Friday, Oct 30, 2026
Morning Premium Edition
Israel’s election results leave coalition formation unresolved
Israel’s Oct. 27 election left the contest for power unresolved as vote counting continued, with the battle focused on 61 Knesset seats, Majalla reported. Mondoweiss said most of Eizenkot’s camp oppose an alliance with Palestinians. Joint Arab List leaders said they would not join a coalition but were ready to support an Eizenkot-led government in a vote of trust.
Reporting: majalla.com, mondoweiss.net
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A high-speed train collided with a stationary service in Spain's Toledo province
Spain’s train crash, which killed 69 people and injured more than 100, has intensified scrutiny of rail safety and added pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government ahead of November’s election. Authorities are investigating why both trains were allowed to move despite technical problems; the collision was Spain’s second fatal rail crash in less than a year.
Reporting: Deutsche Welle, Mezha
Two helicopters collided over Oregon, killing all three occupants
Two helicopters collided midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday, killing all three people aboard, the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office said. The dead included flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 22, a student pilot from the United Kingdom, and Tyler Delane Sturdevant, the sole occupant of the other helicopter. The NTSB is leading the investigation, while the FAA probes.
Reporting: USA Today, NewsCord, BBC News, Newsweek, NBC News, CBS News
Ukrainian military units struck an oil refinery in Russia's Samara region
Ukraine struck the Novokuibyshevsk oil refinery in Russia’s Samara region early Friday, ending a two-week pause in refinery attacks, The Wall Street Journal reported. The strike came amid pressure from Donald Trump’s administration to halt such operations. The Kyiv Independent said it could not independently verify footage or establish the extent of damage.
Reporting: The Wall Street Journal, The Kyiv Independent
The Justice Department subpoenas California election officials in a probe of alleged noncitizen voting
The Justice Department opened a criminal probe into alleged noncitizen voting in California and issued grand jury subpoenas to election officials, a U.S. official told NBC News. Los Angeles County officials released subpoenas directing three employees to appear in Orange County on Nov. 4, seeking screening records, communications. A federal judge denied Trump administration’s request to segregate 20,000 mail-in ballots.
Reporting: Politico, Law Commentary, NBC News
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Adm. Brad Cooper briefed Donald Trump on Iran military options at the White House
Adm. Brad Cooper, U.S. Central Command chief, briefed Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday about Iran, according to reports citing U.S. officials. The Wall Street Journal reported Cooper presented options for renewed strikes, while Axios said the discussion focused on the naval blockade. Axios also reported Qatar-led mediators were trying to steer Washington and Tehran toward negotiations.
Reporting: Ynetnews, The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel, CNBC, Axios, fakti.bg
Binance said a security breach had an estimated $6.3 billion impact
Binance said a security breach caused an estimated $6.3 billion impact, which Chainalysis and other industry experts said could make it the biggest crypto heist ever. The exchange said it had worked with partners to freeze affected assets, with about $3 billion located so far. Binance co-founder Yi He said the company would cover all hacking losses.
Reporting: Reuters
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Residents began leaving Russian-occupied Oleshky in Ukraine under an agreed evacuation
The evacuation of Russian-occupied Oleshky in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast is underway, authorities on both sides confirmed. Ukrainian human-rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and Russian counterpart Yana Lantratova visited Friday; residents could choose between Russian-controlled territory and Ukraine. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said 527 residents planned to return to Ukrainian-controlled territory. A volunteer alleged Russia had moved people before the agreed date.
Reporting: BBC News, The Kyiv Independent
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An Italian Army helicopter crashed in Bosnia, killing four Italian military personnel and injuring 11
An Italian Army CH-47 Chinook serving with the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina crashed near Gorice in the Brčko District on October 29, killing four Italian personnel and injuring 11. EUFOR said the helicopter was conducting routine training. A day of mourning was declared in Brčko following the crash.
Reporting: Al Jazeera, brusselssignal.eu, balkaninsight.com
Novaya Gazeta announced it would close after 33 years under pressure from Russian authorities
Novaya Gazeta announced Friday it would close after 33 years, saying pressure from Russian authorities had forced it to shut. The newspaper cited an eviction demand and the disconnection of its reader-donation system, which it said had left it completely without funds. It said it would shut down its servers and leave on Nov. 9.
Reporting: Facebook, The Guardian, The Moscow Times, The Times of Israel, France 24, kavkaz-uzel.eu
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A Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha to 10 years
A Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced human rights lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha each to 10 years in prison over allegations they removed road barriers and obstructed police during England’s 2024 cricket tour. Both denied the charges. Prosecutors said the barriers were on a route designated for the team’s security convoy in Islamabad.
