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Behind the scenes of ‘Verity’: Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson on improvising a ‘sexy scene,’ that headboard bite and more

Are you ready for Verity? Adapted from Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel of the same name, the film tells the story of Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling, stagnant author who receives the offer of a lifetime following a chance encounter with a charming stranger. Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett) proposes that Lowen ghostwrite the final book in his wife, author Verity Crawford’s (Anne Hathaway) acclaimed series, for a large sum of money, after an accident leaves Verity in a vegetative state.
Lowen reluctantly agrees — but the arrangement soon unravels into something far darker. After unearthing a manuscript Verity had hidden away, Lowen begins to wonder whether the well-respected author is actually responsible for a horrific crime.
“It’s such a theatrical story. It’s incredibly cinematic. It’s so thrilling, it’s super sexy,” Johnson said in an interview with Hollywood+. “It’s really like a fun movie to go to the movie theater to see.”
Hathaway added, “I think this is a movie that was designed to thrill audiences, made by people who really, really love making movies. I hope people scream, I hope that people, like, dress up. And the hope is, at the end, that we ended up somewhere ambiguous but not vague.”
Yahoo rounded up some of the most fascinating, head-scratching behind-the-scenes facts about the adaptation of Hoover’s beloved book, from the preparation that went into Hathaway’s headboard scene to the film’s intentionally ambiguous ending.
Hathaway and Johnson improvised this ‘very sexy’ scene
If there’s one thing audiences can count on, it’s that Hathaway and Johnson bring some serious steam to Verity. In an interview with Variety, Verity director Michael Showalter revealed that Hathaway and Johnson improvised a scene in the film that essentially turns into a steamy makeout session.
There’s a moment in Hoover’s book where Lowen (Johnson) and Jeremy (Hartnett) share a hug. Showalter felt the scene could play out with more sexual tension in the film, as an “intimate-hug moment” that “had the potential to be something very sexually charged,” as he put it. It’s “grief that then turns erotic,” Showalter told Variety.
“It really evolved into Anne and Dakota saying, ‘What if while she’s making out with him, it turns into [Anne]?’ And me going, ‘If you want to do that, yeah,'” he said. “And I thought there was something very sexy — erotic — about Dakota being like, ‘I’m just going to sit on your lap and start kissing you.’ She sees [Jeremy] and just goes there, and that felt like the beginning of something that felt transgressive. She took this thing that she wants, and he’s there for it.”
Johnson said she would kiss Hathaway ‘every day’ if she could
When it comes to kissing Hathaway, Johnson has no notes. While chatting with Out magazine, Johnson gushed about her spicy scenes with The Odyssey actor.
“Spicy sapphic scenes! I love that! That’ll be on my tombstone,” Johnson said, before diving into her makeout scene with Hathaway and Hartnett. “It was very technical, but obviously incredibly enjoyable. I got to make out with the two of them for a few hours! One of them would be under me, one would slide out, and then another would slide in. It was very technical and that is art.”
Hartnett chimed in, “We had such great chemistry as friends on set! The sexual scenes were a little bit goofy when we weren’t filming. You have to keep it light and keep moving! The chemistry in the film is palpable. It comes from mutual respect and understanding.”
Johnson echoed her enthusiasm about kissing Hathaway while talking to Extra TV, as she gushed, “I would kiss Annie for the rest of my life. Every day. If you need me, I’m there.”
That infamous bedroom bite
Don’t worry, Verity fans. One particular detail was translated straight from the book to the screen: When Verity bites the headboard.
“I never thought I’d bite a headboard on camera in my life,” Hathaway told E! News in a joint interview with Johnson and Hartnett. “But that was just like Tuesday.”
According to Hathaway, the moment was extensively rehearsed. Hartnett also chimed in, adding that he had seen several pieces of the headboard with different bite marks on them.
“We had like stunt rehearsals. We had to test so many things,” Hathaway said. “There are certain things that, like, Verity could be, maybe Verity could be a brunette, but we can’t mess up the headboard bite. We have to get that right, because it’s too… it’s too specific and unusual. And so, like, if we’re going to make this movie, we have to get like, a detail like that right.”
During an episode of the Spill Podcast, Hathaway further elaborated on the “multiple meetings” that were held to bring this scene to life. The goal, she explained, was to figure out “how to convincingly make the choice to bite a headboard.”
Hathaway added, “I just couldn’t stop laughing ’cause I just thought, ‘I can’t believe I’m an adult and this is — I’m doing this for work. I’m figuring out how to bite a piece of balsa wood at work today.'”
Hathaway’s creepy, unscripted waltz
While chatting with Hola magazine, Hathaway recalled another on-set improvisation.
“I remember there’s this one [scene] where Verity’s doing something awful,” she told the outlet. “And Michael [Showalter] came to me and said, ‘OK, we’re gonna do it one more time. Can you get into bed and be the happiest person who’s ever gotten into bed?'”
The soon-to-be Yesteryear star then added, “For some reason, I thought, ‘What if I waltz my way into bed?'”
Showalter and Hathaway wondered if the choice was too bizarre to make the final cut.
“And we were wrong! It’s in the movie,” she said.
The scene that was ultimately axed
Unfortunately, not every scene makes it into the final edit. In Hoover’s book, Lowen has a history of sleepwalking. While chatting with E! News, Hathaway and Johnson confirmed that most of those sleepwalking scenes were ultimately cut.
“It’s just not necessarily that interesting to watch someone sleepwalk,” Johnson said.
Hathaway added, “There’s a little bit of it but there was a lot more that was shot.”
Hartnett on the film’s ‘ambiguous’ ending
One thing Hartnett is looking forward to when the film drops? How the audience will debate its ambiguous ending.
“The thing that I can say that’s different about this film than almost any film I’ve read, at this level, a studio releasing a film that has an ambiguous ending and it sort of invites debates from the audience afterward. It’s so rare,” Hartnett told the Associated Press during the film’s London premiere in September. “And I think it’s such a great thing to kind of introduce to cinema at this time. And I think it would be nice to hear people argue about something that’s as fun as this.”
Why Hoover has been feeling ‘all over the place’
The process of bringing Verity to the screen impacted how Hoover viewed the book’s final chapters.
“It did give me, um, you know, food for thought,” Hoover told E! News. “I thought a certain way for so long after writing the book, that seeing the movie and seeing how Michael, you know, kind of dove into every point of view, I started to find myself feeling sorry for the character I thought was more evil in the book.”
Hoover said the experience left her feeling “all over the place.”
