Friday, Oct 23, 2026
Afternoon Premium Edition
The Justice Department sued over certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Dan Sullivan loses
Hours before filing, Attorney General Todd Blanche suggested only a “doomsday scenario” would justify DOJ intervention in state elections. The department sued in Anchorage, seeking to block certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses and votes for a similarly named candidate could have changed the outcome, pending an inquiry into voter intent. Because ballots are anonymous, such an inquiry could be difficult. Polls show Democrat Mary Peltola narrowly ahead.
Reporting: NBC News, CBS News, The New York Times, The Washington Post, abc11.com, Reuters, BBC News, Associated Press
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A shooting that killed two Israeli soldiers led Israel to prepare a West Bank closure and military operation
Netanyahu ordered a closure of Hebron and told the military to prepare a full lockdown of the occupied West Bank after a shooting near Hebron. Hamas claimed responsibility. The attack came days before an Israeli election.
Reporting: France 24, National Public Radio, abc11.com, NBC News, Deutsche Welle, The Washington Post
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Ukraine reported continued Starlink restrictions despite Trump’s claim that access had been restored
Ukrainian officials said Friday that restrictions on Starshield, SpaceX’s military-grade Starlink service, remain despite President Donald Trump’s claim that Elon Musk restored access. The service reportedly loses connection for drones traveling above 100 mph. Trump said he had not spoken with Musk and would speak to him if the service was not fixed.
Reporting: Straight Arrow News, Al Jazeera, thedailybeast.com, CNN, Quartz
Russia and Ukraine agreed to a localized humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky, brokered by Melania Trump
Russia and Ukraine agreed to a localized humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in Ukraine's Kherson region, brokered by US first lady Melania Trump, the White House said. Beginning October 29, the truce will allow aid deliveries and civilian evacuation. Residents face severe shortages of food, water and electricity.
Reporting: turkiyetoday.com, Deutsche Welle, Reuters, PBS News (with Associated Press), CNBC, The Guardian
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A federal judge ordered the administration to halt election investigations in nine states
A federal judge in Northern California ordered federal immigration agents to rein in door knocks, street stops and other field interviews targeting possible noncitizens in California and eight other states, finding the campaign intimidated U.S. citizens and disrupted voting-rights groups.
Reporting: Los Angeles Times, PBS News
Flooding in the Four Corners region prompted rescues and evacuation orders
Severe flooding in the Four Corners on Friday prompted rooftop rescues, made roads impassable and led to evacuation orders in low-lying parts of Colorado and New Mexico. Rising waters triggered mandatory evacuations along four rivers in southwest Colorado, including the San Juan through Pagosa Springs. National Guard members were deployed to assist with flooding; earlier flooding swamped dozens of Utah homes.
Reporting: Greenwich Time
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U.S. and Israeli officials developed plans for possible strikes on Iran after the midterms
Trump threatened renewed strikes on Iran after the November 3 U.S. midterms. Iranian officials say they know of U.S.-Israeli plans and are developing their own targets and tactics. The Financial Times reported Israel planned strikes for October 10 but held back because Trump opposed resuming bombing before the elections. Friday, Trump said he was weighing a swift end to the war.
Reporting: sanjuandailystar.com, wsws.org, houseofsaud.com, trtworld.com, ynetnews.com
A building under construction collapsed in Nairobi, leaving people trapped in the rubble
An 18-story building under construction collapsed Friday around 1 p.m. along a busy commercial street in Nairobi's Eastleigh area, leaving many people feared trapped in the rubble. Police chief Issa Mohamud warned of a possible secondary collapse. Officials said the building lacked an occupation certificate, though its ground floor was in use.
Reporting: New York Post, Los Angeles Times, The Times of India, Al Jazeera
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Two former FBI officials were charged with lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden laptop investigation
The two former FBI officials surrendered and appeared in court Friday, each facing one count of lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden probe. Floris’s lawyers called the case “nonsense” and said the charges were filed on the eve of an election. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrests; both are due back Tuesday.
Reporting: CBS News, Politico, ABC News, The Washington Post, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, courthousenews.com, National Public Radio
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A former Chihuahua state attorney general faced treason charges over an alleged unauthorized CIA operation that killed two agents
Two CIA agents died in April after a drug-lab operation in northern Mexico, prompting treason proceedings against former Chihuahua state attorney general Jáuregui. Federal prosecutors allege he authorized U.S. agents’ participation in the field operation, a decision reserved to the federal government. The offense carries a possible prison term of five to 40 years.
