Noontime News Recap: Russia and Ukraine trade deadly strikes as North Korea fires missiles

At least 13 people were killed when a Russian drone struck a platform at Dnipro railway station in central eastern Ukraine, in one of the deadliest attacks of the latest round of fighting. Ukrainian authorities said the strike hit civilians at the station and came as the war continued to intensify.  🔗

Ukraine and Russia also exchanged drone attacks overnight, with strikes reported in Moscow and in Dnipro, underscoring the continuing escalation even as preparations for peace talks were under way. The latest violence came alongside a separate Russian test launch of a Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile from a nuclear submarine in the Sea of Okhotsk.  🔗  🔗

North Korea fired about 10 short range ballistic missiles off its east coast, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a move that added to regional tensions linked to the disputed DMZ landmine issue. Separately, a report said North Korean workers are being brokered into Russia through student visas and placed in forced labour conditions.  🔗  🔗

In the Middle East, Israel's election aftermath remained unsettled as Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc stayed ahead with 93 percent of ballots counted but still short of a majority, while far right minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for arrests of Arab party leaders after their strong showing. Another analysis said the war launched by Israel and the United States against Iran on 28 February is in a temporary lull rather than over.  🔗  🔗  🔗

European officials were warned that refining capacity has become a strategic weakness after war driven fuel shocks exposed how vulnerable the market is to disruption. The European Commission also invited member states to use EUR 21.3 billion under SAFE to boost defence readiness and support Ukraine, while ECB president Christine Lagarde said she will step down on 7 February 2027, nearly nine months before her term ends.  🔗  🔗  🔗

In Russia's wider geopolitical push, Moscow hosted the Russia Africa summit with leaders from across the continent, while President Vladimir Putin said Russia is building its own satellite internet system as a rival to Starlink. Ethiopia also said it has received 12 Russian Su 35 fighter jets and plans to buy four S 400 air defence systems, describing the deal as a major step in military cooperation.  🔗  🔗  🔗

Elsewhere, Cyclone Arnab killed at least three people after landfall in Andhra Pradesh, with heavy rain and strong winds affecting neighbouring areas. In the United States, former White House press secretary Katie Zacharia blamed the media for making her job difficult after her brief stint ended, Donald Trump demanded the removal and prosecution of two Alaska Senate candidates over an alleged ballot scheme, and the White House dismissed Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Army's top strategist, amid signs of a possible Iran strike review.  🔗  🔗  🔗  🔗

At home, the Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina declared an emergency after a fire broke out on Wednesday evening, though officials said there was no immediate danger to the public. In Israel, the election deadlock deepened further as Netanyahu's bloc led but still fell short of the 61 seats needed for a majority, leaving coalition talks uncertain.  🔗  🔗

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