“Not that the movie, like, shifts you in one direction or another, I think it was just really fun seeing everyone’s opinions of the truth,” she added.
Hathaway’s doctor advised against eating spicy wings during press tour
When it comes to high-profile press tours, stopping by Sean Evans’s Hot Ones is practically a necessity. The famed segment, where celebrities attempt to eat increasingly spicy wings while answering Evans’s interview questions, has produced some pretty iconic clips. Unfortunately, Hathaway’s doctor advised against her taking on the challenge during her pregnancy.
Fans can still see Hathaway participate in the celebrity rite of passage — sort of. In the film, her character, Verity, appears in an episode of Hot Ones. During an appearance on the Talk of the Townsends podcast, Hathaway explained how she filmed the scene.
“I did the first three wings for real, and then I switched into dummy wings. And then I thought that I was gonna be able to do the Hot Ones challenge to do press for this film because it just made sense,” Hathaway said. “But then I got pregnant, and my doctor said I couldn’t do it because I might go into early labor. So I still haven’t done the gauntlet yet. I’m not sure when that’s gonna happen. Maybe next year.”

Food

Zelenskyy on NPR; Pope Leo; Kimberly Guilfoyle : NPR

Good morning. You’re reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Today’s top stories
In an interview with NPR, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Trump administration warned it could cut intelligence-sharing with Ukraine unless Ukrainian forces halt long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. Zelenskyy said the administration’s decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel won’t lower fuel prices and refuted President Trump’s claim that Ukraine caused the price to spike, instead pointing to the war in Iran. This interview comes as Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches its five-year mark.
🎧 Zelenskyy says that every piece of intelligence is crucial for Ukraine, as stopping ballistic missiles is a top priority, NPR’s Joanna Kakissis tells Up First. Missiles have killed dozens of Ukrainians, including more than 20 people recently in an apartment building in Pryluky. Zelenskyy recounted to Kakissis visiting a wounded girl in the hospital whose father died in the attack, though she didn’t know it. Zelenskyy says he feels the impact of each attack deeply. Last week, Trump said that Russia and Ukraine agreed to halt some strikes on energy sites. Zelenskyy said he would comply if Russia did the same. Two hours after Trump’s announcement, Russia targeted a Ukrainian power plant, and the strikes have continued.
Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer following surgery to remove a growth from his lung, the Vatican announced. Doctors at Gemelli Hospital in Rome removed the lower lobe of the 71-year-old Pope’s right lung during a successful procedure that lasted about 90 minutes. Post-surgery analysis confirmed the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.
🎧 NPR’s Scott Detrow says that lung experts he has spoken with are optimistic about the Pope’s condition, based on Vatican statements. Dr. Vin Gupta from the University of Washington says that doctors’ actions suggest that they caught the cancer early, suggesting it hasn’t spread. If that is the case, this diagnosis may not impact his lifespan. The Pope will stay hospitalized for several days, and his schedule is cleared for at least a week. Detrow has spoken to several of the Pope’s friends, who have been in contact with him and say he remains responsive and in good spirits.
Trump has ousted Kimberly Guilfoyle as his ambassador to Greece. She was a prominent MAGA figure and the former fiancée of his oldest son. Guilfoyle faced unflattering allegations that she was trying to profit from her position, which she denies. The Wall Street Journal reported a series of questionable actions by Guilfoyle last month. One incident involved her asking a Trump donor for $100,000 to settle a credit card bill, promising to use her connections within the administration in return.
🎧 Trump called for Guilfoyle’s resignation yesterday, citing unfavorable media coverage. The president mentioned he hadn’t even spoken to her before she announced her departure on X. NPR’s Michele Kelemen spoke to Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who said that her resignation doesn’t equate to accountability and urged Congress and the inspector general to investigate her actions and the possible misuse of taxpayer funds. Meeks added that serving as a U.S. ambassador is a position of public trust, not a business opportunity. Guilfoyle has defended her commitment to advancing Trump’s America First agenda in Greece and vowed to defend her name, reputation and integrity.
A federal judge ruled late yesterday that Trump cannot bar news organizations from covering him at the White House because he doesn’t like their coverage, at least until a formal trial concludes. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly found that Trump’s decision to exclude more than 70 journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico violated their free speech and due process rights. Both rights are enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.
On the ground
The results of the 2026 midterm elections will shape the final two years of President Trump’s second term and serve as a precursor to the 2028 general election. This month, Morning Edition is reporting from six states that could change the balance of power in Washington.
This week, Morning Edition’s A Martínez traveled to the reliably red state of Texas. The cost of living is a major concern for many voters here. Ground beef hit a record high of about $7/lb in August, which is around $1.50 more than when Trump returned to office. In Floresville, Texas, Martínez spoke with a fourth-generation farmer and rancher who raises beef cattle about the challenges he is facing. Listen to what he had to say.
Martínez also spoke with residents about what is on their minds ahead of Election Day. Hear more about:
🎧 How the redistricting battle launched by Texas Republicans could alter Latino representation.
🎧 The impact that the Trump administration’s immigration policies have had on a Texas border town, and why a conservative pastor near the end of his life shifted his vote and dedicated his life to supporting migrants.
🎧 Why the Senate and gubernatorial races are unusually competitive this year.
Follow the reporting: North Carolina and Georgia coverage airs Oct. 20, followed by reporting from Ohio and Michigan. You can follow along on Morning Edition, NPR.org, in the NPR app and in this newsletter.
Behind the story
by Anthony Kuhn, International Correspondent
To report on Lady Gaga’s ad for the FamilyMart convenience store chain, the first thing I had to do was watch the video of it.
Gaga plays the part of a store worker dancing through the aisles in a leather uniform and platform shoes. To me, she looked like a high priestess of camp, boogying through a temple of retail efficiency to a mad techno beat.
It wasn’t just the wild style that hooked me. It was also the confluence of culture and commerce in Japan.
The issue of Japan’s aging society and its shrinking workforce are an inescapable part of life in Japan, and foreign workers are an inevitable part of the solution. FamilyMart’s ad leverages Lady Gaga’s non-conformist pop persona to appeal to an increasingly diverse workforce, a retail analyst explained to me.
Konbinis, as convenience stores are called in Japan, are also an inescapable part of life there. They function as a deli, post office, copy shop, bank, tax office and Ticketmaster all rolled into one. That’s because it’s cheaper for the government and businesses to offer these services through the konbinis than to run their own.
