Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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NATIONAL
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Shooting at Spirit Halloween store in California leaves 1 dead and 6 wounded, police say
SUMMARY: A shooting at a Spirit Halloween store in California on the eve of the holiday has left one person dead and six injured. Gunfire erupted inside Spirit Halloween at the Solano Town Center in Fairfield late Friday. Police say all seven victims suffered gunshot wounds, with one person dying and three others in critical condition. The remaining victims were taken to hospitals for treatment. Detectives are investigating and speaking with witnesses to identify a suspect. Fairfield is located about 37 miles northeast of Sacramento.
WORDS: 332 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 7:36 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCaliforniaShootingthLdWritethru/c531ed034832fa0558a246b18334f5bd/text___
Christa Pike describes constant pain in first statement since her failed execution
SUMMARY: Christa Pike says she is in constant pain since surviving a lethal injection in Tennessee last month. In her first public statement, issued Friday, she expressed gratitude for the love and support she has received. Pike says she went into the execution chamber prepared to die in peace but woke up confused in a hospital bed. She said she's been “deeply hurt by the incompetence.” Pike says she had not contemplated life beyond her execution date and is thankful for the medical workers who saved her. She says she is trying to heal and is holding on to the kindness of others.
WORDS: 667 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 1:23 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTennesseeExecutionthLdWritethru/292a1eb75ff5cee19da58f17c9eb224c/text___
An ICE officer is charged with assault for striking a man with a car in Houston
SUMMARY: A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer accused of intentionally ramming his car into a Mexican construction worker in Houston has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Harris County prosecutors say Mario Alberto Morales was driving an unmarked SUV when it struck 48-year-old Miguel Parra Hernandez. ICE claims Parra Hernandez ran in front of the car. Prosecutors say video contradicts that account. Morales’ attorney said Morales did not intentionally strike Parra Hernandez and accused the Democratic district attorney of indicting Morales for political reasons. The district attorney says Parra Hernandez broke his leg and remains in federal custody at a rehabilitation facility.
WORDS: 949 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 3:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementHoustonthLdWritethru/18d36105004d806c41618b800b70f59c/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Kamala Harris urges a 'too big to rig' turnout for the midterms and tees off on Trump
SUMMARY: Kamala Harris has been campaigning for Democratic candidates across multiple states during the final stretch of the midterm elections. The former vice president is urging Black voters and others to channel their frustrations with President Donald Trump into ballot box decisions. She's considering whether to run for the White House in 2028, and her midterm itinerary took her to presidential battlegrounds and early primary states. But she also went to Mississippi and focused in all stops on core Democratic groups and policy ideas. She also used the tour to urge Democrats to be ruthless with power.
WORDS: 532 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 3:14 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionHarris/9679b2979e9e67d49eaec999f06e964e/text___
Iran targeted US air defenses then hit aircraft and buildings on Mideast bases, AP analysis finds
SUMMARY: Iran’s strikes on more than two dozen U.S. bases in the Middle East focused on early warning systems before hitting aircraft and buildings. That caused billions of dollars in equipment damage. The Associated Press independently verified damage using satellite imagery and spoke to four regional officials who were briefed or have firsthand knowledge of what was hit. Through August, more than 115 drone or missile strikes claimed by Iran or Iranian-backed militias damaged or destroyed structures on 26 military bases and other sites with U.S. equipment. Iran primarily focused its attacks on systems that detect incoming strikes as well as aircraft hangars, clearing the way for further strikes on warehouses, troop housing and more.
WORDS: 1398 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 2:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranUSBasesStruckstLdWritethru/26e0f05e01d6f56ff46f7c1a14384f7c/text___
Rising health costs and coverage changes are big concerns for older adults as Election Day nears
SUMMARY: Rising healthcare costs are a major concern for older Americans, and it's affecting their finances and political priorities. Open enrollment for Medicare began in October, with changes in costs and coverage. Prescription drug prices remain high and that's forcing some people to ration medications. Long-term care costs have also increased significantly. Social Security's future is uncertain, with potential benefit reductions by 2034 if funding issues aren't addressed. One 83-year-old retiree from Ohio says she faces financial strain due to medical expenses despite her careful retirement planning. Barbara Weigand recently withdrew $4,000 from her retirement account to cover cancer treatment costs.
