Russia Called Its Strikes On Ukrainian Data Centers A ‘Forced Digital Detox.’ Zelensky Says Kyiv Has Answered By Hitting A Data Center Belonging To Russian Tech Giant Yandex.

Zelensky said Ukraine struck a Yandex data center in Russia’s Ryazan region after Russian attacks damaged Ukrainian data centers.

Russian Strike On Two Passenger Buses In Ukraine’s Kramatorsk Kills 33

Ukraine’s emergency service says a Russian strike on two passenger buses in Kramatorsk killed 33 people and injured 18. The cause and details remain under investigation.

An ‘Old Friend,’ A Stove, And A Samovar. The Kremlin Shares A Portrait Of Putin’s Birthday With Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin invited former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to his home for the Russian president’s birthday on October 7.

Zelensky Has A Message For Washington: Don’t Call Peace Impossible While Refusing To Put More Pressure On Putin

Zelensky rejected Marco Rubio’s description of a diplomatic stalemate, saying stronger pressure on Russia could bring Putin to negotiations.

Russia’s Censorship Agency Bans Two Dystopian Novels By Olga Ptitseva About An Alternate Russia Ruled By The ‘Party Of Cold’

Roskomnadzor added Olga Ptitseva’s two novels to its prohibited-information register. The books have disappeared from major Russian sales catalogs.

The World Is Talking About A Possible Plague Outbreak In Russia, And Trump Even Plans To Call Putin About It. Is It Really That Serious?

WHO says the risk from a possible plague case in Russia is low for residents and very low for Europe as officials seek more information.

Putin Turns 74 Today. Officials And Kindergarteners Across Russia Were Forced To Wish Him A Happy Birthday.

Independent Russian outlets report birthday events for Putin involving kindergarteners and detailed instructions for officials’ social-media posts.

Trump Says He’ll Call Putin About Suspected Plague Outbreak In Russia

Trump says he plans to discuss a possible plague outbreak in Russia with Putin. The suspected case and reports of hospital quarantines remain unconfirmed.

A 28-Year-old Plague Researcher Died In Russia. Authorities Have Imposed A Quarantine But Deny Any Threat Of Plague, And Locals Are Struggling To Make Sense Of It.

A 28-year-old institute employee died in Shelekhov after hospitalization. Authorities quarantined contacts but say she died of pneumonia, not plague.

How Pop Culture Is Shaping Spirit Halloween’s Top Costume Trends

Spirit Halloween says pop culture is driving demand for its top costume trends, though the headline-only report provides no specific costumes or sales figures.