Another draw is the crazy fresh food, delivered to the stores several times a day. When I’m on assignment in Tokyo, I’m often on deadlines, so I head straight for the konbini onigiri (rice balls) with salmon, tofu and seaweed salad and mochi for dessert. It would be nice to have time for a proper meal, but until I do, I’m not too badly off living the konbini lifestyle.
Give the segment a listen, at your convenience!
3 things to know before you go
A federal judge has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from cutting more trees at East Potomac Golf Links after it cut down hundreds with little notice.
NPR has announced the winners of the Student Podcast Challenge after reviewing nearly 1,500 submissions from 42 states and Washington, D.C. Check out the grand prize winner for middle school, who talks about her dyslexia, and for high school, who discusses an important family memory.
Cheese company Sargento has updated American cheese, also known in the industry as processed pasteurized cheese, to reflect modern eating habits by introducing a natural version. (via KCUR)

Food

Trump tries to rally support for Republican candidates as top Super Pac for Senate Democrats pours millions into key races – live

From 1h ago
Top Senate Democratic Super Pac pours millions more in Michigan and Maine races
The top Super Pac for Senate Democrats will pour more than $7m into two marquee races this cycle: Michigan and Maine.
The Senate Majority Pac has reserved $3.7m for its campaign in Michigan, to support the Democratic nominee , Dr Abdul El-Sayed, against the Trump-backed Republican, Mike Rogers. The group is also investing $3m in Maine, to boost Democrat Troy Jackson’s chances against Susan Collins – the five-term moderate GOP incumbent, who Democrats see as increasingly vulnerable in a cycle where anti-Trump sentiment has colored much of the election.
This comes after reports that the Senate Majority Pac has also paused ad spending in North Carolina and Georgia. Semafor was first to report on the updated spend.
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Updated at 15.36 EDT
Key events
Here’s a recap of the day so far
The top Super Pac for Senate Democrats will pour more than $7m into two marquee races this cycle: Michigan and Maine. The Senate Majority Pac has reserved $3.7m for its campaign in Michigan, to support the Democratic nominee in the Senate race, Dr Abdul El-Sayed, against the Trump-backed Republican, Mike Rogers. The group is also investing $3m in Maine, to boost Democrat Troy Jackson’s chances against Susan Collins. Meanwhile, Trump will travel to Bullhead City, Arizona, for a midterms rally, and will continue his campaigning blitz in Kalispell, Montana, later today.
The justice department has threatened California over alleged noncitizen voters. In a letter addressed to the California secretary of state, Shirley Weber, on Tuesday, the acting deputy attorney general, Trent McCotter, said the justice department gave Los Angeles county officials a “password-protected thumb drive” with names of people that the federal government “believes are likely noncitizens”. The justice department’s latest threat comes as the Trump administration seeks evidence to support unverified claims of voter fraud ahead of next month’s midterm elections.
US price increases reached an annual rate of 3.7% in September, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from 3.4% in August. This final inflation report before the pivotal midterm elections comes amid polls showing widespread dissatisfaction with the Trump administration over the cost of living. Overall, consumer prices went up 0.6% from August. Core inflation, which strips out volatile energy and food prices, also ticked up by 0.3% in September, to 2.6% annually.
A record number of Georgians cast ballots in the first day of early voting this midterm cycle. According to the Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s secretary of state, there were 188,600 votes cast on Tuesday – an increase of more than 53,000 voters over the 2022 midterm election, which saw 134,962 early in-person votes.
Kamala Harris, the former vice-president and 2024 presidential nominee, will travel across the country in support of several Democrats facing competitive races in the final two weeks ahead of the November midterms, according to her office. Harris will kick off her campaigning sprint on 21 October, when she heads to Nevada, before traveling to New Hampshire and Wisconsin, and then capping her sprint off in Georgia with a campaign event with Senator Jon Ossoff at the end of the month.
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Updated at 15.36 EDT
Top Senate Democratic Super Pac pours millions more in Michigan and Maine races
The top Super Pac for Senate Democrats will pour more than $7m into two marquee races this cycle: Michigan and Maine.
The Senate Majority Pac has reserved $3.7m for its campaign in Michigan, to support the Democratic nominee , Dr Abdul El-Sayed, against the Trump-backed Republican, Mike Rogers. The group is also investing $3m in Maine, to boost Democrat Troy Jackson’s chances against Susan Collins – the five-term moderate GOP incumbent, who Democrats see as increasingly vulnerable in a cycle where anti-Trump sentiment has colored much of the election.
This comes after reports that the Senate Majority Pac has also paused ad spending in North Carolina and Georgia. Semafor was first to report on the updated spend.
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Updated at 15.36 EDT
Ken Paxton says Greg Abbott is ‘struggling’ in Texas gubernatorial race in leaked audio – report
In leaked audio obtained by Rolling Stone, Ken Paxton – the Republican nominee for US Senate in Texas – said that Greg Abbott – the incumbent GOP governor – was “struggling” in his re-election bid against Democratic state legislator Gina Hinojosa.
“Yes, Abbott is struggling, but he has a lot of money. [Hinojosa] has none,” Paxton told attenders at a private donor event in Washington DC, according to Rolling Stone. Paxton said that even though Hinojosa has “no name ID” the race is “still close”.
He added: “[Abbott] didn’t have any primary, like I did, that was brutal with all the negative ads.”
This is the latest audio leak from the 24 September event, where Paxton appears to have justified his extremely competitive race, in which he’s trailing in the polls against his Democratic opponent, James Talarico.
Earlier this month, Axios reported Paxton admitted privately that rising fuel prices as a result of Donald Trump’s Iran war were hurting Republicans ahead of the midterms, in a recording from the same fundraiser.
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Updated at 14.18 EDT
Anna Betts
A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from placing sanctions on two US-based human rights groups for working to help the international criminal court’s (ICC) investigations into war crimes in Gaza.
In a 30-page order issued on Tuesday, Jesse M Furman, a judge at the US district court for the southern district of New York, granted a preliminary injunction to the two groups, Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn) and Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide (Taag).
The two organizations sued the Trump administration this summer, challenging an executive order issued in February 2025 that imposed sanctions against the ICC.
The order warned the US government would “impose tangible and significant consequences” on people involved in investigations that Washington said threatened the national security of the US or its allies, including Israel.
The order came after the ICC issued arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Both men have rejected accusations against them, and the US government also opposed the court’s decision to issue the warrants.
