Pope Leo XIV hailed Turkiye as a bridge between cultures and religions, as he began his first foreign visit since becoming pontiff. He warned the future of humanity was at stake as a result of escalating conflicts. The Pope will also visit Lebanon during his tour.
Published On 27 Nov 202527 Nov 2025
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Georgia RobertsPolitical Correspondent
BBCYoung people leaving care in England face a sharper increase in homelessness compared to the population more broadly, latest figures show.
It comes after warnings the youngest care leavers face a “devastating care cliff”, which sees them losing support when they turn 18 and leave care, as well as difficulties with joblessness.
Children’s Commissioner for England Rachel De Souza told the BBC she was concerned the government were not providing care leavers with adequate long-term support.
The government said it was committed to “bold steps” to tackle homelessness.
The numbers of households with care leavers aged 18 to 20 threatened with homelessness in the past year increased by 9% on the previous year, and those already homeless and owed a relief duty grew by 6%.
On average in England among the general population, those threatened with homelessness increased by 0.3% and homelessness grew by 1%.
It follows a trend of homelessness among the youngest care leavers which campaigners say is growing more acute.
Last year’s figures show that homelessness among households with the youngest care leavers in England increased by 21%, compared to around a 12% more broadly.
A third of care leavers become homeless within the first two years of leaving care.
Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern said: “Everyone deserves a roof over their head, yet these figures show too many people are at risk.
“We are tackling the worst forms of homelessness and figures show we are reducing the worst forms of temporary accommodation with on-going reductions in B&B use.”
She pointed to the government’s Homelessness Strategy, saying the government was providing £1bn for social housing, and £39bn for affordable housing.
The Conservatives have been approached for a comment.
Kerrie Portman has been homeless several times since she left care when she turned 18.
The 27-year-old was taken into care as a teenager having already experienced homelessness while under the care of her mum, who struggled with addiction.
Kerrie was in and out of supported and temporary accommodation, and children’s homes, where she says she experienced “severe abuse”.
She got a place to study at Cambridge University but, struggling to cope with a lack of support, she dropped out and found herself sleeping rough and going between squats.
“It was incredibly terrifying and incredibly traumatic and damaging,” she says.
“I didn’t have any sort of safety net, so I didn’t have any family to fall back on for support…being a woman I was obviously [also] more at risk.”
Kerrie would take long buses to avoid the streets, staying in McDonalds or sleeping in public bathrooms to try and stay safe – but still couldn’t escape abusive and violent situations.
She says that when it comes to applying for jobs, she is often dismissed for not having enough experience.
“I’ve never had the stability to be able to focus on work experience and that sort of thing, because when I’ve been experiencing chronic homelessness I’ve just been focused on survival.”
She is now completing an Open University course, her third attempt at sustaining study in higher education, and has had support in finding a suitable long term home.
But she fears for other young people who have had similar experiences grappling with life after leaving care, and the difficulties they face.
“All of the negative outcomes are rising. And then the more disadvantaged a person is, the more that leads to more disadvantage.”
While local authorities are legally obliged to provide some support for care leavers who leave the system at the age of 18, campaigners say the lack of safety net in terms of family, accommodation and other factors make them more vulnerable.
Clare Bracey, director of Policy, Campaigns and Communication at the charity Become, said the status quo was “unacceptable”.
“No child leaving care should face homelessness. At 18, they face a devastating care cliff where vital support vanishes and they’re expected to become independent overnight.”
Figures show 40% of the youngest care leavers in England aged 19 to 21 are not in education, employment or training – known as NEETs – compared to 15% for all young people in that category.
The government is concerned about the number of young people in this situation, and say the Youth Guarantee Scheme, which will offer paid work or apprenticeships to prevent long term unemployment among young people, will help those who have experienced care.
But there are calls from Labour MPs to keep in place some benefits for care leavers that the government have not committed to retaining as part of upcoming welfare reforms.
Last month, the education select committee called on the government not to cut the health element of Universal Credit for young care leavers as part of upcoming welfare reforms.
The government said no decisions have been made.
Children’s commissioner Rachel De Souza said the state acted as parent for care leavers, and so on issues such as housing and benefits, they needed priority.
“I think we need to push really hard,” she said.
“I’m not confident…because Westminster is not very good at thinking about the long-term realities of young people’s lives when the fixes are not easy.”
She has called for priority in housing for the 50-60,000 care leavers between the ages of 17 to 21, and for benefits to reflect the fact that a care leaver needs to set up home and pay for bills.
Labour MP John Whitby has fostered 26 children over two decades.
He has been pressing ministers to consider giving younger care leavers the same rate of Universal Credit received by those over 25, pointing out they would have the same obligations an older claimant.
But he also said he was worried about the “flat lining” of foster parents available.
“Obviously children who’ve been in care, they don’t do as well as regular children, but the longer they’re in foster care the better they do….something we’ve always tried to think about with the children who live with us is sort of that aspirational element,” he said.
He said he hoped some recent pilot schemes taking place as part of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, boosting the support network for care leavers for staying in accommodation and education, are rolled out across the country.
“If the basics are in place, then they’re not being evicted, then they can concentrate on the things they need to do, which is either get their education or training or job or whatever it is – much more aspirational things.
“You’ve got to have the basics in place.”
Two HumAngle investigations were recognised at the 2025 Excellence in Journalism Awards in West Africa, winning in the health reporting category and placing as first runner-up in sexual and gender-based violence reporting.
The awards, organised by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), drew 275 entries from across the region and were announced during the Media and Development Conference in Abuja, North Central Nigeria, on Wednesday, November 26.
The top prize in health reporting went to “Amid Deforestation Scourge, Vanishing Herbal Plants Pose Health Crisis in Southwestern Nigeria”, an investigation by freelance journalist Abdulwaheed Sofiullahi published by HumAngle with support from the Pulitzer Centre. His reporting detailed how worsening deforestation threatens access to traditional medicine for rural Nigerians, deepening risks from malaria, typhoid, and other common illnesses.
Abdulwaheed, who covers environment and health issues for several local and international outlets, urged young reporters to keep pursuing impactful stories as he received his award. He has previously served as a Health Reporting Fellow at the Wits Centre for Journalism in Johannesburg and is a member of the Oxford Climate Society.
HumAngle also earned recognition in the sexual and gender-based violence category, where Managing Editor Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu’s investigation, “A Tragic Femicide Case in Northeastern Nigeria Smells Like Honour Killing”, emerged as first runner-up.
The story exposed the killing of a young girl by her uncle in Bama, Borno State, revealing the entrenched gender-based violence and systemic failures faced by women and girls in Nigeria’s conflict-affected North East.
