Thursday, Oct 29, 2026
Morning Premium Edition
Rescuers worked through train wreckage near Urda following a deadly crash
Search teams continued combing wreckage near Urda on Thursday, a day after a deadly high-speed train collision, with about 80 injured, The Australia Today reported. Proto Thema said four bodies remained trapped and investigators were seeking to establish how a technical failure and recorded instructions to proceed at normal speed related to the crash.
Reporting: The Australian, The Guardian, Proto Thema, nbcboston.com, theaustraliatoday.com.au
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Distributed Denial of Secrets published records for more than 40,000 DHS employees
Distributed Denial of Secrets published records containing personal and work information for more than 40,000 DHS employees. The data includes names, job titles, work contacts and office locations, plus access-group links to tools such as surveillance software and a facial-recognition app. Okta said it has no evidence its systems were compromised.
Reporting: Deutsche Welle, The Verge, Fox News, TechCrunch, technology.org
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Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into alleged state election manipulation
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered the Department of Public Safety to investigate allegations that Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit an outside contender with a name similar to Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan’s. The probe follows a New York Times report and will assess whether the campaign could face criminal charges or civil action.
Reporting: BBC News, The Washington Post
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Lt Gen Brett Sylvia from the Joint Staff
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from his role directing strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Staff, known as J-5. He is the second general removed from the post under Hegseth. CBS News reported an official attributed the firing to media leaks; i24NEWS said no reason had been given. No replacement was named.
Reporting: i24NEWS, Anadolu Agency, The Hill, CBS News, CNN, theatlantic.com
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Iran’s IRGC Navy said three oil tankers exploded after striking naval mines
Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed three tankers hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said a ship's master saw another vessel on fire about 9 nautical miles (17 kilometers) north of Khasab, Oman. The crew's condition was unknown, and no damage or environmental assessment was available.
Reporting: Shafaq News
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European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will step down on Feb. 7, 2027
The ECB said European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde informed its Governing Council and European Council President António Costa that she will step down on Feb. 7, 2027. CNN reports former central bank governors Klaas Knot of the Netherlands and Pablo Hernandez de Cos of Spain are seen as frontrunners to succeed her.
Reporting: CNN, CNBC
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Japan and the U.S. agreed to set up a Japanese missile assembly facility
Japan and the United States agreed to establish a facility in Japan for final assembly and checkout of AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the agreement in Cebu after meeting Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Koizumi called it groundbreaking; the facility’s location has not been disclosed.
Reporting: ABC News, WSLS 10 News, The Seattle Times, The Hamilton Spectator, Militarnyi, airandspaceforces.com, janes.com, migflug.com
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The Fed held its benchmark rate steady at 3.75% to 4%
The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark rate unchanged Wednesday at a target range of 3.75% to 4%, days before the midterm elections. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said the decision was economic, despite Donald Trump’s calls for cuts. NBC News reported inflation rose from 3.4% in August to 3.7% in September; economist Gerald Cohen warned cuts could overheat the economy.
Reporting: CBS News, The Washington Post, NBC News, MS NOW (with Associated Press), Fox Business, Deutsche Welle, CNBC
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Netanyahu’s bloc falls short of a Knesset majority in Israel’s deadlocked election
With over 90% counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc stood at 53 or 54 seats, seven or eight short of a majority in the 120-member Knesset, the World Socialist Web Site reported. It said ultra-Orthodox parties accounted for four of the bloc’s lost seats, largely through abstention. Up to 480,000 double-envelope ballots remained; official results were due November 4.
Reporting: The New Arab, World Socialist Web Site, The Times of Israel, Asharq Al-Awsat, China Global Television Network
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Hong Kong leader John Lee apologized for a fire that killed 168 people
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee apologized Thursday for the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, which killed 168 people last November, and said Housing Secretary Winnie Ho had resigned. An inquiry found inadequate regulatory oversight. Lee said Ho should bear political responsibility, though no personal wrongdoing was found, and promised building and regulatory reforms.
Reporting: A News, Business Today Malaysia, semissourian.com (with Associated Press)
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A Cairo court convicted Lina Attalah of managing an unlicensed website
An Egyptian court convicted Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of independent outlet Mada Masr, of managing an unlicensed website, fined her 3 million Egyptian pounds and ordered the site closed and its equipment confiscated. Attalah was detained and released after Mada Masr paid the fine. Her lawyers said they would appeal; Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the ruling.
Reporting: The Guardian, The Jerusalem Post, United Press International, fidh.org, okayafrica.com, timep.org, cpj.org
The Energy Department's Savannah River Site declared an emergency after a fire
A fire at the Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina prompted officials to declare an emergency at the Savannah River Site near Aiken at about 5:39 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28. Officials said the blaze was extinguished by 7:30 p.m.; radiological surveys found no detectable contamination. The emergency ended that night, and the site returned to normal operations.
Reporting: Türkiye Today, United News of Bangladesh, Fox News, NBC News, USA Today, The Independent, kccrradio.com
Tennessee authorities say Jacob Morley's truck was found in Illinois
Manhunt for escaped Tennessee inmate Jacob Morley, 28, has crossed into Illinois after authorities found the work truck he allegedly stole abandoned behind a business in Marion early Tuesday. Morley, serving a life sentence for a 2022 murder, remains at large. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s reward for information leading to his arrest has risen to $15,000.
