Foreign ministers from seven nations gathered in Istanbul on November 3, 2025, to deliberate on sustaining the Gaza ceasefire and outlining the future governance of the embattled enclave. The meeting, hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, included representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Despite the ceasefire initiated on October 10, Israeli strikes have persisted, resulting in over 200 Palestinian casualties, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Fidan emphasized the collective agreement among the ministers to uphold the truce and prevent further violence, advocating for a two-state solution as the foundation for enduring peace. He criticized Israel for repeated truce violations and obstructing humanitarian aid, complicating enforcement efforts. Discussions on Gaza’s post-war governance remain ongoing, with Fidan stressing the necessity of a consensus-driven approach to avoid future structural issues. The ministers unanimously supported the principle that Palestine should be governed and secured by Palestinians. Earlier in the day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, accused Israel of violating the ceasefire while acknowledging Hamas’s adherence to the truce. Erdogan warned that the ongoing violence jeopardizes peace initiatives.
作者： admin
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Ukrainian drones reach deep inside Russia as battle for key city rages on
In a bold escalation of its military strategy, Ukraine deployed long-range drones to strike an industrial facility approximately 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) inside Russian territory, according to local officials on Tuesday. The attack targeted a plant in Sterlitamak, located in Russia’s Bashkortostan region. Regional Governor Radiy Habirov confirmed that two drones were intercepted and shot down, with no casualties reported. The facility, whose specific purpose was not disclosed, continued normal operations. However, an explosion at the Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant caused partial collapse of its water treatment facility, though the cause remains unclear. This plant, which produces rubber and aviation fuel, had not previously been targeted in such attacks.
Meanwhile, the conflict on the ground remains intense, with Ukrainian forces struggling to repel a Russian offensive in the strategically vital city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region. This area has been a focal point of the war for over a year, with Russia recently intensifying its efforts and claiming incremental progress. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, noted that Russian forces are advancing in the Pokrovsk direction and appear increasingly comfortable operating within the city itself.
Ukraine’s use of domestically produced drones to strike deep into Russian territory has disrupted Moscow’s war efforts, targeting manufacturing plants, oil refineries, and military logistics hubs. These strikes have reportedly caused embarrassment for Russian officials, who have been reluctant to disclose details of the damage. In addition to the Sterlitamak attack, explosions were reported in the Nizhny Novgorod region, home to an oil refinery and petrochemical plant, though officials did not confirm these incidents.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 85 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine reported that Russia launched seven missiles and 130 strike and decoy drones at Ukrainian targets, resulting in one death and 11 injuries, including two children. Romania’s Defense Ministry also reported that Russia carried out two attacks on Ukraine’s Danube port infrastructure near the NATO member’s border, prompting the deployment of fighter jets for air policing missions.
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New bulk-buy to drive drug price cuts
China’s National Healthcare Security Administration has announced the results of the 11th nationwide centralized drug procurement round, selecting 55 medicines that are expected to be available at reduced prices starting February 2026. The bidding process, held in Shanghai on October 27, included a wide range of therapeutic areas such as infections, allergies, cancers, and chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Among the selected drugs are the flu medication oseltamivir, the diabetes drug metformin, and the cancer treatment olaparib. This round saw participation from 794 products across 445 enterprises, with 453 products from 272 companies ultimately chosen. Approximately 46,000 medical institutions had pre-submitted their procurement demands, with 75% of these volumes successfully matched with winning products. The administration emphasized that the selected brands align closely with clinical needs and are produced by established manufacturers with proven supply capabilities and quality assurance. To reinforce quality control, bidding manufacturers were required to demonstrate prior experience in producing the same category of drugs and have a clean manufacturing record over the past two years. Regulatory authorities will conduct comprehensive supervision and inspections of all selected products. The competition in this round was notably more intense compared to previous rounds, prompting the administration to introduce measures to mitigate excessive competition and avoid extremely low bids. These measures included an anchor price reference, a revival mechanism, and proactive communication with companies to encourage reasonable pricing. As a result, the round maintained a relatively high selection rate, with a substantially smaller average price gap among winning drugs compared to earlier batches. The administration also emphasized efforts to prevent bid-rigging and collusion, promoting a fair and competitive market environment. Since its inception in 2018, the centralized procurement program has included a cumulative total of 490 drug varieties through 11 rounds.
