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An unusually intense Mediterranean storm has brought torrential rains to Spain since the 29th, causing severe flooding that has claimed more than 150 lives, with the death toll continuing to rise. The rapid downpours have unleashed torrents of muddy water that destroyed homes and swept away residents, with the eastern region of Valencia being the hardest hit.

Southern and eastern Spain experienced heavy rains this week, and according to Spain’s meteorological agency, the town of Chiva near Valencia received a year’s worth of rainfall in just eight hours, leading to the most severe flooding in decades. The Spanish authorities have issued an urgent public alert, warning that the emergency situation is far from over and urging people to evacuate if necessary. Many Spaniards are outraged at the government for failing to issue timely flood warnings, as the torrential rains have turned streets into rivers, destroyed homes, disrupted transportation, and left many disaster victims injured or separated from their families.

This flood has already caused at least 150 deaths in Spain, with the number of missing persons difficult to determine as rescuers struggle to access remote areas. The death toll is expected to rise further. The Spanish government has declared a three-day national mourning period beginning on the 31st and continues its rescue efforts.

The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed that North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia's Kursk region to support Russian operations in Ukraine. This news has sparked widespread concern, as North Korea's involvement in the conflict may suggest challenges for Russia in maintaining sufficient troop levels. Reports indicate that approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russian border regions, including Kursk, to prepare for upcoming military actions.

According to intelligence from Ukraine and the United States, these North Korean forces include ground troops and other tactical support personnel. Ukrainian officials warn that this development could heighten the risks of the conflict, marking a significant flashpoint in international relations. As North Korea, Iran, and other allies increase their support for Russia, the likelihood of Western nations imposing additional diplomatic and economic pressures on Russia and its partners is also expected to rise.

Georgia held parliamentary elections on Sunday, with President Salome Zurabishvili condemning the elections as fraudulent. She called on the public to protest the election results and questioned the official outcome, which favored the ruling party.

Zurabishvili stated that the elections were entirely fabricated, declaring, "I do not recognize these elections." She accused Russia of being the suspected mastermind behind the electoral fraud, emphasizing that Georgia has become a victim of Russia's special operations—part of a modern form of hybrid warfare against the Georgian people, as well as a means of repressing Georgia's resistance to Russian influence.

In 2008, Georgia's attempt to join NATO led to a Russian invasion, resulting in the separatist region of South Ossetia breaking away from Georgia and becoming a Russian-ruled autonomous republic. The Georgian Dream party was founded in 2012 with a focus on improving relations with Russia, and it has been in power for a long time, implementing Russian-style laws. Many Georgians are concerned that the government is distancing itself from the West.

The Central Election Commission of Georgia reported that the ruling party, Georgian Dream, received 54.08% of the votes, while the main opposition coalition garnered 37.58%. This outcome could lead to closer ties between Georgia and Russia. President Zurabishvili stated that this election is crucial for determining whether Georgia will "embrace Europe" or remain "under Russian influence." The results may also bring a new setback to Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union.

Four opposition groups in Georgia have refused to accept the election results, accusing the ruling Georgian Dream party of ballot theft and fraud. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, stated that there must be a thorough clarification and resolution of the alleged violations, calling for a prompt, transparent, and independent investigation into the matter.

The 50th Japanese House of Representatives election took place on the 27th, marking one of the most intense elections in years. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito suffered a devastating defeat, delivering a significant blow to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The new parliamentary landscape will see a "small ruling party and large opposition" scenario. LDP election strategy chief Shinjiro Koizumi accepted responsibility for the loss and resigned to Ishiba this morning, with the resignation approved.

This election involved 465 seats, including 289 single-member districts and 176 proportional representation seats, with a total of 1,344 candidates registered—1,113 for single-member districts and 231 for proportional representation. Before the election, the ruling coalition held 279 seats (247 for the LDP and 32 for Komeito), but the election results yielded only 215 seats (191 for the LDP and 24 for Komeito), falling short of a majority (233 seats). The largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, surged from 98 seats before the election to 148 seats, while the total number of seats held by opposition parties and independents reached 250.

Sixty-seven-year-old Shigeru Ishiba became Japan's new prime minister after narrowly winning the LDP leadership election last month and subsequently called for early elections. During a speech on the 25th, Ishiba admitted, "The situation is extremely severe." He set a majority as his goal, stating that failing to meet this threshold would undermine his standing within the LDP and necessitate seeking other coalition partners or leading a minority government. Reports suggest that calls for Ishiba's resignation have begun to circulate within the LDP. However, Ishiba held a press conference this afternoon and stated that he would not resign.

According to various foreign media reports, Israel launched three waves of attacks against Iran early on the morning of the 26th (Saturday) in retaliation for Iran's ballistic missile strike on Israel earlier this month. The targets of the attacks were primarily military facilities, excluding energy infrastructure or nuclear power plants.

It is reported that four Iranian military personnel were killed in the strikes. Iran later stated that it has the "right" to defend itself but generally downplayed the incident, claiming that the damage to military sites was limited. Senior U.S. officials indicated that President Biden had previously urged Israel to exercise restraint in its retaliatory attacks against Iran to prevent escalating conflict between the two sides.

Israel named the operation "Operation Days of Repentance." Reports indicate that the first wave of attacks primarily targeted Iran's air defense systems, while the second and third waves focused on missile and drone bases as well as munitions production facilities. The Israeli Air Force reportedly gathered over Syria before flying into Iraqi airspace to launch air-to-ground missiles.

