World News · Saturday, 31 October 2026

Poland's president forces his way into the top court after judges chosen by parliament suspend its chief

44 stories 101 sources

Signals on this beat

The bar and the word are our reading of how hard each one is pushing, and the arrow is where it is heading.

Attacks on ships near Iran High↑

At least 35 ships were attacked near the Strait of Hormuz in October, the most of the war. [10]
Oman's navy pulled 25 sailors off a burning tanker on Friday. [11]
Another tanker, with 27 Indian sailors aboard, was hit the same week. [12]

Small truces and talks Building↑

Russia and Ukraine ran their first joint evacuation of the war, from Oleshky. [13]
A team from Qatar flew to Tehran to revive a ceasefire between the US and Iran. [14]
A UN envoy wants new talks on divided Cyprus before the year ends. [15]

Drone strikes on civilians High↑

Drones killed at least 25 civilians in northern Ethiopia, including people gathering spilled grain. [16]
Ukraine's president says Russia hits Ukraine's power system every day. [17]
Saudi Arabia shot down a drone near its capital, Riyadh, on Saturday. [18]

Courts pulled into politics Building↑

Poland's president and government each say the other side's top judges are not lawful. [3]
US prosecutors asked a judge to set aside some ballots in Alaska's Senate race. [19]
A court in Thailand added a sentence that takes a lawyer's total past 34 years. [20]

Russia looking to Africa Building↑

European ministers refused to stand in a G20 photo with Russia's foreign minister. [21]
Ghana opened talks with Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear company, about its first nuclear plant. [22]
Kenya's president went to Russia to seek payment for Kenyans recruited into Russia's army. [23]

The stories

44 stories on this beat today.

Every story told the same way: what happened, who is involved, why it matters, how it works, the truth and the good news.

01
Poland's president forces his way into the top court after judges chosen by parliament suspend its chief

5

judges elected by parliament whom Poland's president would not swear in

they took their oath before parliament instead [7]

1 month

suspension of the court's chief and his deputy

ordered by Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska on Friday evening [7]

3

protesters detained outside the court on Friday night

after some climbed the fence and threw objects at police [3]
What happened
- Poland's president, Karol Nawrocki, forced his way into the country's top court early on Saturday. [1]
- Hours earlier, judges chosen by parliament had suspended the court's chief, Bogdan Swieczkowski. [2]
- Riot police guarded the building, and police detained 3 people after protesters breached the fence. [3]
- Inside, Nawrocki told the new judges: 'You are not judges.' [1]
- On Friday evening, seven judges elected by parliament entered the tribunal with state guards. [8]
- Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska then suspended Swieczkowski and his deputy for 1 month. [7]
- She said she was taking charge, as the judge with the longest experience. [3]
- She is one of the 5 judges Nawrocki refused to swear in. [3]
- The tribunal's own account on X called the move 'a coup d'etat'. [9]
- Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek asked for both men's legal protection from charges to be lifted. [5]
- He accuses them of stopping the new judges from doing their work. [6]
- Tusk wrote: 'Restoring the rule of law is our duty.' [5]
- Zurek says Tusk's government had nothing to do with the judges' decision. [2]
- PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski joined the protest and tried to force his way inside. [2]
- He called the move a 'coup' and warned of a 'police state'. [2]
- Nawrocki's statement called it 'a forcible takeover of a constitutional organ of the state'. [8]
- He demanded that the police leave the court's grounds. [8]
- Marcin Matczak, a law professor who criticised PiS, said the suspension had 'no legal basis'. [5]
- He said images of armed police would harm the rule of law for years. [5]
- Tusk himself proposed Maciej Berek, a former minister in his cabinet, as a judge. [5]
Who is involved

The court is the Constitutional Tribunal, which can strike down laws passed by parliament. [2]
Donald Tusk, the prime minister, leads a pro-European government that took power in 2023. [4]
Nawrocki is backed by Law and Justice, the right-wing party Tusk replaced. [5]
Nawrocki was elected president in mid-2025. [6]
Law and Justice, known as PiS, ran Poland from 2015 to 2023. [7]
- Karol Nawrocki Poland's president, elected in mid-2025 and backed by PiS; he refused to swear in five judges and forced his way into the court
- Constitutional Tribunal Poland's top court
- Donald Tusk Poland's prime minister since 2023; his government wants to replace the judges PiS appointed
- Tusk's government
- Nawrocki and Law and Justice
- Anna Korwin-Piotrowska a judge elected by parliament whom Nawrocki does not accept; she suspended the court's chief
- Bogdan Swieczkowski the tribunal's chief, a former PiS minister; he had kept the new judges out
- Waldemar Zurek Poland's justice minister and chief prosecutor; he wants the chief charged
- Jaroslaw Kaczynski PiS leader
- Maciej Berek ex-minister, Tusk's pick
- Parliament, elected 2023
- President, elected 2025
- Some experts lawful
- Others no legal basis
How it unfolded

Under PiS, the party filled the tribunal with judges friendly to it, critics say. [6]
Two European courts later ruled that three of those judges were chosen improperly. [5]
The EU's top court ruled last December that the tribunal failed European standards of independence. [2]
So Tusk's government stopped publishing the tribunal's rulings. [5]
Since March, Tusk's majority in parliament has elected new judges to the tribunal. [5]
Nawrocki refused to swear in 5 of them, saying their selection was flawed. [5]
They took their oath before parliament instead. [7]
Swieczkowski, the court's chief, then barred them from the building. [7]
This month the Venice Commission, Europe's advisers on constitutions, said Nawrocki should swear them in. [5]
1. 2023 Tusk's coalition wins
2. Mid-2025 Nawrocki elected
3. 2015 PiS takes power
4. 2023 Tusk's coalition takes over
5. Earlier three judges ruled improper
6. Last December EU court: not independent
7. Now the court fight
8. Next year parliamentary election
9. 2015-2023 PiS governs and fills the tribunal with its judges [7]
10. 2023 Tusk's pro-European coalition takes power [4]
11. Mid-2025 Nawrocki is elected president [6]
12. Since March parliament elects new judges; Nawrocki will not swear in five [5]
13. Fri evening the court's chief is suspended [7]
14. Sat, 1am Nawrocki pushes into the building [3]
Why it matters

The court has been largely paralysed by the dispute, Al Jazeera reports. [6]
Zurek says the tribunal should get back to citizens' waiting cases. [8]
Polls give the populist right a chance to return at next year's parliamentary election. [3]

How it works

Political scientists call this dual legitimacy: two powers, each chosen by the voters. [4]
The president holds a veto: two presidents have blocked Tusk's court reforms. [4]
And the court that should settle such fights is the thing being fought over. [3]
The truth
- What is really going on Poland's government says the top court's judges were put there unlawfully by the last government, and Poland's president says the same about the judges the new parliament chose.
- What is really going on With both sides calling the other's judges fake, there is no judge both will accept to settle it, so on Friday night it was settled by who could get into the building. [3][1]
- Why it works on people Both sides call the other's move a 'coup', and a word that strong pushes people to pick a side before asking which judges were lawfully chosen. [9][2]
- Legal experts are deeply divided on whether the suspension is lawful. [3]
- Some see Tusk's move as a bid to win back voters before next year's election. [5]
- Who gains PiS, Poland's right-wing opposition — The clash sets up next year's election, in which polls give the populist right a chance to return. [3]
- Who pays Poles with cases before the top court — The dispute has largely paralysed the court, so their cases wait. [6][8]
- Nobody knows yet
  Which of Poland's top-court judges are lawfully in office.
  
