Day News Recap: Russia escalates Ukraine strikes as Iraq pullout ends and Gaza ceasefire frays

Russia intensified pressure on Ukraine with its largest attack on energy infrastructure since spring, killing at least six people and injuring 33, while Kyiv said the strikes were hitting power systems and civilian life across the country. Separately, Ukraine's economy minister said air raid alerts are costing the economy about $45m an hour as businesses are forced to stop work.  🔗  🔗

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Ukraine's Zaporizhstal steelworks has been shut down indefinitely after four waves of Russian missile attacks in August and September, underlining the damage to industrial capacity as the war grinds on. Moscow also warned NATO it could resort to nuclear weapons if the alliance tried to cut off Kaliningrad, sharpening tensions on the Baltic flank.  🔗  🔗

In the Middle East, Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least seven Palestinians and wounded more than 10, according to local reports, as ceasefire violations continued. Qatar's prime minister condemned the situation as unjustified and said those responsible should be held to account, while a fresh report added to scrutiny of Benjamin Netanyahu over claims he had been warned before the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack.  🔗  🔗  🔗

The United States completed its troop withdrawal from Iraq, ending a 12 year mission and closing the coalition campaign against Islamic State, but Iraqi officials and analysts warned the move could leave a security vacuum. Iran's Revolutionary Guard used the moment to step up political messaging to Americans, while the US also sanctioned 10 entities across China, Pakistan, Turkiye, Iran and Saudi Arabia over alleged support for Tehran's military procurement.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

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Elsewhere in the region, oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz recovered to nearly 80% of pre war levels as Iran US talks continued, easing some supply concerns. South Korea demanded a formal apology from North Korea over DMZ landmine blasts that injured three soldiers, after Pyongyang denied planting the mines.  🔗  🔗

Security and migration issues also featured elsewhere. Somali pirates killed five crew on a hijacked tanker before Puntland forces retook the vessel MT Hoarner 25, and the UN extended Haiti's Gang Suppression Force mandate until March 2027 as armed criminal groups continue to destabilise the country.  🔗  🔗

In Africa, South Africa's president declared a national emergency response after the bodies of 12 women were found east of Johannesburg over a two month period. In North Africa, Morocco appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri as prime minister, making her the country's first female holder of the post.  🔗  🔗

In Asia Pacific, Malaysia began repatriating about 1,500 Myanmar nationals from detention centres despite warnings from the UN and rights groups, while the UN chief condemned a Myanmar airstrike in Rakhine state that reportedly killed at least 50 people at a market. In Australia, residents of Clermont in central Queensland were placed under emergency water restrictions after both pumps at Theresa Creek Dam failed.  🔗  🔗  🔗

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In the United States, the Supreme Court let Donald Trump resume third country deportations while a legal challenge moves toward December arguments, and the Senate blocked a resolution that would have forced a State Department report on the killing of nine Americans in the West Bank. Trump also said he would spend 32 days campaigning for Republican candidates before the midterm elections, rejected reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and frozen funds, and ruled out AI safety cooperation with China after his summit with Xi Jinping.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

Other US domestic cases included a federal indictment of 10 defendants in a Minnesota voter fraud case, a guilty plea in a Connecticut Treasury check fraud case, an Arizona CEO admitting embezzlement of more than $8.8 million from a benefit plan, and a Mexican national sentenced in Oklahoma for unlawful reentry. In Europe, MI5 warned UK universities about China linked research funding and espionage risk, while Russian disinformation operations were reported to be stepping up fake news aimed at French media ahead of the 2027 presidential race.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

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