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The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said that it is “painful” for Donald Trump to choose a different side, following Trump’s comments that Zelenskyy should be replaced.
Speaking to Piers Morgan on Wednesday, the Ukrainian president said: “It’s painful when President Trump chooses one side, ‌not our side.”
He went on to add: “If you are in the ‌middle, you have to stay in the middle.”
Over the weekend, Trump called for Zelenskyy to be replaced after announcing a new deal with Russia to buy large amounts of Russian diesel – which Zelenskyy sharply criticized.
“I suggest they get a new leader who can make a deal because he could have made many deals and for some reason he never does,” Trump said.
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Updated at 12.59 EDT
Justice department threatens California over alleged noncitizen voters
The justice department has threatened California over alleged noncitizen voters.
In a letter addressed to the California secretary of state, Shirley Weber, on Tuesday, the acting deputy attorney general, Trent McCotter, said the justice department gave Los Angeles county officials a “password-protected thumb drive” with names of people that the federal government “believes are likely noncitizens”, Reuters first reported.
The letter, which gives state officials 48 hours to review the list, demands California withhold mail-in ballots from the listed people until their citizenship is confirmed, adding that ballots mailed back should be “segregated” and that those already returned should not be counted “until citizenship has been determined”.
The justice department added that if California officials do not comply, it “will have no choice but to seek emergency relief”.
“Allowing noncitizens to vote cancels citizen votes,” McCotter wrote in the letter.
The justice department’s latest threat comes as the Trump administration seeks evidence to support unverified claims of voter fraud ahead of next month’s midterm elections.
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Updated at 15.37 EDT
Ariana Baio
Several of Donald Trump’s second-term policies will be tested at the supreme court in the coming months: it is being asked to rule on challenges to the administration’s harsh immigration and deportation policies, along with a climate change lawsuit against energy companies and an attempt to loosen restrictions on assault-style rifles.
The Roberts court is often split in favor of conservative issues 6-3, but it has also diverged from Trump on some key cases, leading the president at times to rage against some of the justices he nominated for the bench.
Decisions are expected in or before June 2027.
Here are some of the major supreme court cases in the 2026-27 term:
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Updated at 12.22 EDT
Melody Schreiber
Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas and the Republican candidate for the US Senate, is aligning himself with the Make America Healthy Again (Maha) movement by investigating pediatricians for giving vaccines – actions that could further restrict access to vaccines as deadly outbreaks unfold.
Paxton announced he would investigate an alleged conspiracy between pediatricians, vaccine makers and insurance companies in January, and at least one Texas pediatrician now says she is under investigation. Paxton linked his efforts to a campaign against vaccines from Donald Trump and Robert F Kennedy Jr, the secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and directly referenced the Maha movement in his announcement. The president endorsed Paxton’s Senate run in May.
Pointing to a sweeping collusion that “illegally incentivized” doctors to administer vaccines, Paxton alleges that the pharmaceutical and insurance industries were attempting to “bribe” medical providers.
He also launched an investigation into the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), accusing them in August of potentially recommending vaccines for financial gain – referencing a lawsuit the AAP filed earlier this year to halt sweeping changes to the childhood immunization schedule and once again invoking Trump and Kennedy’s moves on vaccines.
A new law in Taxes makes it easier for parents to request school vaccine exemptions, as the rate of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination falls in the state. Only 93.3% of kindergarteners in Texas are now fully vaccinated against measles.
Pediatricians are one of the lowest-paid medical specialties and “barely break even” on vaccines, said Marjan Linnell, a pediatrician and president-elect of the Texas Pediatric Society.
But Kennedy has made millions suing vaccine makers. He has made at least $2.5m in referrals for lawsuits related to vaccine side-effects to the law firm Wisner Baum. He had a 10% contingency stake in a Gardasil vaccine lawsuit that reportedly settled for about $50m in June.
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Updated at 11.57 EDT
Now that there are fewer than three weeks until the midterm elections, my colleagues have put together a video explainer about the four key issues driving voters to the polls ahead of November.
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Updated at 11.25 EDT
Kamala Harris to travel across country to rally for Democrats in final midterm sprint
Kamala Harris, the former vice-president and 2024 presidential nominee, will travel across the country in support of several Democrats facing competitive races in the final two weeks ahead of the November midterms, according to her office.
Harris will kick off her campaigning sprint on 21 October, when she heads to Nevada to campaign with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford. She’ll then spend the rest of the week making stops in Mississippi to stump with Scott Colom, the Democratic nominee facing an uphill battle in the US Senate race; New Hampshire to campaign with congressman Chris Pappas – who is vying for the open Senate seat in the state; and Wisconsin to drum support for gubernatorial candidate David Crowley.
Harris will cap off her tour with a campaign event with Senator Jon Ossoff in Georgia at the end of the month.
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Georgia sets new record for first-day early midterm voting
A record number of Georgians cast ballots in the first day of early voting this midterm cycle.
According to the Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s secretary of state, there were 188,600 votes cast on Tuesday – an increase of more than 53,000 voters over the 2022 midterm election, which saw 134,962 early in-person votes.
“This record-breaking turnout proves that voters have confidence in the integrity of our elections,” said Raffensperger.
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Updated at 10.23 EDT
In response to the latest inflation numbers, Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate banking committee, said that the “data confirms that households paid more for gas and housing in September, core inflation increased, and wages still aren’t keeping up,” and slammed Trump’s promise to “lower costs on ‘day one’”.
“Real wages have now failed to keep pace with inflation for six straight months, and are down 1.3% since Trump’s war began,” she added in a statement.
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Inflation hits 3.7% in final report before midterms
Gaya Gupta
US price increases reached an annual rate of 3.7% in September, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from 3.4% in August.
This final inflation report before the pivotal midterm elections comes amid polls showing widespread dissatisfaction with the Trump administration over the cost of living.
Price increases are the highest they have been since the annual inflation rate reached a three-year peak of 4.2% in May. Gasoline accounted for over half of overall price increases, up 34% from last year. Fuel oil, which is used to heat homes, increased by 74% from last year, a worrying sign for households heading into the winter. Air travel, which many Americans rely on during the holidays, also increased by 22.4%.
Overall, consumer prices went up 0.6% from August. Core inflation, which strips out volatile energy and food prices, also ticked up by 0.3% in September to 2.6% annually.
Price increases this year have largely driven by the US-Israel war with Iran, which has caused energy prices to soar. Average gas prices remain over a dollar per gallon more than last year, according to data from AAA. Meanwhile diesel, which powers domestic supply chains, reached a record-high last month.
