Afternoon Premium Edition · Tue, Oct 27 · 1:04 p.m.

The Essential 10 · about 4 minutes

1. Israelis set a midterm turnout record in voting for the 120-seat Knesset

   Turnout in Israel’s Knesset election reached 55.7% by 4 p.m. Tuesday, the highest recorded for that hour since records began in 1973, the Central Elections Committee said. Acting committee chair Din Livneh said more than 4.08 million voters had cast ballots; Yedioth Ahronoth reported turnout was 47.5% at the same point in the previous election. Polls were scheduled to close at 10 p.m.

   Reporting: Ynetnews, Anadolu Agency, Daily Sabah, The Jerusalem Post, ifcj.org

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2. The Justice Department asked Washington to withhold midterm ballots cast by over 400 suspected noncitizens

   The Justice Department asked Washington state to set aside ballots from more than 400 people it believes may be noncitizens pending confirmation of their eligibility. PBS News reported they had cast 1,500 votes and some may have since become naturalized citizens. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs was reviewing the request; his office cited about 60 DOJ subpoenas since last month.

   Reporting: CBS News, Democracy Docket, NBC News, PBS News, The Guardian

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3. Congo recorded over 10,000 confirmed Ebola cases and 4,887 deaths

   Congo’s Ebola outbreak has passed 10,000 confirmed cases, with 10,060 cases and 4,887 deaths recorded through Oct. 25, government data showed. Bloomberg reported, citing the government and United Nations, that violence against health workers responding to the outbreak left a nurse dead. Congo’s National Institute for Public Health said 40 of the latest 46 deaths occurred in communities.

   Reporting: WTOP News, Al Jazeera, Reuters, CBC News, Bloomberg, China Daily Asia, Anadolu Agency

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4. Ethiopia church synod said two attacks killed at least 60 Orthodox Christians in Oromia

   The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s Holy Synod said Monday that at least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in attacks in Oromia on Oct. 20 and 24. The church said more than 20 people were seriously injured and 20 homes burned. Al Jazeera reported that a local official accused a rebel alliance including the Oromo Liberation Army; OLA has denied attacking civilians.

   Reporting: ABC News, Al Jazeera, Vatican News, Africanews, Newswav, allafrica.com, newsofbahrain.com

5. Jordan said its air force killed over 20 Islamic State militants in Syria

   Jordan said its air force killed more than 20 Islamic State militants in Monday evening airstrikes in southern Syria, while acknowledging civilian deaths. The strikes followed a funeral attack at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak that killed nine people. Syria condemned the strikes as an unacceptable violation of its airspace; Jordan had arrested three gunmen earlier Monday.

   Reporting: Al Jazeera, France 24, The National, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Forth, Reuters, heraldonline.com (with Reuters)

6. The Justice Department is making a third attempt to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey

   Prosecutors are pursuing a third case against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of transmitting and conspiring to transmit national defense information in 2016. Comey has not been indicted. His lawyers seek dismissal, arguing an indictment was required within 10 years.

   Reporting: U.S. News & World Report (with Reuters), NBC News, kten.com, reviewjournal.com

7. Election officials across the United States are preparing for possible federal interference in midterm elections

   Election officials nationwide are preparing for possible federal interference in the Nov. 3 midterms, The New York Times and The Daily Beast reported. Scenarios include agents at polling places, attempts to seize voting equipment and block certification. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows called the planning a first, saying the federal government seemed “adversarial to the states.”

   Reporting: The Daily Beast, Fortune, The New York Times, snopes.com

8. Russia and Ukraine enacted a localized ceasefire in the southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky

   A ceasefire took effect Tuesday at 3 a.m. Kyiv time in Russian-occupied Oleshky to allow aid and evacuations. U.S. first lady Melania Trump’s office said she led talks with civilian negotiators from Russia and Ukraine. The truce is expected to last through Saturday or longer. Negotiators said aid would precede evacuation corridors; Ukrainian authorities say about 1,700 people remain.

   Reporting: The Korea Times, Associated Press, The Hill, Anadolu Agency, CNN, Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, National Public Radio

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9. Indian authorities are evacuating tens of thousands of people along the eastern coast

   Indian authorities are moving tens of thousands of people to shelters as Cyclone Arnab approaches the eastern coast, with landfall expected Wednesday morning. Prakhar Jain, managing director of Andhra Pradesh’s disaster management authority, told Reuters nearly 50,000 people had been moved by Monday night, out of an estimated 400,000 needing evacuation. Schools are closed; at least 61 trains were canceled.

   Reporting: Al Jazeera, Syrian Arab News Agency, The New York Times, sundayguardianlive.com, bigrapidsnews.com

10. A Russian drone killed five people in a park in Ukraine's Kharkiv region

    CBS News reported photos showed Ukraine’s Starlink service was throttled during a Russian strike that killed five people in a park. Ukrainian officials said the restrictions affected ground-based air-defense radars and drone interceptors, hindering efforts to stop incoming strikes. Access was restored Saturday. Elon Musk acknowledged SpaceX throttled connectivity and accused Ukraine of violating Starlink’s terms through offensive drone attacks.