  Legal experts are deeply divided, and even a law professor who criticised PiS says the chief's suspension had no legal basis. [3][5]
- Nobody knows yet
  How many judges Poland's president refused to swear in.
  
  The BBC and DW say five; Al Jazeera says three of six nominated by parliament. [5][7][6]
What comes next

Nawrocki called emergency talks with the parliamentary parties for Saturday. [1]

02
US approves 500 Patriot missiles for Ukraine
What happened
- The US approved selling Ukraine 500 Patriot missiles for about $2.1bn on Friday. [24]
- Patriots are Ukraine's only effective weapon for shooting down Russia's ballistic missiles. [24]
- Canada, Germany and Norway will pay, helped by an EU loan; no US money is used. [24]
- Lockheed Martin, a US arms maker, is the main contractor. [24]
- But the missiles have not been made yet. [25]
- Two people briefed on the sale expect delivery only a couple of years into the 2030s. [25]
- Zelensky asked allies to send Patriots from their own stocks now and refill them later. [17]
Who is involved
- Canada
- Germany
- Norway
- Lockheed Martin gains the order
- Europe and Canada pay for it
How it unfolded
1. Friday sale approved
2. 2030s delivery expected
Why it matters

Zelensky says Russia attacks Ukraine's energy system every single day. [17]

How it works

Arms-trade experts call this lead time: a weapon sold today is usually built years later. [25]
The truth
- Lockheed Martin gains the order, paid for by Europe and Canada. [24]
- Ukrainians facing this winter's attacks will get none of these 500 missiles in time. [26]
- Who gains Lockheed Martin, the US arms maker — It is the main contractor on a $2.1bn order paid for by Canada, Germany, Norway and an EU loan. [24]
- Who pays Ukrainians facing this winter's attacks — The Patriots that stop ballistic missiles may not arrive until the 2030s, while Russia hits power plants daily. [25][17]
- Nobody knows yet
  When Ukraine will actually get its 500 Patriot missiles.
  
  The US gave no date; two people briefed on the sale say a couple of years into the 2030s, and Zelensky says only 'a few years'. [17][25]
03
Attacks on ships near Iran hit a record
What happened
- At least 35 ships were attacked in and around the Strait of Hormuz in October. [10]
- That makes October the worst month since the war began on 28 February. [10]
- March, the first full month of the war, had about 30 attacks. [10]
- The strait, between Iran and Oman, normally carries about a fifth of the world's oil. [11]
- On Friday Oman's navy rescued 25 sailors from the RITI, a burning oil tanker. [11]
- A tanker with 27 Indian sailors aboard was also attacked; India says all are safe. [12]
- Shipping through the strait is still about 70% below its level before the war. [10]
Who is involved
- US military routes clear
- British count attacks doubled
How it unfolded
1. 28 February the war begins
2. March about 30 attacks
3. October at least 35
Why it matters

About 80% of the ships still crossing carry oil or gas, a US navy unit estimates. [10]
The truth
- The US says the main routes are clear of Iran's mines. [11]
- Yet the British count shows attacks more than doubled from September. [27]
- Who pays Sailors in and near the Strait of Hormuz — At least 35 ships were attacked there in October, the worst month of the war. [10]
04
Qatar's mediators fly to Tehran
What happened
- A team from Qatar arrived in Tehran, Iran's capital, on Friday for talks. [28]
- It came in coordination with US officials, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported. [14]
- Qatar and Pakistan have carried messages between the two sides since an April ceasefire. [28]
- An Iranian official called an earlier Qatari draft deal unacceptable. [29]
Who is involved
- Qatar
- the US
How it unfolded

The US-Israeli war on Iran began on 28 February. [28]
Since then Iran has blocked most ships from the Strait of Hormuz. [28]
1. 28 February war begins
2. April ceasefire
3. Friday Qatar in Tehran
4. Now talks in Tehran
5. 3 November US midterm elections
Why it matters

Fears are growing that fighting could resume after the US midterm elections on 3 November. [29]
The truth
- What Qatar's team brought to Tehran has not been made public. [28]
- Nobody knows yet
  What Qatar's team offered Iran in Tehran.
  
  Iran's state media described only talks on 'regional developments', and an earlier Qatari draft was called unacceptable. [28][29]
05
UN mission in Western Sahara runs out
What happened
- The UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara was due to expire on Saturday. [30]
- Russia vetoed a US plan to extend it, though 11 of 15 members backed it. [30]
- The US then used its own veto to block Russia's plan to renew it unchanged. [31]
- The US plan would have dropped the word 'referendum' from the mission's name. [31]
Who is involved

Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony in north-west Africa. [30]
Morocco calls it Moroccan; the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, wants independence. [30]
- US plan vetoed by Russia
- Russian plan vetoed by the US
- Morocco
- Polisario Front
- Sahrawis lose the vote's mission
How it unfolded

The mission, MINURSO, began in 1991 to watch a ceasefire and prepare a vote. [30]
The vote never happened, because the sides could not agree who could take part. [30]
1. 1991 mission begins
2. Saturday mandate ends
Why it matters

Morocco's royal palace welcomed the end and said UN staff should leave. [30]
The Polisario Front thanked Russia, saying the US plan undermined Sahrawis' right to decide. [31]

How it works

In international law this is self-determination: a people's right to choose its own state. [31]
The truth
- Morocco gains if UN staff leave, as its palace asked. [30]
- The Sahrawis lose the mission whose job was to prepare their vote. [30]
- Who gains Morocco — If the UN mission ends, its palace's demand that UN staff leave Western Sahara can be met. [30]
- Who pays The Sahrawi people of Western Sahara — They lose the UN mission set up in 1991 to prepare their vote on independence. [30]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether UN staff now leave Western Sahara.
  
