SACP emerges as surprise performer in 2026 LGE after ANC splitThe South African Communist Party (SACP) is emerging as one of the surprise performers in the 2026 local government elections after contesting separately from its long-time alliance partner, the African National Congress (ANC). Early results show the SACP polling particularly strongly in the Eastern Cape, where it has secured more than 6% of the vote, and is third behind the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA), while outperforming both the United Democratic Movement (UDM) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The party is also recording encouraging support in Limpopo and the North West.
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/sacp-emerges-as-one-of-the-surprise-performers-of-lge-2026/Kenya’s mining ambitions raise fears for farms and ancestral graves Farmers fear losing the land that feeds them. Community elders worry about damage to a forest where their ancestors are buried. Both are demanding answers about Kenya’s plans to mine valuable minerals beneath Mrima Hill, a forested area rich in niobium and rare earth elements.
https://apnews.com/article/kenya-rare-earth-minerals-mining-mrima-hill-sacred-forest-ancestral-graves-bff1808954d85249f2df92265e6df194 Arab-led Joint List says it will back Eisenkot to form Israel's next government The alliance, which comprises three Arab-led factions, said its decision came despite the opposition's failure to sufficiently challenge Netanyahu's political direction, incitement against Arab citizens and attempts to undermine the legitimacy of their electoral choices. However, the endorsements do not necessarily mean the Arab parties will join an Eisenkot-led government. The Joint List has said it is prepared to support an opposition government from outside the governing coalition, rather than take ministerial positions.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/arab-led-joint-list-says-it-will-back-eisenkot-form-israels-next-governmentPUK quits Iraqi Kurdistan government, deepening power struggleThe announcement came a day after the regional parliament met for the first time after nearly two years of political paralysis. The session was boycotted by the PUK and allied parties that had pushed for the KDP to postpone it until a consensus could be reached on the allocation of top government positions.
https://www.newarab.com/news/puk-quits-iraqi-kurdistan-government-deepening-power-struggleReform Councillor Charged With Rape and Making Indecent Images of a ChildGeorge Madgwick, 37, represents North East Havant on the council, where he leads the Reform group. He was charged on Tuesday with a total of 35 offences, which also include eight counts of actual bodily harm, two counts of assault by penetration, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour.
https://novaramedia.com/2026/11/03/reform-councillor-charged-with-rape-and-making-indecent-images-of-a-child/France on strike: 1,500 walkouts and 250 marches for a different futureA third of the country’s schools were closed and work stopped at oil refineries and nuclear plants. Transport ground to a halt in many regions, and hundreds of thousands marched against the government despite last-minute police instructions rerouting many of the planned demonstrations.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/france-strike-1500-walkouts-and-250-marches-different-futureMilei links socialism to fascism in speech in front of Spainish PM SánchezA central theme was his contention that socialism and fascism share the same characteristics. Drawing on a phrase attributed to writer and diplomat Salvador de Madariaga, he declared: “Socialism is fascist in politics and fascism is socialist in economics.” “Both doctrines (socialism and fascism) concentrate control over individual decisions in the hands of a minority and make economic dependence an instrument of political domination,” he continued. “The fascist maxim, everything within the State, nothing outside the State, nothing against the State, describes socialist states,” Milei said.
https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/world/milei-links-socialism-to-fascism-in-speech-before-spain-pm-sanchez.phtmlhttps://archive.ph/fMIPaColombia’s labor unions and social organizations call national strike on November 19In a press statement, the organizations accused De la Espriella of, among other things, dismantling the “social, environmental, trade union, and labor rights achieved during the government of Gustavo Petro,” and surrendering sovereignty and kneeling before the imperialist government of the United States.”
https://colombiareports.com/colombias-labor-unions-and-social-organizations-call-national-strike-on-november-19/US Pushing for Permanent Venezuela Military Presence: New York TimesThe US currently has SOFA agreements in place with several Latin American countries, including Paraguay, Ecuador, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago, to “address shared threats such as drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.” Washington likewise operates multiple bases in the hemisphere and recently launched the “Shield of the Americas” initiative alongside regional allies with the declared purpose of tackling transnational crime and illegal immigration.
https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/us-pushing-for-permanent-venezuela-military-presence-new-york-times/South Korea says it will expand naval operations closer to strait of HormuzThe government is to submit a motion to parliament that would expand the Cheonghae unit’s area of operation to waters near the port of Duqm in Oman, which is about 650km (403 miles) away from the strait. The motion also needs to be approved by President Lee Jae Myung and the cabinet.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/05/south-korea-to-expand-anti-piracy-unit-strait-of-hormuz