    Reporting: CBS News

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More stories

11. Two men appeared in a London court over a suspected RAF Fairford security plot

    Two men appeared in a London court Tuesday, the first charged over an incident at RAF Fairford, a base used by U.S. military aircraft. Mohmed Ahmad Abdulkarim, 24, is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service that counterterrorism police believe was Iran’s. Nouman Essghir, 24, faces a separate prohibited-place charge. Police recovered gasoline but found no improvised explosive devices.

    Reporting: WION, CBS News, Fox News, Reuters, Stars and Stripes, WPDE News, dallasexpress.com

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12. Israeli police arrested a knife-carrying man who approached politician Yair Golan

    Israeli police arrested a man carrying a knife near Yair Golan, leader of Israel’s main left-wing party, The Democrats, as he campaigned in Tel Aviv on election day. Golan’s party said the man approached threateningly, but police said no attempted stabbing took place. Golan blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “poison machine” and said, “Incitement and violence will not intimidate us.”

    Reporting: CBS News, Arab News, palestinechronicle.com, jfeed.com, thejc.com

13. Flávio Bolsonaro pursues legal action to disqualify Lula’s electoral ticket

    Flávio Bolsonaro, Brazil’s defeated presidential candidate, has shifted from seeking annulment to pursuing legal action to disqualify President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s electoral ticket, citing alleged abuse of political and economic power. Bolsonaro has not formally conceded.

    Reporting: National Public Radio, Anadolu Agency, Al Jazeera, The Straits Times

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14. Reports that Flávio Bolsonaro’s whereabouts are unknown after Brazil’s election

    Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro’s passports were cancelled Tuesday after he missed a Supreme Court deadline to surrender them to federal police, and his whereabouts were unknown. Bolsonaro, who denies wrongdoing in a money-laundering investigation, lost Sunday’s runoff to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and had not officially conceded, saying he would seek to annul the result over alleged irregularities.

    Reporting: France 24, RTÉ News, The Economic Times

15. A U.N. commission accused Russia of war crimes over energy infrastructure attacks

    The U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine concluded that Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity, finding they were intended to deprive civilians of essential services and cause suffering. Its report drew on accounts from 255 Ukrainians who endured winter conditions in Kyiv and eight other regions during 2025-26, alongside officials, doctors and civic groups.

    Reporting: TVP World, Yeni Şafak, The New York Times, The Independent, The Register Citizen, WXOW News 19, united24media.com

16. Stubb and Støre pressed Putin to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector and infrastructure

    Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre urged Putin to de-escalate attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector and infrastructure during Tuesday’s call ahead of planned Abu Dhabi talks. The Kremlin said Putin told them a just, long-term peace depends on Russia’s legitimate interests being fully and unconditionally taken into account; it said the leaders agreed to maintain direct phone contacts.

    Reporting: The National, The Moscow Times, POLITICO Europe, Kyiv Post, Firstpost, eutoday.net

17. Western governments warned of deteriorating food security and famine risks in Sudan

    The United States and partner governments warned Monday that Sudan’s food crisis is worsening, urging warring parties to remove barriers to humanitarian aid. Their joint statement said 19.5 million people—41% of the population—face acute food insecurity, including five million in emergency conditions. It cited conflict as the main driver, alongside aid obstruction and El Niño’s effects.

    Reporting: BBC News, Demócrata, İlke Haber Ajansı, todaynewsafrica.com, newindianexpress.com

18. The FBI searched a Beverly Hills mansion in an investigation into former Rep. Eric Swalwell

    Federal agents searched a Beverly Hills mansion Tuesday in an investigation involving former Rep. Eric Swalwell. FBI spokesperson Lourdes Arocho said the bureau was executing a search warrant and that no arrests were planned. Swalwell resigned in April amid sexual misconduct allegations, which he denied.

    Reporting: CNN, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, Politico, Fox News, ABC7 News, wptz.com, foxla.com

19. Federal authorities arrested Illinois man over alleged white-powder letters to Congress

    Illinois man Matthew G. Unglesbee was arrested after allegedly mailing white-powder letters to four members of Congress, authorities said. He admitted sending the letters and told agents the substance was salt, selected because it looked like anthrax, according to an FBI affidavit; he said he was joking. NBC News reported the envelopes bore his name and home address.

    Reporting: NewsNation, The Guardian, BNO News, NBC News, pressdemocrat.com, wqad.com, suntimes.com

20. A federal judge ruled the dismissal of prosecutor Maurene Comey was unlawful

    Federal judge Jesse M. Furman ruled that the Trump administration’s July 2025 firing of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey violated civil-service law and the constitutional separation of powers. He ordered her retroactive reinstatement and back pay through Dec. 20, saying the relief would make her whole. Comey’s lawyers praised the ruling.

