— President Joseph Aoun made the speech on the eve of the country's Independence Day from southern Lebanon, where Israel still maintains troops in five areas that it deems strategic.
— The revised number of people taken surpasses the 276 abducted during the infamous Chibok mass abduction of 2014. Authorities in Niger state said the school had disregarded an order to close all boarding facilities following intelligence warnings of a heightened risk of attacks. The school has not commented on that claim.
— Leptospirosis spreads through contaminated water or soil tainted by urine from rodents and other infected animals, entering through cuts or mucous membranes after people contact floodwaters. The 28 October storm caused an estimated $10 billion in damages, damaging nearly 200,000 buildings and hobbling Jamaica's tourism and agriculture sectors.
— Speaking in Geneva, UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires said: "Since 11 October, while the ceasefire has been in effect, at least 67 children have been killed in conflict-related incidents in the Gaza Strip. Dozens more have been injured."
— WFP officials say they have met only 30% of the parcel target, reaching around 530,000 out of 1.6 million people due to logistical issues. Hundreds of thousands remain in urgent need, and at least half a million people were said to be experiencing famine in parts of the enclave. Though Gaza’s markets are reviving, food prices remain high for Palestinians, many of whom lost their income during the war, with a chicken costing $25, meaning many are reliant on food aid, the WFP said.
— says they are impacting the island’s entire population, hitting sectors including health care, nutrition and education.
— The Georgia congresswoman's relentless calls for releasing files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the late exploiter of underage women for prostitution, and recent criticism of some of his policies led to a bitter public feud. After the US president labelled her a "traitor", she said in a video announcing her departure: "I refuse to be a 'battered wife' hoping it all goes away and gets better." She said in her video statement, posted on social media, that she would leave the US Congress on 5 January 2026. Trump, who had threatened to support a Republican challenger to unseat Greene, called her resignation "great news for the country" in an interview with ABC News.
— BBC: In his election victory speech, the self-described Democratic socialist mayor called Trump a "despot". And before Friday's meeting, the president's spokeswoman had billed Mamdani's visit as a "communist coming to the White House". But standing side-by-side in the Oval Office, the two men struck a surprisingly conciliatory tone. Over and over, both men emphasised their shared interest in addressing New York City's affordability crisis.