Morning Premium Edition · Tue, Oct 27 · 7:08 a.m.

The Essential 10 · about 4 minutes

1. Israelis are voting in their first parliamentary election since Oct 7

   Tuesday’s vote puts Netanyahu’s leadership to a test, in Israel’s first national election since Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. His nationalist and ultra-Orthodox coalition faces opposition parties loosely led by former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. Some polls cited by Time projected neither bloc would win the 61 Knesset seats needed to form a government.

   Reporting: The New York Times, Politico, Fox News, Time

   Updated since this edition · Read the latest

2. Russia and Ukraine began a localized ceasefire in and around occupied Oleshky

   A localized ceasefire took effect Tuesday in and around Russian-occupied Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast, to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations. First Lady Melania Trump helped broker the pause. The U.N. said up to 2,000 people are stranded in the town amid dwindling food and medicine supplies.

   Reporting: The Kyiv Independent, TRT World, The Wall Street Journal, The Jerusalem Post, Novinite — Sofia News Agency, NBC News

   Updated since this edition · Read the latest

3. The Trump administration asked Washington state to set aside ballots from more than 400 people

   The Trump administration asked Washington state Monday to set aside ballots from more than 400 people it suspects registered to vote without U.S. citizenship. Acting U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd said no alleged voters had been charged, but he anticipated charges. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, reviewing the request, said its timing aimed to cast suspicion on results.

   Reporting: Chicago Tribune, NBC News, PBS News (with Associated Press), The Independent, Democracy Docket, hanfordsentinel.com, washingtonstatestandard.com

   Updated since this edition · Read the latest

4. A federal appeals court rejected a Trump administration bid to segregate California mail ballots

   The 9th Circuit ruled 2-1 against the Trump administration’s emergency request to make California set aside mail ballots linked to more than 20,000 voters the federal government says may be noncitizens. The panel said the Justice Department had not given the trial court adequate time to consider the request. Judge Patrick Bumatay dissented; a hearing is scheduled Tuesday.

   Reporting: NBC Los Angeles, CBS News, YouTube, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Facebook, The Hill, Associated Press

5. The Justice Department brought criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey

   The Justice Department brought criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of illegally transmitting national defense information in 2016 in its third attempt to prosecute him. Filed under seal Oct. 5 and made public Monday, the two-count document was intended to preserve the statute of limitations, a department spokesperson said.

   Reporting: Law Commentary, Deutsche Welle, BBC News, Democracy Docket, The Washington Post, CBS News, Ukrainian National News, 13News Now

   Updated since this edition · Read the latest

6. Benjamin Netanyahu sought a pre-election airstrike on Iran despite military resistance

   The New York Times reported Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought for weeks to arrange an airstrike on Iran before Tuesday’s election, but military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir resisted. It said Netanyahu also pressed for a separate, unspecified action short of an overt strike, which Zamir feared could provoke Iran to attack. Netanyahu called the report “fake news.”

   Reporting: The New York Times, YouTube, NDTV, Facebook, The Times of Israel, Haaretz, The Guardian

7. Brazil’s Liberal Party recognized Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s presidential election victory

   Brazil’s Liberal Party recognized President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s runoff victory Monday, while Al Jazeera said candidate Senator Flávio Bolsonaro had not formally conceded; The Washington Post described him as effectively conceding defeat. Party head Valdemar Costa Neto said election issues needed clarification. Al Jazeera reported Lula won by over 4.4 million votes. Donald Trump said the vote “looked like another rigged election.”

   Reporting: U.S. News & World Report (with Reuters), Al Jazeera, The Jerusalem Post, Le Monde, The Washington Post

   Updated since this edition · Read the latest

8. Two London men face charges over a suspected Iran-linked plot involving RAF Fairford

   Two London men, Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir, both 24, have been charged under Britain’s National Security Act 2023 in connection with a suspected Iran-linked plot near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Abdulkarim is accused of assisting a foreign intelligence service; Essghir is charged over conduct involving a prohibited place. They are due in Westminster Magistrates’ Court Tuesday.

