Evening Premium Edition · Sun, Oct 25 · 7:05 p.m.

The Essential 10 · about 3 minutes

1. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat in the parliamentary election

   Serbian Progressive Party leader Aleksandar Vučić conceded defeat Sunday in the election to the student-led movement. Reuters reported he projected the Student List would win 135 to 140 seats and his party 105, although final results were unavailable. PBS said monitors had raised fairness concerns, citing detentions and government media control.

   Reporting: Reuters, The Guardian, BBC News, YouTube, PBS News, Financial Times

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2. Brazil began counting votes in its presidential runoff election

   Counting began after Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered a two-hour extension requested by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign, Al Jazeera reported. The BBC said the extension applied only at unfinished polling places until 19:00 local time. In Bahia, a judge ordered Salvador mobility secretary Pablo Souza’s arrest over public buses blocked from leaving garages, CBS reported.

   Reporting: BBC News, CBS News, PBS News (with Associated Press), Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, Reuters

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3. Donald Trump weighs Iran deal against renewed military action

   Trump ruled out an immediate strike Sunday while considering whether to make a deal with Iran or resume military action. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Tehran against attacks disrupting Israel’s upcoming parliamentary elections and said Israel could strike without U.S. support. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused Washington of disrupting negotiations.

   Reporting: Iran International, L’Orient Today, WION, qcintel.com, middle-east-online.com

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4. Attorney General Todd Blanche defended a lawsuit seeking to block Alaska Senate election certification

   Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department’s Alaska lawsuit on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” saying it was intended to prevent voter confusion and preserve possible evidence of it. He denied improper conduct and said President Donald Trump was not trying to take over a state election. Foreign Policy Journal reported President Donald Trump said he directed the filing.

   Reporting: National Public Radio, ABC News, foreignpolicyjournal.com, newsmax.com

5. Federal prosecutors directed at least 18 California counties to set aside suspected noncitizen ballots

   Federal prosecutors sent letters Friday to at least 18 California counties, demanding officials set aside and verify ballots the Justice Department believes went to noncitizens and provide identifying information within 48 hours. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli warned of “legal jeopardy.” California’s secretary of state and Los Angeles County’s registrar say the federal data is unreliable.

   Reporting: HuffPost (with Associated Press), lubbocklights.com

6. María Corina Machado returned to Venezuela after more than 10 months in exile

   Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado attended a Sunday ceremony at Barquisimeto’s Divina Pastora Shrine, NBC News reported. The Associated Press said she had not appeared in Venezuela since December. After more than 10 months in exile, she posted, “I am here. With you.” Her ally, former presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia confirmed her arrival.

   Reporting: National Public Radio, The New York Times, Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, BBC News, CNN, NBC News, Associated Press

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7. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned of advanced Iranian plots against Americans

   An October 23 memo warned that Iran's efforts to target Americans had increased, with lethal plots reaching advanced stages, a U.S. official told The Jerusalem Post. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton sent it to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, copying CIA Director John Ratcliffe. South Florida Reporter said it named no targets or methods and left imminence unclear.

   Reporting: The Jerusalem Post, The National, southfloridareporter.com

8. President Donald Trump invoked the Sept. 11 attacks to oppose Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed

   President Donald Trump invoked the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks Sunday, comparing efforts to keep Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed out of the Senate with United Flight 93 passengers’ fight against hijackers. Trump called El-Sayed a “jihadist” and urged Michigan to stand up and fight. El-Sayed has repeatedly denied and denounced the claims.

   Reporting: KTVN 2 News Nevada, Boston.com

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9. Israeli forces continued a large operation in the West Bank city of Hebron

   Israeli forces kept Hebron under siege for a third day, restricting movement after Palestinian gunmen killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded three, ahead of Tuesday’s election. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed the military to cordon off the city. Hebron’s municipality reported more than 2,600 people displaced, while Defence Minister Israel Katz put the figure at about 2,000.

   Reporting: Al Jazeera, Euronews, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, The Boston Globe, WTOP News, ABC News (Australia)

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10. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk acknowledged throttling Starlink service in Ukraine

    SpaceX CEO Elon Musk acknowledged Saturday that SpaceX throttled Starlink in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said high-speed access to Starlink and Starshield was restored after restrictions hampered efforts to intercept Russian drones. Serhii Beskrestnov, a defense technology adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, disputed Musk’s claim that Ukraine used commercial Starlink for offensive strikes, saying longstanding restrictions made that impossible.

    Reporting: PBS News, CNBC, CNN, Facebook

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More stories

11. The CDC counted 4,588 measles cases in the United States in 2026

    The CDC recorded 4,588 U.S. measles cases in 2026, including 178 newly reported that week, more than twice 2025’s total. Udaipur Kiran reported at least 43 separate outbreaks nationwide.