WORDS: 1010 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 12:22 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSOlderAdultsHealthcareAffordability/e519a4e0fe409cd32ead78226d85a80f/text___
Meet the democratic socialists likely on their way to Congress
SUMMARY: There’s been a lot of talk this midterm election season about socialism. But only a handful of candidates running for Congress actually align with the far-left wing of the party or consider themselves part of the Democratic Socialists of America. Most of the hard-left candidates come from a few Democratic strongholds, are expected to win their elections on Nov. 3. The progressive newcomers bring a new energy to the Democratic party and also potential challenges ahead for leadership. They wouldn't be the first in Congress, and the influence of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont all speak to shifting ideas in American politics.
WORDS: 1166 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 4:13 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionHouseSocialistsstLdWritethru/d3f36bd7e9c2a54ed893cec4388faea5/text___
Alabama Republicans thought they had drawn a safe US House seat. A Black congressman had other ideas
SUMMARY: Democrat Shomari Figures of Alabama is one of several Black members of Congress who've had their House districts redrawn by Republicans in the wake of the Supreme Court decision weakening the Voting Rights Act. Republicans look at the seat as a pickup opportunity on Election Day as the party tries to preserve its slim House majority. But Figures is giving them a fight. He's campaigning not only in predominantly Black cities but also in heavily conservative areas that were drawn into the district. Tuesday's contest will test if voter anger over redistricting and frustration over rising prices can overcome Republican advantages in the Deep South district.
WORDS: 1250 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 11:48 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionHouseAlabama/711476d306b61fb19c355828dc016b48/text___
Trump and Clinton rally as early voting surges, Alaska probe widens, and Michigan Democrats feud
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump rallied with Republican supporters in Florida on Friday while former President Bill Clinton spoke to Democrats just two states over in Mississippi. Both of them beseeched voters to head to the polls for the midterm election that will determine which party controls Congress. As early voting surges, Trump reshuffled his weekend schedule to rally Republicans in two states with critical Senate races: Iowa and Kansas. He had canceled plans to return to the states, only to rebook the events for Sunday. The about-face underscores his party’s push to drive turnout before Election Day.
WORDS: 1066 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 2:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionthLdWritethru/31b7ebe427306d192115e9282eabce48/text___
Justice Department seeks to isolate Alaska ballots as criminal probe underway over Senate candidate
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Justice is pushing for a court order to isolate certain Alaska ballots to investigate potential voter confusion, while federal officials confirmed the existence of a criminal probe over a Senate candidate who shares a name with the Republican incumbent. The dueling developments came days before Tuesday’s ranked choice general election, in a race headlined by two-term Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. The race is among a handful nationwide expected to determine control of the Senate. Peltola says she is not interested in “tricking voters.”
WORDS: 1161 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 8:25 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSAlaskaSenateInvestigationthLdWritethru/88259e40d70a7e4f535e01a2b88489aa/text___
Judge wants to know if Trump attorneys violated ethics in one of 2 cases to change the DC landscape
SUMMARY: A federal judge says she'll open a “formal inquiry” to investigate if attorneys for the Trump administration violated ethics during a legal dispute about a golf-course project. It's one in a pair of plans that are revealing the breadth of the president’s attempts to mold parts of the District of Columbia as he wishes. The two cases, unfolding at the same time in the same federal courthouse, are also showing the underlying executive authority claims that lie beneath them. In turn, it's a glimpse into the uses of presidential power under Donald Trump. The cases involved are an impending shutdown and reconfiguration of a historic public golf course and the construction of a monumental arch.
