Today’s desk

Saturday, October 31, 2026 edition: 51 stories with labeled sources. Every brief from Saturday, October 31, 2026 · All editions · RSS feed

Top Stories

• State Department approves $2.1 billion Patriot missile sale to Ukraine

  The State Department has approved a possible $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, NBC News, CNN and the BBC report. Allies are paying. Zelensky warned the missiles may not arrive for years and asked for faster help.

• Justice Department warns state election officials of possible jail time

  The Justice Department sent letters warning state election officials they could face jail if they fail to keep election records, ABC News and Votebeat report. The letters came days before Tuesday's election. Some state officials said they did not like the tone of the letters.

• G20 group photo canceled as allies refuse to pose with Lavrov

  The United States canceled the group photo at a G20 meeting in Atlanta after several countries refused to pose with Russia's top diplomat, the BBC and the Guardian report. Britain, Australia and European nations were among them. Ukraine was not invited.

• Judge bars Justice Department from threatening election workers over ballots

  A federal judge has ordered the Justice Department to stop threatening election officials over how they handle ballots, CNN, CBS News and The Guardian report. The order blocks demands to set ballots aside or purge voter rolls. It lasts until November 16.

• Two arrested in killing of 'SNL' writer's missing sister, police say

  Los Angeles police have arrested two people, including her boyfriend, on suspicion of killing Christina Downer, the sister of a "Saturday Night Live" writer, NBC Los Angeles and Variety report. She went missing nearly a year ago. Police believe the two got rid of her body.

• Trump administration prepares to deport dozens of Afghans to Pakistan

  The Trump administration is preparing to deport dozens of Afghan immigrants to Pakistan, NBC News and ABC News report. Some may be family of Afghans who worked with American troops. Advocates fear the group will then be sent back to Afghanistan, which the Taliban now rule.

• One killed, six hurt in shooting at California Halloween store

  One person was killed and six were hurt in a shooting at a Spirit Halloween store in a Fairfield, California, mall on Friday night, the Los Angeles Times and ABC News report. Three are in critical condition. No one has been arrested.

Politics

• Appeals court keeps 2027 diversity visa lottery closed to new applicants

  A federal appeals court has blocked an order to open the 2027 diversity visa lottery, according to Fox News. The court said the immigration law firm that sued had no legal standing to bring the case. The lottery admits about 55,000 immigrants a year.

• Justice Department picks four cities for nearly $300 million crime grants

  Four cities will share nearly $300 million to fight violent crime, according to Fox News and a Justice Department release. They are in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri, and were picked from nearly 50 applicants. The department has not said how the money will be split.

• Judge holds off ruling on Comey bid to toss leak case

  A federal judge did not rule Friday on James Comey's request to throw out the Justice Department's latest case against him. Comey's lawyers say the deadline to charge him has passed. Prosecutors say new evidence could give them more time.

• Alaska governor and Justice Department probe second-Sullivan ballot effort

  The Justice Department has sent a new wave of subpoenas in its probe of an alleged effort to put a second Dan Sullivan on Alaska's ballot, ABC News reports. Alaska's governor has ordered his own probe. Democrats deny any role.

Business

• Starbucks same-store sales jump 7% as its turnaround gains speed

  Starbucks said sales at stores open at least a year rose 7.2% worldwide last quarter, CNBC and Nation's Restaurant News report. Sales at its American cafes rose 7.7%. But the coffee chain expects its total revenue to slip about 1% next fiscal year.

• UK house price growth slows to weakest in two years

  House prices in Britain rose just 0.5% in the year to October, the slowest pace in more than two years, The Guardian and Reuters report. Higher mortgage rates are putting buyers off. A Bank of England rate rise is widely expected next week.

• Weil Gotshal leaders recommend winding down, and AI firm Crosby bids

  Leaders of Weil, Gotshal and Manges have recommended that the famed law firm shut down, CNN reports. Its partners are set to vote on that plan in the coming days. An AI law firm called Crosby has bid for its brand, TechCrunch reports.

• FTC orders nine companies to explain how personal data sets prices

  The Federal Trade Commission has ordered Walmart, Delta and other companies to explain how they use personal data to set prices, AP and Fox Business report. Fox Business says nine companies got the orders. The agency also wants to know how gig workers' pay is set.

• BP profit nearly quadruples on strong fuel refining margins

  BP's quarterly profit nearly quadrupled to about $8.5 billion, CNBC and the Guardian report. High fuel prices tied to wars and refinery outages drove the jump. Climate campaigners called the profits obscene, the Guardian says, with UK diesel prices near record highs.

Sports

• Leicester beat Bristol 22-16 to go top of the Prem

  Leicester Tigers won 22-16 at Bristol on Friday to go top of the Prem, The Guardian and BBC Sport report. The visitors scored four tries to one and took a bonus point. Bristol played part of the first half with 13 men.

