Israel's first election since October 7 ended in a near tie, with exit polls giving neither Netanyahu's bloc nor Gadi Eisenkot's bloc a majority. Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro left for the United States after a court ordered him to surrender his passports. Ebola cases in Congo passed 10,000. A local ceasefire held in the besieged Ukrainian town of Oleshky so aid and evacuations could begin.
World mood: Uneasy · 112 stories from 942 headlines
Israeli exit polls show Netanyahu's bloc and Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc each short of a majority. Turnout was about 77%, the highest in decades.
Arab parties are projected to win 18 or 19 seats, almost double their previous number. Official results are expected by Wednesday evening, and coalition talks could take weeks.
Why it matters: The result decides who governs Israel as the Iran war and the Gaza conflict continue, and it could shape regional diplomacy.
Benjamin Netanyahu has led Israel for most of the past two decades. This is the first election since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot leads the main opposition bloc.
Flávio Bolsonaro flew to the United States despite a Supreme Court order to hand over his passports. Brazil then canceled them.
The US State Department said he and his family will get visas. President Lula called his departure "shameful".
Why it matters: The case tests relations between Brazil and the Trump administration and affects an ongoing money-laundering inquiry in Brazil.
Lula won the October 25 runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Flávio is under investigation in a money-laundering case.
Mojtaba Khamenei restated Iran's conditions for ending the war with the US. Qatar urged Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon says the war has cost the US over $47 billion.
Why it matters: The war keeps oil above $100 and raises costs for fuel-importing countries.
The US and Iran have been at war for about eight months. Gulf states are trying to broker a path to de-escalation.
The Houthis said they fired a ballistic missile at Saudi Arabia's Ras Tanura refinery. Explosions were heard over Riyadh.
Egypt's parliament authorized military help for Saudi Arabia if requested.
Why it matters: Attacks on Saudi oil sites and Red Sea shipping threaten global energy supplies.
The Houthis are an Iran-backed group controlling much of Yemen.
Congo's Ebola outbreak passed 10,000 confirmed cases, the fastest-growing in history.
Nearly half of those infected have died. A nurse was killed by a mob, and Kenya reported a second death.
Why it matters: The virus is spreading to neighboring countries, prompting quarantines in Uganda and Kenya.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
A drone strike on a market in Nyala killed 21 people and wounded at least 40.
Drones also hit five power stations, causing mass outages. Western governments warn of famine.
Why it matters: Millions face acute hunger as war and aid cuts compound the crisis.
The army and the Rapid Support Forces have fought since April 2023.
A local ceasefire in occupied Oleshky held, and officials say it was extended across Ukraine's Kherson region.
Russia and Ukraine reported no breaches. The truce is meant to let aid in and let residents leave. The US first lady, Melania Trump, said she helped broker it.
Why it matters: Residents without power, gas or water for years may finally get food and a way out.
Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since 2022. Aid groups have warned of starvation there.
Finland's president Alexander Stubb and Norway's prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke with Vladimir Putin.
Stubb said ending the war needs direct talks. Some European partners reacted with skepticism because the call was not coordinated with them.
Why it matters: It is the first call between Putin and an allied European leader since July 2025.
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. European governments have largely kept direct contact with Putin to a minimum.
Russian ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv killed one person and injured 15.
President Zelensky said more than 100 ballistic missiles have been fired at Kyiv and its region in two weeks.
Why it matters: Repeated strikes keep Ukraine's capital on near-constant alert and strain air defenses.
Russia has bombed Ukrainian cities since its 2022 invasion.
Senior officials from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met Iranian leaders in Tehran.
They discussed ways to de-escalate the Iran war and the Yemen conflict.
Why it matters: Regional powers are trying to head off a new round of fighting in the Gulf.
The Mecca Defence Alliance links Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey.
Jordan said its airstrikes in southern Syria killed more than 20 Islamic State militants after a church shooting in Jordan.
Syria says civilians died and called it an unacceptable violation. It closed the Nasib crossing.
Why it matters: It is the worst crisis between the neighbors since Assad's fall in December 2024.
Jordan said the strikes answered an attack on a Christian funeral procession.
The UN said families in Gaza face a fourth winter in tents as aid operations are obstructed.
An Israeli strike on a displacement tent in Khan Yunis killed four people, including a child.
Why it matters: Civilians remain without adequate shelter and aid despite a ceasefire.
A US-brokered ceasefire began last October. A UN commission accuses Israel of continued genocide, which Israel rejects.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church says attacks in Oromia killed at least 60 people over the past week.
More than 20 were seriously wounded and 20 homes burned.
Why it matters: It adds to unrest that has already pushed 36,000 Ethiopians into Kenya.
Oromia has long seen armed conflict between government forces and rebels.
Former FBI director James Comey faces federal charges for the third time, over alleged disclosure of classified information in 2016.
