What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?
Here are 10 of today's biggest news stories (October 29, 2026):
1. Deadly Spain train collision kills at least 68
A high-speed Renfe AVE train slammed into the rear of a stationary Iryo train near Urda in Toledo province, south of Madrid, killing at least 68 people Wednesday morning, according to local authorities. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said the preliminary investigation indicates the crash was caused by an "inexplicable" order by the rail controllers to allow one train to proceed despite a safety failure that halted a train on the tracks further ahead. Spain's PM announced the government would declare three days of official mourning from October 29 to 31, and angry protesters clashed with police outside the Transport Ministry demanding officials' resignations.
2. US Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady
The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to keep benchmark interest rates on hold, keeping the overnight funds rate in a range between 3.75%-4%, while signaling inflation pressures remain stubborn. The statement characterized economic activity as "expanding at a strong pace," an upgrade from "solid" in September.
3. South Korea ballot verification controversy
A special counsel team completed an overnight inspection of 2.47 million ballots cast in Songpa Ward, placing them in about 420 boxes, of which all but 13 were taken to a storage facility managed by the National Election Commission. However, People Power Party observers blocked the removal of the ballots, delaying the transport amid ongoing disputes over the June local elections.
4. SK Hynix and Samsung earnings boost South Korean markets
SK Hynix announced record-breaking performance and large-scale shareholder return policies, helping the Kospi recover the 6,000 mark for the first time in half a month. Samsung Electronics is also releasing its third-quarter earnings and shareholder return policies today, with forecasts suggesting it could surpass the 100 trillion won unveiled by SK Hynix.
5. Israeli election vote counting continues
In Israel, a patient on a wheelchair casts his ballot at a polling station at Rambam Hospital during the election in Haifa, with counting of "double envelope" votes still underway and reports that Netanyahu is looking to replace his acting chief of staff.
6. Gaza/Iran tensions continue
Three members of Hamas's elite Nukhba Force, including a terrorist who participated in the abduction of hostages during the October 7 onslaught, were killed in recent strikes in the Gaza Strip, while separately Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new draft deal to end the war with the US, though a senior Iranian official says Doha only put forward unacceptable ideas.
7. Big Tech earnings season in full swing
Major corporate earnings are landing today, including Amazon's Q3 2026 earnings call, with investors focusing on the growth of its AWS cloud division and capital expenditures associated with its AI expansion, plus Intel and Eli Lilly also reporting quarterly results.
8. Bitcoin and crypto markets react to Fed decision
Markets had a muted reaction to the Federal Reserve's decision to leave interest rates unchanged, though BTC moved 0.5 percent higher in the hour following the announcement. Long-term BTC holders are now largely sitting on a loss, with more than half of coins purchased above today's price, according to Glassnode research.
9. Hong Kong flooding and rodent control concerns
In Hong Kong, water levels were slightly higher than normal due to the northeast monsoon and an astronomical high tide, with flooding reported in parts of Sha Tin and Tai Po, while authorities separately stepped up rodent control efforts after rat sightings near MTR stations.
10. US midterm election coverage intensifies
With midterms approaching, education policy is in focus as reports note races could lead to revamped graduation requirements and more oversight for voucher programs, while ballot measures could change who gets to play sports, alongside continued scrutiny of tech firms by the Trump administration.
Citations (17)
- High-speed train crash in Spain leaves at least 68 dead, dozens injured, officials say - CBS News
Source excerpt: “# High-speed train crash in Spain leaves at least 68 dead, dozens injured, officials say Updated on: October 28, 2026 / 8:26 PM EDT / CBS/AP A high-s...”
evidence, article. Claim: High-speed Renfe AVE train hit a stationary Iryo train near Urda, killing at least 68 people.
- 'Inexplicable' order probed as cause of train crash that killed at least 68: Official - ABC News
Source excerpt: “He said the preliminary investigation indicates the crash was caused by an "inexplicable" order by the rail controllers to allow one train to proceed ...”
attribution, article. Claim: Transport Minister Puente said preliminary investigation points to an 'inexplicable' order by rail controllers as the cause of the crash.
- Train crash in Spain kills at least 68 people
Source excerpt: “Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, speaking from Urda, said the government would declare three days of official mourning from October 29 to 31. ”
evidence, article. Claim: Spain's PM declared three days of official mourning from October 29 to 31.
- Fed interest rate decision October 2026: Fed holds rates steady
Source excerpt: “The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to keep benchmark interest rates on hold, opting to take a patient approach in its fight against inflation despite...”
evidence, article. Claim: The Federal Reserve voted Wednesday to keep benchmark interest rates on hold.