Following publication, the investigation generated national attention for its detailed reporting and sensitive narration, prompting authorities to declare the suspect wanted. He has yet to be arrested.
Hauwa, a conflict reporter with bylines in multiple international publications, documents the human toll of terrorism and insurgency through long-form storytelling and documentary work. She has won several journalism fellowships, including the 2025 FASPE Journalism Fellowship and the 2024 Ochberg Fellowship at the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma. She is also a Pulitzer Centre grantee.
HumAngle’s multiple recognitions underscore the newsroom’s commitment to covering the human cost of conflict and humanitarian crisis, to bear witness and also hold authorities to account, especially in communities frequently missing from mainstream narratives.
The CJID awards honour impactful journalism across West Africa, with categories spanning investigations, fact-checking, public service reporting, climate journalism, environment, politics, and gender.
The award’s panel of judges disclosed that the entries were graded for accuracy and fairness, originality and innovativeness of the reporter, depth of research, storytelling, and public impact, as well as adherence to standards of reporting. This year’s finalists included journalists from Nigeria and Ghana.
HumAngle journalists received honors at the 2025 Excellence in Journalism Awards by CJID, with two investigations being recognized. Abdulwaheed Sofiullahi’s investigation won the health reporting category, highlighting the impacts of deforestation on access to traditional medicine in Southwestern Nigeria. Managing Editor Hauwa Shaffii Nuhu’s piece on femicide in Northeastern Nigeria was the first runner-up in the sexual and gender-based violence category, drawing national attention to gender-based violence and related systemic failures.
The awards, part of the Media and Development Conference held in Abuja, Nigeria, celebrated impactful journalism across West Africa, encompassing categories like fact-checking, public service, and climate journalism. The judging criteria evaluated accuracy, fairness, originality, depth of research, storytelling, and public impact. HumAngle’s achievements emphasize their dedication to reporting the human consequences of conflict and holding authorities accountable, often highlighting overlooked communities.
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Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Poland’s next submarines will be provided by Sweden, in the shape of the advanced A26 class. Under the long-running Orka acquisition program, Warsaw announced today that it will buy three of the boats, which use an air-independent propulsion system, to replace the Polish Navy’s single Soviet-era Kilo class submarine. The new multirole subs will be able to launch and recover uncrewed underwater vessels (UUVs), as well as be used for minelaying, intelligence collection, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and more.
The Saab design was chosen in favor of competing offers from France’s Naval Group, Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Italy’s Fincantieri, South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, and Spain’s Navantia.
“We are honored to have been selected and look forward to the coming negotiations with the Armaments Agency in Poland,” said Micael Johansson, president and CEO of Saab, in a statement announcing the order today.
“The Swedish offer, featuring submarines tailored for the Baltic Sea, is the right choice for the Polish people. It will significantly enhance the operational capability of the Polish Navy and benefit the Polish economy,” Johansson added.
The Swedish offer was made by the country’s government on behalf of Saab. At this point, no contract has been signed, but Saab and the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) will now complete the procurement process together with Polish authorities.
Statements on Poland’s selection of the A26 were also provided by the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, and Pål Jonson, the Swedish Minister of Defense:
Poland has chosen Sweden as partner for its submarine program.
This shows the strength not only of the cooperation between our countries, but also of Sweden as a defense-industry nation. It is confirmation that the Swedish defense industry stands strong. Saab has a… pic.twitter.com/WhSFlQru7n
— Ulf Kristersson (@SwedishPM) November 26, 2025
🇵🇱🇸🇪Today is a historic day for the Swedish-Polish partnership and for increased security in the Baltic Sea. Poland has selected Swedish submarines for the Polish navy. This will strengthen our common defence, security, and defence industrial base. pic.twitter.com/2WjiSu8o5L
— Pål Jonson (@PlJonson) November 26, 2025
Saab says that the deal will include industrial cooperation with Poland as well as technological transfer, as part of a broader strategic partnership between the two countries. For Sweden, the first export customer for this promising design provides a significant boost to the program, at a time when delays and cost overruns mean it’s much-needed. A total of five boats increases the demand for in-service support, and the Polish seal of approval could open the door to more exports.
Although it has been reported that the three submarines will cost $2.52 billion, it remains unclear when they might be delivered.
The A26 uses air-independent propulsion (AIP), a technology that The War Zone has examined in detail in the past. Specifically, as well as diesel engines, this employs a Stirling-type engine as previously used in the influential Swedish Gotland class design. The Stirling auxiliary engine burns liquid oxygen and diesel to drive electrical generators that can be used for either propulsion or charging the batteries. The result is a conventionally powered submarine that’s able to remain submerged for reportedly more than 18 days, without needing to surface or use a snorkel.
The A26 has the option of being fitted with vertical launch system (VLS) cells, compatible with Tomahawk land attack missiles, which might be of interest to Poland as it seeks to reinforce its long-range strike capabilities.
Another notable feature of the A26 design is its sail, which is raked along its leading edge and which flares out toward the top. As we have discussed in the past, this feature is understood to have been chosen to increase its stealth characteristics. The A26 also features an X-form rudder. As we have discussed in the past, this configuration provides improved maneuverability, efficiency, and safety, and also helps reduce the acoustic signature across significant parts of the submarine’s operating envelope compared to the more traditional cruciform system.
Other details of the A26 design include a length of around 217 feet and a surfaced displacement of 2,122 tons. The submarine has a standard complement of just 26 sailors but can also accommodate up to 35 more, including commandos for special forces missions. The commandos can be delivered via the Multi-Mission Portal, similar to an oversized torpedo tube, which provides access to a flexible payload lock.
The A26 is also being built for the Royal Swedish Navy, with two Blekinge class boats under construction at Saab’s Kockums shipyard in Karlskrona. Originally planned to be handed over in 2024 and 2025, it recently emerged that delays would push the delivery of the first of these boats to 2031, while increasing costs will see the program reach a price tag of 2.3 billion Euros (around $2.7 billion). The second Swedish submarine is scheduled to be delivered in 2033. Between them, the new boats will replace the Royal Swedish Navy’s two Södermanland class submarines.
Buying three advanced submarines marks a major advance for the Polish Navy, which has, for many years, only had a single Project 877E Kilo class submarine, the ORP Orzel, in its fleet. The age of this boat and the impossibility of obtaining spare parts and support from Russia mean that it’s unclear if the Orzel is currently operational.
As Saab’s Johansson pointed out, the Polish Navy will be getting a submarine that has been purpose-designed for the Baltic Sea. Notably shallow and confined, with dense littorals, including complex undersea obstacles and islands, the Baltic imposes very particular requirements on submarine designs, something that has long been reflected in successive classes built in Sweden (as well as in Germany).