WORDS: 1251 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 5:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpDCLawsuitsthLdWritethru/28a69f8fe56f848beb47fbaf4e413f5f/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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A third weekend of protests in France as youth-led rallies sweep Europe
SUMMARY: Thousands of young protesters have taken to the streets across France for a third weekend. The French government estimated that 320,000 people turned out for the demonstrations on Saturday. They were protesting over living costs and education. Around 70,000 police officers were deployed nationwide with Paris marches rerouted to the city’s outskirts. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a high risk of disorder especially after dark on Halloween. The protests began last month with high school students and have since grown to include labor unions and others. Similar youth-led protests have been reported in Germany and Italy with calls for action on education, health, climate protection and affordable living.
WORDS: 962 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 6:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUEuropeProteststhLdWritethru/362a7cb69871ab21bd894290dad639f5/text___
Evacuees reunite with family at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border after fleeing Oleshky
SUMMARY: Evacuees from Russian-occupied Oleshky have crossed into Ukrainian-held territory. The rescue operation happened during the most substantial truce since Russia's invasion of Ukraine over four years ago. The civilians traveled through Russia and Belarus, following a deal the White House says U.S. first lady Melania Trump helped to broker. Ukrainian authorities are not releasing information about how many people left Oleshky or where they crossed the border. The localized ceasefire in Ukraine's southern Kherson region is expected to continue through Sunday evening. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed U.S. approval of Ukraine’s purchase of 500 Patriot interceptors. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack killed two people in Russia’s Bryansk region.
WORDS: 1135 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 9:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/5cbc7d2a5b8ac34b15c914338fd5a9f3/text___
Iranian leader threatens immediate response to potential attack, and other Mideast news
SUMMARY: Iran's supreme leader has threatened an immediate response to any potential attack from the U.S. or Israel. This comes as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent a return to all-out war. Iran's foreign minister said a proposal had been reached with mediators to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz in two days. Talks with mediators are ongoing. Iran isn't planning to meet with U.S. officials but views recent U.S. dialogue efforts positively. Regional leaders including those from Saudi Arabia and Egypt urge calm to prevent escalation. Syria and Jordan meanwhile discussed border security amid recent tensions.
WORDS: 637 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 10:11 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastndLdWritethru/15c0556b92c8c23beb9b8854b4c124f4/text___
G20 foreign ministers in Atlanta meeting head to an ending without consensus on key issues
SUMMARY: Top diplomats from the Group of 20 largest world economies are wrapping up two days of talks in Atlanta but there's no consensus on several critical issues. Divisions, most notably over Russia’s war with Ukraine, overshadowed the start of the meeting Friday. The G20 isn't expected to release a joint communique as the meetings end, but will rely on a chairman’s statement summarizing the talks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to release that later Saturday. Rubio canceled the traditional group photo of the foreign ministers on Friday after European diplomats objected to the inclusion of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
WORDS: 769 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 4:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSGForeignMinistersndLdWritethru/21c65a8bb02a3a0f0c89f0ce6d56d5fd/text___
UK prime minister signals the government will consider an apology for its role in the slave trade
SUMMARY: U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham says his government will consider apologizing for the first time for its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade as it seeks to strengthen relations with nations in Africa and the Caribbean. Writing in the Guardian on Saturday, Burnham said Britain needed to acknowledge its “complicated history” in order to protect the Commonwealth, an association of 56 independent nations that grew out of the British Empire. Burnham travels to Antigua and Barbuda next week for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders.
WORDS: 684 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 9:48 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainSlavery/112e852e4801cc4c1d21eb2b15bb0a1f/text___
Congo's Ebola deaths top 5,000 as fear of continent-wide spread mounts
SUMMARY: Deaths in Congo's Ebola outbreak have topped 5,000 as the disease spreads relentlessly. Data from the Congolese Ministry of Health shows the virus has killed 5,026 out of 10,351 infected, with a nearly 50% lethality rate. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared in mid-May and has become the second deadliest in history. Experts are concerned about the authorities' ability to contain the virus, which has spread to 67 health zones in eight provinces. The outbreak is concentrated in the eastern region of Congo, where conflict and disbelief among the population hinder containment efforts.
