The Pentagon said that Turkish airstrikes in Syria "directly threatened" US troops,a Syrian rocket attack against a Turkish border town killed two,the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda agreed on a ceasefire - which was later rejected by militant group M23 -and Pakistan's army chief admitted to the military's political interference.Meanwhile, Iran boosted its production of enriched uranium,South Korea looked to expand its arms exports,and Germany announced plans to withdraw troops from Mali by 2024.In other news, fighting between armed groups in Colombia left at least 18 dead,a car bomb in Thailand killed one and injured nearly 30,and twin blasts in Jerusalem killed one and injured several others.

With Ukrainians continuing to face electricity and hot water shortages this week,officials evacuated residents from the southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv on Monday, citing fears that the limited energy supply - caused by Russian strikes - would produce unlivable conditions this winter.These strikes continued throughout the week, leaving a large part of the country without power on Wednesday and prompting Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy to call for a UN Security Council meeting.Power had reportedly been restored to 90 percent of residential buildings in Kyiv by Sunday.Energy concerns weren't limited to Ukraine, as EU countries met on Thursday to discuss a proposed G7 cap on Russian oil.The conference, however, was unsuccessful as EU nations remained divided on the topic, with a report claiming that several officials are displeased with the US, which they accuse of profiteering from the war as Europe struggles.Despite these strains, European officials pledged to help address Ukraine's energy crisis by launching the "Generators of Hope" initiative on Friday, which called on 200 cities to donate generators.In further aid to Ukraine, the UK announced on Wednesday that it would send helicopters to Kyiv for the first time.Meanwhile, as Ukraine commemorated the 90th anniversary of Holodomor on Saturday - the artificial famine of 1932-33 under Soviet leader Joseph Stalin - the country's foreign minister urged international partners to recognize it as a genocide and compared it to today's conflict.

Kazakh's Pres. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won reelection,Brazil's electoral court fined Jair Bolsonaro's party over $4M for "bad faith litigation,"Japan's PM Fumio Kishida lost his third minister in under a month,and, after Malaysia's election ended in a hung parliament,Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah appointed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as PM.Meanwhile, the EU designated Russia a state sponsor of terrorism,a UK court denied Scotland's independence referendum,UK PM Rishi Sunak denied reports of a Swiss-like post-Brexit EU deal,net migration reached a record high of 500K in the UK,and the EU raised the alarm over a car plates dispute between Kosovo and Serbia, with the two nations later reaching a deal.In other news, the US House GOP leader planned a special committee on China,VP Kamala Harris reaffirmed the US's "unwavering commitment" to the Philippines,and PM Justin Trudeau testified in Canada's Emergencies Act inquiry.

Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Mary Peltola both won reelection,House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy called on the Homeland security chief to resign,the GOP alleged that the Pentagon is promoting harmful race and gender-based policies,and GOP-led states looked to preserve a Trump-era border policy.Meanwhile, SCOTUS ruled that Trumps taxes must be released to Congress,a US writer sued Trump for defamation and battery,CBS News verified the authenticity of data from Hunter Biden's laptop,the Senate Judiciary Committee announced plans to investigate a second potential SCOTUS leak,and a jury began deliberation in the Oath Keepers' Capitol riots trial.

Georgia reinstated its six-week abortion ban,and Alabama's governor suspended the state's executions.

A gunman killed six at a Virginia Walmart,five were killed in a Colorado LGBTQ+ nightclub shooting,and two Estonian men were arrested over a $575M cryptocurrency scheme.

US Pres. Joe Biden extended the student loan repayment pause,fears of a US railroad strike grew ahead of the holidays,and New Zealand delivered a record rate hike to fight inflation.

An analysis found that vaccinated people now make up a majority of US COVID deaths,a WHO and CDC report said that measles is an "imminent threat" to unvaccinated children,and an outbreak of avian flu wiped out over 50M birds in the US.

Elon Musk announced plans to reinstate suspended Twitter accounts,Walt Disney announced that former CEO Bob Iger would return,and Apple supplier Foxconn apologized for a hiring blunder at a COVID-hit plant in China following massive protests.

A "loss and damage" fund was adopted at the COP27 summit,an earthquake in Indonesia killed at least 271,Europe announced plans to fund a study on beaming solar energy from space,and a UN wildlife conference approved protections for over 500 species.

As the World Cup began in Qatar, European teams scrapped plans to wear LGBTQ+ "OneLove" armbands following FIFA sanctions threats,and Iranian players remained silent during the national anthem for their first match.Elsewhere, the British Premier League announced that Cristiano Ronaldo will be leaving Manchester United, following a controversial interview.

A factory fire killed at least 38 in central China..