NEW: A New York Times investigation reveals how two major agreements between the United Arab Emirates and Trump allies became intertwined, raising serious conflict of interest concerns.

In early 2025, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, who controls $1.5 trillion in Emirati wealth, made two landmark deals with Trump associates:

The first was a $2 billion investment in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency start-up founded by the Trump and Witkoff families. The second was US approval for the UAE to acquire hundreds of thousands of advanced AI chips for Sheikh Tahnoon’s tech company, G42, despite national security concerns about China.

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy and a partner in the crypto firm, advocated for the chip deal at the same time his business was securing the massive Emirati investment.

Source: NYT

Zelensky:

My plan "A" is to end the war this year; plan "B" (to keep fighting) requires $120 billion.

The first of three UK fleet support ships will be largely built in Spain rather than the UK because Belfast’s Harland & Wolff shipyard isn’t ready.

Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, leading the £1.6bn project, says this change affects only the first ship, with later vessels still planned for UK construction once the Belfast yard is upgraded by mid-2026.

Source: FT

Libya: Government of National Unity issued a decree exempting Syrians from taxes and residence fees until year-end.

Footage shows Israeli forces in Gaza City.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee:

What destroyed the negotiations for the hostages was the European nations going and having this push for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.

I can tell you that was very detrimental, and it destroyed negotiations.

Q: Did you ever tell Trump or Bondi that Trump's name is in the Epstein files?

FBI Director Kash Patel: (Does not directly answer the question)

Q: How many times did Trump’s name appear in the Epstein files? More than 100, more than 1000?

FBI Director Kash Patel: I don't know the number.

NEW: After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, a US House panel asked the CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit to testify on Oct. 8 about online radicalization and political violence.

Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas official, appeared on Al Jazeera after being at the site of the Israeli attack in Qatar.

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been diagnosed with skin cancer.

Source: AFP

NEW: Israel’s Iron Beam high-powered laser air defense system has been declared operational after final tests and will be delivered to the IDF by year-end.

Sudan: UAE-backed RSF claims victory over army in Rahid al-Nuba, west of Omdurman.

Billie Eilish, Cillian Murphy, Joaquin Phoenix, and others release video for Together For Palestine, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Turkish Intelligence Chief met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus.

BREAKING: Fed reduces interest rates by 25bps.

NEW: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called Gaza a real estate “bonanza,” saying Israel is discussing with the US how to divide the territory after the war.

JD Vance:

Trump is participating in a state visit to the UK. Our closest and most important ally in the world.