   Reporting: AOL, CBS News, Hereford Times, keloland.com (with Associated Press), leeds-live.co.uk, canberratimes.com.au

   Updated since this edition · Read the latest

9. Jordan said its air force struck alleged militant hideouts in southern Syria

   Jordanian airstrikes killed at least seven people in Syria, including three children and a woman, Syrian Civil Defence said; strikes hit Deraa and Suwayda provinces. Jordan said it targeted hideouts linked to suspects in Friday’s Karak church attack, which killed nine. Jordan’s military said it coordinated with Damascus; Syria’s Foreign Ministry denied prior coordination and voiced “complete reservation.”

   Reporting: Al Arabiya, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, Ynetnews, South China Morning Post, The National, muslimnetwork.tv

   Updated since this edition · Read the latest

10. Congo recorded more than 10,000 confirmed Ebola cases in its latest outbreak

    Congo’s Ebola outbreak has reached 10,060 confirmed cases and 4,887 deaths as of Oct. 25, government health data showed. Caused by the Bundibugyo virus, it is the largest and deadliest Ebola outbreak recorded in the country. It has spread to Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and France; the virus has no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

    Reporting: Reuters, WSLS 10 News (with Associated Press), KTVN 2 News Nevada, China Daily, news24.com, eagletribune.com

    Updated since this edition · Read the latest

More stories

11. A Swiss woman treated for Ebola in Nigeria was evacuated to Switzerland

    A Swiss woman with Ebola was evacuated from Nigeria to Switzerland with her husband Monday, officials said. Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Pate said she was stable and conscious. Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health said she was at Geneva University Hospital, her husband isolated in Zurich, and there was no risk to the Swiss public. Nigeria is monitoring 52 contacts.

    Reporting: The Independent, PBS News, CBC News, Sky News, South China Morning Post, United Press International, 8newsnow.com

12. Scottish lawmakers said Israeli authorities barred them from entering the West Bank

    SNP MP Lara Bird and Scottish Greens MSP Kate Nevens said Israeli authorities detained them for eight hours and denied them entry to the West Bank. They were stopped at the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jordan while part of a Progressive International delegation planning to meet Palestinian students and accompany farmers during the olive harvest. Bird said no reason was given.

    Reporting: BBC News, Daily Mail, stv.tv, scottishdailyexpress.co.uk, thenational.scot, thescottishsun.co.uk, dailyrecord.co.uk

13. A U.N. inquiry said Israel's actions in Gaza remained genocidal after the ceasefire

    A U.N. commission of inquiry said Israel continued committing genocidal acts in Gaza after the October 2025 ceasefire, with intent to destroy Palestinians in whole or in part. It said Israeli forces expanded control from 53% to at least 60% of the territory and killed at least 196 Palestinians. Israel rejected the findings and called for the commission’s dissolution.

    Reporting: International Business Times UK, Los Angeles Times, Arab News, WKMG News 6, Reuters, The National, ohchr.org

14. Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Finnish and Norwegian leaders about the Ukraine war

    Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called Vladimir Putin Tuesday to discuss ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. Held in consultation with Ukraine, the call conveyed Ukraine’s position on future negotiations, including upcoming meetings in Abu Dhabi. Stubb called the discussion “frank and substantive”; Støre stressed de-escalation. Both represented their countries, not Europe as a whole.

    Reporting: The Moscow Times, Meduza, POLITICO Europe, U.S. News & World Report (with Reuters), presidentti.fi

    Updated since this edition · Read the latest

15. A U.N. panel called Russia’s strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities war crimes

    A U.N.-backed inquiry reported Monday that Russia committed war crimes and crimes against humanity by intentionally attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving millions without electricity and heat in freezing temperatures. Commission chair Erik Mose, a former Norwegian judge, said the attacks targeted civilian objects and inflicted great suffering on civilians; he said intensifying strikes as winter approaches raise serious concerns for civilians.