Reporting: BBC News, Al Jazeera, amnesty.org
Putin said Russia was ready for conflict but did not want war with Europe
Vladimir Putin said Russia was prepared for a possible conflict but did not want war with Europe, warning escalation would leave “no winners.”
Reporting: The Statesman, UA News, Hindustan Times, Reuters, The Economic Times, nacionale.com
Residents began leaving Russian-occupied Oleshky in Ukraine under an agreed evacuation
The evacuation of Russian-occupied Oleshky in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast is underway, authorities on both sides confirmed. Ukrainian human-rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and Russian counterpart Yana Lantratova visited Friday; residents could choose between Russian-controlled territory and Ukraine. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said 527 residents planned to return to Ukrainian-controlled territory. A volunteer alleged Russia had moved people before the agreed date.
Reporting: BBC News, The Kyiv Independent
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Greek authorities arrested three men over a deadly September explosion in Athens
Three men arrested over the Sept. 21 explosion in Athens’ Plaka district, which killed six people, are facing multiple felony charges. Reuters reported they are suspected of stealing copper gas pipes, causing a leak. To Vima said the case centers on suspected sabotage believed by authorities to be connected to the blast.
Reporting: Reuters, To Vima
Serbia’s student movement called for senior police, intelligence and judicial officials to step down
Serbia’s student movement demanded Thursday that senior officials in the police, intelligence agencies and judiciary resign, following its historic election victory. It also urged election authorities to certify the final results without delay after a rerun at some 50 polling stations, scheduled for Sunday, so a new parliament and government can be formed.
Reporting: Associated Press, Reuters, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, South China Morning Post, Demokratis, politiko.al, wgnradio.com
France recorded a 0.1% decline in gross domestic product in the third quarter
France’s GDP fell 0.1% in the third quarter, statistics agency Insee said, as investment continued to decline and exports dropped. The contraction was the economy’s second this year, Anadolu Agency reported, despite stronger household consumption. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg had expected 0.1% growth.
Reporting: Anadolu Agency, Financial Times, Bloomberg
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran to pursue a U.S.-Iran deal
Qatari mediators returned to Tehran on Friday as part of efforts to reach a deal between the United States and Iran, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters. Haaretz and The Times of Israel reported the development. Haaretz also reported that Iran’s armed forces remained on alert while Tehran continued to give diplomacy a chance.
Reporting: Haaretz, The Times of Israel
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Hackers stole funds from some users of Polymarket's international exchange
Some users of Polymarket’s international exchange had funds stolen in a hack on Thursday, and the company said it would fully reimburse affected traders. Polymarket paused trading for about an hour, citing a compromised third-party provider, and referred the incident to UK law enforcement. A source told CNBC the provider was DebugBear; Polymarket US was unaffected.
Reporting: CNBC, Gizmodo, Wired, Greenwich Time
U.S. oil firms made wartime earnings above $130 billion
The New York Times reported that American oil companies earned more than $130 billion in profit during the war with Iran, describing the conflict as very lucrative for the industry. The newspaper said people were paying much higher prices during the conflict.
Reporting: The New York Times
Chevron reported a 9.9 billion dollar third-quarter net income
Chevron reported third-quarter net income surged nearly 200% to $9.9 billion, while adjusted earnings reached $5.28 a share, topping analysts’ $4.89 estimate. Its U.S. refineries ran at 98% capacity amid high diesel prices, helping lift refining profits more than 300% to $4.9 billion. Shares rose about 2% in premarket trading.
Reporting: CNBC, Pluang, 24/7 Wall St.
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Donald Trump canceled two weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa
Donald Trump canceled weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa, replacing them with phone-based tele-rallies. He had said he would visit 35 locations to boost Republican turnout before Tuesday’s midterms. JD Vance’s planned Friday news conference with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in St. Cloud, Minnesota, was also canceled; Al Jazeera reported no reason was immediately given.
Reporting: CNBC, Al Jazeera
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U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan will hear arguments on blocking Trump’s proposed arch
District Judge Tanya Chutkan will hear Friday arguments on a preliminary injunction to block Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot arch between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. The Justice Department says construction could begin as early as Nov. 5; Arlington County also sued in federal court in Virginia.
Reporting: CBS News, The Independent, The Hill
Darline Graham and Annie Andrews tied in a South Carolina poll
A New York Times/Siena poll found South Carolina’s Senate race effectively tied in the final campaign week between Republican incumbent Senator Darline Graham and Democratic challenger Dr. Annie Andrews. The Times said Graham’s struggles raised the possibility of a Democratic pickup in a state where an upset seemed unthinkable months ago; she flubbed a televised debate question on foreign policy.
