State in the Southern Levant; a regional power amid tensions
The Green Party has passed a motion defining Zionism as racism and backing a Palestinian state, prompting internal divisions and international condemnation. Four of five MPs oppose aspects of the resolution; leader Zack Polanski did not vote. Israel bans Polanski from entering the country as a by-election nears, while the European Green Party condemns the move.
Three Iranian-born men have gone on trial at Woolwich Crown Court accused of conducting surveillance in London that prosecutors say assisted Iran’s intelligence service and aimed to enable serious violence against critics including two Iran International journalists and a UK lawyer. The defendants deny the charges and have pleaded not guilty.
Palestinian communities face encroachment as Israeli settlers, backed by a hard‑line government, move to seize springs and designate heritage sites. Water diversions near Fasayil contribute to a new “Herod’s Pool,” while funding for archaeology signals a broader push to consolidate control over land and memory in the West Bank.
The Green Party's Zack Polanski is pressing Labour to act on housing and climate as he candidates in Holborn and St Pancras. Labour leader Andy Burnham is moving leftward to counter Greens, while the by-election is framed as a test of how much Green pressure can influence government policy.
A US-backed Board of Peace has presented a six-month, $2.45bn, 66-project plan to begin Gaza's reconstruction, but implementation has not started. The plan depends on Hamas disarming, Israeli cooperation and major donor funding that remains unpaid. Israeli forces continue to control much of the Strip and aid and movement restrictions are persisting.
Kemi Badenoch has pledged to abolish inheritance tax on family homes and to allow couples to pass on an extra £1 million without the levy if the Conservatives win power, framing the next election as a battle for Britain’s economic future. She labeled Labour’s spending as unsustainable and urged cuts to welfare, regulation, and taxes, while cautioning that not all announcements landed well. The address comes as the party seeks to rebound after a historic defeat and amid ongoing questions about Reform UK finances.
Malaysia has begun repatriating Myanmar nationals after detaining thousands and arranging the first group of about 1,476 to travel by Myanmar naval ships to Yangon. The government says returns are voluntary and part of a 5,000-person programme; the UN and rights groups have said they cannot verify voluntariness and warn returnees, including possible Rohingya, face grave risks in a country at war.
British counter-terrorism police have arrested a man in Westminster and searched a nearby property as part of the investigation into the September 27 security incident near RAF Fairford. The probe has recovered petrol from vans but no explosives; five men arrested earlier remain on bail while investigators pursue multiple lines of inquiry, including potential foreign-state involvement.
Maritime trackers have reported that Middle East crude exports have returned to about pre‑war volumes in late September. Ship‑to‑ship transfers, US naval escorts and pipeline bypasses — notably Saudi Arabia's East‑West line and UAE links to Fujairah — have restored large volumes, while refined products and Iranian exports remain constrained.
Britain has warned it could expel up to about 27 Israeli diplomats if Israel closes the UK consulate in East Jerusalem on Thursday. Israel has ordered the consulate to shut within 30 days after Britain announced sanctions on goods and services linked to West Bank settlements. British officials have tried last-minute talks to avert the closure but have not reached a deal.
The Conservative plan dubbed the Britannia Shield faces heavy criticism as critics question funding, feasibility, and its resemblance to Israel’s Iron Dome. Labour says the scheme reflects hollow defence promises after 14 years of Tory governance.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has said Scotland must adopt a bolder, better-funded plan to reduce poverty as its Poverty in Scotland 2026 report shows 21% of children in relative poverty and 17% overall in poverty from 2022-25. The Scottish Government counters progress but accepts more work is needed while preparing a review of poverty targets.
Birzeit University in the West Bank has been raided by Israeli forces, who demolished a memorial bearing the names of students killed in Israeli attacks. The raid followed earlier measurements of the monument and comes amid ongoing Israeli incursions into campuses in the occupied territories. The university notes this is part of a broader pattern and may escalate tensions around higher education.
Lenacapavir, branded Yeztugo in the US, has a twice-yearly injection form of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. Its introduction in parts of the Middle East and North Africa comes with cheaper generics set to be available in 2027, while many countries in the region face barriers to testing and treatment.
Since early October, multiple attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have continued, triggering fires and injuries in some cases. UKMTO reports ongoing incidents with several tankers hit or damaged. Despite the volatility, Middle East oil exports have rebounded toward prewar levels as ship traffic remains below those seen before the conflict.
The co-pilot of a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv has allegedly attacked the captain with a crash axe, stabbing him as the aircraft plunged mid‑flight. Passengers and crew overpowered the co-pilot, and the plane was landed safely in north-western Saudi Arabia. Investigations are probing the co-pilot’s links to multiple countries and possible long-standing extremist influences. The incident has sparked international security reviews and calls for accountability across jurisdictions.
Britain is shaping a new air and missile defence system to protect critical infrastructure and overseas territories. The government has set out plans to invest £10 billion over ten years, arguing the system will be tailored to Britain’s threats rather than copying Israel’s Iron Dome.
Mortgage rates have climbed to multi-year highs across several lenders, with Freddie Mac and MBA data showing rates near 7.3% for 30-year loans. Applications have fallen, signaling softer demand as buyers reassess affordability amid higher borrowing costs.
Israeli voters confront a tightly balanced race three years after the Hamas attack. Polls show blocs short of a majority, with Arab parties potentially pivotal. Opposition leaders are coordinating but face internal tensions about coalition partners and prime ministerial leadership as the October 27 vote nears.
