Thomas Markle Sr., 82, is taken into federal custody in Lakeland, Florida, and scheduled for an initial court appearance today in Tampa on a single count of possession of child sexual abuse material. Prosecutors say the FBI seized about 78 items, including slides, film negatives and books, from two Los Angeles‑area storage units that he rented for nearly two decades. The Justice Department warns the charge carries a potential 20‑year prison term. Meghan Markle says she is deeply distressed by the allegations, while U.S. officials describe the case as extremely serious.
US Justice Department
3 stories since 29 October 2026, newest first
6 November 2026
2 November 2026
Attackers remotely altered refrigeration controls in supermarkets in at least 11 countries over three weeks, causing cooling units to heat up and food to spoil. Freezer temperatures reached as high as 55 °C, and at least one ICA store in Sjöbo, Sweden, set units to 50 °C. Affected chains include Carrefour, Intermarche, Delhaize, Spar, Colruyt and Ikea. EU officials called the campaign a deliberate attempt to disrupt the food supply and named no country or group. The Kremlin denied involvement, and pro-Russia hacker groups Noname057(16) and Z-Pentest Alliance posted claims of responsibility. Millions of euros of frozen goods were lost.
29 October 2026
The Democratic Party now holds 54 seats in the Senate and 228 seats in the House, giving it clear control of both chambers. Voters flipped four Senate seats previously held by Republicans, including a win in Texas that made James Talarico the state's first Democratic senator since 1988 and a victory in South Carolina. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa also became the first Latina governor. The Justice Department deployed about 1,000 monitors to polling places nationwide, citing election integrity as a top priority.