MicroWave

Summary

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza and during the October 2023 attacks.

The court alleges actions like depriving Gaza civilians of essential resources.

Israel and the U.S., non-members of the ICC, reject the warrants, with Netanyahu calling them antisemitic.

Hamas also criticized the decision.

The practical enforcement of these warrants remains uncertain, as the ICC lacks authority to compel arrests.

Summary

Australia has introduced a bill to ban social media access for children under 16, enforcing strict penalties of up to AU$50 million for non-compliance.

The law would require biometric or government ID for age verification and prohibits parental consent as an exemption.

While aiming to protect children from harmful content, critics argue it may drive teens to unregulated platforms.

Some services, like YouTube and WhatsApp, will be exempt for educational or messaging purposes.

The bill has bipartisan support but faces scrutiny from independents and child welfare advocates.

Summary

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is considering leaving Elon Musk’s X due to its role in spreading misinformation, ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner said at POLITICO’s Health Care Summit.

“Twitter, or X, is now in every newspaper. Everybody is leaving X, and maybe for good reasons. We are discussing this as well at ECDC at the moment,” she stated.

Rendi-Wagner stressed the need for clearer, engaging communication to rebuild trust, while acknowledging social media’s potential for positive community engagement.

Summary

The Biden administration has moved to forgive $4.7 billion in U.S. loans to Ukraine as part of a $9.4 billion loan package authorized by Congress in April to support Ukraine’s government during its war with Russia.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed the decision, which Congress could still block.

The Senate is set to vote on a disapproval motion introduced by Senator Rand Paul, though bipartisan support for Ukraine remains strong.

President Biden is expediting aid ahead of his term’s end, amid concerns President-elect Trump may restrict future support.

Summary

Four people have died, including 19-year-old Australian Bianca Jones, two Danish women in their 20s, and a 56-year-old US citizen, after suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, a popular backpacker destination in Laos.

Several others, including six British and one New Zealand traveler, remain hospitalized.

The poisoning is believed to be linked to free shots offered at a local bar, prompting warnings from travelers to avoid local spirits.

Authorities fear a mass poisoning, with investigations underway into the source of the contaminated drinks.

Summary

JD Vance deleted a tweet defending his Senate absences that unintentionally revealed Donald Trump is interviewing candidates to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray before his term ends in 2027.

Vance faced backlash from Trump ally Grace Chong for missing votes on Biden’s judicial nominees and responded by calling her a “mouth breathing imbecile,” explaining he was busy helping Trump vet officials.

Trump later criticized GOP senators for skipping votes, prompting Vance to return to the Senate and delete his controversial post.

Chong has mocked Vance online.

Summary

Donald Trump narrowly won the 2024 presidential election, securing the smallest popular vote margin for a victor in modern U.S. history, with just 1.6% over Kamala Harris.

Despite his win, Democrats performed unexpectedly well in down-ballot races, flipping Senate seats in swing states Trump carried and maintaining the House balance.

Republicans lack a clear mandate as Trump’s plans for deportations, ending birthright citizenship, political retribution, and tariffs clash with voters’ hopes for economic relief.

There’s likely to be backlash as voters realize the gap between what they wanted and what Trump plans to deliver.

Summary

The FDA found bacteria-contaminated water and mold at a facility making Tom’s of Maine toothpaste.

Dangerous bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Paracoccus yeei, were found in water and some toothpaste batches.

These bacteria can cause serious infections. No recalls have been issued, but the FDA has requested action from the company.

Colgate-Palmolive is working with the FDA, adding safety measures, and says its products remain safe.

Summary

The FBI arrested Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, a homeless Florida man, for plotting to bomb the New York Stock Exchange to force a “reboot” of the U.S. government.

Agents found bomb-making materials in his storage unit and tracked him as he prepared the attack, believing it would gain public support against government corruption.

Yener recorded messages encouraging others to follow his lead and planned to carry out the bombing before Thanksgiving.

He was charged with attempting to use explosives to damage a commercial building.

Summary

Japan’s English proficiency ranking dropped to 92nd out of 116 countries, the lowest ever recorded.

The decline is attributed to stagnant English proficiency among young people, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Netherlands ranked first, followed by European countries, while the Philippines and Malaysia ranked 22nd and 26th, respectively.

Summary

A jury awarded $98 million to the family of Botham Jean, a Black man fatally shot in his home in 2018 by former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger.

The jury found Guyger acted with “malice” and awarded $60 million in punitive damages and $38 million in compensatory damages.

Guyger, who was off-duty and mistook Jean’s apartment for her own, was convicted of murder in 2019 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Jean’s family called the verdict a message on racial bias and police accountability.

Summary

Ukraine has used UK-made Storm Shadow missiles against Russia for the first time.

The decision to deploy the missiles was prompted by Russia's deployment of North Korean troops on its border with Ukraine, which is seen as a significant escalation of the conflict.

The missiles struck a target believed to be a command headquarters in the village of Maryno, and videos and images circulated on social media showing fragments of the missile.