Afternoon Premium Edition · Sun, Oct 25 · 1:07 p.m.

The Essential 10 · about 4 minutes

1. SpaceX restricted Ukraine's Starlink access, prompting disputes and political reactions before service was restored

   Ukraine said high-speed Starlink and Starshield service was restored Saturday after restrictions lasting about 10 days. The Defense Ministry said monitoring showed stable connections at restored speeds while equipment was moving faster than 400 km/h. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Ukraine’s military violated Starlink’s terms, prompting SpaceX to close a loophole he described.

   Reporting: Suara Garut, Demokratis, shattered.io

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2. The Justice Department defended its suit challenging certification of Alaska Senate results

   Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s Senate results if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses, saying it was needed to avoid voter confusion. Blanche said President Donald Trump was not trying to overturn results. The Guardian reported Blanche called CNN “crazy” over suggestions Trump’s effort could lead to another Jan. 6.

   Reporting: U.S. News & World Report (with Associated Press), The Guardian, newsmax.com

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3. Reports warned of rising danger of renewed U.S.-Iran conflict

   The U.S. military has prepared options for renewed attacks on Iran, The Hill reported, as war nears its eighth month. The Jerusalem Post, citing The Wall Street Journal, reported Tehran threatens strikes on civilian infrastructure. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned in a Financial Times op-ed that renewed attacks risk lives and the global economy. Tehran calls for negotiations.

   Reporting: The Jerusalem Post, Al Jazeera

4. The Justice Department pressed California election officials to identify and set aside ballots it suspects were cast by noncitizens

   California officials say they are confused and frustrated by Justice Department demands to identify suspected noncitizens and set aside their mail ballots. Letters went to at least 18 counties, Salon reported, warning officials of possible legal liability. A DOJ lawsuit seeks to block ballots associated with roughly 20,000 people the administration considers likely noncitizens; state officials dispute the data’s reliability.

   Reporting: Scripps News, PBS News, Reuters, gvwire.com, salon.com

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5. Brazil held its presidential runoff between Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro

   Brazilians are voting Sunday in a runoff between incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, a far-right ally of U.S. President Donald Trump. Reuters said polls showed the race practically tied and noted no candidate has won after finishing second in the first round. PBS said the result could expand U.S. influence in Latin America.

   Reporting: WRAL News, Reuters, PBS News (with Associated Press), Los Angeles Times, nationpathindia.com

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6. María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela

   Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela on Sunday after nearly a year away, posting on X, “I am here. With you.” Opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez confirmed her arrival, NPR reported. CNN said her advisers reported seven unsuccessful attempts to return. NPR reported no election is scheduled.

   Reporting: National Public Radio, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Washington Post, CBS News, The New York Times, The Guardian

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7. Israel carried out a West Bank operation and announced election-period crossing restrictions

   Israel’s military will close all land crossings into the West Bank on Oct. 27, election day, and bar Palestinian workers from Israeli communities and industrial zones in the West Bank and Jordan Valley. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said about 2,000 residents were displaced; local authorities cited by AP reported more than 2,600. The military reported detaining about 40 suspects.

   Reporting: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, UA News, Ukrainian National News, Galaxy Television, BBC News, cna.al

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8. The Archdiocese of New York confirmed an $800 million settlement resolving clergy-abuse claims by survivors

   New York Archbishop Ronald Hicks said the $800 million settlement would resolve outstanding claims under the Child Victims Act against the archdiocese, its parishes and affiliated agencies. Attorneys for survivors say it covers claims by about 1,300 people. News 12 described it as the second-largest U.S. archdiocesan clergy-abuse settlement, after Los Angeles’s $880 million deal in 2024.

   Reporting: Al Jazeera, LiveNOW from FOX, Deutsche Welle, Vatican News, The Times of India, The Jerusalem Post, news12.com

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9. Serbia held elections amid a student-led challenge to Vučić

   Serbia’s snap parliamentary election drew unusually long queues, while BBC News reported early indications of record turnout. CeSID and Ipsos put participation at 27.3% by 11 a.m., nearly double the 15.1% recorded at the same point in 2023. Eurasia Review, citing RFE/RL’s Balkan Service, said about 500,000 voter registrations lacked full addresses, raising fraud fears.

   Reporting: Hindustan Times, Al Jazeera, BBC News, com.bd, rfi.fr, eurasiareview.com

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10. Riyadh’s airport reopened after Houthi attacks, even as the group threatened further strikes against Saudi Arabia

    Riyadh’s international airport reopened Sunday after a closure that began Oct. 10, when a Houthi-launched cruise missile struck a passenger terminal, killing at least 13 and injuring more than 300, The New York Times reported. The Jerusalem Post said two terminals resumed operations. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned airlines and travelers to avoid the airport, calling it “a military target.”

