Israel’s Central Elections Committee confirmed the final results of the October 27 election, saying its review found no evidence of fraud or interference that affected the outcome. The results left Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition without a governing majority, while opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot is expected to seek a coalition with support from opposition parties, including Palestinian-led parties.
Key Facts
The Central Elections Committee said it found no irregularities that compromised the election or changed its results.
Committee chair Noam Sohlberg said some suspicions remain under investigation but do not justify delaying the results.
Netanyahu’s coalition lost its governing majority in the October 27 vote.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara blocked a Shin Bet request to interrogate senior politicians from Palestinian-led parties, saying investigators had provided no evidence of wrongdoing.
President Isaac Herzog received the final results and is expected to give Eisenkot the first chance to form a government.
Jewish Israeli opposition parties have publicly backed Eisenkot, and Palestinian-led parties have said they prioritize removing Netanyahu from power.
Herzog condemned racist attacks and expressions directed at Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of using security services against political opponents and warned that attempts to undermine trust in the results were continuing.
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The UK Home Office is preparing to expand live facial recognition use by immigration enforcement, including at transport hubs and selected public events. Published documents describe possible watchlists for people accused of civil immigration breaches as well as criminal offenses; the Home Office says it is considering further trials.
Key Facts
The Home Office guidance and data protection assessment were published in October.
The documents say cameras could be used to find people sought for removal, people who may have re-entered the UK unlawfully, and people linked to immigration-related crimes.
Possible watchlist criteria include visa overstays and entry or stay without permission, which the documents describe as civil matters.
The programme has moved into a formal delivery phase, according to the documents.
Immigration enforcement ran three facial recognition trials at Holyhead port between November and February, focused on people arriving from Ireland who were subject to deportation orders or warrants for immigration-related crimes.
The guidance says people under 18 will not be placed on watchlists.
The Home Office said it is considering further trials and exploring the technology’s potential benefits and implications.
Campaigners criticized the plans, citing concerns about surveillance and the risk of facial recognition misidentifying people of colour.
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Iranian officials said Republican losses in the U.S. midterm elections reflected public opposition to the war with Iran. They blamed President Donald Trump for the conflict, while Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf said Americans had rejected war and warned against ignoring that message.
Key Facts
Hamidreza Moghaddamfar, an adviser to the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the Republican losses followed a U.S. defeat in what he called “warmongering” against Iran.
Moghaddamfar described the election as a referendum on the war’s outcome.
The article says Democrats won majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf posted that Americans had said no to war, citing conscience and the cost of living.
Ghalibaf warned that the U.S. government would face consequences if it ignored public opposition to the war.
The article says Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, in response to joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, raised global fuel prices.
The article says higher U.S. gas prices were a major concern for many voters.
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Ukraine and Russia exchanged hundreds of drone attacks overnight Tuesday, according to the article. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian strikes damaged power-generation facilities and substations in nine regions of Ukraine, while Russia said Ukrainian strikes hit a logistics center and a data center in Russia.
Key Facts
Russia said its strikes hit power substations in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions.
Russia said its forces struck a cargo ship carrying supplies for the Ukrainian military in the Black Sea.
Zelenskyy said Russian attacks damaged power-generation facilities and substations in nine Ukrainian regions.
The regions Zelenskyy listed were Odesa, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi, Chernihiv and Rivne.
Ukraine's strikes hit a large logistics center and a data center in Russia, according to the article.
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More than 1,400 people from over 250 academic institutions have signed a letter urging the UK government to reverse its decision to prevent climate scholar Andreas Malm from entering the country. The Home Office said it cancelled his electronic travel authorisation for a reason that could include public-safety or extremism concerns, and said he could apply for a visa for further review.
Key Facts
The article reports that Malm was stopped from entering the UK last week after his electronic travel authorisation was revoked.
Malm is an associate professor at Lund University in Sweden and wrote How to Blow Up a Pipeline.
He had planned to attend an academic conference, appear on the BBC and join a public discussion with Huda Ammori, a co-founder of the proscribed group Palestine Action.
