Here are the AP’s top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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UPCOMING
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HINDU TEMPLE-THREAT
DESCRIPTION: Hindu organizations and Hindu Americans saying the thwarted mass shooting threat directed at a temple in Aurora, Illinois, comes after years of hateful messaging targeting, Indians, Hindus and South Asians by white nationalists and other extremist. U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who was in the temple that allegedly was targeted, is calling for the FBI to allocate more funds to counter domestic terrorism and hold social media platforms more accountable.
UPCOMING: By 10/16/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, FilePhoto, Text
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US ELECTION 2026 TRUMP GEORGIA
DESCRIPTION: President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Dalton, Georgia, for the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Rally scheduled for 3PM ET.
UPCOMING: By 10/16/2026 4:00 p.m. EDT, Video, Photo, Text
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UNITED STATES
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US--SEXUAL MISCONDUCT-DIDDY
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs moved to a new prison after reports of a luxury lifestyle behind bars
SUMMARY: Sean “Diddy” Combs has been moved to a federal prison in Pennsylvania after reports that the hip-hop mogul was living the high life and was injured in a fight at his New Jersey lockup. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke to The Associated Press on Friday. The person said the federal Bureau of Prisons is transferring the 56-year-old Combs from FCI Fort Dix to FCI Allenwood Low, a low-security facility south of Williamsport. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity. Last month, NBC News reported that Combs had been using a contraband cellphone and drinking Hennessy while in prison.
WORDS: 453 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 10:47 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:102681011e96a77e2109aa891c762df0&mediaType=text
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US--MURDAUGH KILLINGS
Fight over evidence in Alex Murdaugh retrial turns to DNA and missing murder weapons
SUMMARY: Prosecutors and lawyers for Alex Murdaugh have returned to court to dispute evidence for his retrial on murder charges next year. The hearing is Friday in South Carolina. Murdaugh faces another trial in April over the 2021 shooting deaths of his wife and son. The state Supreme Court overturned his convictions earlier this year, saying a court clerk influenced jurors to find him guilty. Friday’s arguments focus on DNA testing and whether authorities must share ballistics evidence. Defense lawyers also want to know if a grand jury is investigating a police officer friend of Murdaugh as a possible accomplice. Murdaugh remains in prison serving decades for financial crimes
WORDS: 713 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 10:37 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:8543a045e48ee026a25dbd74ade3af3d&mediaType=text
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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US--TRUMP-THE LATEST
The Latest: Trump will rally Georgia Republicans despite party divisions in the battleground state
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump’s midterm campaign blitz is arriving in Georgia for a rally with top Republican candidates in a state that has long been the epicenter of the president’s false claims about election fraud. Meanwhile, new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia defended her legal background and justified her truncated inaugural briefing on Thursday as she navigates a rocky first week as the president’s chief spokeswoman. Zacharia said she did not have time to prepare for her first briefing on Tuesday fully and that keeping it short was always the plan because Trump would field questions from journalists later that morning.
WORDS: 2081 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 10:53 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5da043282984cc21947a2d9c8147e4ff&mediaType=text
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US--TRUMP-PHARMA HOLDINGS
Trump increased investments in drugmakers that benefited from Medicare exemptions, Democrats say
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump’s investments in pharmaceutical companies have significantly increased after his return to the White House. A report from congressional Democrats reveals Trump’s portfolio added millions of dollars in stocks from firms benefiting from a Republican-backed law that shields certain medications from Medicare price negotiations. The report was released Friday by the Joint Economic Committee’s minority arm. The report shows the Republican president’s pharmaceutical stock holdings grew from $1.7 million in 2024 to as much as $56.2 million by the end of 2025. Trump has made lowering prescription drug prices a key part of his healthcare agenda. The White House denies any ethics issues and accuses Democrats of trying to fabricate them.
WORDS: 721 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 8:01 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1902c92762cf9664288dc3415f78f74a&mediaType=text
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US--ELECTION 2026-ADS
Trump wants the midterms to be all about himself. Judging by the ads, Democrats are happy to oblige
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says he wants voters to pretend that he’s on the ballot in this year’s midterm elections. His rivals are doing their best to help his case. Democratic candidates and their allies have spent more than $163 million since Sept. 1 on television advertising that mentions the president, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from AdImpact, which charts media spending. That includes airing ads that reference Trump on broadcast, cable and streaming nearly 180,000 times, the data shows. Republicans, meanwhile, have aired ads that talk about the president just 16,000 times over that period.