Here’s the full report:
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Also today, while Trump traverses the sun belt, vice-president JD Vance will head to Atlanta, Georgia to rally for both Mike Collins, the Republican nominee facing Jon Ossoff in the US Senate race, and Rick Jackson – the GOP contender in the gubernatorial race – who is up against Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Democratic mayor of Atlanta.
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Wall Street Sees Inflation Easing Even With Oil Above $90

The U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report is due to be released on Wednesday, with economists predicting that key inflation metrics continued to moderate in September despite elevated oil prices, giving the Fed room to slow down on interest rate hikes. For September, economists expect headline inflation growth to clock in at 0.5% month-over-month and 3.6%- 3.7% year-over-year, up from 0.4% m-o-m and 3.4% Y/Y in August. Meanwhile, core CPI, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, is seen climbing 0.2% in September, down from August’s 0.3%, with the annual core inflation rate expected to hold steady at 2.4%. Additionally, the probability of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike at the upcoming October 27–28 meeting has dropped to around 19% to 20%, down significantly from over 70% in late September.
“You’ve seen supply shocks create a sticky situation,” Jeffrey Schulze, head investment strategist at the Franklin Templeton Institute, told Morningstar, referring to oil supply disruptions, tariff shocks and AI-related consumer goods’ price spikes. “But as we move toward 2027, some of these risks are going to start to moderate. That moderation may already be underway. I think you see softening across the board [in September].”
Source: Morningstar
While the headline inflation is already exposing the impact of rising crude prices, economists note that broader core inflation categories have remained insulated, showing little to no evidence of pass-through pricing. Airfares have absorbed the brunt of ongoing energy shocks, with price increases exceeding 2% m-o-m in both July and August and 25% Y/Y thanks to elevated jet fuel costs. Fuel represents roughly 17% to 21% of an airline’s total operating expenses, making ticket pricing uniquely sensitive to oil price spikes. In contrast, pass-through effects for most retail and manufacturing sectors can take several months or even quarters to manifest. “I think that’s going to be something that potentially shows up closer toward the end of the year, rather than in the September release,” says Schulze.
Related: OPEC Sees Oil Demand Growth Surging to 2.6 Million Bpd in 2027
U.S. oil and fuel prices have come down from recent highs but remain elevated. Brent crude for December delivery fell 2.0% to trade at $104.60 per barrel at 7.00 am ET on Tuesday, while WTI crude for November delivery declined by a similar margin to change hands at $91.89/bbl. Meanwhile, the average price of gasoline across the U.S. clocked in at $4.3413 per gallon on Tuesday, down from $4.8133/gal a month ago but much higher than around $2.98/gal before the war broke out in late February. Unfortunately, diesel prices have hardly budged, currently averaging $6.2787/gal from $6.3151 a week ago.
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump struck a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to supply Russian diesel to U.S. and global markets in an effort to curb soaring fuel prices. Russia has pledged to release more than 300,000 metric tons (approx. 2.25 million barrels) of diesel fuel immediately, with an additional 500,000 metric tons scheduled for delivery in November 2026. Russia will then release 1 million metric tons following the November allocation, with a potential 3 million metric tons also in the cards depending on the condition of Russian oil refineries.
As part of the deal, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a general license suspending sanctions on Russian diesel exports until April 7, 2027, although other assets such as those held in American banks remain frozen. Hardly surprisingly, the agreement has sparked bipartisan opposition in Congress, with a group of both Republican and Democratic senators pointing out that the move violates a 2022 law banning Russian energy imports. European leaders have also criticized the temporary carve-out, arguing that pressure on Moscow ought to be increased rather than eased.
However, the deal’s biggest critics have been energy experts, who have aptly noted that the deliveries are likely to have minimal impact on fuel prices. To wit, the initial delivery of ~2.25 million barrels is hardly enough to meet the United States’ consumption for a single day, estimated at ~4.1 million barrels. Those volumes look even more puny in a global middle distillates market which remains badly squeezed. Ukrainian drone and missile strikes have decimated Russia’s energy infrastructure, slashing Russian diesel production by nearly 30% and forcing Moscow to restrict or ban some of its own fuel exports earlier in the year in a bid to protect domestic supplies. Prior to the attacks, Russian diesel exports averaged more than 3 million metric tons per month (~1,000,000 barrels per day).
By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com
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Germany news: Left-leaning Berlin coalition talks break down

Richard Connor with AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters, KNA, epd, SID
Published 10/13/2026Published October 13, 2026
The SPD and Greens in Berlin have halted exploratory coalition talks with the Left Party amid a dispute over Israel policy and antisemitism. DW has more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5OBqW
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Skip next section What you need to know
What you need to know
Berlin’s SPD and Greens stop regional parliament coalition talks with the Left Party, disappointed with its pledges on Israel and organized crime
They did leave the door open to potentially restart the exploratory talks, however
International Monetary Fund raises Germany’s 2026 growth forecast to 1.3%, up from just 0.7% in July
Investment in infrastructure and defense, stronger exports and demand linked to artificial intelligence are helping the recovery
Germany’s 2026 wine harvest is expected to be around 20% below the ten-year average
Here is a roundup of top stories from and about Germany on Tuesday, October 13, 2026:
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Skip next section Why have the Berlin exploratory talks broken down within a week?
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Why have the Berlin exploratory talks broken down within a week?
The breakdown in the exploratory talks can be traced back to concerns about the often highly critical stance on Israel adopted by some members of the Left Party, coupled with criticism of the appearance of a figure linked to organized crime at an election night party.
The Left scored well with parts of Berlin’s population, not least the young and communities with more people of migrant backgrounds, with an unusually stern line on Israeli wars in Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East by the often muted standards of German politics.
But comments from its more outspoken members and controversies like an organized crime boss attending an election-night after-party led to questions — particularly in some newspapers and from the conservative Christian Democrats — about whether center-left parties could work under the Left’s leadership.
In a bid to settle this, the Greens, SPD and Left drafted a joint statement on antisemitism, Israel’s right to exist and maintaining a distance from organized crime before starting their talks.
But the text subsequently faced criticism from within the Left’s own ranks.
On Tuesday, as 44 Left Party members of the new Berlin parliament met, they instead signed off on a different text more closely aligned to the party’s past internal position papers.
“We stand by Israel’s right to exist and for equal rights for all people in Israel. Equally we stand by Palestine’s right to exist and for equal rights for all people in Palestine,” the Left Party’s text read.