Reporting: ABC News, NBC News, CNN, Action News 5, WREG News Channel 3, wcyb.com
Villa Vie Residences halted cruise ship service in Cambodia
Villa Vie Residences suspended operations in Cambodia, leaving more than 200 passengers, mostly Americans, stranded in the country. The company cited extraordinary increases in fuel costs. Its CEO said the operator had run out of money while seeking a financial partner and planned to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Reporting: CBS News, The New York Times, WION, The Guardian, gnyouth.net
Cyclone Arnab killed three people and caused extensive damage in Andhra Pradesh
Three people were reported dead after Cyclone Arnab brought heavy rain and caused extensive damage in Andhra Pradesh, eastern India, the Associated Press reported. Tens of thousands of people had been evacuated from vulnerable coastal areas before the storm’s landfall on Wednesday. Prakhar Jain, head of the state’s disaster management authority, said the cyclone had weakened slightly before landfall.
Reporting: irishnews.com
El Salvador pledged more than 2,000 troops to Haiti to find missing technicians
El Salvador’s foreign ministry said Wednesday it would deploy more than 2,000 soldiers to Haiti to search for four missing Salvadoran air force technicians and support anti-gang operations. The technicians, members of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, disappeared Oct. 18 after an ambush in Croix-des-Bouquets, east of Port-au-Prince. Reuters said it was unclear whether the troops would join the force.
Reporting: BBC News, Al Jazeera, Around Prague, Facebook, inquirer.net, charlotteobserver.com (with Reuters)
Contship Jet sank off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast after drone strikes
The Liberian-flagged container ship Contship Jet sank Thursday after three maritime drones struck it off Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast Wednesday, the local maritime administration said. All 18 crew members were rescued and taken to Varna for medical checks. Navy teams reported no signs of pollution; maritime.bg reported some containers carried hazardous materials, including lithium-ion batteries.
Reporting: WRAL News, The Seattle Times, audacy.com
Russia said air defenses downed a record 1,214 Ukrainian drones overnight
Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted 1,214 Ukrainian drones overnight, a record and one of the largest drone attacks launched by Kyiv. The total exceeded the previous record, set Sept. 20, when the military said more than 1,100 drones were downed in Russia and annexed Crimea. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 613 drones were launched toward the Moscow region.
Reporting: The Moscow Times, KTVN 2 News Nevada
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EU governments removed an associate member status proposal for Canada from a draft declaration
EU countries have dropped “associate membership” for Canada from the draft declaration for the EU-Canada summit in Montreal, replacing it with a pledge of “ever closer association” that stops short of full membership. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen floated the idea in September. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other leaders pushed to remove the term. The two-day summit begins Thursday.
Reporting: POLITICO Europe, The Guardian, Euronews, Deutsche Welle
John Healey delivered his first Budget
Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey delivered his first Budget on Wednesday, announcing a one-off £100 payment for 20 million households struggling with higher energy costs, funded by doubling the additional corporate tax rate to 6%. He forecast 1.2% economic growth in 2026, slowing in 2027.
Reporting: Euronews, The National, themanufacturer.com
Alphabet reports quarterly revenue miss, sending shares down more than 10%
Alphabet shares fell more than 10% in Thursday premarket trading as Nasdaq futures dropped 1.1% after quarterly revenue missed expectations. Weak search sales drove the miss despite cloud growth, The Wall Street Journal said. Bloomberg said quarterly sales and profit fell short, signaling that Alphabet was not generating enough return to justify its massive AI investments.
Reporting: The Wall Street Journal, Seeking Alpha, Bloomberg, lancasteronline.com (with Associated Press), hdfcsky.com, theedgesingapore.com
The Federal Trade Commission ordered nine companies to provide information on personal data use
The Federal Trade Commission issued Section 6(b) orders to nine companies: Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, Target and Walmart. The inquiry will examine whether personal data, including loyalty-program participation, affects individual prices or worker compensation. The FTC says each has 45 days from receipt to respond, with possible legal action to compel compliance.
Reporting: U.S. News & World Report, Fox Business, CiberCuba, fl360aero.com, dig.watch, ftc.gov, wincountry.com (with Reuters)
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Milwaukee claimed its first World Series title with a victory over Tampa Bay
The Milwaukee Brewers won their first World Series title, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 Wednesday in St. Petersburg, Florida. The victory ended the franchise’s 57-season wait and gave the city its first title since the Braves won in 1957. The Brewers went 11-2 in the postseason; 31,000 fans watched on a scoreboard at their domed home.
Reporting: Spectrum News, NBC News, ESPN, fox11online.com, mlb.com, wpr.org
Utah accused Kalshi and its top executives of promoting online gambling
Utah has filed criminal charges against prediction-market operator Kalshi, CEO Tarek Mansour and COO Luana Lopes Lara, accusing them of violating the state’s gambling ban. The charges include 13 counts of violating the ban and one count of profiting from illegal activity, based in part on an undercover investigator’s sports wagers. The CFTC sued Utah a day earlier.
Reporting: ABC News, Reuters, Seeking Alpha, Santa Fe New Mexican, semissourian.com, crypto.news, stamfordadvocate.com
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The United States moved to expel Cuban diplomat Richard Tur de la Concepción
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Cuban diplomat Richard Tur de la Concepción, first secretary of Cuba’s Permanent Mission to the U.N., would be expelled after allegedly shoving and trying to assault an American diplomat during a General Assembly confrontation, while AOL reported he had been expelled.
