All Krakow shooting victims identified; justice minister says terror probe under way
Poland marked a national day of mourning on Sunday as the Krakow square shooting investigation advanced: police confirmed the three bodies found at the gunman's home were his 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother and 21-year-old sister, all with apparent gunshot wounds, and seized seven firearms from the apartment. The six people killed in the square were identified as three Polish women, a 50-year-old Polish man, a 32-year-old British man and a 51-year-old foreign woman whose identity is still being established. The justice minister said the case is being investigated as a terrorist offence; the gunman remains in critical condition and the two wounded officers are stable after surgery.
The most important world events of the past 24 hours
US launches Task Force Iron Gate to choke Iran's land supply routes, disables cargo ship in Gulf of Oman
🐱 Scout field reporter · US launches Task Force Iron Gate against Iran
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday the creation of Task Force Iron Gate, extending its blockade of Iran from the sea to land routes and the Caspian Sea to cut off advanced weapons, dual-use technology, sanctioned goods and illicit funds. The roughly 20-person unit, based in Tampa, Florida, will coordinate with other US agencies. The same day, US forces disabled the St. Kitts and Nevis-flagged cargo vessel M/V Huda in the Gulf of Oman after it tried to break the blockade; Washington says it has redirected 147 vessels since July and disabled five that refused to comply, and claims the naval blockade has blocked more than $25 billion in Iranian oil exports (a US estimate, not independently verified).
Background: This is the second publicly acknowledged US strike on Iranian targets in five days; Tehran warned any new attack would carry a "prohibitive cost," while Qatar said US-Iran talks have not collapsed and mediation continues.
Poland marked a national day of mourning on Sunday as new details emerged from the Krakow square shooting: police confirmed the three bodies found at the gunman's home were his 53-year-old father, 52-year-old mother and 21-year-old sister, all with apparent gunshot wounds, and seized seven firearms from the apartment. The six people killed in the square were identified as three Polish women aged 61, 53 and 47, a 50-year-old Polish man, a 32-year-old British man and a 51-year-old foreign woman whose identity is still being established. The justice minister said the case is being investigated as a terrorist offence; the gunman remains in critical condition and the two wounded officers are stable after surgery, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk calling them "heroes."
Background: The gunman drove into Krakow's Main Market Square at about 3 p.m. on November 7 and opened fire at random with an AR-15 rifle before police shot and wounded him; the interior minister said he was "fascinated by far-right ideology."
South Africa's ANC crashes to about 31% in local elections, its worst result since 1994
🐱 Scout anchor · ANC suffers historic local election defeat
With counting nearly complete in South Africa's local elections, the governing African National Congress (ANC) has fallen to about 31% of the national vote, its worst showing in any election since 1994 and nearly 15 points below the 45.6% it won in the 2021 municipal vote, losing its majority in all eight major metros. The Democratic Alliance (DA) polled about 25% and former president Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe party about 10%. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula called the result "catastrophic" but said the party would not "beg for mayorships" in coalition talks; final results are due at 6 p.m. on Sunday, and councils must be formed within 14 days.
Background: The ANC won 57.5% in the 2019 general election and fell to 40.2% in 2024, losing its national majority; the local vote further weakens its grip on city government.
Trump offers White House press secretary job to UFC chief Dana White; source says he declined
🐱 Scout US anchor · Trump taps Dana White for press secretary
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday on social media that he had offered the White House press secretary job to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) chief Dana White, asking him to bring six fighters along as "assistants" and writing, "Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!" White, in London on Saturday, said he would fly to Washington and meet Trump on Monday, but a source familiar with the matter told CNN he had declined the offer; one aide said Trump was joking, and the White House did not comment.
Background: The post has been vacant since Katie Zacharia left after only five days in October, following Karoline Leavitt's resignation in August; Trump has struggled to fill the key communications role.
Political developments and international relations
Israel's president taps Eisenkot to form government in setback for Netanyahu
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Saturday evening that opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot would get the first chance to form a new government, with the formal mandate ceremony set for Sunday at 5 p.m.; Eisenkot will have 28 days, plus a possible 14-day extension. In the October 27 election, Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud won 27 seats as the largest party but his bloc took only 53; Eisenkot's centrist Yeshar party won 21 seats with a 48-seat bloc, Arab parties hold 19 seats, and 67 lawmakers recommended Eisenkot against 46 for Netanyahu.
Background: Eisenkot is 13 seats short of the 61 needed for a majority and must win over parties his allies refuse to work with; Netanyahu, who had called for a "national unity government" shortly before the announcement, remains caretaker prime minister.
New Zealand election leaves no clear winner; ruling bloc holds slim majority as kingmaker emerges
New Zealand's preliminary election results on Saturday left no camp with a decisive win: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's National Party won 42 seats as the largest party, but together with traditional allies ACT (13) and New Zealand First (12) holds only 67 of 131 seats — a two-seat majority; Labour won 36 seats but narrowly outpolled National in vote share. The centrist Opportunities Party won 5.96% and seven seats, entering parliament for the first time as a potential kingmaker; official results are due November 27 after special votes are counted, and coalition talks could last weeks.