According to the Jerusalem Post, Israeli officials contacted Iran before the attacks to clarify which targets would and would not be struck. Experts believe Israel's relatively low-key response post-strike aimed to allow Iran the opportunity to downplay the incident and avoid further escalation, while also demonstrating that Israel's intelligence and military capabilities could penetrate deep into Iranian territory. Iran also seemed to take the opportunity to downplay the Israeli attacks, with state media showing calm streets in the capital Tehran, free-flowing traffic, and people going about their daily business, asserting that the attack resulted in minimal damage.

Although Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian stated that Iran "will respond decisively and appropriately to any act that infringes on its territory at the right time," he also urged the international community to take effective measures to prevent further escalation in the region. The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday in response to Iran's request.

On the 25th, U.S. authorities announced that the outbreak of serious E. coli linked to McDonald's four-ounce beef burgers has expanded, with a total of 75 reported cases, primarily in the western United States.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated on the 22nd that the "four-ounce beef burger" from McDonald's has been contaminated with E. coli, resulting in 49 cases across 10 states, with ages ranging from 13 to 88 years, including 10 hospitalizations and 1 death. The CDC initially suspects that the source of contamination may be the onions used in the burgers.

In the 13 states where cases have been reported, McDonald's restaurants have temporarily removed the four-ounce beef burger from their menu but continue to offer other items, including beef burgers. The supplier of McDonald's onions, Taylor Farms, located in California, has also initiated an urgent recall of multiple batches of onions produced at their California facility starting on the 23rd.

In response, McDonald's Taiwan issued a statement indicating that the shredded onions used in their four-ounce beef burgers are sourced from New Zealand, while the beef patties come from Paraguay and New Zealand/Australia, all of which are different from the sources in the United States. According to the supplier's self-inspection report, all ingredients meet relevant standards.

On the 23rd, a shooting and bombing incident occurred at the headquarters of Turkey's state-owned aerospace company, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS/TAI), resulting in at least 5 deaths and 22 injuries. Two assailants were also shot dead. Turkish authorities believe the attack was a terrorist act orchestrated by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Located in the suburbs of Ankara, TAI is a key player in Turkey's aerospace industry, engaged in the design, development, and manufacturing of various commercial and military aircraft. It is also designated as an authorized manufacturer of the U.S.-designed F-16 fighter jet for NATO member countries. On the 23rd, a male and a female gunman entered the company building and opened fire, killing 4 TAI employees and injuring 22 others. Another victim was a taxi driver, who is suspected to have been killed during a robbery by the assailants.

Turkish authorities consider this incident to be a terrorist attack planned by the PKK, which has long been in conflict with the Turkish government. Within hours of the attack, the Turkish Ministry of Defense conducted airstrikes on several PKK targets located in northern Iraq and Syria, reportedly resulting in numerous PKK members being killed.

Guyana’s President, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, left, is presented with the FOWPAL Peace Bell Award by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, after ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military will conduct the 17th joint large-scale exercise, "Keen Sword," starting on October 23 for a duration of 10 days. This exercise will involve approximately 45,000 personnel and aims to strengthen the joint response and operational capabilities of the Japan-U.S. forces to ensure Japan's security, without targeting any specific country.

The "Keen Sword" exercises will take place from October 23 to November 1 around the "Nansei Islands," from Amami Oshima in Kagoshima Prefecture to Okinawa Prefecture. About 33,000 members of the Japan Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces will participate, alongside approximately 12,000 personnel from the U.S. Pacific Forces and U.S. forces stationed in Japan. The exercises are expected to involve 40 ships, 370 aircraft, 6 F-22 stealth fighters, and 6 F-35B jets, marking the first time civilian airports and ports will be utilized, with around 30 locations being requisitioned. Additionally, some troops from Australia and Canada will participate, and observers from Western and NATO member countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, the Philippines, India, and Lithuania, have been invited.

The exercise will include joint anti-ship combat, integrated air and missile defense, island defense, ensuring maritime transport security, protection of critical facilities, frontline weapons and fuel supply, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training. On the same day, Japan's Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Keisuke Yoshida, and U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Stephen Koehler held a joint press conference aboard the USS San Diego at the U.S. Navy base in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, emphasizing that unilateral changes to the status quo in the Indo-Pacific region through the use of force will not be tolerated. They highlighted the importance of Japan-U.S. cooperation in enhancing deterrence to protect Japan's security.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Ukraine on the 21st and announced a new $400 million military aid package to further strengthen U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. This visit underscores the partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine and reaffirms the commitment to continue providing essential military supplies and support.

Austin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials in the capital, Kyiv, to discuss the current situation and defense needs. The focus of this round of aid is to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities, improve logistical support and resupply, and further strengthen ground combat technical capabilities.

The $400 million military assistance will cover enhancements to air defense systems, replenishment of ammunition and equipment, and logistics and maintenance support. During the discussions, Austin stated that this aid package demonstrates the United States' steadfast support for the Ukrainian people. He also urged the international community to increase assistance to Ukraine, highlighting the importance of global cooperation in the current situation.

President Zelensky expressed gratitude for the aid, noting that such military support is crucial for Ukraine's defense against aggression and for maintaining national security. He reiterated Ukraine's determination to restore peace and stated that the Ukrainian military would continue to work tirelessly to defend its territorial integrity.

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the United States has provided multiple rounds of aid to Ukraine, totaling billions of dollars. U.S. officials emphasize that this assistance is aimed at helping Ukraine protect its territory and sovereignty within the framework of international law.