WORDS: 785 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 7:42 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:158c022f4aa225ea1bb84ef92a0eed5b&mediaType=text
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US--ELECTION 2026-ALASKA-SENATE
Alaska’s Sullivan and Peltola clash over Iran and high prices in testy Senate debate
SUMMARY: Alaska’s major U.S. Senate candidates clashed over Iran and consumer prices during a televised debate in the high-stakes contest that could play into control of the chamber. Two-term Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan says the war needs to end soon, but wants the Strait of Hormuz to open and a deal to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman, says a deal is “so far out of sight” and lamented the deaths of 20 military personnel. President Donald Trump visited the state in support of Sullivan days ago.
WORDS: 791 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 7:30 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:20b888f186e28f1d0069926aa2c5535b&mediaType=text
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INTERNATIONAL
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EU--UKRAINE-DRONES-CHINESE TECHNOLOGY
The not-so-secret vulnerability in Ukraine’s drone arsenal? Chinese technology
SUMMARY: Since Russia invaded more than four years ago, Ukraine has become a global leader in military drone innovation. That has enabled its forces to grind a much larger enemy to a stalemate. But this technological force multiplier has come with an unsettling vulnerability: Ukrainian drone makers are highly dependent on electronics made by China, a key Russian ally. Ukraine’s greatest fear is that the Chinese government could severely restrict its access to these critical parts. It also worries that Russian defense companies that need these same supplies could be given preferential treatment by Chinese factories.
WORDS: 1274 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 11:10 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0715effbd80246ee535fd25220011f30&mediaType=text
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EU--ITALY-AIR TRAFFIC
Italy air traffic capacity fully restored after network disruption caused delays
SUMMARY: Italy’s air traffic capacity has been fully restored after overnight issues with the data transmission network. Air navigation company ENAV ruled out a cyberattack and said that flight operations remained safe. The company switched to a secondary satellite network, allowing capacity to increase steadily. Earlier Friday, the disruption forced ENAV to cut the number of aircraft handled in Italian airspace by up to 50%. This caused delays at airports across the country, including Rome’s Fiumicino airport and airports serving Milan and Bergamo.
WORDS: 104 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 9:49 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:40002058f13fa4fc13146d4408e80b22&mediaType=text
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AS--PAKISTAN-SCHOOL ROOF COLLAPSE
Pakistan orders school inspections as relatives say they warned of risks before deadly collapse
SUMMARY: Pakistani authorities have ordered inspections of all private schools in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after a school roof collapsed and killed 34 children and a teacher, as some victims’ relatives said the structure had been weak before the disaster, and at least one said he had warned the owner about leaks. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s education department set up district committees to inspect private school buildings throughout the province and submit findings and recommendations within three days, according to the order seen by The Associated Press.
WORDS: 715 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 8:45 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0ec543a80ffad70e88500071d0ea2429&mediaType=text
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LT--EXTREME WEATHER-PACIFIC
Hurricane Trudy strengthens to a Category 3 storm off Mexico’s Pacific coast
SUMMARY: Hurricane Trudy has strengthened to a major hurricane off Mexico’s Pacific coast. U.S. forecasters said early Friday the Category 3 hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was moving northwest at 6 mph. Forecasters say Trudy will gain strength over the next couple of days while heading to the southwestern and west-central areas of the Mexican coast. The hurricane early Friday was about 240 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, and about 335 miles south-southeast of Manzanillo, Mexico.
WORDS: 209 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 7:47 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e0522909a549cb4a43a8ab532f7d3668&mediaType=text
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EU--ROMANIA-BULGARIA-BLACK SEA
Drone strikes in the Black Sea raise fears of Russian escalation to test NATO’s response
SUMMARY: Drone attacks on cargo ships in the Black Sea this month have raised concerns among NATO members. The attacks, near Romania and Bulgaria, threaten global shipping routes and have resulted in deaths and missing crew members. Russia is suspected, but evidence is lacking. NATO members fear these incidents could draw other countries into the war for Ukraine. Romanian airspace has been repeatedly violated by Russian drones. NATO is discussing security measures, but its defense clause may not cover these attacks. The situation highlights the growing threat and the need for increased counter-drone capabilities in the region.
