Thursday, October 29, 2026

The Iran war has cost the US military at least $47.1 billion as of mid-October, according to CBS News, which cites a Central Command estimate. Most of it is for replacing used munitions. Only CBS News has reported the…

A US company running a years-long world cruise halted its voyage in Cambodia, blaming soaring fuel costs from the Iran war, the Associated Press and BBC report. About 200 passengers, mostly Americans, had to leave the…

Spain began three days of mourning Thursday after a high-speed train crash near Toledo killed at least 68 people, BBC and ABC Australia report. The transport minister blamed an inexplicable decision by a control…

Netanyahu's camp lost its hold on power in Tuesday's vote, but most rival leaders refuse to work with Arab-led parties, NPR and The Guardian report. That could keep him in office for now. Arab-led party chiefs say they…

Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who was overseeing the case against Nicolás Maduro, died Wednesday at 92, CBS News and the Associated Press report. He also rejected Trump's bids to move his hush money case to federal…

A police guard shot dead a teenager who attacked him with knives outside Israel's embassy in Belgrade early Wednesday, Serbian officials said, according to BBC, DW and Fox News. The guard had a minor face wound. Serbia…

Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, who founded Mexico's PRD party and ran three times for president, died Wednesday at 92, El Universal and Infobae report. He was the first elected head of Mexico City's government. President Claudia…

North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast Thursday, South Korea's military said, according to the Associated Press and DW. The launch came from near Wonsan. Tensions have risen since…

Flávio Bolsonaro flew to Miami on Wednesday, days after he lost Brazil's runoff vote to Lula, BBC, DW and the Washington Examiner report. In a letter, he said the vote was stolen and called himself Brazil's true…

JD Vance sent a letter to Iran's top security chief to try to restart peace talks, The Wall Street Journal reported, as cited by the Washington Examiner and The Independent. Trump denied he ordered a peace push and…

Army Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia was pushed out as the Joint Staff's top war planner, ABC News and the Associated Press report, and ABC News says he has now retired. His office helps draw up war plans for the…

Hackers leaked names, work addresses and phone numbers of more than 40,000 Homeland Security staff, including ICE and border agents, BBC, CNBC and NPR report. DHS says it is working to address a potential breach. More…

Records in the released Epstein files show classified material was handled by the Justice Department, according to CBS News. A CBS study of page numbers found gaps that hint many pages were pulled, such as Epstein's…

Streamer Hasan Piker has sued commentator Scott Jennings for $72.5 million, NBC News and The Daily Wire report. Piker says Jennings aired an edited clip that falsely showed him backing the lynching of Black people…

Minnesota has charged James O'Keefe and Cam Higby over an undercover video shot at polling places, ABC News, the Washington Examiner and the BBC report. Prosecutors say the men gave poll workers the names of real…

A judge on Wednesday refused to let the Justice Department hold back 20,000 California mail ballots, NBC News, the Washington Examiner and the Los Angeles Times report. Judge David Carter said its claims that…

A New York Times report says Mary Peltola's campaign helped recruit a second Dan Sullivan for Alaska's Senate race, ABC News, Fox News and The Guardian report. Her campaign denies any role. President Trump said she…

On October 29, 1929, stock prices collapsed on the New York Stock Exchange in a day known as Black Tuesday, History.com and Federal Reserve History report. More than 16 million shares traded. The crash helped speed the…

The Justice Department is asking questions about Nvidia's nearly $13 billion purchase of AI platform Hugging Face, according to CNBC. The inquiry looks at how the deal may affect rivals. Nvidia declined to comment, and…

US employee engagement fell to 29 percent last quarter, its lowest level since 2011, according to CNBC, which cites Gallup polling. The drop was sharpest among remote and hybrid workers, most of all at firms that use…

Cloud security startup Upwind raised $400 million at a $3.8 billion value after turning down a buyout offer from Datadog, TechCrunch and Globes report. Bessemer Venture Partners led the round. Upwind's yearly revenue…

Family caregivers now spend an average of more than $11,500 a year out of pocket, up about 60 percent since 2021, an AARP study finds, CBS News and NPR report. Housing, food and health care are the biggest costs. Many…

Stellantis shares jumped after the Jeep and Fiat maker showed progress on its turnaround plan, CNBC and RTE report. Adjusted operating income rose to 256 million euros. But the company still had about 4 billion euros…

A group led by Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management offered about $1.4 billion to buy Wendy's and take it private, CNBC and the Associated Press report. The offer is $7.35 a share in cash. Wendy's shares jumped about…

South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix posted a record quarterly operating profit of 83.33 trillion won, CNBC, The Korea Times and Korea JoongAng Daily report. It said its main memory chips are sold out through 2029. Shares…

Samsung Electronics reported a record quarterly operating profit of 107.4 trillion won, driven by demand for AI memory chips, the Associated Press and CNBC report. It was Samsung's fourth straight record quarter. But…

Google's parent company Alphabet more than doubled its cloud revenue, CNBC and The Verge report. But CNBC reports overall profit and revenue missed forecasts, and shares slumped more than 10 percent. Heavy spending on…