In particular, the Baltic environment calls for diesel-electric submarines that are able to transit covertly in areas with a water depth of less than 82 feet and operate in an environment with a potentially high density of anti-submarine warfare forces and naval mines.
Warsaw’s investment in the three new submarines is just one part of a much larger defense spending spree — what the Polish Armed Forces themselves describe as “one of the highest levels of defense spending in NATO.”
The Polish Air Force is gearing up to receive 32 F-35A fighters, which will be armed with long-range precision weapons. Dozens of FA-50 light combat aircraft are also being delivered.
Poland’s first F-35 is on the move! 🏃♂️
AZ-01 has been moved to the final finishes facility to receive its stealth coating, bringing it one step closer to rollout.
Poland’s 32 F-35s will strengthen NATO and European allies in the region. pic.twitter.com/N8TqsMHBLG
— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) July 31, 2024
Within the air defense branch, Poland plans by 2032 to introduce new air and missile defense systems procured under the Narew and Wisła programs, which cover the short-range and medium-range air defense segments, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Polish Land Forces are getting 250 of the latest Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 tanks, worth up to $6 billion, that will serve alongside a similar number of German-made Leopard 2s already in use. The Land Forces also expect to benefit from additional investments in operational fires, including new tube and rocket artillery, which will be employed in combination with 96 new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters. Furthermore, a significant South Korean arms package includes tanks, short-range ballistic missiles, and self-propelled artillery, as well as the aforementioned FA-50s.
Alongside the new submarines, Polish naval capabilities are also being reinforced by new coastal missile units and mine warfare technologies.
All of this military buildup comes in direct response to Russian aggression against Ukraine, which has provided Poland with a salutory reminder of the importance of robust defenses. With its choice of the A26 class, Poland will be getting one of the most capable conventionally powered submarines available and making another statement about how strongly it takes its defense.
Contact the author: [email protected]
Production at Iraq’s Khor Mor gas field, one of the largest in the Kurdistan region, was halted after a rocket struck a storage facility late on Wednesday. The facility, part of a recent expansion under the KM250 project, had increased the field’s production capacity by 50% and included new installations partially financed by the U.S. government and built by a U.S. contractor. The attack comes amid a series of drone strikes and assaults on the region’s oilfields, which have previously disrupted production and raised concerns over energy security in northern Iraq.
The shutdown of Khor Mor has caused significant power cuts in the Kurdistan region, with electricity generation dropping by an estimated 3,000 megawatts. The gas field supplies fuel for regional power generation, meaning interruptions directly impact homes, businesses, and local infrastructure. The attack also underscores the vulnerability of energy assets in Iraqi Kurdistan, a region of strategic importance with major U.S. and international investments in the energy sector.
Key stakeholders include Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum, operators of the Khor Mor field under the Pearl Consortium, local Kurdish authorities responsible for regional security, and U.S. interests, given their financial and operational involvement in the field. Residents and businesses in the northern region are directly affected by the power cuts, while regional security forces and international observers monitor the recurring attacks, which are often attributed to Iran-backed militias targeting U.S. and allied interests.
Authorities are assessing the damage and working to restore production and electricity supply. Firefighting teams successfully extinguished the blaze early on Thursday, but gas output remains suspended, prolonging power shortages. The incident follows previous attacks in July and recent drone strikes, highlighting ongoing security risks to critical infrastructure. Local officials, including Kurdish leaders, have called for improved anti-drone and defense measures to protect energy facilities, while the investigation into the perpetrators continues.
With information from Reuters.
Finland on a possible Russia-Ukraine deal, Trump’s leverage and Europe’s stance as a NATO state on Russia’s border.
Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen speaks to Talk to Al Jazeera about the prospects for a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, whether Trump can bring Putin and Zelenskyy to the negotiating table, and why Europe insists on clear red lines. From frozen Russian assets to NATO deterrence and Finland’s unique position as a NATO member sharing a long border with Russia, Valtonen explains what a realistic settlement would require, and why she believes Moscow is still not interested in genuine peace.
Published On 27 Nov 202527 Nov 2025
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Public prosecutor vows to appeal the verdict saying the government wants the maximum penalty.
Published On 27 Nov 202527 Nov 2025
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Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been sentenced to 21 years in prison in separate corruption cases related to allocations of land in a government project, dealing another legal blow to the country’s former exiled leader.
In a decision issued on Thursday, a court found Hasina guilty of illegally securing plots of land in a suburb of capital Dhaka for herself and her family despite their ineligibility.
list of 3 itemsend of list
Last week, Hasina was sentenced to death by hanging, after she was found guilty for crimes against humanity for ordering a deadly crackdown against a student-led uprising last year that eventually ousted her.
Hasina fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, after weeks of student-led protests against her autocratic rule.
The 78-year-old former leader is currently residing in India and has defied court orders that she return to Bangladesh. New Delhi is said to be studying Dhaka’s extradition request.
Shaina Begum, the mother of a 20-year old student Sajjat Hosen Sojal, who was shot and his body burned by the police hours before the student-led uprising forced Hasina to resign and flee the country, told Al Jazeera after the verdict, “I cannot be calm until she [Hasina] is brought back and hanged in this country,”
Hundreds of families who lost loved ones in the protests wonder if the deposed prime minister will actually face justice.
The three corruption cases were brought against her by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over land grabs of lucrative plots in the Purbachal New Town project .
Hasina’s conduct “demonstrates a persistent corruption mindset rooted in entitlement, unchecked power, and a greedy eye for public property”, ruled judge Abdullah Al Mamun.
“Treating public land as a private asset, she directed her greedy eye toward state resources and manipulated official procedures to benefit herself and her close relatives.”
Each sentence was seven years in prison, and Mamun ruled that Hasina would need to serve them consecutively.
Her son Sajeeb Wazed and daughter Saima Wazed were each sentenced to five years in prison in one of the three cases.
Other details of the verdict were not available immediately.
Public prosecutor Khan Moinul Hasan said he would appeal, telling AFP news agency that he was “not satisfied” with the verdict and wanted the maximum sentence.
Hasina and her former ruling Awami League party have denounced the trials against her.
She did not appoint a defence lawyer, and some global human rights groups have questioned the credibility and fairness of the trial process against Hasina.
Other cases also involving alleged land grabbing are still pending, and a separate verdict is expected December 1.
Bangladesh has been going through a difficult political transition under an interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, and new elections are planned in February 2026.
The United Nations says up to 1,400 people were killed in crackdowns as Hasina tried to cling to power.
Published On 27 Nov 202527 Nov 2025
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A devastating fire swept through Dhaka’s sprawling Korail shantytown, destroying or damaging some 1,500 shanties and reducing tin-roofed dwellings to smouldering ruins, officials reported.
