A federal judge declined the Justice Department’s request to require California to set aside ballots linked to people the Trump administration identified as possible non-citizens. The department said its list named 20,000 people, but California officials reported preliminary signs of errors, and the Ninth Circuit had already rejected the department’s effort to speed up the case.
Key Facts
U.S. District Judge David Carter rejected the Justice Department’s request for California to sequester the ballots.
The Justice Department delivered a USB drive with names of 20,000 people it said were non-citizens on California’s voter rolls.
California has more than 23 million registered voters, and the article says non-citizen voting is extremely rare.
The Justice Department gave officials 48 hours to review the list and threatened to sue if the state did not set aside the ballots.
Los Angeles officials found preliminary indicators that the list was inaccurate.
The Justice Department filed suit against California on October 15, seeking to require the state to set aside the ballots and verify citizenship.
A Ninth Circuit panel ruled 2-1 against the Justice Department’s attempt to bypass Carter and obtain faster consideration.
The Department of Homeland Security said in July that it had identified up to 190,000 non-citizens on California’s voter rolls, but provided further details only after ballots had been sent.
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Hundreds of demonstrators protested in Madrid after a train crash killed 68 people. Far-right protesters clashed with police and called for the transport minister to resign, amid questions about how authorities handled the disaster.
Key Facts
The train crash killed 68 people.
Hundreds of people demonstrated in Madrid.
The protest was anti-government.
Far-right demonstrators clashed with police.
Protesters demanded the transport minister’s resignation.
The protest followed questions about the authorities’ handling of the crash.
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Microsoft reported a profit of more than $36.6 billion for the three months ending in September, while revenue rose to $92.3 billion. The results came days after the company announced voluntary buyouts for about 60,000 employees as it invests heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Key Facts
Microsoft's profit for the quarter ending in September exceeded $36.6 billion.
Quarterly revenue rose to $92.3 billion.
Microsoft plans to offer voluntary buyouts to about 60,000 employees.
The company is investing heavily in infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
Microsoft said strong growth in its cloud computing business helped drive revenue.
Microsoft shares rose nearly 2.9% in after-hours trading on Wednesday.
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Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv in support of a Jewish-Arab government after parties representing Arab citizens made gains in Tuesday’s election. The parties are projected to win about 19 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, which could give them influence over who forms the government.
Key Facts
Israelis held a rally in Tel Aviv supporting a Jewish-Arab government.
The rally followed gains by parties representing Israel’s Arab citizens in Tuesday’s election.
The two main Arab parties are projected to win about 19 seats.
Israel’s Knesset has 120 seats.
The projected seat total could give the Arab parties a say in government formation.
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Young people have joined protests in cities across Europe, with demonstrations focused on education problems, inequality and the rising cost of living. Many marches have been peaceful, but some ended in clashes, looting or police use of tear gas and water cannon; protests have spread through social media and student networks.
Key Facts
Protests have taken place in countries including France, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Serbia and Albania.
Demonstrations in France drew hundreds of thousands of people, while tens of thousands marched in Lisbon.
A tent encampment has occupied a central Madrid square since late September.
In Barcelona, more than half of those detained after clashes last weekend were under 18, according to the article.
Protesters have raised concerns about education, social inequality and the cost of living, alongside country-specific issues.
Some demonstrations in Brussels turned violent after masked young men threw rocks and firecrackers at police; police used tear gas and water cannon.
Organizers and participants have used TikTok and Instagram, and student unions have helped organize marches.
In Albania, demonstrators alleging government corruption have called for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down.
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With 88% of votes counted in Israel, neither Benjamin Netanyahu’s party nor the main opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot has enough seats to form a majority coalition. Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies discussed what may happen next with CBS News.
Key Facts
Election officials had counted 88% of the votes.
Netanyahu’s party did not have enough seats to form a majority coalition.
The main opposition, led by Gadi Eisenkot, did not have enough seats to form a majority coalition.
Neither side had a clear path to a majority based on the votes counted.
Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies spoke with CBS News about what may happen next.
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Villa Vie Residences suspended operations of its MV Odyssey after fuel costs surged during the war with Iran, leaving more than 200 passengers stranded in Cambodia. CEO Mikael Petterson said the company plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after running out of money while seeking a financial partner.
Key Facts
The Florida-based company said the Odyssey stopped operating on Tuesday.
Petterson said fuel prices rose from about $700 per ton before the war to between $2,000 and $3,000 per ton.
Villa Vie Residences said average monthly fuel costs per cabin increased from $1,800 to between $6,000 and $8,000.
The company said the ship used 700 to 800 tons of fuel per month.
The Odyssey began its continuous around-the-world voyage in October 2024.
