Morning Premium Edition · Fri, Oct 30 · 7:04 a.m.

The Essential 10 · about 3 minutes

1. 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

   Updated since this edition · Read the latest

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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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6. 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

7. 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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8. 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

   Updated since this edition · Read the latest

9. 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

10. 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

    Updated since this edition · Read the latest

More stories

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

    Updated since this edition · Read the latest

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

    Updated since this edition · Read the latest

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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.

    Updated since this edition · Read the latest

21. 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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22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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