October 2, 2023

UKRAINE | Today is day 585 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that Saturday’s passage by the U.S. Congress of a temporary spending measure that omitted additional aid for Ukraine is likely only a temporary setback for Kyiv, but that it could also be an indicator of waning support for Ukraine by the U.S. and other countries. Peskov also suggested that the Kremlin has long predicted that such "fatigue" in supporting Kyiv would come as the war became more prolonged. [more]
• Foreign ministers from the European Union’s 27 member countries met in Kyiv today – their first-ever joint meeting outside the E.U. – in a show of ongoing support for Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion. [more]

NOBEL PRIZES | Hungarian biochemist Katalin Kariko and U.S. physician Drew Weissman were named recipients of the 2023 Nobel Prize for Medicine today for their early 2000s joint development of so-called nucleoside base modifications that prevent immune system attacks against lab-made mRNA – an advance that contributed significantly to the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. [more]

TRUMP NEW YORK FRAUD TRIAL | Former U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to be in the courtroom today for the beginning of the New York State fraud trial against him. The judge in the case issued a summary judgement last week, saying Trump and others repeatedly defrauded banks, insurers, and others through the use of falsified financial statements, and will consider punishments, as well as allegations of conspiracy, falsifying business records, and insurance fraud in the trial that begins today. [more]

U.S. POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT FUNDING | Following a deal in the House and Senate on Saturday that saw the passage of a temporary spending bill to fund federal government operations through November 17 and prevent a partial government shutdown, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz announced plans to lead an effort to remove Kevin McCarthy from his House Speaker position because McCarthy worked with Democrats to pass the funding measure. Responding to critics on Saturday, McCarthy said, “If somebody wants to remove me because I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try.” [more]

CONNECTICUT | A wide-ranging state gun control measure signed into law in June went into effect in Connecticut yesterday amidst legal challenges to it and other state gun control laws. The new law bans the open carrying of firearms, prohibits the sale of more than three handguns within 30 days to any one person, increases penalties for firearms offenses, expands the state’s current assault weapons ban, broadens safe-storage rules to include more settings, and adds some domestic violence crimes to the list of disqualifications for possessing a firearm. [more]

CALIFORNIA | Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday selected Democratic strategist Laphonza Butler to fill California’s U.S. Senate seat left vacant following the death of Senator Diane Feinstein on Friday. [more]

U.S. SUPREME COURT | The Supreme Court begins its new nine-month term today with a hearing involving the sentencing of a non-violent drug offender. The Court has already agreed to hear 34 cases during the term, including ones dealing with gun rights, federal agency powers, social media regulation, electoral district maps, and availability of the abortion pill mifepristone. [more]

TURKEY AND IRAQ | The Turkish military carried out a series of airstrikes against Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, militant group targets in northern Iraq yesterday following a suicide bomb attack earlier in the day in the Turkish capital of Ankara for which the PKK claimed responsibility. [more]

SOUTH CHINA SEA | Military forces from the Philippines, the U.K., Canada, Japan, and the United States begin two weeks of joint exercises today on the Philippine island of Luzon. The “Sama Sama” drills are expected to include naval, anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and search and rescue exercises. [more]

INDONESIA | Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway underwent final testing today with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on board. The train, which will cut travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from the current three hours to about 40 minutes, and which travels at speeds up 217 mph (350 kph), was funded largely by Chinese business and government investment. [more]

EGYPT | The Egyptian Health Ministry reports that at least 38 people were injured today when a fire broke out at a police headquarters in the country’s northeastern Ismailia province. The cause of the fire is under investigation. [more]

MEXICO | Officials in the Mexican Gulf coast city of Ciudad Madero say at least nine people were killed, and another 50 were injured, yesterday when the roof of the city’s Santa Cruz Church collapsed during a Mass. [more]

GOLF | The European team defeated the U.S. team over the weekend in the biennial Ryder Cup tournament – the American team’s seventh straight loss in Europe for the tournament series, which alternates between courses in the U.S. and Europe. [more]

NFL | Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw his 200th career touchdown pass in last night's win over the New York Jets, breaking Dan Marino's record for the fewest games needed to reach that milestone. Marino reached 200 touchdown passes in 89 games, while Mahomes needed only 84 games. [more]

TUPAC SHAKUR | Police in Las Vegas arrested Duane Davis on suspicion of murder Friday in connection with the September 1996 killing of hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1836, naturalist Charles Darwin returned to England after a five-year journey on the HMS Beagle, during which he gathered the specimens and observations that led to his theory of evolution by natural selection. [more history]