- Fed interest rate decision October 2026: Fed holds rates steady
Source excerpt: “The statement characterized economic activity as "expanding at a strong pace," a seeming upgrade from "solid" in September. ”
evidence, article. Claim: Fed statement described economic activity as 'expanding at a strong pace,' an upgrade from 'solid' in September.
- Special counsel team moves local election ballots to storage from handball arena - The Korea Times
Source excerpt: “Yonhap Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team removed the ballot boxes from the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul after conducting ...”
evidence, article. Claim: Special counsel team moved local election ballots from the handball arena to storage.
- Morning Wide: Today's Major News (October 29, 2026)
Source excerpt: “People Power Party Protests to Block Removal of Ballots The special counsel team's on-site verification of 2.47 million ballots from the Songpa distri...”
evidence, article. Claim: People Power Party observers blocked removal of 2.47 million Songpa ballots after the on-site verification.
- Morning Wide: Today's Major News (October 29, 2026)
Source excerpt: “SK Hynix Drives Kospi Bull Market... Samsung Electronics to Announce Earnings Today SK Hynix announced record-breaking performance and large-scale sh...”
evidence, article. Claim: SK Hynix's record performance and shareholder returns helped the Kospi recover the 6,000 mark.
- Morning Wide: Today's Major News (October 29, 2026)
Source excerpt: “Samsung Electronics is also releasing its third-quarter earnings and shareholder return policies today (October 29), with forecasts suggesting it coul...”
evidence, article. Claim: Samsung Electronics releases Q3 earnings and shareholder return policies today, possibly surpassing SK Hynix's 100 trillion won.
- Oct. 28: PM assures Ben Gvir, Smotrich that he won't abandon them as final election votes tallied
Source excerpt: “Advertisement October 29, 2026 Current Top Stories A patient on a wheelchair casts his ballot at a polling station at Rambam Hospital during the el...”
evidence, article. Claim: Israeli election voting, with a patient casting a ballot at Rambam Hospital in Haifa and counting continuing.
- Oct. 28: PM assures Ben Gvir, Smotrich that he won't abandon them as final election votes tallied
Source excerpt: “# Oct. 28: PM assures Ben Gvir, Smotrich that he won’t abandon them as final election votes tallied ## Where the parties stand on key issues #### IDF:...”
evidence, article. Claim: Counting of double envelope votes continues and Netanyahu reportedly looks to replace his acting chief of staff.
- Oct. 28: PM assures Ben Gvir, Smotrich that he won't abandon them as final election votes tallied
Source excerpt: “#### Iran sees only unacceptable ideas in latest mediation to end war, official says Qatari mediators have presented Iran with a new draft deal to end...”
evidence, article. Claim: Qatari mediators presented Iran a new draft deal to end the war with the US; Iranian official says ideas are unacceptable.
- Oct 29, 2026: Holidays, Top Events, Sports & Countdown - USA
Source excerpt: “# October 29, 2026 ## 2026 Days and Dates - US October 29, 2026 United States Holidays \& Popular Observances National Cat Day World Stroke Day Octobe...”
background, data page. Claim: Calendar page for October 29, 2026, listed as a source for today's date context.
- Today's Crypto News: Bitcoin, Ether and Altcoin Insights
Source excerpt: “### Bitcoin price chart Markets had a muted reaction to the Federal Reserve’s decision to leave interest rates unchanged, a move that was largely expe...”
evidence, article. Claim: Bitcoin and crypto markets had a muted reaction to the Fed's decision, with BTC up 0.5 percent.
- Today's Crypto News: Bitcoin, Ether and Altcoin Insights
Source excerpt: “Glassnode’s weekly research says most long-term BTC holders are now sitting on a loss, with more than half of coins purchased above today’s price. ”
statistic, article. Claim: Glassnode research says most long-term BTC holders are at a loss, with over half of coins bought above today's price.
- Morning Recap - October 29, 2026
Source excerpt: “Flooding hits Sha Tin and Tai Po as northeast monsoon coincides with astronomical high tide Water levels in Hong Kong were slightly higher than norma...”
evidence, article. Claim: Hong Kong flooding in Sha Tin and Tai Po from northeast monsoon and astronomical high tide; rodent control stepped up.
- News Headlines: October 29, 2026 - by Tugbutton
Source excerpt: “… expected to bring the heat on tech firms, both through investigations into the companies’ relationships with the Trump administration and proposed A...”
evidence, article. Claim: Midterm coverage includes scrutiny of tech firms and the Trump administration.