CBS News reported that the U.S. struck Iran’s Qeshm Island, which officials described as a defensive action. The report featured retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Robert Murrett and noted that the strikes came as Americans prepared to vote in the midterm elections.
Key Facts
The U.S. struck Iran’s Qeshm Island, according to the report.
Officials described the strikes as defensive.
Retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Robert Murrett discussed the strikes in the CBS News segment.
The report linked the timing of the strikes to the U.S. midterm election day.
The segment was listed as about two minutes long.
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A jury at Southwark Crown Court has begun considering verdicts in Russell Brand’s trial on seven charges of rape and sexual assault-related offences. Brand has pleaded not guilty, and the judge told the jury that any verdict must be unanimous.
Key Facts
The charges include three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.
The allegations involve six women and events said to have occurred between 1999 and 2009.
Brand told the court that his past sexual behaviour was consensual and denied committing any crime.
Prosecutors said the women described incidents in which Brand ignored their refusals and used force.
Brand’s barrister argued that the sexual encounters were lawful and said the publicity surrounding earlier allegations affected the case.
Brand’s wife, Laura, testified for the defence and described him as caring and kind.
The criminal allegations concern women different from those in a 2023 television and newspaper investigation.
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Reform UK councillor George Madgwick has been charged with 35 offences, including 12 counts of rape, the Crown Prosecution Service said. The allegations concern four people who were aged 16 or 17 at the time; Madgwick is due in court on 25 November and has been suspended from the party.
Key Facts
Madgwick, 37, leads Reform UK on Hampshire County Council.
The charges include 12 counts of rape, two of sexual assault, two of assault by penetration, and three offences involving indecent images of a child.
He has also been charged with making a threat to kill, false imprisonment and stalking.
Police said the alleged offences took place between 2008 and 2021 in Portsmouth and Wales.
Hampshire Police said they began investigating on 24 July last year after receiving a report of a sexual offence.
Police arrested a man in Wandsworth, south-west London, on 6 January.
Madgwick is due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on 25 November.
The CPS said the case is active and reminded the public that Madgwick has the right to a fair trial.
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Philippe Jaenada won France’s Prix Goncourt for L’Inconnue du quai de Javel, a true-crime book about the unsolved 1949 murder of Louise Cansot. The book revisits the investigation and presents a more sympathetic portrait of Cansot, whose reputation was damaged by police conclusions and press reports at the time.
Key Facts
The Académie Goncourt announced Jaenada as this year’s winner on Tuesday.
Cansot, a 29-year-old from Brittany, was found dead on 7 September 1949.
Police never identified Cansot’s killer.
Cansot worked as a life model for artists in Paris’s Montparnasse district.
The original police report described Cansot as a woman of “ill repute,” and newspaper reports speculated she was a sex worker or drug addict.
Jaenada’s 530-page book suggests a possible murderer and seeks to correct the earlier portrayal of Cansot.
The prize’s longlist had been overshadowed by allegations that a different book was almost entirely written by AI; its author denied the allegation.
Jaenada had previously been shortlisted for the Prix Goncourt four times.
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Palestine Action-inspired groups have spread from the United Kingdom to countries including Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain and France. They use direct action against arms manufacturers and other sites they say support Israel’s military operations, while police in Italy and elsewhere have detained activists during protests.
Key Facts
In November 2023, protesters spray-painted Leonardo’s headquarters in Rome after a Palestine Action protest shut down the company’s Edinburgh factory.
Palestine Action is a proscribed group in the United Kingdom.
Groups using the Palestine Action name operate in several countries, including Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain and France.
Palestine Action Canada activists raided and spray-painted a subsidiary of Israeli arms maker Elbit, the article says.
Palestine Action Italy has staged occupations at Leonardo facilities and runs direct-action training with other European groups.
Stop Arming Israel France targets French arms producers, while Global Sumud Flotilla Italy seeks to intercept ships carrying arms-related cargo.
Activists associated with Global Sumud Flotilla Italy used three small ships to intercept the Sundaid X, which they said carried military cargo.
Italian police detained activists over the interception, accusing them of disrupting public order.
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George Madgwick, leader of Reform UK's group on Hampshire County Council, has been charged with 35 offences involving four victims. The Crown Prosecution Service says the alleged offences took place between 2008 and 2021 in Portsmouth and Wales; Madgwick is due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on 25 November.
Key Facts
The Crown Prosecution Service announced the charges on Tuesday.
Madgwick is 37 years old.
He faces 35 charges involving four victims.
The charges include rape, sexual assault, controlling or coercive behaviour, and making indecent images of a child.
The alleged offences took place between 2008 and 2021 in Portsmouth and Wales.