Reporting: Hindustan Times, AOL, The Times of India, CiberCuba, MEAWW (Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide), flvoicenews.com
The U.N. General Assembly urged an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba
The U.N. General Assembly voted 130-17, with 25 abstentions, for a resolution urging an end to the U.S. embargo on Cuba. Last year's tally was 165-7, with 12 abstentions. Reuters reported a U.S. lobbying push led several countries to oppose it or abstain. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on X the U.S. government was subjecting Cubans to collective punishment.
Reporting: China Daily Asia, Reuters
Ethiopia received Russian fighter jets and plans to acquire air-defence systems, Abiy said
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Wednesday that Ethiopia would receive 12 Russian Su-35 fighter jets and four S-400 air-defense batteries. Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport told Reuters that the first batch, comprising two jets, had been delivered. The deal’s value and deployment locations remain undisclosed, as renewed fighting follows a September rebel offensive in Tigray.
Reporting: Somalia Today, Business Insider, Operativ Məlumat Mərkəzi, chimpreports.com, fakti.bg
Alice Huang was considered a Chinese intelligence asset by U.S. officials
The New York Times reported that U.S. officials concluded Alice Huang, a top executive at Singapore-based data center company Megaspeed, was a Chinese intelligence asset who funneled information to Beijing. Surveillance revealed that Alice Huang had developed a close relationship with Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang. Donald Trump was briefed and took no action, the Times reported.
Reporting: The New York Times, fourweekmba.com
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Labor activist Dolores Huerta died at 96 at her Bakersfield home
Dolores Huerta, the labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers, died at 96. Her family said through the Dolores Huerta Foundation that she died Wednesday, Oct. 28, at home in Bakersfield, California, and asked for privacy. A Facebook report said she died of cancer. Huerta coined “Sí, se puede!”
Reporting: Facebook, PBS News, Associated Press, doloreshuerta.org
The Justice Department pursued politically sensitive actions ahead of the midterm election
The Justice Department’s pre-midterm blitz includes lawsuits in Alaska and California related to next week’s voting, alongside a series of politically sensitive cases and actions. Defense lawyers, Democrats and other critics say the timing and targets reek of politics; the department said it is following the facts and the law, not anyone’s political timetable.
Reporting: Greenwich Time (with Associated Press), Bozeman Daily Chronicle
Afternoon Premium Edition
A Russian jet-powered drone killed at least 14 people at Dnipro railway station
A Russian jet-powered drone struck a platform at Dnipro’s main railway station Thursday, killing at least 14 and injuring 14, Ukrainian officials said. The state railway operator said a commuter train for Zaporizhzhia was preparing to depart. Five more civilians died in Chernihiv and Kremenchuk, Ukrainian officials said, as Ukraine’s Prime Minister Sergiy Koretskyi accused Russia of targeting civilians.
Reporting: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, New York Post, CBS News, theins.press
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A Renfe AVE train struck a stationary Iryo train in Spain, killing dozens
At least 69 people have been confirmed dead after two high-speed trains collided near Urda in Toledo province, Spain, renewing scrutiny of the rail network. Transport Minister Óscar Puente called the control center’s decision to authorize a train to proceed despite a red signal “inexplicable”; opposition People’s Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo called for investigations and an independent review.
Reporting: Arise News, Mathrubhumi, The Hindu, zetaluiss.it, news.cn, thesun.my
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Distributed Denial of Secrets published records on over 40,000 Homeland Security employees
Distributed Denial of Secrets said Wednesday it released data on more than 40,000 Department of Homeland Security employees. Straight Arrow News reported the dataset contains information on almost 42,000 workers—about one-fifth of the department’s workforce—including ICE and CBP employees; some work in undercover operations. Names, phone numbers, email addresses and job assignments are searchable online.
Reporting: Straight Arrow News, Reuters
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia over alleged classified leaks
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s top planner, amid allegations of leaking classified information to reporters. Officials cited by CBS News and Fox News said Sylvia failed three polygraph tests and that the case was referred to the Justice Department. They said the disclosures concerned the Iran war and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Reporting: Military.com, Türkiye Today, Fox News, CBS News, The Independent, notus.org
The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported U.S. economic output grew 3.4% in third quarter
The Bureau of Economic Analysis said Thursday that U.S. real GDP increased at a 3.4% annual rate in the third quarter, up from 2.2% in the second. The New York Times described it as the fastest growth in a year. CNBC reported that it exceeded a 3.1% estimate. Investment, consumer and government spending rose, while exports fell.
Reporting: The New York Times, The Hill, CNBC, bea.gov
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The Pentagon estimated the Iran war cost to U.S. taxpayers at $47.1 billion
U.S. Central Command’s latest estimate puts the Iran war’s cost to American taxpayers at $47.1 billion as of Oct. 16, a $3.5 billion increase from early September. The Times of India reports about $29 billion is for replacing munitions. Donald Trump is sending additional military resources to the Middle East while leaving open the possibility of renewed strikes.
