Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted and destroyed 399 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and the Black Sea overnight. An attack caused a fire and infrastructure damage at a Yandex data center in Sasovo, Ryazan Region, suspending its operations. Fires and power outages were also reported in other areas.

drone attacksRussiaUkraineYandex data center

Yandex confirmed that Ukrainian drones struck its data center in Sasovo, Ryazan region, damaging part of the infrastructure and starting a fire. No one was injured, but the center has been completely shut down and some Yandex services may be unavailable. Ukrainian monitoring channels attributed the fire to the strike; Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down Ukrainian drones in the region overnight.

Ukrainian dronesYandexdata centerRyazan region

Russian internet giant Yandex paused operations at one of its data centers after a drone attack, as Ukraine continues to strike infrastructure in Russia.

YandexRussiadrone attackdata center

Yandex said a drone attack sparked a fire at its data center in Sasovo, in Russia’s Ryazan Region. No one was injured. The facility has been fully shut down while emergency services address the aftermath, and some Yandex services may be unavailable.

Yandexdrone attackdata centerRyazan Region

Yandex said on Thursday that drones struck a major data centre it owns in Russia’s Ryazan region.

Yandexdrone attackdata centre

A major Yandex data center in Russia’s Ryazan Oblast was reportedly damaged in an overnight drone attack, with a large fire at the industrial site. Yandex acknowledged an incident and power problems at its cloud facility but did not connect them to the attack. It remains unclear whether the data center, the Sasta plant or both were targeted.

Yandexdrone attackdata centerRussia

Britain and Germany will establish a joint partnership to counter sabotage and cyberattacks. Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Chancellor Friedrich Merz are meeting in Berlin on Thursday, after both warned of the hybrid threat from Russia.

United KingdomGermanycyberattacksRussia

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is visiting Berlin for his first in-person meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, where they will launch a joint security partnership to counter sabotage, cyberattacks and other hybrid threats. They are also due to discuss Ukraine, the Middle East conflict and its economic effects.

UKGermanysecurity partnershiphybrid threats

South Korea has recalled its ambassador to Ukraine. Seoul had already summoned Ukraine’s ambassador and threatened unspecified “further measures.”

South KoreaUkraineNorth Korean POWsdiplomatic dispute

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry has decided to recall its ambassador to Ukraine. The government said it expects all issues in bilateral relations to be resolved and intends to continue consultations with Ukraine.

South KoreaUkrainediplomatic relations

Seoul said Kyiv’s public disclosure of the repatriation of two North Korean prisoners put their families in North Korea at risk of punishment. Ukraine rejected South Korea’s accusations.

South KoreaUkraineNorth Korean POWsdiplomatic relations

South Korea said it would recall its ambassador to Ukraine as tensions deepen over the public disclosure at the UN of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. South Korea demanded an apology, saying the disclosure breached a confidentiality agreement and could endanger the prisoners’ families in North Korea. Kyiv denied such an agreement existed and said it hoped to resolve a diplomatic misunderstanding.

South KoreaUkrainediplomatic relationsNorth Korean POWs

South Korea says it will recall its ambassador to Ukraine, escalating a diplomatic dispute over Kyiv’s disclosure that two captured North Korean soldiers were transferred to Seoul. Seoul says Ukraine violated an agreement to keep the transfer secret; Zelensky’s office says there was no non-disclosure agreement.

South KoreaUkraineNorth Korean prisoners of wardiplomatic dispute

South Korea said it would recall Ambassador Park Hee-chang from Ukraine as relations between Seoul and Kyiv deteriorate. The move follows Seoul’s demand for an apology after President Volodymyr Zelensky disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war, which South Korea says breached a confidentiality agreement.

South Korea-Ukraine relationsNorth Korean POWsdiplomatic dispute

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed on Thursday that China has nominated Dr. Song Li to run for WHO director-general. Mao said the nomination reflects China’s readiness to work with others and its support for multilateralism and the WHO. China believes Song would help the organization improve global health and well-being if elected.

ChinaWorld Health Organizationdirector-general election

Italy’s parliament approved a shift to a fully proportional electoral system by 227 votes to 164. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says the changes will encourage clear winners and stable government; opposition parties accuse her right-wing coalition of designing them to improve its chances of staying in power and say it is flouting democracy.

Italian politicselectoral reformGiorgia Meloni

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Greece’s Kathimerini that he sees no current prospect of a peaceful settlement to the Russia-Ukraine war. He described it as a “strategic stalemate,” with Russia still demanding full control of Donbas, which Ukraine considers completely unacceptable. U.S.-mediated direct talks in early 2026 were halted by the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and have not resumed, though both sides officially say they are ready for another round.

Russia-Ukraine warMarco Rubiopeace talksDonbas

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Ukraine conflict as a “strategic stalemate” and said prospects for a negotiated settlement do not currently appear promising. He said Washington remains ready to help explore a deal, while warning that escalation by either or both sides could spread the conflict beyond its original boundaries.