  The mandate lapsed after two vetoes, Morocco wants the UN out, and no last-minute deal had been reported. [30][31]

06
Hundreds leave Oleshky in a first joint evacuation
What happened
- Hundreds of people left Oleshky, a ruined Russian-held town in southern Ukraine, on Friday. [32]
- It was the first joint relief operation in four years and eight months of war. [13]
- A truce across the whole Kherson region has held since Tuesday, the longest of the war. [32]
- A convoy of 25 buses could carry up to 750 people in a four-hour window. [32]
- Ukrainian-held land lies just 5km away, across the Dnipro river. [13]
- Instead, those going to Ukraine rode 450km to Anapa in Russia, then flew to Belarus. [33]
- Several hundred people chose to stay, without gas, electricity or running water. [32]
Who is involved

Melania Trump, the US first lady, helped broker the deal. [32]
- Russia
- Ukraine
- Melania Trump US first lady; helped broker it
- Dmytro Lubinets Ukraine
- Yana Lantratova Russia
How it unfolded
1. Start of the war Oleshky occupied
2. Friday first joint evacuation
Why it matters

Kherson residents fear the truce gave Russia time to build up its forces. [32]
How it works

Peace researchers call a small, checkable deal like this a confidence-building measure. [32]
Both sides' rights officials now want such missions to happen regularly. [32]
Why enemies make peace one small, checkable step at a time

Peace researchers call them confidence-building measures: small deals that cost little if broken, so each one kept makes the next easier to believe.

The twist

A small deal is easier to trust than a big one, because breaking it gains little and everyone sees it straight away.

The picture

Kherson truceTuesday
Convoy inFriday
In BelarusSaturday
The Oleshky deal, one step at a time: a truce first, then a convoy, then people out by plane and bus.
Step by step
1. Two enemies do not trust any big promise from the other
2. So they agree one small step that costs little if it is broken
3. Each side can see at once whether the other kept it
4. A kept step makes a bigger next step easier to believe
5. Talks grow outward from that first, small deal
The same force, elsewhere today

Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.
- Hundreds leave Oleshky in a first joint evacuation
  
  A truce for one region came first, then one road and one convoy, and now both sides' rights officials ask for regular missions.
- US, Japan and South Korea press North Korea on nuclear arms
  
  South Korea offered the smallest steps it could: agree where the border line runs and reopen military phone lines.
- UN envoy pushes to restart Cyprus talks
  
  The UN envoy listed confidence-building measures first, before any talk about how the island is governed.
- France and Chad rebuild military ties
  
  After Chad expelled French troops, the two restarted with training, then a visit by two jets, then a joint exercise.
Where you've seen this

The Cold War hotline

In 1963 the US and the Soviet Union set up a direct line so one mistake would not start a war.

Neighbours in a dispute

agreeing who mows the shared strip before arguing about where the fence goes.

A new job

a trial period lets both sides check each other before a long contract.

The catch

A small step can also be used to buy time: people in Kherson fear the truce let Russia build up its forces.

And the whole of it

The people who left Oleshky got out because two officials who distrust each other agreed on one road for four hours. Most deals that last, between countries or between neighbours, start that small, and each side learns to trust the other only by watching it keep the small one.
The truth
- Nobody knows yet
  How many people left Oleshky.
  
  The buses could carry up to 750, Melania Trump says more than 750 were evacuated, and several hundred chose to stay. [32][33]
Good news
- Russia's rights official said it all happened 'without any incidents'. [32]
- Hundreds of people left Oleshky, a ruined Russian-held town in southern Ukraine, in the first joint Russian-Ukrainian relief operation of the war. Officials from both sides said it went without incident and asked for such missions to become regular.
What comes next

The truce is due to last until the end of Sunday 1 November. [32]

07
G20 photo cancelled over Russia
What happened
- The US cancelled the group photo at the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta. [21]
- European diplomats refused to stand beside Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister. [21]
- About a third of the countries said they would not appear beside any Russian. [35]
- Ukraine, not a G20 member but often invited, was not invited this time. [21]
- The talks end on Saturday with no joint statement, only a summary from the US host. [36]
Who is involved

The G20 is a group of the world's 20 largest economies. [34]
- European ministers
- Sergei Lavrov
- Russia at the table
- Ukraine not invited
How it unfolded
1. Saturday ministers' talks end
2. December leaders' summit in Miami
Why it matters

The meeting prepares a G20 leaders' summit Trump will host in Miami in December. [37]

How it works

In diplomacy, a group photo signals normal relations; Germany said 'there is no normality with Russia'. [35]
The truth
- Russia still got a seat at the table, which Ukraine did not. [21]
08
Ukraine strikes Russian refineries again
What happened
- Ukraine has resumed drone attacks on Russian oil refineries after a pause, Russia says. [38]
- Alexander Novak, Russia's deputy prime minister for energy, said three refineries were hit overnight. [38]
- A gas-chemical plant was also hit, he said. [38]
- Videos showed smoke over a refinery in Samara, 800km from Ukraine's border. [38]
- Samara's governor said two men were killed. [38]
- Ukraine did not comment straight away. [38]
Who is involved
- Russia says three refineries hit
- Ukraine no comment yet
How it unfolded

In October Trump eased sanctions on Russia in return for Russian diesel. [38]
Trump had pressed Ukraine for weeks to stop, blaming the strikes for dear diesel. [38]
1. Earlier a pause
2. Friday strikes resume
Why it matters

Novak warned the strikes could cut the diesel Russia plans to sell abroad. [38]

How it works

Strategists call this tit-for-tat: Ukraine hits Russia's energy because Russia hits Ukraine's. [38]
09
EU speeds up its loan to Ukraine
What happened
- The EU will pay out the second half of its €90bn loan to Ukraine faster. [39]
- The loan is split into €45bn for 2026 and €45bn for 2027. [39]
- Most of the 2027 money will now come in the first half of that year. [39]
- Of that €45bn, €31.7bn is for weapons and €13.3bn for Ukraine's budget. [39]
- The budget money depends on reforms, some linked to Ukraine joining the EU. [39]
- A €3.7bn payment has already been delayed. [39]
Who is involved

Canada agreed this week to put money into the same €90bn loan. [40]
- EU
- Canada
How it unfolded
1. 2026 €45bn, being paid
2. First half of 2027 most of the next €45bn
Why it matters

The EU fears a gap in the money could be catastrophic at the front. [39]
The truth
- Ukraine gets money sooner, but €13.3bn of it waits on reforms. [39]
10
Novaya Gazeta, Russia's best-known critical paper, closes
What happened
- Novaya Gazeta, Russia's best-known independent newspaper, said on Friday it is shutting down. [41]
- It says Russia's security services forced its editors to stop. [42]
- It will switch off its servers on 9 November, after 30 years. [41]
- Banks stopped taking readers' donations, and it is being evicted from its office. [43]
- Six of its journalists were killed for their work, among them Anna Politkovskaya. [43]
- 'They chose to strangle us,' Muratov told the BBC. [43]
Who is involved