WORDS: 920 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 8:19 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFMEDCongoEbolardLdWritethru/cb7e79534ec9f3ab3c8f3bd03b3e1ad0/text___
This Jewish ex-cop will represent an Islamist party in Israel's newly elected parliament
SUMMARY: Yoav Segalovitz, a Jewish ex-cop and Zionist, will soon join Israel’s parliament as a member of Ra’am, an Arab-led party. His decision to leave a centrist Jewish-led party for a conservative Arab-led one has sparked curiosity and criticism. Segalovitz and Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas aim to show that Jewish-Arab cooperation can build political coalitions across divides. Arab-led parties won 18 seats in the 120-seat Knesset and could play a decisive role in forming a majority if Jewish-led opposition parties invite them into a coalition.
WORDS: 1242 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 5:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIsraelZionistIslamistPolitician/d62c5c982880985c7c0f5c0a1f6543c3/text___
Carney eyes June deal for Canada to become EU associate member as Trump reshapes alliances
SUMMARY: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he expects to conclude negotiations with the European Union in June on an unprecedented partnership that would make Canada the bloc’s first “associate member.” That's the case even though the designation was left out of a joint declaration launching a new economic and security alliance. Carney said he would attend a meeting of European leaders in June to conclude negotiations on the proposed relationship, which would stop short of full EU membership. “In parallel, we are working towards the deepest possible partnership, short of accession — with Canada becoming the European Union’s first Associate Member,” Carney said.
WORDS: 791 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 12:33 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APCNCanadaEUSummitthLdWritethru/d8543b3d496dd2b98d68b4ca13e7f2f8/text___
On board a Spanish high-speed train in the aftermath of the system's latest catastrophe
SUMMARY: Spaniards have long favored high-speed trains for travel, but two deadly collisions in nine months have shaken confidence in the system. A recent crash in central Spain killed 69 people, prompting strikes and demands for improved rail safety. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acknowledges the need to restore trust in the railways. Spain's high-speed network, second only to China in miles of track, has transformed travel, making it the most common mode for business and leisure. However, investment in high-speed rail has come at the expense of slower commuter services, leading to complaints about worsening conditions and delays.
WORDS: 769 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 5:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUSpainTrainCrashPassengerTrust/d61dcc082fa1034c6967f09ddaf41ba8/text___
Leo XIV has become the first pope in history to vote in a US general election
SUMMARY: Leo XIV has become the first pope to vote in a U.S. general election, casting a mail-in ballot in Chicago. The Vatican confirmed Friday that Leo, born Robert Prevost, exercised his right as a U.S. citizen, emphasizing his belief in civic participation. Leo holds U.S. and Peruvian citizenship and has voted whenever eligible. U.S. law allows citizens abroad to vote via absentee ballot. Leo’s vote was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. The pope has been vocal about U.S. politics, often clashing with former President Donald Trump on issues like immigration and war.
WORDS: 1140 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 12:59 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUVaticanUSElectionthLdWritethru/cebcf71652c254383a39113c71aedace/text___
Spain’s latest deadly train crash puts human error and systemic failure under scrutiny
SUMMARY: Spain's second major train collision this year has sparked debate over whether human error or rail network failures are to blame. The transport minister has blamed a traffic controller's poor judgment for Wednesday's crash in Toledo province, which killed 69 people. However, railway unions argue that deteriorating working conditions and failing safety systems are the real issues. A judge and a special government commission are investigating. The collision occurred after a communication system malfunction forced human controllers to manage train safety. Unions say the system, which is being phased out, has failed repeatedly. The crash has raised concerns about increased traffic from rail privatization.
