Xi's Stroke Rumor

Hi Global Recap readers,

I’ve spent the past few hours trying to verify or debunk rumors that Xi Jinping has suffered a stroke, but there’s no solid evidence so far.

• An unverified report claims Xi is in critical condition, and one researcher suggests Premier Li Qiang (currently in North Korea) has been called back.

• The only apparent indicator will be whether Li abruptly leaves North Korea, but alternatively, this could be another test of loyalty by Xi ahead of a political purge.

For now, this is just another addition to the long list of rumors about Xi suffering a stroke. Time will tell.

Now, let’s turn to a story of the US sending troops to the Middle East. 👇️ 

🌐 WORLD
Fast Scroll News

🇺🇸 US Sending Troops

The US is deploying about 200 service members to Israel to help monitor and enforce the Gaza ceasefire deal brokered this week.

• Mission: The troops will form a civil-military coordination center in Israel to manage humanitarian aid, logistics, and security tied to the ceasefire.

• Composition: The team will include US Central Command personnel with expertise in transportation, planning, and engineering, alongside forces from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE.

• Limits: Officials stressed that no American soldiers will enter Gaza itself, with operations confined to Israel.

• Leadership: Adm. Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, has been tasked with setting up a command post within two and a half weeks, working closely with envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

• Deal: The ceasefire’s first phase requires Hamas to release remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

🇧🇪 Belgium Foils Jihadi Attack

Belgian prosecutors say they thwarted a terror cell that planned to target Prime Minister Bart de Wever and other politicians in Antwerp.

• Suspects: Police arrested two men in Antwerp on October 9, 2025, and are questioning them on charges of attempted terrorist murder and participation in a terrorist group.

• Method: Investigators found a device resembling an improvised explosive, a bag of steel balls, and evidence suggesting the use of a drone in the planned strike.

• Warning: Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot called the plot "extremely shocking" and urged vigilance against ongoing terrorist threats.

• History: Belgium has faced repeated attacks, including the March 2016 Brussels bombings that killed 32 people and the October 2023 shooting of two Swedish citizens in Brussels.

• Response: Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden said the operation likely prevented an attack from being carried out that same day.

🇭🇺 Hungary Spies On EU

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán secretly sent agents to infiltrate European Union institutions in Brussels for years (allegedly), according to a cross-border investigation.

• Network: Belgian newspaper De Tijd, with partners in Germany, Austria, and Hungary, uncovered that Hungary’s intelligence service ran undercover operatives inside EU offices.

• Recruitment: A Hungarian official at the European Commission was approached between 2015 and 2017 by a diplomat known only as "V." who tried to recruit him as a paid agent.

• Method: Meetings took place in Brussels parks, where "V." eventually presented a contract demanding the official’s signature to formalize his role as a "secret collaborator."

• Oversight: Investigators allege that Oliver Varhelyi, now EU Commissioner for health and animal welfare, supervised these operations while leading Hungary’s Permanent Representation to the EU.

• Reaction: The European Commission has already voted to launch an investigation into the allegations of Hungarian espionage.

🇳🇴 Norway Braces Trump

Norwegian leaders are openly preparing for Donald Trump’s reaction if he does not win the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, with some fearing tariffs, NATO demands, or even being labeled an enemy.

Others, however, dismiss the preparations as paranoia, overcaution, or political theater, arguing instead that Trump’s role in ending several recent conflicts (including the Gaza agreement) makes him a legitimate contender for the award.

• Warning: Kirsti Bergstø, head of Norway’s Socialist Left party, said Oslo must be "prepared for anything," citing Trump’s volatile record and disregard for institutional independence.

• Independence: The Nobel Committee finalized its decision on October 6, stressing that it operates separately from the Norwegian government, though Trump has repeatedly blurred that distinction.

• Pressure: Trump reportedly phoned Jens Stoltenberg, Norway’s finance minister and former NATO chief, in July to ask about the prize, and later told the UN he had ended seven "unendable wars."

• Critique: Arild Hermstad of Norway’s Green Party argued that peace prizes are earned through sustained commitment, not intimidation or social media outbursts.

🇺🇦 UKRAINE
Kyiv Plunged Into Blackout

Kyiv’s left bank is completely without power after Russia launched a "massive" wave of drones and ballistic missiles, leaving parts of the right bank also facing blackouts.

So far, nine people are injured, and entire districts are scrambling to restore basic services.

The Nighttime Barrage

The attack began in the early hours, and the sequence of strikes shows how Russia layered its assault.

• At 2:30 a.m. Kyiv time on October 10, 2025, Ukraine’s Air Force reported a ballistic missile threat heading toward the capital.

• By 2:48 a.m., drones were already approaching Kyiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Cherkasy, and Zaporizhzhia, with explosions heard across the city.

• Air defense systems engaged, but repeated detonations shook Kyiv for over an hour.

Infrastructure Hit Hard

The real target was not just the skyline but the city’s lifelines.

• Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko confirmed that the left bank lost all electricity, with water supply also disrupted.

• The right bank experienced rolling outages, though not as severe.

• Klitschko said at 4:15 a.m.: "Energy workers are working to restore electricity. The situation is difficult."

According to NetBlocks, live metrics of network connectivity in Kyiv show a noticeable drop during the reported attack, corroborating reports of its severity.

Here’s a view of Kyiv during a blackout:

Districts Under Fire

Damage was not limited to utilities; residential areas were also struck.

• In Pecherskyi district, drone debris hit a multi-story building, sparking fires on several floors. Rescuers evacuated 20 people, with 9 injured and 5 hospitalized.

• In Holosiivskyi district, the facade and windows of a ten-story building were blown out, and cars in the courtyard caught fire.

• In Desnianskyi and Podilskyi districts, missile debris landed in open areas, avoiding major structural damage.

Beyond Kyiv

• In Zaporizhzhia, drones struck residential areas, injuring three people. A 7-year-old boy later died in hospital from his injuries.

• In Dnipro, about 10 drones targeted the city, causing explosions and power outages through the night.

• Local officials confirmed multiple fires across both cities, with emergency crews working until morning.

What Comes Next

The strikes underline Russia’s continued focus on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as winter approaches.

• Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy confirmed that the attacks were aimed at critical energy facilities nationwide.

• Emergency crews are racing to restore power, but officials admit the grid remains highly vulnerable.

• Kyiv authorities urged residents to remain in shelters until the all-clear, warning that further strikes could follow.