    Reporting: National Public Radio, AOL, udaipurkiran.com

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12. Police report at least 12 people injured in a shooting near Florida A&M University

    A scene remained on Perry Street about 18 hours after the shooting. Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said no arrests had been made. Police said a fight broke out before the shooting in a crowded area after a football game. Revell praised officers who carried victims to transport through the crowd. Florida A&M University said its campus remained safe.

    Reporting: Facebook, WKMG News 6, ABC7 New York, Instagram

13. Saudi Arabia partially reopened King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh

    Saudi Arabia partially reopened Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport Sunday, assigning Terminal 1 to domestic flights and Terminal 2 to international services, Dawn News English reported. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the airport remained a “military target” and operations would continue. Saudi authorities did not directly respond to Houthi claims of targeting the airport and oil facilities Saturday.

    Reporting: YouTube, Facebook, The New York Times, Reuters

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14. The Space Force granted SpaceX access to sensitive orbital-tracking data under a new contract

    The U.S. Space Force gave SpaceX enhanced access to the most detailed, secure version of U.S. Space Command’s High Accuracy Catalog, the first such access for a commercial company, according to The Guardian. The data tracks satellites and other orbital objects. Critics say the arrangement could give SpaceX an advantage and make it a de facto space-traffic coordinator.

    Reporting: Around Prague, The Guardian, WION, Traders Union, almayadeen.net

15. Falling trees kill two men in separate Storm Boelo incidents

    Storm Boelo killed two men in separate falling-tree incidents in Scotland and London, the Guardian reported. One was 60 and the other in his 20s. The storm battered the UK, leaving more than 160,000 properties without power. The Met Office reported gusts of up to 84mph.

    Reporting: The Guardian, ladbible.com

16. Andy Burnham called for a discussion on returning to free movement with the EU

    Andy Burnham called for the UK to consider a return to free movement with Europe, a proposal backed by senior cabinet ministers including Angela Rayner. Labour MP Stella Creasy said the country needed a fuller discussion of its effects on supply chains and jobs. Some red-wall MPs may be concerned; Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband supports reopening the debate.

    Reporting: AOL

17. Britain and Canada abandoned plans to merge their defence-financing institutions

    Canada and the UK abandoned plans to merge their defence-financing institutions after failing to agree on headquarters and future membership terms. The UK will pursue an independent, Europe-based Multilateral Defence Mechanism, while Canada develops a separate Defence, Security and Resilience Bank. The governments said the institutions would be distinct but complementary and work in close partnership.

    Reporting: Bloomberg, Briefs Finance, Financial Times, investing.com

18. The Archdiocese of New York reached a settlement over 1,300 clergy abuse claims

    About 1,300 survivors have approved an $800 million settlement with the Archdiocese of New York, USA Today reported. The agreement settles claims of sexual abuse by clergy after more than seven years of litigation, Vatican News reported. Al Jazeera, citing The New York Times, reported each survivor would receive at least $250,000, with potentially higher payments based on abuse severity.

    Reporting: Spectrum News, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Vatican News, Deutsche Welle, USA Today, Al Jazeera, news12.com

19. Runoff from heavy rain is flooding parts of the Four Corners

    Four Corners flooding continued, with runoff moving toward Utah and raising San Juan River levels, KJZZ reported. Several Navajo Nation communities in Utah were ordered to evacuate over potential “catastrophic flooding.” ABC News reported the San Juan River crested at 21 feet in New Mexico on Saturday, its highest recorded crest since 1935, flooding Shiprock neighborhoods.

    Reporting: ABC News, starbeacon.com, kjzz.com, journalarta.com

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20. Bulgaria is headed for a Nov. 1 presidential runoff after an inconclusive first round

    Bulgaria’s presidential election will go to a Nov. 1 runoff, election officials said, after Sunday’s vote produced no outright winner. PBS News said observers attributed record-low turnout to mistrust of politicians and voter apathy.

    Reporting: UA News, PBS News, SBS News, Killeen Daily Herald, ilkha.com

21. Marine Le Pen launched her French presidential campaign at a rally in Orléans

    French far-right National Rally candidate Marine Le Pen launched her 2027 campaign in Orléans before 8,500 supporters, South China Morning Post reported. She promised immigration and crime measures and “double” French-European borders. If elected, she vowed to cap energy bills, cut taxes and reduce France’s EU contribution. The Wall Street Journal reported over 400,000 took to the streets Saturday.

    Reporting: Al Jazeera, France 24, Euronews, Agence France-Presse, South China Morning Post, Ukrainian National News, The Wall Street Journal

22. Police in France arrested more than 1,300 people following Saturday protests

    France’s Saturday protests over living costs and school conditions resulted in 1,314 arrests, easternherald.com reported, while The Business Standard put the total at more than 1,300. Earlier reports had described nearly 1,000 arrests. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned arrests could rise further, and the Yellow Vests movement announced plans for more demonstrations on October 31.

