Today’s edition of quick hits.

* A rising death toll following Russian brutality: “The death toll from a Russian bombing of an aid distribution point in Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Monday has risen to 40, ⁠with dozens still missing, officials said, in one of the deadliest strikes on civilians this year.”

* Attacking grocery freezers? “Two major cyberattacks on European supermarkets in a matter of weeks have exposed the vulnerability of the EU’s critical infrastructure. Cyber experts are raising the alarm that the attacks may be part of Russia’s ongoing hybrid warfare against Europe.”

* Crisis conditions in Yemen: “Renewed war between Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has plunged the country into a deepening humanitarian crisis.”

* This guy is having quite a week: “Elon Musk spent nearly $500 million supporting Republican candidates in the midterm elections, especially in his home state, Texas. After Democrats won sweeping victories, gaining control of both houses of Congress and capturing other important state races, shares of SpaceX and Tesla, which are both run by Mr. Musk, fell sharply on Wednesday.”

* The election results did not go unnoticed on the other side of the Atlantic: “For Europe, which has weathered Trump’s incessant verbal attacks and tariff threats for the last two years, it was a rare ray of hope in transatlantic politics — if not because Washington would become a more predictable partner, then at least because the U.S. president might be too distracted to focus his usual ire on Europeans.”

* The latest on oil prices: “Oil prices dropped sharply Wednesday, propelled by growing hopes for a resolution in the Iran war. European Brent crude fell below $100 per barrel for the first time since Oct. 7. The move translated to a nearly $8 drop, or an 8.3% decline. U.S. crude oil, or West Texas Intermediate, also slipped 8.3% to close at about $88.12. It was oil’s biggest daily decline since April.”

* That was quick: “When two Washington Post reporters walked the full perimeter of the newly reopened Reflecting Pool immediately after [the president’s speech on Monday afternoon], they observed several spots where the coating appeared to be cracked or beginning to peel.”

* A case of ongoing interest: “Three news organizations whose access to the White House was restored, for now, after President Donald Trump revoked it are now asking a federal judge to also restore access to other areas where the president regularly engages with the press, including the Oval Office and Air Force One.”

* Believe it or not, Idaho is now the 11th state with an official gun: “Idaho has an official state bird (the mountain bluebird) and a state song (‘Here We Have Idaho’), and now they’ll have … an official state gun. Voters in the Gem State approved a new state gun Tuesday, picking — from six choices — the lever-action repeating rifle Winchester Model 1873, historically nicknamed ‘the Gun That Won the West.’”

See you tomorrow.

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