Today’s desk

Tuesday, November 3, 2026 edition: 50 stories with labeled sources. Every brief from Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · All editions · RSS feed

Top Stories

• Americans vote in midterm elections with control of Congress at stake

  Americans are voting on Tuesday in midterm elections that will decide who runs Congress, the Guardian reports. Republicans now hold the House and the Senate. More than 57 million early votes were cast by Monday afternoon, ABC News reports, citing a University of Florida count.

• US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island as Vance talks up a deal

  The United States carried out limited strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island late Monday, the Guardian reports. An unnamed US official called the strikes defensive, CNBC reports. Hours earlier, Vice President JD Vance said he and President Donald Trump were hopeful about a negotiated settlement with Tehran.

• New York reports first measles death in more than 30 years

  A child in Lewis County in northern New York has died of measles, state health officials said Monday, NBC News reports. It is the state's first measles death in more than 30 years. New York has recorded 178 cases so far this year, according to the state Health Department.

• Teen arrested in Fairfield Spirit Halloween shooting that killed pregnant woman

  Police in Fairfield, California, have arrested a 17-year-old boy in Friday's shooting at a Spirit Halloween store, NBC News reports. The shooting killed Constance Hages, 31, who was pregnant, and wounded six other people. Police said the boy will face a murder charge, and he is not being named because he is a minor.

• Suspected cyber-attack warms supermarket freezers in seven European countries

  Supermarket fridges and freezers in seven European countries warmed up overnight in a suspected cyber-attack, the BBC and the Guardian report. About 40 Delhaize shops in Belgium and Luxembourg were hit, the BBC says. The incident echoes an attack on French supermarkets last month.

Politics

• Judge throws out case against ex-FBI officials over Hunter Biden testimony

  A federal judge on Monday threw out the case against two former FBI officials, Fox News reports. They were accused of lying to Congress about the Hunter Biden inquiry. Judge Zia Faruqui called the case "weaponization" and said prosecutors did not show probable cause, CNN reports.

• Former Chicago FBI chief sues Justice Department, alleging he was scapegoated

  Douglas DePodesta, the former head of the FBI in Chicago, sued top Justice Department officials on Monday, the Chicago Tribune reports. He alleges he was blamed for a failed case against six protesters and forced out of his job. The US attorney and the department did not reply right away to the Tribune.

• Trump's last speech before the midterms centers on the Reflecting Pool

  President Donald Trump spent much of his final scheduled speech before Election Day on the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, CNBC reports. He reopened the pool after a troubled renovation. Later on Fox News, he said to Republican voters that "if our people vote, we win in a landslide," the New York Post reports.

• Haley Stevens says backing Republican Mike Rogers was her own decision

  Haley Stevens, a Democrat in Congress, said her switch to back Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race "was not made for me by anyone else," the New York Post reports. She said it was sexism to suggest her fiance was behind it. Democratic leaders condemned the move, and Republicans praised it, ABC News reports.

Business

• Drax and Brookfield plan big AI data centre at Yorkshire plant

  Drax has agreed to build an AI data centre at its power station in North Yorkshire with Brookfield and its AI platform Radiant, CNBC and City AM report. The first phase would deliver up to 100 megawatts from 2028. Brookfield says total investment could top £20bn.

• Virgin Media O2 plans thousands of job cuts, halts fibre upgrades

  Virgin Media O2 plans to save £800m a year by 2029, with job cuts expected to run into the thousands, the Guardian reports. The firm will also stop its full fibre upgrades beyond existing deals, ISPreview reports. BBC News had reported earlier that large cuts were coming.

• Snap settles teen addiction lawsuit, ending Los Angeles trial

  Snap has settled a lawsuit from two teens who allege Snapchat was built to be addictive and harmed their mental health, Reuters and Engadget report. The deal ends a Los Angeles trial in which Snap was the last defendant. The terms were not disclosed.

• Palantir's US commercial sales top government revenue for the first time

  Palantir's US commercial revenue overtook its US government revenue for the first time in the third quarter, CNBC reports. Commercial sales jumped 148% to $984 million, the company said. Total revenue topped $2 billion for the first time, and Palantir raised its full-year forecast.

• Anthropic's revised IPO filing shows about $17 billion in third-quarter revenue

  Anthropic made about $17 billion in revenue in the third quarter, its amended IPO filing shows, CNBC reports. That is up about 1,127% from a year earlier. The filing also lists about $895.4 billion in purchase commitments, mostly for computing and infrastructure.

• Australia's central bank raises rates for a fifth time this year

  The Reserve Bank of Australia raised its cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.85%, its fifth increase this year, the Guardian reports. Nine reports that the rate is now at its highest level since December 2008. Six board members voted for the rise and three wanted to hold, the Guardian says.

Sports

• Cardinals name Gardner Minshew starter, drop Jacoby Brissett to third

  The Arizona Cardinals have named Gardner Minshew their starting quarterback after he led a comeback win over Dallas, ESPN and CBS Sports report. Rookie Carson Beck moves up to backup. Jacoby Brissett, who had started every game this season, drops to third string.

