UK interest rates, French protests, US measles deaths

Bank of England raises interest rate to 4%

The Bank of England raised its rate for the first time since August 2023 to contain the wider effects of higher energy prices. Governor Andrew Bailey said another rise could be warranted, with the next decision due on 17 December.

Paraguay’s central bank closes Ueno Bank and starts liquidation

Paraguay’s central bank says repayments have reached more than half of Ueno’s customers after the bank entered resolution; others are still waiting for access to their money.

France’s protests draw at least 600,000, ministry says

France’s Interior Ministry provisionally estimated that at least 600,000 people demonstrated on 5 November as workers and students pressed for higher wages and better public services. Police made more than 600 arrests during the nationwide strike. Lecornu plans to discuss wages and purchasing power with unions and employers.

Updated

UN office provides aid to 254,000 displaced people in Yemen

The UN humanitarian office has provided food, hygiene supplies and emergency cash to displaced Yemenis. A medical shipment has reached Taiz hospitals, while an emergency meals initiative aims to reach vulnerable families.

France strikes shut 81 lycées, affect about 17.5% of primaries, ministry says

France’s national strike closed high schools and disrupted other services after school protests grew into a wider campaign over living costs. Yellow-vest organizers have called for further action on 6 and 7 November.

Infant dies in Wisconsin’s first measles death since 1990, officials say

An infant in southwestern Wisconsin has died of measles, the state’s first death from the disease in 36 years. Nearly all reported cases in the state were in unvaccinated people.

Cocaine-linked deaths overtake heroin in England and Wales

Cocaine was mentioned more often than any other single substance in drug-poisoning deaths registered in England and Wales, although opiates and opioids combined were linked to more deaths. Registration delays mean the figures do not all relate to deaths in the same year.

New York child dies of measles in state’s first death in 30 years

A child has died of measles in New York as national cases exceed the previous year’s total. Pennsylvania and federal health officials list different death counts, and an investigation remains open.

Russia’s Emergencies Ministry says cyberattack spread false app alerts

Russia’s Emergencies Ministry acknowledged a cyberattack on its mobile app. False nuclear-attack messages also appeared on official messaging channels, Kommersant said, while the ministry said work to restore the app was underway.

Ukraine’s Air Alert sent false emergency warnings on 1 November

Ukraine’s Air Alert sent false emergency warnings, prompting instructions to check official channels and heed sirens. Vinnytsia’s governor described a cyberattack and warned against clicking a message link; users continued to report errors after the false alerts disappeared.