U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said the United States will mediate working-level peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11. He said the talks would advance President Donald Trump’s effort to end the war.
Key Facts
Steve Witkoff announced the planned negotiations.
The United States will mediate the talks, according to Witkoff.
Ukraine and Russia are expected to take part.
The talks are scheduled for November 10–11.
The negotiations will take place in Abu Dhabi.
Witkoff described the discussions as working-level negotiations.
Witkoff said the talks would advance President Donald Trump’s mission to end the war.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A jury in a New South Wales Supreme Court trial heard voice notes Beau Lamarre-Condon sent in February 2024 to a man he had met on a dating app. Lamarre-Condon is accused of murdering Jesse Baird and Luke Davies; he has pleaded not guilty and says through his defence that the men were shot accidentally during struggles in which he acted in self-defence.
Key Facts
Lamarre-Condon, 31, is charged with two counts of murder and aggravated break and enter.
Prosecutors allege he fatally shot Baird and Davies with his police service weapon at Baird’s Paddington home on 19 February 2024.
A man who had casually dated Lamarre-Condon told the court they were not in a formal relationship.
In a voice note sent on 20 February, Lamarre-Condon said he had been sick, had surgery planned and was trying to get into a positive mindset.
Lamarre-Condon told the man he planned to cancel a boat party and said his plans depended on the surgery’s result.
In a voice note sent around midnight on 21 February, Lamarre-Condon said he had shut down his social media to take a mental break.
The jury had previously heard that Lamarre-Condon underwent minor surgery at St Vincent’s hospital on 21 February.
The defence says the shootings happened accidentally during separate struggles and that Lamarre-Condon acted in self-defence.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
U.S. media reported that the United States carried out limited, defensive strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, targeting air-defense missiles, though U.S. Central Command had not commented and Iranian reports said the cause of explosions was unclear. The reported strikes came as Vice-President JD Vance and President Donald Trump expressed optimism about a possible negotiated settlement, while Iran continued to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Key Facts
The Wall Street Journal first reported the strikes, and Reuters and the Associated Press reported that they targeted surface-to-air missiles used against U.S. assets.
Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island on Monday evening but said their cause was unclear.
U.S. Central Command had not immediately responded to a request for comment.
The Wall Street Journal said the reported strikes were part of recent attacks that had not been publicly disclosed.
Qeshm Island lies near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz and has been used to launch attacks on shipping, according to the article.
Iran continued to enforce the strait's closure by targeting vessels attempting to pass through it, the article said.
JD Vance said he and Trump saw potential for a negotiated settlement and that progress had been made.
Trump said there was a good chance of a deal and highlighted falling oil prices ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A U.S. official told The Associated Press that the United States carried out limited defensive strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes came as Washington and Tehran pursue negotiations, while regional officials said Israel's prime minister has urged President Donald Trump to consider a broader campaign.
Key Facts
The U.S. official said the strikes targeted Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against U.S. assets.
Iranian state television reported explosions on Qeshm Island.
The official said the strikes appeared limited and did not amount to a return to full-scale hostilities.
Thousands of U.S. troops remain in waters near Iran as part of a naval blockade, and another aircraft carrier and additional troops are on their way to the Middle East.
Vice President JD Vance said the administration saw potential for a negotiated settlement with Iran.
Qatari mediators held two rounds of talks with Iranian officials last week, according to two regional officials.
The regional officials said talks aim to end Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the U.S. lifting its blockade on Iranian ports.
Regional officials and another person familiar with the matter said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Trump to consider further strikes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. military carried out limited strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, three U.S. officials told CBS News. A senior official said the strikes hit Qeshm Island after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired at a U.S. aircraft.
Key Facts
Three U.S. officials confirmed the strikes to CBS News.
A senior U.S. official said the strikes targeted Iran’s Qeshm Island.
The official said the strikes followed an IRGC attack on an American aircraft.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the strikes on Monday.
The strikes took place on the eve of Election Day.
U.S. and Qatari mediators are working on talks toward a deal with Iran.
President Trump has raised the possibility of restarting hostilities with Iran after the midterms.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A U.S. official told the Associated Press that the United States carried out defensive strikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz after Iranians allegedly used surface-to-air missiles against U.S. assets. President Donald Trump said the United States had not fought Iran for months, while Vice President JD Vance cited recent talks and expressed optimism about a negotiated settlement.
Key Facts
The U.S. official said the strikes targeted Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against U.S. assets.
Iranian state television reported hearing explosions on Qeshm Island.
Trump said the United States had not been fighting Iran for months and said, “We won.”
Vance said the U.S. had held “a number of good conversations” with Iran and was optimistic about a negotiated settlement.
Trump said he was not considering striking Iran after the midterm elections when asked by reporters.
The White House said Trump had a wide range of options regarding Iran and would act to protect Americans.
AAA reported the national average price of regular gasoline was $4.17 per gallon on Monday.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
High pressure is expected to bring mostly dry, chilly weather to the UK during the first days of November, with sunny spells, scattered showers, and overnight frost or fog. Provisional Met Office figures show October was warmer, wetter, and sunnier than average, while England’s recent wet week was not enough to end the ongoing drought.
