September 16, 2022

UKRAINE | Today is day 205 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukrainian authorities say mass graves containing hundreds of bodies have been found near the northeastern Ukraine city of Izium, which was liberated from Russian control last week. Local officials say most bodies recovered from the graves so far have been those of civilians. Representatives of the U.N.'s human rights office say the organization plans to send monitors already stationed in Ukraine to Izium to investigate the mass graves. [more]
• The U.S. has announced a new $600 million package of military arms aid to Ukraine, consisting of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, night vision goggles, claymore mines, mine clearing equipment, 105mm artillery rounds and 155mm precision guided artillery rounds, as well as funds for military education and training. [more]
• In a move aimed at increasing its energy security, Germany today placed Rosneft Deutschland, a unit of Russian oil company Rosneft, under the trusteeship of Germany's Federal Network Agency and took control of the company's Schwedt oil refinery, which supplies approximately 90% of Berlin's fuel. [more]

GLOBAL HUNGER | Speaking before the U.N. Security Council yesterday, David Beasley, executive director of the U.N. World Food Program, said that 345 million people face acute food insecurity in the 82 countries where the agency operates -- a level more than double that seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Beasley also noted that some 70 million people have been pushed closer to acute hunger status by the war in Ukraine. [more]

TRUMP INVESTIGATIONS | Raymond Dearie, a former federal prosecutor and chief judge for the Eastern District of New York, was appointed yesterday as the special master to review documents seized from the Florida home of former President Donald Trump last month. Dearie has reportedly been given a November 30 deadline for the completion of his review. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | After falling 0.4% in July, retail sales in the U.S. rose 0.3% in August, according to data released by the Commerce Department yesterday. [more]

U.S. MORTGAGES | Mortgage company Freddie Mac says the average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage in the U.S. rose to 6.02% this week -- up from 5.89% last week and the highest level since November 2008. [more]

ALASKA | The U.S. National Weather Service warned yesterday that the most powerful storm to hit Alaska in over a decade may cause major flooding and coastal erosion along the state's western coast this weekend. [more]

INDIA | Heavy rains in the northern India state of Uttar Pradesh caused multiple houses to collapse overnight, killing at least 12 people, according to state officials. [more]

ITALY | Reports say at least eight people died, and several remain missing, in flooding following heavy rains overnight in the central Italy region of Marche. [more]

KYRGYZSTAN AND TAJIKISTAN | At least three people have been killed and 27 injured in border clashes between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan over the past two days, according to local officials. [more]

AIR TRAVEL | A one-day strike over pay and staffing issues by air traffic controllers in France has forced the cancellation of hundreds of domestic and international flights today. Air France has reportedly cancelled 55% of its short- and medium-haul flights and 10% of its long-haul flights. [more]

SOUTH AFRICA | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House today. Reports say discussions are likely to center on the war in Ukraine, climate issues, and trade. [more]

TENNIS | Roger Federer announced his retirement from professional tennis yesterday. Federer, 41, finished five seasons ranked No. 1 in the world and won 20 Grand Slam titles. [more]

NFL | The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Chargers, 27-24, last night in what was the first NFL game to be exclusively available nationally via streaming on Amazon Prime. [more]

WNBA | Connecticut Sun's Alyssa Thomas had the first triple-double in WNBA Finals history last night, leading the Sun to a 105-76 win over the Las Vegas Aces, who lead the best-of-five series, 2-1. Thomas finished with 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1620, English colonists aboard the Mayflower set sail for America, where they founded Plymouth, Massachusetts, after 41 men, including William Bradford and Myles Standish, signed the Mayflower Compact. [more history]