Among other things, this omits a reference in the joint text to Israel’s right to exist being “non-negotiable,” and to listing potential sanctions for transgressions potentially extending as far as being ejected from the party.
The CDU — which emerged as the second-largest party in the vote, well adrift of the Left on 18.8% — argue that the SPD and Greens should negotiate a coalition government with them instead.
Chancellor Merz had also weighed into the discussion, saying that the allegations of impropriety facing the Left Party cannot be “dismissed with a piece of paper.” In the meantime, the party’s state lawmakers appear to have disavowed that piece of paper anyway.
What’s behind the rising polarization in German politics?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5ODuj
Skip next section Berlin: SPD and Greens halt exploratory coalition talks with Left Party
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Berlin: SPD and Greens halt exploratory coalition talks with Left Party
Berlin’s center-left Social Democrats (SPD) and environmentalist Greens have halted exploratory coalition talks with the socialist Left Party , which followed last month’s regional elections.
The two parties’ lead candidates from the state elections, Werner Graf of the Greens and Steffen Krach of the SPD, announced the move in a joint statement on Tuesday evening.
They referred to Left Party meetings earlier in the day in which party members signed a statement on handling antisemitism and on Israel’s right to exist, but using a text that differed from a statement the three parties had jointly agreed to when opening the negotiations.
“We have taken note that the Left Party have reached a different arrangement within their own party,” Graf and Krach’s statement said.
However, the SPD and Greens also made clear that they were not closing the door on the Left Party entirely.
“This means that at this point we have to interrupt the coalition negotiations, so as to evaluate whether or not our agreement from last week still stands,” they wrote. “We expect the Left Party to make clear to us to what extent they take the agreements they made seriously and intend to implement them.”
The Left Party emerged as the largest party Berlin’s close-fought election last month, claiming just under 26% of the vote, faring particularly well with young voters.
The Greens won just over 14% and the SPD just over 12% — meaning that the three left-leaning parties would command a slim majority if combined.
In theory, the SPD and Greens could also ally with the conservative CDU, but this would yield an even more fragile majority in the city-state’s parliament, with stiff populist opposition from the AfD on the far-right and the Left on the other flank.
https://p.dw.com/p/5ODq7
Skip next section Astronaut Adenot: Mars voyage with current tech would be ‘disaster’
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Astronaut Adenot: Mars voyage with current tech would be ‘disaster’
French astronaut Sophie Adenot spoke to reporters at the European Space Agency (ESA) headquarters in Cologne on Tuesday, shortly after her return from the International Space Station.
She said that based on her experiences, it was too early to consider a mission to Mars the likes of which Elon Musk has been touting for years.
“We are not ready, we need technological breakthroughs,” Adenot said, recalling her thoughts on landing in the Pacific Ocean five days ago after months in orbit.
“The moment the capsule opened, the first thing I said was, ‘send me back to space,’ because I was getting seasick on the waves,” Adenot said. “But the second thing I said was that we are not ready to fly to Mars.”
Adenot explained how around half of astronauts experienced symptoms like she did on returning from a long stretch in space, like pronounced frailty and nausea.
“With the technology that we currently have, a very long mission, a journey to Mars lasting months — just imagine the disaster,” Adenot said.
Adenot said that technological breakthroughs were needed, either to drastically shorten the travel time, “or for example to artificially generate gravity,” perhaps by having the spacecraft in a permanent state of rotation.
Adenot spent eight months on the International Space Station — a comparable amount of time that it would theoretically take to fly to Mars with current propulsion methods.
But she said that on the ISS there was much more space and much better facilities for exercise and movement than any transport vessel could offer.
https://p.dw.com/p/5ODR7
Skip next section Boateng ‘proud and happy’ in Trabzonspor coaching role after Bayern job fell through
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Boateng ‘proud and happy’ in Trabzonspor coaching role after Bayern job fell through
Former Germany defender Jerome Boateng has confirmed reports of him taking up a coaching role with Turkish top-flight club Trabzonspor.
“I am very proud and happy to be a part of the coaching staff,” Boateng wrote on Instagram, saying it meant “a great deal to me” to learn from Trabzonspor’s German head coach and his team every day.
The 2014 World Cup winner Boateng also said the role allowed him to share his experience and work with players “on and off the pitch, which is very valuable to me.”
One of those Trabzonspor players is Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah, who joined from Liverpool in the offseason and has hit the ground running scoring a goal a game.
Boateng’s appointment follows around a year after a planned start to his coaching career at his former club Bayern Munich fell through.
Boateng retired as a player in September 2025. He was then invited by head coach Vincent Kompany to gain experience with the Bundesliga champions. But after vocal fan protests, Boateng said he had decided to focus on other matters given the “recent discussions about me.”
The protests appeared to be linked to a 2024 Munich court ruling, which found Boateng guilty of intentionally causing bodily harm to a former girlfriend and issued him a formal warning. Boateng denies ever having hit a woman.
https://p.dw.com/p/5ODGO
Skip next section Ukraine allies in Poland after ‘very difficult few days’ with Trump
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Ukraine allies in Poland after ‘very difficult few days’ with Trump
The foreign ministers of Germany, Norway, Poland and the UK spoke at the Warsaw Security Forum on Tuesday.
They expressed criticism and skepticism about US President Donald Trump’s approach to the conflict in Ukraine in the past week.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul bemoaned the US decision to lift sanctions on Russian diesel as part of a deal to supply the US — seemingly struck as Trump panics about fuel prices with the Iran war still unresolved and a month to go until mid-term elections.
“I would say this is not the time to lower the sanctions regime but to strengthen this,” Wadephul said.
“We are keeping our course,” he said, adding that Europe was asking the authorities in Washington to do the same.
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband arguably found even clearer words.
“Within the bounds of diplomacy we should acknowledge that it’s been a very difficult few days,” Miliband said in the Polish capital that’s just a few hours’ drive from Ukraine’s western border.
He lauded Zelenskyy for showing “extraordinary leadership … in the most difficult of circumstances” since Putin’s 2022 full-scale invasion, shortly after Trump’s call — mirroring Russian messaging — for presidential elections in war-torn Ukraine.
However, Miliband also said the notion of an “energy ceasefire” raised by Trump — seemingly unilaterally — was nevertheless worthy of consideration given the attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the onset of winter.
“So let us take up this idea of the full energy ceasefire and let us seek with President Trump to hold Putin to this full energy ceasefire, because that is what we need.”