    Reporting: The Goshen News, The Seattle Times (with Associated Press), Associated Press, Ottumwa Courier (with Associated Press)

    Updated since this edition · Read the latest

16. The FTC and 20 states sued Dollar General over checkout overcharges

    The Federal Trade Commission and 20 states sued Dollar General, alleging it repeatedly charged customers more at checkout than advertised prices, allegedly costing shoppers millions over several years. The complaint cites tens of thousands of consumer complaints and failed inspections. FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Christopher Mufarrige said the practices harmed consumers.

    Reporting: NewsNation, WRNJ Radio, CBS News, Reuters, CNBC, Business Insider, The Guardian, jsonline.com

17. Nvidia said it would invest $3 billion in Meta's equity offering

    Nvidia said it plans to invest $3 billion in Meta’s equity offering, which Meta increased to $97.5 billion, its largest fundraising. The investment is proposed and subject to closing conditions, according to Nvidia. The companies are expanding their Muse AI partnership, and Meta intends to deploy more Nvidia infrastructure, including Vera Rubin and Vera CPUs, for next-generation AI agents.

    Reporting: Firstpost, The Economic Times, CNBC, UA News, The Wall Street Journal, unite.ai

18. University of New Mexico Health System diverted ambulances after a cyber incident

    A cybersecurity issue disrupted the University of New Mexico Health System on Monday, forcing it to divert ambulances to other hospitals and cancel appointments at more than 30 clinics. The system told people not to come to its main Albuquerque hospital, leaving New Mexico without an emergency department able to treat the most serious injuries. Its extent was unclear.

    Reporting: ABC News, Associated Press, dailybreeze.com (with Associated Press), pinalcentral.com

19. Ethiopian Orthodox Church said attacks killed at least 60 Christians in Oromiya

    The Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod says at least 60 people were killed in two attacks in Oromiya region: 14 in Merti on October 20 and 46 in Sherka on October 24. The church says all victims were Christians. Blame is disputed between the regional government and a rebel-linked source, and the synod plans to seek talks with senior officials.

    Reporting: Devdiscourse, Internazionale (with Reuters), TRT World, BBC News, Al Jazeera, slobodenpecat.mk

    Updated since this edition · Read the latest

20. Democrats hold an eight-point lead on the generic congressional ballot

    Democrats lead likely voters by eight points on the generic congressional ballot, a PBS News/NPR/Marist poll found one week before Election Day. Their registered-voter lead is 10 points, down from 12 last month. Democrats have led Marist surveys since last November. 2024 voters for Democrat Kamala Harris were 15 points more likely than 2024 Trump voters to be very enthusiastic.

    Reporting: PBS News, National Public Radio

21. Experts warn of unprecedented AI disinformation on social media ahead of US midterms

    Experts warn an unprecedented flood of AI-driven disinformation is circulating on social media ahead of November’s U.S. midterm elections, with many posts likely slipping through the cracks. Social media companies, including Meta, have scaled back efforts to protect voters from election-meddling lies, according to The Guardian.

    Reporting: AOL, The Guardian

22. Judge Ana Reyes extended the block on tree removal at East Potomac Golf Links

    District Judge Ana Reyes extended a block on the Trump administration’s removal or damage of trees at Washington’s East Potomac Golf Links while a lawsuit over the renovation proceeds.

    Reporting: MS NOW, CNN, The New York Times, The Times of India, CBS News, Straight Arrow News, WKMG News 6

    Updated since this edition · Read the latest

23. A federal judge ruled the Justice Department unlawfully fired prosecutor Maurene Comey

    U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled Monday that the Justice Department unlawfully fired federal prosecutor Maurene Comey in July 2025, finding the termination violated civil-service protections. He ordered her retroactive reinstatement and back pay through Dec. 20, rejecting the administration’s argument that it could dismiss career prosecutors at will. She is the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey.

