Kiev hit hard by Russian bombing of civilian areas

ZOOM

Six people were killed and around 30 wounded following a massive Russian attack on several residential neighborhoods in Kiev overnight. Civilians, hospitals, and energy infrastructure were among the targets across the Ukrainian capital, according to local authorities, who report that almost every district was affected by the strikes.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that the main target of this operation was Kiev, with a total of 430 drones and 19 missiles launched on the country, the vast majority of which were shot down. Nevertheless, residential buildings, the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission, and businesses were hit, and heating outages were reported in several areas.

In Odessa, in the south, two people were reported dead and seven wounded after a strike on a market. The Russian army claims to have intercepted more than 200 Ukrainian drones during the same night, particularly in the Krasnodar region and over the Black Sea, where an oil refinery in Novorossiysk was damaged.

Azerbaijan summoned the Russian ambassador to protest after its diplomatic mission in Kyiv was damaged. Debris from Ukrainian drones reached the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant, briefly disrupting its operation but without causing any serious accidents. France 24

IN SHORT

🇺🇸 United States - 🇻🇪 Venezuela • Tensions continue to rise between the two countries. The US Secretary of Defense has unveiled Operation Southern Spear, presented as a response to alleged “narco-terrorists” in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, following a series of strikes against boats suspected of transporting drugs. A U.S. carrier strike group is positioned in the region, while tensions persist with the Venezuelan government, which is accused of supporting a drug trafficking network. No further details have been provided on the scope or next phase of the operation.

🇲🇱 Mali • Mali has seen a record number of kidnappings of foreigners by jihadists, with at least 22 people taken hostage by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jnim group between May and October. The captured nationals are mainly Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, Emirati, Iranian, Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian, often targeted at industrial or mining sites. Ransoms reached at least $50 million by the end of October. This wave also aims to curb foreign investment and economic cooperation, and JNIM is keeping pressure on the local economy through gasoline shortages.

🇮🇳 India • Following the deadly explosion near the Red Fort in New Delhi, the government has called the event an act of terrorism and made several arrests, including one involving a suspect with ties to Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi, who had previously lowered the threshold for retaliation after similar attacks, now faces significant pressure to respond if a Pakistani link is confirmed. An attack struck Islamabad in Pakistan, exacerbating regional tensions, with each capital blaming the other, without evidence of direct responsibility at this stage.

🇨🇳 China - 🇯🇵 Japan • Beijing summoned the Japanese ambassador after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi considered military intervention to defend Taiwan. Takaichi, head of government since October 21 and an outspoken supporter of Taiwan, believes that an attack on the island would threaten Japan's survival. In response, the Chinese government strongly condemned her remarks, and Tokyo maintained its position in favor of dialogue and stability in the region, against a backdrop of Japanese military buildup.

🇫🇷 France • The Army will invest €35 million in 2026 to build its first autonomous robotic combat unit, with the Pendragon project. This initiative aims to anticipate a cultural and tactical revolution, with artificial intelligence enabling robots to perform a variety of missions such as logistical coordination, evacuation of the wounded, and destruction of equipment. The technologies should enable around 20 land and air robots to operate under human supervision, performing tasks traditionally entrusted to an infantry section.

🇨🇳 China • The commissioning of the Fujian aircraft carrier marks a strategic turning point in the Pacific, reducing the naval gap with the United States. Equipped with electromagnetic catapults and a capacity of 60 aircraft, it enables Beijing to take a decisive technological step forward. This ship strengthens China's posture vis-à-vis its neighbors and Taiwan, while expanding China's military reach. While Washington retains the advantage in terms of numbers and nuclear propulsion, this development intensifies the rebalancing of regional forces.

🇪🇺 European Union • The European Parliament has voted to significantly relax ESG rules, now excluding more than 90% of companies initially subject to environmental and social reporting requirements. Lawmakers have also removed the requirement for climate transition plans and the establishment of European civil liability. This decision follows strong internal and external pressure and must now be validated by member states. The adjustment has drawn criticism that it risks undermining the EU's social and environmental ambitions.

🇺🇸 United States • Donald Trump has stepped up pressure on Republican lawmakers to block the full release of court records related to Jeffrey Epstein, with a vote in the House of Representatives expected next week. A series of emails implicating the former president in the Epstein case has been released by the press. Despite this pressure, several Republican lawmakers support the call for transparency.

🇺🇸 United States - 🇦🇷 Argentina - 🇬🇹 Guatemala - 🇪🇨 Ecuador - 🇸🇻 El Salvador • A series of important trade agreements has been signed between Washington and these four Latin American countries, including targeted tariff reductions and the opening of new agricultural and digital markets. The United States also secured guaranteed access to strategic minerals, while the countries concerned committed to not taxing digital services and opening their markets to American products such as beef. An agreement was also signed between the United States and Switzerland.

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