November 3, 2022

UKRAINE | Today is day 252 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that Russia has not yet committed to continue participating in the U.N.-brokered deal allowing the export of grain from Ukrainian ports past the deal’s current expiration date of November 19. [more]
• The U.N. Security Council yesterday rejected a call by Russia to establish a commission to investigate Moscow’s allegations that the U.S. and Ukraine are carrying out biological weapons activities in Ukraine. Only Russia and China supported the resolution, while the U.S., Great Britain, and France voted “no,” and 10 other members of the Council abstained from voting. [more]
• Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has, once again, been disconnected from the electrical power grid following damage to high-voltage power lines, which both Russia and Ukraine blame on each other. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by three-quarters of a point for a fourth straight time yesterday to a range of 3.75% to 4% — the highest rate in 15 years. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell suggested that while further rate increases are expected, they could be smaller than those seen recently. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | Speaking at Washington D.C.’s Union Station yesterday, President Joe Biden warned of the dangers to democracy from inflamed rhetoric, political violence, and questioning of the integrity of elections. Responding to the speech, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy accused Biden of trying to “divide and deflect at a time when America needs to unite.” [more]

MEAT PROCESSING | The U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday announced more than $223 million in grants and loans to small- and medium-sized U.S. meat processors to help increase processing capacity and competition in the industry. [more]

PARKLAND SHOOTING | Nikolas Cruz, who pleaded guilty last year to the February 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in which 17 people were killed, was formally sentenced to life in prison without parole yesterday. [more]

CATALYTIC CONVERTERS | The U.S. Justice Department says 21 people were arrested in five states yesterday in connection with a combined federal, state, and local operation against a nationwide catalytic converter theft ring. [more]

NORTH KOREA | Safety alerts were issued in both South Korea and Japan today after North Korea fired three missiles, including a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile, from its capital region. Today’s launches come a day after the North fired more than 20 missiles into the sea yesterday. [more]

ETHIOPIA | Representatives of Ethiopia’s government and the country’s northern Tigray region signed a cessation of hostilities agreement yesterday, signaling a potential end to two years of conflict in which hundreds of thousands of people are thought to have died. [more]

CLIMATE | A new UNESCO report based on satellite data suggests that glaciers in one-third of 50 World Heritage glacierized sites will likely disappear by 2050 due to climate change. [more]

ISRAEL | Final results are expected as early as today in Israel’s national elections. Preliminary results indicate supporters of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to secure a majority of 65 seats in the country’s 120-seat parliament. [more]

INDIA | Environmentalists and parent groups called for schools to be closed today in the Indian capital of New Delhi as the city’s air quality index rose to “severe” or “hazardous” levels at most city monitoring stations, according to data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. [more]

BELIZE | Officials in Belize have warned of potential flooding and mudslides after Hurricane Lisa made landfall this morning along the Central American country’s coast. The storm has since weakened into a tropical storm and is expected to move into southeastern Mexico today. [more]

FISHING | A new report from the international non-profit Fish Safety Foundation concludes that, globally, more than 100,000 people die in fishing-related accidents each year, with the highest fatality rates seen in African and Pacific Islands fisheries. [more]

TURKEY | The Turkish Statistical Institute reports that consumer price inflation in Turkey rose to 85.51% in October, compared to the year-ago period — the highest rate in 24 years. [more]

BASEBALL | The 2022 World Series is tied at two games apiece following last night’s 5-0 Houston Astros' win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Houston’s bullpen pitched a combined no-hitter in last night’s game — only the second no-hitter in World Series history. [more]

NFL | Reports say Dan and Tanya Snyder, owners of the Washington Commanders football team, have hired bank advisors to explore a possible sale of the franchise. According to Forbes, the Commanders franchise is worth an estimated $5.6 billion. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1957, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 2, which carried the dog Laika, the first living creature to be shot into space and orbit Earth. [more history]