Nine-month-old Kinan Ahmed Raqiq died of hypothermia in Khan Younis after cold temperatures hit Gaza, his father and a doctor said. The death came as flooding affected displaced families and more than 50 countries and organizations called for greater access to winter supplies and other aid.
Key Facts
Kinan Ahmed Raqiq died in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, after exposure to extreme cold.
The infant’s father said he found the child’s skin blue and took him to Nasser Hospital.
A doctor said the infant died from hypothermia, and Gaza Civil Defence also confirmed his death.
The United Kingdom, Qatar and Jordan led a group of more than 50 countries and organizations urging Israel to allow critical supplies into Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had allowed 91,000 tents into Gaza and blamed Hamas for the suffering there.
Flooding after heavy rains affected tens of thousands of tents in Gaza, and five people, including three children, died when an embankment collapsed onto tents.
OCHA said storms had affected 26,000 households as of November 8, and about 65 percent of Gaza’s residents were living in tents or other temporary shelter.
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Autonomous underwater vessels could change naval warfare, but the United States faces technical and industrial challenges in developing them. China has displayed several large underwater drones, while U.S. programs have faced delays and remain at different stages of development.
Key Facts
Underwater vessels must limit communication with operators to work quietly over long distances, and distance also constrains how much data they can transmit.
Bruce Jones said the United States has no major operational program for large-scale underwater vehicles.
The Boeing Orca extra-large underwater vehicle program had faced about five years of delays as of a July Government Accountability Office report.
DARPA’s Manta Ray vehicle is being designed by Northrop Grumman and is expected to reach operational capacity in about a decade.
In March, Anduril Industries was selected by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit and the U.S. Navy to produce an extra-large autonomous underwater vehicle.
China displayed its HSU100 and AJX002 extra-large underwater vehicles at a People’s Liberation Army parade in September 2025.
China’s 40,000-ton Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan carried out its first launch and recovery of a stealthy aerial drone, according to the Chinese navy.
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Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton visited Egypt’s Rafah crossing and aid facilities near Gaza, where he saw aid trucks waiting to enter and spoke with aid workers. He called on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and described the situation as appalling; Israel denies accusations of genocide and says its military campaign targets Hamas.
Key Facts
Hamilton visited the Rafah crossing and Egyptian Red Crescent aid warehouses near El Arish on Tuesday.
He said he saw food trucks waiting at the crossing and that some faced lengthy delays.
Hamilton said he saw sleeping bags, first aid kits, medical equipment, wheelchairs and footballs among items rejected at a nearby logistics centre.
He urged Israel to meet its ceasefire obligations and allow aid trucks into Gaza.
The agreed minimum for aid deliveries is 600 trucks a day, but deliveries remain below that level.
Israel strongly denies accusations of genocide and says its military campaign in Gaza targets Hamas militants.
Hamilton founded Mission 44 in 2021, a charity that supports young people and works to improve access to education and employment.
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Alan Milburn is expected to recommend reducing benefits for some 16- to 24-year-olds who receive Personal Independence Payment or an enhanced health-related Universal Credit payment. Labour MPs appear more open to the proposals than they were to last year’s welfare reforms, in part because the plan would include support for jobs and training and limit benefit changes to people under 25.
Key Facts
Milburn has spent a year reviewing how to reduce the number of young people not in employment, education or training.
Last year, 120 Labour MPs threatened to oppose welfare reforms, and 49 ultimately voted against the government.
Keir Starmer guaranteed that existing Personal Independence Payment claimants would not lose out under last year’s reforms.
People under 25 make up about 11% of Personal Independence Payment claimants.
The proposed changes are expected to include upfront support for unemployed young people, including jobs and training.
Milburn may recommend enhanced payments for people who cannot work and an additional living-cost allowance for some young disabled people who lose Personal Independence Payment.
Labour MPs’ support for benefit reductions may depend on the full package of recommendations, which could cover policies from preschool provision to NHS mental health care.
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Latvia is installing concrete anti-vehicle obstacles and digging anti-tank trenches along its eastern border as part of a joint Baltic defense effort. Construction remains incomplete and is planned to continue through the winter.
Key Facts
Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania agreed in January 2024 to establish the Baltic Defense Line.
Latvia’s defenses include rows of concrete “dragon’s teeth” and anti-tank trenches.
About 3.1 miles of dragon’s teeth and roughly 2.5 miles of trenches had been installed or dug along Latvia’s eastern border as of last week.
