Day News Recap: Sudan market strike kills 153 as Middle East tensions and Ukraine diplomacy intensify

A drone strike on a market in Sudan's disputed Abyei border region killed at least 153 people, according to a local official, and a fire at a nearby fuel depot was still burning as emergency crews struggled to respond.  🔗

Sponsored

In the Middle East, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said two oil tankers were hit by mines it had laid in the Strait of Hormuz, setting both vessels on fire, while Iran and Russia deepened their alignment as Sergey Lavrov backed Tehran during talks in the Iranian capital.  🔗  🔗

Yemen also saw fresh violence, with a powerful blast reported in Aden and the Houthis claiming a missile strike on a military camp near the airport. At the same time, the United Kingdom and France moved military assets to Saudi Arabia amid the Houthi threat, and King Charles hosted Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at Windsor Castle for a state visit that underlined Muscat's role as a regional mediator.  🔗  🔗  🔗

Diplomatic efforts around the Ukraine war continued to shift. Russia said it was ready in principle to resume trilateral talks with the United States and Ukraine after Vladimir Putin met US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg, and Moscow also said it was preparing a possible Putin, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meeting for the APEC summit in Shenzhen.  🔗  🔗

Volodymyr Zelensky proposed freezing the front line along current positions as an initial step toward a ceasefire, while NATO said it would boost Black Sea patrols with extra maritime aircraft, radar, drones and intelligence staff after deadly suspected drone attacks. Russia also released American Stephen Hubbard during Witkoff's visit, and Donald Trump said Hubbard was freed after his direct request.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

Energy and sanctions tensions widened beyond the battlefield. The European Union is considering asking households and businesses to cut energy use as Middle East tensions push up prices, while France secured a winter gas deal in Doha and Macron warned of renewed Gulf escalation risk. In Washington, Republicans criticised Trump over a reported Russian diesel import deal and a pause in sanctions, even as Russia said it would send its first diesel tanker to the United States under the new arrangement.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

In Europe, Macron warned protesters in France against attempts to cause chaos as demonstrations over the cost of living loomed, while Italy tightened protest laws after unrest spread from Milan to Bologna and Turin. Serbia's student protest movement is trying to turn street momentum into an election challenge to Aleksandar Vučić, and in the UK counter terrorism police re arrested two men over suspected Iran linked activity near RAF Fairford.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

Elsewhere, Nigeria confirmed an Ebola case in Abuja after a woman who had travelled from Uganda tested positive, and the EU approved a EUR 20 million defence assistance measure for Nigeria under the European Peace Facility. Romania swore in a new prime minister and cabinet after months of deadlock, the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill passed the Commons and moved to the Lords, and Alberta voters rejected separation from Canada, giving Mark Carney a political boost.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Further afield, India faced UN criticism over what experts called excessive force against protesters in an election list dispute, Taiwan prosecutors indicted five men over an alleged plot against comedian Huang Yi hao after criticism of Xi Jinping, and Qatar, Turkiye, Pakistan and Indonesia signed a defence industry cooperation deal in Doha. Tasmania also approved a AUD 20 million loan to the troubled Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelter despite warnings that repayment risk was high.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

In the EU, officials adopted a recommendation on housing exclusion and homelessness, appointed Ilze Brands Kehris as special representative for human rights, and approved a partial mandate on agricultural market rules for the post 2027 budget talks. The European Commission also unveiled a revised Arctic strategy that puts security and resilience first, reflecting pressure from both Russia and the United States.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

#Sudan #MiddleEast #Ukraine #markets #diplomacy #breakingrecap #recaprecap