Key Facts
October rainfall across the UK was 13% above the typical level, according to provisional Met Office statistics.
Northern Scotland recorded rainfall 31% above its long-term October average.
October was the fifth-sunniest in the UK since records began in 1910.
The UK’s mean temperature in October was 0.9C above average.
October was the ninth consecutive month with above-average UK temperatures.
The Environment Agency said England had its wettest week in two years but still needed sustained above-average rainfall through winter to address drought.
High pressure is expected to keep much of the UK settled through the first part of November, though showers are possible in eastern and southern areas.
Overnight temperatures could fall below freezing in rural parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England, bringing a risk of frost and fog.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the United States struck Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, citing unnamed U.S. officials. The report came as President Donald Trump said a deal with Tehran could happen; U.S. officials had not publicly confirmed the strike, and U.S. Central Command did not immediately comment.
Key Facts
The Wall Street Journal described the reported attack as one of several limited U.S. strikes against Iran in recent weeks.
Qeshm is Iran’s largest island and lies in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported five explosions on the island and said some residents saw two aircraft overhead.
The Journal reported that some U.S. officials characterized the recent strikes as defensive, aimed at limiting Iran’s ability to attack commercial ships.
The United States had not publicly announced the reported strikes, according to the Journal.
Trump said on Monday that a deal with Tehran “could happen.”
Oil prices fell by more than 7% on Monday amid optimism about a possible end to the conflict.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. says it supports a phased plan for Venezuela that moves from stabilization and economic recovery to political reconciliation and democratic elections. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the plan with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Oliver Blanco, as opposition leader María Corina Machado called for elections in 2027 and questioned the transparency of a U.S.-linked oil deal.
Key Facts
The State Department said the U.S. reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s three-phase plan for Venezuela.
Rubio and Blanco discussed Venezuela’s political future at a meeting on Monday.
Machado said she had returned to Venezuela to organize a movement ahead of elections.
Machado said the plan set out a sequence toward presidential elections in 2027.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez said elections would be held but did not give a date.
The article says a September agreement would give a U.S.-linked venture rights to 17 Venezuelan oilfields for 100 years.
The article says the U.S. would hold a 35 percent stake in the venture and could buy 20 percent of its oil output at cost.
Machado said the oil agreement lacked the transparency Venezuelan society wanted.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island and in Bandar Lengeh on Monday. US media, citing American officials, reported that US forces carried out defensive strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz; neither government had publicly commented at the time of the report. The reports came amid diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed fighting and negotiations over reopening the strait.
Key Facts
Iran’s state-owned IRNA news agency reported several explosions in rapid succession on Qeshm Island late Monday.
Witnesses told IRNA they saw two planes flying over the island, which lies near the Strait of Hormuz.
The semi-official Fars news agency reported explosions in Bandar Lengeh, apparently coming from the direction of the sea.
The Wall Street Journal and Associated Press, citing US officials, reported that the US military carried out defensive strikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz.
An official cited by the AP said the strikes targeted Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets.
Fox News and Axios reporters said the strikes followed an IRGC attack on a US aircraft; the article did not independently confirm that account.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed it had captured two US reconnaissance drones and destroyed an MQ-9 drone earlier Monday.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tehran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be implemented within two days if the United States met its conditions, including lifting a naval blockade of Iranian ports and ending hostilities.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. military struck radar detectors and missile launchers on Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, according to the article. A U.S. official described the attack as defensive, while mediators continued efforts to secure a peace deal between the two sides.
Key Facts
The U.S. military struck targets on Iran’s Qeshm Island.
The targets included radar detectors and missile launchers.
The attack took place on Monday, one day before the U.S. midterm elections.
A U.S. official told NewsNation that the attack was defensive in nature.
The article described the attack as a continuation of strikes against Iran.
Mediators continued efforts to reach a peace deal between the United States and Iran.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Authorities in Assam’s Dhubri district have bulldozed hundreds of homes in a campaign to evict families they say lack legal rights to live there. Local media reports that about 4,000 people were displaced, most of them Bengali-speaking Muslims.
Key Facts
The demolitions took place in Dhubri district in northeastern India’s Assam state.
Authorities say the campaign targets families they consider to be living there unlawfully.
Hundreds of homes have been bulldozed.
Local media reports that about 4,000 people were displaced.
Most of those displaced were reportedly Bengali-speaking Muslims.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A One Nation volunteer was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after an alleged baseball bat attack outside his home in Torquay, Victoria. Police arrested a 37-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy; the man was charged and remanded in custody, while the boy received a caution.
Key Facts
The incident occurred on Sunday night in Torquay, about 100km southwest of Melbourne.
Police said the volunteer suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized.
A 37-year-old man was charged with assault offences and remanded in custody.
A 14-year-old boy was issued a caution.
One Nation Victorian leader Warren Pickering said the pair had interfered with election signs on the volunteer’s property before the alleged attack.
Victorian Premier Ben Carroll condemned the attack and said volunteers should not face violence.
Police have not stated a motive for the incident.