Reporting: United News of Bangladesh, The Baltimore Sun, PBS News, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, The Times of India, stuff.co.nz
The Commerce Department reported September PCE inflation rose 3.6% from a year earlier
The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge rose 0.5% in September and 3.6% from a year earlier, up from 3.4% in August and above the Fed’s 2% target. Core PCE increased 0.3% monthly and 3.1% annually, in line with consensus. Third-quarter GDP grew 3.4% annualized, topping expectations.
Reporting: Fox Business, 24/7 Wall St., CNBC, rsmus.com, marketwatch.com
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U.S. District Judge David O. Carter rejected Trump administration request to halt California ballot processing
District Judge David O. Carter rejected a Justice Department request to halt California’s processing of ballots from people the department alleges are likely noncitizens, warning the order would “wreak havoc” on the midterms. He also rejected the argument that California impeded federal enforcement, citing prosecutors’ arrests of 28 noncitizens accused of illegally voting or registering.
Reporting: Spectrum News, WTOP News (with Associated Press), Reuters, WTOV 9 News, Davis Vanguard, everettpost.com
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Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into Mary Peltola’s Senate campaign
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into whether Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit a candidate sharing Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan’s name. The probe follows a New York Times report and Donald Trump’s call a day earlier for Peltola and her campaign to face criminal prosecution. The campaign and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee denied involvement.
Reporting: PBS News, Associated Press, The Washington Post, CNN, BBC News
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Alphabet shares tumbled up to 13.4% following third-quarter results
Alphabet fell 13.4% in U.S. trading Thursday after missing third-quarter expectations, as search-ad growth slowed and AI spending concerns mounted, The Economic Times reported. Revenue rose 25% to $127.58 billion, but net profit fell 25% to $26.17 billion. Bloomberg put earnings at $2.12 a share, below analysts’ $2.99 estimate; free cash flow was negative $9.1 billion.
Reporting: The Economic Times, Barchart, investingLive, Bloomberg, upstox.com, marketing4ecommerce.net
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European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will leave office early
Christine Lagarde will leave the European Central Bank presidency on Feb. 7, 2027, nine months before her term ends, opening an early succession contest. The Associated Press reported European leaders could choose a successor before France’s presidential election next year; Axios said the timing could give outgoing French President Emmanuel Macron a say in the appointment.
Reporting: Bloomberg, Associated Press, Axios, Euronews, The New York Times, CNN, CNBC, Financial Times
Finnish police launched a criminal investigation into a planned Google data center site
Finnish police opened a criminal investigation into suspected environmental-law breaches at the planned Google data centre site in Muhos, northern Finland. Authorities say Google subsidiary Tuike Finland cleared forest and carried out drainage before legally required environmental impact assessments were completed. Police cited preliminary “ambiguities and shortcomings” in drainage and water management. Google announced a $15 billion Finnish AI-infrastructure investment last month.
Reporting: Shattered, Insurance Journal, Reuters, Devdiscourse, The Guardian, whbl.com (with Reuters)
Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party alleged election interference and fraud in Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party alleged fraud after results left his bloc short of a majority, accusing Arab-led parties of stealing the election. Qatar denied election interference or funding efforts to influence the result. With about 90% counted, Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to win 53 seats; Israel began counting more than 500,000 special ballots Thursday.
Reporting: Euronews, Türkiye Today, News.Az, thecommonsense.co.za, etvbharat.com
Iran's army said a fourth tanker caught fire after striking mines east of Hormuz
Iran’s armed forces claimed at least four tankers caught fire after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz area. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said three vessels hit mines on the unauthorized southern route, while the army later reported another tanker damaged by mines east of the strait, leaving it unable to move. The timing and flags were unclear.
Reporting: Arab News
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A rock formation collapsed in Göreme, killing at least two people
A rock formation collapsed near the open-air museum in Göreme, in Turkey’s Cappadocia region, on Thursday, killing at least two people. Nevşehir Governor Hüseyin Kök said heavy rain triggered the landslide. Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said initial assessments found five injured and warned that others might be trapped; rescue operations were continuing.
Reporting: Killeen Daily Herald, BBC News, Al-Monitor, The Daily Beast, turkishminute.com
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov defended continuing the war following a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Oct. 29 that Russia’s war against Ukraine must continue to protect the country from threats after a reported overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said 613 drones were launched toward the capital. Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. were preparing for another round of talks, with no date confirmed.
Reporting: The Kyiv Independent, RBC-Ukraine, UA News
Congo recorded more than 10,000 confirmed cases in its ongoing Ebola outbreak
Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 10,000 confirmed cases, while infections remain at a high plateau, raising questions about whether authorities can contain it. Nearly half of infected people have died, and fewer than a quarter of new cases are among people known to have had contact with infected people. Some experts warn it could become history’s worst Ebola outbreak.
Reporting: Ottumwa Courier (with Associated Press), Star Beacon, clintonherald.com (with Associated Press), oskaloosa.com (with Associated Press), dailydemocrat.com (with Associated Press)
The United States sanctioned Rwanda's defense ministry over alleged support for M23 rebels
The United States sanctioned Rwanda’s defense ministry over its alleged support for M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on Rwanda to halt its support and withdraw troops. DR Congo’s foreign ministry welcomed the sanctions and urged Rwanda to honor its Washington Accords commitments.
