ICE officer fires seven rounds in NYC, striking immigrant in neck
Ukraine has launched a new offensive against Russian forces known as Operation Vivaldi, employing advanced technology, NPR reported. The operation involves Ukrainian soldiers using electronic warfare and aerial drones to blind Russian reconnaissance and eliminate firepower and supply routes, followed by unmanned land robots that weaken Russian positions. Ukrainians say they have reclaimed around 68 square miles — an area about three times the size of Manhattan.
NPR’s Joanna Kakissis said the operation is significant because it is unfolding in the Donbas region that Russia has sought to control since 2014. Despite occupying much of the area, Russia demands Ukraine cede the rest in any peace deal, a condition Ukraine has rejected. Operation Vivaldi demonstrates that a complete Russian takeover of Donbas is not inevitable and that Ukrainian forces can still achieve breakthroughs on a battlefield dense with drones, Kakissis said. Russia continues its attacks on Ukrainian cities, especially in the east. A recent strike on a public bus in Kramatorsk, one of the last Ukrainian-held cities, killed at least 30 people and injured many others, according to local authorities.
At least one U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fired seven rounds during an immigration enforcement operation in New York City yesterday, according to NPR, citing Gothamist. The officer struck a 28-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic in the neck, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The man, identified by Tisch as Oscar Belgal, was shot below his left ear and arrived at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in stable condition. A 5-year-old boy, believed to be Belgal’s son, was inside Belgal’s vehicle during the incident. Police later located the child safe and in the care of a family member. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Belgal was the target of the operation but did not explain why the officer fired his weapon.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize to human rights lawyer Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, who has served as the UN human rights chief and a judge on the International Court of Justice. The committee recognized her contributions to international justice, NPR reported.
Three astronauts and a cosmonaut from NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission have returned to Earth after an almost eight-month trip to the International Space Station, where they conducted spacewalks, science experiments, and research, according to NPR. Separately, new research reveals surprising similarities in the gut microbiomes of Tanzanian hunter-gatherers and Bolivian horticulturalists, suggesting that their microbial kinship dates back long before human migration separated their ancestors.
Hurricane Isaias is forecast to make landfall on the northern Gulf Coast as early as tonight, the National Hurricane Center reported, becoming the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic season. The center warned of potentially dangerous winds over 100 miles per hour and life-threatening storm surges of five to seven feet. People along the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and northwest Florida are preparing for impact. NPR’s Debbie Elliot told Up First that highways are busy with both people fleeing the region and emergency crews deploying to the coast. States are pre-staging personnel and emergency supplies — including generators, food, and water — for distribution during power outages and cleanup, Elliot said. Elliot noted that October feels late for the first hurricane of the season, and that the prominent El Niño weather pattern has led many to believe they have escaped the worst. Forecasters predict serious weather across the southeast, including potential flash flooding and tornadoes, but said they expect the storm to move through quickly and lose its tropical strength.
President Trump announced on social media that the United States will not attack Iran before the midterm elections on November 3, aiming to counter reports suggesting the White House is considering airstrikes against Iran before election day. NPR’s Domenico Montanaro said the announcement is somewhat surprising because Trump would not ideally make such promises during a war. The post signals Trump’s awareness that the conflict has been politically bad for his party ahead of elections, Montanaro said. Additional strikes and deeper involvement are a tough sell to the American public, including Trump’s base, he added. Trump has argued that the prolonged, unpopular war is necessary to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon, despite having promised to avoid foreign entanglements.