October 28, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Update from regional conflicts:

• In an operation Israeli authorities claim targeted militants who "took part in terror activity in Jenin," three Palestinian men were killed early today by Israeli forces in the northern part of the occupied West Bank. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,342 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• Citing intelligence reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that his country's long-range strikes on refineries inside Russia have reduced Moscow’s oil refining capacity by 20%. [more]

U.S. AIR TRAVEL | The Federal Aviation Administration says staffing issues caused flight delays at airports across the U.S. yesterday, with airports in Dallas and Newark among those most affected. Reports note that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has predicted continued issues with air traffic control staffing as controllers are set to miss their first full paycheck due to the ongoing government shutdown. [more]

U.S. POLITICS | House Republicans forwarded a report on former President Joe Biden’s use of autopen signing to the Justice Department today along with a recommendation that a full investigation of the issue be undertaken. The report centers on contested, and thus far unsubstantiated, claims that Biden's mental state declined while he was in office to a degree that allowed White House officials to enact policies without his knowledge. [more]

CHICAGO | U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis has ordered Trump administration Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino to appear in court as part of an ongoing inquiry into alleged violations of restraining orders on crowd-control tactics used during immigration enforcement operations in Chicago, Illinois. The order follows the release of a video that appears to show Bovino deploying tear gas potentially in violation of a court order limiting its use against protesters. [more]

U.S. AND JAPAN | U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed agreements today in Tokyo emphasizing their countries' strong alliance, reaffirming recent trade, tariff, and investment deals, and laying out a joint framework for securing supplies of critical minerals and rare earths. [more]

HURRICANE MELISSA | The Jamaican government has warned of potential catastrophic damage ahead of this morning's arrival of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa on the island nation, where storm surges of up to 13 feet (4 meters) are expected along the southern coast. [more]

RUSSIA | Russian authorities have released limited details on what they say was the recent successful test of what is believed to be the world's first nuclear-powered missile. The Burevestnik missile's nuclear propulsion system gives it virtually unlimited range, according to the Russian military, which said an October 21 test of the weapon covered 14,000 kilometers (8,680 miles) during a 15-hour flight. [more]

MORE RUSSIA | Reports say Russian oil giant Lukoil is in talks to sell its international assets amidst recently strengthened U.S. and E.U. sanctions on Russia's energy sector over the invasion of Ukraine. The sales would be carried out under a sanctions grace period that allows transactions with the company through November 21. [more]

VENEZUELA | President Nicolas Maduro announced yesterday that Venezuela will suspend energy agreements made with Trinidad and Tobago ten years ago due to the Caribbean island nation's hosting of a U.S. warship, the USS Gravely guided missile destroyer, amidst ongoing U.S.-Venezuela tensions. [more]

ASIAN TRADE | Professing that "unity is strength," Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed an expanded free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations today. Analysts note that China and ASEAN are each other's top trading partners and suggest the newly expanded agreement is part of China's efforts to promote itself as an alternative to the U.S. in the global trade sector. [more]

PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN | Following three days of peace talks in Turkey, both Pakistan and Turkey blame each other for what appears to be an impasse in negotiations aimed at easing months of heightened tensions and border clashes between the two countries. Reports note that both countries' delegates remain in Turkey today but that it is not clear if a fourth day of talks will be held. [more]

TECH INDUSTRY | Amidst a greater concentration on artificial intelligence research and business, tech and online retail giant Amazon has announced plans to cut some 14,000 corporate jobs – about 4% of the company's corporate workforce – as part of efforts aimed at "reducing bureaucracy, removing layers, and shifting resources." [more]

BASEBALL | The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the best-of-seven World Series, 2 games to 1, following last night's 6-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Game 3 win lasted 18 innings, tying the record for the longest World Series game, and analysts note that, historically, when teams split the first two games of the World Series, the winner of Game 3 has won the championship 67% of the time. Game 4 is scheduled for tonight in Los Angeles. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1886, U.S. President Grover Cleveland officially dedicated the Statue of Liberty—a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States—on Bedloe's (later Liberty) Island in Upper New York Bay. [more history]