Reporting: BBC News, Greenwich Time
The United States and Japan agreed to assemble AMRAAM missiles in Japan
The United States and Japan agreed to establish a facility in Japan to assemble and inspect AMRAAM missiles. He said the missiles are essential for the F-35. Air & Space Forces reported the effort began in July 2024 and follows a $20.7 billion Pentagon contract to expand production.
Reporting: The Independent, ABC News, WSLS 10 News, The Seattle Times, Ottumwa Courier, Associated Press, airandspaceforces.com
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North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles into eastern waters
North Korea launched a barrage of ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast Thursday, South Korea’s military said. Its Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected short-range missiles from near Wonsan, each traveling roughly 250 kilometers. The launches followed North Korean threats to resume border loudspeaker broadcasts and deploy new weapons.
Reporting: ABC News, Ottumwa Courier (with Associated Press), Killeen Daily Herald, Devdiscourse, Türkiye Today, United Press International, eagletribune.com (with Associated Press), tribdem.com (with Associated Press)
John Lee announced that Housing Secretary Winnie Ho stepped down over a fatal fire
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee apologized Thursday for the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire and said Housing Secretary Winnie Ho had resigned. Ho resigned Wednesday; Lee cited political responsibility, but said she committed no personal wrongdoing. An independent committee found the Housing Bureau’s checking unit failed to supervise maintenance work; the fire killed 168 people, The Hindu reported.
Reporting: The Hindu, News4JAX (with Associated Press), The New York Times, asiaone.com
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The Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate steady
The Federal Reserve voted 10-2 Wednesday to hold its benchmark rate at 3.75% to 4%, following September’s quarter-point increase, its first in three years. Governor Lisa Cook and Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack dissented in favor of another increase. The committee described economic activity as “strong”; CBS News said many economists expect a December hike.
Reporting: The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CBS News, Axios, Fortune, CNBC
DoorDash agreed to acquire Instacart for about $17 billion in cash and stock
DoorDash agreed to acquire Instacart for $17 billion, the companies announced Thursday. DoorDash will pay $65 a share in cash and stock, an 11 percent premium to Instacart’s Wednesday closing price. The companies will operate separately until closing, expected in late 2027 or early 2028. Instacart CEO Chris Rogers said joining forces with DoorDash “allows us to do even more.”
Reporting: The Washington Post, The New York Times, Bloomberg, NBC News, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allowed pharmacies to compound six FDA-unapproved peptides
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday that HHS would exercise enforcement discretion for compounding pharmacies making six peptides not approved by the FDA, including BPC-157 and Semax. The Associated Press reported that FDA scientists opposed the change. HHS spokeswoman Emily Hilliard said the policy requires patient-specific prescriptions, quality testing and safety reporting.
Reporting: The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, The Independent, BBC News, Houston Public Media, National Public Radio, arstechnica.com
Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami and said he would lead Brazil's opposition from abroad
Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who lost the presidential runoff to rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by 4.4 million votes, traveled to Miami with his family and vowed to lead the opposition from the United States. He has not conceded, repeated unsupported fraud allegations and called himself Brazil’s “leader.” He left after failing to surrender his passports as ordered.
Reporting: El País, BBC News, CNN, globo.com
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The Federal Trade Commission ordered nine companies to explain their pricing and pay practices
The Federal Trade Commission issued Section 6(b) study orders to nine companies across the airline, ride-hailing, delivery and retail sectors, seeking details on whether personal data informs consumer prices or worker pay. Recipients include Delta, Uber and Walmart and have 45 days after receipt to respond. The orders are not enforcement actions; the FTC has accused no company of wrongdoing and plans a study.
Reporting: The Guardian, BigGo Finance, MarketScale, KGW 8 Portland, Newsweek, CNBC, Reuters, cubaheadlines.com
Prosecutors charged James O'Keefe and Cam Higby over a Minnesota primary stunt
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced Oct. 28 that prosecutors charged conservative activist James Edward O’Keefe and influencer Cam Higby with felony unlawful voting and identity theft over an August stunt at Minnesota polling places. Prosecutors allege they used registered voters’ names without permission; neither signed the required oath or received a ballot. Neither man is in custody.
Reporting: BBC News, Straight Arrow News, Newsweek, Reuters, Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, ABC7 News
The Justice Department pledged no FBI agents will monitor polling places during midterm elections
The Justice Department told a court that FBI agents and Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees will not serve as monitors in the midterm elections. In a declaration filed in a lawsuit brought by the NAACP, the department said monitors would observe polling places and take notes, not act as law enforcement. The NAACP argued the plans amounted to voter intimidation.
Reporting: Newsweek, The Hill, UA News, Reuters, The Times of India, The Independent, Bloomberg Law
Intelligence agencies believed Megaspeed executive Alice Huang was passing information to Beijing
Nvidia said CEO Jensen Huang’s interactions with Megaspeed executive Alice Huang were ordinary business contact, and that it believed the government would warn the company of any threat. The New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence viewed Alice Huang as an intelligence asset; Megaspeed has begun an internal investigation. Donald Trump was briefed, the report said, but took no action.
Reporting: freepressjournal.in
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Utah filed criminal charges against prediction-market platform Kalshi and its two co-founders
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown filed criminal charges against Kalshi and its co-founders for 14 alleged offenses, including 12 counts of online gambling promotion. The complaint alleges Kalshi kept offering gambling to Utah users after a federal judge ruled the state could enforce its laws. The CFTC sued Utah to block enforcement a day earlier.