The open letter says excluding scholars over their political views or subject matter threatens academic freedom and public debate.
More than 1,400 individuals from over 250 academic institutions had signed the letter, according to the article.
Fabian Dablander, an assistant professor at the London School of Economics, initiated the letter.
The Home Office said people whose ETA is cancelled or refused can apply for a visa, which allows further consideration of their circumstances and suitability for entry.
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Five teenagers were stabbed at a supervised Halloween party in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire, on Saturday night. One 17-year-old remains in hospital in a life-threatening condition, and police have arrested four boys on suspicion of attempted murder.
Key Facts
Police were called to a home on Park Road shortly after 22:30 GMT on Saturday.
Police said an unknown group entered the party over a garden fence.
The four other injured boys have been discharged from hospital.
A 16-year-old from Southampton is the latest person arrested.
Two boys, aged 16 and 17 and also from Southampton, were arrested on Monday morning.
Police received an extra 36 hours to question the two Southampton boys.
A 16-year-old from Bristol, arrested on Monday night, remains in custody.
Police searched three addresses linked to those arrested and seized several items.
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The Center for Wild Animal Welfare is urging the UK government to cap the noise of fireworks sold to the public at 90 decibels, rather than the 110-decibel limit under consultation. Campaigners say the lower limit would reduce the area disturbed by fireworks and help prevent harm to wildlife, especially birds.
Key Facts
The current maximum noise level for fireworks sold to the public is 120 decibels.
The UK government recently consulted on lowering the maximum to 110 decibels.
The Center for Wild Animal Welfare says a 90-decibel limit would make the area disturbed by each firework about 100 times smaller than under the government’s proposal.
Wildlife impacts linked to fireworks include stress, disrupted migration, temporary displacement and collisions.
More than 1,000 birds were found dead near a trail in Bulgaria on New Year’s Day 2025, after fireworks were set off nearby.
The UK consultation also considered expanding the list of fireworks banned from general sale and reviewing rules for lower-risk products.
New Zealand introduced a 90-decibel limit on consumer fireworks in 2008, but the UK consultation noted concerns about how such a limit could be defined and enforced.
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Democrats won control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the November 3 midterm elections. The report examines possible effects on Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after President Donald Trump announced that the United States would halt $3.8 billion in aid to Israel.
Key Facts
Democrats captured control of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The election took place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The report describes the Democratic victory as an upset.
President Donald Trump announced that the United States would halt $3.8 billion in aid to Israel.
The report asks what the election and aid announcement could mean for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
FRANCE 24 correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky reported on the issue.
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Labour MP Emily Darlington has warned that TT Rockstars and similar maths apps may encourage primary school children to spend too long on screens. The app’s founder says the company is adding school curfews and daily limits, while the UK government is preparing screen-time guidance for children aged five to 16.
Key Facts
TT Rockstars lets pupils practise times tables and compete for virtual coins, characters and outfits.
Emily Darlington raised concerns about the app at a House of Commons Science Committee hearing on screen time and children’s brain development.
TT Rockstars founder Bruno Reddy said the company recommends sessions of about three minutes, four or five times a week.
Reddy said that in September, a typical child used the app on three days for about six minutes each time.
The company plans to switch on a curfew and daily time limit for every school from 24 November, and turn off leaderboards by default.
Maths Circle says TT Rockstars and its Numbots app are used in 17,000 schools and more than 100,000 households.
Reddy said the apps have no advertising and do not use features such as streaks, random rewards, chat messages, loot boxes or notifications.
The UK government is preparing guidance for schools and parents on screen time for children aged five to 16.
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Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, dealing a major setback to President Donald Trump and Republicans. Foreign leaders and officials responded by discussing possible effects on U.S. policy toward Iran, Ukraine, trade, and relations with allies, while some said they expected continuity or urged Europe to rely more on itself.
Key Facts
Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections.
Trump said the U.S.-Israel war on Iran may have hurt Republicans by raising gasoline prices.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said U.S. voters had rejected war.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said changes between U.S. political parties would not end U.S. hostility toward Iran.