• East Texas A&M stuns Oklahoma in season opener

  East Texas A&M beat Oklahoma 68-64 in the first men's basketball game of the season for each team, USA Today and the AP report. The Lions had been a 28.5-point underdog, the AP says. Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said sorry to every fan who came to the game.

• Bears beat Seahawks as Jeffery Simmons shines in debut

  The Chicago Bears beat the Seattle Seahawks 34-17 on Monday night, according to The Guardian. Caleb Williams threw for 247 yards, and new lineman Jeffery Simmons had a sack in his first game for Chicago. Seattle has now lost three of its last four games.

• Luka Doncic scores 42 as Lakers rout the Heat

  Luka Doncic scored 42 points as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat 138-117 on Monday night, the Sun Sentinel and the AP report. It was a night after he scored 45 against Toronto. The Lakers are now 6-2, and the Heat fell to 2-5.

• Draymond Green ejected after scuffle as Warriors rally past the Suns

  Golden State's Draymond Green was ejected after two technical fouls in Monday's 116-113 win over the Phoenix Suns, ESPN reports. The Warriors trailed 67-57 when he left. Stephen Curry then scored 34 points as Golden State came back to win, ESPN says.

• King Charles's former horse Point of Law wins the Melbourne Cup

  Point of Law, a horse owned by King Charles until earlier this year, won the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, the BBC reports. Jockey Ethan Brown rode the colt past the front-runner Royal Supremacy late in the race. Trainer Ciaron Maher had the top three horses, the Guardian reports.

• Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia postponed to December 2027 after attacks

  The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been pushed back to December next year, the BBC reports. The move follows a series of deadly attacks on the host country. The Asian Football Confederation said the tournament will now run from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028.

World

• UK and EU agree draft deal cutting food export red tape

  The UK and the EU have agreed a draft deal to remove post-Brexit checks on food and farm trade, according to BBC News. The 200-page text has gone to EU nations ahead of a meeting on Wednesday. It would let exports of fresh sausages, burgers and seed potatoes resume.

• Burnham opens Commonwealth slavery apology talks, rules out reparations

  Andy Burnham has begun talks with Commonwealth leaders in Antigua on a formal UK apology for the slave trade, BBC News reports. He also plans a "debt reset" for member nations. Caribbean leaders say an apology without repair would not be enough, The Voice reports.

• Denmark moves to ban fast-growing turbo chickens, urges EU ban

  Denmark wants to ban fast-growing "turbo chickens" at home and across the EU, the Guardian and Politico Europe report. The push came after a TV film alleged a big producer broke the law on how much dark time its birds get. Industry figures say any ban must cover imported chicken too.

• Russian bombing of aid centre kills at least 26, Kyiv says

  Russian bombs hit an aid centre and a nearby shelter in the village of Komyshuvakha in southern Ukraine on Monday, the Guardian reports. Ukrainian officials say at least 26 people were killed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it "a vile terrorist strike."

• European troops to rehearse a possible Ukraine peacekeeping mission in Poland

  Thousands of European troops will take part in an exercise in Poland this month, the Independent reports. They will rehearse a possible mission in Ukraine after a ceasefire. Western officials say such a force could fire back if attacked by Russians, the Guardian reports.

• UK home secretary drops 15-year settlement wait for migrant care workers

  UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has scrapped a plan to make migrant care workers wait 15 years to settle permanently, LBC reports. Care workers already in the UK earning at least £25,000 will wait five years. Most other workers will face a 10-year wait, the Guardian reports.

Tech

• BMW plans hands-on city driving assist from 2027

  BMW plans to offer a driver assist system that can help steer through city streets from 2027, starting in Germany, The Verge and heise report. Drivers must keep watching the road and stay ready to take over. The feature will come to some current models through a software update.

• Anthropic steers Claude away from cloning existing video games

  Anthropic has changed Claude Code so it will not recreate specific existing video games, The Verge and CNET report. An Anthropic engineering leader said copying games to infringe on IP breaks its usage policy. Original games and games in a genre should keep working, he said.

• OpenAI hires former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for security role

  OpenAI has hired Dan Driscoll, who used to run the Army, for a new job on AI and defense, CNBC and Gizmodo report. He will advise on how AI can help keep the country and its allies safe. Driscoll quit the Army post earlier this year after reported tensions with Pete Hegseth.

• Reddit argues in High Court against Australia's teen social media ban

  Reddit has asked Australia's High Court to strike down the ban on social media for under-16s, the Guardian and BBC News report. Its lawyer argued the law was rushed and limits teens' freedom of political speech. The government began its defense and will continue on Wednesday.

• Apple can't say when iPhone Duo supply will meet demand

  Apple says it cannot yet predict when supply of its new foldable iPhone Duo will meet demand, TechCrunch reports. The $1,999 phone sold out quickly, and some ship dates now stretch into next year. Apple reported record iPhone revenue for its fourth quarter, the Verge reports.