    Reporting: Daily Sabah, Associated Press, Yeni Şafak, Bozeman Daily Chronicle (with Associated Press), The New York Times, The Jerusalem Post, Bloomberg

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11. Mass protests and clashes took place across France

    Nearly 1,000 people were arrested across France on Saturday as protests over school funding and rising living costs entered a second weekend. The Interior Ministry counted 410,000 participants nationwide, while unions said the figure was twice as high. About 70,000 security personnel were mobilised; AFP reported one demonstrator lost a hand to a police crowd-control grenade.

    Reporting: BBC News, Euronews, CNN, CNBC, ABC News (Australia), The Independent

12. A study estimated that summer heat caused about 50,000 deaths in Europe, with climate change contributing to most of them

    CNN reported an estimate of more than 50,000 heat-related deaths across Europe’s cities this summer. An Imperial College London-led study found nearly two-thirds of deaths linked to high summer temperatures would not have occurred without climate change. Bloomberg Economics estimated Europe’s GDP hit at 2.5 times the average loss over the previous decade.

    Reporting: The Japan Times, WXOW News 19

13. Italy’s Matteo Salvini won another term as leader of the League after pledging to push against support for Ukraine

    Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister, was re-elected leader of the far-right League, a party in the country’s ruling coalition. He had pledged to press the government to stop financial support for Ukraine, questioning whether Italy should keep sending money and weapons there. Massimo Garavaglia was his sole challenger.

    Reporting: Bloomberg, U.S. News & World Report, wtvbam.com, ilsole24ore.com

14. Police dismantled housing-protest camps in Lisbon and Porto and arrested more than 30 people

    Police cleared housing-protest camps in Lisbon and Porto on Sunday, removing at least 100 tents in Lisbon and about 50 in Porto, The Guardian reported. It said more than 30 people were arrested; earlier, Reuters counted 25 in Lisbon and six in Porto. Police reported seven minor injuries; activist group Casa para Viver said 60 people were hurt.

    Reporting: The Guardian, wtvbam.com

15. A shooting near Florida A&M left 11 people shot and another injured

    Tallahassee police said 11 people were shot near Florida A&M University’s Bragg Memorial Stadium during homecoming Saturday night, while another person was injured fleeing the scene. Police said no suspect has been identified; the Violent Crimes Unit is investigating.

    Reporting: Reuters, CBS12 News, NBC News, CNN, WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore

16. Iran’s military claimed it shot down a U.S. drone near Bandar Abbas

    Iran’s army claimed Sunday, October 25, that its air defenses shot down and destroyed a US LUCAS drone over Bandar Abbas. Tasnim, a semi-official news agency, reported the claim, citing the military’s public-relations department. The US military had not confirmed it, and the reported downing had no independent confirmation.

    Reporting: Anadolu Agency, NewsCord, The Times of India, Türkiye Today, UA News, tech-insider.org, shafaq.com, tribune.com.pk

17. Bird flu was detected at a Utah mink farm, raising concerns about the response

    Utah officials learned in mid-August that mink at C&T Fenn Farms were dying of bird flu, according to state public-records disclosures. State veterinarian Amanda Price sought help from the USDA but was told it did not regulate mink farms. Officials did not monitor workers for symptoms. Pirbright Institute avian influenza researcher Tom Peacock said the absence of prompt depopulation was concerning.

    Reporting: The Guardian, newsgram.com

18. A report said enrollment in the federal food-stamp program had fallen by 13% over the past year after policy changes

    USDA data cited by The Guardian show SNAP enrollment fell 13%, from 41.6 million people in July 2025 to 36.5 million in June 2026, after the Trump administration introduced new restrictions. The administration describes the changes as an incentive to work, while state officials and nonprofit organizations say the rules make it harder for families to obtain food.

    Reporting: Demokratis, Suara Garut, UA News, The Guardian

19. Volkswagen and Audi announced a $4 billion U.S. factory in Georgia

    U.S. President Donald Trump announced Audi’s plan for a $4 billion SUV assembly plant in Georgia, and Audi confirmed it. The plant is expected to produce 200,000 SUVs annually, with construction scheduled to begin in 2027 and production in the early 2030s. Trump presented the project as evidence tariffs were encouraging foreign manufacturers to expand U.S. production.

    Reporting: Deutsche Welle, Hindustan Times, biggo.com, autonews.com, investing.com

20. President Trump cast his ballot early in Florida for the midterm elections

    President Donald Trump cast an early ballot in Florida on Saturday, ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. First lady Melania Trump also voted. Asked whether he had voted along party lines, Trump said, “Very much so,” and said he voted for all Republicans in Florida before traveling to Georgia for a campaign rally.

    Reporting: South China Morning Post, Telegraph Herald, PBS News, LiveNOW from FOX, ABC7 Los Angeles, The New York Times, lavocedinewyork.com

21. The FBI was examining a possible espionage case involving a Saudi engineer accused of placing a listening device in a restricted OpenAI conference room

    The FBI is considering whether to add an economic espionage charge against former OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan, who faces allegations of bugging a restricted conference room, a law-enforcement official told The Wall Street Journal. The official said investigators are examining whether Alfozan stole OpenAI information to offer it to the Saudi government, whether or not he was recruited.

