Hello, you're listening to the free edition of the World in Brief from the Economist.

As a reminder, if you subscribe to the Economist, you'll get access to a deeper look at the day ahead, updated three times a day.

If you're already an Economist subscriber, visit economist.com slash espresso or visit our espresso app to start listening.

Here's today's free edition.

This is the World in Brief from the Economist.

Our top stories.

Hamas fighters are clashing with Israeli soldiers in Northeastern and Central Gaza, the militant group said.

The Israel defense forces confirmed that their troops were, quote, shooting and operating inside the enclave, but added that ground forces were, quote, inside Gaza yesterday as well, according to the New York Times.

Earlier, an IDF spokesperson said that Israel's ground troops were, quote, expanding their operations and ramping up air strikes as news outlets reported heavy explosions in Gaza.

Two major Palestinian mobile networks said their internet and phone services in the enclave were down.

The Palestinian red crescent said it, quote, completely lost contact with its headquarters there.

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with 120 countries backing it.

14 including America opposing and 45 abstaining.

Jordan introduced the resolution, which called for a, quote, humanitarian truce between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters and unfettered provision of aid.

An amendment proposed by Canada urging the body to recognize Hamas' attack on October 7 as terrorism failed to pass.

America struck two facilities in eastern Syria, used by Iranian-backed militant groups.

Lloyd Austin, America's defense secretary, said the, quote, self-defense strikes were a response to a series of Iranian-backed attacks on American troops in Iraq and Syria since October 17.

American officials believe Iran is hoping to redirect American resources away from Israel.

The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, the price index for core personal consumption expenditures, fell to an annual rate of 3.7% in September.

The figure, which strips out volatile items such as fuel, was down from 3.8% in August, and its lowest in two years.

It is good news for America's central bank, who meets to set interest rates next week.

Russia's central bank raised its benchmark rate by two percentage points to 15%, as it attempts to stabilize the weakening rubble and slow high inflation caused by the country's invasion of Ukraine.

...