Edition 74 · Friday, October 30, 2026
Here's what happened.
A data leak exposed information on more than 41,000 Homeland Security employees. A nonprofit said it released the information to promote transparency about the administration’s deportation campaign, while agency officials said they were reviewing the incident.
Two helicopters collided in midair in Oregon, killing all three people aboard. The victims included a student pilot, a flight instructor and the person in the second helicopter; officials said the cause has not been determined.
California approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Delta water rules, but the Trump administration threatens to withdraw and take $740 million with it. Water agencies that once supported the agreement now say it is too strict, while environmentalists argue it is too weak.
Ian Choudri is leaving as director of California’s high-speed rail agency after leading it since 2024. His tenure was marked by budget problems, project delays and scandals, including questionable travel by publicly funded consultants.
California reported seizing more than $230 million in illicit cannabis products this year as the state targets illegal cannabis operations. The announcement came from the governor’s office.
Israel’s consequential election ended without either side securing a majority. The deadlock leaves the country’s next government uncertain and raises questions about possible coalition arrangements.
Haiti has postponed elections because debilitating gang violence has prevented officials from organizing a vote for a new president. The delay underscores the country’s continuing political crisis and the gangs’ impact on state institutions.
The United States and Japan have agreed to establish a facility in Japan for joint missile production. The announcement is the latest move by the allies as they express alarm over China’s growing assertiveness in Asia.
Binance said it was compromised in a crypto theft worth $6.3 billion, potentially the largest crypto heist ever. A research lab attributed the attack to North Korea’s elite hacking unit, and the exchange suspended withdrawals.
An Accenture employee’s personal Claude agent operated on a Department of Defense network for two months, according to sources cited by WIRED. The vulnerability was identified and patched after the agent’s access to a secure Pentagon system was discovered.
General Motors reached a $220 million settlement over allegations involving the sale of drivers’ private data. Under the settlement, GM must obtain drivers’ express consent before collecting or sharing their driving and location information.
NASA-funded scientists determined that the nearly 2-pound Teghaza 001 meteorite found in the Sahara is a piece of Mars formed more than 4.1 billion years ago. That makes it one of the oldest Martian meteorites ever found.
Start-ups are developing “heat batteries” that store electricity as intense heat. The technology is being positioned as a potential transformation for power grids and markets, alongside conventional batteries that store electricity directly.
Florida is recording a record number of dengue fever cases this year. The tropical disease is thriving in warming climates, highlighting the public-health implications of changing environmental conditions.
A federal judge blocked a strict new Medicaid rule defining which people with medical conditions could be exempt from work requirements. States had argued that the regulation would unlawfully cause very sick Americans to lose coverage.
Poundland’s owner has filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators, putting up to 12,000 jobs at risk. The move follows the rejection of a management-backed rescue bid, while the shop workers’ union is urging the owner to reconsider.
The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady as the U.S. economy continued to grow. The decision affects borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans and other forms of credit.
The Justice Department issued grand jury subpoenas to election workers in Los Angeles amid escalating tensions with California officials over voter rolls. The subpoenas add a federal investigation to an ongoing dispute over election administration.
Federal officials delivered a subpoena to the Orange County Registrar of Voters’ office on Thursday. The action came despite a judge’s order to stop threatening California election officials.
Democrats are seeking to reduce the Republican advantage in state legislatures ahead of the midterms. Republicans currently control 10 more state legislatures, where many laws on taxes, abortion, crime and schools are made.
The Federal Trade Commission told a data company to stop selling mobile-location data collected when people visited hospitals, dialysis clinics, or abortion clinics. Other companies may still do so, however, as federal protections remain limited and some states pursue their own rules.
Microsoft is offering voluntary buyouts to 60,000 employees, more than a quarter of its workforce, as companies increasingly use such programs to reduce headcount without announcing conventional layoffs. The story notes that buyouts can offer flexibility but may also signal future job cuts and carry the risk of losing experienced employees.
A recent Gartner study found that organizations’ significant investments in artificial intelligence have not translated into comparable workforce productivity gains. The finding challenges the expectation that AI adoption will quickly reduce costs or improve output.
U.S. employee engagement fell below 30%, its lowest level since 2011, according to Gallup. The steepest decline was among fully remote workers, particularly at organizations using AI, while reported clarity about expectations and feeling cared for by supervisors also declined.
Newly merged Skydance has required employees to return to the office five days a week while offering a voluntary buyout program. The announcement combines a major workplace-policy change with an effort to reduce or reshape the workforce.
The WNBA Finals will go to a decisive Game 7 for the first time in league history. Atlanta Dream forced the deciding game against the Golden State Valkyries in this year's championship series.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has overturned the ban on Russia imposed by ice hockey's global governing body. The ruling could affect Russia's status in international ice hockey.
The U.S. Department of Education appears to have promoted a right-wing Harry Potter meme. The meme seemingly referenced gender-swapping “Malfoid” fan fiction, a term with incel roots, and the DOE responded to questions by quoting Dumbledore.
Pinterest reported more than 20 million new users in the third quarter of 2026, including 17 million outside its core markets. The growth was disclosed in the company’s latest earnings report.
Sony has acquired the film rights to Mouthwashing, the hit independent horror game released in 2024. The deal points to a feature-film adaptation of the game.
Maddy Thorson said Celeste and TowerFall were intentionally removed from Xbox earlier this week. The developer said the delisting supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
Roblox reported third-quarter revenue of $1.6 billion, up 16% year over year, while its bookings fell 12% to $1.7 billion. The results nevertheless beat expectations.
Artificial-intelligence tools are speeding parts of the housing-permit process amid the housing crisis. Seattle reported that intake review time fell by about 50%, while Honolulu permit decisions averaged 32.5 days, compared with 73 days previously.
LaGuardia Community College is creating a hub for immigrant students. The initiative is focused on supporting students from immigrant backgrounds in their college experience.
Footage of the Itaewon disaster is set to be removed from “Modern Warfare 4” after backlash. Bereaved families said they were appalled to see footage of the Seoul crush included in the game.
“Gruffalo” illustrator Axel Scheffler is considering legal action against AI firms. He believes the companies breach copyright by reproducing his work in AI-generated Gruffalo images.
Archive of Our Own says restoring its fanfiction archive could take two to four weeks. Fans are panicking and sharing backup archives while the outage continues.
Binance is investigating what it called a potential security issue after approximately $6.3bn was impacted. The extent of the damage remains unclear, and the company has not explicitly confirmed that funds were stolen.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen set out a vision for a new partnership with Canada at a summit in Montreal. She continued to use the term “associate member” despite opposition from some EU members, including Germany.