    Reporting: Government Executive, PBS News (with Associated Press)

21. Donald Trump and Marco Rubio planned to visit an oil tanker in Port Arthur

    Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio plan to visit a newly arrived tanker carrying Venezuelan crude at Port Arthur, Texas, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, the Associated Press reported, citing two U.S. officials and a congressional aide. The crude is intended for processing at Texas refineries. The visit comes as Trump campaigns in Texas ahead of the midterm elections.

    Reporting: CiberCuba, ABC News, News4JAX, Politico, New York Post, cubaheadlines.com, businessupturn.com, itemonline.com (with Associated Press)

22. Donald Trump made his commitment to accept midterm election results conditional

    Donald Trump said Tuesday he would respect the results of the November 3 U.S. midterm elections “if they’re honest elections,” qualifying his commitment to accept the outcome. The Times of Israel and LBC described the remark as a fresh hint at baseless election claims, while The Hill reported growing concerns among Democrats over his stance.

    Reporting: News18, The Hill, The Times of Israel, Moneycontrol, lbcgroup.tv

23. Donald Trump says East Potomac Golf Course renovation will proceed despite a judge’s order

    District Judge Ana Reyes extended restrictions on renovation work at East Potomac Golf Course. District Judge Ana Reyes extended restrictions barring further tree removal or damage and requiring 10 business days’ written notice before other work that could permanently alter the site. Reyes denied the administration’s recusal request; officials said they would immediately appeal.

    Reporting: Newsweek, NBC4 Washington, The Independent, The News International, The Times of India, New York Post, The Hill

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24. Nvidia plans to invest $3 billion in Meta Platforms' equity offering

    Nvidia plans to invest $3 billion in Meta Platforms’ equity offering as the companies expand their Muse collaboration. AMD separately announced a $1 billion investment, bringing disclosed chipmaker investments to $4 billion. Meta said Nvidia, AMD and Broadcom expressed nonbinding interest in buying up to $5 billion in shares; no joint financing arrangement has been established.

    Reporting: TradingView, mexicobusiness.news

25. Boeing will not reach its 47-jet monthly production target until early 2027

    Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said Tuesday the company will not reach its target production rate of 47 737 jets a month until early 2027, delaying a key part of its recovery. CNA reported Boeing will also miss its goal of delivering 500 jets this year. Shares fell 10% to an 18-month low, Seeking Alpha reported.

    Reporting: CNA, Reuters, Seeking Alpha, aerospaceglobalnews.com

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26. Bluff becomes latest town to evacuate after San Juan River flooding

    Bluff, Utah, was the latest town to evacuate after San Juan River flooding swamped parts of communities in Colorado and New Mexico. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said damage from flooding lasting more than four days could total $300 million. Bluff Mayor Josh Ewing said more rain is forecast Friday night and Sunday, as residents work to recover.

    Reporting: KUNM Public Radio, NBC News, Tribune Ledger News, AccuWeather, tribdem.com, tippinsights.com

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27. Experts warned that the U.S. measles resurgence exposed weaknesses in public-health defenses

    The U.S. measles resurgence is exposing weaknesses in public-health defenses, including declining vaccination rates, eroding trust in health institutions and difficulties persuading people to protect their communities, experts say. But one expert who works extensively on bioterrorism cautioned that the trend does not show whether Americans would refuse vaccines or antibiotics in a biological emergency, where countermeasures may differ.

    Reporting: CNBC

28. The World Meteorological Organization warned of long-term climate effects from record 2025 greenhouse gas levels

    WMO said concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide reached record highs in 2025, locking in further warming for decades and centuries. Carbon dioxide averaged 426.8 parts per million. WMO Deputy Secretary-General Ko Barrett said the gases trap unprecedented heat, adding energy for extreme weather. Anadolu Agency reported sulfur hexafluoride’s largest annual increase. The report preceded COP31.

    Reporting: Anadolu Agency, South China Morning Post, Türkiye Today, Reuters, Phys.org, bgnes.com, newscientist.com

29. The Alexander brothers are scheduled to be sentenced in New York

    Oren and Alon Alexander, former luxury real estate brokers, and their brother Tal Alexander are due to be sentenced Tuesday in New York after convictions on 10 federal counts, including sex-trafficking conspiracy and sex trafficking by force. Prosecutors seek life terms; defense lawyers request 15 years each. Women who accused the brothers are expected to speak at sentencing.

    Reporting: NBC News, AOL, NBC 6 South Florida, Bangor Daily News (with Associated Press), fox11online.com

30. Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees

    Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees as it seeks to contain costs and help fund its AI investments. Microsoft Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer Amy Coleman said in a company blog post that voluntary exit offers are available to eligible staff at level 70 and below in the United States, Canada, the UK and India.

    Reporting: United Press International, News18, CBC News, The Australian Financial Review, tweaktown.com, techspot.com, ibj.com