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US tech stocks soar: Will Wall Street’s AI bubble last?
As the US stock market soared to record highs in October 2025, fueled by the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, investors are questioning whether this surge represents a sustainable trend or an impending bubble. While comparisons to the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s are inevitable, experts argue that the current AI-driven rally is fundamentally different, supported by robust earnings growth and long-term technological advancements.
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Dubai firm reaches India’s top court over cancelled Dharavi slum redevelopment bid
A Dubai-based consortium, SecLink Technologies Corporation, has escalated its legal battle to India’s Supreme Court after its bid for the redevelopment of Mumbai’s Dharavi slum was controversially cancelled. The project, one of Asia’s most ambitious urban transformation initiatives, aims to revitalize one of the world’s largest slum settlements, home to over one million residents. The redevelopment is estimated to generate over Dh125 billion in long-term commercial value. SecLink emerged as the highest bidder in 2019 with an offer of Dh3 billion, but the process was abruptly cancelled, and revised criteria introduced in 2022 excluded the consortium from participating again. The contract was subsequently awarded to the Adani Group. SecLink alleges that the rule changes undermined fair competition and has offered a revised bid of Dh3.6 billion, committing to meet all new obligations. The Supreme Court has ordered the state government to produce all relevant documents for scrutiny and has placed project payments under judicial supervision. The next hearing is scheduled for November 13, 2025.
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Month-long holiday in UAE: Schools wrap up exams, field trips before winter break
As the UAE prepares for an extended winter break, schools across the nation are bustling with activity to conclude the academic term. This year, international curriculum schools will enjoy a nearly four-week holiday, longer than the usual three-week break. The holiday period begins with National Day celebrations on December 2 and 3, followed by the main break from December 8, 2025, to January 4, 2026. Classes are set to resume on January 5, providing students with ample time to rest, travel, and engage in community and national festivities. The Ministry of Education (MoE) had earlier approved a unified academic calendar for the 2025–2026 school year, which began on August 25. Asian curriculum schools, which started in April, have slightly different schedules to align with home-country board exam requirements. Schools are now focused on wrapping up lessons, assessments, and parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) while preparing for upcoming events. At Woodlem American School in Ajman, Principal Marah Kaddoura emphasized the importance of clear communication and a well-structured calendar to manage the heavy workload. Preparations are also underway for National Day celebrations at the end of November. Meanwhile, Credence High School in Dubai is organizing enriching field trips, annual concerts, and sports days to bring the school community together. Senior students, particularly those in Grades 10 and 12, are maintaining their academic momentum as they approach pre-board examinations. At Ambassador School in Dubai, Principal Sheela Menon described the period as ‘an active and dynamic time for the entire school community,’ with summative assessments, inter- and intra-school events, and training sessions happening concurrently. Preparations for Term 3 mega events are also in full swing, adding to the excitement on campus.
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Lebanese president calls for diplomacy with Israel amid border tensions
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has called for diplomatic engagement with Israel amid escalating border tensions, emphasizing that negotiation is the only viable path forward. Speaking at Baabda Palace during a meeting with officials on Monday, Aoun underscored the importance of diplomacy over war, stating, “In politics, there are three tools: diplomacy, economy, and war. When war leads nowhere, what else can we do? Every war in the world eventually ends with negotiations, and negotiation is never with a friend or ally, but with an enemy.” He highlighted the destructive nature of war, praising the diplomatic efforts of Lebanon’s leadership, including Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Aoun also stressed the need for national unity, urging politicians to prioritize Lebanon’s interests over sectarian divisions and electoral ambitions. The call for diplomacy comes after a deadly raid on the border village of Blida in late October, which prompted Aoun to order the Lebanese army to respond to any Israeli incursions. While a US- and French-brokered ceasefire has been in place since late November 2024, Israel has continued occasional strikes in Lebanon, claiming to target Hezbollah threats. These actions have been condemned by Lebanon and international organizations as violations of the truce.
