Federal prosecutors have asked District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald to reject a bond offer from rapper Lil Durk, who faces charges under the VICAR racketeering statute. Prosecutors allege that Lil Durk and associates paid people to rally outside the First Street Courthouse in Los Angeles and enlisted celebrities to speak on his behalf to pressure the court. Rappers Jay-Z and J. Cole have written letters to the judge asking that Lil Durk be released on bond. His trial on the VICAR charges is scheduled for August 2027. Separately, he was acquitted on 11 Sep in a murder-for-hire trial in Los Angeles, and he is currently held in solitary confinement.
News of 5 November 2026
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World
Jack Campbell says he has full movement in his lower body and is making progress with his upper body, remaining optimistic about recovery. The injury occurred during Detroit's 19‑15 victory over the Minnesota Vikings when he tackled tight end T.J. Hockenson in the fourth quarter. He was carried off the field, hospitalized, and the Lions announced preliminary positive indications on Monday.
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the US midterm elections on Tuesday, ending two years of unified Republican control. Voters cited the cost of living, inflation and the war with Iran. Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that the Iran war contributed to Republican losses, and told the Wall Street Journal he would have made the same decision again. Vice President JD Vance blamed the war for the losses in a long post on X. The new Congress begins in January.
Economy
QatarEnergy has extended the force majeure on its liquefied natural gas shipments to Asia and Europe until the end of December 2026, after missile attacks in March cut 17 percent of its export capacity and caused an estimated $20 billion annual revenue loss. The company is repairing the damaged facilities while the Strait of Hormuz remains largely blocked. Despite the disruptions, Qatar is set to become the largest buyer of U.S. LNG.
Brent futures close 8.7% lower at $94.62 a barrel and WTI drops 8.3% to $88.12 a barrel, reflecting a sharp weekly decline. The slide follows the U.S. midterm elections in which Democrats seized control of both chambers and Republican leaders cite the Iran conflict as a factor. Traders price in a possible settlement between Washington and Tehran, with President Donald Trump saying no immediate strike is planned and Vice President J.D. Vance noting progress in talks. JPMorgan estimates the global oil surplus rose to 1.4 million barrels per day in October.
Tech & Science
French authorities confirm that a cyberattack on refrigeration systems at three regional blood bank sites was neutralised before any blood products were damaged, with temperatures briefly spiking but alarms triggering in time. The French Blood Establishment (EFS) coordinated with the national cybersecurity agency and the Health Ministry, moved samples to unaffected units and disabled remote access by Wednesday. No health impact or loss of blood supplies was reported. Investigations continue into the vulnerability linked to a third‑party component, while Italy’s National Blood Centre urges heightened vigilance across Europe.
NASA and NOAA scientists report that the 2026 Antarctic ozone hole averaged 9.6 million square miles (25 million square kilometers) between 7 Sep and 13 Oct. Its peak came on 18 Sep at 10.5 million square miles (27.1 million square kilometers), about 90% of the record set on 9 Sep 2000. The season ranks seventh-largest across 48 years of monitoring. Weather conditions were ideal for enhanced depletion, according to NASA. The scientists say international limits on ozone-destroying chemicals kept the hole 1 to 2 million square miles smaller than it otherwise would have been.