Today on Rappler – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:

• Death toll from Severe Tropical Storm Paeng nears 100

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council says, as of Monday, October 31, the death toll from Severe Tropical Storm Paeng climbs to 98. 

• ‘Middleman’ in Percy Lapid case suffocated with plastic bag – 2nd autopsy

Results from alleged middleman Crisanto ‘Jun’ Villamor’s second autopsy shows he died due to suffocation from a plastic bag. 

• South Korea vows probe into deadly Halloween stampede

South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo promises a thorough investigation into the weekend Halloween crush at the Itaewon district that killed more than 150, many of whom were teenagers.

• Lula narrowly defeats Bolsonaro to win Brazil presidency again

Luis Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday narrowly defeats Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff election.

• Musk fired Twitter execs in attempt to avoid payouts, layoffs planned – reports

Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk fires top executives hoping to avoid hefty severance payouts. Sources say Musk fired Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal and legal chief Vijaya Gadde, as he completes the $44 billion buyout of the social media platform on Thursday.

• Donny and Belle fall in love on a deadline in ‘An Inconvenient Love’ trailer

Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano tell the story of love on a deadline in their upcoming film, ‘An Inconvenient Love.’

• ‘Araw-araw ko po kayo nami-miss’: Sarah Geronimo asks parents for forgiveness

Filipino pop star Sarah Geronimo reaches out to her estranged parents on social media. Sarah’s rift with her parents began after she married Matteo Guidicelli in 2019 without their knowledge. — Rappler.com