What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?
Based on today's news (November 1, 2026), here are 10 of the biggest stories:
1. US Midterm Elections Countdown
The November 2026 midterm elections are just three days away, with candidates in key races — and President Trump — making their closing arguments to voters. Democrats need to flip four Senate seats to take control, with key battles in North Carolina, Ohio, Alaska, and Iowa.
2. Strait of Hormuz Crisis Continues
The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to commercial traffic, with IMF PortWatch data recording 2 transits on October 25 against a pre-crisis baseline of 85 per day. Iran's navy is claiming that another oil tanker caught fire after striking mines in waters east of the strait, though no maritime authority has confirmed the incident. Diplomatically, reporting describes Iran as offering to reopen the strait within two days rather than seven under certain conditions.
3. Record-Breaking Binance Crypto Hack
A massive cyberattack hit the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, described by PBS as "Six billion dollars hacked in 20 minutes, a record theft involving the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange."
4. Israel's Political Deadlock
Difficult negotiations lie ahead in Israel after Netanyahu's bloc lost its parliamentary majority.
5. Massive Protests in France
Police said about 70,000 people demonstrated in Paris alone, while France's interior ministry said about 320,000 people rallied nationwide.
6. Daylight Saving Time Ends
Clocks across much of the United States fell back as daylight saving time came to an end this weekend, with President Trump having expressed support for ending the time changes, arguing that permanent daylight saving time would allow for more daylight.
7. Alaska Senate Election Dispute
The top federal prosecutor in Alaska did not specify what crimes are being investigated by the Justice Department amid controversy, while the Department of Justice added a request that the judge separate ballots showing votes for a second candidate until it can be determined whether voters were fooled into wasting votes for a spoiler candidate.
8. Halloween Night Shootings
Shootings on Friday night in California and Michigan at Halloween Spirit stores killed two people, authorities said.
9. Critical UEFI Firmware Security Flaw
A newly disclosed code-execution vulnerability is raising alarm in the cybersecurity world, with reports describing a "Code-Execution Flaw In UEFI Firmware" that "Threatens Most Servers On Planet Earth."
10. Ukraine Urges Allies on Munitions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged his allies to speed up deliveries of a critical munition as the war with Russia continues.
Note: Coverage is heavily dominated by the upcoming U.S. midterm elections (just 2 days away) and the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis, which are the top developing stories dominating most major outlets today.
Citations (15)
- CBS News | Breaking News, Top Stories & Exclusive Coverage
Source excerpt: “The November 2026 midterm elections are just three days away. Candidates in key races — and President Trump — are making their closing arguments to vo...”
- Newsweek - Latest Breaking News, US, World, Politics, Business, Tech and Videos.
Source excerpt: “Democrats need to flip four Senate seats to take control in the 2026 midterms, and several key races could determine whether they succeed. Newsweek ta...”
- Strait of Hormuz News, November 1, 2026: Straits Daily Brief
Source excerpt: “The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to commercial traffic, with IMF PortWatch data recording 2 transits on October 25 against a pre-crisis...”
- Strait of Hormuz News, November 1, 2026: Straits Daily Brief
Source excerpt: “Iran's navy is claiming that another oil tanker caught fire after striking mines in waters east of the strait, a claim carried by Al Arabiya Engl...”
- Strait of Hormuz News, November 1, 2026: Straits Daily Brief
Source excerpt: “On the diplomatic track, reporting from Modern Ghana and 8AM Media describes Iran as offering to reopen the strait within two days rather than seven i...”
- The Latest | PBS News
Source excerpt: “Six billion dollars hacked in 20 minutes, a record theft involving the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange puts investors on… · By PBS News H...”
- PBS News: News, Analysis, Top Headlines, Live Coverage
Source excerpt: “Politics Oct 31 Attorneys for Alaska say 'meritless' Trump demand to set aside Senate ballots 'not even possible' By Nicholas Riccardi, Becky Bohrer, ...”
- CBS News | Breaking News, Top Stories & Exclusive Coverage
Source excerpt: “Police said about 70,000 people demonstrated in Paris alone. France's interior ministry said about 320,000 people rallied nationwide. ”
- Daylight saving time ends Sunday. Here’s what to know as clocks ‘fall back.’
Source excerpt: “Clocks across much of the United States will fall back once again Sunday as daylight saving time comes to an end.”
- Daylight saving time ends Sunday. Here’s what to know as clocks ‘fall back.’
Source excerpt: “President Donald Trump has expressed support for ending the time changes, arguing that permanent daylight saving time would allow for more daylight to...”
- CBS News | Breaking News, Top Stories & Exclusive Coverage
Source excerpt: “The top federal prosecutor in Alaska did not specify what crimes are being investigated by the Justice Department, saying he's "not making any assumpt...”
- PBS News: News, Analysis, Top Headlines, Live Coverage
Source excerpt: “The Department of Justice on Friday added a request that the judge separate all ballots showing votes for the second Dan Sullivan until it can be dete...”
- CBS News | Breaking News, Top Stories & Exclusive Coverage
Source excerpt: “Shootings on Friday night in California and Michigan at Halloween Spirit stores, a retailer selling costumes and decor, killed two people, authorities...”
- News for November 1, 2026
Source excerpt: “https://www.vox.com/today-explained-newsletter/507486/ai-hacking-php-cybersecurity-what-to-do · Code-Execution Flaw In UEFI Firmware Threatens Most Se...”
- CBS News | Breaking News, Top Stories & Exclusive Coverage
Source excerpt: “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged his allies to speed up deliveries of the critical munition. ”