Each concrete obstacle weighs about 3,300 pounds and stands just over 3 feet tall.
Latvian National Guard engineer Edgars Briedis said the obstacles are arranged to prevent enemy vehicles from crossing or removing them individually.
At one site in Balvi municipality, three rows of obstacles were installed, with a trench more than 6.5 feet deep planned nearby.
Some trenches in Balvi are more than 16 feet wide, and Latvia plans to continue construction into the winter.
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Israel said on November 12, 2026, that it would bar French politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon and France Unbowed parliamentary leader Mathilde Panot from entering the country. The announcement followed Mélenchon’s statement that, if elected president, he would have French ships escort aid flotillas seeking to reach Gaza.
Key Facts
Israel said it would deny entry to Mélenchon, who leads France Unbowed and is a candidate in France’s 2027 presidential election.
Israel also said it would bar Mathilde Panot, chair of the France Unbowed parliamentary group.
Mélenchon said France would support Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank if he were elected.
He said French ships could escort citizen flotillas seeking to deliver aid to Gaza.
Israel said the entry bans applied to people it considered to be acting against Israel or inciting against its citizens.
France confirmed on November 11 that it had refused entry to the head of an organization representing West Bank settlements.
Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007.
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French authorities have used anti-terrorism powers to restrict several dozen people from attending protests after riots and looting followed demonstrations on October 17, 2026. Lawyers and rights groups say the restrictions target political activists who pose no terrorism threat and could limit the right to protest.
Key Facts
Protests across France have drawn hundreds of thousands of people over concerns including underfunded schools, the cost of living, and police brutality.
After riots and looting on October 17, the government barred several dozen people from attending later demonstrations.
Those restricted included students, trade unionists, far-left activists, and environmental campaigners.
The restrictions were issued without prior approval from judges.
The measure, known as MICAS, lets the Interior Ministry restrict a person's movements when there are serious reasons to believe the person poses a grave security threat and has terrorist ties.
People subject to MICAS orders may have to report to a police station daily or weekly; violations can carry up to three years in prison and a €45,000 fine.
Lawyers and rights groups say the current orders target political activists rather than people posing a terrorism threat.
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Vladimir Putin told U.S. envoys that Russia would target foreign troops deployed in Ukraine and rejected foreign peacekeepers. He also maintained Russia’s demand for control of four Ukrainian regions and said European representatives should join future negotiations.
Key Facts
Putin met U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin on Thursday.
Putin said Russia would target foreign troops deployed to Ukraine.
Putin rejected foreign peacekeeping troops, calling their deployment a continuation of the war.
Putin insisted that Russia must have full control over four Ukrainian regions that it claims to have annexed.
Witkoff said European representatives would take part in the next round of talks.
Kushner and Witkoff planned to travel to Dublin to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and brief him on the Moscow meeting.
European Union leaders were due to discuss who would represent Europe in negotiations. Kaja Kallas suggested she could represent the EU alongside European Council President António Costa.
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The UK Charity Commission issued an official warning to Lewisham Islamic Centre over comments about Palestinian suffering made during two sermons in October 2023. The mosque rejected the warning, said it could restrict religious worship, and said it was seeking legal advice.
Key Facts
The Charity Commission said sermon content was inflammatory and divisive and was not in the charity’s best interests.
The commission urged the centre to improve its handling of speakers and events held at its premises.
The commission said it could take further action if the centre did not remedy the misconduct.
Lewisham Islamic Centre said sermons are an integral part of Islamic worship and often address issues affecting congregations and their communities.
The mosque said the commission’s expectations were unnecessarily burdensome and could dictate which subjects imams address in sermons.
The centre said it was seeking legal advice about how to respond to the warning.
CAGE International supported the mosque and accused the commission of treating Muslim religious expression unfairly.
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A Spanish court is set to hear U.S. evidence in the extradition case against American activist James “Fergie” Chambers. Chambers denies wrongdoing and has sought asylum in Spain, which would prevent extradition if granted.
Key Facts
U.S. authorities accuse Chambers of laundering $7.5 million and using the money to support Hamas; Chambers has not been charged with a terrorism offense.
Chambers also faces U.S. riot and conspiracy-to-riot charges tied to a 2023 protest at an Israeli arms company, with a possible sentence of up to 30 years.
Spanish authorities arrested Chambers in Ibiza in July after Interpol issued a Red Notice for his detention.
