Briefing

Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to meet US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff at Constantine Palace during the first half of Wednesday, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said.

RussiaUnited Statesdiplomacy

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg on Oct. 21 to prepare for another round of peace talks with Russian counterpart Kirill Dmitriev. He had met Volodymyr Zelensky and European allies in Oslo the previous day. His movements come as Kyiv-Washington ties sharply deteriorate over concerns that the U.S. may withhold Patriot missiles funded by Ukraine’s allies and other support.

Russia-Ukraine warpeace talksUS-Russia relationsUkraine

Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, is also expected to join Wednesday’s meeting between Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin remotely, a US official told AFP.

US-Russia relationsSteve WitkoffVladimir Putindiplomacy

The UK will deploy Royal Air Force Typhoon jets to help Saudi Arabia defend its cities and critical infrastructure from repeated Houthi attacks. The aircraft will not strike Houthi targets in Yemen. At Saudi Arabia’s request, Britain will also provide a transport plane, military advisers and an extension of its air-to-air refueling offer.

United KingdomSaudi ArabiaHouthismilitary deployment

A drone strike hit a market in Abyei, the disputed border region between Sudan and South Sudan, and struck a nearby fuel depot, killing at least 153 people. A fire was still burning on Tuesday, a local official said.

Abyeidrone strikefuel depotcasualties

Donald Trump said the United States and India are nearing a trade deal after more than a year of negotiations.

United StatesIndiatrade deal

Two weeks before the midterm elections, liberal Justice Elena Kagan assessed the Supreme Court’s handling of election and voting cases, saying it had seemingly blinded itself to the rulings’ highly damaging effects on how the political system works.

US politicsSupreme CourtelectionsElena Kagan

U.S. President Donald Trump said companies seeking to make data centers popular should pay a “dividend” to the community or to individuals there.

Donald Trumpdata centerscommunity payments

Jane Doe wrote to two senior Cornell leaders shortly after reporting her alleged sexual assault, saying President Michael Kotlikoff left her feeling “unsupported and disbelieved.”

Cornell Universitysexual assault allegationuniversity response

She had accused seven Cornell students of raping her at a fraternity house. The university president, she says, focused on why she had not reported the alleged assault sooner, making her feel that her account was doubted and she had no support.

Cornell Universityrape allegationuniversity response