Miliband noted how Zelenskyy had expressed a willingness in theory, even if Russia was yet to do so.
https://p.dw.com/p/5ODGP
Skip next section IMF nearly doubles German growth forecast to 1.3%
Published 10/13/2026Published October 13, 2026
IMF nearly doubles German growth forecast to 1.3%
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its forecast for German economic growth this year to 1.3%, almost double the 0.7% it predicted in July.
It now expects Europe’s largest economy to expand by 1.1% in 2027, an upward revision of 0.1 percentage points.
The figures match the German government’s forecasts released last week. The Economy Ministry said the economy had proved more resilient than expected despite higher energy prices and uncertainty over US tariffs.
Government investment in infrastructure and defense, alongside stronger exports, has helped support the recovery. German suppliers are also benefiting from investment in artificial intelligence.
The IMF slightly raised its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3.1%, from 3.0%, while keeping its projection for next year unchanged at 3.4%.
Strong investment in AI has helped offset the energy shock caused by the war in the Middle East. Higher oil production outside the Gulf, releases from strategic reserves and weaker demand in China have also cushioned the impact.
The IMF raised its eurozone growth forecast for this year by 0.2 percentage points to 1.1%. It still expects growth of 1.2% in 2027.
However, higher energy prices and weak consumer confidence continue to weigh on the currency bloc’s economy.
Crumbling infrastructure: Germany’s growth killer?
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https://p.dw.com/p/5OBt4
Skip next section Berlin airport cuts outlook as Ryanair scales back
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Berlin airport cuts outlook as Ryanair scales back
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) expects passenger numbers to fall this year and next as Ryanair cuts its services, airport chief Aletta von Massenbach said.
The airport now forecasts 25.7 million passengers in 2026, down from 26.1 million last year, a decline von Massenbach described as the “Ryanair effect.”
Other airlines would partly offset Ryanair’s cuts, but would not fill the gap entirely, she said.
The airport is reviewing all costs and postponing investments in response.
“This is a heavy blow,” von Massenbach said of Ryanair’s decision to close its BER base, comprising seven aircraft and their crews, on October 24.
Europe’s largest budget airline will continue flying to Berlin but will cut roughly half its services, removing around 2.5 million seats a year, she said.
Ryanair has called BER “Europe’s most unsuccessful airport.” Von Massenbach said she understood the airline’s frustration over high costs in Germany, interpreting its criticism as primarily directed at the federal government.
“Everything they say against BER, they are saying against Germany,” she said.
The aviation industry has long criticized Germany’s comparatively high taxes and fees, arguing that they are a main reason air traffic has recovered more slowly from the pandemic than elsewhere in Europe.
https://p.dw.com/p/5OCs2
Skip next section Fighter jets escort plane to Nuremberg airport
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Fighter jets escort plane to Nuremberg airport
German fighter jets escorted a passenger plane from Greece to Nuremberg, prompting a temporary airport closure. Police later gave the all-clear, saying everyone on board was safe.
Read more about the story here.
https://p.dw.com/p/5OCx8
Skip next section Pistorius says Trump has his ‘back against the wall’
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Pistorius says Trump has his ‘back against the wall’
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says US President Donald Trump is under severe domestic political pressure and that his threats should be viewed in the context of the upcoming US midterm elections.
Trump has his political “back against the wall,” Pistorius, of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), told an employers’ conference in Berlin.
History shows that leaders under pressure at home seek opportunities abroad to score political points, he said, adding that he believed the strategy would backfire.
All seats in the US House of Representatives and around a third of the Senate are up for election on November 3. The outcome could significantly affect Trump’s ability to pursue his agenda for the rest of his term.
Pistorius was responding to Trump’s call to replace Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his announcement of a diesel supply deal with Russia.
German chancellor rejects Trump’s Russian diesel deal
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https://p.dw.com/p/5OCkc
Skip next section Four reportedly detained over Starlink fire in Poland
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Four reportedly detained over Starlink fire in Poland
Police have detained two more people in connection with a fire at a Starlink station in Poland, bringing the total to four, Polish private broadcaster RMF FM reported, citing anonymous sources.
The broadcaster first reported that German police had detained a woman in Berlin. It later reported a fourth detention without providing further details.
Polish authorities said two Turkish men had already been detained in Germany on suspicion of being responsible for the blaze.
The September fire at the station in central Poland engulfed its power system and backup generator. Polish authorities blamed Russia, saying they believed it was sabotage aimed at disrupting internet services, including for Ukraine’s military.
https://p.dw.com/p/5OCKa
Skip next section Merz says Germany’s strengths are overlooked at home
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Merz says Germany’s strengths are overlooked at home
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that Germany is viewed much more positively abroad than at home, arguing that Germans underestimate their country’s economic strengths.
Speaking at the German Employers’ Day in Berlin, Merz said his meetings and travels had shown him a striking difference between perceptions of Germany at home and abroad.
“Germany is viewed very differently from the outside than we see ourselves from the inside,” he said.
He said Germany was seen internationally as an attractive place to invest, despite its problems, and called for greater recognition of its economic potential.
The chancellor acknowledged that reforms were proving difficult, particularly because of disagreements within his governing coalition, but insisted that progress was being made.
He pointed to measures already passed into law and efforts to speed up planning and approval procedures for major infrastructure projects.
“The money is there, the rules are there, now we can build,” Merz said.
https://p.dw.com/p/5OCKC
Skip next section Merz: ‘I have no intention of becoming the nation’s darling’
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Merz: ‘I have no intention of becoming the nation’s darling’
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he is not interested in being popular, insisting that his priority is to push through difficult reforms rather than improve his personal approval ratings.
An ARD-DeutschlandTrend survey published on October 1 found that just 10% of voters were satisfied with Merz’s performance, the lowest rating for any German chancellor since the survey began in 1997. Some 88% were dissatisfied.
“I have no intention of becoming the nation’s darling,” Merz told an audience at the German Employers’ Day in Berlin on Tuesday.
“My intention is to get this country back on track so that we can offer a reasonable perspective again, especially for the younger generation.”
Merz made the remarks after being asked whether he was prepared to confront opposition to potentially unpopular reforms aimed at making Germany more competitive.
“I am right in the middle of this conflict,” he said. “If I weren’t, my personal poll ratings would be better.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5OCD8
Skip next section German inflation rises to highest level since late 2023
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
German inflation rises to highest level since late 2023
Germany’s annual inflation rate rose to 3.3% in September as sharply higher fuel and heating oil prices pushed up living costs, the Federal Statistical Office said, confirming its preliminary estimate.
