To win effusive praise from special envoy Steve Witkoff and announce a resumption in negotiations, Russian President Vladimir Putin had to do very little: release detainee Stephen Hubbard, and then overcome an obstacle of Russia’s own making. wapo.st/4iyT3Et

Mark Zuckerberg wanted to lock in his power over Meta even if he sold off stock, but directors at the company said no, according to a Meta filing. The episode was triggered by the immense spending required for the company to compete in artificial intelligence. wapo.st/48c06go

A groundbreaking vaccine reduced the risk of death or recurrence of melanoma by almost half, an encouraging signal for a treatment seeking approval that has boosted the fortunes of drugmakers Moderna and Merck and could usher in a new wave of cancer treatments. wapo.st/3TX2KU2

The Trump administration said construction on the president's planned triumphal arch could begin immediately after the National Capital Planning Commission meets next month. wapo.st/4BmVdP5

President Trump seeks to bolster support for Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections at a rally Thursday night in Iowa, where high fuel and fertilizer prices have placed new pressures on traditionally Republican voters. wapo.st/3WGQ7gx

A subtropical storm formed yesterday off the Mid-Atlantic coast. But instead of bringing unsettled weather, it helped produce cloud-free skies. This tranquil pattern could last through the end of the month for cities such as New York and Boston. wapo.st/47A8UN2

If Democrats retake the House in November, Hakeem Jeffries is all but certain to become speaker in January — the first Black American to hold the post. The success of a Jeffries speakership would depend on how he manages what could be a fragile majority. wapo.st/4jGDlsd

A small town in Arizona was hit by a powerful tornado on Wednesday night, in what may be Arizona’s strongest tornado since 2011. The twister came amid a widely predicted severe weather outbreak. wapo.st/4zaCogI

The Justice Department has indicted Virginia state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, one of Virginia’s most powerful Democrats, as part of a long-running investigation involving a family-run marijuana business. Here's the text from the unsealed indictment: wapo.st/48a0yfa

The story of Abraham Lincoln’s sorrow at a family tomb inspired George Saunders’s 2017 Booker Prize-winning experimental novel “Lincoln in the Bardo,” and now an opera of the same name by composer Missy Mazzoli premiered at the Metropolitan Opera. wapo.st/4kb9JTJ

ATI Government Solutions filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging it that it lost a crucial agency designation after James O’Keefe’s hidden-camera ploy. The video, which ATI claims was manipulated, led to $130 million in canceled contracts. wapo.st/48a0AUk

Major exhibits for America's 250th anniversary have already concluded or are preparing to close before the end of the year. But the party’s not quite over yet. See where celebrations of American art and culture are continuing in D.C.: wapo.st/4zMZvO6

Quest Diagnostics, one of America’s largest lab diagnostic companies, disclosed in a filing to shareholders that it learned of unauthorized access to a system used by doctors and other health care professionals to order tests and view lab results. wapo.st/4snSwJ1

The DOJ is reviewing accusations that Corey Lewandowski, who was a top aide to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem, might have illegally profited from his unusual role in the department, according to people familiar with the matter. wapo.st/4BqMiMI

Jasmine Kurkowski made the ultimate dream come true for her 95-year-old grandfather: a bucket list trip to Hawaii. “I felt joyful and happy to be able to not only get to go to Hawaii myself, but be able to take my grandpa,” she said.

Four white rhinos have been relocated to Guadalajara, Mexico, as part of conservation efforts led by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. They will remain in quarantine before being exhibited to the public.

If you want to have a slightly elevated spooky season, you can enjoy Halloween activities at these museums, embassies or historic sites in the D.C.-area. wapo.st/4ykTwio

The Atlanta Falcons updated their social media profile picture with an image of their original logo against vertical red, white, black and gold stripes. It did not take long for users to notice what they considered a resemblance to Nazi-era iconography. wapo.st/4i1LR3K

Due to last year’s Republican-led budget reconciliation bill, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is undergoing the deepest funding cuts in the program’s history and tighter eligibility rules. wapo.st/47vnWnd

Under a new Airbnb rule, guests will no longer have to complete a laundry list of housekeeping tasks during checkout. The policy prohibits hosts from assigning guests burdensome chores, such as stripping beds, tossing trash off-property or washing dishes. wapo.st/4dSzZhU