A satellite image sent researchers to a remote Pacific atoll, but their findings brought no resolution to the decades-old search. Here’s what to know.

© The New York Times

1. Robot factories and hypersonic missiles: JPMorgan Chase’s first $5 billion of defense investments  CNBC
2. Jamie Dimon’s National-Security Pledge Finances $230 Billion in First Year  WSJ
3. JPMorgan Deployed $230 Billion in First Year of Security Effort  Bloomberg.com
4. One Year In, JPMorganChase's Security and Resiliency Initiative Is Helping to Strengthen Industries Critical to Long-Term Economic Growth  Yahoo Finance
5. JPMorgan announces $5 billion in investments in companies critical to US national security  Reuters

1. Spain's rush to clear Ceuta migrant backlog raises rights concerns  Reuters
2. APTOPIX Spain Ceuta Asylum Seekers  Bluefield Daily Telegraph
3. Border crisis in Spain's Ceuta has exposed its Christian-Muslim fault lines  Chronicle-Tribune
4. Spain Ceuta Religious Divisions  dailyrecordnews.com
5. APTOPIX Spain Ceuta Aslyum Seekers  Dayton Daily News

1. The GOP's knives are already out — for each other  Politico
2. Republicans confront anger from their own red-state voters ahead of midterms  CNN
3. Republicans’ Guardrails are Collapsing  Cook Political Report
4. GOP Operatives 'Taken Aback' as Rural Voters Blame Billionaires for Economic Woes: Report  Common Dreams
5. Could Republicans prove the pollsters wrong in the midterms?  Financial Times

1. Steelers report card: Germie Bernard and DK Metcalf step up in the win over the Buccaneers  Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
2. Labriola on the win over Tampa Bay  Steelers.com
3. Feats of Strength: 4th quarter awakening, Chris Boswell’s return to form save Steelers in Tampa Bay  TribLIVE.com
4. Steelers 26-19 Buccaneers (Oct 18, 2026) Game Recap  ESPN
5. How to watch today's Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers game in Week 6 of the NFL schedule  CBS News

1. T-Mobile makes Verizon look seriously greedy with its price for Apple's new iPhone feature  PhoneArena
2. Verizon Will Charge $10 a Month for iPhone Handoff  MacRumors
3. EE announces iPhone Handoff pricing details for UK customers  9to5Mac
4. Quick question: Who exactly is iPhone Handoff for?  The Verge
5. EE Brings the Foldable iPhone Duo and Handoff Feature to the UK  The Mac Observer

1. China’s economy grows faster than forecast after AI boom boosted exports  The Guardian
2. China’s Export Boom Masks Deep Economic Problems at Home  WSJ
3. China’s economy picks up pace with 4.5% growth  Financial Times
4. China's economic growth picks up as exports boom, consumers balk  Reuters
5. China economy grows thanks to AI export boom but domestic slump remains a drag | CNN Business  CNN

1. Elon Musk says he is going to give SpaceX stock away to kids  Yahoo Finance
2. Musk pledges 1 SpaceX share for every child in America  Axios
3. Elon Musk says he will give a SpaceX share to ‘every kid in America’  CNN
4. Musk Says He’ll Gift SpaceX Shares to ‘Every Kid in America’  Bloomberg.com
5. Elon Musk Says He’ll Give Every Child In America One SpaceX Share Next Year  Forbes

How Bad Is Another Case of Covid?  The New York Times

Where did it start? How did it grow complex? Why did it get big? Three moments in Earth’s early history when evolution suddenly, inexplicably turned up the dial.

© Photoillustration by Will Warasila for The New York Times

Species after species, American trees are suffering one devastating epidemic after another, unleashed by insects and bacteria that enter the country because of global trade.

© Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times

Hint: It's not only because California counts slowly.

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan)

A large underwater wave moved up the West Coast, raising sea levels. Scientists say it's driven by El Niño and it's going to happen again.

(Image credit: Dillon J. Amaya)

Ukraine and Russia exchange strikes as relations between U.S. and Ukraine deteriorate, the midterms are on track to be the most expensive on record, French president denounces violent protests.

Solar power is transforming agriculture in Pakistan. But in a country already facing water scarcity and extreme weather, some fear their widespread use could cause problems.