Chambers has requested asylum in Spain, and he cannot be extradited while that claim remains unresolved.
Spain’s National Court will hear evidence from U.S. authorities before a final extradition decision is made.
Chambers’s lawyers say the Spanish translation of the U.S. charges incorrectly describes protesters’ actions and a conversation involving Chambers.
Chambers’s wife, Stella Schnabel, has urged Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to expedite the asylum claim.
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The UK government has proposed changes that would reduce how long some criminal convictions from childhood appear in employment background checks in England and Wales. The plans would apply to people who do not continue offending as adults, while the most serious crimes would remain exempt from the changes.
Key Facts
The Ministry of Justice has opened a consultation on changing disclosure rules for some offences committed by children.
Five offences committed by children—affray, violent disorder, supplying a controlled drug to a child, robbery and assault causing actual bodily harm—could stop appearing in checks after five and a half years.
About 8,500 people under 18 were convicted of those five offences between March 2022 and March 2026, according to Ministry of Justice data.
For offences leading to detention of less than two years, the proposal would replace lifelong disclosure with an 11-year period.
The rules would remain unchanged for offences that led to sentences longer than two years.
Severe violence, terrorism-related crimes and sexual offences would be excluded from the proposed reforms.
Other proposals include reducing disclosure periods for some fines and ending disclosure for offences resolved outside court.
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Finland will restrict Russian nationals from entering the country while Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, including athletes competing under neutral status. The policy could affect several sporting events in Finland, including the figure skating world championships scheduled for March in Tampere.
Key Facts
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said Finland considers Russian athletes’ entry a threat to its international relations.
The restriction will apply to Russian athletes competing for national teams and those competing as neutral athletes.
Finland hosts a figure skating Grand Prix and a cross-country skiing World Cup this month.
The figure skating world championships scheduled for March in Tampere could be affected.
The International Skating Union said it is studying the policy’s implications and seeking clarification from Finnish skating officials.
The measure takes effect Monday and is not expected to affect NHL games in Helsinki or ski races in Levi scheduled before then.
Finland has pledged not to play Russia at the ice hockey world championships. Germany is considering whether to host the men’s tournament.
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Tramell Tillman plays the Ghost of Christmas Present in “Ebenezer,” a reimagining of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” Tillman won an Emmy Award for his performance in “Severance.”
Key Facts
Tramell Tillman is an actor.
Tillman plays the Ghost of Christmas Present in “Ebenezer.”
“Ebenezer” reimagines Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
Tillman won an Emmy Award for his performance in “Severance.”
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Alan Milburn’s review is expected to propose replacing Personal Independence Payments and the health element of Universal Credit for most people under 25 with a youth allowance and a local fund for short-term disability-related costs. The proposals aim to expand work and education opportunities, but the Joseph Rowntree Foundation warned they could weaken financial support for young people with disabilities or health conditions.
Key Facts
People under 25 would no longer be able to claim Personal Independence Payments or the health element of Universal Credit under the proposed changes.
A new youth allowance would be paid at the standard Universal Credit rate.
Young people with disabilities could apply to a local fund for equipment and short-term costs, such as travel to training or a job interview.
The local fund would be managed by advisers and designed to provide money quickly when needs arise.
The proposals include a higher youth allowance for young people living independently, including care leavers.
Young people with the most severe disabilities could receive an additional cost allowance, and those unable ever to work could receive higher insurance support.
Milburn said the plans aim to create 440,000 employment and education opportunities by 2036 and raise young people’s net incomes by more than £2 billion.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation warned that the proposals could reduce vital support for young people with disabilities or health conditions.
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A truck lost control in slow-moving traffic at the entrance to Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, causing a crash involving 23 vehicles and killing 14 people. The collision sparked a fire, injured 30 people and led authorities to use DNA tests to identify the dead.
Key Facts
The crash happened just before midnight at the entrance to Fujairah.
The 23 vehicles involved included five trucks.
Officials said the truck hit another vehicle, overturned and struck vehicles stopped in slow-moving traffic.
The truck caught fire, and the blaze spread to several vehicles.
Thirty people were injured and taken to hospital; half were later discharged.
Police said the injured people included Emirati, Omani, Indian, Brazilian, Pakistani, Jordanian and Egyptian nationals.
The dead included Emirati nationals and Indian citizens.
DNA tests are being used to identify the bodies.
