October 28, 2026 in review

Day in review: Spain train crash, Israel’s uncertain majority, Britain’s energy and tax plans

1. Netanyahu leads Israel count but still falls short of a majority

   What happened

   Partial counts after Israel’s October 27 election put Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc ahead, but short of a majority. Exit-poll projections varied, and Arab parties were projected to make record gains.

   What changed today

   • Exit polls ranged from a narrow opposition lead to a tie; partial counts put Netanyahu’s bloc ahead.
   • Reported seat totals shifted across count snapshots.
   • Netanyahu ruled out a government supported by Arab parties.

   What is confirmed

   • Confirmed Israel held a parliamentary election on 27 October 2026.
   • Corrected Initial exit polls showed a narrow lead for the opposition bloc or a tie between the blocs, depending on the broadcaster.
   • Corrected One KAN exit-poll report projected 11 seats for the Joint List and seven for Ra'am, for a combined 18.

   Unknown or disputed

   • What will the final official seat count show?
   • Can either bloc secure the backing of at least 61 lawmakers, and which parties will support a government?
   • Whom will President Isaac Herzog ask to try to form a government?

2. Istanbul floodwater closes highway stretch and traps traffic on the Asian side

   What happened

   Heavy rain flooded parts of Istanbul, with the Asian side worst affected. Floodwater closed a stretch of the D-100 highway and pushed reported citywide traffic congestion to 80 percent.

   What changed today

   • Flooding affected roads and underpasses in Tuzla and Pendik, and also reached Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
   • The D-100 stretch from Tuzla toward Pendik was closed, with traffic diverted via Aydınlı Street.
   • Reported congestion reached 89 percent on the Asian side and 71 percent on the European side.

   What is confirmed

   • Confirmed Heavy rain flooded parts of Istanbul on 27 October, causing serious traffic disruption; the Asian side was worst affected.
   • Confirmed Rain began overnight and intensified in the morning.
   • Confirmed Floodwater covered roads and underpasses in Tuzla and Pendik, leaving vehicles stranded and disrupting people's journeys to work and school.
   • Confirmed A section of the D-100 from Tuzla toward Pendik, including its main and local carriageways, was closed because of flooding; traffic was diverted via Aydınlı Street.
   • Confirmed Istanbul's overall traffic congestion reached 80%, with 89% on the Asian side and 71% on the European side.

   Unknown or disputed

   • Were anyone injured or killed, and were airport flights or passenger services affected?
   • How long did the highway closure last, and when were the airport tunnels cleared?

3. Erin Patterson appeal verdict due as prosecutors seek life without parole

   What happened

   Erin Patterson is awaiting a Court of Appeal decision on her challenge to three murder convictions and one attempted-murder conviction. Prosecutors are also seeking a harsher sentence.

   What changed today

   • Her lawyers argued that jury-sequestration irregularities, trial-judge errors and prosecution cross-examination affected the trial.
   • Her lawyers called jurors staying in the same hotel as police and prosecutors a “catastrophic” failure of the justice system.

   What is confirmed

   • Confirmed Patterson was found guilty in 2025 of murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson.
   • Confirmed She was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 33-year non-parole period.
   • Statement by Patterson’s lawyers Her appeal argued that jury-sequestration irregularities, errors by the trial judge and unfair prosecution cross-examination affected the trial.
   • Statement by Patterson’s lawyers Her lawyers argued that jurors staying in the same hotel as police and prosecutors during deliberations was a “catastrophic” failure of the justice system.
   • Statement by Erin Patterson Patterson has consistently maintained her innocence and testified that she did not intend to poison her lunch guests.

   Unknown or disputed

   • Will the court overturn any of Patterson’s convictions?
   • Will the Crown’s sentence appeal succeed, and what sentence would follow?
   • What reasons will the court give for its decisions?

4. Jio Platforms debut at 21.36% premium reshuffles India’s top companies

   What happened

   Jio Platforms listed at ₹1,358, which Univest said was a 21.36% premium to its issue price. Univest placed the company second by market value in India and said the listing pushed Tata Consultancy Services out of the top five.

   What changed today

   • An Upstox snapshot showed Jio Platforms at ₹1,360.10, with an opening price of ₹1,358.
   • Univest estimated Reliance Industries’ value at about ₹15.93 lakh crore and TCS’s at about ₹8.80 lakh crore.

   Unknown or disputed

   • What was the exact issue price, and what was Jio Platforms’ closing price on listing day?
   • What do the reports establish about Jio Platforms’ longer-term prospects?