1. States face foreign threats — and a fractured federal partnership — ahead of midterms  Politico
2. Uncle Scam Wants You … to cough up your cash and personal data, FBI warns ahead of midterms  The Register
3. US tells election officials to be on guard against AI-powered tricks ahead of midterms  Reuters
4. FBI issues urgent warning about 4 election scams targeting Americans  AL.com
5. FBI and CISA Warn of AI-Written Phishing Before the 2026 Midterms  Technology Org

1. Players on Steam so far seem delighted with Modern Warfare 4's campaign, making it one of the most well-received Call of Dutys in recent history  Eurogamer.net
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Review In Progress — Here's What We Think of The Campaign  IGN
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Gets a Warm Steam Welcome With 90% Positive Reviews  TechPowerUp
4. CoD MW4 missions: Full list of campaign missions and how many to expect  Radio Times
5. Modern Warfare 4 Launches October 23 as a Standalone Release  XBOX Wire

1. Independent MP Helen Haines critically injured in attack near electorate office  Politico
2. Australian lawmaker Helen Haines in critical condition after vehicle attack  Reuters
3. Australian MP Helen Haines critically injured in ‘deliberate’ car ramming  Al Jazeera
4. Man arrested after Australian MP hit by car as PM calls it a 'deliberate act'  BBC
5. Police say a car has hit an Australian lawmaker, critically injuring her; the driver was arrested  AP News

1. Anthropic says it will commit 5% of its shares to 'public benefit fund'  BBC
2. Investing in the public benefit  Anthropic
3. What smart people are saying about Anthropic's 5% 'public benefit' pledge  Business Insider
4. Anthropic commits 5% of shares to ‘public benefit’ fund  Financial Times
5. How AI giants will reshape global philanthropy  Axios

1. Police say 10 suspects arrested for West Bank settler attacks on journalist, EU diplomats  The Times of Israel
2. Amid US pressure on settler violence, Israel arrests at least 10 suspected of West Bank attacks on journalist, diplomats  CNN
3. Israeli police arrest 10 over settler attacks on journalist and diplomats in West Bank  BBC
4. Photographer attacked by settlers in the West Bank feels insulted by Netanyahu  AP News
5. Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinians and European Officials in West Bank  The New York Times

1. Russia explores Putin, Trump, Xi summit on Ukraine deal  Politico
2. Inside Putin’s Bid to End the War in Ukraine on Moscow’s Terms | The 10-Point for October 19  WSJ
3. Putin Pitches Summit With Trump and Xi — Without Zelensky — to Discuss Ending Ukraine War: Report  Yahoo
4. CNBC Daily Open: A Russia-Ukraine peace summit without Ukraine?  CNBC
5. Putin Proposes Summit with US, China on Ukraine, WSJ Reports  Bloomberg.com

1. Air Force identifies airman killed in fall during fast-rope demonstration at UTSA football game  New York Post
2. Air Force - Service member died from fall before Navy-UTSA game  ESPN
3. Air Force identifies airman killed in fall during UTSA-Navy pregame ceremony at Alamodome  WJLA
4. Military member dies after botched rappel before UTSA game  The New York Times
5. Airman dies in rappelling accident at Alamodome before UTSA-Navy game  Texas Public Radio | TPR

1. Halley’s Comet Returns To The Night Sky — Sort Of  Forbes
2. The Orionid meteor shower peaks next week! Here's what to expect  Space
3. Astro Bob: Rise early on Oct. 22 to see meteors from Halley's Comet  Duluth News Tribune
4. Starwatch: Catch the Orionid meteor shower streak across the night sky  The Guardian
5. Rise Early on October 22nd for the Orionid Meteor Shower  Sky & Telescope

Trump said in a post on social media that Netanyahu "has been a Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran."

(Image credit: Alex Brandon)

1. NFL Week 6: Big takeaways, questions and fantasy spin from Sunday's games  ESPN
2. NFL Week 6 winners and losers led by 3 hot-seat coaches at breaking point  Yahoo Sports
3. NFL Week 6 grades for every team that played so far: Browns, Steelers earn high marks, Colts get 'F'  CBS Sports
4. 32 things we learned in NFL Week 6: Rams' loss, QB changes signal changing of the guard  USA Today
5. NFL Wake-up Call: Week 6 smashed narratives and showed how little we know  The New York Times

1. Witnesses haunted by what they saw when pickup plowed through a Kansas youth soccer game  NBC News
2. Police: 6-year-old boy, 35-year-old man killed in crash at Stryker Sports Complex  KWCH
3. No charges filed against driver who killed 2, injured 11 at Stryker Sports Complex, police say  KAKE
4. Driver Is Released After Plowing Onto Soccer Field in Wichita, Kan., Killing Two  The New York Times
5. Kansas driver who allegedly killed two and hurt 10 at soccer game is released from custody  The Guardian

