The Pentagon estimates that the Iran war has cost U.S. taxpayers $47.1 billion as of Oct. 16. The estimate is $3.5 billion higher than the figure reported in early September, and the war’s cost and effects on energy prices have become issues in the midterm elections.
Key Facts
U.S. Central Command provided the estimate to Congress.
The United States and Israel launched the conflict in late February.
The estimated cost rose from about $43.6 billion in early September.
The estimate was obtained by The Associated Press.
The war’s economic effects include higher energy prices.
Voters will choose which party controls Congress in the midterm elections.
President Donald Trump has left open the possibility of renewed hostilities.
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Israel is still counting ballots after a national election with the highest turnout in decades and major gains for Arab parties. Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud had its worst result since 1999, but he may still form a coalition; the final balance will depend on negotiations among parties seeking seats in the 120-member Knesset.
Key Facts
Ballot counting was still underway on October 28, 2026.
The election had the highest turnout in decades, according to the article.
Arab parties made historic gains, and Arab Israeli voters turned out in large numbers.
Netanyahu’s result was his worst since 1999, but he still had a possible path to power.
Eleven parties were expected to make up the next 120-seat Knesset.
Coalition talks were expected to address whether Arab parties could support or join a government.
The article identifies disputes over religion, Israel’s democracy, and Netanyahu’s policies as issues in the coalition negotiations.
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A collision between two high-speed trains south of Madrid killed at least 68 people and injured more than 100. Spain is demanding answers as the crash raises concerns about rail safety, less than a year after another deadly collision.
Key Facts
At least 68 people died in the collision.
More than 100 people were injured.
Two high-speed trains collided south of Madrid.
The crash is Spain’s deadliest rail disaster in over a decade.
Another deadly rail collision occurred less than a year earlier.
The recent crashes have raised concerns over rail safety.
Spain is demanding answers about the disaster.
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A high-speed train collision south of Madrid killed 68 people and injured more than 100 on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Spanish authorities said. The death toll could rise, and the transport minister cited an “error” and circumstances he described as inexplicable.
Key Facts
The collision occurred south of Madrid, Spain.
Authorities reported 68 deaths and more than 100 injuries.
Officials said the death toll could rise.
Spain’s transport minister said an error and unexplained circumstances led to the collision.
The article described this as the second train accident in Spain this year.
The crash was reported on October 28, 2026.
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The Trump administration’s Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) sued Utah to stop the state from enforcing its gambling laws against Kalshi and other CFTC-registered markets. The dispute centers on whether prediction-market event contracts fall under federal regulation and whether that regulation overrides state gambling laws.
Key Facts
Utah’s lawsuit against Kalshi seeks to bar the company from offering contracts on sports, elections, politics, and other events.
Utah prohibits gambling under state law and its constitution.
The CFTC says Utah’s enforcement efforts conflict with Congress’s decision to give the agency federal authority over regulated markets.
Utah previously won a federal court case against Kalshi; the judge ruled that federal law did not prevent Utah from enforcing its anti-gambling laws.
The CFTC filed its Utah lawsuit in the same federal district court that ruled for Utah in the earlier case.
Utah is the 10th state sued by the CFTC over state efforts to restrict prediction markets.
The CFTC has also sued Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
The legal dispute includes whether prediction-market event contracts qualify as swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act.
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Some owners of Apple's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, reported that the inner screen cracked near the hinge within hours or days of purchase. Apple said a small number of devices have display problems and advised affected customers to contact AppleCare for a replacement.
Key Facts
The iPhone Duo went on sale Oct. 23, with prices starting at nearly $2,000 and exceeding $3,000 for higher-end models.
Owners described resistance when opening the phone, followed by a crack in the inner display near the hinge.
Jesse Dalton said his phone cracked during setup; an Apple Store replaced it immediately.
Roneshia Smith said her phone cracked less than 24 hours after purchase, and she was waiting for a replacement because the model was backordered.
