President Trump met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to discuss Hungary’s reliance on Russian oil and potential sanctions exemptions.
North Korea launched another short-range missile, underscoring its ongoing weapons push. In India, the Supreme Court cleared the late Air India pilot of fault in June’s fatal crash.
Meanwhile, a US judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund November’s SNAP benefits despite the ongoing government shutdown.
A glance at the major developments on Friday.
Trump, Orbán meet amid energy tensions
US President Donald Trump sat down with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán this week for their first one-on-one meeting since Trump’s return to the White House.
The main topic on the table? Hungary’s heavy dependence on Russian oil, a tricky issue as Trump continues urging allies to cut back on energy ties with Moscow.
Orbán, who’s long been one of Trump’s closest allies in Europe, is pushing for special exemptions from US energy sanctions, arguing that Hungary doesn’t have many other options given its landlocked geography.
The two leaders also talked about boosting economic cooperation and even floated the idea of a potential US-Russia meeting to explore paths toward peace in Ukraine.
Orbán sounded optimistic about finding common ground, though the discussions made clear that Washington and Budapest still see eye-to-eye on some issues, but not all, especially when it comes to sanctions and energy security.
North Korea conducts new missile test
North Korea fired off what’s believed to be a short-range ballistic missile early Friday, according to South Korea’s military.
The missile was launched from the country’s northwest, near the Chinese border, and flew about 700 kilometers, roughly 435 miles, before splashing down in the sea, likely outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, Japanese officials said.
This latest test adds to a growing list of recent launches, signaling that Pyongyang isn’t slowing down its weapons development anytime soon, even as diplomatic talks remain frozen.
Interestingly, the launch came just days after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrapped up a visit to South Korea, where discussions centered on deterring North Korean threats and reinforcing the US-South Korea alliance.
India’s Supreme Court clears Air India pilot
India’s Supreme Court has clarified that the preliminary report on the June Air India crash doesn’t suggest any fault on the part of the pilot.
The court offered reassurance to the pilot’s father, Pushkar Raj Sabharwal, saying that no one holds his late son, Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, responsible for the tragedy.
Mr. Sabharwal has been pushing for an independent investigation, arguing that the government’s probe unfairly casts suspicion on his son.
The initial findings mention that the aircraft’s fuel engine switches were turned off almost simultaneously shortly after takeoff, a detail that has raised more questions than answers.
The Supreme Court will take up his plea for a separate inquiry on November 10, a hearing that could determine whether the investigation moves in a new direction.
Judge orders Trump admin to fund SNAP
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to fully fund November’s SNAP food benefits, the program that helps 42 million low-income Americans put food on the table, by this Friday.
The administration had been planning to issue reduced benefits because of the ongoing government shutdown, but US District Judge John McConnell stepped in, accusing officials of holding back funds “for political reasons.”
He warned that the delays were already hurting families, especially the 16 million children who depend on these benefits and risk going hungry if payments are cut.
Even after the ruling, the Trump administration is trying to pause the order, arguing it can’t legally tap into all the necessary funds without Congress signing off.
In the meantime, states are gearing up to release the full benefits as soon as the money comes through.
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