Microsoft beat forecasts and shared its Azure cloud revenue in dollars for the first time, the BBC, CNBC and TechCrunch report. Azure brought in $33.2 billion, up 48 percent. The results came days after Microsoft…

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has played his final match, losing to Jiri Lehecka in Basel on Tuesday, according to BBC Sport. The 41-year-old Swiss star lost 7-5, 7-6. Only BBC Sport has reported this so…

The Lakers beat the Clippers on Wednesday without star Luka Dončić, who sat out with back tightness, the Los Angeles Times and New York Post report. Collin Sexton scored 21 off the bench. The Lakers are now 4-1 after a…

Alessia Russo scored three goals as Arsenal beat Benfica 3-0 in the Women's Champions League on Wednesday, The Guardian and Sky Sports report. She became the top English scorer in the competition's history. The win…

Manchester City and Liverpool won penalty shootouts on Wednesday to reach the English League Cup quarterfinals, the BBC and the Associated Press report. City beat Brighton and Liverpool beat Chelsea. Arsenal went out…

Former Japan coach Takeshi Okada has quit a top job at Japan's soccer body over concerns about FIFA, the Associated Press and CNA report. He quit after the Asian soccer body said it would back FIFA's president. Gianni…

Kimi Antonelli can clinch the Formula One title in Mexico City on Sunday, the Associated Press and Sky Sports report. He would be the first Italian champion since 1953. At 20, he would also be the youngest champion in…

Sergio Pérez has signed a multi-year extension with Cadillac's Formula One team that runs through 2029, the BBC and Reuters via Sportstar report. The news came days before his home race, the Mexico City Grand Prix…

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has left the hospital after collapsing at the club's training ground last week, the BBC and Sky Sports report. The club says the cause was meningeal irritation. No date has been set…

The Golden State Valkyries can win their first WNBA title with a win at Atlanta in Game 6 on Thursday, the Associated Press and CNBC report. The game tips off at 12:30 pm Eastern, an early start that drew criticism…

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to win their first World Series, the Associated Press and NBC News report. Jacob Misiorowski threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Catcher William Contreras was…

A local ceasefire in Russian-occupied Oleshky in southern Ukraine took effect October 27, and groups are preparing to evacuate trapped residents, according to DW. Roads into the town are being cleared of mines, and…

North Korean workers are being brokered to Russian firms as forced labor, with most of their pay going to Pyongyang's missile program, according to ABC Australia, which cites a rights group report. Only ABC Australia…

Protesters in Kosovo's capital demanded action Wednesday after a woman who had asked for help was killed, the Associated Press and Balkan Insight report. Balkan Insight says they want two ministers to quit. Arlinda…

King Charles says Commonwealth leaders will talk about the legacy of slavery at their summit in Antigua next week, The Guardian and BBC report. He spoke of the great suffering of the past as he began a Caribbean tour…

Youth-led protests over schools, housing and living costs have spread across Europe, from France to Albania, BBC and DW report. Some ended in violence and looting. In Germany, a group called Gen Z regelt has called…

A US military strike on a suspected drug boat in the eastern Pacific killed five people Tuesday, Southern Command said, according to The Guardian and Stars and Stripes. More than 70 such strikes have killed over 230…

The United States put sanctions on Rwanda's defense ministry Wednesday, accusing it of sending troops to fight alongside M23 rebels in eastern Congo, the Associated Press and BBC report. A Rwandan bank was also…

The United States and Japan agreed to set up a plant in Japan to assemble AMRAAM air-to-air missiles used on F-35 jets, the Associated Press and Air & Space Forces Magazine report. Japan's defense minister announced…

A London jury found far-right activist Tommy Robinson guilty of harassing two Daily Mail journalists and causing them to fear violence, BBC, The Guardian and The Independent report. He was granted bail until sentencing…

Utah filed criminal charges on Wednesday against Kalshi and its two co-founders, the Associated Press and KUER report. Ars Technica reports a US agency is suing Utah to stop it from using its gambling ban on Kalshi…

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law on Wednesday that bans a list of unsafe chatbot behaviors with children under 18, the Associated Press and Engadget report. Chatbots cannot pretend to be a real person or…

UK regulator Ofcom has set out the ways social media firms could check that users are over 16, according to BBC News. The UK's ban on under-16s is due to start in March. Many adults may also have to prove their age.

The European Union plans to build the first undersea internet cable linking Europe to Greenland, according to Ars Technica. The cable could later reach Canada, Japan and South Korea, bypassing the US. Only Ars Technica…

US regulators have approved Amazon Leo's $11.5 billion deal to buy satellite firm Globalstar, The Verge and Engadget report. The deal gives Amazon more satellites and airwaves. Leo will also run the satellite features…

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Elon Musk a genius on Wednesday and said Russia is in close contact with him about satellites, BBC News and The Guardian report. Putin said the contact helps keep Russian and…

Google has announced Gemini 4 Carbon, a new AI model it says is a big step up in cybersecurity, Ars Technica, CNET and The Verge report. It comes just two weeks after Gemini 4 Argon. For now, only a small group of…