Passengers could buy permanent cabins, and the company offered a minimum 15-year residency guarantee.
More than 200 passengers, mostly Americans, were stranded in Cambodia after operations were suspended.
Passenger Benjamin Schatz said he had only hours to pack and leave the ship.
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UK newspaper coverage focuses on the Budget attributed in the article to Chancellor John Healey. Reports highlight a £100 energy payment for some households and tax increases affecting banks, savers and property owners, while several papers say the Budget offers limited relief and postpones major spending decisions.
Key Facts
The Metro reports that millions of households will receive £100 to help with winter energy bills.
The i Paper says the payment will go to households in council tax bands A to D.
The Daily Mirror reports that a bank tax increase will help fund measures for struggling families.
The Times says the Budget raises taxes on landlords, savers and banks and delays major welfare and defence spending decisions until next autumn.
The Financial Times describes the Budget as modest and reports tax rises on banks, savers and property owners.
Kemi Badenoch criticised the Budget as not bold enough, according to the Daily Express.
The Guardian reports that Healey cited global economic pressures, including the war in Iran, as factors behind the cost-of-living crisis.
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The Justice Department plans to send federal election monitors to polling places in Portland and Lewiston, Maine. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said their role would be “observation only,” as the Trump administration plans to deploy about 1,000 monitors nationwide.
Key Facts
The Department of Justice plans to deploy federal election monitors in Maine.
The monitors will be stationed at polling places in Portland and Lewiston.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said the monitors' role is “observation only.”
The deployment is part of a broader Trump administration plan.
The administration plans to send about 1,000 election monitors around the United States.
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A New York Times/Siena Research Institute poll found South Carolina Senate candidates Darline Graham and Annie Andrews tied at 48 percent among likely voters, with 3 percent undecided. The poll was released a day before President Donald Trump was scheduled to appear with Graham at a rally in Rock Hill.
Key Facts
The survey polled 707 likely voters in South Carolina from October 19 to 26, 2026, and reported a 4.3 percentage-point margin of error.
Men favored Graham, 55 percent to 40 percent, while women favored Andrews, 54 percent to 43 percent.
Among independent voters, 57 percent supported Andrews and 37 percent supported Graham.
The poll found that 51 percent thought Andrews would do a better job on the economy, while 50 percent thought Graham would do a better job on immigration.
Graham was viewed favorably by 44 percent of respondents and unfavorably by 41 percent; Andrews had a 45 percent favorable rating and a 29 percent unfavorable rating.
The Cook Political Report rated the race as lean Republican, and Kalshi and Polymarket showed Graham leading on Wednesday afternoon.
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Fox News commentators Brian Kilmeade and Brit Hume expressed doubts about Vice President JD Vance’s prospects in the 2028 presidential race. They questioned whether his close association with President Donald Trump could hurt his chances of winning the Republican nomination.
Key Facts
Kilmeade and Hume discussed Vance’s prospects on Wednesday.
Both commentators questioned Vance’s standing with Republican voters.
Kilmeade said he did not think Vance was as popular with Republicans as Vance believed.
The discussion focused on the 2028 presidential race.
The commentators raised Vance’s association with Trump as a possible liability in the Republican nomination contest.
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The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady despite high inflation, according to CBS News. The article provides no further details about the decision or the Fed’s reasoning.
Key Facts
The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged.
The report says inflation remains high.
CBS News' Kelly O'Grady covered the decision.
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Recycling companies say used needles from injectable weight-loss drugs are increasingly turning up in household waste and recycling, putting workers at risk of injury and infection. They advise people to get a sharps container and disposal instructions from a GP or pharmacy, and never put needles or sharps containers in recycling.
Key Facts
A recycling plant in Coventry found a crushed yellow sharps container in waste on its sorting line.
Sherborne Recycling serves about 1.5 million residents across several local authorities.
Workers may encounter needles while removing items that cannot be processed and inspecting waste.
Recycling managers say some people who obtain weight-loss injections privately may not receive a sharps container or disposal guidance.
A needle injury can require testing and waiting months for results, according to Sherborne Recycling’s managing director.
Used needles should be disposed of separately through clinical waste services.
The article advises people to ask a GP or pharmacy how to obtain and safely dispose of a sharps container.
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An ABC News analysis of early voting in Texas and Georgia found that voters modeled as likely Democrats make up a larger share of early ballots than they did at the same point in 2022, especially among less-frequent voters in Texas. The analysis uses voter records and party-support models; it does not show how individuals voted or predict who will vote by Election Day.
Key Facts
More than 39 million Americans had voted early by Wednesday afternoon, according to the University of Florida Election Lab.