Reporting: The Guardian, The New York Times
California High-Speed Rail Authority Chief Executive Ian Choudri resigned
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri resigned late Wednesday, and the authority’s board confirmed the departure Thursday. Choudri’s emailed resignation cited “important personal and family priorities.” The departure came amid scrutiny over an audit finding wasteful, unallowable travel spending and Inspector General Ben Belnap’s warning that the project could run out of money as soon as next year.
Reporting: CalMatters, foxla.com, fox40.com
Victoria state Court of Appeal dismissed Erin Patterson’s appeal against her murder convictions
Victoria's Court of Appeal dismissed convicted murderer Erin Patterson's appeal against her convictions and upheld prosecutors' challenge to her 33-year non-parole period, meaning she will spend the rest of her life in prison. Convicted in 2025 of murdering three of her estranged husband's relatives and attempting to murder a fourth, she may apply to Australia's High Court.
Reporting: New York Post, Reuters, theconversation.com
British actor Sir Patrick Stewart died at 86 at his Los Angeles home
British actor Patrick Stewart, known for Captain Jean-Luc Picard in “Star Trek” and Professor Charles Xavier in “X-Men,” died at 86 Wednesday at his Los Angeles home, spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak said. Stewart was with his wife, Sunny, after a brief journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Marvel Studios and “Star Trek” co-star Jonathan Frakes paid tribute.
Reporting: The Washington Post, Time, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS News, BBC News, Los Angeles Times
A helicopter carrying six people crashes in Uttarakhand, according to the BBC
An Indian helicopter carrying six people, including five pilgrims and a pilot, crashed in Uttarakhand, the BBC reported. The Independent said the Trans Bharat Aviation aircraft lost contact shortly after taking off from Badrinath at 1:15 p.m. local time. Joint rescue teams, including the State Disaster Response Force, were searching near Chayee village.
Reporting: The Independent, BBC News, AOL
A rock spire collapsed in Turkey's Cappadocia region
A rock spire collapsed Thursday in Turkey’s Cappadocia region near the Göreme Open-Air Museum; the South China Morning Post said a landslide triggered by heavy rain, while NewsCord said local media reported the collapse could have been triggered by heavy rain.
Reporting: NewsCord, South China Morning Post, Newser
The Bank of Japan held its benchmark interest rate at 1.25%
The Bank of Japan held its benchmark rate at 1.25% Friday, while indicating for the first time that underlying inflation has reached its 2% target. Bloomberg said the milestone opens the door to a rate increase in December. All economists surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted the hold, which followed a September hike.
Reporting: Bloomberg, Financial Times
A coffee-shop chain reported 7.2% comparable-store sales growth in its fiscal fourth quarter
Starbucks reported a 7.2% rise in same-store sales for its fiscal fourth quarter, as its turnaround plan drove revenue growth in the U.S., The Wall Street Journal said. The company posted a profit of $677.2 million, or 59 cents a share, compared with $133.1 million, or 12 cents a share, a year earlier.
Reporting: The Wall Street Journal
Afternoon Premium Edition
A small boat disabled a tanker with limpet mines in the Strait of Hormuz
Security sources told Reuters that a small boat attached two limpet mines to a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, starting an engine-room fire and temporarily disabling the vessel. Iran separately said four tankers struck mines in the strait: its Revolutionary Guard Corps reported three fires, while the army reported a fourth.
Reporting: Reuters, CNBC
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The Justice Department began issuing subpoenas over an effort regarding Alaska's Senate ballot
The Justice Department has begun issuing grand jury subpoenas in an investigation into allegations that Democrats sought to recruit another candidate named Dan Sullivan for Alaska’s Senate ballot, as BBC and PBS reported. Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola denied knowing about the effort. No charges had been filed Friday morning, and Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a separate state investigation.
Reporting: Alaska Public Media, PBS News, BBC News
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Blockchain intelligence firms linked a record Binance cryptocurrency theft to North Korea hackers
TRM Labs assessed with high confidence that the $6.36 billion Binance wallet theft was carried out by North Korea’s TraderTraitor unit; Chainalysis also said the group was likely responsible. TRM said funds moved across 10 blockchains, mostly in about 20 minutes. Binance said it froze roughly $3 billion, is beginning asset recovery and will cover losses; withdrawals remain suspended.
Reporting: National Public Radio, Al Jazeera, YouTube, fox13now.com, nextgov.com
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U.S. stock futures fell over tech spending concerns
U.S. stock futures fell Friday as Amazon’s AI spending plans and Intel’s cash-burn warning heightened concerns about the cost of AI infrastructure and returns. Bloomberg reported Nasdaq 100 futures fell more than 2% and S&P 500 contracts dropped 1%. Amazon fell 7.4% in U.S. premarket trading, while Intel plunged 25%.