Apple said it was aware of display problems affecting a small number of iPhone Duo units and recommended contacting AppleCare.
Technology journalist Lance Ulanoff said the foldable screen includes several layers, including an OLED panel, glass, plastic covering and a hinge.
Ulanoff said his own iPhone Duo had not developed the problem during a week and a half of use.
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Democratic women are seeking a record number of governorships and more than 100 seats in the U.S. House in the November 2026 midterms. Their chances of reaching those milestones depend on winning competitive races, including gubernatorial contests in Ohio and Michigan.
Key Facts
Twenty-six women are major-party nominees for governor, one more than the previous record of 25 in 2022.
Nineteen Democratic women are gubernatorial nominees, compared with 16 in 2022.
Seven Republican women are gubernatorial nominees, down from nine in 2022.
Eight Democratic women won governorships in the 2022 election.
Democrats are also seeking to increase the number of women in their U.S. House caucus to more than 100.
Ohio Democratic nominee Amy Acton would become the state's first woman governor if elected.
Michigan Democratic nominee Jocelyn Benson has said her miscarriage has shaped her health care message to voters.
Republican Ohio nominee Vivek Ramaswamy has faced bipartisan criticism over an ad about Acton's estranged mother.
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As vote counting in Israel wound down Wednesday, Benjamin Netanyahu’s political position improved. His Likud party and coalition partners edged ahead of their leading competitor, but the article title says there was no clear path to an outright victory.
Key Facts
The vote count was taking place in Israel.
More than 80 percent of the votes had been counted.
Likud was projected to win 26 seats in the Knesset.
Netanyahu’s coalition partners were also edging ahead of the leading competitor.
The leading competitor was retired Gen. Gadi Eisenkot.
The article describes Netanyahu’s prospects as improving but says an outright victory was not assured.
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Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to rally for Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, with the event expected to begin at 6 p.m. EDT. President Donald Trump is campaigning in Ohio ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms, while Vice President JD Vance is campaigning in North Carolina.
Key Facts
Obama is set to rally for Ossoff and Bottoms in Georgia.
The Georgia rally is expected to start at 6 p.m. EDT.
Trump is returning to Ohio for the third time in a month.
Trump is campaigning to keep Republicans in control of Congress.
Vance is campaigning in North Carolina.
Republicans are concerned about retaining North Carolina’s Senate seat.
Republican Michael Whatley is running against Democrat Roy Cooper to succeed retiring Sen. Thom Tillis.
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Virgin Galactic moved its first Delta-class spacecraft, named Apeiron, from its factory in Mesa, Arizona, to Spaceport America in New Mexico. The company says it expects Apeiron’s first commercial flight to take place in early in the second quarter of 2027, after further ground and flight tests.
Key Facts
Virgin Galactic selected the name Apeiron through a public vote.
The company plans to finish Apeiron’s avionics and flight software work at Spaceport America.
The planned test sequence includes ground tests, captive-carry tests, a drop test and a powered flight above 80 kilometers.
Virgin Galactic said in 2024 that it planned to put two Delta-class spacecraft into service by 2026; neither was in service at the time described in the article.
Virgin Galactic’s last flight with its VSS Unity spacecraft took place in June 2024.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard program was paused after its last flight in January, and its engineering teams shifted to other programs.
SpaceX flew its final free-flyer Dragon mission, Fram2, in April 2025.
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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Republican gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn was the “clear winner” of a final debate against Democrat Rob Sand. Reynolds, who is retiring, said she supports Lahn and praised his willingness to take a stand for vulnerable citizens.
Key Facts
The debate was between Republican Zach Lahn and Democrat Rob Sand.
Kim Reynolds called Lahn the “clear winner” of the debate.
Reynolds said Lahn was willing to take a stand for vulnerable citizens.
Reynolds said she supports Lahn and Iowa First.
Reynolds is retiring as Iowa governor.