Reporting: Al Jazeera, LiveNOW from FOX, U.S. News & World Report (with Reuters), Bloomberg, Boston Herald, coindesk.com, valawyersweekly.com
Searchers found two missing Colorado Mountain College students dead in the Rocky Mountains
Two Colorado Mountain College students, Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were found dead Wednesday after disappearing during a weekend hiking and climbing trip in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains as a heavy snowstorm hit. The sheriff’s office said they were found in a basin of West Apostle Mountain. Friends and family described both as experienced hikers and climbers.
Reporting: Killeen Daily Herald, The Guardian, The Denver Post, Star Beacon, The Seattle Times, newyorkupstate.com
Weil, Gotshal & Manges plans to wind down its operations
Weil, Gotshal & Manges, the New York firm founded in 1931, plans to wind down after its management committee recommended an orderly wind-down to partners on Oct. 28. A Weil spokesperson said partners are expected to vote on it in the coming days. Bloomberg Law said the plan followed partner departures and failed merger talks with Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
Reporting: Reuters, CNN, Bloomberg Law, The Telegraph, astig.ph, abovethelaw.com
Evening Premium Edition
A Russian drone killed at least 14 people at Dnipro's railway station
A Russian drone struck two passenger trains at a station in Dnipro on Thursday, killing at least 14 people and injuring 14, Ukrainian officials said. Separate Russian strikes killed two teenagers in Chernihiv and three civilians in Kremenchuk. Meanwhile, a localized ceasefire in Oleshky entered its third day, as crews cleared landmines ahead of expected humanitarian aid deliveries.
Reporting: New York Post, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, The Japan Times, CBS News
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Judge Richard Stearns blocked the Trump administration's Medicaid medically frail definition
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns blocked the Trump administration’s Medicaid definition of “medically frail,” ruling it contrary to law and temporarily barring states that sued from having to determine medical frailty under the rule. The case was brought by 25 states and the District of Columbia, which argued the definition imposed unnecessary hurdles for beneficiaries seeking exemptions from work requirements.
Reporting: United Press International, Reuters, The Washington Sun, NBC News (with Reuters), The Hill, azmirror.com, medicarerights.org
Judge David O. Carter denied Trump administration bid to segregate California ballots
Federal Judge David O. Carter on Wednesday denied the Trump administration’s emergency request for California to segregate roughly 20,000 ballots from people it says are likely noncitizens. Carter said the request violated longstanding constitutional principles reserving election control to states. Court filings from Los Angeles showed a “high percentage” of listed names belonged to U.S.-born people, Truthout reported.
Reporting: ABC7 News, ABC7 Los Angeles, ABC News, CBS News, CalMatters, ktvu.com, sjvsun.com, truthout.org
A vessel sank in the Strait of Hormuz
A dhow sank nine nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman, after a fire, and its crew were safely evacuated, UKMTO said. Separately, reports that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while exiting the Strait of Hormuz remain unverified. Iran’s IRGC Navy claim that three tankers caught fire after hitting mines has also not been independently verified.
Reporting: Saudi Gazette, House of Saud, @DropSiteNews on X, rivieramm.com
Reports said Trump and his aides helped Flávio Bolsonaro enter the United States after his election loss in Brazil
U.S. officials told The New York Times that Donald Trump and his aides helped Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro enter the United States after his election loss. Bolsonaro and his family arrived in Miami on a private jet arranged by a White House official and were admitted under parole status. Bolsonaro said, “I did not flee Brazil.”
Reporting: The New York Times, The Times of India, Times Now, The Wall Street Journal, cbs6albany.com
A train rammed a stationary train in Spain, killing at least 69 people
At least 69 people were killed when a train traveling from Madrid to Seville crashed into the back of a stationary train in Spain, prompting protests and calls for government officials to resign. Demonstrators gathered outside the transport ministry demanding accountability. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged an investigation and improvements to rail safety, saying the service must be strengthened to rebuild trust.
Reporting: NBC News, News.Az
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The Justice Department issued new subpoenas in a probe of candidate Dan J. Sullivan
The Justice Department has issued new subpoenas and is preparing more in an ongoing investigation into the candidacy of a Petersburg man sharing a name with Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, the Associated Press reported, citing an unnamed source. The Guardian separately reported allegations that Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign worked with party operatives to confuse voters.
Reporting: Alaska Public Media, The Guardian
Binance investigates suspected security breach linked to abnormal wallet transfers
Binance is investigating a potential security breach after on-chain data showed abnormal transfers exceeding $5.5 billion across hot wallets on Oct. 29. Stablecoin issuers froze more than $2.3 billion in assets linked to suspected exploit addresses, but the transfers have not been confirmed as stolen. Binance said user funds were safe; founder Changpeng Zhao said it looked like a hack.
Reporting: The Wall Street Journal, bleepingcomputer.com, beincrypto.com, financefeeds.com, cryptoticker.io, bitpinas.com, cryptobriefing.com
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Naval drones sank a container ship in the Black Sea off Bulgaria
The Greek-managed Contship Jet, chartered by Israeli company ZIM, sank off Bulgaria after three naval drones struck it, Bulgarian authorities said. All 18 crew members were rescued and taken safely to Varna. Bulgarian officials said they were analyzing evidence; responsibility remains unclear. Ukraine has blamed Russia for attacks on commercial vessels off Bulgaria, while Russia denies involvement.