Reporting: Bloomberg, Reuters
Hegseth removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from a Joint Chiefs planning role
Pete Hegseth, whom NBC News identified as defense secretary, removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from his role overseeing strategy, plans and policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A senior defense official told NBC News that Hegseth accused Sylvia of leaking classified information about the wars in Iran and Ukraine amid a federal investigation.
Reporting: Facebook, The Guardian, NBC News
More than 43 million Americans cast early ballots ahead of the midterm election
More than 43 million Americans had voted early in person or returned mail ballots five days before Election Day, nearly 10 million more than in 2022, according to AP-compiled data reported by PBS News. Early voting has also jumped across Senate battlegrounds. The figures cover 47 states and Washington, D.C., compared with 48 states and the nation's capital in 2022.
Reporting: PBS News
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Israel election results confirmed Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc lost its parliamentary majority
Final results confirmed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc lost majority, winning 53 seats; the opposition bloc won 48. Arab-led parties secured 19, a historic showing. Parties must negotiate to reach at least 61 of 120 Knesset seats. Results must be certified and submitted to President Isaac Herzog next Wednesday; failed talks could lead to an election early next year.
Reporting: wowktv.com (with Associated Press)
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The Justice Department issued subpoenas to California election officials
Justice Department issued grand jury subpoenas to California election officials, escalating scrutiny of election administration, the New York Times and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. The Times said subpoenas seek communications about the department’s demands and records on noncitizen-voting screening. They are part of an investigation into claims that thousands of noncitizens are on California’s voter rolls, which the Times called unsubstantiated.
Reporting: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The New York Times
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Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta said it would shut down
Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia’s last independent news outlets, said Friday it will cease operations on Nov. 9, citing pressure from Russian authorities. Editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov said in a video statement that Russian security services had forced the editorial team to stop working. The paper said it would shut its servers and leave.
Reporting: CNN, Al Jazeera, CBS News, Reuters, The Guardian
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Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reported two oil tankers ablaze in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said two oil tankers caught fire and were stopped in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. Euronews reported that no details were provided about the vessels’ identities, flags, the precise cause of the incidents or the crews’ condition. Qatari mediators returned to Tehran for talks aimed at ending the war between Iran and the United States.
Reporting: Euronews, Financial Times
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A grand jury indicted an ICE agent for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon
A Harris County grand jury indicted 33-year-old ICE agent Mario Alberto Morales on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, alleging he drove his vehicle into Miguel Parra Hernandez, a Mexican construction worker who was on foot, in Houston on Oct. 10.
Reporting: WGXA News, NBC News, ABC7 Chicago, Davis Vanguard
Congressional Democrats are demanding answers about hunger strikers at a Texas detention facility
Congressional Democrats are demanding answers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement about its treatment of immigrants on a hunger strike at a Texas detention facility. The detainees, protesting harsh conditions, say they face threats of force-feeding, The Guardian reported on October 30, 2026.
Reporting: The Guardian
Judge Richard Stearns blocks Trump administration rule narrowing Medicaid work exemptions
U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns in Boston on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a rule that narrowed exemptions from Medicaid work requirements for people deemed medically frail. Stearns sided with 25 states and the District of Columbia.
Reporting: NBC News (with Reuters), PBS News (with Associated Press), Reuters, The New York Times, statnews.com
U.S. officials scrapped the G20 group photo over objections to appearing with Sergey Lavrov
The United States scrapped plans for a traditional G20 “family photo” at the Atlanta foreign ministers’ meeting after several European diplomats objected to posing with Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, and threatened to walk out, U.S. officials said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is chairing the two-day gathering, which will set the stage for December’s leaders’ summit.
Reporting: CBS News, Bloomberg
The Trump administration awarded contracts for nearly 41 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The Trump administration awarded contracts for nearly 41 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, marking the final portion of a 172 million-barrel emergency release, Bloomberg reported. Trafigura Trading LLC and ExxonMobil Holdings Corp. were among the winners. Reuters separately reported that companies agreed to borrow about 40 million barrels from the reserve.
Reporting: Bloomberg, Reuters
Donald Trump restored his canceled campaign rallies in Iowa and Kansas
Donald Trump has restored canceled rallies in Iowa and Kansas, a White House official said Friday. He is scheduled to hold back-to-back rallies Sunday, alongside nearly 20 tele-rallies, ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms. The Republican National Committee had announced Thursday that he would instead hold tele-rallies; Trump had said he did not feel he needed to visit Kansas.
