Here are the AP’s top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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UPCOMING
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VATICAN POPE VILLANOVA
DESCRIPTION: Pope Leo XIV holds a private audience with basketball teams from his alma mater Villanova and fellow Catholic university Notre Dame plus thousands of traveling American fans. AP text covering.
UPCOMING: By 10/31/2026 6:00 a.m. EDT, LiveVideo, Photo, Text, Video
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US SPACE TELESCOPE RESCUE
DESCRIPTION: NASA’s Swift Observatory is on the verge of plunging from space after a failed rescue attempt left it tottering lower and lower. The U.S. Space Force predicts the aging telescope’s demise on Monday. 400 words
UPCOMING: By 10/31/2026 8:00 a.m. EDT, FilePhoto, Text, Video
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MED BE WELL-MENOPAUSE GUIDANCE
DESCRIPTION: For the first time in a dozen years, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists has updated its guidance on managing hot flashes, night sweats, sleep changes and other disruptive symptoms that often come along with menopause. 800 words
UPCOMING: By 10/31/2026 8:00 a.m. EDT, FilePhoto, Text, Video
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FRANCE PROTESTS
DESCRIPTION: Protest expected in France on Saturday against high living costs, rising fuel, public spending cuts as well as student protest over poor school conditions and teacher shortages. AP text covering.
UPCOMING: By 10/31/2026 9:30 a.m. EDT, LiveVideo, Photo, Text, Video
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HEALTH CARE-AFFORDABILITY-OLDER ADULTS
DESCRIPTION: Rising healthcare costs are a major concern for older Americans, affecting their finances and political priorities. Changes to Medicare. Prescription drug prices. Long-term care costs. Social Security’s solvency. Rising healthcare expenses are a major concern for older people in the United States and are influencing their finances and political priorities. One 83-year-old retiree from Ohio planned carefully for retirement but has now withdrawn $4,000 to cover cancer treatment payments and is considering rationing her medications to help make ends meet. By Fatima Hussein.
UPCOMING: By 10/31/2026 10:00 a.m. EDT, Photo, Text
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NEW AND DEVELOPING
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INTERNATIONAL
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AF-MED--CONGO-EBOLA
Congo’s Ebola deaths top 5,000 as fear of continent-wide spread mounts
SUMMARY: Deaths in Congo’s Ebola outbreak have topped 5,000 as the disease spreads relentlessly. Data from the Congolese Ministry of Health shows the virus has killed 5,026 out of 10,351 infected, with a nearly 50% lethality rate. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, was declared in mid-May and has become the second deadliest in history. Experts are concerned about the authorities’ ability to contain the virus, which has spread to 67 health zones in eight provinces. The outbreak is concentrated in the eastern region of Congo, where conflict and disbelief among the population hinder containment efforts.
WORDS: 920 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 4:57 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cb7e79534ec9f3ab3c8f3bd03b3e1ad0&mediaType=text
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EU--EUROPE-PROTESTS
France heads into third weekend of protests as youth-led rallies sweep Europe
SUMMARY: France is bracing for a third weekend of protests over living costs and education, deploying 70,000 police and gendarmes. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warns of a “very high risk” of disorder, especially after dark on Halloween. Paris police have banned union and yellow vest marches through the city center, pushing them to the outer boulevards. Unions and student groups are challenging the ban in court. The movement began with high school students protesting school conditions and has broadened into anger over living costs. Protests are also spreading across Europe, with demonstrations planned in Germany, Spain, and other countries.
WORDS: 379 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 2:08 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:362a7cb69871ab21bd894290dad639f5&mediaType=text
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EU--RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR
Evacuated Oleshky residents begin the long journey out of the war-ravaged region
SUMMARY: Russian and Ukrainian officials say some residents have been evacuated from the war-ravaged city of Oleshky. The evacuations Friday came on the fourth day of the most significant truce since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began 4½ years ago. Ukrainian lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia says the evacuees are traveling by bus to the city of Anapa in southern Russia then will flying to Belarus and cross the border into northern Ukraine. Russia’s lead representative on the mission says residents who want to live in Russia have also been evacuated. The White House says the humanitarian mission and ceasefire were brokered following negotiations involving U.S. first lady Melania Trump.
WORDS: 636 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 2:00 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1eb633aee4d33b3845a72053d7f6346c&mediaType=text
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CN--CANADA EU SUMMIT
Carney eyes June deal for Canada to become EU associate member as Trump reshapes alliances
SUMMARY: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he expects to conclude negotiations with the European Union in June on an unprecedented partnership that would make Canada the bloc’s first “associate member.” That’s the case even though the designation was left out of a joint declaration launching a new economic and security alliance. Carney said he would attend a meeting of European leaders in June to conclude negotiations on the proposed relationship, which would stop short of full EU membership. “In parallel, we are working towards the deepest possible partnership, short of accession — with Canada becoming the European Union’s first Associate Member,” Carney said.
