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1 US Says North Korean Troops In Russian Uniforms Are Heading Toward Ukraine
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hosted South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun at the Pentagon yesterday, and after their meeting, Austin revealed new information about Russia. During a press conference, the secretary told reporters that North Korean troops, wearing Russian uniforms and carrying Russian equipment, are moving toward Ukraine. Austin said that some advance units have already made it to Russia’s Kursk region, and said “the likelihood is pretty high” that Russia will send those troops into combat. Ukraine’s UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council yesterday that they expect up to 4,500 North Korean troops to be at their border with Russia this week, and Ukraine also expects those troops to start engaging in combat operations in November. Austin said officials are talking about what to do about the deployment, which has not only raised concerns about the Russia-Ukraine war but about what aid Russia might give North Korea in exchange.
2 Supreme Court Allows Virginia To Purge Noncitizens From Voter Rolls Before Election
The Supreme Court issued a ruling yesterday that clears the way for Virginia to remove around 1,600 alleged noncitizens from its voter rolls. The court granted a request from state officials to pause an order from a lower court that blocked Virginia from following through with the voter removal program the state started in August. The National Voter Registration Act requires states to purge ineligible voters up to 90 days before federal elections, but yesterday’s order means Virginia can purge more voters from its rolls between now and Tuesday. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin praised the ruling as a “victor for commonsense and election fairness,” while the Justice Department, which brought the original lawsuit, said in a statement “We disagree with the Supreme Court’s order.” The ruling was issued with a 6-3 majority, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson all saying they would have denied the request from Virginia.
3 Police Say Man Behind Ballot Box Fires Had Metalworking Experience And May Plan More Attacks
Investigators said yesterday that the man who set the incendiary devices at ballot boxes in Portland and nearby Vancouver, Washington on Monday had a “wealth of experience” in metalworking and welding, which they say was determined by how the devices were constructed and the way they were attached to the drop boxes. Authorities have described the suspect as a white male between 30 and 40 years old, and they also think he may not be done, as authorities think he may be planning additional attacks. The devices were marked with messages that included “Free Gaza” and “Free Palestine.”