Reporting: U.S. News & World Report (with Reuters), Bloomberg
The U.S. health department approved removing black box warnings from three menopause patches
The U.S. health department approved removing the strictest “black box” warnings from labels of three estradiol transdermal patches used to treat menopause symptoms. The department did not immediately provide Reuters with the patches’ brand names. The action follows FDA-approved labeling changes in February for six menopausal hormone therapy products, removing warnings about cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and probable dementia.
Reporting: Reuters, journalrecord.com
Minnesota confirmed 80 measles cases this year
Minnesota officials confirmed 80 measles cases so far this year, a 36-year high. Todd County, with 57 cases, accounts for most of the surge and all 37 newly identified cases in the past week. Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham urged unvaccinated people advised to get MMR vaccination to contact a provider.
Reporting: Minnesota Star Tribune, bringmethenews.com
Snap Inc. faced a Los Angeles trial alone following Meta's settlement
Meta settled with a second teenager who accused Instagram and Facebook of encouraging addictive use and contributing to mental health problems, leaving Snap as the only remaining defendant in the Los Angeles trial. The settlement with K.D.B. followed Meta’s earlier settlement with S.J.; jury selection had begun Wednesday in a case involving both teens.
Reporting: journalrecord.com
Pentagon officials urged European NATO allies to moderate public statements about Russia
Pentagon officials have privately asked Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to tone down public statements about the Russian threat, saying some rhetoric could undermine security efforts, Reuters reported, citing four people familiar with the matter. Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, involved in a review of U.S. troop levels in Europe, was among those delivering the message.
Reporting: Türkiye Today, Syrian Arab News Agency
Russian and Ukrainian officials entered Oleshky to begin an evacuation mission
A localized ceasefire enabled an evacuation and humanitarian aid mission to begin Friday in the devastated, Russian-occupied city of Oleshky. NBC News said an evacuation and humanitarian aid mission was underway Friday; Russia’s human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova said a convoy of 25 buses and nine ambulances had been prepared to help residents leave.
Reporting: NBC News, KSL News
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The ECB announced Lagarde plans to leave her post early
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will leave Feb. 7, nine months before her eight-year term ends, the ECB said Thursday. Her early departure gives European leaders time to choose a successor before France’s 2027 presidential election, potentially while French President Emmanuel Macron remains in office. European Council President António Costa said the selection process would begin immediately.
Reporting: McAlester News-Capital, JournalArta, krqe.com, eagletribune.com (with Associated Press), fundssociety.com, indonesiabusinesspost.com
China’s Communist Party expelled 33 members during its fifth plenum
China’s Communist Party expelled 33 members during its fifth plenum, an unprecedented number that highlights the scale of purges under Xi Jinping. The meeting’s attendance included 279 of the 376 primary and alternate Central Committee members selected in 2022; the report said more than a quarter were absent, mostly because of expulsions and purges.
Reporting: Demokratis, The Guardian, waradana.com
ExxonMobil and Chevron beat third-quarter earnings estimates
ExxonMobil and Chevron beat analysts’ third-quarter profit estimates Friday as refining earnings surged. ExxonMobil reported adjusted earnings of $4.23 a share, versus LSEG’s $4.08 estimate, while its Energy Products segment earned $7.2 billion, exceeding Upstream’s $7.1 billion. Chevron’s downstream earnings rose to $4.9 billion from $1.1 billion a year earlier.
Reporting: Quartz, MarketScreener
New York state police will take over future sexual assault investigations at Cornell University
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said state police will investigate sexual assault complaints at Cornell University, with complaints normally handled by campus police referred for criminal investigation unless the individual requests otherwise. The agreement follows criticism of Cornell’s response to an anonymous former student’s allegation that seven Chi Phi fraternity members raped her in 2024.
Reporting: Anadolu Agency, United Press International, Reuters, The Hill, journalrecord.com
Likud amplified unsubstantiated allegations that Arab-led parties stole Israel's parliamentary election
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party amplified unsubstantiated claims that Arab-led parties “stole” the election, as results showed the bloc losing its majority. Election committee head and Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg said suspicions of foreign interference had been brought before him; the Central Elections Committee directed the Shin Bet to investigate.
Reporting: PBS News, KRCR News Channel 7, The Jerusalem Post
Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike spoke publicly after surviving a lethal-injection attempt
Tennessee death row inmate Christa Pike, 50, issued her first public statement Friday since surviving a failed lethal injection on September 30. In a statement released by her legal team, Pike said she remains in constant pain but is recovering. She said she was “deeply hurt by the incompetence” and continues to think about her victim Colleen Slemmer’s family.