Reporting: Ynetnews, News.Az (with Reuters), Haaretz, To Vima, i24NEWS, maritime-executive.com, audacy.com, tradewindsnews.com
The Justice Department served grand jury subpoenas on California state and local officials
The Justice Department issued grand jury subpoenas to state and local officials in California, escalating its scrutiny of allegations that as many as 20,000 noncitizens may be registered to vote ahead of the midterms, CBS News reported, citing sources. The Japan Times reported that legal experts say the subpoenas could be used to contest results in close races.
Reporting: CBS News, The Japan Times, capradio.org
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A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to disclose states contacted about noncitizen voting
Chief Judge James Boasberg on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to identify states where it pressured officials to comply with efforts to prevent noncitizens from voting, as well as state or local officials who received related letters. He said he plans to rule by Monday on Democratic leaders’ request to block the administration’s election-related conduct.
Reporting: U.S. News & World Report (with Associated Press)
JD Vance wrote to Iran seeking to restart peace negotiations
JD Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, seeking to revive peace talks, The Wall Street Journal reported. Iran has not replied, Tasnim reported. Donald Trump said the contact concerned medical supplies; Axios cited a U.S. official saying negotiations would need to address Iran’s nuclear program.
Reporting: Al Jazeera, The Independent, Daily Sabah, Bloomberg, The National, Iran International, Reuters, israelnationalnews.com
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The Department of Homeland Security sought to take leaked personnel data offline
The Department of Homeland Security asked an Icelandic hosting company to take leaked personnel data offline, citing a risk to more than 40,000 people. Reuters reported the request was made through an authorized agent; TechCrunch and BigGo Finance identified the agent as security vendor ZeroFox. Bluesky is blocking links to sites hosting the archive.
Reporting: The Guardian, BigGo Finance, TechCrunch, whbl.com (with Reuters)
The Trump administration agreed to send about $35 million in military aid to Cameroon’s BIR
The Trump administration agreed to provide about $35 million in military aid for Cameroon’s Rapid Intervention Battalion as part of a package involving Cameroon’s acceptance of non-Cameroonian U.S. deportees, The Wall Street Journal reported. Amnesty International accused the unit of war crimes in 2017. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s top Democrat, placed a hold on the aid.
Reporting: The Wall Street Journal, Raw Story
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee apologized for a fire that killed 168 people
Chief Executive John Lee apologized for the Wang Fuk Court fire, which killed 168 people, while Hong Kong housing official Winnie Ho resigned. An independent inquiry found four government bodies partly responsible for failures in overseeing renovation-related fire risks. The government plans to tighten laws, including bid-rigging penalties of up to HK$10 million and 10 years in prison.
Reporting: Fortune, Malay Mail, The Korea Times, Internazionale (with Reuters), The Straits Times, Reuters, globaltimes.cn
The Commerce Department reported U.S. economic growth reached an annualized 3.4% in the third quarter
U.S. real GDP grew at a 3.4% annual rate in the third quarter, while September inflation accelerated, Commerce Department data showed. The personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.5% monthly and 3.6% annually; core PCE inflation was 3.1% annually. Both exceeded the Fed’s 2% target. Heather Long, Navy Federal Credit Union’s chief economist, called inflation the economy’s “Achilles heel.”
Reporting: The Hill, Kitco News, The Korea Times, Bloomberg, CNBC, crypto.news, themortgagepoint.com
U.S. consumers faced accelerating prices in September, up 3.6% year over year
U.S. inflation accelerated in September, with prices rising 3.6% from a year earlier. Goods prices climbed 3.9% year over year and services 3.5%; gasoline costs also surged. Consumer spending rose 0.5% from August, but was unchanged after inflation adjustment, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said. The report supported economists’ expectations of a Federal Reserve rate increase in December.
Reporting: Mid-Michigan NOW, thedailyrecord.com
DoorDash agreed to acquire Instacart in a $17 billion deal
DoorDash agreed to acquire Instacart in a roughly $17 billion deal, its largest acquisition to date. The transaction is valued at $65 per Instacart share, with at least 75% of the consideration in cash; DoorDash says the combination could give Instacart customers access to more than 50,000 additional stores. The Los Angeles Times reported antitrust concerns about the proposed combination.
Reporting: The American Bazaar, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, hardwareretailing.com
Alphabet shares fell 10% after missing Wall Street expectations
Alphabet shares fell about 10% in premarket trading Thursday after the company missed third-quarter revenue and profit estimates, with a potential market-value loss exceeding $400 billion. Google Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler said strong AI Mode query growth came with lower monetization. Reuters attributed negative free cash flow of $9.07 billion to spending on cloud capacity and AI research.
Reporting: Business Insider, HuffPost (with Reuters), CNBC, marketwatch.com
Amazon reported third-quarter results below analysts' expectations and a weak holiday forecast
Amazon shares fell in extended trading Thursday after the company reported third-quarter earnings of $1.89 per share on sales of $201.94 billion, slightly below analyst estimates, and forecast fourth-quarter sales below consensus. Investing.com senior analyst Jesse Cohen described the results as “a double disappointment,” citing the company’s free cash flow and weak guidance.
