What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?

Here are 10 of today's biggest news stories (October 23, 2026):

1. Global tech/AI stock selloff deepens
US stocks tumbled Thursday and the Nasdaq posted its steepest daily drop since early June as high-profile AI-related earnings results ignited fresh fears about the AI spending race, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 2.6% to 26,008.86. Investor sentiment contracted sharply after Meta reported earnings that beat expectations but announced plans to issue a new class of non-voting shares to fund AI investments, triggering a sector-wide chip selloff.

2. South Korea markets plunge, SK Hynix halts Solidigm listing
SK Hynix decided to suspend the U.S. Nasdaq listing of its sub-subsidiary Solidigm, and following the Wall Street plunge, the KOSPI fell more than 3% in early trading.

3. France bans weekend protests amid unrest
French authorities imposed protest bans and restrictions on Thursday in several cities after demonstrations on October 17 led to widespread looting and France's worst street violence in years, with President Macron saying curfews and other security measures would be used ahead of planned Saturday demonstrations. The October 17 demonstrations against the surging cost of living drew more than half a million people, and 217 of 2,700 people arrested had been jailed with 1,000 more facing prosecution.

4. Macron calls for halt to demonstrations
Macron said the government recommends no demonstrations be held across the country in the coming days, particularly Saturday, intending to prohibit gatherings organized by people "who have no legitimacy to do so."

5. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon faces career-defining court ruling
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, on trial for receiving opinion poll results and having an aide cover the costs, received his second-trial ruling today; he was fined 10 million KRW in the first trial, and a fine of 1 million KRW or more would mean losing his mayoral position.

6. North Korea escalates tensions with new threats
North Korea's Kim Yo-jong issued another statement threatening that new response measures and loudspeaker facilities would be placed on standby near the Military Demarcation Line, while South Korea sent a letter to the UN Security Council president regarding a North Korean landmine explosion incident.

7. South Korea cracks down on violent crime wave
Amid a recent series of violent crimes, President Lee Jae-myung presided over a pan-governmental response meeting, urging officials to approach the matter with the resolve of declaring war on violent crime.

8. Coupang labor death cover-up probe concludes
South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor announced results of its investigation into allegations that Coupang attempted to conceal evidence regarding an industrial accident death, concluding that Chairman Kim Bom-suk gave inappropriate orders but that punishment is difficult since the statute of limitations expired.

9. FBI arrests alleged Chinese agent in Los Angeles
The U.S. FBI arrested a 34-year-old Chinese American woman at Los Angeles International Airport for allegedly acting as an unregistered Chinese agent and surveilling Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te's son and family in the United States.

10. Former German intelligence chief arrested for treason
August Hanning, former head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service, was arrested at his home after being charged with treason, espionage, and trading state secrets, with a former aide also arrested for aiding attempted treason.

Bonus/regional note: In the Philippines, a Filipino was killed in an intercepted drone attack near a Saudi oilfield, and class suspensions were declared for Friday due to weather.