Breakfast News Recap: Ukraine, Gaza and ICC tensions dominate as Florida storm weakens

Ukraine and Russia remained at the centre of the day’s diplomacy and fighting. In Miami, United States, Ukrainian and European officials held what Washington called productive talks on proposals to end the war, even as US envoy Steve Witkoff warned of the risk of escalation. Separately, Ukraine said Operation Vivaldi had disrupted a Russian plan to encircle the remaining Ukrainian positions around Lyman, while Yandex said two of its five data centres were hit by Ukrainian drones, disrupting the Russian tech group’s services.  🔗 🔗 🔗

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Pressure also mounted on international institutions after the United States imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, a move that drew criticism from allies and the United Nations. The dispute deepened as the court faced fresh political scrutiny over its role in cases involving US and Israeli interests.  🔗 🔗

In the Middle East, the Gaza ceasefire was described by more than 100 aid, human rights and civil society groups as existing only in name, with continued killings and restrictions on aid access. In Yemen, the UN said the country had slid back into full scale war, while fighting around Taiz has tightened a renewed siege after Houthi advances cut key roads into the city.  🔗 🔗 🔗

Israel and Lebanon also saw renewed violence, with an Israeli drone strike wounding six people in Lebanon’s Hermel district near the Syrian border. The attack added to regional tensions as cross border incidents continued to flare.  🔗

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In Africa, Sudan suffered one of the deadliest attacks of the day, after a drone strike in Blue Nile region killed at least 30 displaced people in Wad al Mahi province. In South Sudan, intercommunal clashes in Rumbek, in Lakes State, left about 71 people dead, according to the caretaker government.  🔗 🔗

Across Asia, Taiwan marked National Day with President Lai Ching te saying the island would not give up its freedom and would not accept subordination. He said the defence budget increase was meant to deter war, underscoring the island’s determination to strengthen its military posture.  🔗

In the United States, the White House has offered Katie Zacharia the press secretary role after Karoline Leavitt left the post, a change that comes ahead of the midterm election campaign. Separately, President Donald Trump announced a Russian diesel deal under which Moscow would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons to the American and global market, prompting reactions from Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO allies.  🔗 🔗

Elsewhere, the UAE said the Omani co pilot accused of trying to seize a Flydubai passenger flight had drifted toward extremism and terrorism while studying in Australia, widening the hijack probe. In the Atlantic, Hurricane Isaias weakened into a post tropical cyclone after landfall on Florida’s northern Gulf Coast, but storm surge warnings remained in place as it moved inland.  🔗 🔗

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