• Google says Android partner built botnet into 1.3 million TV boxes

  Google says it shut down a botnet that one of its Android partners built into more than 1.3 million TV set-top boxes, CyberScoop reports. Google alleges China-based Videostrong did it on purpose for profit. The company has banned Videostrong from making certified Android devices.

• North Korea denies it was behind the record Binance crypto hack

  North Korea has denied it was behind the hack of crypto exchange Binance, calling the allegations "absurd rhetoric," the BBC reports. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, made the statement. The FBI has blamed a North Korea-linked hacking group for the theft.

Entertainment

• Bill Hader to guest star on Abbott Elementary later this season

  Bill Hader said on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" that he will make a guest appearance on "Abbott Elementary" later this season, according to Variety. He did not say who he will play or when the episode will air. Hader and the show's creator, Quinta Brunson, also voice stars in the new film "The Cat in the Hat".

• World of Warcraft: Forever launches worldwide on Wednesday

  Blizzard's World of Warcraft: Forever, a reimagined take on the original game, launches at the same time worldwide on Wednesday, November 4, Game Rant reports. Its developers said in a VICE interview that a surprising number of new players joined the beta. Players should be ready for long login queues at launch.

• 2 Chainz and Keith Lee clash over fame and restaurant reviews

  Rapper 2 Chainz defended the perks of fame in a debate with food reviewer Keith Lee on Kirk Franklin's "Den of Kings," AllHipHop reports. Lee stood by judging restaurants on how they treat regular customers. HotNewHipHop says some fans felt let down by the rapper's view.

• BTS tour and Katseye drive Hybe to its best quarter ever

  K-pop company Hybe posted record quarterly revenue and operating profit in the third quarter, Variety reports. Variety says BTS's world tour powered the results. Revenue reached 1.5257 trillion won, and operating profit came in at 188.5 billion won, Chosun Biz reports.

• Russell Brand's lawyer tells jury that journalists 'poisoned the well'

  Russell Brand's lawyer said to jurors that a Channel 4 documentary and newspaper stories "poisoned the well of justice" against the comedian, the BBC reports. Ian Winter KC made the case in his closing speech on Monday. Brand denies rape and sexual assault charges involving six women.

Health

• Degreaser mistaken for sugar burns five at North Carolina Chili's

  Three customers and two workers at a Chili's in North Carolina were burned after margaritas were rimmed with a degreaser mistaken for sugar or salt, Fox News reports, citing the local health district. The New York Times says a contractor brought the cleaner in days earlier. The restaurant reopened the next day.

• UK launches first study of forever chemicals in people's bodies

  The UK Health Security Agency is starting its first study of PFAS levels in the UK population, according to BBC News. It will test blood and urine samples for these "forever chemicals" and other substances like lead. The first results are expected next year.

• Washington state resident dies of bird flu linked to dairy cattle

  A Yakima County resident in Washington state has died from bird flu after being exposed to infected cattle at a dairy, STAT reports. The person had underlying health conditions and died on Sunday. Health officials say the risk to the general public remains low, the Guardian reports.

• FDA gives tentative approval to a generic twice-yearly HIV prevention shot

  The FDA has given tentative approval to a generic version of the HIV prevention shot lenacapavir, STAT reports. The shot is given once every six months. The drugmaker plans to start shipping it next month at a yearly cost of $40 per person, STAT says.

Science & Climate

• Gas-powered AI data centres could undercut UK net zero goals

  Four planned giant data centres in the UK are looking at gas-fired power while they wait for a grid link, according to BBC News. The BBC's own sums suggest they could emit more carbon each year than Manchester, Liverpool and Southampton combined. A senior MP said heavy use of gas "can't be the future".

• Scientists report fossilised red blood cells in a 115-million-year-old dinosaur bone

  Scientists say they have found what appear to be fossilised red blood cells in the leg bones of a 115-million-year-old dinosaur from Brazil, the Guardian reports. Chemical tests found heme, the compound that lets blood carry oxygen. Another scientist says she is not convinced.

Lifestyle

• I bonds now pay 5.51%, but come with trade-offs

  Newly bought Series I savings bonds now pay 5.51% a year through April 30, up from 4.26%, according to CNBC. It is the highest rate since November 2022, but the money is locked up for a year. This is news, not financial advice.

• Many office workers still feel remote, New York Fed paper finds

  Nearly half of workers surveyed had no in-person meetings on their latest day in the office, according to CNBC, which reported on a New York Fed research paper. The researchers say many workers commute in only to take video calls. They still argue that office rules can help if people follow them.

• 'Mogging' named Collins Dictionary's word of the year for 2026

  Collins English Dictionary has named "mogging" its word of the year for 2026, the BBC reports. The slang word means outshining or outperforming someone, most often in looks. Its use rose 210% this year, especially among Generations Z and Alpha, the Irish Times reports.

• Royal Mail unveils Nativity Christmas stamps, 60 years after first set

  Royal Mail has unveiled its Christmas stamps for 2026, the BBC reports. The set of five shows scenes from the Nativity. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the first Christmas stamps, issued on December 1, 1966, the Swindon Advertiser reports.