The article describes the debate as taking place before the midterm election.
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Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein, who handled prominent cases involving Donald Trump, Nicolás Maduro and other high-profile defendants, has died at 92, the Southern District of New York confirmed. He repeatedly rejected Trump’s efforts to move his New York criminal case to federal court and most recently presided over Maduro’s criminal case.
Key Facts
Bill Clinton appointed Hellerstein to the federal bench when Hellerstein was 64.
Hellerstein oversaw lawsuits related to the September 11 attacks, Abu Ghraib and Harvey Weinstein, among other cases.
He presided over Maduro-related cases beginning in 2014 and was handling Maduro’s criminal case when he died.
Hellerstein rejected Trump’s attempts to move his New York state criminal case to federal court.
A state jury found Trump guilty in the case involving reimbursements to Michael Cohen for a payment to Stephanie Clifford, known as Stormy Daniels.
After the Supreme Court’s presidential-immunity ruling, Hellerstein again ruled against Trump on August 28, finding that the trial evidence did not infringe on presidential immunity.
A lawyer and former federal prosecutor said Hellerstein’s death would not automatically pause Maduro’s case, though a replacement judge may need time to review it.
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Vladimir Putin said he is in close contact with Elon Musk about satellite technology and called Musk a “real genius.” Putin said Russia and the United States need to coordinate their satellite networks to prevent interference between Russia’s Rassvet system and SpaceX’s Starlink.
Key Facts
Putin made the comments on Wednesday at the Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow.
Rassvet is Russia’s satellite internet project, which the Russian Embassy described as an alternative to Starlink.
Putin said Russia and the United States are working to prevent their satellites from interfering with each other in orbit.
SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment, according to the article.
The article says Starlink has launched roughly 13,000 satellites, while satellite trackers show a couple of dozen Rassvet satellites in orbit.
Ukraine has relied on Starlink for internet access during the war; the article says Ukrainian forces recently experienced connectivity problems and Musk acknowledged SpaceX had intentionally caused them.
Musk’s companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, are based in the United States.
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Vladimir Putin told leaders from dozens of African nations that Russia was the continent’s best partner. At a two-day Russia-Africa Summit hosted by the Kremlin, he accused Western countries of continuing to exploit Africa’s resources.
Key Facts
Putin addressed leaders from dozens of African nations.
The Kremlin is hosting a two-day Russia-Africa Summit.
Putin described Russia as Africa’s best partner.
Putin accused Western countries of continuing to exploit Africa’s resources.
The article reports Putin’s claims but provides no supporting evidence or responses from African leaders.
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RAND Israel Policy Chair Shira Efron says she and others underestimated the depth of divisions in Israeli society. She describes a political landscape shaped by polarization, a rightward shift among Jewish voters and disputes over Arab political participation, which complicate coalition-building.
Key Facts
Shira Efron is RAND’s Distinguished Israel Policy Chair.
Efron said many observers underestimated the extent of social fracture in Israel.
The article describes ideological polarization in Israeli politics.
It says the Jewish electorate has shifted to the right.
The article identifies contested legitimacy of Arab political participation as a barrier to forming coalitions.
The article says Netanyahu’s governing bloc has lost ground but retains options for building political support.
Options discussed include another election, a national unity government or efforts to bring opposition partners into Netanyahu’s orbit.
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Former Justice Department officials Jonathan Kanter and Doha Mekki launched FluxCap, an AI platform for complex legal work, with an initial focus on antitrust law. They say it can speed up document review and research while helping lawyers plan cases, but is designed to support rather than replace lawyers.
Key Facts
FluxCap launched on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Kanter and Mekki previously led the Justice Department’s antitrust division.
Kanter said his team could pursue only about 10% of the cases it believed were worth bringing.
FluxCap says its platform can review legal documents and conduct research faster than teams doing the work manually.
