The Brief — Independent News, Thursday, October 29, 2026

United States

6 stories

USA Alaska — Oct 29, 2026

Alaska governor orders probe of Peltola campaign over second 'Dan Sullivan'

Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered an investigation into Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign, after a New York Times report alleged people aligned with it helped recruit a candidate with the same name as Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola denied the allegations, according to CBS News.

President Trump earlier called for Peltola's prosecution and said she should not be allowed to run, according to PBS NewsHour. CBS News reports the Justice Department has issued subpoenas related to the allegations, and that voters will choose among four candidates. The race could help determine control of the Senate.

TL;DR

Alaska's governor has ordered a probe of Peltola's Senate campaign over a report tying it to a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, which she denies.

Sources CBS News PBS NewsHour BBC

USA Washington — Oct 29, 2026

Hegseth fires Army general over handling of classified information

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, head of strategy, plans and policy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a Pentagon official told CBS News.

The dismissal was for apparent misconduct with classified information related to the Iran and Russia-Ukraine wars, according to the official. Al Jazeera reports the Pentagon says Sylvia was the subject of an investigation into leaks to the media about Iran and Ukraine. PBS NewsHour reports Sylvia is the second general under Hegseth to be removed from that post, and that the firing came as President Trump considers new Iran strikes.

TL;DR

Hegseth has fired Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia over apparent mishandling of classified information, a Pentagon official told CBS News.

Sources CBS News Al Jazeera PBS NewsHour

USA United States — Oct 29, 2026

DoorDash to buy Instacart in $17 billion deal

DoorDash has agreed to purchase Instacart for $65 per share, in a deal valued at $17 billion, according to CBS News.

The purchase would unite two of the country's largest grocery and food-delivery companies. The BBC reports the firms said Instacart shoppers would be able to buy from 150,000 stores, up from 100,000 currently.

TL;DR

DoorDash will acquire Instacart for $65 per share in a $17 billion deal.

Sources CBS News BBC

USA Los Angeles — Oct 29, 2026

Actor Patrick Stewart dies at 86

Patrick Stewart, the stage and screen actor best known as Captain Picard in "Star Trek" and Professor X in the "X-Men" films, has died at 86, according to CBS News. A spokesperson said he died in Los Angeles after a battle with Alzheimer's disease and dementia; Al Jazeera reports he had Lewy body dementia.

PBS NewsHour describes him as a classically trained stage actor who worked through the Shakespearean canon. The BBC reports he received multiple Emmys and Golden Globes, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.

TL;DR

Sir Patrick Stewart, known for "Star Trek" and "X-Men," has died at 86.

Sources CBS News PBS NewsHour BBC Al Jazeera

USA Washington — Oct 29, 2026

Hackers publish identities of more than 40,000 DHS employees

Hackers have released identifying information on more than 40,000 Department of Homeland Security staff, including immigration agents and contractors.

NPR attributes the leak to a group calling itself Distributed Denial of Secrets, which called the unmasking fair play given government secrecy. The BBC names a group called the Department of Peace as releasing data on more than 41,000 DHS staff.

TL;DR

A major hack has exposed the identities of more than 40,000 DHS employees.

Sources NPR BBC

USA Washington — Oct 29, 2026

U.S. economy grew at a 3.4% annual rate in the third quarter

Gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 3.4% in the third quarter, according to the last major economic reading before the midterm elections. PBS NewsHour reports that consumer spending rose at a good clip and business investment was up sharply, reflecting the AI boom.

NPR notes that many Americans continue to struggle with affordability. PBS NewsHour separately reports that inflation heated up again, driven largely by rising gas prices.

TL;DR

U.S. GDP grew at a 3.4% annual rate in the third quarter on consumer spending and AI-related investment.

Sources PBS NewsHour NPR

World

6 stories

World Toledo province, Spain — Oct 29, 2026

At least 68 dead after high-speed trains collide in central Spain

A high-speed train struck another train from behind in the province of Toledo, south of Madrid, killing at least 68 people. More than 500 passengers were aboard the trains, according to the BBC.