George Michael items, including the guitar from his Faith video, are being auctioned on Thursday, according to BBC News. They come from the collection of his late longtime assistant. Her brother objects to the sale…

Sanrio, the company behind Hello Kitty, has apologized and ended its merchandise tie-up with the Japanese spy drama Vivant, BBC News, The Guardian and The Japan Times report. Chinese state media had attacked the show's…

Castle Walls, a Turkish historical drama billed as the first series made end to end with AI for a major streaming service, is on Prime Video, The Guardian and Variety report. It has two short episodes. A Guardian…

The fourth episode of South Park's 29th season sends the boys after a beef shortage, according to Variety. The episode is titled Guinea Pig on a Stick. Variety notes it was not a Halloween episode, though it aired days…

Early reactions to The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping are strongly positive, Variety and TheWrap report. Critics and writers posting online after the premiere praised Joseph Zada, who plays a young Haymitch. The…

Russell Brand has given evidence at his trial in London and denied all charges of rape and sexual assault, BBC News, ABC News and The Guardian report. He said the allegations had a devastating impact on his life. The…

Peter Medak, the Hungarian-born director of The Changeling, The Krays and The Ruling Class, has died at 88, The Guardian, Variety and Screen Daily report. He died on Tuesday in Los Angeles. His family said he died…

An Iranian court has sentenced director Jafar Panahi to five years and one month in prison and ordered his assets seized, The Guardian and Euronews report. He was sentenced without being present. Panahi won the top…

Barbara Barrie, the actor nominated for an Oscar for the 1979 film Breaking Away, has died at 95, the Los Angeles Times, TheWrap and Fox News report. She died on Wednesday at her home in Manhattan after a terminal…

Police in South Carolina say the death of actor Hayden Panettiere was an accident, BBC News, NBC News and CBS News report. Police say their inquiry is now closed. She died in August at 36 from the toxic effects of…

The Ebola outbreak in Africa has passed 10,000 cases and could spread to the UK and other countries, Africa's top disease official warns, according to The Guardian. Nearly 5,000 people have died, Congo's health…

Representative Frank Pallone Jr. asked the Government Accountability Office to review whether the TrumpRx website has saved Americans money, STAT and Bloomberg Government report. The White House claims $700 million in…

About 75 percent of former NFL players who died from 2008 to 2023 had the brain disease CTE, a Boston University study estimates, CBS News and NBC News report. That is the highest estimate yet. CTE can only be…

The US organ transplant system is relaxing a rule that kept donation teams away from families until they decided to end life support, according to NPR. Officials say the change will prevent errors and lift donations…

Deaths linked to wildfire smoke in Canada have risen about 275 percent since the early 2000s, a Lancet report finds, CBC News and Global News report. About 4,000 deaths a year were tied to smoke from 2021 to 2025…

Smoke from the Eaton Fire exposed about 7 million Los Angeles residents to lead levels more than 80 times normal for a day, a Caltech study finds, the Associated Press and ScienceAlert report. The plume carried far…

The health department led by RFK Jr. will let compounding pharmacies make six unapproved peptides, NBC News, the BBC and the Associated Press report. The FDA will not take action against pharmacies that make them. The…

The sharp loss of Antarctic sea ice since 2016 is making a key layer of the Southern Ocean saltier, according to Inside Climate News. The layer carries heat and carbon north to other oceans. Scientists say the change…

Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk and NASA astronaut Anil Menon are set to walk in space on Thursday to install a new solar array on the space station, Spaceflight Now and CBC News report. It will be Kutryk's first…

Virgin Galactic has unveiled Apeiron, the first of its new Delta-class space planes, Space.com and The Verge report. The name, Greek for boundless, won a public vote. The company now expects to start flying paying…

About 300,000 people in parts of the Himalayas may now live in the path of floods, a new study finds, BBC News and the journal Scientific Reports report. Buildings in high-risk zones grew by nearly half from 2016 to…

President Trump said Tuesday his administration is ending a Biden-era rule that limits methane leaks from oil and gas drilling, the Associated Press, CNBC, Euronews and The Guardian report. He says the change will save…

Astronomers using the new Rubin Observatory in Chile have found an icy object beyond Neptune that may be a dwarf planet, CBC News, Space.com and ScienceAlert report. Named 2026 ED138, it is about 600 to 1,500…

Archaeologists have pulled a bronze sword from Lake Mezzano in central Italy, and its edge is still sharp, Live Science and Archaeology News Online report. The sword dates to the 13th century BC. It may have been…

A very strong El Niño is likely to shape the US winter, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's outlook shows. NPR reports what that could mean region by region. The North is favored to be warmer, and the…

Homes in Japan where someone died a violent or lonely death are drawing buyers and renters with deep discounts, according to BBC News. One Tokyo renter pays almost 30 percent less for a flat where a man killed himself…

Walmart's holiday meal basket will cost $35 and feed 10 people, or $3.50 a person, according to CBS News. The retailer says the kit has 18 percent more items and costs 12 percent less than the same items did last year…

Barack Obama joked that Trump made the White House look like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory, The Guardian and the Washington Examiner report. Trump hit back, critics called the joke elitist, and the…