    Reporting: Hindustan Times, The Wall Street Journal, ibtimes.sg

22. Two former FBI officials were charged with lying about their involvement in the investigation of Hunter Biden’s laptop

    U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced that former senior FBI officials Nikki Cole Floris and Bradley Benavides surrendered Friday after being charged with lying to Congress about their involvement in FBI investigations into Hunter Biden. The announcement said the charges stem from an ongoing investigation into the since-dissolved FBI Foreign Influence Task Force.

    Reporting: The Daily Caller, weatherforddemocrat.com (with Associated Press), presidentialprayerteam.org, thenationaltelegraph.com

23. A drilling rig sank off Gabon, leaving one person dead and four others missing

    One worker died and four remain missing after Borr Drilling’s Prospector 5 rig sank Saturday evening off Mayumba, Gabon. Of 115 people aboard, 110 were found safe. Secretary general Sylvain Mayabi Binet said the dead worker was Indian.

    Reporting: gcaptain.com, beninwebtv.bj, finchannel.com

24. Two people were rescued and five remained missing after a building under construction collapsed in Nairobi

    Two people were rescued alive from the rubble of a collapsed multi-story building in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate more than 27 hours after it came down, China Daily reported. The official number of people missing fell from seven to five after the rescue. A multi-agency team continued excavating Sunday, focusing on lower levels where several people were feared trapped.

    Reporting: hiiraan.com, com.cn

25. Gabon restored social-media access after an eight-month ban

    Gabon’s High Communication Authority (HAC) said Saturday that it had restored access to social media, ending an eight-month suspension imposed on 17 February. The ban drew widespread criticism, and the opposition described it as an abuse of power. Sputnik Africa reported that the restrictions were lifted following modernization of social media legislation.

    Reporting: BBC News, sputniknews.africa, bssnews.net, africanews.com, x.com

26. An explosion and fire at a Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, caused no reported injuries

    An apparent explosion sparked a fire at the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday. No injuries or deaths were reported, and Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said workers evacuated safely and were accounted for. Most of the fire was extinguished by 6:25 p.m.; the cause remains under investigation and damage is unclear.

    Reporting: Des Moines Register, Fox Business, KTVN 2 News Nevada, New York Post, ABC7 Los Angeles, homegrowniowan.com, thegazette.com, weareiowa.com

27. A storm described as a tornado damaged homes and toppled trees in Santa Fe, New Mexico

    A tornado touched down in midtown Santa Fe on Saturday night, toppling trees and damaging homes. A city news release reported significant wind and storm damage near Rancho Siringo and Camino Chueco. A Santa Fe County dispatcher confirmed multiple agencies were responding. No injuries were reported by 10 p.m.; officials urged residents to stay indoors and avoid the area.

    Reporting: abqjournal.com

28. A preliminary magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu

    A preliminary magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off Vanuatu on Oct. 24, 2026, prompting a tsunami warning that was lifted. The epicenter was 197 kilometers west-northwest of Port Olry at a depth of 10 kilometers. A preliminary magnitude 6.3 aftershock followed five minutes later. No immediate damage was reported; Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said there was no tsunami threat to Australia.

    Reporting: NewsCord, beinsure.com, ctvnews.ca

29. A Florida police officer was accused of taking over a dead man's home and identity

    Lauderhill police officer Brian Louis Sguros faces five felony charges, NewsNation reported via KXAN. Demokratis reported allegations that Sguros used a deceased man’s identity to occupy and renovate the man’s home; NewsNation also reported alleged document falsification. NBC News said relatives of Dennis West, the deceased man, did not know for years that their uncle had died.

    Reporting: Demokratis, NBC News, kxan.com

30. Six Flags said it would add seat belts to a Georgia roller coaster after a rider died in an accident

    Six Flags will install seat belts on Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia and other coasters with similar restraints, president and CEO John Reilly said. The move follows the Oct. 12 death of 42-year-old rider Hassan Jihad Ibn Kariem, who was ejected from Goliath. Goliath remains closed during investigations; eight other coasters at five parks are also temporarily closed.

    Reporting: PBS News, AL.com, The Guardian, CNBC, NBC News, The New York Times, cleveland.com

31. Flood evacuations remained in effect in the Four Corners region as more rain was forecast

    Four Corners evacuations remained in place as more rain was expected. San Juan County, New Mexico, Emergency Management warned Saturday that floodwaters might recede but rivers were expected to rise again. It said it staged 20 rescues in the Farmington and Shiprock area, where 600 homes were urged to evacuate and about 1,500 people lacked power, local utilities reported.

    Reporting: Associated Press, starbeacon.com

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