Daily Brief · Monday, October 26, 2026

Daily Brief: Monday, Oct. 26, 2026

Brazil's electoral court says Lula won a fourth term with 51.79% as Flavio Bolsonaro refuses to concede, Serbia's president concedes a snap election to a student-backed list, Brazilian markets tumble at the open, a federal appeals court questions the Justice Department's bid to set aside 20,000 California ballots, a woman is hurt in a rare black bear attack in Snohomish County, southwest Colorado turns to flood recovery, and the Broncos beat the Cardinals 30-16.

World

Brazil's electoral court says Lula won a fourth term; Flavio Bolsonaro refuses to concede

With all votes counted, Brazil's electoral court reported President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won Sunday's runoff with 51.79% to 48.21% for Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, a margin of about 4.4 million votes, according to O Globo and the AP. The BBC reported Bolsonaro called the result impossible to recognize after a Supreme Court justice extended voting by two hours, and said his lawyers would seek to annul it; g1 reported electoral court judges privately expect such a request to fail.

Source: AP (opens in new tab)

Serbia's President Vucic concedes as election commission puts the Student List ahead

Serbia's election commission said the Student List won 52.54% of Sunday's snap parliamentary vote to 39.29% for President Aleksandar Vucic's list, state agency Tanjug reported. The BBC quoted Vucic saying, "It is clear we have lost these elections," and Reuters reported the list is projected to hold 139 of 250 seats but has not named who would lead a government.

Source: Tanjug (opens in new tab)

Zelensky says Ukraine, U.S. and Russia talks will take place in November

Euronews and the Kyiv Independent reported Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that trilateral talks with U.S. and Russian negotiators will begin in November; the Kremlin has said the first half of the month in Abu Dhabi, Al Jazeera reported. Ukrainska Pravda, citing unnamed sources, reported Kyiv and Washington are pressing for an earlier date than Russia proposed.

Source: Euronews (opens in new tab)

U.S.

Appeals court judges question Justice Department bid to set aside 20,000 California mail ballots

The AP and Fox News reported a 9th Circuit panel heard the Justice Department's emergency request to force California to set aside more than 20,000 mail ballots it flags as likely cast by noncitizens, with two judges questioning the court's jurisdiction and the reliability of the department's list. The hearing ended without a ruling; a district court hearing is set for Tuesday.

Source: AP (opens in new tab)

Attorney General Blanche defends lawsuit over certification of Alaska's Senate race

Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday the Justice Department's lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska's Senate results if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses is meant to preserve ballots and evidence about possible voter confusion, not to overturn the result, the AP and CBS News reported. Democrats, including Mary Peltola's campaign, have asked a judge to dismiss the suit, CNBC reported.

Source: AP (opens in new tab)

Most evacuations lifted after fire at a Newport, Oregon, seafood plant

A fire at Pacific Seafood in Newport on Sunday prompted evacuations within about a mile over fears of an ammonia leak, the AP reported. OPB and NBC News reported officials later found the ammonia tanks intact, shrank the evacuation zone and reported no injuries, though smoke remained a concern.

Source: OPB (opens in new tab)

Money & Tech

U.S. stock futures edge higher ahead of a Fed decision and big tech earnings

Reuters and the AP reported U.S. stock futures rose Monday as oil eased from a near six-month high. About a third of S&P 500 companies report this week, including Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon, and the Federal Reserve announces a rate decision Wednesday, with traders widely expecting a pause after its September hike, according to LSEG data cited by Reuters.

Source: Reuters (via Investing.com) (opens in new tab)

Brazilian markets fall sharply after Lula's win, triggering a trading halt

Investing.com reported Brazil's real weakened about 12% against the dollar Monday after Lula's reelection, and Reuters reported the iShares Brazil ETF fell 27.3% in U.S. premarket trading. Folha de S.Paulo and Exame reported the B3 exchange triggered a circuit breaker after the Ibovespa fell 10%, its first since 2020.

Source: Folha de S.Paulo (opens in new tab)

Washington State

Woman hospitalized after a black bear attack near Index in Snohomish County

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said a woman walking her leashed dog in her backyard near Index was knocked down, bitten and clawed by a black bear Sunday morning and was hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. KOMO News reported officers searched with hounds and set a trap, and Sultan police urged residents to stay indoors if they see the bear or a cub.

Source: WDFW (opens in new tab)

Initiative 638 on girls' school sports draws national attention ahead of Nov. 3

The Seattle Times reported Washington voters are deciding Initiative 638, which would bar transgender girls from girls' K-12 school sports, in next week's election. The legislative summary says the measure would require a health care provider to verify a student's biological sex for girls' interscholastic sports; supporters and opponents both describe it as nationally significant.

Source: The Seattle Times (opens in new tab)

Colorado

Southwest Colorado shifts to flood recovery as some highways stay closed

9News reported Pagosa Springs officials said cleanup is underway but damage is greater than last year's flooding, and the governor's office said damage assessments to seek federal aid should begin this week. CDOT said Wolf Creek Pass remains closed with at least three damaged spots, a section of Colo. 151 was washed away, and U.S. 160 west to Durango is open to alternating one-lane traffic.

Source: 9News (opens in new tab)

More flooding hits the Four Corners region after storms and a Santa Fe tornado

The AP reported renewed flooding across the Four Corners after days of heavy rain, with a tornado damaging homes in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Saturday night and Archuleta County still assessing flood damage. KUER reported Utah communities along the San Juan River, including Bluff and Montezuma Creek, received evacuation warnings.

Source: AP (opens in new tab)

Broncos

Broncos beat Cardinals 30-16 behind Bo Nix's 62-yard touchdown run

The AP reported quarterback Bo Nix ran 62 yards for the longest touchdown of his career and RJ Harvey turned a screen pass into a 52-yard score as Denver won 30-16 in Glendale, Arizona, improving to 5-2. The Broncos' team site quoted players calling it one of their most complete games and noted it was Denver's first multi-score win of the season.

Source: AP (opens in new tab)

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