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Today's edition explores a record-breaking cryptocurrency theft, an unexpected change in Trump's campaign schedule, and rising Halloween candy prices. We're also following new developments in the economy, questions about AI's influence on election information, and surprising discoveries in science and technology. From major financial headlines to the everyday costs affecting American families, there's plenty worth exploring.

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The US economy grew at a 3.4% annual pace from July through September on strong consumer spending and investment in artificial intelligence. That beat the 3% growth economists had expected and the 2.2% pace of the second quarter. Business investment outside housing rose 12.7% while housing investment fell 3.3%.

Inflation also rose as the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index climbed to 3.6% from a year earlier in September on higher gas prices. Consumer spending was flat that month after adjusting for inflation. The report is the last major snapshot of the economy before Tuesday's midterm elections.

Binance said about $6.3 billion in digital assets was affected in what security firms call the largest cryptocurrency theft on record. The world's largest crypto exchange said roughly $3 billion has been frozen, and it will cover all losses. Its early review suggests a compromised engineer's laptop may have been involved.

Two blockchain intelligence firms linked the attack to a North Korean hacking unit called TraderTraitor. One said most of the money moved across 10 blockchains in about 20 minutes. The theft would eclipse a $1.5 billion hack of the Bybit exchange last year that the FBI blamed on North Korea.

A network of 37 websites set up on the same day in September is promoting mostly Democratic candidates. Ten of them pose as local news outlets, and each promotes one Democrat in a competitive House race. An investigation found ChatGPT cited the network in about half of its answers to 37 test questions about those races.

It is unclear who runs the sites, and the House Democrats' campaign arm denied involvement. Gemini and Google search did not cite the sites in the same tests. OpenAI says it acts to improve responses when issues are brought to its attention, while Google says it took swift action after detecting a policy violation.

China's Communist Party expelled a record 33 members as Xi Jinping put party discipline at the center of a gathering with the most empty seats ever seen.

The US and Japan plan joint missile production at a Japanese facility for advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles as the allies voice alarm over China's growing assertiveness.

Saudi Arabia said it destroyed a Houthi drone in the region around Mecca, though the Houthis denied targeting Islam's holiest city and said they target oil facilities and bases.

Two helicopters collided midair near Oregon's McMinnville airport, killing a flight instructor and student aboard one and the sole occupant of the other, with federal investigators now on scene.

Milwaukee Public Schools canceled Friday classes as thousands of fans are expected downtown for a Brewers victory parade celebrating the franchise's first World Series title.

Trump canceled weekend rallies in Kansas and Iowa for a 72-hour sprint of telerallies in nearly 20 states and said "I feel perfect" when asked about his health.

Intel shares cratered 25% in premarket trading after September quarter results disappointed investors, helping drag Nasdaq futures down 2% alongside a 7% slide in Amazon after its own miss.

Marvell is reportedly in talks to buy Lumentum in a deal that could come as soon as next week and expand its reach into technology linking AI infrastructure.

Microsoft plans to raise $25 billion in a new bond sale, leaning on its top-tier AAA credit rating as it targets $170 billion in capital spending this year.o

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Nearly two-thirds of tweens and teens use AI chatbots in two new surveys that also found certain uses were linked with worse mental health symptoms.

Official counts may miss roughly half the PFAS in US drinking water because low test results are often treated as zero in a study of 1.86 million test records.

October nights have warmed across the US, with nighttime temperatures rising in 93% of 246 cities since 1970 and Reno warming the most at 11.9 degrees.

Jordan Love threw three touchdown passes as Green Bay held off Carolina 27-19 on Thursday night despite three turnovers and a late Panthers comeback attempt.

Cameron Boozer posted his first career triple-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists as Memphis beat Portland 124-103 to improve to 5-0.

Pittsburgh native Logan Cooley completed a hat trick with one second left in regulation before Mikhail Sergachev won it in overtime as Utah stunned the Penguins 4-3.

Pyotr Kochetkov improved to 9-0-0 with 24 saves and set a Carolina franchise record for the longest season-opening winning streak in a 3-2 win over Columbus.

Aerosmith returned to the stage after years away with six songs to close a Hollywood Bowl show that also featured Guns N' Roses, Heart, and Sammy Hagar.

Godzilla Minus Zero is drawing strong early reactions from press screenings ahead of its North American release on November 6 as the sequel to the Oscar-winning Godzilla Minus One.

Sony acquired film rights to the game Mouthwashing with Karyn Kusama attached to direct the indie horror story about a stranded spaceship crew losing its grip on reality.

What it is: Federal data shows prices for candy and gum have risen 7.7% in a year and more than 18% over two years. That outpaces average food inflation over the same period. Candy is the most popular Halloween purchase. Shoppers are still expected to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween in a retail trade group's estimate.

The detail: Drought and heavy rains in places like West Africa hurt recent cocoa harvests and pushed prices up worldwide. Global cocoa production is now rebounding, and cocoa prices have fallen from their recent highs. But the chocolate on shelves now was made with cocoa bought in 2025 when prices were high.

Why it matters: A food industry analyst calls consumer chocolate prices sticky because production lags keep them from falling as quickly as cocoa does. Manufacturers also face higher costs for sugar and for fuel as the war with Iran lifts energy prices. Tariffs add more pressure. One New Hampshire chocolate maker says a 50% tariff on some Canadian packaging and ingredients forced her to look for other suppliers.

What to watch: Candy makers are leaning into gummy and sour candy and into products that skip pricier chocolate. Examples include a marshmallow-flavored KitKat and Reese's White Ghosts coated in white creme. Market research data shows chocolate candy sales have kept rising for years even as shoppers buy less of it. That means people are paying more and getting less. Halloween spending per person is expected to reach a record $115 this year.

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An unknown bald eagle keeps visiting a famous nest in California's Big Bear Valley where a camera caught it preening in the home of the late eagle Jackie.

Connecticut volunteers are gluing eelgrass seeds to clams so the burrowing shellfish plant them in the seafloor to help restore underwater meadows in Long Island Sound.

Nelly says Taylor Swift once paid him $50,000 to join her Houston show for Hot in Herre, with her manager tossing him a McDonald's bag full of cash afterward.

John Adams is born in Braintree, Massachusetts (1735) · Martha Graham's Appalachian Spring premieres in Washington (1944) · Gen. George C. Marshall is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1953) · The Soviet Union tests the Tsar Bomba hydrogen bomb (1961) · Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle (1974)

"Facts are stubborn things." — John Adams, defending British soldiers after the Boston Massacre (1770)

That's all for today. Thanks for reading and staying curious. Share Five Minute Daily with a friend, and we'll be back tomorrow with more stories worth knowing.

—The Five Minute Daily Team