*) Israel kills 12 paramedics and civil defence volunteers in Lebanon Israel has killed 12 paramedics and civil defence volunteers and wounded three others in its strikes on several towns in the Tyre district in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry said warplanes targeted the town of Deir Qanoun in the Tyre district, killing six members of the Islamic Scouts — volunteers in emergency medical and civil defense operations — and a paramedic from the Islamic Health Association — a charity organisation. Strikes on Deir Qanoun also killed a civilian and wounded 12 others. *) Biden to meet Trump at White House ahead of historic return President Joe Biden will host President-elect Donald Trump for a traditional post election meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the White House said. Such a meeting is customary between the outgoing president and the incoming president, and is meant partly to mark the start of a peaceful transfer of power under America's democracy. In a speech Thursday, Biden said he had assured Trump "that I would direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That's what the American people deserve." *) Floods in South Sudan affect 1.4 million, displace 379,000: UN Devastating flooding in South Sudan is affecting around 1.4 million people, with more than 379,000 displaced, according to a United Nations update that warned about an upsurge in malaria. Aid agencies have said that the world's youngest country, highly vulnerable to climate change, is in the grip of its worst flooding in decades, mainly in the north. A surge in malaria has been reported in several states, it said, "overwhelming the health system and exacerbating the situation and impact in flood-hit areas". *) French rail unions threaten to strike ahead of Christmas Trade unions at France's railway operator SNCF have called for an indefinite strike from next month that could disrupt train services during the upcoming Christmas holidays. The unions are demanding a moratorium on dismantling Fret SNCF, the freight division of the national rail operator, and protesting against the terms and conditions for opening up regional lines to competition. The union said the action would begin on December 11, reiterating their call for shorter strike action from November 20 to November 22. *) Türkiye’s first lady demands gender balance, fairness in tech sector Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdogan has emphasised the critical role of women in society and the need for a justice-centred approach to technology, at the 6th International Women and Justice Summit in Istanbul on Friday. Erdogan stressed that “women are not only half of a gender but half of humanity,” and expressed hope that the summit would open “new doors of hope” for women worldwide. The reception, organised by Türkiye's Women and Democracy Association (KADEM) under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Women,” highlighted the impact of AI on various sectors, including healthcare, education, and business. Erdogan referred to research findings on how AI, developed without ethical oversight, can deepen social injustices, and underlined that women are particularly vulnerable to AI’s adverse effects.