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are strengthening high-level ties amid regional tensions, inviting Gulf allies to the GCC-EU Summit and coordinating on issues including Yemen and security. Multiple meetings signal a thaw and shared interests as Riyadh hosts the event.
Iran has seen its currency hit new lows as US-Israeli actions tighten sanctions and blockades. Indirect talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz continue, while mediatior efforts and new sanctions aim to pressure Tehran. The government has unveiled plans to mitigate shortages and economic decline in the face of ongoing conflict.
Protesters at UCLA mark the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, with SJP describing escalating Palestinian resistance. The event follows related talks at UC Berkeley and Claremont Colleges and ongoing campus tensions over Israel-Hamas coverage and safety.
City Hall’s Strategy to Combat Antisemitism has increased hate-crime funding and education initiatives, but critics say it fails to define antisemitism or address anti-Zionism. Politically charged debate continues as pro- and anti-Israel voices mobilize around a plan aimed at protecting Jewish communities in New York City.
The government has spent millions on TV ads featuring President Trump and other officials, labeled as public service announcements. Democratic senators have demanded answers, arguing the funding may be illegal and constituted a misuse of taxpayer dollars as midterms approach. The ads have drawn broad criticism and questions about independence of agencies.
Israel’s prime minister faces defamation lawsuits as Haaretz and other outlets are accused of publishing false reports about warnings to Netanyahu before the October 7, 2023 attacks. The stories persist as other outlets report related warnings from Egypt and the UAE, while Netanyahu denies having been warned.
Iran's economy has deteriorated amid US-Israeli conflict, with currency volatility, rising prices, and medicine shortages. A seven-point plan is being discussed to mitigate impact, while imports and supply chains face disruption from air and sea blockades. Officials say the blockade has slashed energy exports and worsened living costs.
Palestinian election officials are barred from Gaza and East Jerusalem ahead of the November 28 vote, prompting concerns over whether elections can proceed. The European Union has offered observers, and Palestinian leaders are calling for international support to ensure credible, inclusive polls amid past postponements.
Syrian officials and Hezbollah representatives have held talks in Turkey to de-escalate tensions, with both Damascus and Hezbollah denying a final agreement. Reuters cites sources indicating discussions focused on stopping arms transfers and dismantling sleeper cells, while Turkey and other actors deny the meeting. The talks are described as an initial attempt to move from battlefield hostilities toward a pragmatic, if cautious, arrangement.
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed a handful of countries are engaging in continuous dialogue to bid for future Olympic Games. A deadline of October 31 is set for formal interest, with shortlisting and feasibility assessments to follow between 2027 and 2029. Ahmedabad, Munich and Cape Town are among the cities named in emerging bids for 2036 and beyond.
AFP photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh has been assaulted by armed settlers near Aqraba in the West Bank while covering olive harvest violence. A fellow photographer was threatened; cameras were seized. Israeli soldiers were nearby but did not intervene. The incident follows a rise in settler violence and poses risks to press freedom.
Three years after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks killed about 1,200 Israelis and abducted 251, the country confronts ongoing scrutiny of security failures, the absence of an independent inquiry, and the lasting trauma in border communities as survivors and families navigate memory, loss and national reckoning.
Gaza remains under strain as displacement, injuries, and psychological trauma persist for millions. UN and NGO assessments highlight vast needs, with hundreds of thousands of children affected by violence, loss, and disrupted services amid ongoing humanitarian challenges.
Three years after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, Israel faces a pivotal election that could determine the future of Benjamin Netanyahu’s premiership. Voters weigh accountability for security failures against a demand for stability as regional dynamics remain volatile and Gaza’s humanitarian toll persists.
Memorial events mark the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack; communities across Israel and around the world fly flags at half-staff and hold vigils. Survivors and bereaved families gather at Kibbutz Re’im and other sites; ceremonies also unfold in New York, Washington, and European capitals.
Veteran actress Eva Marie Saint has died in Los Angeles. She won an Academy Award for On the Waterfront (1954) and an Emmy for People Like Us (1990). Her career spanned six decades, including North by Northwest (1959) and Superman Returns (2006). She was married to Jeffrey Hayden for 65 years and leaves two children.
Satellite and on-the-ground reports show widespread destruction across Gaza, with neighborhoods leveled, thousands killed or injured, and essential services collapsing. A ceasefire has not halted the humanitarian catastrophe, and reconstruction remains blocked by broader conflict and political stalemate. Palestinians are enduring displacement, food and water shortages, and a collapse of daily life.
The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed new strikes against Saudi Arabia, targeting airports and military sites as fighting in Yemen widens. Saudi forces say they are intercepting missiles north of Riyadh, while ground and air operations on Yemen’s western coast intensify. The conflict risks disrupting regional shipping routes amid a broader regional confrontation.
Missiles and drones targeted Aden International Airport as fighting intensifies along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The attack forced a flight from Cairo to divert to Jeddah, prompting international concern as displaced people face mounting humanitarian needs amid a widening confrontation.
Three years after Hamas’s 7 October attack, commemorations at Nova and elsewhere are tempered by continued strikes in Gaza. Families mourn loved ones as residents describe life under siege, while Israel’s leadership faces elections and international scrutiny over the war’s conduct.
As states push new taxes on billionaires and high earners, voters face a wave of ballot measures and lawsuits. Washington contemplates a millionaire tax despite opposition from some business leaders; California weighs a billionaire wealth tax; Massachusetts has already seen revenue gains from similar levies, while other states move to cut or adjust taxes on high earners.