October 31, 2022

UKRAINE | Today is day 249 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Russian announced Saturday that, in response to a drone attack on its Black Sea fleet in Crimea, it would suspend participation in the U.N.-brokered deal allowing grain shipments from Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say, however, that 12 ships carrying grain departed from Ukrainian ports today.  [more]
• Reports say large areas of Kyiv are without electricity and water this morning following renewed Russian drone and missile strikes on infrastructure sites around the Ukrainian capital. [more]

POLITICAL VIOLENCE | Investigators say the man arrested after attacking Paul Pelosi, the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on Friday at the couple’s San Francisco home was specifically targeting Speaker Pelosi, even though she was not at the residence at the time of the attack. David DePape, 42, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, elder abuse, and burglary, and is expected to be arraigned on Tuesday. [more]

EDUCATION | The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to begin hearing arguments today in a challenge to admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina that consider race as a factor in evaluating applications for admission. [more]

TRUMP INVESTIGATIONS | Opening statements are scheduled to take place today in the New York tax fraud trial of former President Donald Trump’s company, the Trump Organization. Neither Trump nor any of his family members who have worked as Trump Organization executives are charged or accused of wrongdoing in the case. [more]

MALCOLM X MURDER | New York City and New York state have reportedly agreed to pay a combined $36 million to two men wrongfully convicted of killing activist Malcolm X in 1965. A New York State Supreme Court judge granted exonerations to Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam last year. [more]

AUSTRALIA | The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports today that the United States is preparing to permanently deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to northern Australia. In response to the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the planned deployment increases regional tensions and undermines regional peace and stability. [more]

SOUTH KOREA | More than 150 people died Saturday during Halloween festivities in Seoul’s Itaewon entertainment district when overcrowding in a narrow alley led to a crowd surge that resulted in the victims being crushed. Police estimate that about 100,000 people were taking place in the district’s Halloween celebrations. [more]

MORE SOUTH KOREA | Five days of joint U.S. and South Korean military air exercises begin today in South Korea. The “Vigilant Storm” exercises are the first such large-scale air drills in five years, according to reports. [more]

BRAZIL | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received 50.9% of the vote this weekend to win Brazil’s presidential election, defeating far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro. Da Silva previously served as the country’s president from 2003-2010. [more]

INDIA | Officials say at least 132 people died yesterday in the collapse of a pedestrian suspension bridge in the western India state of Gujarat. The bridge, which is more than 100 years old, was reopened just last week after being closed for nearly six months for repairs. [more]

PHILIPPINES | Government officials in the Philippines say the death toll from flooding and landslides brought on by Tropical Storm Nalgae has risen to at least 100, with more than half of the deaths having occurred in the country's Maguindanao province. [more]

ISRAEL | Voting begins tomorrow in Israel in a close race between Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and current Prime Minister Yair Lapid. Neither leading candidate’s political party is expected to win enough parliamentary seats to form a new government without the support of smaller political blocs. [more]

SPACE | China’s Manned Space Program launched the third and final module needed to complete the initial construction of its “Celestial Palace” space station today. [more]

CYBERSECURITY | More than 30 countries and numerous cybersecurity companies are taking part in the two-day International Counter Ransomware Summit, which begins today in Washington, DC. [more]

R.I.P. | Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis died Friday at the age of 87. Best known for his high-energy songs, such as “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” Lewis was inducted into both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Hall of Fame. [more]

BASEBALL | Game 3 of the 2022 World Series takes place in Philadelphia tonight. The best-of-seven Series is tied, 1-1, after the Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-2, in Game 2 on Saturday. [more]

NFL | The San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey became only the 11th player in NFL history with a rushing touchdown, a passing touchdown, and a receiving touchdown in a single game in yesterday’s 31-14 49ers’ win over the Los Angeles Rams. [more]

SOCCER | The Portland Thorns defeated the Kansas City Current, 2-0, on Saturday to claim the 2022 National Women's Soccer League championship. [more]

COLLEGE FOOTBALL | Georgia remains No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll following this weekend’s games, followed by Tennessee and Ohio State tied at No. 2, Michigan at No. 4, and Clemson at No. 5. [full Top 25] [more]

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE | "Black Adam" topped the North America box office over the weekend with an estimated $27.7 million in receipts, followed by "Ticket to Paradise," and "Prey for the Devil." [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1941, after nearly 15 years of work, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota was completed. The colossal sculpture features the heads of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. [more history]