Reuters World News Summary

The statement by Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi more than two years since Russia's invasion reflected the grim mood in Kyiv as vital U.S. military aid that Kyiv expected to receive months ago remains stuck in Congress. Sirens, blasts sound across Israel after Iran launches retaliatory attack Iran launched a swarm of explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first ever direct attack on Israeli territory, risking a major escalation as the United States pledged "ironclad" backing for Israel.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Ukraine's army chief says eastern front under intense Russian assault

Ukraine's army chief said on Saturday the situation on the eastern front had worsened in recent days as Russia has intensified its armoured assaults and battles rage for control of a village west of the devastated city of Bakhmut. The statement by Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi more than two years since Russia's invasion reflected the grim mood in Kyiv as vital U.S. military aid that Kyiv expected to receive months ago remains stuck in Congress.

Sirens, blasts sound across Israel after Iran launches retaliatory attack

Iran launched a swarm of explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first ever direct attack on Israeli territory, risking a major escalation as the United States pledged "ironclad" backing for Israel. Sirens wailed and Reuters journalists in Israel said they heard distant heavy thuds and bangs from what local media called aerial interceptions of explosive drones. The ambulance service said a 10-year-old boy was critically injured.

Abortion rights activists rally in Florida as issue moves to center of U.S. election

Thousands of reproductive rights supporters rallied on Saturday in Florida to support a voter referendum that would enshrine abortion protections into the state constitution, an effort Democrats hope will boost their chances to win the Southern state in November's presidential election. Activists in Arizona – where a similar ballot measure campaign is ongoing – have announced a rally on Sunday in Scottsdale to protest the decision from the state's highest court on Tuesday reviving a 160-year-old abortion ban.

Sydney stabbing that killed 6 was not an ideological attack, police say

Sydney police on Sunday ruled out terror or ideology as a motive after a man killed six people in a random stabbing attack on Saturday in one of the city's busiest shopping centres. Police were called to the Westfield Bondi Junction mall in the city's east just before 4 p.m. (0600 GMT) on Saturday after the stabbing reports.

Brazil authorities open investigations into boat with decomposed bodies

The Brazilian federal prosecutors office and Para state's federal police said in statements on Saturday that they will open investigations following reports of a boat found with decomposed bodies off the coast of the northern Brazilian state.

Federal police say experts and forensic teams have been deployed to the remote area.

Reaction to Iran's drone, missile attack on Israel

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday, in an attack that could lead to a major escalation between the regional archenemies. Here is some reaction to the attack from official statements and postings on social media:

Cable car accident kills one and prompts massive rescue effort in southern Turkey

One person was killed and 10 others injured in the southern Turkish province of Antalya when a cable car cabin collided with a broken pole, prompting a massive operation that rescued a further 174 passengers, Turkish officials said on Saturday. Turkish prosecutors launched an investigation and ordered the detention of 13 people in relation to the incident, including officials from the private company running the cable car, Justice Minister Tunc Yilmaz told reporters.

Israelis rally against government amid deadlock on Gaza hostages

Thousands of Israelis rallied against their government on Saturday, with some demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu call off the half-year-old war in Gaza amid a deadlock in diplomatic efforts to retrieve hostages held there by Hamas.

Hamas-led gunmen seized 253 people during an Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 others, according to officials. Some hostages were freed in a November truce but Egyptian- and Qatari-mediated efforts to secure another deal appear to have stalled.

Biden returns to Washington as Iran launches attack on Israel

U.S. President Joe Biden returned to Washington on Saturday to consult with his national security team as Iran launched a retaliatory drone and missile attack on Israel. Biden cut his weekend trip to Delaware short to monitor developments and meet with Cabinet members and other top U.S. officials, the White House said.

Can Israel's ultra-Orthodox military volunteers help defuse the battle over conscription?

Yossi Levi is a member of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, whose exemption from compulsory military service is dividing Israel and threatens to topple its government. He is also a major in the infantry reserves of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). The long-standing military waiver for the ultra-Orthodox has sparked waves of protest in recent weeks by more secular Israelis, angry that they are shouldering the risk and drudgery of fighting the war in Gaza, now six months old. In city streets, ultra-Orthodox demonstrators have scuffled with combat veterans who sport khaki shirts and hoist national flags.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)