Italy’s school evacuations, Spain’s strike, Belgium’s home-entry law
Bomb-threat emails prompted evacuations at at least 300 Italian schools, a minister said, and police are investigating. In Spain, a general strike disrupted transport and other public services as workers demanded government action on housing and a new minimum wage agreement. Belgium’s parliament approved a procedure allowing police to detain people and search for identity documents in homes, including those hosting undocumented people.
Also in this edition
- Spain’s housing decrees await another parliamentary vote as unions and employers give contrasting accounts of strike participation.
- Police and education officials advised Scottish schools to continue operating after hoax threats prompted precautionary evacuations.
- Microsoft patched an Outlook flaw that could expose authentication information; US federal agencies must apply the fix by 24 November 2026.
- Eswatini’s parliament recommended giving foreign business owners at least 12 months to leave, but the recommendation does not change the law, so shop closures could continue.
Written by AveNews superintelligence (SI) from AveNews articles and their sources.
Table of contents
Today’s Reel
Politics
Italy evacuates at least 300 schools after bomb threats, minister says
Italy evacuated at least 300 schools after emailed bomb threats, and officials said the message appeared to have reached most state schools. More than 700 schools across Scotland and Northern Ireland also received bomb threats, according to local authorities cited by the BBC. Italian police are investigating, while opposition leaders are due to meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Updated since this editionBelgium’s parliament approves immigration home-entry law
Belgian lawmakers approved a procedure allowing police to detain people and search for identity documents in homes, including those of friends or relatives hosting undocumented people. Officials say it targets people denied asylum who have ignored orders to leave and are considered a security or public-order threat.
Hoax threats reach at least 1,000 Scottish schools
At least 1,000 Scottish schools received hoax threats, prompting precautionary evacuations, while police and education officials advised schools to continue operating. Investigators are working to identify the sender, and Northern Ireland’s Education Authority plans a further update after speaking with police. The BBC reported that more than 700 schools across Scotland and Northern Ireland received bomb threats, a combined count not directly comparable with the earlier Scotland-only figure. Italian officials said a bomb-threat email appeared to have been sent to 6,300 state schools; hundreds were reported to have been evacuated, and any connection to the UK threats remains unclear.
Business
Spain’s workers begin general strike over housing costs
Spain’s general strike seriously disrupted transport and other public services as workers pressed for greater government intervention in housing and a new minimum wage agreement. Unions and employers gave contrasting accounts of participation, with housing decrees awaiting another parliamentary vote.
Updated since this editionEswatini Parliament backs 12 months for foreign owners to leave
Eswatini’s Parliament has agreed that foreign business owners should have at least 12 months to leave, as officials close Asian-owned shops. The recommendation does not itself change the law, so enforcement could continue.
Science
Portugal closes schools and public services as Storm Charles nears
Portugal closed schools and non-essential public services before Storm Charles reached the mainland. The storm passed without severe damage, while organizers expected Web Summit to resume on 12 November.
Technology
Microsoft fixes 1,259 flaws, including exploited Outlook bug
Microsoft’s security release fixes an Outlook vulnerability that could expose authentication information when a user opens a crafted file. US federal agencies have until 24 November 2026 to apply the fix.
US cybersecurity agency lists exploited Outlook flaw CVE-2026-124194
CISA has listed an actively exploited Outlook flaw that Microsoft patched in November. An advisory identifies Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise and editions of Microsoft Office as affected, giving administrators a basis to check their systems.
US agency CISA lists 2 Barracuda flaws as exploited
CISA has listed CVE-2026-111560 and CVE-2026-116606 as exploited vulnerabilities. Barracuda says attackers who combine them could gain root access, and advises customers to check updates and administrative access.
Sports
Aquatics Integrity Unit provisionally suspends Iraq swimming chief Kbian
Kbian’s provisional suspension bars him from aquatics positions and activities during the suspension; AQIU said on 12 October that proceedings were ongoing. Jassim will manage the Iraqi federation and its official correspondence.
Reports on this date
TechnologyOutlook security fix, proposed EU digital rules, UK offshore wind investment
US federal agencies must apply Microsoft’s fix for an exploited Outlook flaw by 24 November 2026. The European Commission proposes limits on purchases by minors in online services and games. RWE and KKR have committed to two offshore wind farms, with offshore construction planned for early 2027.
Daily report · covering
4 min37 sources
ScienceDR Congo Ebola outbreak, bird-flu precautions, US firefighting rules
Government figures put the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ebola death toll at at least 5,387; the World Health Organization expects results from two new vaccine trials in early 2027. England has ordered indoor housing for many birds after rising bird-flu detections. President Donald Trump has changed water-pollution obligations for federal firefighting activities.
Daily report · covering
4 min37 sources
BusinessSpain’s strike, EU online-sales proposal, Germany’s gas reserve
Spain’s general strike seriously disrupted transport and other public services, with housing decrees awaiting another parliamentary vote. The European Commission proposes limits on purchases by minors as part of rules for online sales, subscriptions and games. Germany is proceeding with a crisis gas reserve to be built up over as many as three years.
Daily report · covering
4 min37 sources
CultureUK production spending, EU digital rules, Trump’s BBC lawsuit
UK film and high-end television production spending fell to £5.2 billion in the year ending September 2026; the Guardian’s revised account puts the annual decline at 28%, based on provisional figures. The European Commission proposes limits on purchases by minors as part of new digital rules. A US judge has allowed Trump’s BBC lawsuit to continue without deciding liability.
Daily report · covering
4 min33 sources
SportsWomen’s World Cup draw rules, Super League expansion, Kenya federation expulsions
The top two seeds at the 2027 Women’s World Cup cannot meet before the final if both win their groups; several leading teams still need to qualify. Super League shareholders have approved 15 clubs for 2027, leaving the additional club to be selected. Kenya’s football federation has expelled seven officials, with vice-president Mariga considering a tribunal challenge.
Daily report · covering
3 min28 sources
PoliticsKremlin says Armenia remains in CSTO with fewer rights
Russia’s presidential spokesperson says the CSTO has removed Armenia’s voting and senior appointment rights while Armenia remains a member. Belgium approved police home-entry powers that extend to homes hosting undocumented people. Armenia’s president signed the TRIPP framework ratification law, with founding documents for the planned development company still to be agreed.
Daily report · covering
4 min49 sources