Recordings of exchanges between the control centre and the drivers appear to show one train was cleared to move even though another ahead of it had stalled. Al Jazeera reports that officials blame a control centre order following a critical signalling system failure. CBS News reports a protest outside the transport ministry. It is the second major train disaster in Spain this year.

TL;DR

A rear-end collision between two trains in Toledo province has killed at least 68 people, Spain's second major rail disaster this year.

Sources NPR CBS News BBC PBS NewsHour Al Jazeera

World Tel Aviv, Israel — Oct 29, 2026

Israel's election leaves Netanyahu's bloc short of a majority

With nearly all votes counted from Tuesday's election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies emerged as the largest bloc but lost seats and fell short of the majority needed to form a government, according to PBS NewsHour. With 99% of ballots counted, the BBC reports that Likud and its allies are set to win 53 of the Knesset's 120 seats.

PBS NewsHour reports that Netanyahu's party is now claiming the election was "stolen"; official results show his bloc with 53 seats, well below the 68 it held at its peak in the previous parliament. The BBC reports that Likud alleged foreign interference and said Arab-led parties "stole" the election, while the opposition accused Netanyahu of trying to "delegitimise" the vote.

CBS News reports that Netanyahu's party won more votes than his main challenger but that both sides will likely struggle to assemble a coalition. Al Jazeera reports that, with all votes counted, opposition parties could join forces with Palestinian-Israeli parties to unseat Netanyahu, and that Netanyahu has attacked those parties.

TL;DR

Netanyahu's bloc is the largest in Israel's election but lacks a governing majority, and his Likud party is now claiming the vote was stolen.

Sources BBC PBS NewsHour CBS News Al Jazeera

World Dnipro, Ukraine — Oct 29, 2026

Russian drone attack on Dnipro train station kills at least 14

A Russian drone attack on the main railway station in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro has killed at least 14 people, officials say. CBS News reports the drone hit two trains at the station.

At least 14 others were wounded, including an 11-year-old boy, according to the BBC. CBS News also reports that a local truce credited to Melania Trump is bringing some hope elsewhere in the country.

TL;DR

A Russian drone strike on a train station in Dnipro has killed at least 14 people and wounded at least 14 more, officials say.

Sources BBC CBS News Al Jazeera

World Miami — Oct 28, 2026

Flávio Bolsonaro arrives in Miami after losing Brazil's presidential election

Flávio Bolsonaro, who lost Brazil's presidential election to President Lula, left the country with his family and landed in the United States. PBS reports he defied a Brazilian court, and NPR says authorities had ordered him to surrender his passport. He faces multiple investigations in Brazil.

A State Department official told CBS News that the family would receive U.S. visas. Bolsonaro denies fleeing, saying he is the victim of a coup d'état and political persecution, the BBC reports. The BBC also reports he has called himself the "leader of Brazil" and said he will lead the opposition from the US. Al Jazeera reports he claimed without evidence that the vote was stolen, and that President Trump said he would not "take sides" in the election but called it a "disgrace."

TL;DR

Defeated Brazilian candidate Flávio Bolsonaro has arrived in Miami, where he denies he is fleeing investigations at home.

Sources NPR CBS News PBS NewsHour BBC Al Jazeera

World Oct 30, 2026

Binance says $2.54 billion in crypto funds frozen over 'potential security issue'

Binance said $2.54 billion in crypto funds have been frozen amid a "potential security issue," according to Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera reports that Binance's founder said the exchange, the world's largest, appears to have been hacked.

TL;DR

Binance says $2.54 billion in crypto funds are frozen over a potential security issue, and its founder says the exchange appears to have been hacked.

Sources Al Jazeera

World Frankfurt, Germany — Oct 29, 2026

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde to step down early

Christine Lagarde will leave her post as president of the European Central Bank in February, according to Al Jazeera.

That is nine months before the end of her eight-year term.

TL;DR

Christine Lagarde will leave the European Central Bank in February, nine months before her term ends.

Sources Al Jazeera