A Pennsylvania prosecutor’s attempt to halt a $1 million daily voter lottery organized by Elon Musk has moved to federal court. The state judge agreed that Musk should have attended the hearing, however, refrained from issuing immediate sanctions. Musk’s attorney argued that claims of federal election interference are involved in the proceedings and the state case was put on hold. In response, Krasner, the prosecutor who filed the suit, has filed a petition to return the case to state court. Critics of the daily lottery suggested it violated federal law which prohibits paying others to vote.
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Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, has announced that all three Iranian consulates in the country will be closed in response to the execution of German-Iranian dual national Jamshid Sharmahd. Baerbock also revealed Germany will seek EU-wide sanctions against those involved in the execution, including the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. After the announcement, Tehran summoned the German envoy in protest.
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Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó is facing criticism for his planned participation in a security forum in Minsk, where he will engage with senior officials from Russia, Belarus and Syria. Observers are lambasting Hungary, a NATO member, for its growing relationship with Russia while the latter continues to wage war on Ukraine. French MEP Nathalie Loiseau criticised Hungary’s government, stating, “the Hungarian government never wastes an opportunity to shame us.”
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Rudy Giuliani’s Manhattan apartment was to be accessed by a moving company representative and lawyers on Thursday. This comes after Giuliani failed to surrender belongings to two former Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment against him, missing the Tuesday deadline. The election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, were meant to receive Giuliani’s prized possessions, which include his $5 million Upper East Side apartment and various other assets. The former New York City mayor’s law defense has argued that while his appeal of the defamation judgment is ongoing, Freeman and Moss should not be allowed to sell his possessions. A status report on any property exchanges has been demanded by U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman.
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South Korea’s UN ambassador, Joonkook Hwang, warned that North Korean soldiers sent to aid Russia in Ukraine will end up as “cannon fodder” and their pay will go directly to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Russia has reportedly been struggling to find enough manpower for its military, resorting to substantial signing bonuses and conscripting prisoners, and has turned to allies like North Korea and Iran for help. Hwang, speaking at a UN Security Council briefing, echoed comments made by the US and Ukraine about Russia’s tactics in the war. Reports suggest North Korea has sent thousands of troops to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine.
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Russian forces are experiencing significant losses in Ukraine as a result of poor training and leadership, according to an article by David Axe in The Daily Beast. In a single day in mid-October, nearly 1,700 Russian troops were killed or wounded and more than 100 vehicles lost during an attack by Ukrainian forces, he wrote. Despite these losses, and a general lack of manpower, the Russian military has reportedly concentrated its efforts on gaining as much territory in Ukraine as possible ahead of winter. It has increased payments to new recruits and is said to be relying on reinforcements from North Korea. Meanwhile, Ukraine is reported to be having significant manpower issues of its own.
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A political group supported by billionaire Elon Musk is using a Facebook account tagged “Progress 2028” to disseminate misleading advertisements suggesting that Kamala Harris endorses certain policies that she in fact does not. These include wanting to implement mandatory gun buybacks, bestowing Medicare benefits and driving licenses to illegal immigrants, and banning fracking. The ads are sponsored by Building America’s Future, a secret fundraisers funded by Musk and others, and tied to over $100 million Musk has spent backing the re-election bid of Donald Trump. As these advertisements are not technically in breach of Meta’s advertising policies and are protected by the American First Amendment, they cannot be removed, even though they have the potential to mislead voters. The advertisements have been viewed by millions in swing states so far.
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Eight out of 11 justices on Mexico’s Supreme Court have resigned in response to a constitutional reform requiring judges to be elected by popular vote. The judges will formally step down in August and November 2025, but their departures have already deepened tensions between the Supreme Court and the government, potentially leading to a constitutional crisis. While three Supreme Court justices publicly support the reform, the resigning justices are careful to clarify their resignation does not signify agreement with the controversial changes.
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Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James has publicly endorsed Kamala Harris for president. Posting on social media, he said considering the future of his children, his choice was clear. He joins fellow NBA player Stephen Curry in backing Harris. James has often been vocal about social issues and believes Harris is right to lead the country. James is currently in his 22nd NBA season and continues to be a strong player despite nearing 40 years old.
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Vice President Kamala Harris is polling significantly higher than Donald Trump among women, according to an ABC News/Ipsos national poll. Harris has a 14% lead over Trump overall with women, which increases to 23% for women with a college degree and 34% for women under the age of 40. The Brookings Institution credits Harris’ popularity with older voters to the 2022 Dobbs Supreme Court decision, which restricted abortion rights. Prominent pro-Trump figures have voiced concern over these poll numbers, especially as early voting data indicates a majority of female voters. In Pennsylvania, for example, 56% of mail-in ballots have come from women so far.
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John Q. Hosedrinker