Madgwick leads the Reform UK group on Hampshire County Council.
He is due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates' Court on 25 November.
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Four planes landed safely after bomb threats across Europe, including flights from Copenhagen, London, Manchester and Israel. Authorities reported no explosives on the flights that landed in Warsaw, Murcia and Modlin; the article did not give the results of checks on the flight that landed in Sofia.
Key Facts
Polish officials received threats involving two Warsaw-bound flights on Tuesday.
A Scandinavian Airlines flight from Copenhagen landed at Warsaw Chopin Airport, where a security check found no explosives.
A LOT flight from London Heathrow diverted to Warsaw Modlin Airport and landed without incident; authorities found no explosives.
Modlin Airport temporarily closed after the threat, then reopened and resumed normal operations.
A Ryanair flight from Manchester made an emergency landing in Murcia, Spain; a regional official said no explosives were found.
A flight from Israel landed in Sofia, Bulgaria, after a separate bomb threat.
The previous day, a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Sofia diverted to Budapest after a threat received during the flight.
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French writer Philippe Jaenada won the 2026 Prix Goncourt, France’s prestigious literary prize. The award carries a symbolic prize of 10 euros but can bring the winner wider recognition and increased book sales.
Key Facts
The Prix Goncourt jury awarded the 2026 prize to Philippe Jaenada.
The jury announced its decision on Monday.
The jury made the decision at a Paris restaurant.
The prize’s cash award is 10 euros.
Winning the prize can boost an author’s recognition and book sales.
FRANCE 24 culture reporter Olivia Salazar-Winspear reported from the restaurant.
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Two helicopters carrying trekkers collided near Pheriche village, below Mount Everest base camp in Nepal. The crash killed a 47-year-old tourist from India and injured a passenger from New Zealand and a Nepali pilot, officials said.
Key Facts
The helicopters collided while trying to land at Pheriche, which sits 13,780 feet above sea level.
Officials said the injured New Zealand passenger was being taken to Kathmandu for treatment.
The Nepali pilot was treated locally.
Authorities did not know how many people were aboard the two helicopters.
Helicopters help evacuate sick or exhausted trekkers because there are no roads in the Everest area.
The trek from Lukla to Everest base camp can take up to two weeks; the base camp sits at 17,380 feet.
A hotel fire in nearby Dingboche on Oct. 30 caused no reported injuries or deaths.
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President Donald Trump said the United States would stop sending funding packages to Israel by the end of 2026, citing an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump said the United States could still assist Israel if needed but did not specify what support might continue.
Key Facts
Trump made the remarks in an interview with Fox News’ Fox & Friends.
Trump said he and Netanyahu had agreed months ago to end the payments by the end of this year.
Trump referred to the annual amount as $4 billion.
The United States currently provides Israel about $3.8 billion in military aid each year, according to the article.
The U.S.-Israel memorandum of understanding covering the aid is due to expire in 2028.
Netanyahu has said he hopes Israel can end its reliance on U.S. military aid, a process he said could take about a decade.
Trump did not explain what type of assistance the United States might continue providing.
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The Israeli opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot pledged to form a government quickly and remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The bloc has not set out a clear path, amid divisions over whether to work with Arab lawmakers and a parliament in which Netanyahu’s camp holds more seats.
Key Facts
Eisenkot leads the Israeli opposition bloc.
The bloc pledged on Tuesday to form a government quickly to oust Netanyahu.
Opposition leaders remain divided over whether to ally with Arab lawmakers.
Arab-majority parties won 19 seats in the 120-member parliament last week.
Eisenkot’s opposition bloc won 48 seats.
Netanyahu’s camp secured 53 seats, including 27 for his Likud party.
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The U.S. military carried out limited strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, U.S. officials said. The report provides no further details about the targets, casualties, or the reason for the strikes.
Key Facts
U.S. forces conducted strikes on Monday.
The military described the strikes as limited.
The targets were Iranian and located in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. officials confirmed the operation.
The report does not state whether the strikes caused casualties.
The report does not provide details about the targets or the operation’s purpose.
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Police arrested a third teenage boy after five teenagers were stabbed at a Halloween party in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire. Two victims remain in hospital with serious injuries, including a 17-year-old in life-threatening condition; police are reviewing footage and seeking information from witnesses.
Key Facts
Police were called to Park Road shortly after 22:30 GMT on Saturday after an unknown group entered the party.
A 16-year-old boy from Bristol was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody.
Two other boys arrested on Monday also remain in custody.
Five teenagers were stabbed; three have been discharged from hospital.
One of the two teenagers still in hospital is 17 and has life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses said a fight began after a group came over a garden fence, but the motive for the stabbings was unclear.
