⚡ Today in History

On October 29, 1956, Israel invaded Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, triggering the Suez War in a secretly planned attack with Britain and France that reshaped the Middle East. In 1998, John Glenn returned to space at age 77 aboard the shuttle Discovery. Today, with 90% of Israeli ballots counted, neither bloc can form a government — and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is calling for a new campaign against Iran.

Top News

High-speed train crash in Spain kills at least 68 68 DEAD

After a safety system failed near Urda in central Spain’s Toledo province, a command center ordered a high-speed train to resume its route. Transport Minister Óscar Puente called the order “inexplicable.” The Renfe train, carrying 397 passengers, struck a stopped Iryo service from behind on the Madrid-to-Seville line. The crash killed at least 68 and hospitalized 58 — Spain’s second deadly high-speed collision this year.

Fed holds rates at 3.75–4% in 10-2 vote; December hike looms 85% DEC ODDS

The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged Wednesday, but Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack and Governor Lisa Cook dissented, preferring a quarter-point hike. Chairman Kevin Warsh denied politics influenced the decision. Fed funds futures now price an 85% chance of a rate increase in December.

Vance writes to Iran’s security chief to revive peace talks

At President Trump’s direction, Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, to restart negotiations, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The contacts have focused on a framework for talks, not specific terms. The Journal also reported that Washington told Gulf allies to prepare for a possible “short, intense” military campaign after the November 3 midterms.

Microsoft beats earnings; Alphabet drops 10% on earnings miss

Microsoft posted fiscal Q1 revenue of $92.3 billion, beating estimates by $1.6 billion, as its Azure cloud unit grew 48% year over year; shares rose 4% after hours. Alphabet missed on both revenue ($127.6 billion vs. $128.2 billion expected) and earnings ($2.12 vs. $3.02 per share), posting negative free cash flow of $9.07 billion as AI spending hit $51.4 billion; shares fell about 10% after hours.

Cyclone Arnab hits India’s coast; 5 dead, 100,000 evacuated

Cyclone Arnab, classified as a very severe storm, made landfall near Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district early Wednesday, bringing winds up to 150 km/h. Five people were killed, dozens of homes were damaged, and crops were destroyed across the region. Nearly 100,000 people were evacuated in Andhra Pradesh and the neighboring state of Odisha.

World

Israel faces deadlock: Netanyahu leads 53–48 as Arab parties surge to 19 seats 19 ARAB SEATS

With 90% of votes counted Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc held 53 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s alliance held 48. Neither reached the 61 needed to govern. The two Israeli Arab parties nearly doubled their seat count to 19, making them potential kingmakers, with final results expected Thursday.

Spain crash is second deadly high-speed rail disaster of 2026

Wednesday’s collision near Urda killed 68 people on the same national rail network where a January crash in Adamuz, in southern Spain, killed 46. Transport Minister Puente said the train engineers were not at fault, pointing to the command center that ordered the Renfe train to continue after a safety system went down.

WSJ: US told Gulf allies to prepare for possible Iran strikes after midterms

Washington told several Gulf Arab countries to prepare for a possible “short, intense military campaign” against Iran after the November 3 elections, the Wall Street Journal reported. President Trump has not made a final decision, and Vice President Vance’s letter to Iran’s security chief signals the administration is pursuing both diplomatic and military options.

Oleshky ceasefire holds for first day; Melania Trump brokered the truce

A six-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky held through its first day and night, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. First Lady Melania Trump brokered the truce to help evacuate roughly 1,700 elderly residents trapped without regular food, medicine, or electricity, while fighting continued across other front lines.

Netanyahu vows to “remove Iran threat once and for all” after election

In a post-election address Wednesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel faces “a singular historical opportunity, together with our partner President Trump,” to eliminate the Iranian threat. Opposition leader Eisenkot warned security officials not to let the prime minister use national security for political purposes.

Politics

Trump admin sends 100+ voter subpoenas to officials in 13 states 100+ SUBPOENAS

The Trump administration has issued more than 100 subpoenas to election officials in at least 13 states, demanding records on tens of thousands of voters, Reuters reported. The effort aims to find evidence of noncitizen voting before the November 3 midterms. A federal judge halted Homeland Security’s field operations in nine states on October 21, and courts have ruled against the DOJ in every voter-roll case so far.