The alleged attack took place during Victoria’s state election campaign.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Collins English Dictionary named “mogging” its word of the year for 2026. The slang term means playfully outshining or upstaging someone and grew in use by 210% during the year, according to Collins.
Key Facts
Collins describes “mogging” as slang for outshining, outperforming or upstaging someone or something.
The term is often used about appearance, but its meaning depends on context.
Collins reported a 210% increase in the word’s use in 2026.
The dictionary said it considers how often words appear and analyzes patterns of use, including material from social media.
The article traces the word’s use in part to the acronym AMOG, meaning “Alpha Male of the Group,” and to online communities.
Collins named “vibe coding” its word of the year for 2025.
Other terms on the 2026 shortlist included “ghost job,” “hydration break,” “p(doom)” and “Manchesterism.”
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
France and the UK say 2,800 troops from 10 European countries will take part in a multinational exercise in southeastern Poland from November 9 to 22. The force is intended to support Ukraine after a ceasefire, not to conduct offensive operations or monitor a ceasefire.
Key Facts
The exercise, called Koalicja, will take place near Nowa Deba, about 100 kilometres west of the Ukrainian border.
France will contribute 1,100 troops and the UK will contribute 300.
Participating countries include Belgium, Estonia, Germany, France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
Turkey will lead a separate maritime simulation from Istanbul to test preparations for possible mine-clearing in the Black Sea.
The Multinational Force – Ukraine was established in 2025 and has an operational headquarters in Paris.
The force is led by France and the UK, is not a NATO operation and is intended to deploy only after a ceasefire is agreed.
Its stated goals include supporting Ukraine's armed forces, providing security in Ukrainian skies and enabling economic activity in the Black Sea.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Youth protests have spread across several European countries, with young people citing rising living costs, expensive housing, poor pay, climate concerns and uncertainty about their futures. Researchers say French high school protests helped spark the broader movement, while local issues also shape demonstrations in each country.
Key Facts
French high school students began protesting in mid-September over school facilities and the university admissions system.
At least 550,000 people joined French protests on October 17, according to the article.
Protests were reported in France, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Germany, and the article also describes demonstrations in Greece and Portugal.
Housing costs and low or precarious pay are among the concerns shared by young protesters.
A researcher said uncertainty about the future may drive discontent more than poverty alone.
More than 10,000 people rallied across several Greek cities four days after the October 17 French demonstrations.
In Germany, opposition to the possible return of military service has also drawn young people into protests.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Russian strikes on a school distributing humanitarian aid in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region killed at least 26 people, including two rescue workers and four police officers, Ukrainian officials said. The attack came hours after a local ceasefire near Kherson ended; the truce had enabled an evacuation mission in Russian-occupied Oleshky.
Key Facts
The strikes hit a village in Zaporizhzhia, adjacent to the Kherson region, on November 2, 2026.
People had gathered at a local school to collect humanitarian aid when the strikes began.
Ukrainian officials said the attack killed at least 26 people.
Two rescue workers and four police officers were among those killed, according to the acting regional governor.
The ceasefire began on Tuesday and ended Sunday, with neither side reporting violations during the pause.
The truce enabled an evacuation mission from Russian-occupied Oleshky.
A senior Ukrainian official said Russia declined Kyiv’s offer to extend the ceasefire.
Ukraine’s military alleged that Russia used the pause to fortify its positions; the Kremlin spokesman said it was normal for forces to use pauses to regroup.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Cyberattacks affected supermarket fridges across Europe and caused large amounts of food to spoil. Grocery chains are working to restock their shelves.
Key Facts
Cyberattacks hit supermarket fridges.
The attacks affected grocery chains across Europe.
The incidents led to large amounts of spoiled food.
Grocery chains are scrambling to restock shelves.
CBS international reporter Inaya Folarin Iman reported on the attacks.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
At least 26 people were killed in Russian strikes on a school in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region. The school was being used as a humanitarian aid centre; Ukraine’s president said there were two strikes, including a second strike on a building where residents were hiding.
Key Facts
At least 26 people were killed.
The strikes hit a school in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.
The school was being used as a humanitarian aid centre.
Ukraine’s president said there were two separate strikes.
He said the first strike was followed by a second strike.
The second strike hit a building where residents were hiding.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ukrainian officials said Russian airstrikes hit an aid distribution centre and a nearby shelter in Komyshuvakha, in the Zaporizhzhia region, killing at least 26 people. Emergency services said rescue workers and police officers were among the dead, while local officials reported 27 people missing. US envoy Steve Witkoff said Russia-Ukraine talks are scheduled for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi.
Key Facts
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and emergency services reported at least 26 deaths in the attack.
Emergency services said two rescue workers and four police officers were among those killed.
Five people were being treated in hospital, including two rescue workers.
Zaporizhzhia city council secretary Regina Kharchenko said 27 people were missing.
A Ukrainian military official said additional Russian drone attacks in the area hindered rescue efforts.
Zelenskyy said the school hit by the strikes served as a shelter and a place to distribute humanitarian aid.
A ceasefire the previous week enabled an evacuation from Russian-occupied Oleshky, according to the article.
US envoy Steve Witkoff said talks between Russia and Ukraine would take place on November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