Dmitry Muratov, a co-founder, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. [43]
- Novaya Gazeta
- Russia's security services
- Dmitry Muratov co-founder, Nobel 2021
How it unfolded

It was founded in 1993, after the Soviet Union collapsed. [41]
Russia revoked its media licence in 2022. [42]
1. 1993 founded
2. Friday says it will close
3. 2021 Nobel Peace Prize
4. 2022 licence revoked
5. 9 November servers off
Why it matters

Most independent Russian journalists now work in exile, and those at home are labelled 'foreign agents'. [41]

How it works

Media researchers call this soft censorship: a paper is starved of money rather than banned. [43]
The truth
- Russians lose one of the last papers that investigated their officials. [41]
- Who gains Russia's security services — Novaya Gazeta, which investigated Russian officials for 30 years, says the services forced it to close. [42]
11
UN warns Gaza's people are squeezed into less land
What happened
- The UN human rights office said on Friday Israel keeps displacing people inside Gaza. [44]
- It said Palestinians are being pushed into a shrinking part of the strip. [44]
- Israeli forces appear to treat the Yellow Line as a kill zone, the office said. [44]
- A UN commission of inquiry says Israel committed genocide even after the October 2025 ceasefire. [45]
- It counts more than 75,000 Palestinians killed since 7 October 2023. [45]
- Israel's UN envoy, Danny Danon, called its reports 'works of historical fiction'. [45]
- Mohammed Hamad, 14, was killed by an Israeli strike walking home from school on 17 October. [46]
Who is involved

The Yellow Line divides the Israeli-held part of Gaza from the rest. [45]
- UN commission says genocide
- Israel rejects it
Why it matters

His father, Riyad Hamad, said: 'We are living in fear.' [46]
The truth
- The commission's chair spoke by video because the US did not give him a visa. [45]
Good news
- Egypt's Red Crescent sent 62 trucks of flour and winter clothes to Gaza. [47]
12
Israel blows up gunmen's homes in Hebron
What happened
- Israeli forces blew up the homes of two Palestinians in Hebron on Friday. [48]
- The demolitions came on the eighth day of a military siege of the city. [48]
- Wafa, the Palestinian news agency, says more than 115 people have been detained. [49]
- It says 537 families have been forced from their homes. [49]
- Settlers also attacked olive pickers near Hebron, injuring five, Wafa said. [49]
Who is involved

Hebron is a Palestinian city in the occupied West Bank. [48]
How it unfolded

The two killed two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint there on 23 October. [48]
1. 23 October two soldiers killed
2. Friday homes blown up
Why it matters

Classes were disrupted at 66 schools, affecting 2,872 students, Wafa said. [49]
The truth
- Names differ: Israeli media and Al Jazeera give the two gunmen different first names. [50][48]
13
Israel's coalition talks begin
What happened
- Final results gave Netanyahu's bloc 53 of the 120 seats in Israel's parliament, the Knesset. [51]
- The main opposition bloc, led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, won 48. [51]
- Arab-led parties won 19, a historic result. [51]
- A government needs at least 61 seats, so the parties must now bargain. [51]
- Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, stays in charge while they talk. [51]
- Netanyahu says Arab-led parties stole the election; Israel's authorities say there is no evidence of fraud. [52]
- The Mossad, Israel's foreign spy agency, will help investigate suspected foreign election interference. [53]
Who is involved
- Benjamin Netanyahu 53 seats
- Gadi Eisenkot 48 seats
- Netanyahu says it was stolen
- Election officials no evidence of fraud
- Shin Bet leads the inquiry
- Mossad now helps
Why it matters

The opposition can only take power if it governs with the Arab-led parties. [52]

How it works

Political scientists call this coalition bargaining: when no bloc has a majority, parties trade for support. [51]
The truth
- A source told Haaretz the interference was limited, and its effect far smaller than claimed. [53]
14
Lebanon charges Hezbollah men over explosives
What happened
- A Lebanese military court charged 13 people linked to Hezbollah with trafficking explosives. [54]
- Authorities seized a truck carrying 780kg of explosives at a checkpoint earlier this month. [54]
- Only 2 of the 13 are in custody. [55]
- Hezbollah says the explosives were for fighting Israel and wants them back. [54]
- Lebanon's government refuses and says it will finish the investigation. [55]
Who is involved

Hezbollah is an armed group in Lebanon backed by Iran. [54]
- Hezbollah armed group
- Iran its backer
- Lebanon's government refuses
- Lebanon's state promises to disarm it
Why it matters

Lebanon's government has promised to disarm Hezbollah, which refuses while Israeli troops remain. [29]
A Lebanese official called last week's US-hosted talks with Israel 'the most constructive' yet. [29]

How it works

Political scientists say a state rules only if it alone holds the guns. [29]
15
Yemen's Taiz says a siege leaves it without water
What happened
- The governor of Taiz, Yemen's third city, says the Houthis are besieging it. [56]
- Governor Nabil Shamsan says the city needs 35,000 cubic metres of water a day. [56]
- He says no more than 1,000 cubic metres a day reaches it. [56]
- He says 64 people were killed between August and 20 October. [56]
- Yemen's government is investigating Houthi shells suspected of carrying toxic substances. [57]
- Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen's government, shot down a drone near Riyadh on Saturday. [18]
Who is involved

The Houthis are an Iran-backed armed movement fighting Yemen's government. [18]
- Nabil Shamsan governor of Taiz
- The Houthis around the city
- Yemen's government
- Taiz's governor a siege
- The Houthi leader no siege
Why it matters

About 1,800 people needing kidney dialysis cannot get supplies, the governor says. [56]
The truth
- The Houthi leader says the roads are open and there is no siege. [56]
- A source in Taiz said it was hard to tell what happened with the shells. [57]
- Who pays People in Taiz, Yemen — About 1,800 who need kidney dialysis cannot get supplies, the governor says. [56]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether Taiz is under siege.
  