The inferno, which erupted on Tuesday evening, required 16 hours to extinguish, according to Rashed Bin Khalid, a duty officer at the fire department.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, the fire service’s director, confirmed approximately 1,500 shanties were burned or damaged, leaving thousands without shelter.
Official records indicate about 60,000 families — many displaced by climate disasters — inhabit this 65-hectare (160-acre) shantytown. Korail sits adjacent to Dhaka’s affluent Gulshan and Banani districts, surrounded by modern high-rise developments.
Dense smoke enveloped the area as flames consumed dwellings throughout the night.
By Wednesday, displaced residents desperately sifted through debris, attempting to salvage their belongings.
Firefighters reported difficulty accessing the blaze due to the area’s narrow pathways.
Dhaka, home to 10.2 million people as of 2024, contains hundreds of informal settlements populated by rural migrants fleeing poverty, exploitation, and climate-related calamities. Those living there typically survive on daily wages earned as rickshaw drivers, housemaids, and cleaners.
Tiffany Wertheimerand
Yvette Tan
A devastating fire has ripped through a high-rise public housing complex in Hong Kong, killing at least 55 people, making it the city’s deadliest in more than 60 years. More than 270 people have been reported missing and thousands of residents are in evacuation shelters.
Images from the scene show several of the high-rise blocks still ablaze, and thick smoke billowing into the air, dominating the Chinese territory’s skyline.
Three men have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter connected to the fire, according to local media reports, and an investigation has been launched.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed condolences to victims, including a “firefighter who died in the line of duty”, state media report.
What caused the blaze is still unclear, but here is what we do know, so far.
The blaze broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a large housing complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, at 14:51 local time on Wednesday (06:51 GMT).
Wang Fuk Court consists of eight tower blocks, each 31 storeys high. Seven have been affected by the fire, Tai Po district councillor Mui Siu-fung told BBC Chinese. Built in 1983, the tower blocks were undergoing renovations when the fire broke out.
Tai Po is a residential district in the northern part of Hong Kong, near the city of Shenzhen on the Chinese mainland.
The complex provides 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 residents, according to a 2021 government census.
Nearly 40% of the 4,600 people who lived in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex are at least 65, or older, according to the census.
Some of them have lived in the subsidised public housing estate since it was built.
The cause of the fire is unknown but a preliminary investigation found that the rapid speed at which it spread was unusual, Hong Kong’s security secretary said early on Thursday morning.
Police say a mesh material and plastic sheets were found on the outside of the buildings – both of which are not believed to be fireproof.
Styrofoam was also found on the building’s windows – and that, together with the other construction materials is likely to have caused the flames to spread so quickly, said police.
Police have arrested three men aged between 52 and 68 on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the deadly blaze – two of them are directors of a construction firm while the other is an engineering consultant.
A police spokesperson said investigators were looking into the alleged actions, or failure to act, of the firm’s top officials.
“We have reason to believe that those in charge at the company were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties,” said the spokesperson.
Local media reports also quote some residents who say the fire alarms in the building did not go off.
This is Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in at least 63 years and has been classified as a level five alarm – the highest in severity.
Within 40 minutes of first being reported, it was declared a level four, but by 18:22, about three and a half hours later, the level was raised again.
Local media had earlier reported that explosions could be heard inside the building and fire hoses could not easily reach the higher levels.
The ferocity of the heat had prevented firefighters from entering the buildings to conduct rescue operations, deputy director of fire services Derek Armstrong Chan told media.
As well as 767 firefighters, 128 fire engines, 57 ambulances and some 400 police officers were deployed.
Among the dead is firefighter Ho Wai-ho, 37, who was with the service at Sha Tin Fire Station for nine years.
The fire service says it lost contact with him at 15:30, and about half an hour later, found that he had collapsed. He was taken to hospital but declared dead shortly after.
“I am profoundly grieved at the loss of this dedicated and gallant fireman,” said Andy Yeung, director of the fire service.
At least one other firefighter is in hospital, the Hong Kong fire service said.
Police officers have been helping residents search for family members by using a loudspeaker, say local media reports.
Several emergency shelters have been set up to accommodate residents who were evacuated, the government said. The South China Morning Post reported that one of them – at Tung Cheong Street Sports Centre – was full, and residents were being directed to other shelters.
Another, the Kwong Fuk Community Hall, which is just over the road from the housing estate, was deemed unsafe. Evacuees were moved to another shelter, further away.
BBC Chinese reporter Gemini Cheng saw elderly residents, some using walking sticks or wheelchairs, arriving at some of the shelters.
At least 900 people are taking shelter in such temporary facilities, Agence France-Presse reports, quoting Lee.
Six schools in Tai Po will remain closed on Thursday, the Education Bureau announced, listing the affected schools on its website.
An emergency monitoring and support centre is in operation to manage the impact of the fire, security secretary Tang Ping-keung said in a statement.
A hotline for the public to ask about casualties has been set up by Hong Kong police.
ReutersThe tower blocks at Wang Fuk Court are covered in bamboo scaffolding and green construction netting, right up to the rooftops, because they are undergoing renovations.
As mentioned earlier, police have attributed the quick spread of the fire to materials used in the renovation, such as mesh netting, plastic sheeting and styrofoam.
It’s still unclear what caused the fire, but no matter the cause of the fire, proper netting on the buildings’ exterior would have been key to preventing the spread of fire, Jason Poon, chairman of construction NGO China Monitor, told news outlet Initium Media, adding that substandard netting could cause the fire to spread rapidly.
Another engineer told Initium Media he believes that the vast majority of mesh netting used in construction across Hong Kong is not made of fire-retardant material.
There are also often cardboard, debris and paint thinner found on the scaffolding, which along with dry weather could hasten the spread of fire, the engineer said.
One fire safety expert the BBC spoke to earlier said the bamboo scaffolding – a common part of the city’s urban landscape – also played a part in fanning the flames.
Local media reports in March said the government’s development bureau had been trying to phase out the use of bamboo because of safety concerns.
The push towards using metal instead of bamboo came after a spate of scaffolding-related deaths in Hong Kong.
Professor Jiang Liming from Hong Kong Polytechnic University also noted that the blocks at Wang Fuk Court were “relatively old” – they were built in the 1980s – so “the glass windows are not that fire resilient”.
“The modern buildings have double pane glass windows, but for this one they perhaps used just a single pane… [which makes it] very easy to be broken by the flames and the flames can then penetrate through the facade.”
Additional reporting by Jack Lau, BBC Global China Unit and Gemini Cheng, BBC Chinese in Hong Kong.