• Red Roses crush USA 55-12 to extend 35-year winning streak

  England's Red Roses beat the United States 55-12 in New Jersey on Friday, The Guardian and BBC Sport report. Wing Claudia Moloney-MacDonald scored four of England's nine tries. The win followed two losses to Canada over the past two weeks.

• Ballon d'Or organizers investigate suspicious bets on exact top five

  Ballon d'Or organizer France Football is looking into a set of bets that correctly picked this year's exact top five, The Guardian reports. Twelve accounts on Polymarket placed the bets, Le Figaro reports. French police are also to be informed of the case.

• England near Rugby League World Cup exit despite beating PNG

  England beat Papua New Guinea 34-12 at the Rugby League World Cup but are almost sure to go out, The Guardian and BBC Sport report. They now need Tonga to crush Samoa on Sunday. England's women's team is also out of the tournament.

• MLB lockout looms as labor deal nears its December 1 expiration

  Major League Baseball's labor deal ends December 1, and owners are expected to lock out players soon after, AP and CBS Sports report. The two sides are split over a salary cap. The 2027 season is set to open March 24.

• Thunder's Chet Holmgren out 8 to 10 weeks with knee tear

  Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren will miss 8 to 10 weeks with a small tear in his right knee, NBC Sports and Fox News report. He is the third Thunder starter hurt in a week. The team chose treatment instead of surgery.

• Aston Villa plan legal action against pundit Jamie Carragher over insults

  Aston Villa say they will take legal action against TV pundit Jamie Carragher, the Guardian and the BBC report. The club called his comments about Villa and its fans unacceptable insults. Carragher has since said his remarks were meant as a joke.

World

• State Department approves $2.1 billion Patriot missile sale to Ukraine

  The State Department has approved a possible $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, NBC News, CNN and the BBC report. Allies are paying. Zelensky warned the missiles may not arrive for years and asked for faster help.

• Gay bar raid tests Taiwan's LGBTQ-friendly image as Pride arrives

  A police raid on a gay bar in Taipei weeks before Pride has some questioning Taiwan's welcoming image, The Guardian and Reuters report. Officers rounded up 51 customers for questioning. The Guardian says the city's mayor has since apologized and six officers were disciplined.

• Spain's deadly train crash reshapes its snap election race

  A high-speed train crash near Urda has shaken Spain weeks before a snap election, The Guardian and the Associated Press report. It was the country's second deadly rail disaster of the year, after a January crash. Rival parties are reacting in very different ways.

• Rock spire collapse in Turkey's Cappadocia kills three people

  A tall rock tower fell in Turkey's Cappadocia region on Thursday, Reuters and The Independent report. Three people were killed and five were hurt at the popular tourist site. Officials said heavy rain likely caused it, and prosecutors will look into what went wrong.

• Canada and EU launch an Alliance for the Future

  Canada and the European Union have launched a new partnership called the Alliance for the Future, The Guardian and the Washington Examiner report. Leaders unveiled it at the end of a two-day summit in Montreal. Other like-minded countries could join it later.

• Tens of thousands protest living costs in cities across Italy

  Tens of thousands of people marched in more than 50 Italian cities Friday against rising living costs and military spending, CNN and NBC News report. The protests were mostly peaceful. Police used a water cannon on protesters in Rome that night.

• Riot police deployed at Poland's top court after chief suspended

  Riot police faced protesters outside Poland's Constitutional Court after its chief judge was suspended, the Guardian and the BBC report. President Karol Nawrocki flew back to Warsaw and forced his way inside. He said the court was seized by force.

Tech

• AI giants back one shared signal to opt out of training

  OpenAI, Google, Microsoft and Anthropic plan to honor one shared signal that lets websites opt out of AI training, The Verge and SiliconANGLE report. Today, sites must set that choice for each company. The signal would sit in a site's robots.txt file.

• Applebee's app exposed a password that unlocked customer data

  Applebee's Android app held a built-in password that opened a customer database, according to TechCrunch. A security researcher found it using AI tools, and the flaw has since been fixed. The chain's owner says it has found no sign of misuse.

• Tampered Claude Code extension on Cursor put developers at risk

  A tampered version of an official Claude Code extension sat in Cursor's marketplace for about 11 hours Thursday, The Verge and Ars Technica report. Cursor says up to 5,000 users may have installed it. The code could open a hidden back door.

• Meta settles teen addiction lawsuit, leaving Snap alone at trial

  Meta has settled a lawsuit from a teen who said its apps were addictive and hurt her mental health, CBS News and NBC News report. The terms are secret. Snap now stands alone as the defendant in the Los Angeles trial.

Entertainment

• Kelly Clarkson Show leads Daytime Emmys as General Hospital wins again

  The Kelly Clarkson Show won five awards at the Daytime Emmys on Friday, more than any other program, Variety and People report. General Hospital took the top drama prize for a sixth straight year. Sherri Shepherd won best talk host.