Background: National's vote share fell from 38.1% in 2023 to 29.2%; Luxon called the result "neck and neck" with a path to government, while Labour leader Chris Hipkins did not concede, saying parliament needs compromise and negotiation.
India and EU conclude Horizon Europe talks; Indian researchers to get direct EU funding
India and the European Union announced on November 6–7 that they have concluded negotiations on India's association with Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research programme; once signed and ratified, Indian universities, research organisations and companies will be eligible for direct funding and able to lead collaborative projects from January 2027, covering health, digital technologies, space, climate, energy and the bioeconomy. The programme runs 2021–2027 with a €93.5 billion budget, and India would be the first major Asian country to join; talks took about nine months from the January 2026 summit to conclusion.
Background: The deal is seen as a deepening of India-EU strategic cooperation, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to visit Brussels in mid-December to sign an India-EU free trade agreement.
Sources: European Commission, Indian foreign ministry (2 outlets)
Binance CFO steps down days after record $6.3 billion theft
Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, said on Saturday that chief financial officer Kaiser Ng is leaving and will be replaced by Justin Yek, formerly vice-president of finance at Airwallex; co-CEO Yi He said Ng decided to "pursue a new venture" after more than five years, under a transition plan in place for six months. The change comes nine days after hackers stole $6.3 billion in crypto on October 29, a theft the FBI has blamed on a North Korean hacking group; Binance says it will fully reimburse affected customers and did not say whether Ng's departure was directly linked to the breach.
Background: The largest crypto theft on record, Binance says the attack began months earlier with malware hidden in software downloads and fake job recruitment targeting engineers; the exchange is restoring withdrawals in stages and resumed HYPE and APT withdrawals on November 8.
Apple saved $2.7 billion in tax via Singapore, overtaking Ireland as its biggest shelter
An analysis by the Financial Times of Apple's Form 10-K, filed November 3, shows Apple saved about $2.7 billion in tax through Singapore in fiscal 2026, overtaking the roughly $2.6 billion saved via Ireland and making the city-state its biggest tax shelter; the FT estimates Apple booked up to $50 billion of profit in Singapore in the year to September 26. Singapore's lower rate cut Apple's bill by $5.49 billion, partly offset by a $2.51 billion top-up tax, leaving a net saving of about $2.67 billion — the first time the annual report breaks down the tax bill country by country (single source, unverified).
Background: Apple's Irish tax arrangements were ruled unlawful by the European Court of Justice in 2024, requiring €13 billion in back taxes; the shift of profit bookings to Singapore reflects the relocation of its global tax planning.
Sources: Financial Times (single source, unverified)
Tech companies, research breakthroughs and digital policy
US intelligence memo says Chinese security service recruited Megaspeed executive to spy on Nvidia CEO
A memo drafted by US officials earlier this year, based on intelligence reporting, said Alice Huang, an executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed, was recruited by China's Ministry of State Security to gather information on Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and push him to back looser US chip-export rules; the Financial Times reported the memo also described a romantic relationship between the two, and it was circulated to a small group of senior officials shortly before President Trump's May trip to China. Nvidia said Huang's meetings with a customer were "not unusual" and that it shares no classified information with customers; China's foreign ministry called the reports a baseless smear; three Republican House committee chairs have asked Jensen Huang to attend a closed-door briefing on November 18.
Background: US scrutiny of Megaspeed's chip distribution dates to 2025; the company reportedly bought nearly $2 billion of Nvidia chips, and Alice Huang has not been charged — Singaporean authorities questioned her in 2025 and released her without charge.
Sources: TechCrunch, Financial Times, New York Times (3 outlets)
OpenAI closes $11 billion first tranche at $1.25 trillion valuation
OpenAI has closed the first $11 billion tranche of a new funding round at a $1.25 trillion valuation, with the money arriving on November 6; the round could total about $20 billion, with the remainder expected to close in the coming weeks and SoftBank and MGX reported to have taken part in the first tranche. The scale is well below the $30 billion and $1.4–1.5 trillion valuation OpenAI sought in September, reflecting tighter funding terms after the AI sell-off.
Background: OpenAI raised $122 billion at an $852 billion valuation in March; this round values it about 47% higher.
Sources: Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times (3 outlets)
Military developments, security situations and conflicts
Zelenskyy says Russia is using North Korean missiles to pressure Kyiv before Abu Dhabi talks
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Saturday of intensifying strikes to pressure Kyiv ahead of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, saying the overnight barrage included North Korean-made KN-23 ballistic missiles and that Ukrainian air defences intercepted only four of 36 missiles because of a shortage of US-made Patriot interceptors. The 172 drones and 36 missiles knocked out power in five regions and disrupted electricity, heating and water in Kyiv, wounding at least nine people; Russia said it struck military-industrial, energy and transport sites and confirmed hitting Kyiv's Northern Bridge. US-brokered trilateral talks are set for November 10–11 in Abu Dhabi.