    Reporting: Times Now, The Times of India, Proto Thema, Rediff.com, The Business Standard, newsmobile.in, easternherald.com

23. Audi announced plans to build its first U.S. factory in Georgia

    Audi plans its first U.S. production site at Georgia’s Middle Georgia Megasite, investing about $4 billion and expecting to create roughly 4,500 jobs. President Donald Trump announced the project at a Perry rally and said construction could begin next month; Audi says construction is scheduled for 2027. CEO Gernot Döllner cited growth ambitions and reducing tariff exposure.

    Reporting: The New York Times, CNBC, Fox Business, ksl.com, georgia.gov, audi.com

24. Gabon's media regulator restored social media access following an eight-month suspension

    Gabon restored access to social media on Saturday, ending an eight-month suspension, the High Communication Authority (HAC) said. HAC spokesman Jean-Claude Franck Mendome announced the decision in a televised statement. The regulator said the suspension had aimed to give the government time to adapt its legal framework, while users now must provide formal identification, effectively ending online anonymity.

    Reporting: BBC News, trtafrika.com, citizen.digital, africanews.com

25. A Cedar Rapids Quaker Oats plant caught fire after an apparent explosion

    An apparent explosion sparked a fire Saturday at the Quaker Oats plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, sending black smoke over the city. Officials said all workers were accounted for and no injuries were reported. Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said the fire began in an area not heavily populated by employees. The fire was mostly out by 6:25 p.m.; cause remains unclear.

    Reporting: The Economic Times, Ottumwa Courier, Fox Business, New York Post, ABC7 Los Angeles

26. The Trump administration is seeking to expand veterans' access to psychedelic treatments

    Trump administration seeks to expand VA psychedelic access for veterans with mental illnesses. Veterans Health Administration senior adviser Andrew Gradison told a conference he wants to treat up to 2.1 million veterans with PTSD or depression. No government regulator has deemed psychedelics safe or effective for mental illness; the FDA rejected a 2024 proposal for MDMA-assisted talk therapy for PTSD.

    Reporting: Politico

27. Lawyers for Rep. Joyce Beatty asked a judge for withheld Trump administration records

    Attorneys for Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and ex officio Kennedy Center board member, asked U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper Sunday to order the Trump administration to turn over emails and texts withheld as privileged presidential communications. Beatty’s lawyers said the messages bear on the challenge to President Donald Trump’s plans to close the center. Cooper had not ruled.

    Reporting: Bozeman Daily Chronicle

28. Federal appeals judges questioned the Justice Department’s challenge to California mail ballots

    A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals voiced skepticism Sunday about the Justice Department’s request to block 20,000 California mail ballots. The judges questioned whether the request intrudes on states’ constitutional authority over elections. Circuit Judge Gabriel Sanchez also questioned the appeals court’s jurisdiction, noting a lower-court judge had scheduled a hearing for Tuesday.

    Reporting: U.S. News & World Report, Los Angeles Times, news8000.com

29. Sen. Adam Schiff called for Pete Hegseth to testify about Ukraine’s Starlink slowdown

    Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and anyone with knowledge of Ukraine’s Starlink slowdown should testify before the Senate if Democrats regain control. Schiff cited conflicting public accounts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government believed the U.S. had directed restrictions.

    Reporting: The Hill, NBC News, Around Prague, MEAWW (Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide), Newsweek, rollingout.com, mezha.net

30. President Donald Trump angered ranchers by pausing certain beef tariffs

    United States President Donald Trump’s 90-day pause on certain beef tariffs angered some US ranchers and made beef cheaper to import, particularly from Brazil. It was presented as a way to lower consumer prices, but many ranchers saw it as a betrayal as they prepared cattle for market. The US cattle herd is near its smallest size since 1951.

    Reporting: Al Jazeera

31. Bon Secours Mercy Health is in talks to buy a majority stake in Surgery Partners

    The Financial Times reported that Bon Secours Mercy Health, a US-based not-for-profit health system, is in late-stage talks to buy a majority stake in Bain Capital-backed Surgery Partners. The proposed deal would value the surgical-care provider at roughly $6 billion, including $3.5 billion in debt, or about $20 a share; Bain Capital would retain nearly 40%.

    Reporting: Seeking Alpha, Bloomberg, Financial Times, wsau.com

32. JetBlue's senior creditor group hired adviser PJT Partners

    JetBlue’s senior creditor group hired PJT Partners as an adviser, Briefs Finance reported, citing Reuters. The engagement signals creditor work on JetBlue’s capital structure. As of June 30, the airline reported $1.66 billion in cash and $8.5 billion in debt and finance lease obligations; its shares were down 42% year to date.

    Reporting: Briefs Finance, TheStreet, simplywall.st