The United States has imposed new sanctions on 32 individuals and entities from several countries, including India, targeting networks that support Iran’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs. According to the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the sanctioned parties are based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany, and Ukraine. Washington accuses these networks of aiding Iran’s weapons production capabilities. Tehran, however, insists its missile and drone programs are purely defensive and that its nuclear activities are peaceful. The move comes amid indirect talks between Tehran and Washington and follows recent US and Israeli military actions against Iran, which Tehran has denounced as violations of international law.

US intelligence collected in late 2024 indicated that Israeli officials discussed sending Palestinians into Gaza tunnels suspected of being rigged with explosives, according to two former US officials. The intelligence, analyzed during the final weeks of President Joe Biden’s administration, raised concerns within the White House and intelligence community about potential violations of international law, which prohibits the use of civilians as human shields. It remains unclear whether the individuals referenced were civilians or detainees, or if the Biden administration discussed the findings with Israel. The Israeli military denied authorizing such tactics, stating it forbids coercing civilians in military operations, though its Military Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating related suspicions. The revelations add to growing scrutiny of Israel’s military conduct in Gaza and raise questions about possible war crimes and US complicity through arms and intelligence support.

The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 1,000 migrants have died in 2025 while attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean, marking a grim milestone in one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. The latest tragedy occurred off Libya’s coast, where an inflatable boat carrying 49 people capsized near the Al Buri Oil Field after departing from Zuwara. Only seven men survived, while 42 others, mostly from Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, and Nigeria, are presumed dead. The IOM provided emergency aid to survivors and reiterated its call for stronger regional cooperation, safer migration pathways, and improved search and rescue operations to prevent further loss of life. The agency warned that the death toll continues to rise with each new incident.

The United States has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran, targeting individuals and entities allegedly involved in supporting the country’s ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs. The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said 32 people and organizations across Iran, the UAE, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, India, Germany, and Ukraine have been sanctioned. Washington accuses these networks of aiding Iran’s weapons development, while Tehran maintains that its missile and drone programs are purely defensive and its nuclear activities are peaceful. The move underscores ongoing tensions between the two nations over Iran’s military capabilities and regional influence.

Iran commemorated the 14th death anniversary of Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam, widely regarded as the father of the country’s missile program. Born in 1959 in Tehran, Moghaddam played a pivotal role during the Iran-Iraq War in developing Iran’s indigenous missile capabilities. As a key figure in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), he led the creation of the artillery and missile units that later produced Iran’s first domestically made missiles. Under his leadership, Iran developed the Shahab and Zelzal series, laying the foundation for modern Iranian missile technology. Moghaddam also assisted in establishing Hezbollah’s first missile unit in Lebanon. He was killed in a 2011 explosion at a military base near Tehran, along with 16 colleagues, and was buried with state honors. His legacy continues to shape Iran’s defense and aerospace ambitions.

At least 37 people were killed when a passenger bus plunged into a ravine in the Arequipa region of southern Peru, local authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The accident occurred on the Panamericana Sur highway near the Ocoña district. According to Arequipa’s regional health chief, Walther Oporto, 36 people died at the scene and one more succumbed to injuries in hospital. The bus reportedly collided with a van before veering off the road and falling into the ravine. Rescue teams and firefighters responded quickly, and 26 injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals, three of whom are in critical condition. The Arequipa regional government said it is providing medical assistance to the victims, while an initial highway patrol report confirmed at least 16 deaths before the full toll was verified.

Germany has deployed a team of unarmed police officers to the Palestinian territories as part of its long-term efforts to strengthen local security institutions and promote stability in the Middle East. According to German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the officers, stationed in Jerusalem, will assist in restructuring and training Palestinian police and security forces through the Office for Security Cooperation (OSC). The four-member team arrived about two weeks ago and is expanding Germany’s ongoing support program that has been active for over 15 years. Dobrindt emphasized that an effective police force is essential for achieving lasting peace in the region. The move reflects Germany’s continued commitment to peacebuilding and institutional development in the Palestinian territories amid ongoing regional tensions.

A BBC Verify analysis of satellite imagery has revealed that Israeli forces destroyed more than 1,500 buildings in Gaza after a ceasefire with Hamas began on October 10. The images, taken up to November 8, show widespread destruction in areas under Israeli control, raising concerns that the actions may violate ceasefire terms brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Experts suggest the actual number of destroyed buildings could be higher. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) maintain that their operations comply with the ceasefire framework. The ceasefire, based on a 20-point peace plan, was supposed to halt all military actions, including air and artillery strikes. However, visual analysis indicates continued large-scale demolitions in Gaza, particularly around eastern Khan Younis, where previously undamaged residential areas now appear destroyed.

The United States has imposed sanctions on five officials and three entities based in Myanmar and Thailand for their alleged involvement in online investment scams and forced labor operations. According to US government data, Americans lost at least $10 billion to Southeast Asia-based online fraud schemes in 2024, marking a 66% increase from the previous year. Washington said these criminal networks increasingly target US citizens online, posing a serious threat to the nation’s economic security. The sanctions reinforce efforts by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI, and the Secret Service’s Scam Center Strike Force to investigate and prosecute scam networks operating in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. The US reaffirmed its commitment to using all legal and diplomatic tools to protect its citizens from cyber fraud.