WORDS: 791 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 1:35 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d8543b3d496dd2b98d68b4ca13e7f2f8&mediaType=text
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EU--SPAIN-TRAIN-CRASH-PASSENGER TRUST
On board a Spanish high-speed train in the aftermath of the system’s latest catastrophe
SUMMARY: Spaniards have long favored high-speed trains for travel, but two deadly collisions in nine months have shaken confidence in the system. A recent crash in central Spain killed 69 people, prompting strikes and demands for improved rail safety. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acknowledges the need to restore trust in the railways. Spain’s high-speed network, second only to China in miles of track, has transformed travel, making it the most common mode for business and leisure. However, investment in high-speed rail has come at the expense of slower commuter services, leading to complaints about worsening conditions and delays.
WORDS: 769 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 1:06 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d61dcc082fa1034c6967f09ddaf41ba8&mediaType=text
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ML--ISRAEL-ZIONIST-ISLAMIST-POLITICIAN
This Jewish ex-cop will represent an Islamist party in Israel’s newly elected parliament
SUMMARY: Yoav Segalovitz, a Jewish ex-cop and Zionist, will soon join Israel’s parliament as a member of Ra’am, an Arab-led party. His decision to leave a centrist Jewish-led party for a conservative Arab-led one has sparked curiosity and criticism. Segalovitz and Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas aim to show that Jewish-Arab cooperation can build political coalitions across divides. Arab-led parties won 18 seats in the 120-seat Knesset and could play a decisive role in forming a majority if Jewish-led opposition parties invite them into a coalition.
WORDS: 1242 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 1:03 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d62c5c982880985c7c0f5c0a1f6543c3&mediaType=text
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UNITED STATES
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US--CALIFORNIA-SHOOTING
Shooting leaves 1 dead and 6 wounded at Solano Town Center in Fairfield, California police say
SUMMARY: A shooting at a mall in Fairfield, California, has left one person dead and six injured. Police say the incident happened on Friday night inside the Spirit Halloween store in Solano Town Center. Seven people were confirmed to have gunshot wounds, and one later died. The others have been taken to local hospitals, with at least three in critical condition. There is no further information on the victims’ identities or details of the shooting. Police say the location remains an active crime scene, and officers are talking to witnesses to identify the suspect.
WORDS: 127 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 3:36 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c531ed034832fa0558a246b18334f5bd&mediaType=text
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US--IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT-HOUSTON
An ICE officer is charged with assault for striking a man with a car in Houston
SUMMARY: A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer accused of intentionally ramming his car into a Mexican construction worker in Houston has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Harris County prosecutors say Mario Alberto Morales was driving an unmarked SUV when it struck 48-year-old Miguel Parra Hernandez. ICE claims Parra Hernandez ran in front of the car. Prosecutors say video contradicts that account. Morales’ attorney said Morales did not intentionally strike Parra Hernandez and accused the Democratic district attorney of indicting Morales for political reasons. The district attorney says Parra Hernandez broke his leg and remains in federal custody at a rehabilitation facility.
WORDS: 949 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 6:22 p.m. EDT
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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US--ALASKA-SENATE-INVESTIGATION
Justice Department seeks to isolate Alaska ballots as criminal probe underway over Senate candidate
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Justice is pushing for a court order to isolate certain Alaska ballots to investigate potential voter confusion, while federal officials confirmed the existence of a criminal probe over a Senate candidate who shares a name with the Republican incumbent. The dueling developments came days before Tuesday’s ranked choice general election, in a race headlined by two-term Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. The race is among a handful nationwide expected to determine control of the Senate. Peltola says she is not interested in “tricking voters.”
WORDS: 1161 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 12:29 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:88259e40d70a7e4f535e01a2b88489aa&mediaType=text
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US--ELECTION 2026-HOUSE-SOCIALISTS
Meet the ‘socialist’ progressive Democrats likely on their way to Congress
SUMMARY: There’s been a lot of talk this midterm election season about socialism. But only a handful of candidates running for Congress actually align with the far-left wing of the party or consider themselves part of the Democratic Socialists of America. Most of the hard-left candidates come from a few Democratic strongholds, are expected to win their elections on Nov. 3. The progressive newcomers bring a new energy to the Democratic party and also potential challenges ahead for leadership. They wouldn’t be the first in Congress, and the influence of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont all speak to shifting ideas in American politics.
WORDS: 1166 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 12:13 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d3f36bd7e9c2a54ed893cec4388faea5&mediaType=text
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US--ELECTION 2026
Trump and Clinton rally as early voting surges, Alaska probe widens, and Michigan Democrats feud
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump rallied with Republican supporters in Florida on Friday while former President Bill Clinton spoke to Democrats just two states over in Mississippi. Both of them beseeched voters to head to the polls for the midterm election that will determine which party controls Congress. As early voting surges, Trump reshuffled his weekend schedule to rally Republicans in two states with critical Senate races: Iowa and Kansas. He had canceled plans to return to the states, only to rebook the events for Sunday. The about-face underscores his party’s push to drive turnout before Election Day.