    Reporting: The Washington Post, CNBC, Politico, NBC News, PBS News, Reuters, The Guardian

    Updated since this edition · Read the latest

24. Two Catholic bishops voiced regret over their White House meeting with Donald Trump

    Two Catholic bishops expressed regret over attending an Oct. 22 White House meeting with Donald Trump after photos and video showed them praying with him. Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob apologized, saying the White House publicized what he believed was a private encounter without participants’ consent. Des Moines Bishop William Joensen said the meeting was exploited for partisan political purposes.

    Reporting: United Press International, Spectrum News, BBC News, Time, CNN, CBS News, osvnews.com

25. Trump offered a 1 million dollar payout for tips about voter fraud

    Donald Trump offered $1 million for reports of voter fraud in past elections or the Nov. 3 midterms, saying payment would follow the arrest and conviction of those responsible. He did not say where the money would come from. The offer is separate from a $25 million whistleblower program launched by Trump and JD Vance, with awards up to $30,000.

    Reporting: France 24, NBC News, KCRA 3 Sacramento, Anadolu Agency, ABC News, The Guardian, ksbw.com

26. Six citizens sued over Trump administration restrictions on White House news organisations

    Six citizens have filed suit challenging White House press restrictions, arguing that limits on news organizations’ access harm the public as well as the outlets. The complaint says the restrictions deprive citizens of independent reporting about government actions. The plaintiffs ask the court to decide whether the policy violates constitutional protections and whether its enforcement should be barred.

    Reporting: Mint, The Washington Sun, newschannel9.com

27. Tallahassee police arrested a 15-year-old boy following a mass shooting near Florida A&M University

    Tallahassee police arrested 15-year-old Anthony Rivers III Sunday in connection with a shooting outside Florida A&M University after its homecoming game. He faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a delinquent. The Associated Press reported he will be charged as an adult. Police Chief Lawrence Revell said six children were among those injured.

    Reporting: USA Today, Fox News, The Washington Post, Associated Press, Houston Chronicle, wesh.com, bleacherreport.com

28. Japanese prosecutors indicted a U.S. Marine over the death of a woman in Okinawa

    Japanese prosecutors indicted Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, on charges over the Oct. 3 death of 39-year-old Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha, Okinawa, Japanese media reported. Ballard has denied the allegations. The case sparked protests, and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called for stricter discipline of U.S. personnel.

    Reporting: The Times of India, BBC News, The Independent, KSL News, New York Post, ABC News (Australia), Washington Examiner

29. Student List won most parliamentary seats in Sunday's election

    Serbia’s Student List won a majority of seats in Sunday’s parliamentary election, defeating the Serbian Progressive Party after 14 years in power. The list’s candidates are largely first-time politicians chosen by student-led assemblies, though they are not students themselves, Democracy Now! reported. Al Jazeera said the movement promised better relations with neighboring countries, while key government appointments remain uncertain.

    Reporting: Democracy Now!, Al Jazeera, Instagram, PBS News

30. Jacob Allen Morley escaped from a Tennessee state prison in Tiptonville

    Jacob Allen Morley, 28, an inmate serving a life sentence for murder, escaped from Tennessee’s Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, the Tennessee Department of Correction said Monday. The department said security-camera footage confirmed Morley breached the perimeter fence and left the facility wearing his prison uniform. Authorities are searching for him.

    Reporting: ABC News, Demokratis, NBC News, Fox News, United Press International, dailydodge.com, newsofbahrain.com, nbcbayarea.com

31. Matthew G. Unglesbee faces charges over letters sent to members of Congress

    According to authorities, Matthew G. Unglesbee, a 37-year-old Illinois man charged with mailing threatening communications and false information and hoaxes, told FBI agents he sent four letters to members of Congress, saying the white substance was salt and he was joking. He said he chose salt because it resembled anthrax.

    Reporting: United Press International, NBC News, The Washington Post, NewsNation, Chicago Tribune, BNO News, ABC7 Chicago, pressdemocrat.com