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As U.S. President Donald Trump continues to mull his options for dealing with Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth arrived in the Caribbean to meet with regional leaders. The visit comes as the U.S. has built up a large military presence in the region and the world awaits what Trump will do next. You can catch up with our most recent coverage of the Caribbean operation in our story here.
“The Secretary will meet with President Luis Abinader, Minister of Defense Lt. Gen. Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre and Cabinet officials to strengthen defense relationships and reaffirm America’s commitment to defend the homeland, protect our regional partners and ensure stability and security across the Americas,” according to the Pentagon. His visit follows a trip to the region by Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who returned to Washington last night.
Though Trump says he is open to discussions with Maduro that could avoid hostilities, the South American leader continues to show outward displays of defiance.
On Tuesday, Trump remained coy about his intentions for what has been dubbed Operation Southern Spear, ostensibly a counter-narcotics effort but one also aimed at pressuring Maduro.
“I might talk to him. We’ll see,” Trump told reporters Tuesday night aboard Air Force One in reference to Maduro. “But we’re discussing that with the different staffs. We might talk.”
Asked why he would want to talk to Maduro after his administration designated the cartel he allegedly leads a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), Trump noted that the Venezuelan leader has two options. As we previously discussed, the FTO designation opens the aperture on the ability for Trump to order kinetic operations against Venezuela.
“If we can save lives, we can do things the easy way, that’s fine,” Trump explained. “And if we have to do it the hard way that’s fine, too… I’m not going to tell you what the goal is. You should probably know what the goal is. But, they’ve caused a lot of problems. And they’ve sent millions of people into our country.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP on potential talks with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro: “If we can save lives, if we can do things the easy way, that’s fine. And if we have to do it the hard way, that’s fine too.” pic.twitter.com/g8pxPvcfgv
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 26, 2025
For his part, Maduro tried to exude an aura of confidence on Tuesday, invoking the memory of national hero Simon Bolivar to rally a nation under the gun. You cannot travel far in Caracas or much of the rest of the country without coming upon a memorial to Bolivar, who liberated the country from Spain 200 years ago and remains highly revered.
Speaking at an event honoring that liberation, Maduro urged Venezuelans to fight “foreign aggressors” just as Bolivar did.
“We have to be capable of defending every inch of this blessed land from any sort of imperialist threat or aggression, wherever it comes from,” Maduro, clad in camouflage from head to toe, exclaimed. “I swear before our Lord Jesus Christ, that I will give my all for the victory of Venezuela.”
“We must be ready to defend every inch of this blessed land from imperialist threat or aggression, no matter where it comes from,” Maduro continued as he brandished a sword believed to have once belonged to Bolivar. “There is no excuse for anyone to fail at this decisive moment, for the existence of the Republic, no excuse.”
While the Trump administration insists that its efforts are ultimately aimed at stopping the flow of drugs into the United States, the president of Colombia told CNN that there is another motivation for the large military buildup.
Oil “is at the heart of the matter,” Gustavo Petro claimed to CNN in an exclusive interview, noting that Venezuela has what are considered the largest oil reserves in the world.
“So, that’s a negotiation about oil. I believe that is (US President Donald) Trump’s logic. He’s not thinking about the democratization of Venezuela, let alone the narco-trafficking,” he continued, adding that Venezuela is not considered a major drug producer and that only a relatively small portion of the global drugs trade flows through the country.”
Of course, Petro’s point of view has to be seen as coming from a leader who has been at odds with Trump. Since the American president returned to the White House, Petro “has harshly criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies, its support for Israel and its military activity around Latin America,” the cable network noted. Trump, meanwhile, has sanctioned Petro for a perceived lack of support in drug interdiction efforts.
“Trump is not thinking about the democratization of Venezuela, let alone the narcotrafficking. It’s about oil.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks exclusively to @IsaCNN about why the US president is targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. pic.twitter.com/EtjYsQVIuS
— CNN International PR (@cnnipr) November 25, 2025
Whether Trump is considering offering Maduro an off-ramp before what could be airstrikes on targets in Venezuela or a covert action to depose the South American strongman remains unknown. However, there are indications that Maduro is not interested in a negotiated exit from power.
“The calculation for Maduro is that he will always be safer here than anywhere else,” Phil Gunson, an analyst in Caracas for the International Crisis Group, told The Wall Street Journal.
With a $50 million bounty on his head as the result of being a fugitive from U.S. drug charges, Maduro likely feels unsafe outside his cocoon of protection in Venezuela.
Beyond that, the list of countries that would take him and provide security is short. Russia or Cuba might, but as the Journal noted, refuge in a European capital or elsewhere would bring limited security from those seeking not just material reward, but also revenge after years of what many consider a despotic rule.
The public statements issued by both Trump and Maduro in recent days contrast with previous sentiments. While Trump has left speaking with Maduro as an option, he reportedly privately turned down de-escalation overtures from the South American leader. Meanwhile, though Maduro is putting on a brave face, it was said that he was open to leaving power in exchange for amnesty for him and his lieutenants, the lifting of the bounty and a comfortable exile, according to claims in a report from The Atlantic.
Meanwhile, there are 15,000 U.S. troops, a dozen ships and an array of aircraft in the Caribbean waiting for orders. To highlight that presence, the military has produced a steady stream of videos pushed out on social media. They show U.S. forces on ships like the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, or land-based in Puerto Rico, training and preparing.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), in the western Atlantic Ocean.
U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of #OpSouthernSpear.… pic.twitter.com/9mb4sJocJP
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) November 26, 2025
The flight deck never sleeps.
The world’s largest aircraft carrier, Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), conducts night flight operations in the Caribbean Sea.
U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command… pic.twitter.com/sZwhTiH5J2
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) November 25, 2025
These visuals are part of the Trump administration’s increasing pressure campaign on Maduro. On Nov. 24, Air Forces Southern Command publicized another Bomber Attack Demonstration, with B-52H Stratofortresses from Minot Air Force Base conducting the mission in the Caribbean. It was at least the second such demonstration in a week.
As we explained in an earlier story, the B-52s “are capable of unleashing waves of standoff cruise missiles and can carry a host of other conventional munitions that can be employed against targets on land and at sea. Though the Venezuelan armed forces have limited air defense capabilities, they could still pose a threat. Standoff strikes from aircraft like the B-52 and other assets would be a likely component of any future U.S. direct action against targets inside the country to help reduce risks to friendly forces. They could even target air defense systems to help clear the way for follow-on operations.”
