Danish and Estonian officials voiced skepticism about Finnish and Norwegian leaders speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The contacts came amid heightened tension between Moscow and Kyiv, and Estonia’s foreign minister said stronger pressure on Russia was needed to make it take peace talks seriously.
Key Facts
Danish officials expressed skepticism about the contacts with Putin.
Estonian officials also expressed skepticism.
Leaders from Finland and Norway communicated with Putin earlier in the week.
The contacts took place amid heightened tension between Moscow and Kyiv.
Estonian Foreign Affairs Minister Margus Tsahkna posted a comment on X.
Tsahkna said increased pressure on Russia would make it take peace negotiations seriously.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Federal prosecutors in Washington asked the state to set aside ballots from 405 registered voters they suspect are not U.S. citizens, pending checks of their citizenship status. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs questioned the list’s accuracy and said the state would respond only to requests that follow due process; federal courts have dismissed most of the Trump administration’s lawsuits seeking states’ complete voter rolls.
Key Facts
Acting U.S. attorneys Neil Floyd and Pete Serrano sent the request to Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.
The prosecutors said they believe many of the 405 people are green-card holders and alleged that the group cast more than 1,500 ballots.
The prosecutors asked the state to segregate any ballots the listed people may cast until officials confirm their citizenship.
Hobbs said one record on the list dates to 1994 and raised concerns about the list’s accuracy.
Hobbs said a system used by the Justice Department can mistakenly flag U.S. citizens as noncitizens.
The Trump administration sued Washington after Hobbs refused to provide an unredacted voter registration list; a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit last month.
The administration has sued 30 states and the District of Columbia for complete voter rolls, and 27 of those lawsuits have been dismissed by federal judges.
Federal law makes it a crime for noncitizens to vote in U.S. elections, and the article says such voting is rare.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The FBI said it conducted an operation in the Los Angeles region as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. News reports linked a Tuesday search at a Beverly Hills mansion to former Representative Eric Swalwell, but authorities did not confirm the property’s ownership or its connection to him.
Key Facts
Two people familiar with the inquiry told CNN that federal authorities raided a Beverly Hills mansion in an investigation involving Swalwell.
Fox News also reported that the FBI operation targeted a Beverly Hills property.
The FBI confirmed an operation in the Los Angeles region but declined to provide further details.
It was unclear who owned the property or how it was connected to Swalwell.
Federal agents searched Swalwell’s Washington, D.C., home in August and seized electronic devices from him at San Francisco International Airport.
Swalwell was not arrested or detained during the August operation.
The article said Swalwell left Congress and withdrew from the California governor’s race after sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Osceola County deputies say Irene Miller left her four children, ages 9 to 14, home alone while she traveled to Las Vegas. After the 9-year-old was injured by a falling dumbbell, deputies contacted Miller, who was arrested at Orlando International Airport and charged with four counts of child neglect.
Key Facts
A child called 911 just after 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 to report that her 9-year-old brother had been injured by a dumbbell.
Deputies arrived and found four children, ages 14, 12, 11 and 9, without an adult at home.
First responders took the 9-year-old to Celebration Hospital; he was later released.
Miller told deputies she was on a work trip in Las Vegas and expected to return on Oct. 23.
Investigators said Miller left on Oct. 18 and arranged for a babysitter from Tampa to prepare the children for school and check on them afterward.
Miller said the babysitter was not required to stay overnight.
The children's father agreed to take them to his home.
Miller, 50, of Kissimmee, was arrested as she got off a flight at Orlando International Airport and booked into the Orange County jail.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Vice President JD Vance accused Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of anti-white racial rhetoric while speaking to reporters before a Republican rally in Howell. Vance also criticized El-Sayed’s associations and praised Republican candidate Mike Rogers; the Senate race could affect control of the chamber.
Key Facts
Vance made the remarks Tuesday on the tarmac before a campaign rally in Howell, Michigan.
Vance described El-Sayed’s rhetoric as “explicitly anti-white racial hatred.”
Vance said Republicans stood for people “whether you’re black or white.”