• Romesh Ranganathan and Bash Croft win The Celebrity Traitors

  Comedian Romesh Ranganathan and actor Bash Croft have won The Celebrity Traitors, BBC News and The Independent report. The two faithful players caught the last two traitors, Maya Jama and King Kenny. They will give their £83,000 prize to two refugee charities.

• Judge lifts restraining order against Halle Berry but keeps visitation limits

  A Los Angeles judge has dissolved a restraining order Olivier Martinez sought against his ex-wife Halle Berry, ABC News and the Los Angeles Times report. But Berry's time with their 13-year-old son stays limited for now. Lawyers on each side welcomed parts of the ruling.

• Aerosmith returns at Hollywood Bowl with Dave Grohl and Johnny Depp

  Aerosmith played its first show in about three years on Thursday at the Hollywood Bowl, the Los Angeles Times and Variety report. Foo Fighters star Dave Grohl played drums for most of the band's set. A second show is planned for Sunday.

• Prosecutors drop felony charge against rapper Rick Ross in battery case

  Florida prosecutors have dropped a felony charge against rapper Rick Ross, saying there was not enough evidence, AP and CBS News Miami report. He still faces a lesser charge of domestic violence battery. Ross has said the claims against him are not true.

• Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff file for divorce after three years

  Actor Margaret Qualley and musician Jack Antonoff have filed for divorce after three years of marriage, the Los Angeles Times and AP report. The uncontested case was filed Friday in Brooklyn. The Times says the couple split up over the summer after marrying in 2023.

• Selma Blair apologizes in video weeks after arrest over flight incident

  Actor Selma Blair has apologized in an Instagram video, weeks after her arrest following an incident on a flight to New York, NBC News and ABC News report. She has pleaded not guilty to two assault charges. She said she never meant to hurt anyone.

Health

• Coroner links actor Richard Norton's death to unapproved peptides

  An Australian coroner has linked the death of martial artist and actor Richard Norton to unapproved peptide drugs, NBC News and The Guardian report. Norton, 75, died in March 2025. The coroner wants regulators to review how such drugs are sold.

• Connecticut records six flu deaths as season arrives early

  Connecticut has recorded six flu deaths in a season that started early, according to NBC News. All six people were 55 or older. Flu cases in the state rose more than 22% in a week, and hospital stays rose more than 64%.

• Congo's Ebola outbreak holds at a high plateau, experts warn

  Congo's Ebola outbreak has leveled off at about 400 to 500 new cases a week, according to AP. Experts say that is still a very high number. Fewer than a quarter of new cases come from known contacts, so the virus may be spreading out of sight.

Science & Climate

• California's first known sea turtle eggs near their hatching window

  The first sea turtle eggs known to be laid on California beaches could soon hatch, the Los Angeles Times and CBS Los Angeles report. The 204 eggs are at a Long Beach aquarium. Experts are not sure the eggs are developing.

• Fire at South Carolina nuclear lab prompts brief site emergency

  A fire at a lab on the Savannah River Site in South Carolina set off an emergency on Wednesday, CNN and the Washington Examiner report. The fire was put out. Officials said no contamination was found outside the affected building.

• Study finds wildlife trade involves more than 107,000 species

  More than 107,000 plant and animal species are used or sold in the wildlife trade, according to The Guardian. That is more than twice an earlier estimate. Researchers say the online exotic pet trade and gaps in data hide much of it.

• Record king tides flood California coast, damaging 114 Huntington Beach buildings

  Very high tides flooded parts of the California coast this week, Fox Weather and the Los Angeles Times report. Los Angeles and San Francisco set water level records. In Huntington Beach, 114 homes and other buildings were damaged, and the city warns tides late next month could be even higher.

Lifestyle

• On this day in 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated

  On this day in 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was shot dead by two of her own bodyguards, History.com and The Indian Express report. The killing followed an army raid on Sikhism's holiest shrine. Deadly attacks on Sikhs followed.

• Halloween storm to soak California, then spread across 35 states

  A powerful storm was forecast to bring rain to California and the Southwest this Halloween, according to Fox Weather on Thursday. It will then move east, bringing heavy rain, storms and snow to 35 states. Rain could reach the central states by Election Day.

• Removal of water tower roof exposes Manhattan barn owl nest

  The roof of a Manhattan water tower where rare barn owls were nesting has been removed, according to the Associated Press. The move exposed the nest and angered bird lovers. State officers ordered the owner to stop the demolition while they investigate.

• On this day, 1517: Luther's 95 Theses spark the Reformation

  On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther made public his 95 Theses against the sale of church pardons, History.com and the German History in Documents and Images archive show. The list helped start the Protestant Reformation. Whether he really nailed it to a church door is still debated, DW reports.