5. Healey doubles bank surcharge to 6% in UK budget

   What happened

   Chancellor John Healey presented the UK Budget to Parliament, doubling the bank surcharge to 6% and directing the money toward energy-bill support. The package also changes taxes and includes measures affecting household bills.

   What changed today

   • Healey said gas standing charges would be scrapped for about 23 million homes from 2027 or as soon as possible after.
   • He said the energy-bill VAT cut would continue through the winter and spring to July, reducing the annual price cap by £50.
   • Reports differed on whether the £100 winter payment covers about 23 million homes or 20 million households.

   What is confirmed

   • Confirmed Chancellor John Healey presented the UK government’s annual Budget to Parliament on 28 October 2026.
   • Statement by John Healey Healey said GDP was forecast to grow by 1.2% in 2026, up from the previous 1.1% forecast, and by 1.0% in 2027, below Labour’s earlier 1.6% forecast.
   • Statement by John Healey Healey announced that gas standing charges would be scrapped for about 23 million homes from 2027 or as soon as possible after.
   • Statement by John Healey Healey said the energy-bill VAT cut would be extended through the winter and spring to July, taking £50 off the annual price cap.

   Unknown or disputed

   • Does the £100 winter payment cover about 23 million homes or 20 million households?
   • What are the full implementation details and exact start dates for the energy measures?
   • What specific changes will be made to the state-pension triple lock?

6. At least 64 dead in Spain's Toledo train crash as minister cites error

   What happened

   Two high-speed trains operated by Renfe and Iryo collided near Urda in Spain’s Toledo province. Reports gave conflicting death tolls, while Transport Minister Óscar Puente said an erroneous order may have contributed.

   What changed today

   • HCH.tv initially reported at least 30 deaths; other reports gave figures of about 64, at least 64 or at least 68.
   • García-Page said the toll was approximately 64 and could rise.
   • The cause of the collision and any role for an incorrect instruction or safety-system failure remain unknown.

   What is confirmed

   • Confirmed Renfe and Iryo high-speed trains collided near Urda in Toledo province on October 28.

   Unknown or disputed

   • What is the final death toll, and how many people were injured?
   • What caused the collision, and did an incorrect instruction or safety-system failure contribute?
   • Who, if anyone, will be held legally responsible?

7. Apple updates iMac and MacBook Pro with M6 chips and new prices

   What happened

   Apple announced a 24-inch iMac and a 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chips. The company cited performance gains, while preorders were set to open on October 28 and shipping was due on November 6.

   What changed today

   • The iMac replaces an M4 model, while the MacBook Pro moves from M5 to M6.
   • Apple cited faster graphics and artificial-intelligence processing for both devices.

   What is confirmed

   • Confirmed On October 28, Apple announced a 24-inch iMac with an M6 chip and a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip.
   • Confirmed The M6 iMac replaces an M4 model; Apple skipped a processor generation for the desktop.
   • Confirmed The 14-inch MacBook Pro moves from the previous generation's M5 chip to M6.
   • Statement by Apple Apple says the M6 iMac is up to 1.5 times faster in productivity, twice as fast in graphics, five times faster in AI prompt processing and twice as fast in gaming with ray tracing, compared with the M4 model.
   • Statement by Apple Apple says the M6 MacBook Pro has 12-core CPU and GPU, each with two more cores than the M5, and delivers up to 30% faster graphics and 25% faster on-device AI processing than the M5.

   Unknown or disputed

   • How will the performance figures compare with independent testing?
   • When will the products be available in local markets not specified in the reports?

8. Putin invites Zelensky to Moscow for direct talks, says security will be guaranteed

   What happened

   Yuri Ushakov said Vladimir Putin invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Moscow for direct talks and promised security. Ushakov said the phone call also focused on resuming trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi.

   What changed today

   • Ushakov said Norway’s prime minister and Finland’s president told Putin that Zelenskyy was interested in direct talks.
   • No date or agreement for a Moscow meeting was reported.

   What is confirmed

   • Statement by Yuri Ushakov Ushakov said Putin spoke by phone on Tuesday with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
   • Statement by Yuri Ushakov Ushakov said Store and Stubb told Putin that Zelenskyy was interested in direct talks with the Russian leader.
   • Statement by Yuri Ushakov Ushakov said Putin reiterated that Zelenskyy could come to Moscow for direct talks and would be provided with all necessary conditions, including for his security.
   • Statement by Yuri Ushakov Ushakov said the phone call focused mainly on an arrangement to resume trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi.

   Unknown or disputed

   • Will Zelenskyy accept the invitation or respond to it?
   • Will direct talks in Moscow take place, and if so, when and on what terms?