Reporting: ABC News, ksdk.com
A shooting at a funeral procession outside a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan killed seven people and wounded dozens
Seven people were killed and 34 injured when two gunmen opened fire on a funeral procession at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, southern Jordan, Wafa reported. A witness told Jordanian state media that 150 to 200 people were at the church. The attackers’ identities and motives remain unclear, according to DW.
Reporting: Deutsche Welle, wafa.ps
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A U.S. ambassador warned that the Iran conflict could continue for another year amid threats of new strikes
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz told the Financial Times that the Iran war could continue for another year, far beyond President Donald Trump’s four-to-five-week estimate. Waltz said the U.S. Navy could maintain its blockade of Iranian ports for the foreseeable future. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have threatened further strikes after the November 3 midterms.
Reporting: suaragarut.id, democracynow.org
U.S. stocks fell as oil prices rose amid tensions involving Iran
U.S. stocks fell Friday as oil prices surged amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions. The Dow was down about 500 points in the latest reporting, while Brent crude reached $116.24 a barrel, a five-month high.
Reporting: investors.com, New York Post, businessinsider.com
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A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Tibet, causing deaths and structural damage
President Xi Jinping has urged all-out rescue and medical efforts after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Baqen County in Tibet’s Nagqu region, killing at least 16 and injuring dozens, according to reports. At least 12,000 people were reported displaced, while over 330 houses collapsed, power was cut and train services through affected areas were suspended.
Reporting: CNN, youtube.com, rediff.com, BBC News, Facebook
The Supreme Court allowed New Hampshire to bar student IDs as voter identification
The Supreme Court paused two federal district court orders requiring New Hampshire election officials to consider student IDs alongside other evidence when verifying voters’ identities. That leaves the state’s prohibition on student IDs in effect for the Nov. 3 midterms while the legal challenge proceeds in the First Circuit. The justices relied on election timing, not the law’s merits.
Reporting: aroundprague.cz, SCOTUSblog, commondreams.org, PBS News (with Associated Press), nhjournal.com, Washington Examiner, newscord.org, CNN
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Reporting described immigrants seeking citizenship being targeted in the administration’s illegal-voting crackdown
Federal authorities’ California voter-fraud crackdown has targeted legal residents, most of whom had applied for U.S. citizenship, according to reporting. A federal operation targeting suspected illegal voter registration took place in Commerce, California, on Oct. 19. Separately, officials approved 58,000 naturalization applications from April through June 2026, less than a quarter of the total for the same period in 2025.
Reporting: Killeen Daily Herald, PBS News, tribuneledgernews.com, streamlinefeed.co.ke
The Trump administration moved to reduce tariffs on some Canadian goods, a move linked to Susan Collins’s race
The Trump administration is granting exemptions from 50% tariffs on some Canadian goods, including agricultural and forestry products, Sen. Susan Collins said Friday. Collins, facing a competitive reelection race in Maine, said she secured the relief. NBC News described the move as an implicit acknowledgment that Trump’s trade policy could hurt Republicans in the Nov. 3 midterms.
Reporting: The Economic Times, justthenews.com, The Wall Street Journal, CBC News, NBC News, The Washington Post, moneycontrol.com
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A federal border official defended plans for a wall in Texas’s Big Bend despite a court-ordered halt
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott defended plans for a $46 billion wall in Texas’ Big Bend region despite a court-ordered construction pause, calling border fortification “non-negotiable.” A bipartisan coalition of landowners, businesses and environmentalists opposes the project. The administration has asked the Supreme Court to lift the judge’s order.
Reporting: bostonherald.com, The Seattle Times, Killeen Daily Herald, The Guardian
Trump signed an executive order directing federal housing agencies to reduce certain housing costs
Treasury proposed barring large institutional investors from buying single-family homes, with specific exceptions, under a provision of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which became law without Trump’s signature. The proposal follows Trump’s housing-cost order; its mortgage-insurance cancellation pilot would cover only future loans. Pending sales fell 7.3% month over month as mortgage rates topped 7%.
Reporting: Insurance Journal, Politico, consumeraffairs.com, The Hill, Realtor.com, Newsweek
The administration plans to reorganize the Forest Service despite a court setback
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Thursday the Trump administration remains “full-bore ahead” with a Forest Service reorganization, although a court order has halted it while litigation proceeds. The plan would move headquarters from Washington to Salt Lake City, close 23 research stations, and replace many regional offices with state offices. The administration is appealing the ruling.
Reporting: ua.news, advocate-news.com, The Hill, KGW 8 Portland, Orange County Register
Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas was charged in an alleged cannabis trafficking and money-laundering scheme
Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas was seen leaving federal court Thursday after being indicted with six others, including two daughters and a grandson. The eight-count indictment, returned Oct. 14, accuses Lucas of five federal felonies, including racketeering conspiracy, marijuana distribution, money laundering, bribery-related honest services fraud and maintaining drug-involved premises.
