Cars pile up after historic floods in Spain
Historic flooding in Valencia, Spain, has killed at least 95 people and caused widespread damage. A year’s worth of rain fell in just eight hours, inundating farmland and flooding highways, leaving cars and trucks stranded on the freeway.
Rescuers are using sniffer dogs to search for victims in mud and debris. The emergency has forced the suspension of trains, schools and many services in the affected areas.
Hezbollah announces successor to assassinated leader
On October 29, Hezbollah announced that its deputy leader Naim Qassem, 71, would succeed leader Hassan Nasrallah after he was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Hezbollah's Shura Council elected Qassem as the new leader.
Qassem was appointed deputy leader by Abbas al-Musawi in 1991 and continued to serve under Nasrallah. Since Nasrallah's death on September 27, Qassem has appeared on television, calling for support for ceasefire efforts with Israel.
Israel attacks across Gaza, at least 46 people killed
On October 31, the Israeli military launched strikes across several areas of the Gaza Strip, killing at least 46 people. Local health officials said the casualties were concentrated in northern Gaza, where an attack on the Kamal Adwan hospital set fire to medical supplies and disrupted patient care.
Israel accused Hamas of using the hospital as a military base, a charge Hamas denied. In addition, airstrikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp also killed 16 people, including medical staff and journalists.
North Korea fires intercontinental missile ahead of US election
On the morning of October 31, North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Pyongyang area into the sea, just days before the US presidential election. According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile was detected at 7:10 a.m.
Japan's Defense Ministry said the missile flew for 1 hour and 26 minutes, reaching a record range and landing outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The US National Security Council confirmed the launch violated multiple UN resolutions.
Germany orders closure of all Iranian consulates
On October 31, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced the closure of three Iranian consulates in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich in response to the execution of Jamshid Sharmahd, a dual German and Iranian citizen.
Germany has repeatedly warned Tehran of the consequences of carrying out the execution of a German citizen. Germany will also push for EU-wide sanctions against the individuals involved. Iran immediately protested, calling the move “unjustified,” and summoned Germany’s charge d’affaires in Tehran in protest.