It was the highest rate since December 2023, up from 2.9% in August and 2.8% in July.
“The rise was again driven by energy prices,” said the office’s president, Ruth Brand, highlighting increases at petrol stations and in heating oil costs.
Energy prices climbed 14.9% compared with September last year, their steepest increase since February 2023. Motor fuel prices rose 37.1%, while heating oil jumped 74.9%.
However, electricity prices fell 5.5%, natural gas prices dropped 2.8% and district heating became 1% cheaper. The office attributed those declines partly to government measures introduced at the start of the year.
Services prices rose 2.7%, with the pace of increases easing slightly again. Food prices edged up 0.4%, although eggs, fresh vegetables, fish and seafood became noticeably more expensive. Butter, fresh fruit and dairy products cost less.
https://p.dw.com/p/5OBz4
Skip next section Wadephul urges Europe to increase pressure on Russia
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Wadephul urges Europe to increase pressure on Russia
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called for greater pressure on Russia ahead of talks with his Polish, Norwegian and British counterparts in Warsaw, warning that Moscow’s attacks on Ukraine threaten Europe as a whole.
“We are also in the crosshairs,” he said before departing for the Warsaw Security Forum.
“Now is the time to increase pressure on Russia rather than lower our own guard,” Wadephul added.
The meeting is intended to signal European unity following controversial remarks by US President Donald Trump after talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump called for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be replaced and announced an agreement for Russia to supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel.
Wadephul said European countries were taking joint responsibility “to ensure that Europe’s freedom is also defended by us Europeans.”
https://p.dw.com/p/5OByS
Skip next section Germany arrests two over Starlink sabotage in Poland
10/13/2026October 13, 2026
Germany arrests two over Starlink sabotage in Poland
Two Turkish citizens have been arrested in Germany over a suspected arson attack on a Starlink satellite internet station in Poland, the Polish government has said.
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski said the suspects would face charges of sabotage on behalf of a foreign intelligence service.
German newspaper Bild reported that special police units stopped one of the suspects in a vehicle in Berlin’s western Staaken district. Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office did not immediately comment.
The fire in central Poland in September damaged the station’s power supply and backup generator. Polish authorities suspected sabotage intended to disrupt internet access, including for Ukraine’s military.
“We have no doubt that Russian services are behind this act of sabotage,” said Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland’s minister responsible for coordinating intelligence services. He said Russian intelligence was increasingly recruiting people from criminal circles.
Ukraine’s military relies on tens of thousands of Starlink terminals for battlefield communications and drone operations. Elon Musk’s SpaceX activated the service for Ukraine after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Poland says it pays for Ukraine’s subscriptions.
Germany launches €35-billion military space program
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Iran is increasingly targeting British military sites, MI5 boss says

LONDON — Iran is escalating its campaign of threats on British soil, expanding attacks beyond dissidents abroad and Jewish sites to now focusing on harder military targets, the country’s domestic intelligence chief said Tuesday.
MI5 Director General Ken McCallum was speaking less than two weeks after the United States rushed to withdraw its bombers from a key air base in England, with American officials saying there had been reports of a possible Iranian drone attack.
Giving a wide-ranging “annual threat update” at MI5’s Thames House headquarters in London, McCallum warned that Britain and Europe had “entered a new era of national security,” which he likened to the shift that came after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
His speech comes at a moment of tumult not just for the Middle East and Ukraine, which continue to be ravaged by war, but also the rest of Europe, which has suffered so-called hybrid aggression from Moscow and Tehran including sabotage, arson and cyberattacks. European governments are now openly telling people to stockpile food and prepare for more of their taxes to be spent on defense, warning that Russia may launch a direct attack on their soil.
MI5 is now devoting more resources than it had during the Cold War to countering threats from countries such as Russia, Iran, China and others, McCallum said.
“Russia remains aggressor No. 1, as Putin’s Kremlin continues to lash out at the U.K. and its allies,” he added.
But another arch belligerent is Iran, whose leaders have been “attempting to expand their hybrid campaign” of “using criminal proxies to try to intimidate oppositionists, Iranian media organizations and Israeli sites,” the spy chief said.
“Much of this aggression has been aimed at British Jewish communities, with whom I want to express solidarity,” he said. But this year has seen a shift of “Iranian ambitions to come at harder targets, like military sites.”
Over the past year, intelligence operations have led to more than 50 Iran-linked arrests in Britain, he said.
McCallum made reference to the incident last month at RAF Fairford, the military base in rural England from where the U.S. had been launching bombers involved in the assault against Iran. He declined to give details, citing ongoing investigations and operations, but said the case was “not unique.”
Details are hazy, but in the early hours of Sept. 27, a member of the public called the police after spotting three vans in a country lane near the base. Seven men in their 20s, one of them a dual British-Iranian national, have been arrested and released on bail. Authorities said they found only gasoline in the vehicles.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told lawmakers in Parliament on Monday that the incident “is highly likely to have been coordinated in Iran, almost certainly directed” by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the powerful political, military and economic group that holds huge sway in the country.
A week after the incident, Washington hastily withdrew its bombers from the base because, according to two U.S. officials, of reports of a possible drone attack against the site.
On Tuesday, McCallum downplayed fears that Iran could mount such a complex attack, saying it has so far been hiring unsophisticated criminals for operations in the United Kingdom. But he warned that could change.
On Russia, McCallum said its military and intelligence services “are once again escalating their attempts at hybrid warfare,” being careful not to trigger NATO’s Article 5 threshold, in which other countries would be expected to defend their allies.
“We see them scrambling to pay criminals to do their bidding,” he said. “The whole aim of hybrid tactics is to try to intimidate us.”
Within the U.K.’s “multifaceted relationship with China” — Beijing is a major trading partner to London — MI5 has been focused on efforts by the Chinese government “to conduct espionage, coercion or democratic interference.”
On Al Qaeda and the Islamic State terrorist group, or ISIS, MI5 still has to respond “to attempts to carry out mass casualty attacks,” he said.
But perhaps the gravest warning came when it came to artificial intelligence, which he said in the future could be used by terrorist groups and other actors to create new “bioweapons.”
And “beyond misuse of AI by human adversaries sit the potential risks posed by AI itself,” he said.
“Put at its simplest, human history has given us no experience of facing an actor which is smarter than we are. Is capable of out-thinking us. This is genuinely novel. And deserves the serious attention it is getting, including in MI5.”