Vance called Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers “fundamentally a decent guy.”
Asked about reports that President Donald Trump had called El-Sayed a “jihadist,” Vance said El-Sayed had “a lot of weird friends” and had aligned himself with people who justify violence against the United States.
El-Sayed is a former public health official challenging Rogers in a Senate race that could help determine control of the chamber.
Vance was scheduled to headline a Republican rally at Livingston County Airport in Howell on Tuesday. The article said doors would open at 10 a.m. and the event would begin at noon ET.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
U.S. media reported that FBI officers raided a California home in connection with an investigation into former Congressman Eric Swalwell. The investigation follows sexual misconduct allegations that Swalwell has denied; the FBI also seized his electronic devices and searched his Washington, D.C., home in August.
Key Facts
U.S. media reported the FBI raid on a California home tied to the investigation into Swalwell.
Swalwell left California’s governor’s race earlier this year and resigned his House seat after sexual misconduct allegations emerged.
In August, the FBI stopped Swalwell at an airport, seized his electronic devices and searched his Washington, D.C., home.
Several women have made allegations against Swalwell, including rape and sending unsolicited nude photographs.
Swalwell has denied wrongdoing, and his attorney has called the accusations false and fabricated.
The BBC said it contacted Swalwell’s lawyer and the Department of Justice for comment.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article argues that supporting religious freedom and pluralism should be a foreign policy priority. It says countries protect their future by protecting pluralism at home and urging partner countries to do the same.
Key Facts
The article identifies religious freedom and pluralism as foreign policy priorities.
It says countries should protect pluralism within their own borders.
It says countries should press their partners to protect pluralism.
The article links domestic pluralism with protecting a country's future.
The article presents this policy as consistent with a country's ideals.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A UK court heard that businessman Philip Young drugged his former wife, Joanne Young, and invited men to sexually assault her over several years. Young has pleaded guilty to multiple abuse charges; four men on trial deny sexually assaulting her.
Key Facts
Prosecutors say the abuse took place at the couple’s home in Swindon, England.
Prosecutors told the court that Philip Young advertised his wife on dating and swinging websites while claiming the arrangement was consensual.
Joanne Young told police she believed she and her husband had a monogamous marriage and had not agreed to sex with other men.
The four defendants are Connor Sanderson-Doyle, Richard Wilkins, Norman Macksoni and Mohammed Hassan.
The alleged offences involving the four defendants occurred between 2016 and 2023, according to the prosecution.
Prosecutors said Philip Young had sought sedatives that could leave his wife deeply asleep and disoriented.
Joanne Young said she discovered a man in her bedroom during sex in 2023 and later learned her husband had invited him to watch.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Israeli police arrested a man in his 20s after finding a knife on him near an event for Yair Golan, leader of The Democrats, during Israel’s election campaign. Golan’s party called the incident a suspected stabbing attempt, but police said no attempted stabbing took place.
Key Facts
The incident occurred Tuesday in Tel Aviv as Golan mobilized voters.
Golan’s security guards stopped the man, and a knife fell from beneath his clothing, according to his party.
Police confirmed they arrested a suspect carrying a knife and said officers found it during a search.
Police said the suspect is a Jerusalem resident in his 20s and was taken for questioning.
Golan leads The Democrats, a left-wing party formed from elements of Israel’s Labour Party.
Golan is part of an electoral alliance led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot.
Golan’s party said Israel’s Shin Bet took responsibility for his security after a prolonged legal battle.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Villa Vie Residences has suspended its residential world cruise after fuel costs rose sharply and the company said it could not secure enough fuel to continue. The Villa Vie Odyssey is temporarily laid up in Cambodia while the operator seeks financing and plans for residents to disembark; no restructuring or new deal has been finalized.
Key Facts
The company said fuel costs in parts of Asia rose from about $1,800 per cabin per month to an estimated $6,000–$8,000.
The Odyssey’s crew will remain aboard to maintain the ship and its essential systems.
Villa Vie said it had slowed the itinerary and spent more time in port to reduce fuel use, but those steps did not offset the higher costs.