WORDS: 1027 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 5:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUSpainTrainCrashsCauseWhattoKnowthLdWritethru/669ef8c0c12c8c9b720e721e7532ccbb/text___
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BUSINESS
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What to know about the $6.3B hack on Binance, likely the biggest-ever crypto theft
SUMMARY: Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, says hackers stole more than $6 billion in what appears to be the largest cryptocurrency heist on record. Blockchain firms have pointed to the attack coming from a North Korean hacking unit. The company said it has reserved more than $6.34 billion of company funds to cover the stolen assets and was beginning to recover assets for users. Binance worked with blockchain partners to freeze roughly $3 billion in affected assets. The cryptocurrency exchange has promised to cover all losses, and it has been sharing regular updates on its social media channels as it uncovers more information about the hack.
WORDS: 1030 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 8:23 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSBinanceSecurityIncidentthLdWritethru/550e9b876550f71f07098494fe735beb/text___
China’s factory activity slips as new export orders weaken
SUMMARY: China's factory activity contracted in October, reversing the previous month's reboujnd. The National Bureau of Statistics reported Saturday that the official purchasing managers' index fell to 49.3, down from 50.1 in September. A PMI below 50 indicates contraction. Key subindexes, like new export orders and production, also showed declines. Chinese companies have been exporting more due to weakened domestic demand, but this has led to complaints from trading partners about trade deficits. The European Union has been particularly vocal with demands to rebalance trade. Some economists have predicted China's exports will remain strong for the rest of this year despite ongoing trade tensions.
WORDS: 427 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 4:13 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASChinaEconomy/f1e0e24004da425a1b3c8935b16a245c/text___
Wall Street drops to its worst day since June after the sell-off for tech stocks deepens
SUMMARY: The sell-off for tech stocks on Wall Street got even worse on worries that the frenzy around AI sent prices too high. The S&P 500 dropped 1.8% Friday for its worst day since June. The Nasdaq composite fell 2.9%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.1%. Intel plunged to its biggest loss since 1974 after giving a profit forecast that fell below analysts’ expectations, while Amazon’s latest profit report raised more worries about how much companies are spending on their AI Investments. Treasury yields sank as investors searched for safer things to own, even though oil prices rose.
WORDS: 954 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 2:34 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/16c266731fdf64178f38070af2b42497/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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There's new guidance on menopause symptoms like hot flashes. What women need to know
SUMMARY: For the first time in a dozen years, a leading OB-GYN group has updated its guidance on managing hot flashes, night sweats, sleep changes and other disruptive symptoms that often come along with menopause. Menopause occurs when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, and happens around age 50 in the U.S. Doctors stressed the importance of hormone therapies, which many women are considering again after the removal of federal safety warnings. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists also described various nonhormonal options in the new advice released this month.
WORDS: 963 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 12:02 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMEDBeWellMenopauseGuidance/688f1aaa07307c0bc046776df0bc6023/text___
NASA telescope is on the verge of plunging back to Earth after failed rescue mission
SUMMARY: A NASA telescope is barely clinging to space after a failed rescue effort left it tottering lower and lower. The U.S. Space Force predicts the Swift Observatory will come crashing down on or around Friday. Most of the 1 1/2-ton telescope is expected to burn up in the atmosphere. But NASA says a handful of pieces could survive reentry. Swift observed some of the universe's biggest explosions during its 22 years in orbit. Intense solar activity dragged it down faster than expected, prompting NASA to stage a rescue mission. But the robot could not reach the telescope and plunged back to Earth in September.
WORDS: 479 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 12:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSCISpaceTelescopeRescue/e890935df7f468048594286566a96357/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Houdini’s centennial spotlight: A newly published essay and a fresh fight over when and how he died
SUMMARY: Harry Houdini, a century after his death, continues to captivate. A rare essay by the escape artist has been published, shedding light on his early influences. A recent book revisits questions about the cause and date of his death. Houdini, born Erik Weisz, became an international celebrity known for his escape acts. His mysterious death on Halloween 1926 remains debated, with new theories challenging the official cause. Centennial events this weekend include a "Grand Houdini Centenarium" in Budapest, an auction in Hollywood, and seances in Chicago and Maryland. Despite the intrigue, experts say his legacy endures through his remarkable life.
WORDS: 1043 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 4:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTHoudiniYears/1fd6f1a0c31e7db127eaf0cf18987760/text___
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