Reporting: France 24, BBC News
Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot in the U.S. midterm elections
Pope Leo XIV voted by mail in the U.S. midterm elections, the Vatican confirmed Friday, becoming the first pontiff to vote in a U.S. election, The Washington Post reported. The Holy See Press Office said the American citizen submitted his ballot in Chicago and had voted whenever eligible while living in Peru, describing civic participation as a long-standing practice.
Reporting: The Washington Post, Vatican News, 1011now.com
DoorDash agreed to acquire Instacart in a $17 billion deal
DoorDash agreed Thursday to acquire Instacart in a deal valued at about $17 billion, offering shareholders $65 per share in cash, DoorDash stock or a combination. The companies say the merger would expand customer access and combine delivery and grocery technology; PBS reported it could reduce competition and potentially raise consumer prices.
Reporting: PBS News, Law Commentary, progressivegrocer.com
Drones killed at least 15 people at a displaced persons camp in Ethiopia
At least 15 people, many of them children, were killed in a series of drone strikes on a camp for displaced civilians in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, Reuters reported Friday, citing two sources involved in a rescue operation. The report did not identify who carried out the strikes.
Reporting: Reuters, @ReutersAfrica on X
Evening Premium Edition
Donald Trump said he believed the war with Iran would end soon
Donald Trump said Friday in an interview with Kansas City radio station KCMO that the war with Iran would be “wrapped up soon,” but offered no explanation of how. He said a guarantee was needed that there would never be a nuclear weapon. His remarks came before the Nov. 3 midterms, as Qatar pushed for a U.S.-Iran deal.
Reporting: CBS News, The Jerusalem Post
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Iran's Revolutionary Guards reported four oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said Friday that four oil tankers caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz. CNBC separately reported that the Guards attributed three fires to mines on an “unauthorized southern route” near Oman, while Iran's army said a fourth tanker burned east of the strait.
Reporting: CNBC, Hometown News Group, Reuters
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KFF projected benchmark Affordable Care Act premiums will rise 13 percent in 2027
Average premiums for benchmark silver plans in Affordable Care Act marketplaces will rise 13% in 2027, KFF found, following a 26% increase from 2025 to 2026. The Wall Street Journal reported an average monthly premium of about $704 for a 40-year-old buying a benchmark plan. Subsidies cushion increases for most enrollees; people above 400% of the federal poverty level no longer qualify for premium tax credits.
Reporting: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, kff.org
Pennsylvania faces its worst measles outbreak in 35 years
Pennsylvania is facing the nation’s worst measles outbreak in 35 years, centered in Lancaster County, with more than 1,350 cases reported statewide this year, according to state figures. Community leaders say the tally is likely an undercount because many people with measles do not seek medical care. The outbreak is prompting greater openness to vaccination among some Amish residents.
Reporting: WRAL News, Courthouse News Service, Telegraph Herald, Associated Press, fox8.com, tippinsights.com, abc4.com
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a Justice Department request over California ballots
A 2-1 9th Circuit ruling rejected the Justice Department’s request for California to set aside disputed midterm ballots. The panel said the department failed to show an injunction pending appeal was warranted. The administration alleges California sent ballots to about 20,000 people who may not be citizens; California officials say the list is unreliable and likely includes citizens.
Reporting: PBS News (with Associated Press), CBS News, FOX23 News Tulsa
DOJ asked a federal judge to make Alaska preserve and segregate potentially affected Senate ballots
The Justice Department is urging a federal court to require Alaska election officials to segregate ballots that might be affected by alleged voter confusion involving Daniel J. Sullivan, a Senate candidate with the same last name as Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. DOJ alleges Daniel J. Sullivan’s candidacy was intended to confuse voters and help Democratic nominee Mary Peltola.
Reporting: Democracy Docket, wptz.com
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Hackers stole about $6.3 billion from Binance
Hackers stole $6.3 billion from Binance in what PYMNTS described as the largest cryptocurrency theft on record. Reuters reported that most of the theft occurred in about 20 minutes late Thursday, Oct. 29. Crypto-tracing firms TRM Labs and Chainalysis said they were highly confident North Korea was responsible; North Korea routinely denies such claims.
Reporting: pymnts.com
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Voters are casting early ballots at rates significantly outpacing the last midterm election
AP analysis five days before Election Day found early voting significantly outpacing the last midterm, especially in Senate battlegrounds. More than 6.3 million Texans had voted early by Wednesday, 50% above the same point four years earlier. Advance voting was up more than 30% from that point in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina and Kansas, and 83% in South Carolina.