  Its governor says only 1,000 of the 35,000 cubic metres of water it needs get in each day; the Houthi leader says the roads are open. [56]
16
A senior commander quits Sudan's RSF
What happened
- Siddiq Ander, a senior commander, says he has quit Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. [58]
- On video, he said relatives of its leader, Hemedti, control its money, weapons and promotions. [58]
- Hemedti's brother, Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, is the RSF's deputy commander. [58]
Who is involved

The RSF is a paramilitary force at war with Sudan's army. [58]
- Siddiq Ander quit the RSF
- Hemedti RSF leader
- RSF
- Sudan's army
How it unfolded

Another commander left on 8 October with 300 soldiers and 30 vehicles. [58]
In September, Al-Tayeb al-Wahidu joined the army with 50 fighters. [58]
1. October 2025 El Fasher attacked
2. 8 October 300 soldiers leave
3. Friday Ander quits
Why it matters

Rights groups accuse the RSF of atrocities, including an attack on El Fasher in October 2025. [59]
The truth
- Ander said anyone who speaks out faces expulsion, prison or a 'hidden death'. [58]
17
Drones kill at least 25 in northern Ethiopia
What happened
- Drone strikes killed at least 25 civilians in northern Ethiopia since Thursday, witnesses told AFP. [16]
- Four strikes hit a camp for displaced people in the Amhara region on Thursday. [60]
- Witnesses there said 14 people were buried, including children and pregnant women. [60]
- In Tigray, a drone hit a grain lorry, then struck people gathering the spilled grain. [16]
- At least 11 died there, a hospital source said. [16]
Who is involved
- Ethiopia's government drones
- Rebels in Amhara and Tigray
- Witnesses 14 to 16
- ACLED 16 to 23
How it unfolded

Ethiopia's government fights rebels in Amhara and Tigray, using drones for a decisive edge. [16]

Why it matters

Nearly half a million people are already displaced in Amhara, the UN says. [60]
The truth
- Witnesses at the camp count 14 to 16 dead. [60]
- ACLED, a group that tracks conflicts, counts 16 to 23. [60]
- The federal army has not answered AFP's questions about the strikes. [60]
- Who pays Displaced families in Amhara, Ethiopia — Four drone strikes hit their camp, and witnesses buried 14 people, including children. [60]
- Nobody knows yet
  How many people died in the drone strike on Ethiopia's camp.
  
  Witnesses count 14 to 16 dead; ACLED, a conflict monitor, counts 16 to 23; the army has not answered. [60]
18
36,000 Ethiopians flee into Kenya
What happened
- About 36,000 people have fled fighting in Ethiopia into Kenya, the UN said on Tuesday. [61]
- Most are women and children, arriving at the border town of Moyale. [61]
- Gunfire could be heard from the Kenyan side on Friday, an AP journalist recorded. [61]
- UN agencies and the Kenya Red Cross are giving food, shelter and medical care. [61]
Who is involved

The fighting is between two Ethiopian regions, Oromia and Somali, over disputed land. [61]
- Ethiopia
- Kenya Moyale
- Oromia region
- Somali region
- UN agencies
- Kenya Red Cross
- Seifu Negash refugee doctor, volunteer
How it unfolded

It worsened after a 13-year-old girl was killed in a Somali-run area. [61]

Why it matters

Kenyan leaders warn the arrivals could overwhelm towns already short of food and water. [61]
The truth
- The UN figure dates from Tuesday, and Kenyan officials say more keep arriving. [61]
Good news
- Seifu Negash, an Ethiopian doctor who fled, now treats fellow refugees as a Red Cross volunteer. [61]
19
Nairobi collapse: first body found, 16 missing
What happened
- Rescuers found a first body in the rubble of an 18-storey building in Nairobi. [62]
- The building collapsed a week ago in Eastleigh, a busy trading district of Kenya's capital. [62]
- 16 people are still missing. [62]
- Four people were pulled out alive earlier; nobody has been rescued since Saturday. [62]
- Thermal cameras from a Chinese team detected two people under the rubble. [62]
- Nairobi's governor, Johnson Sakaja, says the building had no required permits. [62]
Who is involved
- Johnson Sakaja Nairobi's governor
How it unfolded
1. Last Friday building falls
2. Saturday last rescue
3. This Friday first body found
Why it matters

He says renting out its lower floors before inspection was illegal. [62]
The truth
- Nobody has said how an 18-storey building rose without permits. [62]
20
Kenya seeks payment for its citizens in Russia's army
What happened
- Kenya's president, William Ruto, wants compensation for Kenyans recruited into Russia's army. [23]
- He raised it with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. [23]
- Kenya has posted a defence attache, a military officer, in Moscow to handle the claims. [23]
- Journalists for Justice found 841 Kenyans were recruited between October 2022 and June 2026. [23]
- It found at least 76 Kenyans killed fighting for Russia. [23]
- Some were promised civilian jobs, then made to sign army contracts. [23]
Who is involved
- William Ruto Kenya's president
- Russia's army recruited Kenyans
- Vladimir Putin
Why it matters

Across Africa it counted over 3,000 recruits from 40 countries, and 502 deaths. [23]
The truth
- How much will be paid, to whom and when has not been announced. [23]
Good news
- Ruto says Russia agreed to stop recruiting Kenyans. [23]
- Kenya's president says Russia has agreed to stop recruiting Kenyans into its army, and Kenya has posted an officer in Moscow to handle compensation claims for families.
21
Ghana talks to Russia about nuclear power
What happened
- Ghana has opened talks with Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear company, on its first nuclear plant. [22]
- Ghana's president, John Mahama, met Vladimir Putin after a Russia-Africa summit in Moscow. [22]
- Rusal, a Russian aluminium giant, signed a deal to mine bauxite in Ghana. [22]
- Rusal says the Nyinahin deposit holds more than 100 million tonnes. [22]
- A second phase would build a refinery making 1.2 million tonnes a year. [22]
Who is involved

Bauxite is the main rock that aluminium is made from. [22]
- Ghana
- Rosatom Russia's nuclear company
- John Mahama
- Vladimir Putin
Why it matters

Mahama says Ghana wants a mix of energy sources to keep its power steady. [22]
The truth
- Rusal says it will take a majority stake in the joint ventures. [22]
- Who gains Rusal, the Russian aluminium company — It says it will take a majority stake in the joint ventures to mine and refine Ghana's bauxite. [22]
22
France and Chad rebuild military ties
What happened
- Two French Mirage fighter jets will stop in Chad for training, France's army said. [63]
- In mid-October, Chad's leader Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno visited Emmanuel Macron in Paris. [63]
- France says cooperation resumed this year: training, equipment and shared intelligence. [63]
Who is involved
- Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno
- Emmanuel Macron
How it unfolded

Chad, in central Africa, expelled French troops in 2024. [63]
That ended a security deal that had lasted six decades. [63]
Coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger forced France out of those countries. [63]
1. 2024 French troops expelled
2. This year cooperation resumes
Why it matters

Chad was one of France's last military footholds in the Sahel. [63]

How it works

Peace researchers call steps like these confidence-building: training first, jets next, exercises later. [63]