1. 95% of MAGA Republicans approve of Trump. For non-MAGA Republicans, it's 47%.  Axios
2. Donald Trump's approval rating as of today; Trump approval rating now  Yahoo
3. Poll: Americans are anxious, pessimistic and deeply unhappy with Trump ahead of the midterms  NBC News
4. Fox News poll shows Trump approval at new low ahead of midterms  El Paso Times
5. Trump's approval rating hits record low in poll as midterms near  USA Today

1. NFC East nearing second straight winless week as Packers beat struggling Cowboys on 'Sunday Night Football'  Fox News
2. Packers 23-13 Cowboys (Oct 18, 2026) Game Recap  ESPN
3. The Packers’ defense delivered the answer Dallas needed to see  Yahoo Sports
4. Sunday Night Football: Packers move to 4-2 with 23-13 victory over Cowboys  NBC Sports
5. Dak Prescott: Cowboys offense 'didn't hold our own' in loss to Packers  NFL.com

1. A Japanese Spacecraft Aims to Bring Back a Bit of a Martian Moon  The New York Times
2. Japan launching bold sample-return mission to Mars moon Phobos today: Watch it live  Space
3. JAXA's Martian Moons Exploration mission launch: how to watch live  Mashable
4. Japan's MMX mission set to grab a piece of Mars's moon Phobos  BBC
5. Japan leads mission to make first return trip to Mars  Financial Times

1. SpaceX launch Monday morning could bring another ‘space jellyfish’ to Carolina skies  WRAL
2. Bandwagon-5 Mission  SpaceX
3. NASA Science, Cargo Launch on 35th SpaceX Resupply Mission to Station  NASA (.gov)
4. Photographers Capture ‘Space Jellyfish’ Left Behind by Rocket Plume  PetaPixel
5. NASA’s SpaceX launch lights up the sky with a giant glowing jellyfish  Science Daily

1. Trump to close and renovate D.C. golf course, despite legal battle.  NPR
2. Trump Outlines Rapid Plan to Close and Overhaul D.C. Golf Course  The New York Times
3. She said she wasn’t the Lorax, but she’s starting to act like him  MS NOW
4. Trump plans to begin DC golf course renovation in defiance of judge’s order  The Guardian
5. Trump announces 15-month East Potomac golf course closure amid court fight  KOMO

1. Kylie Jenner Debuts on the Victoria’s Secret Runway in its $50 Million Fantasy Bra  Vogue
2. See Timothée Chalamet’s reaction to girlfriend Kylie Jenner’s surprise Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut  Page Six
3. Why Kylie Jenner Was Chosen to Wear $50 Million Fantasy Bra at Victoria's Secret Fashion Show  E! News

1. Congo’s fast-moving Ebola outbreak spreads to eighth province  NBC News
2. Congo confirms Ebola outbreak has spread to eighth province  Reuters
3. DR Congo: Ebola outbreak deepens mental health crisis amid stigma and conflict  Africanews
4. 1 in 4 Ebola deaths are children in Democratic Republic of Congo's worst outbreak  CBC
5. Opinion | I’ve Worked in Congo for Decades. I’ve Never Seen an Ebola Crisis Like This.  The New York Times

The Dallas Cowboys can’t run the ball or stop opposing offenses. Its resulted in their worst record through six games since 2020.

© Kevin Sabitus

The crash at Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita killed a 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man and injured several children and adults.

© David Griekspoor

The mission, scheduled to launch on Monday, is headed to Phobos, the larger of the two moons of Mars. It could carry back the first samples from the Martian system.

© Yuichi Yamazaki/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The expedition said the anomaly captured on satellite imagery, hypothesized to be wreckage of Earhart’s plane, was most likely “a collection of debris.”