Reporting: The San Diego Union-Tribune (with Associated Press), WBEN NewsRadio 930 (with Associated Press), PBS News (with Associated Press), Associated Press
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A train collision in Spain killed 69 people
Wednesday's train collision in Spain's Toledo province killed 69 people, with its cause disputed. Spain's transport minister blamed mainly a traffic controller's poor judgment, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported, while railway unions cited worsening conditions, fewer controllers and heavier workloads. A judge and a special government commission are investigating, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged to investigate.
Reporting: NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
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A federal judge delayed deciding whether to dismiss a case against James Comey
A federal judge on Friday postponed a decision on whether to dismiss the placeholder criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey. During a hearing, the judge questioned why he should not wait to let the Justice Department seek a grand jury indictment, noting prosecutors could pursue that option before he ruled.
Reporting: The Washington Times, CNN
The Trump administration continues detaining pregnant unaccompanied migrant minors in South Texas
The Trump administration continues to detain pregnant unaccompanied migrant children in South Texas, despite concerns about their access to care, NPR reports. The federal government began detaining pregnant children at a shelter in San Benito in July 2025; by April, the health department was placing them at a different nearby shelter. Several have left Texas for medical care, including abortions unavailable in the state.
Reporting: National Public Radio
Judge Ana C. Reyes opens inquiry into Trump officials’ East Potomac golf plans
District Judge Ana C. Reyes on Friday opened an inquiry into whether Trump administration officials and Justice Department lawyers misled the court about plans for East Potomac Golf Links in Washington, D.C. FOX 5 Washington DC reported she plans to appoint a special master. Government lawyers acknowledged Wednesday a plan to turn the municipal course into a championship-level venue.
Reporting: The Washington Post, FOX 5 Washington DC, National Public Radio
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Judge Tanya Chutkan heard arguments on halting construction of Donald Trump's triumphal arch
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan heard Friday arguments on blocking Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot arch. Three Vietnam veterans and a retired architectural historian said the project was rushed and lacked congressional approval. The Justice Department argued it was needed for national security, but WUSA9 said its attorneys struggled to explain how. NPS signaled work could begin Nov. 5.
Reporting: CBS News, WTOP News, wusa9.com
Washington directed nonessential staff and relatives to depart Saudi Arabia
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh said Friday that the United States has ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia, effective October 23. The embassy cited safety risks, including Houthi attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure, and warned U.S. citizens of possible further attacks, airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruptions.
Reporting: The Jerusalem Post, Reuters
Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc falls short of a majority in Israel’s election
Final results gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc 53 of 120 Knesset seats, short of a majority. Likud alleged the vote was “stolen,” a claim described as unsubstantiated. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for an investigation and urged against smearing Arab voters. NPR said Netanyahu would need roughly eight lawmakers from outside his bloc.
Reporting: Arab News, National Public Radio
Trump reportedly gave Nayib Bukele the go-ahead to send Salvadoran troops to Haiti
Axios reported that Donald Trump gave Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele approval for a troop deployment to Haiti, telling him, “Do what you have to do.” El Salvador said it would send up to 2,000 troops, with possible expansion; The Haitian Times reported about 2,000 were already in the capital. The mission’s terms, duration and command structure remain unclear.
Reporting: Anadolu Agency, haitiantimes.com
CDC scientists failed to win approval for an urgent pregnancy-related measles alert
CDC scientists sought an urgent alert for doctors about measles risks during pregnancy as U.S. cases surged, but a notice submitted through a rapid communication system was not approved, The Washington Post reported, citing five people familiar with discussions. Scientists’ efforts to get the information to clinicians continue, while its timing and publication venue remain uncertain.
Reporting: The Washington Post, @bylenasun on X
Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska announces she is taking charge of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal
Constitutional Tribunal judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska suspended the court’s president, Bogdan Święczkowski, and Vice-President Bartłomiej Sochański for a month, saying she was taking charge. The tribunal disputed her standing and described the move as a “coup d’état.” Justice Minister Waldemar Żurek requested removal of both men’s immunity to pursue criminal charges. President Karol Nawrocki turned back en route to Senegal.
Reporting: BBC News, POLITICO Europe, Ynetnews, Greenwich Time, Associated Press, Euronews, The Jerusalem Post
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Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta said it is winding up its remaining operations
Novaya Gazeta said it was winding up operations after what it called a campaign of state pressure, with its editorial board saying it was forced to end work. The team is being evicted from its 30-year office, and its donation platform has been blocked. Editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov said the paper would shut its servers and leave on Nov. 9.
