What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?

I'll gather the 10 biggest headlines from today.

The 10 biggest stories for today, Wednesday October 28, 2026:

1. US Federal Government Shutdown Enters Fourth Week
The federal government shutdown enters its fourth week as President Trump negotiates trade in Asia. On Tuesday, Oct. 28, the federal government shutdown enters its fourth week as President Donald Trump remains in Asia. More than 700,000 federal workers have been furloughed.

Funding for food assistance programs SNAP and WIC is set to end on November 1 due to the shutdown. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides assistance to over 40 million people, and WIC will not be available on Nov. 1. U.S. air travel turmoil deepened as more than 5,600 flights were delayed nationwide on Monday amid air traffic controller absences.

2. Federal Reserve Rate Decision Today
The Federal Reserve is expected to keep US interest rates unchanged at 3.75%–4.00% on October 28, 2026. The Federal Reserve is holding its FOMC meeting on October 27–28, 2026. The interest-rate decision is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, at 2:00 p.m., followed by Chair Kevin Warsh press conference at 2:30 p.m.

3. Very Severe Cyclone Arnab Makes Landfall in India
Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, with winds of 115 to 125 kmph gusting up to 140 kmph. Red alerts have been issued for seven districts of Andhra Pradesh, and schools in six southern districts of Odisha have been closed.

4. Israel Holds First National Election Since Oct. 7 Attack
Israelis voted on Tuesday in the first national election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, with turnout reported to be among the highest in decades. Pre-poll projections put Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc at around 50 seats against 54 for former military chief Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc, with 61 needed for majority.

5. Trump in Asia - Japan Deals and Trump-Xi Summit Ahead
US President Trump lavished praise on Japan’s first female leader Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo Tuesday, welcoming her pledge to accelerate military buildup and signing deals on trade and rare earths. Japan is expected to offer a package of US investments under a $550 billion deal.

Shanghai’s stock benchmark breached 4,000 for the first time in 10 years ahead of the Trump-Xi meeting. The ASEAN bloc and China signed an upgrade to their free trade agreement Tuesday.

6. Bank of Canada Expected to Hike Rates
Bank of Canada to raise rates to 2.50% on October 28 and once again by end-March: Reuters poll. Nineteen of 34 economists surveyed said the BoC will hike its overnight rate by a quarter percentage point to 2.50%, its first move in a year.

7. Record-Breaking Tides Flood Southern California
Record-breaking tides swamped Southern California’s coastline Tuesday, forcing highway closures. The tide gauge in San Pedro hit 8.02 feet Monday, breaking a record that had stood since...

8. Europe-China Trade Crisis and Markets Pull Back
EU officials are rushing to find a solution to the escalating trade spat with China over rare earths and chips. European shares retreated on Tuesday, pausing after a third consecutive record-high close on signs of easing Sino-U.S. trade tensions.

9. Major Tech / AI Layoffs
Microsoft has offered a voluntary exit package to around 60,000 employees, about 27 percent of its global workforce, as it shifts spending towards AI.

US-based AI services company Innodata laid off nearly 550 employees in India on October 26, with similar cuts in the Philippines.

10. UK Retail Deflation Returns
UK retailers cut prices in October, led by the biggest drop for food in almost five years. Overall shop prices fell 0.3% from September, the first month-on-month drop since March.