October 3, 2023

UKRAINE | Today is day 586 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• During a visit to Kyiv yesterday, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell dismissed concerns about E.U. bloc tensions over its continuing support for Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion, saying the E.U. is committed to “sustained engagement” and that it “remains united in its support to Ukraine.” [more]
• Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said today that more than 335,000 people have signed up this year to join Russia's armed forces or voluntary units, making an additional national mobilization unnecessary. [more]

NOBEL PRIZES | Scientists Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier were named recipients of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics today for their work on the movement and measurement of electrons. In its announcement, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the scientists “have given humanity new tools for exploring the world of electrons inside atoms and molecules” and “have demonstrated a way to create extremely short pulses of light that can be used to measure the rapid processes in which electrons move or change energy.” [more]

U.S. POLITICS | Following the deal to pass a temporary funding measure and prevent a partial shutdown of the federal government, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz filed a motion yesterday to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. The privileged motion requires a vote within two legislative days, and it is unclear at this point if Gaetz has the support to achieve the 218 votes needed to remove McCarthy from his post. [more]

HUNTER BIDEN | U.S. President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, is expected to plead not guilty to federal firearms charges today in a Delaware courtroom. The younger Biden has been charged with possession of a firearm while being a user of illegal drugs. [more]

U.S. AND MEXICO MIGRATION | Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said yesterday that about 10,000 migrants are heading to the U.S. border in his country per day and that approximately 6,000 per day have crossed into Mexico from Guatemala over the past week. López Obrador also suggested that U.S. sanctions against countries like Venezuela and Cuba contribute to the migration crisis and that the U.S. should invest more in Latin America to improve countries’ conditions so people will not need to migrate. [more]

TURKEY | Authorities with the Turkish Interior Ministry say 67 people across Turkey, all of whom are suspected supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, have been arrested in connection with investigations into Sunday’s suicide bomb attack in Ankara that wounded two police officers. [more]

HAITI | The U.N. Security Council voted yesterday to approve the deployment of a multinational armed force to Haiti, as requested by Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, to assist in combating widespread gang violence in the Caribbean nation. The non-U.N. force will be led by Kenya and funded by voluntary contributions from U.N. member nations. [more]

THAILAND | Thai police have reportedly arrested a 14-year-old suspected gunman following a shooting today at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon shopping mall in which three people were killed and four others were wounded. [more]

HUNGARY | Reports say the European Commission is considering plans to unlock billions of euros for Hungary that were frozen over rule-of-law concerns in a bid to gain Hungarian support for continued E.U. aid to Ukraine. [more]

BRAZIL | Officials at Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation say at least 120 river dolphins and thousands of fish have died in the area around the country’s Amazon region Tefe Lake amidst high water temperatures over the past week. Reports say water temperatures in the area rose from 32 degrees Celsius (89 Fahrenheit) on Friday to almost 38 Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) on Sunday. [more]

TAIWAN | Authorities in Taiwan issued a weather alert today as Typhoon Koinu approaches the island with sustained winds of 101 mph (162 kph). The storm is expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain to Taiwan starting tomorrow and to possibly make landfall on Thursday. [more]

NEPAL | Nepalese authorities say a landslide blocked a major highway, homes were damaged, and at least one person was injured today when two earthquakes, magnitudes 6.3 and 5.3, struck the Himalayan nation's Bajhang district. [more]

NFL | The Seattle Seahawks recorded a franchise single-game record 11 sacks in last night's 24-3 win over the New York Giants - 10 against Giants' quarterback Daniel Jones and one against receiver Harris Campbell on a trick play. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1990, after four decades of Cold War division, the unification treaty dissolving East Germany and reintegrating it with West Germany went into effect, leading to Germany’s full reunification. [more history]