Israeli opposition figures Yair Golan and Yair Lapid linked the U.S. results to criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
European Parliament Vice President Christel Schaldemose said the results could benefit support for Ukraine and called for the EU to stand on its own.
UK Health Minister James Frith said he expected the U.S.-UK relationship to remain strong despite the political shift in Washington.
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure said France would wait to see whether Trump changes his approach.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded U.S. First Lady Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olga for her humanitarian support for Ukraine. She received the award’s first degree, its highest level, for work related to human rights, charitable activities and support for children and people affected by Russia’s war.
Key Facts
Zelensky issued the award in a decree on Monday.
The decree cited Melania Trump’s humanitarian support and human rights and charitable activities.
The award recognized efforts to help Ukrainian children and people affected by Russian aggression, including those illegally deported or forcibly displaced, according to the decree.
Melania Trump received the Order of Princess Olga’s first degree, the highest of its three levels.
Ukraine established the award in 1997 to honor women’s contributions to the country.
Ukrainian officials said Melania Trump played a significant role in establishing a six-day ceasefire to evacuate civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky.
The evacuation ceasefire ended over the weekend, the article said.
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Ethiopia is expanding hydropower to increase electricity production and export power to neighboring countries. The country is building a large project on the Omo River alongside the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), as it seeks to become a leader in African clean energy and prepares to host COP32 next year.
Key Facts
Ethiopia is building a large hydropower project on the Omo River in the southwest of the country.
The Omo River project is being developed alongside the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Ethiopia aims to increase its electricity production.
The country exports electricity to neighboring countries.
Ethiopia is seeking to position itself as an African leader in clean energy.
Ethiopia is preparing to host the COP32 climate summit in 2027.
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Donald Trump’s foreign policy agenda may face new limits after midterm losses. Chatham House’s Laurel Rapp says Congress may try to curb the Iran war, but Trump retains significant powers to continue military action.
Key Facts
Donald Trump is the current U.S. president.
The article says midterm losses have created new constraints for Trump’s foreign policy agenda.
Laurel Rapp is identified as a Chatham House expert.
Rapp says Congress may seek to limit the Iran war.
The article says the president retains significant powers to continue military action.
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South Korean authorities are seeking ways to reduce young people’s screen time as concern grows about mobile-device use. The report says an estimated 40 percent of young children and teenagers in the country are addicted to their mobile devices, presenting a challenge in a highly connected society.
Key Facts
The report focuses on efforts in South Korea to reduce young people’s screen time.
It cites an estimate that 40 percent of young children and teenagers in South Korea are addicted to their mobile devices.
The article describes South Korea as a highly connected society.
The report mentions school restrictions on students’ smartphone use.
It references France’s Constitutional Council overturning a proposed social media ban for children under 15 in August.
The report was published on November 4, 2026.
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Western Australian police charged a 40-year-old Perth woman with aggravated stalking and making written threats to demand property, in a case involving Greens senator Jordon Steele-John. Police allege the woman is Steele-John’s former partner; he declined to comment, while separate complaints about his conduct are under investigation.
Key Facts
Police said detectives charged the woman on Wednesday.
The charges are one count of aggravated stalking with intent to intimidate and one count of demanding property by written threats.
Police allege the woman is a former partner of Steele-John.
The woman is due to appear in a Perth magistrates court on Thursday morning.
A spokesperson for Steele-John said he would not comment further on the investigation.
Steele-John missed parliament last week after Greens members asked party leader David Shoebridge to investigate allegations about his conduct toward women from 2017 to 2025.
Steele-John denied the allegations in a statement following a report by Nine newspapers.
The complaints are being investigated independently by the WA Greens and have been referred to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.
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Russia is expanding its military presence and business outreach in Africa, and President Vladimir Putin has pledged to raise trade with the continent to more than $50 billion. But Russia’s past trade targets have gone unmet, and its total trade with Africa remains lower than its trade with Belarus.
Key Facts
Putin made the trade pledge at a summit in Moscow.
Russia aims to nearly double trade with Africa to more than $50 billion.