Separately, a judge tossed new charges against ex-FBI officials in the Hunter Biden probe. A grand jury also declined to indict Cassidy Hutchinson.
Why it matters: The cases raise questions about the Justice Department's use of prosecutions against Trump's critics.
Comey was fired by Trump in 2017 and has been charged before.
Trump held a rally in Lubbock, Texas, with Rubio and showed off a tanker of Venezuelan oil. He floated Venezuela as a 51st state.
He said he is rolling back methane rules. Midterms are on November 3.
Why it matters: The vote will decide control of Congress for the rest of Trump's term.
Democrats hold a slight edge in polls, and Trump's approval is about 32% in one survey.
Opposition leader María Corina Machado met her party members in Caracas two days after returning from exile.
The Nobel committee said Venezuela still needs democratic change.
Why it matters: Her return could reshape Venezuela's politics after Maduro's removal.
Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Venezuela is now led by a post-Maduro government working with Washington.
A list chosen by student assemblies won Serbia's parliamentary election. President Aleksandar Vučić conceded after 14 years in power.
Its political agenda remains unclear.
Why it matters: It reshapes Serbia's ties with the EU and China.
Student-led protests grew after a deadly 2024 accident and drew wide support.
A UN warning described conditions in Hebron under Israeli military operations as ethnic cleansing risk.
Residents report lockdowns disrupting daily life, including weddings.
Why it matters: It raises concern over civilians in the occupied West Bank.
Hebron is home to Palestinians and a small Israeli settler presence under military control.
A court fined Mada Masr editor Lina Attalah about $53,400 and ordered the site closed.
She was detained, then freed after paying. Amnesty called it a blow to press freedom.
Why it matters: It removes one of Egypt's leading independent news outlets.
The site was charged with operating without a license.
Trump threatens to double tariffs on Canadian vehicles to 50%.
Carney says Trump is moving toward Canada's demands. Honda warned of catastrophe for the industry.
Why it matters: Car prices and jobs in both countries are at stake.
Two men were charged under the National Security Act over an incident at RAF Fairford.
Prosecutors say a handler linked to Iranian intelligence directed them.
Why it matters: It ties the Iran conflict to security in Britain.
The Justice Department asked Washington state not to count ballots from over 400 residents it says may be noncitizens.
It cited 1,500 past votes. Trump said he will respect midterm results if honest.
Why it matters: Disputes over voter lists could shape trust in the midterms.
HSBC announced a buyback of up to $1 billion. Shares slumped on a revenue miss.
Mercedes-Benz cut its 2026 profit outlook and Porsche cut China exposure.
Why it matters: Banks and carmakers face mixed global demand.
The UK sanctioned 15 commanders from the RSF and Sudan's army and pledged £15 million in aid.
Separately, RSF drones hit five power stations, causing mass outages in three states.
Why it matters: Millions face hunger and blackouts as aid funding falls short.
The RSF and army have fought since 2023. The RSF took El Fasher a year ago.
Students say the government's five-point plan is not enough and will keep protesting after the fall break.
The Senate is weighing a bill making protesters pay for damage. Rights groups call it anti-democratic.
Why it matters: The protests test President Macron's government on education funding.
Protests began in late September and have led to clashes.
A ministerial conference on nuclear power opened in Incheon, and South Korea's regulator was set to decide on extending reactors.
Japan and Germany agreed to jointly develop fusion with a plant planned for Germany in the 2030s.
Why it matters: Nuclear and fusion plans aim at long-term low-carbon power.
Energy security worries have increased interest in nuclear.
League Two side Fleetwood Town beat Premier League champions Arsenal 5-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. It is one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Saudi Arabia is now a Global Entry partner. Eligible Saudi travelers can use faster airport entry lanes in the U.S.
A technician worked out how to copy the color-changing effect of the Lycurgus Cup. The 4th-century Roman glass cup is held by the British Museum in London.
Scientists in the Netherlands say some people stay mentally sharp even when their brains show signs of Alzheimer's. The team may have found an important clue to why.
Renewed optimism about AI chips lifted Asian and US stocks, helped by SK Hynix's record profit. The Nikkei rose 1.16% and the S&P 500 gained 0.6%. Brent crude rose 1.14% to $110.66 as the Iran war and Houthi attacks threaten supply. The US 10-year yield is near 5%.
AI chip boom
SK Hynix posted record profit and a large payout. Meta is raising $95 billion for AI. Chip demand is lifting Asian markets.
Oil and the Iran war
Brent is above $110 on war and Houthi attacks. Diesel is expected to stay tight into 2027. Fuel costs are raising prices.
Inflation and rates
Australian inflation is at 4.3% and the Fed is expected to hold. Rates stay high, keeping yields near 5%.
Brazil and trade
Brazilian stocks fell after Lula's win. Trump's tariff threat on Canadian cars adds uncertainty.
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