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Iran-backed Afghan Shia militia members known as the Fatemiyoun have reappeared in Iran after the 2024 fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria. Recent memorial notices and videos place some fighters in Iran, including in Sistan and Baluchistan province, where two were reported killed in October 2026.
Key Facts
Iran recruited and deployed Fatemiyoun fighters to support Bashar al-Assad’s government during Syria’s civil war.
The militia recruited mainly from Afghan Shia communities, including migrant and refugee communities in Iran.
Assad’s government fell in December 2024, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard withdrew its forces from Syria.
Some IRGC-affiliated announcements in March 2026 identified personnel killed in US-Israeli airstrikes in Iran who were linked to the Fatemiyoun.
Fatemiyoun fighters Ahmad Yaghoubi and Mohammadreza Rahimi were reported killed in separate incidents in Sistan and Baluchistan province on October 2 and October 13, 2026.
Memorials in Iran displayed portraits of recently killed men alongside images of Fatemiyoun fighters killed in Syria and the militia’s flags.
The Fatemiyoun division was designated a terrorist entity by Canada and placed under US counterterrorism sanctions in 2019.
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France is marking 200 years since the first fixed photographic image. Filmmaker Maximilien Van Aertryck and artist Alina Frieske discuss photography’s influence and its role in shaping self-representation in the age of social media.
Key Facts
France is marking the bicentenary of the first fixed photographic image.
Filmmaker Maximilien Van Aertryck made the documentary “What a Fantastic Machine!”
Van Aertryck’s documentary examines the industry that grew around photography.
The documentary explores how photography can influence, manipulate and entertain.
Artist Alina Frieske uses photographic material in her artwork.
Frieske’s work examines the aesthetics and politics of self-representation on social media.
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Displaced families in Gaza are struggling to stay warm in makeshift shelters as winter weather brings cold and rain. A nine-month-old baby died of hypothermia, while families described lacking warm clothes, blankets, heating, and money for basic needs.
Key Facts
Amira Saad lives with 18 relatives, including nine children, under a tarp in a makeshift camp west of Gaza City.
Recent rain flooded the family’s shelter and soaked its mattresses, pillows, and blankets.
Amira’s four-month-old son mostly has thin summer clothes, and the family borrowed a warm garment from a neighbour.
Amira’s family has no regular income and relies on community kitchens for food; her husband injured his hand while breaking up rubble for work.
Basima Saad said her 23-year-old daughter, who has a disability, needs warm clothes and medication.
A nine-month-old baby, Kinan Ahmed Raqiq, died of hypothermia.
Amal al-Maydana has been displaced six times and lives in a tent with her children, who lack winter clothes and heating equipment.
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France barred Yossi Dagan, a leader of an organization representing Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, from entering the country. France said his role in settlement policy led to the ban, while Israel condemned the decision and said it would seek an explanation.
Key Facts
French authorities questioned Dagan at passport control at a Paris airport before telling him he could not enter France.
Dagan is a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party.
France said settlement construction violates international law and undermines a two-state solution.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the measures politically and ideologically motivated and said Israel would consider its next steps.
France and 11 other countries announced plans in September to restrict trade with settlements in Palestinian territory.
A French parliamentary committee approved a bill to ban imports of settlement goods and services that contribute to settlement construction; further discussion is scheduled for November 19.
Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement group, says at least 148 settlements are in the occupied West Bank and 15 are in occupied East Jerusalem, with about 750,000 Israelis living in them.
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Ukraine asked the Pentagon and SpaceX to explain restrictions it says are disrupting Starshield, a satellite service its military uses to operate reconnaissance drones and intercept Russian drones. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian units reported systematic disruptions along the front line and in Russian-occupied areas, while a Ukrainian official said all missions were failing on the third day of restrictions.
Key Facts
Ukraine uses Starshield, SpaceX’s military satellite service, under a U.S. government agreement.
Starshield supports Ukrainian reconnaissance drone operations and efforts to intercept Russian attack drones.
Zelensky said Ukraine’s military reported significant disruptions along the front line and in Russian-occupied areas.
A Ukrainian official said restrictions increased over three days, from 10% of missions affected to 50%, then to all missions failing.
Ukraine’s charge d’affaires to the United States, Denys Sienik, said Starshield shuts down when drones fly faster than 100 miles per hour.
Zelensky said the restrictions began shortly before U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
Ukraine also uses commercial Starlink for battlefield communications and logistics.
The Pentagon and SpaceX had not provided an immediate response to requests for comment.
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