After Chad expelled French troops, the two restarted with training, then a visit by two jets, then a joint exercise.
The idea, in story 06: Why enemies make peace one small, checkable step at a time →
23
South African court limits anti-migrant marches
What happened
- A South African judge let an anti-migrant group march, but only under strict rules. [64]
- The group, March and March, may march only between 9am and 3pm. [64]
- Marchers may not carry weapons, cover their faces or burn property. [64]
- Police lawyers said Durban had 'degenerated into lawlessness' that 400 officers could not contain. [64]
Who is involved
- Firoz Cachalia acting police minister
How it unfolded

South Africa's acting police minister had asked the court to stop the marches in Durban. [64]
Police blame false claims about a July court ruling on asylum seekers. [64]
1. 9am march may start
2. 3pm must end
Why it matters

South Africans vote in local elections on 4 November; 29 million are registered. [65]
One poll puts the ANC, the long-ruling party, at 21.8% in Johannesburg. [66]
The truth
- Foreign nationals in Durban carry the risk while the case waits until next year. [64]
24
Gunmen kill a dozen in north-west Nigeria
What happened
- Gunmen killed 11 villagers and a police inspector in Kebbi State, Nigeria, police say. [67]
- The attacks hit villages along the River Niger between 22 and 28 October. [67]
- Houses were burnt and property looted, and many villagers have fled. [67]
- In Plateau State, gunmen killed four people despite a curfew. [68]
- A resident said a warning reached the authorities a day before Thursday's attack. [68]
Who is involved

Police blame two armed groups, Lakurawa and Mamudawa. [67]
- Lakurawa
- Mamudawa
- Police 12
- Locals more than 23
How it unfolded
1. 22 October attacks begin
2. 28 October last attack
3. A day before warning sent
4. Thursday the attack
Why it matters

People in these villages have lost homes and fled, a local man said. [67]
The truth
- Counts differ: police say 12 died in Kebbi; locals say more than 23. [67]
25
43 million Americans vote early in the midterms
What happened
- More than 43 million Americans had voted early five days before Tuesday's midterm elections. [69]
- That is nearly 10 million more than at the same point in 2022, AP found. [69]
- Democrats lead the national polling average by 8.2 points, 51.4% to 43.2%. [69]
- Republicans hold the US Senate 53 to 47, and seven seats are rated toss-ups. [71]
- Trump cancelled two weekend rallies, then put them back a day later. [72]
- He promised every adult citizen $5,000 if Republicans keep both chambers of the US Congress. [72]
Who is involved

Midterms choose every seat in the US House and about a third of the US Senate. [70]
- House every seat
- Senate about a third
- US Congress
- Donald Trump president
How it unfolded
1. Thursday rallies cancelled
2. Friday back on
Why it matters

The result decides who controls the US Congress in the final years of Trump's presidency. [73]

How it works

Political scientists call it the midterm penalty: a president's party usually loses seats. [72]
The truth
- Experts question whether Trump has the legal power to pay the $5,000. [72]
- Early turnout shows how many voted, not whom they chose. [69]
26
Criminal inquiry into Alaska's second Dan Sullivan
What happened
- Michael Heyman, Alaska's top federal prosecutor, confirmed a criminal investigation into the 'two Dan Sullivans'. [19]
- Dan Sullivan, a Republican senator, faces a retired teacher of the same name on the ballot. [19]
- The New York Times reported that Democrats helped recruit the second one, to confuse voters. [19]
- Democrat Mary Peltola, the senator's main rival, denies knowing anything about it. [74]
- Peltola said: 'I am not interested in tricking voters.' [74]
- The US justice department asked a judge to set aside ballots that rank the second Sullivan. [19]
- It also asked a judge to block the result if Sullivan loses because of him. [19]
Who is involved
- Michael Heyman US attorney for Alaska
- Dan S Sullivan Republican senator
- Dan J Sullivan retired teacher
How it unfolded

Before the August primary, Alaska's supreme court ruled the second Sullivan could stay on. [19]

Why it matters

The race could decide control of the US Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats. [19]
The truth
- It is highly unusual for federal prosecutors to confirm an open criminal investigation. [19]
27
The pope votes in a US election
What happened
- Pope Leo XIV mailed his Illinois ballot for the US midterms, requested on 3 October. [73]
- No pope has ever voted in a US election before. [73]
- Illinois records show he voted in every general election since 2000, except 2020 and 2022. [70]
- He also holds Peruvian citizenship from his years as a bishop in Peru. [70]
- The Vatican spoke of 'the right and the duty of citizens' to take part. [73]
Who is involved

Born in Chicago, he became the first American pope in May 2025. [73]
- US citizen
- Peruvian citizen
- Pope Leo XIV
- Trump administration
How it unfolded
1. May 2025 elected pope
2. Friday his vote confirmed
Why it matters

Leo has clashed with the Trump administration over immigration and the war with Iran. [73]
The truth
- Nobody outside the Vatican knows how he voted. [70]
28
Some Latino voters who backed Trump turn away
What happened
- In Texas's Rio Grande Valley, some Latino voters who backed Trump in 2024 are turning away. [75]
- A local businessman, Robles, blames Trump's tariffs and fuel prices for lost trade. [75]
- He says the price of freight has doubled. [75]
- In Arizona, Fernando Nunez, 22, knocked on doors for Trump in 2024. [76]
- Now he says he will vote for independents, angry about the Iran war and prices. [76]
- 'Trump betrayed us,' Nunez said. [76]
- Trump won Yuma County, where Nunez lives, by 20 points. [76]
Who is involved
- Fernando Nunez, 22 campaigned for Trump
Why it matters

A shift right among Latino voters helped Trump win in 2024. [76]
The truth
- These are voters' own accounts; no count yet shows how many have changed sides. [75]
29
Questions over Flavio Bolsonaro's escape flight
What happened
- Flavio Bolsonaro, beaten in Brazil's presidential run-off, flew secretly to Florida on Wednesday. [77]
- He left despite a court order to hand over his passports. [78]
- He travelled through Argentina and Ecuador on a private plane. [77]
- The airline's boss told AFP a broker paid $150,000 from a US bank account. [78]
- Brazil summoned Argentina's envoy to explain; Argentina denies it was asked. [79]
- For 58 minutes he called himself Brazil's 'true president-elect'. [80]
- On Friday he said he fled because he is a victim of 'persecution'. [77]
Who is involved
- Brazil asked for answers
- Argentina denies it
How it unfolded
1. Sunday loses the run-off
2. Wednesday lands in Florida
Why it matters

He is under investigation in Brazil for corruption, money laundering and tax evasion. [79]
The truth
- The broker who paid was not named, so who arranged the flight is unknown. [78]
- Nobody knows yet
  Who paid for Flavio Bolsonaro's flight out of Brazil.
  