.@usairforce B-52H long-range bombers from @TeamMinot conducted a Bomber Attack Demo in the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Southern Spear, bringing Hemispheric security & stability, Nov 24. During the mission, USAF integrated with fighter jets & trained on rapid mobility. pic.twitter.com/cQAhMJMV5c
— Air Forces Southern (@AFSOUTH) November 26, 2025
All the while, American men and women will spend another holiday away from home, a fact of life in the service. Whether they will be pressed into action against Maduro remains unknown.
Contact the author: [email protected]
Trump says South Africa refused to hand over the G20 presidency after the U.S. skipped the Johannesburg summit, while South Africa says the handover happened properly at its foreign ministry because the U.S. delegation didn’t attend the closing ceremony. The dispute lands amid worsening U.S.–South Africa tensions, including Trump’s aid cuts and his repetition of discredited claims about attacks on white farmers.
Why It Matters
The move is unprecedented inside the G20 and threatens the group’s cohesion at a time of already strained geopolitics. It could accelerate a shift in South Africa’s global alignment, deepen rifts between Washington and African partners, and unsettle diplomatic cooperation on issues like climate, trade, and global governance.
The Trump administration is asserting pressure to punish South Africa for its foreign-policy stances; the Ramaphosa government is defending its credibility and G20 stewardship; and other G20 members are confronted with a fracture that could undermine the forum’s legitimacy and continuity. Investors and regional partners are watching closely for economic and political fallout.
What’s Next
Pretoria is expected to lodge formal diplomatic objections and seek backing from other G20 members. Quiet negotiations may emerge over whether a U.S. president can unilaterally block a member’s invitation. Further punitive actions from Washington are possible, while South Africa may lean more heavily on BRICS alliances as the rift widens.
With information from Reuters.
Some 60,000 families, many of them climate refugees, live in the area which covers more than 65 hectares (160 acres).
Published On 27 Nov 202527 Nov 2025
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A fire in a densely populated and impoverished area in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka has burned or damaged 1,500 shanties, leaving thousands homeless, authorities say.
No casualties were reported as of Wednesday, a day after the fierce blaze broke out at the Korail shantytown. According to Rashed Bin Khalid, a fire department officer, it took 16 hours to douse the fire, which began on Tuesday evening.
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The fire service’s director, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, said about 1,500 ramshackle dwellings were burned or damaged in the blaze, and thousands became homeless. Heavy smoke blanketed the area as flames engulfed the environs overnight.
According to official data, some 60,000 families, many of them climate refugees, live in the area, which covers more than 65 hectares (160 acres).
The area straddles Dhaka’s upscale Gulshan and Banani neighbourhoods, and it is surrounded by clusters of high-rise apartment and office buildings.
On Wednesday, residents who lost their homes were desperate to collect their valuables as they scoured the debris. Firefighters said they struggled to reach the area because of narrow alleys.
Dhaka, a city of 10.2 million people as of 2024, has hundreds of shantytowns where people from rural Bangladesh migrate because of poverty and exploitation.
Climate-induced disasters also push them to the city’s poorest areas, where they live on low-paid daily labour such as driving rickshaws and working as housemaids and cleaners.
Three websites used to create abuse imagery had received 100,000 monthly visits from Australians, watchdog says.
Published On 27 Nov 202527 Nov 2025
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Internet users in Australia have been blocked from accessing several websites that used artificial intelligence to create child sexual exploitation material, the country’s internet regulator has announced.
The three “nudify” sites withdrew from Australia following an official warning, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said on Thursday.
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Grant’s office said the sites had been receiving approximately 100,000 visits a month from Australians and featured in high-profile cases of AI-generated child sex abuse imagery involving Australian school students.
Grant said such “nudify” services, which allow users to make images of real people appear naked using AI, have had a “devastating” effect in Australian schools.
“We took enforcement action in September because this provider failed to put in safeguards to prevent its services being used to create child sexual exploitation material and were even marketing features like undressing ‘any girl,’ and with options for ‘schoolgirl’ image generation and features such as ‘sex mode,’” Grand said in a statement.
The development comes after Grant’s office issued a formal warning to the United Kingdom-based company behind the sites in September, threatening civil penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32.2m) if it did not introduce safeguards to prevent image-based abuse.
Grant said Hugging Face, a hosting platform for AI models, had separately also taken steps to comply with Australian law, including changing its terms of service to require account holders to take steps to minimise the risks of misuse involving their platforms.
Australia has been at the forefront of global efforts to prevent the online harm of children, banning social media for under-16s and cracking down on apps used for stalking and creating deepfake images.
The use of AI to create non-consensual sexually explicit images has been a growing concern amid the rapid proliferation of platforms capable of creating photo-realistic material at the click of a mouse.
In a survey carried out by the US-based advocacy group Thorn last year, 10 percent of respondents aged 13-20 reported knowing someone who had deepfake nude imagery created of them, while 6 percent said they had been a direct victim of such abuse.
At least 44 people have died after Hong Kong’s worst fire in 63 years tore through several high-rise buildings on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Firefighters are still fighting the blaze in the Tai Po neighbourhood, and trying to reach people who are trapped inside.
By early Thursday morning, officials said they had brought the fire in four buildings under control, but firefighters were still working on three others more than 16 hours after the blaze started.
Here is what to know:
An apartment complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood caught fire at about 2:51pm (06:51 GMT) local time on Wednesday.
The fire began on the bamboo scaffolding outside one of the buildings. This type of scaffolding, made from bamboo poles used by workers during repairs, burns very easily. Once the scaffolding caught fire, the flames quickly spread up the structure and into the building, and then to nearby towers.
The blocks were also wrapped in green construction netting all the way to the rooftops due to ongoing renovation work, which also caught fire, helping it spread faster.
According to local media, the fire intensified rapidly: By 3:34pm (07:34 GMT), it had reached a level four alarm, and by 6:22pm (10:22 GMT), it had reached a level five alarm – the highest alert level in Hong Kong.
The blaze is Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since at least August 1962, when a fire in the city’s Sham Shui Po district killed 44 people. A fire at the Garley Building on Nathan Road in Kowloon killed 41 people and injured 81 others in November 1996.
Since Monday, Hong Kong has been under a heightened fire alert as dry weather conditions made the risk of fire extremely high.
The fire started at Wang Fuk Court, a housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district.
The complex, built in 1983, consists of eight high-rise buildings with a total of 1,984 flats. According to local media reports, seven of the buildings were affected by the fire. Of those, four have since been brought under control.
Tai Po is a suburb of Hong Kong near the border with mainland China, and is home to approximately 300,000 residents. It is part of the government’s subsidised home-ownership scheme.
Property records show that Wang Fuk Court has been undergoing major renovation work, costing about $42.43m.
The fire spread very quickly because it started on the bamboo scaffolding around the building and spread to the green netting covering the structures.