More than 5 million Texans had cast early ballots by Wednesday, representing more than 20% of registered voters.
As of Monday, voters modeled as likely Democrats made up 51% of Texas early voters, compared with 45% modeled as likely Republicans.
The modeled Democratic share in Texas was 14 percentage points higher than its position in the completed 2022 early vote, when it trailed Republicans by about 8 points.
Voters who participated in all four of the last four federal elections made up 60% of Texas early voters as of Monday, compared with 47% of the full early vote in 2024 and 44% in 2022.
The article says Texas has closely watched Senate and governor races, and Democrats are seeking to win statewide offices there for the first time since 1994.
Texas and Georgia do not register voters by party, so the analysis uses models based on factors such as primary turnout to estimate likely party support.
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At least 68 people were killed when two high-speed trains collided in Spain, according to the report. The crash derailed at least two carriages and was described as the country’s second major train disaster of the year.
Key Facts
At least 68 people were killed in the collision.
Two high-speed trains collided.
At least two carriages derailed.
The report describes the crash as Spain’s second major train disaster of the year.
The report features passengers speaking about the crash.
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A collection of George Michael memorabilia, including the guitar from his “Faith” music video, is due to be auctioned by Sworders on Thursday. Siobhan Bailey’s brother objects to the sale, but the article says her estranged husband inherited the items under the law because she died without a will while they were still married.
Key Facts
The 32 auction lots come from the collection of Siobhan Bailey, Michael’s personal assistant for 20 years.
Bailey died in 2014, and her estranged husband, Ian Belcher, inherited the items because she left no will and was legally married to him.
Siobhan’s brother, Gerard Bailey, says she would have opposed the auction and says the items should have gone to her nieces and nephews.
Gerard Bailey has asked the auction house to cancel the sale or list it under Belcher’s name rather than his sister’s.
The Faith music-video guitar is estimated to sell for £60,000 to £120,000.
A Filofax from the 1988 Faith tour, containing Siobhan Bailey’s handwritten notes, had a guide price of up to £600 and a current bid of £1,750.
Sworders and Belcher declined to comment.
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With nearly 90 percent of votes counted, neither major bloc has the 61 seats needed to form a government in Israel. Netanyahu’s bloc is projected to win 53 seats and the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot 48, while Arab parties may together hold 19 seats; final results could change as special ballots are counted.
Key Facts
The Central Elections Committee said it had counted more than five million votes by 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
More than 500,000 special double-envelope ballots remain to be counted, including votes from soldiers, diplomats and people voting away from their registered polling stations.
The 120-seat Knesset requires 61 seats for a majority.
Final results could be released as early as Thursday evening.
Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed.
President Isaac Herzog plans to consult party leaders about forming a government after official results are released next week.
Eisenkot ruled out forming a minority government with Arab-led parties, and Netanyahu also rejected that option.
Likud accused Arab parties of election-related crimes, while the Joint List said Arab voter turnout helped keep Netanyahu’s coalition short of a majority.
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Japan’s “incident properties,” or jiko bukken, can rent or sell for less after deaths such as suicides or lonely deaths. Some buyers and renters accept the discount despite the stigma: Tokyo resident Ryua says she pays about 30% less for her apartment, while American resident Diane Tincher bought a rural house for less than half the usual price of comparable homes.
Key Facts
Japan’s 2021 government guidelines require agents to disclose suicides, murders, deaths by fire, and deaths discovered after an extended period.
For rentals, agents must disclose covered deaths for three years; for properties offered for sale, they must disclose them indefinitely.
Ryua says she was told a man died by suicide in her Tokyo apartment and that she hears footsteps and voices there.
Ryua pays 45,000 yen a month for a 25-square-meter apartment in Setagaya, compared with an estimated 62,000 yen without the discount.
Tokyo estate agent Erik Oskamp says properties linked to suicides, serious crimes, or lonely deaths can be difficult to rent.
Diane Tincher paid 20 million yen for a three-bedroom house in Kagoshima; similar homes in the area can sell for up to 45 million yen.
Tincher says the agent told her the house was discounted because an elderly woman had died alone there.
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President Donald Trump campaigned in Ohio for Republican candidates in the state’s governor and Senate races. The report also highlighted data centers as an issue in Ohio’s elections and discussed concerns driving voters to the polls.
Key Facts
Trump visited Ohio on Wednesday to campaign for Republican candidates.
Ohio’s governor and Senate races were described as closely watched.
Data centers were among the issues highlighted in the report.
Danny Eldredge, the Toledo Blade’s Columbus bureau chief, discussed issues affecting Ohio voters.
The report focused on voters ahead of the midterm elections.
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