Russia promotes grain, weapons, nuclear plants, and factories as areas for cooperation.
Russian forces are present in several African countries, while Russian businesses have a smaller footprint.
Russia trades less with all of Africa than it does with Belarus.
Western sanctions have increased Moscow’s need for partners.
African leaders want a larger share of the wealth generated by their countries’ resources.
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Ugandan social media critic Praise Aloikin Opoloje was detained and charged over alleged use of a SIM card registered to her mother. She says her arrest followed a video criticizing military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba and alleges that men abducted and mistreated her; those claims could not be independently verified. The article also describes a father’s search for his 17-year-old son, whom he says armed men took after the teenager discussed protesting.
Key Facts
Authorities detained Opoloje on September 26, 2026, and charged her under Uganda’s 2024 communications regulations with allegedly using another person’s SIM card for illegal activity.
Opoloje denied the charge when she appeared in court on September 28.
Opoloje says her detention followed a video in which she said she was not afraid of military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
She alleges that men forced her into a van, beat her and threatened to rape her; the article says her account could not be independently verified.
A court granted Opoloje bail on October 14 and required her to get permission before travelling internationally.
Emmanuel Baliza says armed men took his 17-year-old son, William, from their home after the teenager expressed plans to protest.
Baliza says the men claimed they were taking William to the Special Investigations Unit, but officials later denied holding him.
Baliza says his daughter told him William had posted on TikTok: “Uganda is bleeding.”
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The Wiener Holocaust Library in London is opening an exhibition about the Dreyfus affair, which began after French army captain Alfred Dreyfus was wrongly convicted of treason in 1894. The exhibition presents about 40 items that show how newspapers, journals and posters spread antisemitic attacks and arguments over his innocence.
Key Facts
Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish French army captain, was wrongly convicted of treason in 1894.
The affair prompted a surge of newspaper specials, journals, posters and other publications.
The Wiener Holocaust Library’s exhibition includes about 40 items related to the affair.
Some of the items came from the library’s founder, Alfred Wiener; others were collected later or loaned by Birkbeck, University of London.
The Musée des Horreurs poster series caricatured prominent supporters of Dreyfus.
The French government shut down publication of the poster series after about a year, deeming the images too grotesque.
The rightwing newspaper La Libre Parole reported that Dreyfus was guilty and featured antisemitic imagery.
Dreyfus was exonerated in 1906, promoted and awarded the Légion d’honneur.
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A U.S. Marine died Tuesday after a training incident at Camp Schwab in northern Okinawa, Japan, the 3rd Marine Division said. The Marine’s identity is being withheld until the family is notified, and an investigation is underway.
Key Facts
The incident occurred at Camp Schwab in northern Okinawa.
The 3rd Marine Division reported the Marine’s death.
The Marine died on Tuesday.
The military is withholding the Marine’s identity until 24 hours after the family has been notified.
The 3rd Marine Division said an investigation is underway.
The military had not provided further details about the circumstances surrounding the death.
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A Houthi siege of Taiz, Yemen, has lasted 30 days, cutting major roads and restricting access to food, fuel, medicine and water. The blockade has trapped residents and displaced people, while accumulating rubbish and disrupting families’ ability to travel between the city and surrounding areas.
Key Facts
The article reports that the siege has affected Taiz City’s 1.5 million residents and people in rural districts.
About 180,000 displaced people are also trapped amid clashes along the main road connecting Lahj and Taiz.
The Houthis seized al-Turbah in western Taiz governorate, cutting the city’s main route to Aden and the outside world.
The article says Houthi forces had already surrounded Taiz from the north, east and south after reaching its outskirts in 2015.
Major access roads are closed, and food, fuel, medical supplies and water are not reaching the city in sufficient amounts, according to a local official quoted in the report.
Rubbish is accumulating on Taiz’s streets because it cannot be transported to a landfill outside the city.
A resident returning with his family said they had to use a rough secondary road and passed nearly 20 newly established checkpoints before reaching a Houthi checkpoint about 15 kilometres from the city.
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