Reporting: BigGo Finance, The Globe and Mail, WTVB News (with Reuters)
Intel forecasts fourth-quarter revenue below expectations, sending shares lower
Intel shares fell sharply in after-hours trading Thursday after its fourth-quarter outlook came in below Wall Street expectations. Stocks Down Under and Financial News put the decline at about 17%, while CTech reported around 18%. Intel forecast revenue of $15 billion to $16 billion; CFO David Zinsner expects the PC-market slowdown to persist through at least the first half of next year.
Reporting: CTech, The Financial News (South Korea), globalbankingandfinance.com (with Reuters), stocksdownunder.com
The United States and Japan agreed to jointly produce air-to-air missiles in Japan
Japan and the United States agreed to establish a plant in Japan for final assembly and inspection of AMRAAM air-to-air missiles under “Operation Supercharge.” Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said after meeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the allies shared a sense of crisis and agreed to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities with greater speed and intensity.
Reporting: National Public Radio, Ottumwa Courier, ABC News, Killeen Daily Herald, WSLS 10 News, The Independent
Xi Jinping presented a draft policy aimed at stricter party discipline at Beijing plenum
China’s Communist Party plenum ratified the expulsion of 33 officials, including former Politburo members Ma Xingrui and Zhang Youxia. Xi Jinping spoke about a draft policy on “full and rigorous party self-governance,” Xinhua reported. The Wall Street Journal said the Central Committee’s attendance was its lowest at a policy-setting meeting since the Mao Zedong era.
Reporting: The Wall Street Journal, News.Az, The Straits Times, Reuters, caspianpost.com, brisbanetimes.com.au
Trump was briefed on a suspected Chinese intelligence asset but took no action
The New York Times said Donald Trump was briefed that U.S. officials had concluded former Megaspeed executive Alice Huang was a Chinese intelligence asset close to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, but took no action. Surveillance identified Jensen Huang as one of her contacts; the report offered no evidence he knew of her alleged intelligence work, though some senior officials now doubt he was unaware.
Reporting: Fox Business, New York Post, CNBC, The New York Times, arstechnica.com
El Salvador deployed more than 2,000 soldiers to Haiti
El Salvador has deployed more than 2,000 troops to Haiti to search for four Salvadoran Air Force technicians missing since an Oct. 18 gang ambush in Croix-des-Bouquets. El Salvador’s Foreign Ministry said the operation was announced after President Nayib Bukele spoke by phone with Haitian interim Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé; troops will also support anti-gang security operations.
Reporting: Around Prague, United Press International, Latin Times, Saudi Gazette, Al Jazeera, inquirer.net, dailymaverick.co.za
María Corina Machado said the U.S. suggested holding Venezuelan presidential elections in 2027
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said the United States had suggested Venezuela hold presidential elections in 2027. She said Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined steps toward a democratic transition and that she would ensure all eligible Venezuelans could vote. The remarks were her first substantive comments since returning last weekend; the State Department did not immediately comment.
Reporting: Internazionale (with Reuters), WTVB News (with Reuters), businessupturn.com
USDA confirmed Arizona’s first case of New World screwworm in a Cochise County dog
USDA confirmed Arizona’s first New World screwworm case in a dog in Cochise County. The detection is the state’s first since the parasite was eradicated from the United States in the 1960s. Houston Public Media, citing USDA, reported 71 confirmed animal cases since June across Texas, New Mexico and Arizona; officials are launching sterile-fly releases, movement restrictions and enhanced trapping.
Reporting: Newsweek, Bloomberg, Houston Public Media, drovers.com
Villa Vie Residences suspended Odyssey operations, stranding around 200 passengers in Cambodia
Villa Vie Residences suspended operations of its Odyssey cruise ship, leaving around 200 passengers stranded in Cambodia, two years after the vessel began its world voyage. The operator said it had run out of money, citing “extraordinary increases” in fuel costs following the US-Israel war with Iran. Passengers had paid to live aboard while travelling the world.
Reporting: iHeart, SBS News, France 24, winknews.com
Mohamed Soliman pleaded guilty to federal hate-crime and explosives offenses in Colorado
Mohamed Soliman, 47, pleaded guilty Thursday to nine federal hate-crime counts and three explosives charges over the June 2025 firebombing of demonstrators in Boulder, Colorado. The hate-crime counts include one resulting in 82-year-old Karen Diamond’s death and eight involving attempted killings. Prosecutors said Soliman believed the demonstrators were Jewish and Israeli; he is serving a state life sentence.
Reporting: ABC News, KSAT 12 San Antonio, Facebook, U.S. News & World Report (with Associated Press)
Ian Choudri departed California's High-Speed Rail Authority
Ian Choudri, chief executive of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, resigned late Wednesday after about two years, citing “important personal and family priorities,” according to CalMatters, which obtained his emailed resignation. The resignation followed a September report on wasteful, “unallowable” consultant travel expenses. Newsmax, citing CalMatters, reported the board named state Finance Director Joe Stephenshaw as his replacement.
Reporting: CalMatters, The New York Times, Newsmax, fox40.com
North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles eastward
North Korea launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters from Wonsan, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said; Japan’s Defense Ministry also reported a suspected ballistic missile launch. The barrage followed Kim Jong Un’s weekend visit to China and last month’s border mine blasts, which injured three South Korean soldiers and for which Pyongyang denies responsibility.
Reporting: audacy.com