According to a recent UNHCR report, Bangladesh has received 136,000 new Rohingya refugees between December last year and October this year, bringing the total registered refugee population to 1.168 million as of October 31. The influx is linked to intensified violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where clashes between the junta forces and the Arakan Army have displaced thousands. The UNHCR noted that 78% of the new arrivals are women and children, and 12% are persons with disabilities. Refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, already overcrowded, are facing severe space shortages and environmental strain. Local authorities warn that continued arrivals and reduced aid could worsen conditions in the region, which hosts 34 camps including those in Ukhiya, Teknaf, and Bhasan Char.

Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, hitting key natural gas centers that provide heating, resulting in power outages in multiple regions. Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk confirmed the assaults, emphasizing that emergency electricity cuts are in place until the system stabilizes. Experts warn that the strikes could lead to severe heating shortages during the winter months. Nearly four years of Russian aggression have repeatedly targeted Ukraine’s electricity and heating grids, damaging critical civilian infrastructure. Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper reported that a drone strike damaged southern region energy facilities without causing casualties. In response, Ukraine has increased attacks on Russian oil depots and refineries, aiming to disrupt Moscow’s fuel exports and create nationwide shortages. Despite the hostilities, Ukraine pledges to maintain electricity and heating during the harsh winter season.

Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, November 8, killed three people in two separate attacks, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) as reported by Press TV. Two of the victims were brothers from the town of Shebaa, who were traveling in an SUV along the slopes of Mount Hermon when their vehicle was struck and set ablaze. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health confirmed their deaths and reported another fatality in a separate strike targeting a vehicle in the village of Barashit, which also left four others injured. The Israeli military claimed the attacks were aimed at Hezbollah members, alleging that those killed posed a threat to the 2024 ceasefire agreement between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah. Lebanese sources argue that Israel has repeatedly used such claims to justify renewed attacks since the agreement was signed. Earlier, an Israeli drone strike in Bint Jbeil injured seven people.

The health ministry in Gaza reports that Israeli forces continue military strikes in the enclave despite a ceasefire agreement, pushing the death toll since 7 October 2023 to 69,169. According to Al Jazeera, more than 240 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect last month. On Saturday, two more deaths were confirmed following Israeli fire along the northern “yellow line,” a loosely defined boundary that residents say is invisible and unclear. This ambiguity has led to repeated civilian casualties. Explosions from planted devices have also killed children. Local authorities estimate that Israel has dropped nearly 200,000 tons of explosives on Gaza, with around 70,000 tons still unexploded. Environmental and health hazards are worsening, particularly in Sheikh Radwan, where contaminated water is spreading after pumping stations and drainage systems were destroyed. The UN reports severe groundwater pollution. Violence is also rising in the West Bank, where settlers—reportedly backed by Israeli forces—have carried out over 126 attacks in 70 villages since September, burning more than 4,000 olive trees.

The United States has announced tough new sanctions against Lebanon’s Hezbollah, accusing the group of laundering over one billion dollars in funds received from Iran through both licensed and unlicensed money exchange networks. The U.S. Treasury said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force has been transferring large sums since January, fueling Hezbollah’s paramilitary operations and undermining Lebanon’s sovereignty. Treasury Under Secretary John Hurley emphasized that Lebanon can only achieve stability and prosperity if Hezbollah is disarmed and cut off from Iranian financial and political influence. The sanctions coincide with renewed violence in Lebanon, as Israel launched significant airstrikes despite a year-old ceasefire between the two sides. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, one person was killed and another injured in Thursday’s attacks. In response, the Lebanese army has started operations to dismantle Hezbollah bases in the south. The move heightens regional tension amid ongoing disputes over Iranian involvement and Hezbollah’s growing military presence within Lebanon.

Israel carried out extensive airstrikes across four cities in southern Lebanon—Ayta al-Jabal, Taybeh, Tair Debba, and Zawtar al-Sharqiya—killing at least one person and injuring nine others. Lebanese officials accused Israel of flagrantly violating the ceasefire agreement brokered in late 2024, following months of border tensions. According to Lebanon’s state news agency, Israeli fighter jets struck civilian areas in Tyre district, contradicting Israel’s claim that the strikes targeted Hezbollah military sites.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks, calling them “a clear breach of international humanitarian law” and evidence that Israel was forcing a new war on Lebanon. Hezbollah reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire but warned it would not remain silent under continued Israeli aggression. The group said it reserved the legitimate right to respond in self-defense.

The recent escalation comes despite the 2024 ceasefire, which required Israel to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 2025—a condition that remains unfulfilled. Israel continues to maintain troops in at least five border posts and has conducted near-daily air raids since the truce. Over 4,000 Lebanese have been killed since the conflict reignited in 2024, underscoring the fragility of the region’s security and diplomacy.