WORDS: 1066 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 10:30 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:31b7ebe427306d192115e9282eabce48&mediaType=text
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US--ELECTION-2026--THE LATEST
The Latest: Justice Department looks to separate Alaska ballots that rank Dan J. Sullivan
SUMMARY: The top federal prosecutor in Alaska is confirming the existence of a criminal investigation related to an alleged scheme to confuse voters by putting a Senate candidate on the ballot with the same name as the Republican incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan. The department also confirmed Friday in court documents that it is seeking to isolate ballots ranking Dan J. Sullivan to probe “confusion.” The move comes after revelations earlier this week from The New York Times that Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign appeared to be involved in recruiting Dan J. Sullivan. Peltola has denied that she knew anything about an effort to put the candidate on the Alaska ballot.
WORDS: 3126 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 9:07 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:735089be466c4d0e57ff40789c28bb94&mediaType=text
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US--TRUMP-DC LAWSUITS
Judge wants to know if Trump attorneys violated ethics in one of 2 cases to change the DC landscape
SUMMARY: A federal judge says she’ll open a “formal inquiry” to investigate if attorneys for the Trump administration violated ethics during a legal dispute about a golf-course project. It’s one in a pair of plans that are revealing the breadth of the president’s attempts to mold parts of the District of Columbia as he wishes. The two cases, unfolding at the same time in the same federal courthouse, are also showing the underlying executive authority claims that lie beneath them. In turn, it’s a glimpse into the uses of presidential power under Donald Trump. The cases involved are an impending shutdown and reconfiguration of a historic public golf course and the construction of a monumental arch.
WORDS: 1251 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 6:10 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:28a69f8fe56f848beb47fbaf4e413f5f&mediaType=text
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US--G20-FOREIGN MINISTERS
Consensus looks elusive at G20 talks after European objections to Russia cancel group photo
SUMMARY: Top diplomats from the Group of 20 largest world economies appeared far apart on critical global security issues as they began meeting in Atlanta. European objections to Russia’s participation forced the U.S. hosts to cancel a traditional group photo planned for Friday. That underscored deep rifts among the group over global crises that threaten international security and trade, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine. Still, Rubio opened the meeting saying he hoped it can be productive. Diplomats who attended the opening session described it as cordial but said Russia’s position on Ukraine remains unyielding.
WORDS: 1148 - MOVED: 10/30/2026 6:08 p.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ed4ab8ad9fedd628c39ac05bc5092cac&mediaType=text
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BUSINESS
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AS--CHINA-ECONOMY
China’s factory activity slips as new export orders weaken
SUMMARY: China’s factory activity contracted in October, reversing the previous month’s reboujnd. The National Bureau of Statistics reported Saturday that the official purchasing managers’ index fell to 49.3, down from 50.1 in September. A PMI below 50 indicates contraction. Key subindexes, like new export orders and production, also showed declines. Chinese companies have been exporting more due to weakened domestic demand, but this has led to complaints from trading partners about trade deficits. The European Union has been particularly vocal with demands to rebalance trade. Some economists have predicted China’s exports will remain strong for the rest of this year despite ongoing trade tensions.
WORDS: 427 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 12:13 a.m. EDT
https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f1e0e24004da425a1b3c8935b16a245c&mediaType=text
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US--BINANCE-SECURITY-INCIDENT
What to know about the $6.3B hack on Binance, likely the biggest-ever crypto theft
SUMMARY: Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, said Friday that hackers stole more than $6 billion in what appears to be the largest cryptocurrency heist on record. Blockchain firms have pointed to the attack coming from a North Korean hacking unit. The company said it has reserved more than $6.34 billion of company funds to cover the stolen assets and was beginning to recover assets for users. Binance worked with blockchain partners to freeze roughly $3 billion in affected assets. The cryptocurrency exchange has promised to cover all losses, and it has been sharing regular updates on its social media channels as it uncovers more information about the hack.
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https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:550e9b876550f71f07098494fe735beb&mediaType=text
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ENTERTAINMENT
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ENT--HOUDINI-100 YEARS
Houdini’s centennial spotlight: A newly published essay and a fresh fight over when and how he died
SUMMARY: Harry Houdini, a century after his death, continues to captivate. A rare essay by the escape artist has been published, shedding light on his early influences. A recent book revisits questions about the cause and date of his death. Houdini, born Erik Weisz, became an international celebrity known for his escape acts. His mysterious death on Halloween 1926 remains debated, with new theories challenging the official cause. Centennial events this weekend include a “Grand Houdini Centenarium” in Budapest, an auction in Hollywood, and seances in Chicago and Maryland. Despite the intrigue, experts say his legacy endures through his remarkable life.
WORDS: 1043 - MOVED: 10/31/2026 12:02 a.m. EDT
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