The company is working with residents to arrange disembarkation and temporary accommodation.
Villa Vie said it would focus on restructuring and raising new capital over the next 60 days, while warning that no outcome is assured.
Cruise Industry News reported that residents had been asked to provide additional funding, including a recent request for $360,000.
The Odyssey began its continuous world voyage from Belfast on October 3, 2024. Its published itinerary had listed a schedule through November 2027.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Iran is resisting a new ceasefire unless the United States lifts sanctions and its naval blockade, and provides guarantees against renewed attacks. Tehran sees control of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage, while regional governments and China are pursuing diplomacy to prevent further escalation in the US-Israel war on Iran.
Key Facts
China said it would send an envoy to countries in the region to help prevent another escalation.
Officials from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye met Iranian officials and agreed to continue talks on regional peace and security.
Iran is seeking sanctions relief, an end to the US blockade of its Gulf ports and guarantees against renewed US attacks.
Iran says it will help restore normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for those measures.
Before the war, the Strait of Hormuz carried about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
The United States wants Iran to make further concessions, including on its nuclear programme, before negotiating a final peace settlement.
The article says past ceasefire and diplomatic efforts broke down amid renewed attacks, strengthening Tehran’s demand for durable guarantees.
Trump said he had not decided whether to reach a deal with Iran or intensify military action, and had said attacks would wait until after the November 3 US midterm elections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Justice Department told Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs that it identified more than 400 people it says registered to vote without U.S. citizenship. The department said those individuals cast about 1,500 votes and asked state election officials to set aside their ballots.
Key Facts
Federal officials made the request on Monday.
The Justice Department sent a letter to Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.
The department said it identified more than 400 people who registered to vote without U.S. citizenship.
The department said the identified people cast about 1,500 votes.
Federal officials asked Washington election officials to set aside the ballots.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rose to 91.7 in October from a revised 84.2 in September. The survey found that Americans’ views of current and future business conditions improved.
Key Facts
The October index stood at 91.7.
The September index was revised upward from 81.9 to 84.2.
The September reading had been the index’s lowest in more than a period not specified in the provided article excerpt.
The Conference Board said views of present business conditions improved.
The Conference Board said views of future business conditions improved.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Higher airline fares are leading some Americans to reconsider Thanksgiving travel. Cirium data show average holiday fares rose 31% in August from a year earlier, while bookings fell 1.6%.
Key Facts
Cirium reported that average Thanksgiving airfares were up 31% in August compared with the same period last year.
Bookings for the Thanksgiving travel period fell 1.6%, according to Cirium.
Bookings dropped 24.6% for Newark, 15.3% for Seattle, and 13.2% for Miami.
Bookings also fell 12.6% for Dallas, 11.6% for Denver, and 11.7% for San Francisco.
The article says rising jet fuel costs linked to the war in Iran have increased airline operating expenses.
Airlines have raised fares, added passenger surcharges, and cut routes to offset higher costs.
Jet fuel is airlines’ second-largest expense after payroll, which has also risen following labor contract negotiations.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Nearly 45 percent of Israeli voters had cast ballots by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the highest turnout recorded by that time in 50 years and 6 percentage points above the pace in 2022. The election focuses in part on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the October 7, 2023 attacks and subsequent wars; a civil rights group asked election officials to investigate reported delays at polling stations.
Key Facts
Israel’s Central Elections Committee reported that almost 45 percent of voters had cast ballots by 2 p.m.
Turnout was 6 percentage points higher than at the same time during the 2022 election.
Pollster Mitchell Barak said high turnout could help incumbent parties because parties need at least 3.25 percent of the vote to enter the Knesset.
Israeli officials reported long lines at several polling stations amid rainy and blustery weather in parts of the country.
Netanyahu urged his supporters to vote and said turnout was high among left-wing voters and Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Palestinian candidate Ahmed Tibi said Palestinian citizens of Israel were voting in unprecedented numbers.
Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot have ruled out partnering with Arab parties.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel asked the Central Elections Committee to investigate delays reported in at least 18 communities and concerns about police presence at a Negev polling station.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Two Bee & Co. skincare stores in the Los Angeles area closed after a CBS California Investigates report on alleged high-pressure sales tactics. A third store reopened as LUME, while customers, including a 77-year-old woman, said salespeople pressured them to buy costly products and that they could not get refunds.
Key Facts
Bee & Co. stores at Westfield Topanga and Del Amo Fashion Center closed permanently after the report first aired in August.
A Bee & Co. store at Westfield Fashion Square reopened under the name LUME.
CBS California Investigates observed the same employees and products at LUME as before the name change.
Westfield confirmed Bee & Co. was no longer a tenant at Westfield Topanga and said it was taking steps regarding the operation at Westfield Fashion Square.
The investigation focused on businesses tied to Mazal Group, a Chatsworth-based distributor of products to Bee & Co. and other beauty retailers.
Linda Merrill said she spent more than $11,271 at a Las Vegas skincare store selling Mazal-distributed products and was denied a refund.
Merrill said she asked to leave after feeling unwell and that the sales pitch continued; these claims have not been independently verified in the provided article excerpt.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Anthropic filed for a U.S. initial public offering on Monday, reporting sharp revenue growth and a large first-half 2026 net loss. The article also reports that settlement payments reduced Meta’s net income, although its quarterly revenue still rose.
Key Facts
Anthropic was founded in 2021 and filed for an initial public offering on Monday.
Anthropic did not disclose a valuation in its filing; investors and analysts valued it at more than $1.5 trillion, according to the article.
Anthropic reported revenue of $41 million in 2023, $386 million in 2024, and $4.585 billion in 2025.
Anthropic reported $16.286 billion in revenue for the first six months of 2026 and said it had raised $141.1 billion by the end of June.
Anthropic reported an $80 billion net loss for the first half of 2026, including a one-time charge of $72.4 billion; it reported a $36 billion loss in 2025.
Meta agreed in August to a $17 billion settlement with state attorneys general over claims related to child safety, without admitting guilt.
Meta reported a $9.9 billion payment toward that settlement and quarterly revenue of $64.6 billion, up 26%.
A judge ordered Meta to pay New Mexico $25 billion on the same afternoon Meta issued its quarterly earnings report, according to the article.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An ACLU report says AI tools used with automated license plate readers can analyze drivers’ location records and flag travel patterns as suspicious, even when drivers were not previously suspected of a crime. The report cites a Virginia woman who said an officer questioned her about a multistate road trip after a plate scan showed her vehicle’s recorded locations.
Key Facts
The ACLU published its report on October 26, 2026.
Automated license plate readers photograph vehicles and can record plates, locations, and vehicle details.
The ACLU focused on Flock Safety technology, including a feature advertised as identifying vehicles detected across multiple states.
Grace Knowles said an officer stopped her during a 2025 trip and later cited allegedly suspicious travel patterns shown by a plate scan.
Flock says its technology helps investigators locate vehicles and connect them with incidents.
The ACLU says about 120,000 Flock cameras are installed in urban and rural areas.
The ACLU claims that less than 1 percent of vehicles scanned by automated license plate readers are linked to crime or wrongdoing.
Flock said its technology supported more than 1 million criminal investigations and incidents in 2025.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Israeli military said it detained an Egyptian civilian overnight after he crossed from Egypt into Israel near Nitzana. The man was transferred to security forces for questioning, and Israeli authorities are investigating; Egyptian officials have not publicly commented.
Key Facts
The Israeli military announced the detention on Tuesday.
The military said the man crossed a border fence from Egyptian territory into Israel near Nitzana.
The military did not disclose the man’s identity, motive, or whether he carried anything.
Israeli broadcaster Kan 11 reported that surveillance spotted the crossing and troops were sent to arrest the man.
Israeli outlet Ynet reported that the military was treating the incident seriously and investigating it.
Nitzana is in southern Israel near the Egyptian border, opposite the Al-Awja area.
Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in 1979.
Ynet reported the crossing occurred less than a year after Israel’s defence minister declared the adjacent area a closed military zone and changed open-fire rules.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