Hampshire Police said they are reviewing video footage and information from witnesses.
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President Donald Trump said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed months ago to end U.S. aid to Israel this year. Trump made the statement in an interview with “Fox and Friends.”
Key Facts
Trump said the United States will cut off $4 billion in aid to Israel.
He said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the agreement months ago.
Trump said U.S. aid to Israel will end this year.
He discussed the agreement in an interview with “Fox and Friends.”
The article title says Trump blamed a bad “talking point.”
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A High Court judge rejected a celebrity’s request for a permanent injunction to stop two news organisations from publishing his identity and allegations of sexual misconduct. The judge kept a temporary injunction in place while the celebrity has time to appeal, so his identity and the allegations remain subject to reporting restrictions for now.
Key Facts
The celebrity sought a permanent ban on publication of his identity and the allegations.
The court denied the request for a permanent injunction.
Mr Justice Nicklin ordered the temporary injunction to remain in force during the period allowed for an appeal.
The restrictions currently prevent the celebrity from being named and the allegations from being published.
ITN and the Guardian said they believe publication of the allegations is in the public interest.
The allegations concern attempts to engage in inappropriate sexual activity with girls and young women.
The celebrity denies the allegations and told the court publication would be highly likely to lead him to kill himself.
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Collins English Dictionary named “mogging” its word of the year for 2026. The slang term, popular among Generations Z and Alpha, saw a 210% increase in usage, according to the article.
Key Facts
“Mogging” grew in usage by 210% in 2026.
The word has spread among members of Generations Z and Alpha.
The article says people use the term both online and in everyday conversation.
Collins’ lexicographers consider how often words appear and study patterns of usage.
Collins managing director Alex Beecroft said the choice reflects how each generation influences language.
BBC culture correspondent Noor Nanji explains the meaning of “mogging” in the video.
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Victoria’s Community and Public Sector Union says it will not support the Labor government in the state election on 28 November. The union cites public service job cuts and $1.2 billion in consultant spending, while both Labor and the Coalition have proposed limits on public service staffing.
Key Facts
The CPSU’s Victorian branch secretary, Jiselle Hanna, said the union cannot support Labor without a commitment to no public service job cuts.
The union plans to announce its decision on Wednesday and has launched a campaign urging voters not to back candidates who propose job cuts.
The Victorian government cut about 1,000 Victorian public service roles, including more than 300 executive positions, and merged several government entities.
The government says those changes saved $4 billion and did not affect frontline roles.
The CPSU says its analysis of government annual reports found Labor spent $1.2 billion on consultants across 10 departments since 2017-18.
The Department of Treasury and Finance had the highest reported consultant spending, at about $222 million since 2017.
The Coalition has promised an indefinite hiring freeze for back-office public service roles if elected, saying it would save $22 billion over a decade.
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The article examines the difficulty of striking Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain, an underground facility near Natanz that Israeli intelligence assessments say may house uranium-enrichment equipment and enriched uranium. It says the site’s depth and defenses could make it harder to destroy than other Iranian nuclear facilities, while noting that Tucker Carlson offered no evidence for his claim that a nuclear strike is being considered.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump said U.S. forces might have to “go after” Pickaxe Mountain and called it no “big deal.”
Pickaxe Mountain, also known as Mount Kolang, is near Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.
Israeli intelligence assessments say Iran moved uranium-enrichment centrifuges to the site after earlier strikes and may have moved enriched uranium there as well.
The facility’s halls and tunnels are estimated to be at least 300 feet beneath solid granite.
The article says Israel lacks bombs capable of attacking the site and questions whether the U.S. Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs used against Fordow could destroy it.
The White House said Carlson has no insight into military planning or the president’s thinking.
The article says Iran has designed and reinforced the facility’s entrances and could clear blockages after an attack.
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International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane accused the Trump administration of trying to suppress global justice by imposing sanctions on the court. Akane addressed the United Nations by videoconference because of the sanctions and said the efforts would not succeed.
Key Facts
Tomoko Akane is the president of the International Criminal Court.
Akane accused the Trump administration of trying to obstruct international justice.
The administration imposed sanctions on the ICC.
Akane briefed the United Nations by videoconference because of the sanctions.
Akane described the circumstances as extraordinary.
Akane said efforts to suppress global justice would not succeed.
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U.S. officials confirmed that the United States carried out defensive strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island. They said the strikes followed an attack on a U.S. aircraft. The article describes the strikes as occurring ahead of Election Day.
Key Facts
U.S. officials confirmed the strikes.
The strikes targeted Iran’s Qeshm Island.
Officials described the strikes as defensive.
A U.S. aircraft came under fire before the strikes.
The article says the strikes took place ahead of Election Day.
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