Trump rallies in Ohio; Obama campaigns in Georgia for Ossoff, Bottoms

President Trump headed to Chillicothe, Ohio, on Wednesday for his third rally in the state this month, backing Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted and governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Former President Barack Obama rallied in Atlanta alongside Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor, six days before the November 3 vote.

Murkowski breaks with party, endorses Democrat for Alaska governor

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a Republican, endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins over Trump-backed Republican Bernadette Wilson. The endorsement came days after Trump called Murkowski “a disgrace” to the state and the country.

Cornell faculty begin no-confidence vote over sexual assault response

Cornell University’s Faculty Senate began an electronic vote of no confidence in the school’s administration Wednesday over its handling of a former student’s sexual assault allegations. The vote will run through Nov. 6, and a successful resolution could increase pressure on the university’s leadership to make changes.

Ohio Senate: Brown leads Husted by 4 points with 5 days to go

A Marist poll showed Democrat Sherrod Brown leading Republican Jon Husted by four points among likely voters in Ohio’s special Senate race. Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control of the chamber, and Ohio is one of several toss-up races alongside Texas, Iowa, and Kansas.

Markets

Stocks rise for third straight day after Fed holds steady S&P 7,744

The S&P 500 added 0.28% to close at 7,743.98 after the Federal Reserve held interest rates at 3.75–4%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 97.53 points to 52,475.10, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.27% to 26,549.85, led by chip stocks after SK Hynix posted record quarterly results.

Microsoft beats on top and bottom lines; Azure grows 48%

Microsoft reported fiscal Q1 revenue of $92.3 billion, up 19% year over year, with adjusted EPS of $4.89 beating the $4.73 consensus. Azure accounted for about 74% of the company’s total revenue increase, and shares rose 4% in after-hours trading.

Alphabet posts double miss; stock drops 10% after hours

Alphabet reported Q3 revenue of $127.6 billion and adjusted EPS of $2.12, missing Wall Street estimates of $128.2 billion and $3.02 per share. Capital spending of $51.4 billion pushed free cash flow to negative $9.07 billion, while Google Cloud revenue more than doubled to $30.7 billion.

Fortinet drops 26% after hours on weak guidance despite Q3 beat

Cybersecurity firm Fortinet posted Q3 revenue of $2.08 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.91, both above estimates, but shares fell 26% in after-hours trading Wednesday. The sell-off came after the company issued fourth-quarter guidance that fell short of Wall Street expectations.

Oil holds above $100; gold steady near $4,055; Bitcoin at $81,100

Brent crude traded near $114 a barrel and WTI near $102, supported by tight US inventories and continued Houthi attacks on Gulf oil sites. Gold held near $4,055 per ounce, little changed on the week, and Bitcoin traded around $81,100, up about 1.5% over 24 hours.

Entertainment

Rays walk off in 12th to avoid sweep; Game 5 Wednesday SERIES 3-1

Pinch-hitter Ben Williamson singled in the 12th inning Tuesday night to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 4–3 walk-off win in World Series Game 4, keeping their season alive. The Brewers still lead the series 3–1, with Game 5 Wednesday at 8 PM ET on Fox at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

Lawrence confirms return as Katniss in “Sunrise on the Reaping”

Jennifer Lawrence confirmed on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast that she will return as Katniss Everdeen for the first time in 11 years. The Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping opens November 20 from Lionsgate, also starring Josh Hutcherson and Woody Harrelson.

Netflix releases “The Fall of El Mayo” cartel documentary

Netflix dropped “The Fall of El Mayo,” a three-part documentary series about Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, co-founder of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel. Zambada evaded US law enforcement for decades before his capture in July 2024.

Antonelli can clinch youngest-ever F1 title in Mexico City this Sunday

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, 20, arrives at the Mexico City Grand Prix with a nine-win season and a lead that makes him all but certain to claim his first championship. A strong finish Sunday at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez would make Antonelli the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history.

Panthers at Packers in Thursday Night Football tonight

The Carolina Panthers visit the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field tonight at 8:15 PM ET on Prime Video. The game kicks off an NFL Week 8 that features 14 contests across three days.