WORDS: 1233 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 6:24 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:866f21a940311b13abd9425457edf388&mediaType=text
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BUSINESS
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US--TESLA-ROADSTER
Tesla’s new Roadster car can thrust itself in the air. But don’t expect to drive it anytime soon
SUMMARY: Tesla has unveiled its new Roadster sports car, which can thrust itself into the air. But drivers shouldn’t expect to take it for a spin anytime soon. The car features cold gas thrusters and a “multi-mode” suction system that allows it to fly for short spurts and spin mid-flight. Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, shared the news on his social media platform X. The launch took place on Thursday after years of delays. Still, production for consumers won’t begin until 2028. And the car’s “rocket” feature isn’t approved for public road use yet.
WORDS: 212 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 9:52 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:7d5f19665435b7408025bfb7a2f2f0b7&mediaType=text
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AS--CHINA-AI-RESTRICTIONS
China moves to curb tech exports, including AI, citing national security risks
SUMMARY: China plans to restrict or ban exports of 40 technologies, including AI, chips, and solar power, as its tech race with countries like the U.S. intensifies. The Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Science and Technology published a draft document with proposed updates. A spokesperson from the commerce ministry said the move is “necessary” for national security. The proposal includes 23 AI technologies and comes as China and the U.S. make progress in dialogues over AI safety. U.S.-led restrictions have curbed exports of advanced technologies to China. The move aims to regulate access to Chinese technologies.
WORDS: 524 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 8:20 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5ac381c0c6d6628bbea2e0da7d855a5b&mediaType=text
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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
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EU--SLOVENIA-MELTING GLACIERS
Heat, scarce snow melting away Slovenia’s Alpine glaciers. One is still standing
SUMMARY: Drop by drop, Slovenia is losing its ice. Faced with rising temperatures and declining snow in winter, the Alpine nation has seen one on its two glaciers melt away, and the remaining one shrinking irreversibly. Slovenians know that they are no exception to the global trend of warming that scientists say partly is the result of human-induced climate change. A record hot and dry summer in Europe this year added to the problems. As the summer ended, the glacier on Mount Triglav, Slovenia’s highest peak, completely melted away. The remaining one is called Skuta and it is located in the Kamnik-Savinje Alps to the north.
WORDS: 704 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 8:46 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:51d46e039d2014cdc6b0d05ba9847531&mediaType=text
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RELIGION
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EU-REL--VATICAN-POPE-SURGERY
First images released of Pope Leo after cancer surgery, celebrating Mass at hospital
SUMMARY: The Vatican has released the first images of Pope Leo XIV since his lung cancer surgery. He is shown celebrating Mass at Gemelli hospital, where he thanked staff for their care. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Leo presided alone over the liturgy and distributed Communion. Doctors confirmed his recovery is progressing well, allowing him to perform daily activities independently. The Vatican is preparing for his upcoming trip to South America, though plans could change. Meanwhile, cancer patients have sent him well-wishing notes. Vatican officials are considering adjustments to his schedule based on his health.
WORDS: 779 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 11:29 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:aee51a1005491f20276902b66b6f574e&mediaType=text
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SPORTS
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US--NCAA ELIGIBILITY
NCAA sues Ohio governor over his executive order allowing schools to ignore new eligibility rule
SUMMARY: The NCAA has filed a federal lawsuit against Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. This comes after DeWine signed an executive order allowing Ohio colleges to let athletes who graduated in 2022 play a fifth year. NCAA President Charlie Baker says the lawsuit, filed Friday, aims to prevent DeWine from disrupting fair competition among schools. The order allows public and private universities in Ohio to let athletes play, despite the NCAA’s new rule excluding those who have played four seasons. The rule, passed in June, is already facing multiple court challenges.
WORDS: 137 - MOVED: 10/16/2026 11:18 a.m. EDT
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