  The airline says a broker paid $150,000 from a US bank account but will not name him. [78]
30
US jails two men who spied for China
What happened
- A US court jailed two Chinese men for 30 months each for spying. [81]
- Liren Lai and Yuance Chen admitted trying to recruit US service members. [81]
- They arranged 'dead drops': cash left in one place for someone else to collect. [81]
- One payment was $10,000 and another $20,000. [81]
- They also photographed a naval base and military recruits. [81]
Who is involved

They worked for China's Ministry of State Security, its foreign spy service, from 2021. [82]
- Liren Lai
- Yuance Chen
Why it matters

The FBI called the sentence 'a clear warning' to anyone who threatens US forces. [82]
31
US, Japan and South Korea press North Korea on nuclear arms
What happened
- The US, Japan and South Korea again asked North Korea to give up nuclear weapons. [83]
- Marco Rubio, Toshimitsu Motegi and Cho Hyun, their foreign ministers, met in Atlanta on Thursday. [83]
- South Korea fears a deal that scraps only the missiles able to reach the US. [84]
- South Korea proposed military talks on 23 October to agree where the border line runs. [85]
- It also wants military phone lines restored, to prevent accidental clashes. [85]
- North Korea has not answered; it fired about a dozen short-range missiles instead. [85]
Who is involved
- US
- Japan
- South Korea
- Marco Rubio US
- Toshimitsu Motegi Japan
- Cho Hyun South Korea
How it unfolded

Last year Trump said North Korea was already 'sort of a nuclear power'. [83]
1. Thursday three ministers meet
2. 18 November possible Trump-Kim meeting
Why it matters

Short-range missiles left in place could still hit South Korea and Japan. [84]

How it works

Arms-control experts call such offers confidence-building measures: small steps that prevent accidents. [85]

South Korea offered the smallest steps it could: agree where the border line runs and reopen military phone lines.
The idea, in story 06: Why enemies make peace one small, checkable step at a time →

What comes next

Trump may meet Kim Jong Un at an Asia-Pacific summit in Shenzhen on 18 November. [84]
32
Thai lawyer's sentences pass 34 years
What happened
- A Bangkok court jailed Arnon Nampa, a rights lawyer, for 2 years 8 months on Friday. [20]
- His offence was calling for Thailand's monarchy to be held to account. [20]
- It is one of 14 cases against him, bringing his sentences to over 34 years. [20]
- It has jailed more people than such laws in all other countries combined. [20]
Who is involved

Thailand's lese majeste law, article 112, makes insulting the royal family a crime. [20]
How it unfolded

He spoke dressed as Harry Potter at a protest in Bangkok in 2020. [20]
1. 2020 Harry Potter protest
2. Friday one more sentence
Why it matters

The past six years saw the law's widest use in Thai history, after student protests. [20]

What comes next

Two more of his cases are still waiting for a verdict. [20]
33
Beijing's queer film festival cancelled
What happened
- Beijing's queer film festival, due to open on Friday, has been cancelled. [86]
- Police are understood to have pressed organisers with repeated phone calls for weeks. [86]
- Chinese authorities have grown less tolerant of open talk about feminist and LGBTQ+ issues. [86]
- Organisers wrote: 'We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience and disappointment.' [86]
How it unfolded

Founded in 2001 by Peking University students, it was mainland China's only LGBTQ+ film festival. [86]
In 2014 authorities shut the Beijing Independent film festival by cutting its electricity. [86]
1. 2001 founded
2. Friday due to open, cancelled
3. 2014 independent festival shut
4. Now queer festival cancelled
Why it matters

Film festivals draw scrutiny because they show stories outside the Communist party's view of the world. [86]
The truth
- Officials gave no public reason; the police pressure is what people close to it describe. [86]
34
Pakistan hits Afghan Taliban border posts
What happened
- Pakistan's army says it destroyed several Afghan Taliban border posts. [87]
- It says this answered Afghan fire at Angoor Adda on Tuesday that killed one local person. [87]
- Pakistani state radio said several Taliban fighters were killed. [87]
- At the UN, Pakistan said attacks from Afghanistan killed over 4,700 Pakistanis in three years. [88]
- Richard Bennett, a UN expert, urged countries not to normalise ties with the Taliban. [88]
Who is involved

Angoor Adda is in South Waziristan, on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. [87]
- Pakistan's army
- Afghan Taliban
- Richard Bennett UN rights expert
Why it matters

Bennett says Taliban rules on women and girls keep getting harsher. [88]
The truth
- These reports carry only Pakistan's side of the border clash. [87]
35
Pilgrim helicopter crash kills six in India
What happened
- A helicopter crash killed five pilgrims and a pilot in India's Uttarakhand state on Friday. [89]
- The cause is not known; there were reports of heavy rain and poor visibility. [89]
- India's weather service had issued an orange alert for thunderstorms there. [89]
Who is involved

It had taken off from Badrinath, a Hindu pilgrimage site in the Himalayas. [89]
How it unfolded

Seven people died in a pilgrim helicopter crash near Kedarnath in June 2025. [89]
Seven more died on the same pilgrim route in October 2022. [89]
1. Oct 2022 seven killed
2. June 2025 seven killed
3. Friday six killed
Why it matters

Many pilgrims fly to avoid hard mountain journeys, and these flights' safety is under scrutiny. [89]

How it works

Safety investigators look for patterns in repeat crashes, like these on one route since 2022. [89]
36
Spain's transport minister refuses to quit
What happened
- Spain's transport minister, Oscar Puente, says he has 'nothing to hide' and will not resign. [90]
- At least 69 people died when two high-speed trains collided near Toledo. [90]
- A first report found the Renfe train was going 160 to 200km an hour. [90]
- It also found a broken rail and a chain of faults, The National reports. [91]
- The driver who died had warned of 'shocking deterioration' of the tracks. [91]
Who is involved
- The driver
- The track and its faults
How it unfolded

In January, a crash on the same Madrid-Seville line killed 46. [90]

Why it matters

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said public trust in high-speed rail had been broken. [90]
The truth
- The report's findings point away from the driver and toward the track. [91]
37
Canada moves toward EU 'associate membership'
What happened
- Canada will work toward becoming the EU's first 'associate member' by June 2027. [92]
- Prime Minister Mark Carney called it 'the deepest possible partnership short of accession'. [93]
- The status has no basis in the EU's treaties, and its details are still open. [92]
- Germany opposed the term, so the final text says 'ever closer association'. [92]
- They agreed that the EU's lending bank will invest in Canada's critical minerals. [94]
- They will also study shipping Canadian gas to Europe. [94]
Who is involved

Accession means fully joining the EU. [93]
- Canada
- the US trade war
How it unfolded
1. Friday summit ends in Montreal
2. June 2027 terms due
Why it matters