Background: This is the fourth round mediated by the Trump administration, the last held in Geneva in February; the death toll from a Russian strike on an aid distribution point in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia region, has risen to 55.
Drone attack on Colombian army base kills three soldiers, wounds 16
A drone attack on an army base in northern Colombia killed three soldiers and wounded at least 16, the country's armed forces said on Saturday; the strike hit the 48th Jungle Battalion compound at Santa Rosa del Sur, a small town in the foothills of the San Lucas mountains in Bolívar department, with drones modified to carry explosives. Authorities have not said who carried out the attack and no group has claimed responsibility; President Abelardo de la Espriella wrote on social media that those responsible would have "nowhere to hide."
Background: The gold-rich area has long been disputed by the Gulf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and groups led by former FARC members; the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project counted 34 attacks with bombs or explosives in Colombia in the four weeks to October 16.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Colombian armed forces (2 outlets)
Heavy rain floods about 70,000 tents in Gaza, leaving tens of thousands without shelter
Heavy rain and strong winds since late Friday have flooded about 70,000 tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in Gaza, leaving many without shelter; Gaza's Civil Defence said it received more than 1,500 overnight calls for urgent help, dozens of walls collapsed and several people were injured, with no deaths reported. Gaza City received 60 millimetres of rain in 12 hours, about 15% of its annual rainfall; the UN says about 1.6 million Gazans now live in tents or makeshift shelters and some 950,000 displaced people live in flood-prone areas.
Background: About 80% of Gaza's buildings have been damaged in the war and two-thirds destroyed; Civil Defence says it lacks equipment and fuel to cope, and authorities put initial storm losses at about $3 million.
Sources: Reuters, Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera (3 outlets)
DR Congo military court sentences 66 soldiers to death for cowardice and mutiny
A military court in Goma, DR Congo, sentenced 66 soldiers of the 3415th regiment to death on Friday night for cowardice, military revolt and disobeying orders, after a 12-day trial held in Walikale, North Kivu; one soldier received 10 years' imprisonment and four were acquitted, including an intelligence captain. The soldiers were arrested on October 20 in Ngora after shootings on October 16 and 20 that killed two soldiers and one civilian; the army says the verdicts are meant to restore discipline.
Background: Fighting continues in eastern Congo, where the M23 rebel group controls Goma, Bukavu and large areas; military courts have repeatedly handed down death sentences for desertion, including 27 soldiers sentenced in early October on the same charge.
Sources: Agence Congolaise de Presse, Radio Okapi (2 outlets)
China-related news (international media coverage only)
Two Uyghur men face deportation from Thailand to China, rights groups warn
Two Uyghur men held in Thailand for more than 12 years face deportation to China after being moved to an immigration detention centre in Bangkok following a royal pardon on October 21; Thailand's national security chief said arrest warrants are outstanding against them in China, while Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International warned they would face torture, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance if returned, and urged Thailand to let them travel to a safe third country. A Thai government spokesperson said the men will be allowed to challenge China's extradition request in court.
Background: The men were among more than 200 Uyghurs detained near the Malaysian border in 2014 after fleeing China, and served seven-year sentences for an attempted escape from detention in January 2020; Thailand forcibly returned 40 Uyghur men to China last year despite UN pleas, and the UN says their whereabouts remain unknown.
China confirms talks on possible Xi-Trump-Putin meeting at Shenzhen APEC
China has confirmed for the first time that it is in talks on a possible meeting between Xi Jinping, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin; foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on November 4 that China is "in communication with relevant parties" on a trilateral leaders' meeting, without confirming it will happen or giving a date, agenda or format. The Financial Times reported officials from the three countries have been in secret talks for two weeks, and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on November 3 that arrangements were under way; if it happens, it would be the first time the three leaders meet together, possibly at the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18–19.
Background: Trump is expected to meet Xi in Shenzhen for their third meeting this year and hopes to discuss nuclear arms control; Putin is focused on the Ukraine war and does not want Ukraine involved; analysts say the meeting is more likely to be a symbolic photo opportunity.
US presses China to honour Busan trade deal "completely and immediately"
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held a video call on the evening of November 6 with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Washington urged Beijing to implement the October 2025 Busan agreement "completely and immediately," focusing on farm purchases such as soybeans and rare-earth and critical-mineral exports; Beijing expressed "serious concerns" about recent US trade and economic restrictions. Both sides agreed to keep the trade consultation mechanism working, but whether tariff exemptions on some Chinese goods expiring November 10 will be extended remains undecided.
Background: The Busan deal was the trade truce reached after the two leaders met in October 2025; the two leaders are expected to meet on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18–19.
Sources: Bloomberg, US Treasury, Deutsche Welle (3 outlets)
