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Pro-Palestinian Protesters Demand Gaza Ceasefire in European Marches

Protesters gather with placards and flags during the 'London Rally For Palestine' in Trafalgar Square, central London on November 4, 2023, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
Protesters gather with placards and flags during the 'London Rally For Palestine' in Trafalgar Square, central London on November 4, 2023, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
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Pro-Palestinian Protesters Demand Gaza Ceasefire in European Marches

Protesters gather with placards and flags during the 'London Rally For Palestine' in Trafalgar Square, central London on November 4, 2023, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
Protesters gather with placards and flags during the 'London Rally For Palestine' in Trafalgar Square, central London on November 4, 2023, calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)

Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through London, Berlin and Paris on Saturday to call for a ceasefire in Gaza after a week when Israel's military intensified their assault against Hamas.

In London, television footage showed large crowds holding sit-down protests blocking Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus, before marching to and gathering in Trafalgar Square.

Protesters held "Freedom for Palestine" placards and chanted "ceasefire now" and "in our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians."

London's Metropolitan Police said it had made three arrests. In a post on X, police said one person was arrested for displaying a placard that could incite hate, contrary to terrorism legislation.

Britain has supported Israel's right to defend itself after the Hamas militant group killed 1,400 people and took more than 240 hostage in an Oct. 7 assault in southern Israel.

Echoing Washington's stance, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government has stopped short of calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and instead advocated humanitarian pauses to allow aid to reach people in need.

Thousands of protesters marched in central Paris to call for a ceasefire with placards reading "Stop the cycle of violence" and "To do nothing, to say nothing is to be complicit."

In Berlin, demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. One woman marched with her arm in the air, her hand covered in fake blood.

Western governments have offered support to Israel after the Oct. 7 attacks but there has been growing concern over civilian casualties that have soared under Israel's bombardment that has seen thousands killed, wounded and displaced in Gaza.

Palestinians reported a deadly Israeli strike on a UN-run school in northern Gaza serving as a shelter on Saturday.

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Sailor Killed in Gulf as Iran Says Tankers on Fire

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)
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Sailor Killed in Gulf as Iran Says Tankers on Fire

Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)
Vessels at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, November 3, 2026. (Reuters)

A seafarer on a Greek-owned oil tanker was killed in an apparent missile attack in the Gulf, its owner said Friday, after Tehran said ships were on fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Velos Sapphire was sailing to Bahrain empty of cargo when the attack happened on Thursday, Velos Tankers said in a statement carried by the Greek news agency ANA.

The Athens-based company said the explosion was likely caused by an unidentified projectile that struck the vessel's port quarter, sparking a fire.

On Thursday, Iranian media reported that five oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement carried by state media Friday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said two more oil tankers were on fire in the strategic gateway to the energy-rich Gulf.

British maritime agency UKMTO said on Friday that the master of a tanker transiting the strait the previous day had reported an explosion "at the waterline, port side" off Oman.

"The crew are safe... The tanker is still under its own power and is continuing on its voyage," it added.

Since the outbreak of the Middle East war on February 28, Tehran has sought to limit traffic through the waterway, which normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption.

The United States has in response imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and escorted tankers through the strait.

World

Rubio Denies Plans to Leave Post for White House Bid

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony with Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano on strategic civil nuclear cooperation, at the State Department in Washington, DC, US, August 4, 2026. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony with Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano on strategic civil nuclear cooperation, at the State Department in Washington, DC, US, August 4, 2026. (Reuters)
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Rubio Denies Plans to Leave Post for White House Bid

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony with Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano on strategic civil nuclear cooperation, at the State Department in Washington, DC, US, August 4, 2026. (Reuters)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony with Paraguay's Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano on strategic civil nuclear cooperation, at the State Department in Washington, DC, US, August 4, 2026. (Reuters)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed reports Thursday that he was planning to leave the Trump administration as he weighs his next moves after Republicans' losses in midterm elections, according to The New York Times.

It has "always been my plan" to work for President Donald Trump until the end of his term, Rubio told The Times in an interview.

Rubio, who also serves as Trump's national security adviser, is widely considered a potential successor to Trump in the 2028 presidential race.

Just days before Tuesday's midterm elections, he made an unusual appearance alongside the US leader on the campaign trail, briefly stepping up on the podium to address a cheering crowd at a rally.

Rubio declined to answer questions about his political future on Thursday, however, saying: "I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore."

On reports that he was considering an exit from the Trump administration, he told The New York Times: "I don't know where these things come from, to be honest with you."

Earlier Thursday, Bloomberg News reported that Rubio was weighing whether to leave the administration.

The report added that Rubio spoke to White House officials about stepping down, and was asked to stay.

But the State Department has hit back sharply against reports that Rubio might leave.

Dylan Johnson, Assistant Secretary of State for global public affairs, called the Bloomberg article "totally made up."

He also called a report by news outlet The Independent, which said Rubio was planning to launch a bid for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, "completely baseless fake news."

Rubio has previously said that he would support Vice President JD Vance if he ran for president.

Vance is also widely considered a possible 2028 candidate.

World

Trump Says to ‘Soon’ Take Decision on Whether to Resume Iran War

A hat reading "VETO" sits on the Resolute Desk as US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, on November 5, 2026. (AFP)
A hat reading "VETO" sits on the Resolute Desk as US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, on November 5, 2026. (AFP)
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Trump Says to ‘Soon’ Take Decision on Whether to Resume Iran War

A hat reading "VETO" sits on the Resolute Desk as US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, on November 5, 2026. (AFP)
A hat reading "VETO" sits on the Resolute Desk as US President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, DC, on November 5, 2026. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would decide “soon” on whether to resume the war on Iran following a meeting with his top national security advisers.

"Now we will make a decision," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

"Do we want to go further" with strikes to ensure Iran's nuclear program is over and that "it will never happen again?" he added.

"I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I will have to. You'll know soon enough."

Trump held meetings at the White House on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the resumption of military operations, according to senior officials who spoke to US media.

While the US Central Command continues its military preparations, Qatari mediators are advancing a draft agreement aimed at fostering confidence between Washington and Tehran.

The president, at least for now, is considering three options: launch new strikes, continue to strangle Iran's regime economically, or cut a deal that includes significant concessions to the Iranians, reported Axios.

Trump on Thursday said Iran could not do ‌anything regarding ‌its nuclear program ‌without ⁠US approval.

"They're not ⁠doing anything without our approval," ⁠Trump told reporters ‌in ‌the Oval ‌Office ‌in response to a question regarding a ‌set of proposals made ⁠to ⁠Iran by mediators about the future of its nuclear program.