A trade war with the US has sent Carney looking for new partners. [40]
The truth
- Carney dodged a question on how much associate membership will cost Canadians. [93]
38
Russian charged with spying in Poland
What happened
- Polish police charged a 55-year-old Russian with spying after he photographed railways. [95]
- Officers found him taking pictures of trains at an unguarded crossing in Swidnica. [95]
- Police say his photos showed important sites, and not only in Poland. [95]
- Prosecutors are investigating 'activities for foreign intelligence' against Poland. [95]
How it unfolded

Poland has suffered several sabotage attacks on rail and military sites in the past year. [95]
In September, a Starlink communications station near Warsaw was set on fire. [95]
1. November 2025 rail line damaged
2. September Starlink station burned
3. Friday Russian charged
Why it matters

A rail line near the Ukrainian border was damaged in an attack in November 2025. [95]
The truth
- Police have not said which intelligence service he is suspected of working for. [95]
39
Race to lead the UN stays stuck
What happened
- The UN Security Council held its seventh straw poll for the next secretary-general on Friday. [96]
- Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica led again, with 11 'encourage' votes. [96]
- Argentina's Rafael Grossi had 9, Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett 8, the UAE's Lana Nusseibeh 7. [96]
- Turkey then nominated Feridun Sinirlioglu, head of the OSCE, a European security body. [97]
Who is involved
- Rebeca Grynspan Costa Rica
- Rafael Grossi Argentina
- Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett Guyana
- Lana Nusseibeh UAE
- Feridun Sinirlioglu OSCE chief, Turkey's pick
How it unfolded
1. Friday seventh straw poll
2. 31 December Guterres's term ends
Why it matters

No woman has led the UN in its 81 years; several are now in the race. [96]

How it works

A winner needs nine of 15 votes and no veto from the five permanent members. [97]
The truth
- Sudanese groups say Nusseibeh has repeated UAE denials of support for Sudan's RSF. [59]
What comes next

Antonio Guterres's second term ends on 31 December. [97]
40
UN envoy pushes to restart Cyprus talks
What happened
- Maria Angela Holguin, the UN envoy for Cyprus, wants new talks before 2026 ends. [15]
- She met Nikos Christodoulides, Cyprus's president, at the presidential palace. [15]
- She hopes for an informal meeting of five parties before the year is out. [15]
- She named three areas: confidence-building measures, how talks would run, and the core issues. [15]
- Her mandate runs until the last day of Antonio Guterres's term as UN chief. [15]
Who is involved

Christodoulides and Tufan Erhurman, the Turkish Cypriot leader, have been meeting face to face. [15]
- Maria Angela Holguin UN envoy for Cyprus
- Nikos Christodoulides Cyprus's president
- Tufan Erhurman Turkish Cypriot leader
How it unfolded
1. Now envoy's visit
2. End of 2026 hoped-for meeting; Guterres leaves
Why it matters

Holguin said: 'We are pushing and we will keep pushing.' [15]

How it works

Peace researchers put small trust-building steps first, before the hardest questions. [15]

The UN envoy listed confidence-building measures first, before any talk about how the island is governed.
The idea, in story 06: Why enemies make peace one small, checkable step at a time →
Good news
- The leaders of Cyprus's Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have been meeting face to face, and the UN envoy hopes for wider talks before the year ends.
41
Scottish police look at Epstein's stay at Balmoral
What happened
- Police Scotland are looking into Jeffrey Epstein's reported stay at the royal Balmoral estate. [98]
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, has denied all wrongdoing. [98]
- Police say their inquiries are 'at a very early stage'. [98]
- At least ten UK police forces are looking at Andrew's and Epstein's links to Britain. [98]
Who is involved

Epstein, a US sex offender, died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial. [98]
- Police Scotland
- Balmoral estate
- Jeffrey Epstein
- Ghislaine Maxwell
- Andrew invited them
How it unfolded

He is believed to have stayed in 1999 with Ghislaine Maxwell, at Andrew's invitation. [98]
1. 1999 believed stay at Balmoral
2. 2019 dies in prison
3. Now police inquiry
Why it matters

The Daily Express reported the inquiry concerns alleged trafficking of women to the castle. [98]
The truth
- Police gave no detail of what they have been told. [98]
42
Syria's new school books spark a row
What happened
- Changes to Syria's school textbooks have drawn a wave of criticism online. [99]
- Edits added headscarves to drawn women and removed some pictures of women and children. [99]
- Statues were covered and some paintings replaced. [99]
- Lessons on citizenship, democracy, local government and the media were changed too. [99]
How it unfolded

Some edits remove material linked to the former government. [99]
A sixth-grade social studies book reissued this year dates from 2012-2013. [99]
1. 2012-2013 book first issued
2. This year reissued, edited
Why it matters

Critics ask whether the books still reflect Syria's mix of religions and cultures. [99]
The truth
- Critics ask what standards Syria's education ministry used, and it has not said. [99]
43
Gulf states told to rethink their defences
What happened
- A report by the IISS, a security research institute, says Gulf states must rethink their defences. [100]
- Before April's ceasefire, 12 states faced 4,670 Iranian attack drones and over 1,400 ballistic missiles. [100]
- Nearly half were aimed at the United Arab Emirates. [100]
- One estimate puts damage to energy sites as high as $58bn. [100]
- The Gulf states spent about a trillion dollars, mostly on US weapons. [100]
- The report says that spending did not bring US protection when it was needed. [100]
Who is involved
- IISS security research institute
Why it matters

It says their armies are not ready for a long war of drones and missiles. [100]

How it works

Military planners call this attrition: wearing a defender down with many cheap attacks. [100]
44
French publisher back at the Algiers book fair
What happened
- Gallimard, a major French publisher, returned to Algeria's main book fair after a two-year ban. [101]
- An Algerian court sentenced Daoud, in his absence, to three years in prison in April. [101]
- Saada Arbane, his wife's former patient, says the novel copies her life and is suing. [101]
- The book itself is still banned in Algeria. [101]
Who is involved
- Kamel Daoud author of Houris
- Saada Arbane says the book copies her life
- France
- Algeria
How it unfolded

It was barred after publishing 'Houris', a novel by Kamel Daoud. [101]
The book won France's top literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, in 2024. [101]
1. 2024 barred from the fair
2. This week back at the fair
Why it matters

The novel is caught up in court fights in both France and Algeria. [101]
The truth
- The fair's organisers did not say why the ban ended. [101]
Good news
- Buyers came to Gallimard's stand and nobody objected, its representative said. [101]
- Gallimard, a French publisher banned from Algeria's main book fair for two years, was back this week, and buyers came to its stand.

Poland's president forces his way into the top court after judges chosen by parliament suspend its chief

44 stories on this beat today.

Why enemies make peace one small, checkable step at a time