Reporting: NewsCord, Stories Framing the Globe, Reuters
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Residents of Russian-occupied Oleshky evacuated under a temporary ceasefire
Residents evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky have left for Russia’s Anapa with a Ukrainian delegation, and the humanitarian mission is concluding, France 24 reported. Senior official David Arakhamia said the evacuees are expected to fly to Belarus and return to Ukraine by bus. Local authorities said about 2,000 people remain in Oleshky.
Reporting: France 24 (with Agence France-Presse), CBS News
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Russia's Samara region faced renewed strikes on oil facilities
Ukraine resumed strikes on oil facilities in Russia’s Samara region Friday after a pause of nearly two weeks. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the dawn attack hit three refineries and a natural gas and petrochemical processing complex. NDTV reported that a drone strike caused a major fire at the Novokuybyshevsk refinery.
Reporting: NDTV, NewsCord
Canada and the European Union launched an alliance at a Montreal summit
Canada and the European Union launched the “Alliance for the Future” at a Montreal summit, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said it would focus on AI, energy, critical minerals and quantum. The statement omitted “associate membership” and pledged to define an “ever-closer association,” short of full membership, by the 2027 summit. They concluded substantive negotiations on a digital trade agreement.
Reporting: Le Monde, The Guardian, myMotherLode News, Time, PBS News, wusa9.com
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Congo government data show Ebola death toll has surpassed 5,000
Government data show the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 5,000 people, making it the country’s deadliest Ebola epidemic on record. Declared in May, the outbreak has infected more than 10,000 people. It is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which no approved treatments or vaccines are available.
Reporting: Reuters, canberratimes.com.au
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Lucas County prosecutors dismissed all charges against a suspect in a Toledo festival shooting
Prosecutors dropped all charges against Eljay Crisp-Carr, 20, who was arrested in connection with a shooting at Toledo’s Old West End Festival that wounded 12. Prosecutors cited “new and developing evidence.” Crisp-Carr spent about five months in jail and said he was misidentified, telling WTVG, “I wasn’t there.”
Reporting: MyNorthwest, 13abc WTVG Toledo, The Guardian
Actor Patrick Stewart died at 86 at his Los Angeles home
Patrick Stewart, the “Star Trek” and “X-Men” actor, has died at 86. His spokesperson, Kelly Bush Novak, confirmed his death Thursday. Stewart died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home after a brief journey with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia. He is set to appear posthumously in “Avengers: Doomsday” in December.
Reporting: YouTube, National Public Radio, USA Today, NBC News, The Express Tribune, usmagazine.com
Three masked suspects broke into a Toronto home and attacked four family members
Three suspects remain at large after a home invasion in Toronto’s Bridle Path neighborhood left the MAC Group chief executive and his two daughters with gunshot wounds and his wife injured by a hammer, police said. The suspects entered through a rear door early Thursday and demanded valuables before fleeing. Morton said his family is traumatized and recovering.
Reporting: BBC News, NDTV, CBC News, Realtor.com, CP24 News, New York Post
A person in black chased Javits Frimpong before he was fatally shot in the Bronx
Detectives are searching for three teenagers after 15-year-old Javits Frimpong was fatally shot Thursday morning while walking to school in the Bronx’s Claremont neighborhood. Video showed him running as a person in black followed. Police have not identified a motive; his father, Thomas Frimpong, and a school bus attendant said two boys were recently suspended for bullying him.
Reporting: New York Post, CBS News, NBC New York
China accelerated the mapping of waters near Taiwan with dozens of ships
China has accelerated maritime mapping in waters near Taiwan, sending dozens of ships to collect data that could help submarines and subsea drones navigate and detect rivals in a potential conflict, The Wall Street Journal reported. The activity could advance China’s ability to seize the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims and threatens to take by force if necessary.
Reporting: The Wall Street Journal
Dockworkers strike across Europe and beyond over arms shipments and wars
Dockworkers struck across Europe and beyond Friday over arms shipments and wars. The New Arab reported the Dockworkers Don’t Work for War coalition organized action at 113 ports in 22 countries, while unions also sought better working conditions. Reuters reported shipping disruptions; The New Arab said the scale was unclear. ABC News linked ferry disruption to a separate seafarers’ strike.
Reporting: Reuters, ABC News, The New Arab
Tens of thousands of people, mostly students and workers, protested across Italy
Tens of thousands, mostly students and workers, took to the streets across Italy Friday during a nationwide strike, demanding higher wages and public services, Reuters reported. Al Jazeera said rallies targeted living costs, education funding, housing and wars in the Middle East. NBC News reported opposition to military spending, troop deployment and expected port blockades in Genoa, Livorno and Trieste.
Reporting: Reuters, Al Jazeera, NBC News
The Food and Drug Administration approved Inovio Pharmaceuticals' treatment for a rare respiratory condition
Reporting: Reuters