In October 2024, North Korea sent troops to Russia to aid its war efforts against Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, the conflict has attracted substantial international attention, with the US emerging as one of Ukraine’s primary supporters. The involvement of North Korean troops could signal a major shift in Moscow’s strategy in the war.

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On the evening of Oct. 18, the island of Cuba experienced a blackout, leaving 10 million residents without power.

On Oct. 16, 2024, Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), was killed by the Israeli military.

Vikash Yadav, a self-identified “senior field officer” in the Indian government, was indicted by the US Attorney's Office on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, implicating him in the foiled murder plot of US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an attorney and vocal Sikh advocate, earlier this year.

On Oct. 11, the government of Nicaragua announced it would sever all diplomatic ties with Israel.