The company says the platform can help lawyers develop legal strategies, find gaps in evidence, and anticipate opposing arguments.
FluxCap is focused first on antitrust law and plans to expand into other legal fields.
The founders say the tool is intended to support lawyers’ judgment, not replace it.
Mekki said the technology could help more people gain legal representation and recover marketplace losses.
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A brief hands-on with the new MacBook Pro found that its OLED display stood out, while the laptop felt lighter than the reviewer’s 14-inch M1 Max model. The touchscreen supports gestures and direct interaction with apps, but the laptop does not fold into tablet mode and does not support Apple Pencil.
Key Facts
The reviewer tested the laptop for about five minutes at a crowded showroom in Los Angeles.
The new model felt noticeably lighter than the reviewer’s 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 Max chip.
The laptop has an OLED display and a Dynamic Island cutout.
The reviewer used the touchscreen to swipe between desktops, zoom and scroll, move windows, drag files, launch apps, draw, and scrub video.
The reviewer said most touchscreen actions could also be done with trackpad gestures.
The laptop keeps a traditional laptop shape and does not convert into a tablet.
The article says the touchscreen does not support Apple Pencil.
The reviewer also noted that the Apple logo on the back glows.
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Flávio Bolsonaro and his family traveled from Brazil through Argentina and Ecuador before arriving in Miami on Wednesday, according to officials and flight-tracking data cited in the article. The trip followed the U.S. decision to issue them visas and a Brazilian court order requiring Bolsonaro to surrender his passports; he is under investigation and denies wrongdoing.
Key Facts
Argentine migration officials said Bolsonaro, his wife and two daughters entered Argentina from Brazil at 10:50 p.m. Tuesday with valid travel documents.
The family boarded a private charter plane within an hour of entering Argentina, according to the Argentine authority.
Flight-tracking data showed the plane landed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, before continuing to Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport on Wednesday.
A Brazilian diplomat told the Associated Press that Bolsonaro entered Argentina using an Italian passport; AFP reported that he has held Italian citizenship since 2023.
The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that it would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family.
A Brazilian judge had ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports by noon Tuesday.
Bolsonaro is under investigation by Brazil’s Supreme Court over allegations of corruption, money laundering and foreign exchange violations; he denies wrongdoing.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s runoff with 51.8 percent of valid votes, compared with Bolsonaro’s 48.2 percent, according to the article.
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The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75% to 4% in a 10-2 vote. The decision came as annual U.S. inflation rose to 3.7% in September, while the Fed said it would assess more data before deciding on future policy.
Key Facts
The Fed’s rate decision was its final monetary policy decision before the U.S. midterm elections.
The central bank said economic activity was expanding at a strong pace and domestic spending remained resilient.
The September Consumer Price Index showed annual inflation at 3.7%, up from 3.4% in August.
The Fed said energy prices largely accounted for the monthly inflation increase.
The Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index report was scheduled for release on Thursday.
President Donald Trump has called for lower interest rates and criticized the Fed’s earlier rate increase.
The Fed’s next policy meeting is scheduled for December 8-9.
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A study of more than 4,000 adolescents in Norway found that comparing themselves with others on social media was associated with symptoms of five mental health conditions. The researchers stressed that the study captured one point in time, so it cannot show whether social media behavior causes symptoms or symptoms affect behavior.
Key Facts
The study was published October 17 in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health.
Participants had a mean age of 14 and completed measures of five social media behaviors and symptoms of five mental health conditions.
Social comparison accounted for 20 to 26 percent of the variation in symptoms of generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and major depressive disorder.
Social comparison accounted for 6 to 9 percent of the variation in ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder symptoms.
Hostility from others was the second strongest predictor and accounted for 3 to 6 percent of symptom variation across the conditions.
Simply passing time on social media showed no independent association with symptoms in the conditions studied.
The study did not track participants over time, so it could not establish which came first: mental health symptoms or specific social media behaviors.
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