkup.”
- catholicregister.org
Backs: “The Vatican has confirmed that all of the Pope's audiences have been suspended through October 20 as he undergoes a projected week-long recovery.”
- theguardian.com
Backs: “Backlash Mounts Over President Trump’s Russian Diesel Import Deal. Bipartisan pushback is growing in Washington following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import millions of tons of Russian diesel. Trump defended the move as a necessary measure to lower…”
- time.com
Backs: “Backlash Mounts Over President Trump’s Russian Diesel Import Deal. Bipartisan pushback is growing in Washington following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to import millions of tons of Russian diesel. Trump defended the move as a necessary measure to lower…”
- kyivpost.com
Backs: “EU Formally Opens Two New Accession Clusters for Ukraine and Moldova. Following a unanimous agreement among the 27 EU member states, an intergovernmental conference is being held today in Luxembourg to formally open two major negotiating clusters—focused on the single market and competitiveness—with Ukraine and…”
- democrata.es
Backs: “EU Formally Opens Two New Accession Clusters for Ukraine and Moldova. Following a unanimous agreement among the 27 EU member states, an intergovernmental conference is being held today in Luxembourg to formally open two major negotiating clusters—focused on the single market and competitiveness—with Ukraine and…”
- kyivindependent.com
Backs: “This diplomatic breakthrough was unlocked yesterday when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a key minority-language education bill into law, satisfying a major, long-standing demand by Hungary. 5.”
- rthk.hk
Backs: “This diplomatic breakthrough was unlocked yesterday when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a key minority-language education bill into law, satisfying a major, long-standing demand by Hungary. 5.”
- theguardian.com
Backs: “Controversy Continues Over Unilateral "Energy Ceasefire" Announcement. Debate persists following President Trump’s unilateral announcement on Truth Social of an immediate "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly clarified that the announcement "was news to me" and…”
- time.com
Backs: “Controversy Continues Over Unilateral "Energy Ceasefire" Announcement. Debate persists following President Trump’s unilateral announcement on Truth Social of an immediate "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly clarified that the announcement "was news to me" and…”
- cbsnews.com
Backs: “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly clarified that the announcement "was news to me" and noted that Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure have continued regardless. Several European leaders have reiterated their solidarity with Ukraine amidst the confusion.”
- kyivpost.com
Backs: “Devastating Russian Missile and Drone Barrage Strikes Kharkiv. A massive Russian wave of missiles and specialized "Banderol" drones targeted northeastern Ukraine late yesterday. In Kharkiv, strikes severely damaged civilian and gas infrastructure, partially collapsing a section of a four-story residential building.”
- kyivindependent.com
Backs: “Devastating Russian Missile and Drone Barrage Strikes Kharkiv. A massive Russian wave of missiles and specialized "Banderol" drones targeted northeastern Ukraine late yesterday. In Kharkiv, strikes severely damaged civilian and gas infrastructure, partially collapsing a section of a four-story residential building.”
- kyivpost.com
Backs: “In Kharkiv, strikes severely damaged civilian and gas infrastructure, partially collapsing a section of a four-story residential building. At least 11 people have been reported injured, and search-and-rescue teams are actively working to pull survivors from the rubble.”
- aa.com.tr
Backs: “Third Oil Tanker Explodes After Striking Naval Mine in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported that a third commercial oil tanker struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a massive engine room explosion and fire. Tensions remain at a wartime high in the…”
- youtube.com
Backs: “Third Oil Tanker Explodes After Striking Naval Mine in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported that a third commercial oil tanker struck a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, triggering a massive engine room explosion and fire. Tensions remain at a wartime high in the…”
- reddit.com
Backs: “Tensions remain at a wartime high in the strategic channel—through which 20% of the world's oil transit passes—as the U.S.”
- icimod.org
Backs: “Massive Flash Floods in Nepal Leave Dozens of Homes Swept Away. Emergency services in central Nepal are responding to catastrophic flash floods along the Budhi Gandaki river system. Triggered by a massive landslide near Chumchet in Gorkha district, the surging waters swept away up to 45 homes, destroyed four critical…”
- youtube.com
Backs: “Massive Flash Floods in Nepal Leave Dozens of Homes Swept Away. Emergency services in central Nepal are responding to catastrophic flash floods along the Budhi Gandaki river system. Triggered by a massive landslide near Chumchet in Gorkha district, the surging waters swept away up to 45 homes, destroyed four critical…”
- thehindu.com
Backs: “Triggered by a massive landslide near Chumchet in Gorkha district, the surging waters swept away up to 45 homes, destroyed four critical bridges, and severely damaged local hydropower infrastructure.”
- rediff.com
Backs: “India Reshuffles Governors Across Six States. In a major gubernatorial reshuffle, Indian President Droupadi Murmu has announced significant shifts in state leadership. Notably, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been appointed as the full-time Governor of Tamil Nadu, and Om Prakash Mathur has been moved from Sikkim to…”
- thehindu.com
Backs: “Notably, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been appointed as the full-time Governor of Tamil Nadu, and Om Prakash Mathur has been moved from Sikkim to take charge in Kerala.”
- spaceflightnow.com
Backs: “SpaceX Successfully Launches CRS-35 Resupply Mission to the ISS. Early this morning, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying the Cargo Dragon spacecraft on its 35th resupply mission to the International Space Station. The spacecraft is carrying over…”
- talkoftitusville.com
Backs: “SpaceX Successfully Launches CRS-35 Resupply Mission to the ISS. Early this morning, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying the Cargo Dragon spacecraft on its 35th resupply mission to the International Space Station. The spacecraft is carrying over…”
- basenor.com
Backs: “The spacecraft is carrying over 6,300 pounds of supplies, critical scientific research, and the final pair of ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs), marking the completion of a multi-year power upgrade for the orbiting station.”
- facebook.com
Backs: “The spacecraft is carrying over 6,300 pounds of supplies, critical scientific research, and the final pair of ISS Roll-Out Solar Arrays (iROSAs), marking the completion of a multi-year power upgrade for the orbiting station.”