October 2026

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil's presidential election, securing a fourth term in a comeback victory over the Bolsonaro camp. Flavio Bolsonaro refused to recognize the result, and the contest over the outcome continued after the vote was called.

Israelis voted in a national election on Tuesday, the first since the October 7 Hamas-led terror attack. Polls opened with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to hold office against a challenge led by Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli chief of staff. The vote was described as closely contested and as a referendum on Netanyahu.

The Justice Department has brought federal criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey in Washington, D.C., the third time the Trump administration has moved to prosecute him. Outlets across the political spectrum reported the new case on Tuesday, describing it as another attempt by the administration to charge the former bureau chief.

A federal judge on Thursday rejected the Justice Department's request to block California from counting mail ballots from more than 20,000 voters the department alleges may be noncitizens. The judge ruled that no immediate action was necessary, delivering another setback to an administration campaign against voting by noncitizens. The case is not finished: the federal government immediately filed notice that it will appeal.

The Justice Department has issued grand jury subpoenas to local election officials in California, including election workers in Los Angeles, as part of a widening voter fraud investigation. The subpoenas were sent days before the midterms, with the department seeking to prove claims about large numbers of illegal voters in the state.

More than 500,000 people took to the streets across France as protests erupted into violence over the weekend. The unrest led to the closure of the Louvre, described as the world's top tourist destination. French authorities are seeking curfews in some areas following the riots.

President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to a record low two weeks before the midterm elections, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. Reuters put the figure at 31 percent, and the Washington Post reported that the result gives Democrats a clear midterm edge.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a summit with President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss a Ukraine deal, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Kremlin said a trilateral meeting on the Ukraine war could be held next month.

President Donald Trump said his political operation is spending $400 million on the midterms, with wealthy donors fueling his final election push. His super PAC has already spent nearly a quarter billion dollars to help Republicans.

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign will spend $4 million to air an attack ad in the Ohio governor's race that features the estranged mother of his Democratic rival, Amy Acton. The ad has drawn condemnation from Acton's campaign and turned the contest into an uproar.

A 16-year-old opened fire at his former elementary school in Bend, Oregon, killing four people in a special needs classroom. Police responded to an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary, where five people were found dead, including three children.

President Donald Trump waived many Russian sanctions and tariffs under a new law backed by Senator Lindsey Graham. The waivers cover Russia-related sanctions and energy tariffs before they took effect.

The Trump administration has threatened California officials with imprisonment over the state's stance on mail ballots, and has warned that local election workers could be prosecuted. The dispute centers on the Justice Department's election battle with California, which has produced sharp exchanges and competing assertions.

Federal authorities are examining Representative Ilhan Omar's decades-old immigration paperwork with an eye toward deportation, people familiar with the matter said. The scrutiny follows a search of the progressive lawmaker's home in Washington, D.C., during a week of disruption around her.

Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia demonstrate the Yemeni rebels' growing strength, with the attacks turning the kingdom into a pressure point for Iran. The strikes are being examined as part of a broader campaign in which the Houthis act as Iran's instrument against Saudi Arabia.

The United States moved long-range bombers from a British air base after a suspected Iranian drone plot, according to reports. The pullout of B-1 bombers shows how an outgunned Iran is keeping the U.S. on edge, The Washington Post reported. The New York Times described the move as part of a broader American forces pullback from the Gulf to Britain.

Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee's death row, survived a lethal injection attempt that left her unconscious for days. Her attorneys said she is now conscious and speaking limitedly, and described her as angry and confused after surviving the execution attempt.

Israelis marked three years since the October 7 Hamas attacks with memorials and protests across the country. Commemorations for the victims were held, while satellite photos show how Israeli forces have erased Gaza towns.

The measles outbreak in Pennsylvania is now the largest in the United States in 35 years, according to WSJ. The highly infectious disease is spreading across multiple US states, with a measles case confirmed in Allegheny County and possible exposure at a Target store, health officials said.

Germany's former intelligence chief has been arrested on charges of espionage and attempted treason, according to reports from multiple outlets. DW.com reported that the ex-spy chief was sent to pretrial detention on treason charges. NPR reported that the former German spy chief will face charges of espionage and attempted treason. The arrest has generated significant international media coverage, with outlets including Al Jazeera, France 24, Latin Times, and ABC News publishing explainers on the allegations.

Russian jet-drones struck Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, hitting the National Academy of Sciences and causing a fire in the city center. The attacks also damaged apartments, offices, and a cultural landmark, and struck rail workers.

Iran warned of a 'doomsday war' after President Donald Trump rejected a peace proposal. Iran said Trump must choose between war or diplomacy as talks resumed.

OpenAI has cancelled the release of its newest AI model, GPT-6.1 Astra, citing safety concerns. The company said the model did not meet its internal safety bar, with CNN reporting the phrase 'didn't quite meet the bar.' The cancellation was first reported by The Wall Street Journal and confirmed across multiple outlets.

Tennessee is set to execute Christa Pike, the only woman on the state's death row, marking the first execution of a woman in Tennessee in more than 200 years. Governor Bill Lee denied Pike's clemency plea, clearing the way for the execution. Pike has said she is 'at peace' ahead of the scheduled lethal injection.

Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from a major Supreme Court climate change case, according to multiple reports. The case is a climate lawsuit brought by Boulder, Colorado, and the recusal comes days before the case is scheduled to be heard. The development was reported by outlets including The New York Times, CNN, and CPR News.