Ukraine conflictMarco Rubiopeace negotiationsUS diplomacy

Authorities said Thursday that a Russian bomb attack on Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine killed at least 33 people. They described it as a targeted strike on civilians in a key stronghold Moscow seeks to capture.

RussiaUkraineKramatorskattack

Officials said Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least 35 people. A passenger bus was struck in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region.

Russian attacksUkraineKramatorskcasualties

Authorities said a bomb killed at least 30 people on a bus in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, as Russian attacks across the country intensified.

UkraineKramatorskRussian attacksbus bombing

A Russian attack on a bus in Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, killed at least 12 people and wounded 14, local authorities said. The prosecutor’s office said the final toll was still being determined.

KramatorskRussian attackcivilian casualties

Ukrainian authorities said a Russian strike on two passenger buses in Kramatorsk killed at least 30 people and wounded 18. Public transport was suspended after the attack. The regional governor said Russian forces were deliberately targeting civilian transport.

UkraineKramatorskRussian attackcivilian casualties

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service reported that a Russian strike on Kramatorsk killed 33 people and injured 18 others. The regional prosecutor’s office said the attack likely involved a guided aerial bomb, with two passenger buses at its center.

KramatorskRussian strikepassenger busescasualties

Shiranthi Rajapaksa has been jailed pending an investigation into alleged corruption. Authorities accuse her of misusing donation funds while she was first lady.

Sri LankaShiranthi Rajapaksacorruption allegations

Britain has withdrawn diplomats from its East Jerusalem consulate after agreeing with Israel on the mission’s future. The UK says it will remain open as the UK Mission, Jerusalem, with fewer staff; Israel says it has stopped operating in its former capacity. The dispute followed British measures targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, prompting Israel to order the consulate closed.

United KingdomIsraelJerusalemdiplomatic dispute

Signs at the British consulate in occupied East Jerusalem were taken down overnight as the closure deadline approached. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said the building would instead operate as a “UK Mission”.

East JerusalemBritish consulateUK diplomacy

The UK will continue its diplomatic presence in occupied East Jerusalem. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said London does not recognise Israel’s legal authority to shut the nearly 200-year-old consulate.

United KingdomEast JerusalemIsraeldiplomacy

Israel says the British consulate in East Jerusalem is ceasing operations. Foreign Minister Ed Miliband stressed that it would not close, but become the UK Mission, Jerusalem, from Thursday.

IsraelUnited KingdomEast Jerusalemconsulate

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said Britain’s consulate general in East Jerusalem would stay open as an independent UK mission serving Palestinians. Israel ordered it closed on Thursday over Britain’s plans to sanction West Bank settlements. Britain has withdrawn some staff and families and plans to rebuild its presence, but will take no reciprocal action against Israel while talks continue.

UKIsraelEast Jerusalemdiplomacy

Israel says 20 diplomats and the consul general will leave the British consulate in East Jerusalem, with a seven-person team allowed to remain for limited work. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband says some staff have been temporarily withdrawn for security reasons, but the building will stay open as the UK Mission, Jerusalem. Israel says the move responds to UK sanctions on settlements in the occupied West Bank.

United KingdomIsraelEast Jerusalemdiplomacy

The death of 87-year-old Maricarmen, evicted from her longtime Madrid home, has provoked nationwide outrage and protests. Her case has intensified Spain’s housing debate and triggered a political crisis.

Madridevictionhousing crisisprotests

The EU wants to expand trade through the Middle Corridor, potentially benefiting Bulgaria. But drone attacks near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on October 6 hit two commercial ships, sinking one and highlighting security risks. Insecurity in Central Asia, weak institutions along the route, Russian influence and falling water levels in the Caspian Sea could also hinder the corridor’s development.

TradeMiddle CorridorBulgariaBlack Sea security

The Swedish Academy’s Nobel Committee for Literature announced that Canadian author Anne Carson has received the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature. The citation praised her bold, inventive work for creating new forms for contemporary literature through playful dialogue with the classical tradition.

Nobel Prize in LiteratureAnne Carsonliterature

The Swedish Academy announced Thursday that Canadian writer Anne Carson has won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature, making her only the second Canadian recipient. It praised her “bold and inventive” work for creating new forms in modern literature through engagement with the classics.

Anne CarsonNobel Prize in LiteratureCanadian literature

Anne Carson, whose body of work resists easy categorisation, was among the favourites for this year's prize. The Nobel committee praised her bold, inventive writing for creating new forms for contemporary literature through playful dialogue with the classical tradition.

Nobel Prize in LiteratureAnne Carsonliterature

Canadian poet and essayist Anne Carson has won the Nobel Prize in literature. The Swedish Academy praised her bold, inventive work for drawing on classical traditions to create new forms.

Nobel Prize in LiteratureAnne Carsonliterature

Canadian writer Anne Carson has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Nobel Prize in LiteratureCanadian writerAnne Carson

Canadian poet and essayist Anne Carson has won the Nobel Prize in Literature for work that combines classical and modern elements.

literatureNobel Prize in LiteratureAnne Carson