Afternoon Edition · Sat, Nov 7 · 12:58 p.m.

The Essential 10 · about 4 minutes

1. New

   The U.S. military is launching a task force to restrict Iran's land commerce

   The U.S. military said it is launching Task Force Iron Gate to curb Iran’s movement of advanced weapons and sanctioned material across land borders and the Caspian Sea. Based in Tampa, Florida, the task force will target dual-use technologies and illegal revenue streams. Firstpost reported CENTCOM estimates the blockade has stopped Iran from exporting crude oil worth more than $25 billion.

   Reporting: Reuters, CNBC, The Times of Israel, Al-Monitor (with Reuters), Firstpost, The Jerusalem Post

2. New

   Pelacarsen failed to reduce cardiovascular events in the clinical trial

   Novartis’s experimental drug pelacarsen lowered lipoprotein(a) by 78% but did not reduce major cardiovascular events in the Horizon trial, Cleveland Clinic reported. After 4.7 years, the trial’s primary endpoint—heart-related death, heart attack, stroke or urgent heart procedure—occurred in 12.3% of patients taking pelacarsen and 12.1% receiving placebo. NBC News said 8,322 people participated.

   Reporting: NBC News, clevelandclinic.org, wkyc.com, google.com

3. New

   A gunman killed at least five people in Krakow's Main Market Square

   A gunman killed five people and injured at least 12 in Krakow’s Main Market Square on Saturday, according to reports citing authorities. CBS News reported that he drove into the market and fired at random; police officers were among the wounded. Police shot the gunman and took him to a hospital. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said police were investigating.

   Reporting: CBS News, NBC News, ABC7 Los Angeles

4. New

   Berkshire Hathaway bought back $9.6 billion of its shares in the third quarter

   Berkshire Hathaway repurchased $9.6 billion of its shares in the third quarter, more than double the $4.5 billion bought back in the second quarter, as operating earnings fell 5.8% year over year to $12.705 billion. CNBC said 2026 buybacks reached about $14.4 billion. Reuters said new CEO Greg Abel showed greater willingness to deploy cash than his predecessor Warren Buffett.

   Reporting: Bloomberg, Reuters, CNBC

5. Updated

   The Justice Department drops bid to stop California counting disputed ballots

   The Justice Department moved Friday to dismiss its lawsuit seeking to halt California's count of roughly 20,000 ballots it alleged went to noncitizens, days after a Supreme Court setback. In its motion, the department said the ballots would be irreparably commingled with lawful ones by the hearing. California officials have said the list is outdated and includes legitimate voters.

   Reporting: PBS News (with Associated Press), NBC News, nacionale.com

6. Updated

   Former Paraguayan President Santiago Peña arrived at the Attorney General’s Office to appear before prosecutors

   Former Paraguayan President Santiago Peña arrived at the Attorney General’s Office on Saturday to appear before prosecutors, Devdiscourse reported, a day after the Senate removed him from office and he was placed under house arrest. France 24 reported that Peña faces suspicion of breach of trust and influence peddling, among other charges, following the collapse of government-linked Ueno Bank.

   Reporting: France 24, Devdiscourse

7. Updated

   Russian drones and missiles damaged energy infrastructure in Kyiv and the Zhytomyr region

   Russian strikes overnight on Nov. 7 damaged energy infrastructure and a bridge over the Dnipro, disrupting electricity, water and heating in Kyiv. The Guardian reported that Russia used 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the energy situation was extremely difficult; UkrMedia News reported the North Bridge was closed in both directions for inspection.

   Reporting: The Guardian, UkrMedia News

8. Updated

   Trump replaced White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller

   Donald Trump replaced White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who is to take over Nov. 9, 2026. The Washington Post reported Wiles was pushed out. PBS News said immigration has become a political liability and Miller’s appointment signals a doubling down on Trump’s agenda; Miller has called Democrats a “domestic extremist organization.”

   Reporting: PBS News, The Washington Post

9. New

   Palestinian authorities said Saturday downpours flooded roughly 70,000 tents across Gaza

   Heavy rain flooded about 70,000 tents sheltering displaced Palestinians across Gaza on Saturday, Palestinian authorities said, leaving thousands of families without shelter. Civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal told Agence France-Presse that teams received more than 1,500 calls overnight. UNICEF representative for Palestine Jonathan Veitch said Israeli restrictions on heavy machinery and supplies worsened conditions for displaced people.

   Reporting: Reuters, Daily Sabah, NewsCord

10. Updated

    The United States carried out limited strikes on Iran as missiles hit Qeshm Island

    Donald Trump said U.S. forces carried out “minor” strikes on Iranian air defenses Friday. Fox News said he declined to confirm U.S. involvement in reported strikes on Qeshm Island, while Al Jazeera said he confirmed strikes there. Iranian media reported two missiles hit Suza; IRIB reported Iran’s army said it destroyed a U.S. MQ-9 drone over the island.

    Reporting: Fox News, The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera, UkrMedia News, Asharq Al-Awsat