The Observer Lens

BREAKING: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran and Washington have now reached what he described as a “two-day plan” for de-escalation. “On the first day, the U.S. implements a set of measures, and on the second day, the Strait of Hormuz reopens and transit returns to its previous state.” Araghchi said Iran is demanding the cancellation of new sanctions imposed after the memorandum, a reduction of U.S. military forces to previous levels, the lifting of the blockade, and implementation of previously expected oil-sanctions exemptions.

BREAKING: Israeli President Isaac Herzog will decide on Sunday who gets the first chance to form a government. Factions representing 67 of the Knesset's 120 members recommended Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, against 46 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Herzog said the tally does not settle who can actually build a coalition, citing "mutual vetoes between and within political blocs." Eisenkot's 67 includes the two Arab-led parties, with 19 seats between them, according to Reuters. Like Netanyahu, Eisenkot has so far ruled out governing with them. Without them, neither bloc reaches the 61 seats needed for a majority. Netanyahu has accused Arab-led parties of stealing the vote, Reuters reported, while denying that he is trying to undermine the results. The Central Elections Committee said it found no irregularities that compromised the election.

BREAKING: The IDF says Duvdevan Unit troops, acting on Shin Bet intelligence, arrested three Palestinians in the villages of Al-Amari, Ar-Ram and Al-Bireh over alleged plans to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians and military personnel. According to the IDF, the operation was conducted this week in the Binyamin Brigade area. The three detainees were transferred to Israeli security authorities for further questioning.

BREAKING: Iranian Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia says Iran would target U.S. military installations without geographical restrictions if Washington launches renewed attacks against the country. Akraminia said Iranian forces would act under the orders of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and claimed that U.S. bases outside the Middle East could also be targeted in retaliation. He added that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen only if Washington accepts Iran’s seven conditions, arguing that further U.S. military action would not force Tehran to reopen the waterway.

BREAKING: 🇫🇷 France's trade deficit widened to €7.3 billion in September, deteriorating by €1.3 billion from the revised €6 billion recorded in August. Imports surged by €2.4 billion to €62.7 billion, while exports increased by only €1 billion to €55.3 billion, according to French customs data released on November 6.

BREAKING: 🇺🇦🇩🇪 Zelenskyy says Ukraine wants to acquire German Taurus cruise missiles to destroy Russian missile launchers after the United States was unable to supply sufficient Patriot anti-ballistic interceptors for Ukraine's air defense. He states that Ukraine wants not only to purchase the missiles but also to test them in combat, which could benefit both Ukraine and Germany.

BREAKING: 🇨🇳 China has successfully launched three Yaogan-51 remote sensing satellites aboard a Long March-2C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The satellites entered their preset orbits and will primarily be used for scientific experiments and electromagnetic environment detection.

BREAKING: 🇪🇹🇸🇩 Sudan's government has closed Ethiopia's consulate in the eastern border city of El-Gadarif and expelled all diplomats working there, officials say. — Reuters

BREAKING: 🇯🇴 Jordanian police say an assailant has been taken into custody after carrying out a terrorist stabbing attack in Amman that killed a security officer. — PETRA

BREAKING: 🇺🇦🇺🇸 The US Air Force has issued a market research notice to mass-produce ERAM jam-resistant air-launched standoff missiles intended for Ukraine. — Defense News

BREAKING: 🇮🇷🇷🇺 Russia agreed to export 90 APU-L helicopter-mounted missile launchers to K-10, a code name used in Russian defense documents to refer to Iran — FT

BREAKING: 🇺🇸 The Democrats have taken control of the Senate and the House, winning in several states where Trump had won by a double-digit margin in 2024. — NYT

BREAKING: 🇫🇷 French banking group Crédit Mutuel Arkéa confirms a sophisticated cyberattack targeting its own account through a third-party service provider. The bank acknowledges that the amounts involved are of a similar magnitude to the reported €118 million theft, but does not confirm the figure.

BREAKING: 🇵🇾 Paraguayan President Santiago Peña resigns amid a major banking crisis after Ueno Bank’s collapse left nearly 3 million customers unable to access their accounts. The crisis triggered mass protests and allegations of conflicts of interest linked to Peña’s former business ties to the bank. The Chamber of Deputies subsequently approved his impeachment, with the Senate still to decide on the proceedings.

BREAKING: 🇺🇸🇷🇺🇺🇦 Trump claims he is close to finalizing a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, potentially covering the wider European region. He describes it as a major breakthrough beneficial to all sides.

BREAKING: NATO launches a Counter-Drone Marketplace for the direct procurement of anti-drone technologies without additional tender procedures. 16 solutions selected from 5 companies: — Alta Ares — Axon Enterprise — Northrop Grumman — OSL UK — Quantum Systems Systems include static, transportable, and mobile capabilities deployed in Allied countries.

BREAKING: 🇬🇧 UK PM Andy Burnham seeks to renegotiate the Chagos Islands agreement with Mauritius, proposing the US-Denmark Greenland deal as a model for Diego Garcia. The current treaty grants sovereignty to Mauritius while securing 99-year UK/US access to the military base. Burnham and Mauritian PM Navin Ramgoolam aim to finalize a revised plan by the end of 2026.

BREAKING: NATO allocated €3.1 million to test 16 counter-drone solutions. Under the Drone Edge initiative, Allies committed over $40 billion to counter-drone capabilities for the next five years.

BREAKING: Netanyahu Loses Majority as he fails to form the majority bloc and joining hands with the Arab parties. Netanyahu's bloc lost its majority with just 53 of 120 Knesset seats, eight short of the 61 needed to govern.

BREAKING: Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said a resumption of military operations between the United States and Iran is “likely and no longer a secret,” according to a statement attributed to the ministry.

BREAKING: The U.S. and Israeli militaries have developed specific plans for a short but intensive operation whose targets would likely include Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone arsenal, according to The New York Times.