Both the bamboo and the green netting burn easily, so once they caught fire, the flames shot up the outside of the tower and reached many floors.
Burning pieces then fell and set nearby buildings on fire within minutes. Wind and open areas from the renovation work likely made the flames grow even faster.
While the exact cause is still being investigated, officials say the flammable scaffolding, building materials, and the tall, closely packed towers all helped the fire get out of control.
Police also said they found mesh and other protective materials on the outside of the buildings that did not appear to be fireproof, as well as styrofoam materials on the windows.
“We have reason to believe that those in charge at the company were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties,” Eileen Chung, senior superintendent at the Hong Kong Police Force, said.
Officers have arrested two directors and an engineering consultant, aged between 52 and 68, of a construction company.
Chung said police arrested them in the Tai Po, Ngau Tau Kok, and San Po Kong districts at about 2am on Thursday (18:00 GMT, Wednesday).
Authorities have confirmed the deaths of 44 people, including a firefighter. About 279 residents are still unaccounted for. As of 8am (00:00 GMT), at least 66 people had been admitted to hospital, the Hong Kong Hospital Authority told CNN. Of those, 17 were in critical condition, and 24 were listed as serious.
Four people died in hospital. About 900 people have sought shelter in community centres.
It is now 9:42am (01:42 GMT) in Hong Kong, and according to local reports, firefighters are still fighting the blaze.
Earlier, the South China Morning Post reported that Derek Armstrong Chan, the deputy director of fire services, said extreme heat had prevented firefighters from accessing some upper-floor apartments. He added that crews would “keep trying” to reach them.
He also said that the “debris and scaffolding of the affected building are falling down, posing additional danger to our frontline personnel”.
Overnight, he said, it was dark, and that made the rescue and firefighting operation “more difficult”.
“In the hours of darkness, it will pose additional danger and difficulties to our operation, and up to this moment, the temperature inside the fire scene is still very high. So, we have difficulties proceeding to upper floors of two of the buildings.”
The Hong Kong Fire Services Department mobilised more than 1,200 fire and ambulance personnel to the site, officials said. Some in the area have returned to work and school.
Two National Guard soldiers are critically injured after being gunned down in Washington DC, less than two blocks from the White House, in what the city’s mayor called a “targeted shooting”.
Police said a lone suspect opened fire on two National Guard members from West Virginia on Wednesday afternoon, before being subdued by other National Guard nearby who had heard the gunfire.
President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time, said the alleged gunman was an Afghan national who entered the US in September 2021.
He vowed that his administration would ensure the suspect “pays the steepest possible price” for the “act of terror”.
Getty ImagesMultiple law enforcement sources earlier identified the alleged gunman to the BBC’s US partner CBS as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national.
“We must now re-examine every alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under [former President Joe] Biden,” said Trump in a live address on Wednesday night.
A statement from Joint Task Force DC, which is overseeing the National Guard deployments to the nation’s capital, said the attack took place at around 14:15 EST (17:15 GMT) on Wednesday near the Farragut Square Metro Station.
The soldiers were on a high-visibility patrol near the corner of 17th and I streets, a busy lunch spot for office workers.
FBI Director Kash Patel – whose agency is leading the investigation – told a news conference the soldiers were “brazenly attacked in a horrendous act of violence”.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll said the suspect “came around the corner” and “immediately started firing a firearm”.
He said the soldiers had been “ambushed”.
Other National Guard members nearby heard the gunfire and responded, he said.
“They actually were able to intervene and to kind of hold down the suspect, after he had been shot, on the ground until law enforcement got there within moments,” Carroll said.
The suspect was shot four times, law enforcement sources told CBS.
It is unclear what weapon was used in the assault. Nor was a motive immediately clear.
The suspect was not co-operating with authorities, law enforcement sources told CBS on Wednesday night.
President Trump – who is at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach – vowed to punish the attacker.
“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement,” he added.
US Vice-President JD Vance, who was addressing troops in Kentucky at the time of the attack, urged “everybody who’s a person of faith” to pray for the victims.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said in a post on X that both victims were members of his state’s National Guard and had died from their injuries.
But he soon posted a second statement that cited “conflicting reports” about their condition. He issued another statement later calling the at
The attack prompted the White House to briefly go into lockdown and a temporary flight stoppage at the city’s main airport on the eve of Thanksgiving.
Flights through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were briefly grounded after the attack, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
At the scene, glass from a bus stop lay shattered on the pavement.
The intersection was full of police cars, armed security personnel and National Guard troops.
One witness told the BBC he heard two gunshots, followed by three more.
People ran in panic, some trying to take shelter in a liquor store.
Another witness who was in his car close to the metro station showed the BBC footage he took of the two soldiers lying on the street in their uniforms while being treated by medics.
A third person, apparently the alleged gunman, was also on the pavement being treated.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the president had asked him to send 500 more National Guard members to Washington DC, following the attack.
“This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington DC safe and beautiful,” the Pentagon chief said.
There are currently nearly 2,200 National Guard troops in Washington DC.
The force includes contingents from the District of Columbia as well as Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia and Alabama.
They are a reservist force that can be activated to serve as military troops, but have limited power as they cannot enforce the law or make arrests.
The National Guard were deployed to Washington DC in August to tackle what Trump called “out of control” crime.
EPAOverall crime in the nation’s capital has fallen since the force was sent, though it’s unclear how much of the decline can be credited to the presence of the troops on the streets.
Washington DC police figures show 62 homicides (a category that includes murder) between 25 May and 25 November this year.
That compares with 107 homicides recorded in the same period last year.
Nearly 6,500 offences have been recorded by police since 12 August, down from about 9,500 in the same period in 2024.
Trump, a Republican, has sent the National Guard to Democratic-led US cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Memphis.
He argues the deployments were needed to tackle crime, but opponents legally challenged the moves, accusing the White House of overreach.
The TWZ Newsletter
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of the TWZ readership that celebrates!
Welcome to Bunker Talk. This is a weekend open discussion post for the best commenting crew on the net, in which we can chat about all the stuff that went on this week that we didn’t cover. We can also talk about the stuff we did or whatever else grabs your interest. In other words, it’s an off-topic thread.
The caption to this week’s top shot reads:
A view of soldiers sitting to eat Thanksgiving Day dinner in the mess hall in November 1943. (Photo by Bob Grannis/Getty Images)
Also, a reminder:
The Bunker is op
The 7th African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) summit in Luanda, Angola, signaled support for Africa’s development in the coming years. Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço hosted the summit on 24-25 November 2025. The unique discussions between African and European leaders and the various partnering organizations underlined invaluable guarantees to undertake opportunities for strengthening long-term economic, cultural, and political ties in the continent.
Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, at the 7th AU-EU summit in Luanda, underscored that Africa brings not only vast resources to this partnership but also demographic dynamism, technological ambition, and a vibrant generation of innovators. Europe can contribute capital, technology, and institutional cooperation. By aligning these strengths around shared priorities that include digital transformation and youth empowerment, both continents can shape a more prosperous future.
According to Mahmoud Youssouf, Africa is emerging as a global growth powerhouse and therefore calls for balanced trade partnerships and stronger multilateralism with members of the European Union.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who chaired the G20 Leaders’ Summit, the first to be convened on African soil since the African Union became a permanent member of the G20, highlighted economic growth and job creation while stressing the importance of stronger economic ties and regional integration with European partners.
In their speeches at the Summit, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council António Costa shared the development visions for the African continent and the financial mechanisms reaffirming commitment to the Joint Vision for 2030 and the AU’s Agenda 2063. These are implemented under the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway.
Shaping the future for Africa and Europe
The AU and EU adopted a joint declaration that reinforces cooperation in significant thematic areas, including peace, security, sustainable development, and regional integration. It also outlines an institutional structure and funding mechanisms for key actionable areas within a long-term framework for cooperation.
In the adopted document, the EU reassured its support for Africa’s development priorities, determined to advance partnership and to unlock new opportunities, and looked forward to an ambitious post-Agenda 2030 framework.
Leveraging public and private funds to stimulate investments and improving investment and business climate across the continents remain key and reaffirm commitment to ensuring the transformative impact of these investments. It identified financial institutions, in particular the European Investment Bank (EIB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and public development banks, agencies, and similar bodies for providing finance.
The EU guarantees to continue supporting African countries to develop, industrialize, diversify exports, and integrate into regional markets. It will also accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In terms of investing in education, research, science, technology, and skills development as a basis for driving scientific discoveries and innovative solutions, the EU acknowledged the importance of the youth as drivers for sustainable development and committed to supporting their empowerment and active participation. Therefore, the EU promised partnerships between universities and research organizations to foster mutual understanding and excellence.
Cooperation on Peace, Security, and Governance
There has been long-standing AU-EU cooperation on peace, security, and governance, including conflict prevention, peace mediation, and stabilization, premised on African-led solutions. Both the AU and EU agreed on a commitment to further strengthening dialogue and cooperation, including through the annual consultations between the AU Peace and Security Council and EU Political and Security Committee as well as the annual AU-EU Human Rights Dialogue.
Acting under a UN mandate, the EU pledged sustainable financing for AU-led Peace Support Operations. The document recognizes the African Union Peace and Security Council’s and the European Union Political and Security Committee’s contribution to the maintenance of peace, security, and stability in both continents and in promoting effective governance, and we welcome the AU’s efforts to silence the guns in Africa in line with Aspiration 4 of the AU Agenda 2063.
Stronger Commitment to Multilateralism
Both the AU and EU agreed to work towards more converging positions in multilateral fora to ensure an effective multilateral system with the UN at its core, based on international law and true to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
The Summit welcomed the contributions from the meetings of the European Parliament and the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa. It encourages continued engagement of all relevant stakeholders in advancing the partnership. It finally registered joint commitment to international order based on international law and effective multilateralism grounded in international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.
The African Union and the European Union expressed profound gratitude to the President of the Republic of Angola, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, and to the Angolan Government and people for the warm reception, hospitality, and excellent organization of the 7th AU-EU Summit.
The new plan comes amid stalled trade talks between Ottawa and Washington.
Published On 26 Nov 202526 Nov 2025
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Canada will offer more support to help the steel and lumber industries deal with United States tariffs and create a domestic market, as well as ramp up protections for steel and lumber workers.
Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined the new plan on Wednesday in a news conference.
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Ottawa will reduce the quota for steel imports from countries that do not have a free trade agreement with Canada to 20 percent from 50 percent of 2024 levels, Carney said.
Countries with a free trade agreement (FTA) with Canada will see their quotas cut to 75 percent from 100 percent of the 2024 level. This does not include the US and Mexico, which are bound by the United States-Canada-Mexico free trade deal.
Canada will also impose a global 25 percent tariff on targeted imported steel-derivative products, and incorporate border measures to combat steel dumping.
In July, Ottawa set a quota of steel imports at 50 percent of the 2024 level from non-FTA countries in a bid to stop the dumping of foreign steel into Canada.
The measures are being tightened to open up the domestic market for Canadian-produced steel, said a government official.
The steel industry contributes more than 4 billion Canadian dollars ($2.8bn) to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employs more than 23,000 people directly. It is, however, one of the two sectors hit hardest by US President Donald Trump’s 50 percent tariffs on steel imports from Canada.
Trump has imposed 50 percent tariffs on steel, and softwood lumber, long subject to US tariffs, is currently taxed at 45 percent after the Trump administration’s hike last month.
Carney said the decades-long process of an ever-closer economic relationship between Canada and the US is now over.
“As a consequence, many of our strengths have become vulnerabilities. Last year, more than 75 percent of our exports went to the United States. Ninety percent of our lumber exports, 90 percent of our aluminium exports, and 90 percent of our steel exports, all bound for a single market,” Carney said.
Ottawa will work with railway companies to cut freight rates for the inter-provincial transfer of Canadian steel and lumber by 50 percent, beginning in early 2026.
“We will make it more affordable to transport Canadian steel and lumber across the country by cutting freight rates,” Carney said.
The government said it would also support the use of locally made steel and lumber in homebuilding, and financial aid for companies dealing with tariff-related impacts, such as on their workforce, liquidity crunch, and for restructuring operations.
Trump cut off trade talks with Canada last month after the Ontario provincial government ran television advertisements in US markets that criticised Trump’s tariffs by citing a speech by former US President Ronald Reagan.
Carney said he would be in Washington for the final draw on December 5 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament. He said he would speak to Trump then and said he spoke briefly to the president on Tuesday.
“We are ready to re-engage on those talks when the United States wants to re-engage,” Carney said.
Carney’s announcement comes even as there is increased pressure on US businesses reeling from Trump’s tariffs.
Deere & Co, the maker of John Deere tractors, said on Wednesday that it expects a bigger hit from tariffs in 2026. The company expects a pre-tax tariff hit of around $1.2bn in fiscal 2026, compared with nearly $600m in 2025.
Palestinians had to bury their loved ones wherever they could during Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. Now, they’re turning to Gaza’s Civil Defence to move them to cemeteries.
Published On 26 Nov 202526 Nov 2025
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Police in Washington say one suspect in custody following the shooting one block from the White House.
Published On 26 Nov 202526 Nov 2025
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