© Purdue University

1. Bills 33-30 Raiders (Oct 18, 2026) Game Recap  ESPN
2. ‘He is not human’ – NFL fans cannot believe Josh Allen’s ‘miracle play’ in big win  Yahoo Sports
3. Bills 33, Raiders 30 | Final Score, recap + highlights  Buffalo Bills
4. Bills report card: Allen rescues woeful defense with more of his magic  Democrat and Chronicle
5. Las Vegas Raiders vs. Buffalo Bills NFL Week 6 Live Updates, Highlights, and Analysis  Bleacher Report

1. College football rankings chaos features new No. 1 in US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25  USA Today
2. Miami climbs to No. 1, BYU to No. 2 after chaotic week shakes up AP Top 25  ESPN
3. What was the most damaging loss from the chaotic college football weekend?  Yahoo Sports
4. Week 7 AP Top 25 Poll features a complete shuffle after chaotic weekend, with Miami taking over the top spot  Fox News
5. College football Week 7: Recaps, highlights, rankings and scores  NCAA.com

1. Ukraine launches over 1,000 drones at Russia, setting oil facilities ablaze  Al Jazeera
2. Trump excoriates Zelensky after Ukraine defies US president with major attack on Russia  CNN
3. Ukraine launches more than 1,000 drones at Russia as spat between Trump and Zelenskyy continues  AP News
4. Oil facilities hit in deadly overnight attack on St Petersburg  BBC
5. CNBC Daily Open: A thousand drones and one strained U.S.-Ukraine alliance  CNBC

President Trump continues his efforts to remake Washington, D.C. He wants to turn an area used by the public into a world-class golf course.

(Image credit: J. Scott Applewhite)

1. Takeaways from JD Vance’s town hall in Michigan  The Washington Post
2. Vance struggles to tame GOP struggles in 2026, and may suffer for them in 2028  CNN
3. 7 highlights from JD Vance's CBS News town hall: Iran, immigration, corruption and 2028 plans  CBS News
4. Vance faces tough questions on Iran war, immigration and more in CBS town hall  CNBC
5. Vance: 'A Chance' He Won't Run in 2028  Yahoo

1. NYT Strands hints, answers for October 18, 2026  Mashable
2. Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Spangram, Answers: Saturday, October 17 (Quite The Crush)  Forbes
3. Today's NYT Strands Hints (and Answer) for Friday, October 16, 2026  Lifehacker
4. NYT Strands Hints And Daily Guide For Puzzle #960 — October 19, 2026: Tips, Theme Clues, And Spangram Help  Yahoo Tech
5. NYT Strands Hints and Answers Today: The “Greek” Grid Puzzle Leaving Word Enthusiasts Baffled  cristinaiglesias.com

1. China's economic growth picks up as AI boom boosts exports  BBC
2. China’s Growth Rebounds to 4.5%, Puts Annual Target Within Reach  Bloomberg.com
3. China's third-quarter economic growth quickens to 4.5% as exports surge, beating estimates  CNBC
4. China's Q3 GDP growth set to pick up as exports power ahead  Reuters
5. China’s economy expands 4.5% in third quarter  Financial Times

1. Saudi Arabia’s Military Limitations Are Being Exposed by Houthi Attacks  WSJ
2. Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia show the Yemeni rebels' growing strength  PBS
3. How the Houthis are helping Iran turn Saudi Arabia into a pressure point  Reuters
4. Debate: Has the war against the Houthis already been lost?  Amwaj.media
5. Why the Houthis could pose a greater threat than Al-Qaeda and Daesh  Arab News

Kansas City remained undefeated this season with a 22-6 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

© Jamie Squire

Katie Zacharia's short time as White House press secretary has brought renewed attention to the high-profile role.

(Image credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

1. Anthropic commits 5% of shares to ‘public benefit’ fund  Financial Times
2. Investing in the public benefit  Anthropic
3. What smart people are saying about Anthropic's 5% 'public benefit' pledge  Business Insider
4. Anthropic says it will commit 5% of shares to ‘public benefit’ fund  Al Jazeera
5. Anthropic Plans to Shift Some Shares Into New ‘Public Good’ Fund  Bloomberg.com

1. Caitlin Clark and Taylor Swift spotted together again cheering on Travis Kelce at Chiefs game  Fox News
2. Taylor Swift Snaps and Claps with Her Wedding Ring on Full Display as She Does Cute Dance at Chiefs Game  People.com
3. Taylor Swift’s Playful Chiefs Dance Comes With Travis Kelce Detail  Yahoo
4. Taylor Swift Traveled From L.A. to Travis Kelce’s Chiefs-Chargers Game—and Brought 2 Famous Friends  ELLE
5. Taylor Swift, Caitlin Clark attend Chiefs-Chargers game at Arrowhead Stadium  KMBC

Federal prosecutors said Wanying Zhang was spying on a son of Taiwan’s president.