Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian refineries as Zelenskiy says ‘we’re done’ – Reuters

  1. Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian refineries as Zelenskiy says 'we're done'  Reuters
  2. Ukraine to resume strikes on Russian refineries, Zelenskyy says  Financial Times
  3. Ukraine to resume strikes on Russia’s oil refineries, Zelensky tells FT  CNN
  4. Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Resume Russian Refinery Strikes, Defying Trump  The New York Times
  5. Ukraine to resume strikes on Russian refineries, shattering hopes of an 'energy ceasefire'  CNBC
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Thursday briefing: Thanks to an erratic Trump, peace in Ukraine is still far away

In today’s newsletter: As Russia resists a ceasefire and Trump’s shifting priorities unsettle allies, an end to the conflict isn’t getting any closer

Good morning. In his usual asinine unconventional approach to international relations, Donald Trump announced on Sunday (via Truth Social, how else) an “ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine”, apparently without checking with either side. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said any such deal was “news to me,” nonetheless declared he was “ready and we will accept it”. Vladimir Putin responded by blowing up some Ukrainian power plants.

This has been the tenor of much diplomacy during Trump’s tenure: false starts, U-turns, incoherent positions (and some playful flirting with Vlad). Meanwhile fighting continues, and America’s allies attempt to manage the fallout. Andy Burnham hosted Zelenskyy at Downing Street yesterday, stating the UK is doubling down on its support for Ukraine, and pointedly calling on others to “follow suit”.

UK | Sally Rooney has said she is being forced to withdraw her books from sale in the UK because of her support for the banned organisation Palestine Action.

Gaza | Israel is refusing to allow a key military outpost project for Donald Trump’s Board of Peace to proceed in Gaza, the Guardian has learned.

EU | Britain will benefit from much closer trading relations with the EU even if that means giving up its ability to negotiate free trade agreements, the Scotland secretary has said.

Ukraine | Ukraine’s military has suddenly had its access to Starlink satellite internet terminals restricted as the Trump administration has increased pressure on Ukraine to immediately halt long-range strikes on Russia’s oil industry.

Vaccine | Guinea-Bissau has not approved the controversial hepatitis B study in newborns that would be funded by the US government and private partners, the African country’s minister of health said.

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‘Manosphere’ podcasts and moon-landing conspiracy theories to remain online under new laws, Wells says

Communications minister rebuts claims that Labor’s digital duty of care laws would lead to government control of speech

Australians could still “listen to manosphere podcasts” or “say the moon landing was fake” under proposed new online safety laws, Anika Wells has stressed as she rubbished claims they would lead to government censorship

The communications minister also said she was considering updates to the digital duty of care laws to allow individual Australians to directly sue big tech companies flouting the new rules. This has been a key demand from the Greens for their support for the laws, while the Coalition accuses Labor of plans to “secretly control Australian speech”.

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Russia turns to new tactics to destroy Ukraine’s energy grid this winter for good – The Kyiv Independent

  1. Russia turns to new tactics to destroy Ukraine’s energy grid this winter for good  The Kyiv Independent
  2. Why Russia Sees a Window to Bomb Ukraine Into Submission This Winter  The New York Times
  3. Attacks on Ukraine’s power plants show Russia has given up on military victory  The Guardian
  4. ‘Sodcit’ – after battlefield setbacks, Russia returns to destroying Ukraine’s morale  The Conversation
  5. Will Ukraine survive the winter?  Al Jazeera
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Why Hamas Cheered Navi Pillay’s Nobel Peace Prize – The Dispatch

  1. Why Hamas Cheered Navi Pillay’s Nobel Peace Prize  The Dispatch
  2. Opinion | The Nobel Committee’s Bias and Moral Failing  WSJ
  3. My relative defined ‘genocide.’ Honoring him means scrutinizing Navi Pillay’s Israel findings.  Jewish Telegraphic Agency
  4. And the Nobel Prize for Antisemitism Goes to. . .  The Free Press
  5. Is the Whole World Wrong?  Tablet Magazine
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Parents of Chloe Moffat want Treasury staff held to account over her death

Exclusive: David and Anne Moffat to meet permanent secretary after coroner found Treasury ‘materially contributed’ to employee taking her own life

The parents of a woman who killed herself after facing disciplinary proceedings at the Treasury will call for anyone found to have contributed to their daughter’s death to be held to account.

A coroner found in August that the Treasury had “materially contributed” to Chloe Moffat’s death after the 26-year-old personal assistant was called into a surprise disciplinary meeting about anonymous complaints alleging she had disclosed sensitive information at work, which she denied.

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Victoria to become first state to make abortions free as Coalition matches Labor election promise

Exclusive: Out-of-pocket costs for abortion care to be covered regardless of who wins November election as Jess Wilson says Liberals and Nationals ‘will not allow Labor to play politics on this issue’

Victoria will become the first state in Australia to make access to abortion care free, no matter who wins the November election, with the Coalition matching Labor’s promise just hours after it was announced as it attempts to neutralise the issue.

The opposition leader, Jess Wilson, on Thursday afternoon told Guardian Australia a Liberal National Coalition government would match Labor’s commitment to cover out-of-pocket costs for abortion care up to 16 weeks’ gestation. This would include GP and specialist consultations, scans, tests or medication, which can quickly add up to more than $1,000.

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Greens senator Jordon Steele-John takes leave amid investigation into complaints

Steele-John said he rejected the claims and had referred them to the Western Australian Greens for a ‘fair, independent process’

Greens senator Jordon Steele-John has taken leave from the party room after complaints were made, triggering an independent review.

The Nine newspapers reported on Thursday afternoon that seven party members demanded an investigation into allegations he made inappropriate comments to a number of women between 2017 and 2025.

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Verse from the waste land: Rotterdam’s poetic bin lorries granted cultural status

Lyrical lines printed on side of city’s fleet of rubbish trucks now recognised as one of Netherlands’ proud traditions

It is best known for its rich migration history and striking modern architecture. But now the Dutch city of Rotterdam is seeking recognition for a rather different characteristic: its tradition of printing poetry on bin trucks.

Since a poetry festival first came up with the idea in 1988, lines of verse have been printed on all of the city’s waste vehicles. The practice was this week elevated to the status of intangible cultural heritage, with formal recognition from a Dutch body that guards the nation’s traditions.

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Desperate to clear toxic haze, Indonesia douses its skies with dry ice – BBC

  1. Desperate to clear toxic haze, Indonesia douses its skies with dry ice  BBC
  2. Indonesia's president ready to accept foreign assistance to combat fires, foreign minister says  Reuters
  3. Indonesia fights fire with dry ice as toxic haze spreads across region  The Guardian
  4. Wildfire traps firefighters and volunteers in Indonesia’s Mount Bromo national park, killing 4  AP News
  5. ‘Forgive us’: Indonesians urge Singapore, Malaysia to sue Jakarta over haze  South China Morning Post
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Iranian attacks sink two ships in Strait of Hormuz – The Washington Post

  1. Iranian attacks sink two ships in Strait of Hormuz  The Washington Post
  2. Two ships sink near Hormuz after being hit by projectiles amid surge in attacks  Reuters
  3. Attacks on Tankers in Mideast Surge, but Oil Exports Remain Steady  The New York Times
  4. Two cargo ships sunk in Strait of Hormuz as Iran ramps up attacks in run-up to midterms  CNN
  5. Container ship sinks in Strait of Hormuz as Iran steps up attacks  CNBC
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