Reporting: 12onyourside.com, Latin Times, 13newsnow.com, PBS News
A Mississippi police officer who fatally shot a one-year-old boy resigned from the force
Senatobia, Mississippi, police officer Hunter Foster resigned Friday, Mayor Greg Graves confirmed. Foster fatally shot 1-year-old Kohen Wiley in June while firing into a moving car outside a Walmart during a response to a suspected shoplifting. Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office ruled the shooting justified. The Wiley family’s attorneys say they will petition the Justice Department to investigate.
Reporting: Straight Arrow News, AOL, CNN, NBC News, actionnews5.com, CBS News, The Guardian, WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore
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A merchant ship was struck by drones in Romania’s Black Sea waters
Romanian President Nicușor Dan blamed Russia after a drone struck and sank the Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv on Friday, about 13 nautical miles off Constanta. One crew member died, three are missing and nine were rescued. It is the latest in a series of Black Sea shipping attacks off Romania and Bulgaria this month.
Reporting: novinite.com, sofiaglobe.com, kyivpost.com, com.ua, The Hindu, ABC News, Al Jazeera, The Moscow Times
Russia and Ukraine exchanged 270 prisoners each
Russia said it swapped 270 servicemen each on Friday, while Ukraine had yet to confirm the exchange. Ukraine said it received 261 military personnel and nine civilians, and thanked the United States and United Arab Emirates for facilitating. Russia said its freed servicemen were in Belarus.
Reporting: Reuters, ledger-enquirer.com, tvpworld.com, The Moscow Times, politico.eu, Anadolu Agency
A deadly shooting near Paris was investigated as a possible terrorist and racist attack
A gunman firing from a car killed one person and wounded five others, including a 12-year-old girl, in Trappes and neighboring La Verrière, southwest of Paris, Friday. The French presidency called it a “racist terrorist attack,” while anti-terrorism prosecutors investigated possible racial or religious motives. A 39-year-old suspect was arrested in nearby Coignières.
Reporting: The National, South China Morning Post, ft.com, Reuters, France 24, The Wall Street Journal, CBS News
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Authorities investigated the source of Nigeria’s first reported Ebola case in the current outbreak
Authorities are investigating whether Nigeria’s first Ebola patient and Kenya’s first confirmed case crossed paths or encountered a shared source at Uganda’s Entebbe airport earlier this month; no link is established. The Kenyan patient died two days later. Uganda’s earlier claim that the Nigerian patient visited eastern Congo is disputed by Switzerland, and WHO says the source remains unknown.
Reporting: nairametrics.com, suaragarut.id, National Public Radio, kfgo.com, news.az, galaxytvonline.com
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The United States announced an Ebola-related attestation requirement for incoming air passengers
Starting at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on November 3, 2026, the US will require passengers on flights arriving from any foreign country to submit an attestation confirming they have not been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the previous 21 days. Airlines must retain declarations for 42 days; passengers without one may be denied boarding.
Reporting: outlookindia.com, streamlinefeed.co.ke, kenyans.co.ke, thekenyatimes.com
A first tanker carrying Russian diesel set sail for the United States
The Malta-flagged Agioi Fanendes loaded about 40,000 metric tons of Russian ultra-low-sulfur diesel at Primorsk on Oct. 22. It is signaling a New York destination, with arrival expected Nov. 7, four days after the Nov. 3 midterms. It would be the first Russian diesel delivery to the U.S. since July 2023. Zelenskyy called it “a weak decision by strong partners.”
Reporting: PBS News, washingtontimes.com, Fortune, scrippsnews.com, kyivpost.com, oilprice.com, Reuters
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Moderna and Merck reported results for an experimental mRNA melanoma vaccine
Moderna and Merck released Phase 3 results showing their personalized mRNA melanoma vaccine, given with Keytruda, reduced the relative risk of recurrence or death by 42% compared with Keytruda alone. The trial involved more than 1,100 patients; distant metastasis or death risk fell 38%. The companies released the data Thursday ahead of a Saturday presentation in Madrid.
Reporting: news247.gr, CNN, wxow.com, CBC News, indianexpress.com, com.cy
Texas’s attorney general sued OpenAI and Sam Altman
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued OpenAI, affiliated entities and CEO Sam Altman on Friday, alleging consumer deception and failures to protect Texans, including children, from harms associated with ChatGPT. The lawsuit invokes the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices–Consumer Protection Act and alleges violations of a state law requiring digital service providers to implement child-safety features.
Reporting: woodlandsonline.com, tipranks.com, texastribune.org, bloomberglaw.com