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Hospital pioneers remote robotic surgery
In a groundbreaking medical achievement, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital in Fujian Province, China, has successfully conducted the world’s first cross-border remote robot-assisted heart surgery. This historic procedure, performed on October 23, 2025, involved collaboration between Chinese and French medical experts. The surgery was led by Wang Yan, president of Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, and Lionel Leroux, a professor of cardiovascular disease from Bordeaux University Hospital in France. Using a robotic system developed jointly by the Xiamen hospital and a Shanghai-based robotics company, the team remotely performed a transcatheter mitral valve repair on a 73-year-old patient in Xiamen, with no local surgeons physically present. The hour-long operation was executed with submillimeter precision and stable communication, monitored in real-time by the Xiamen hospital’s cardiac intervention, anesthesia, ultrasound, and nursing teams. The patient recovered well and was discharged shortly after the successful procedure. This milestone demonstrates the practicality and safety of remote precision control in robotic interventional therapy, marking a significant advancement in global medical technology. Wang Yan emphasized that this achievement highlights China’s capability to export its cardiovascular robotic systems for complex surgeries worldwide. French experts, including Thomas Modine, praised the technology as a major step forward in democratizing advanced medical skills globally. The success of this surgery is expected to pave the way for broader adoption of remote robotic techniques in clinical settings across the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
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Mainland talent get easier access to SARs
In a significant move to bolster cross-border collaboration and talent mobility, China’s National Immigration Administration has unveiled a series of streamlined measures aimed at facilitating easier access for mainland professionals to Hong Kong and Macao. Effective from November 6, 2025, eligible individuals—spanning high-level talent, researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, and legal experts—can now apply for multiple-entry permits valid for up to five years, allowing stays of up to 30 days per visit. These permits are contingent on official talent certification, ensuring a merit-based approach.
The policy, initially piloted in Beijing, Shanghai, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will now extend to the Yangtze River Delta, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and all national pilot free trade zones. Additionally, professionals working in the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone will benefit from expedited three-year multiple-entry permits, bypassing the need for additional talent credentials.
High-tech and advanced manufacturing firms will receive preferential quotas for these permits, while emerging startups within the zone will be exempt from first-year tax revenue requirements when applying for business travel permits. To further enhance efficiency, dedicated lanes and streamlined arrangements will be established at key ports, including Huanggang and Futian, to provide fast-track clearance for frequent travelers. A green channel will also expedite customs clearance for vehicles transporting research supplies.
In a parallel development, facial recognition technology will be expanded to major land crossings in Shenzhen and Zhuhai, including Huanggang, Luohu, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge port. Eligible travelers aged 14 and above, including mainland residents with valid multi-entry endorsements and Hong Kong and Macao residents with mainland travel permits, can utilize these channels, provided they consent to facial and fingerprint data verification.
Starting November 20, mainland residents on family visit visas in Hong Kong or Macao can apply to extend their stay directly within the SARs, provided applications are submitted at least seven working days before the current stay period expires.
Jesse Shang Hailong, founder of the Hong Kong Top Talent Services Association, anticipates that these measures will attract tens of thousands of mainland professionals to Hong Kong, leveraging its unique position as an international connectivity hub. The policy is expected to significantly enhance researcher mobility and cross-border collaboration, particularly as the Hong Kong park of the Hetao zone prepares for its official opening by year-end.
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Britain’s Treasury chief prepares the ground for a tax-hiking budget
In a significant pre-budget announcement, UK Treasury Chief Rachel Reeves has indicated that tax increases are likely in the forthcoming budget, scheduled for November 26. Reeves, in an unusual move, addressed the public and financial markets three weeks ahead of the budget, preparing them for potential hikes in income and sales taxes. This decision marks a departure from her earlier election pledge to avoid such increases. Reeves emphasized the necessity of collective contribution to secure the nation’s future, hinting at broad tax adjustments. She attributed the need for these measures to several factors, including the UK’s substantial £2.6 trillion national debt, lower-than-expected productivity, and global economic challenges such as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, volatile supply chains, and rising government borrowing costs. Reeves also pointed to the economic mismanagement by the previous Conservative government, which has left the UK particularly vulnerable. Despite these challenges, Reeves aims to deliver a budget focused on growth, fairness, and strengthening public services, while reducing national debt and controlling inflation. However, her approach has faced criticism for being overly pessimistic and for increasing business taxes in the previous budget. Additionally, Reeves has been under scrutiny for allegedly renting out her London house without a proper license, a mistake for which she has apologized.