World News · Monday, 2 November 2026

Iotova wins Bulgaria's presidential runoff and becomes its first elected woman president, as Radev's camp takes both top offices

37 stories 69 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.

Votes counted, and challenged Building↑

Israel's election chief said the 27 October vote was conducted properly, after Netanyahu's party called it stolen. [15]
Bulgaria's losing candidate conceded on the night of the runoff. [3]
In the US, more than 52 million votes were cast before Tuesday's election. [32]

The threat of a new Iran war High↑

Netanyahu pressed Trump to strike Iran right after the US vote, Axios reported. [16]
Iran's army said a new war could last longer than the last one. [20]
Iraq said it would stay neutral if fighting resumes. [24]

Ships under attack High↑

More than 120 commercial ships have been hit in the Gulf region since the Iran war began. [21]
Somali pirates seized an Iranian boat that could become a base for more attacks. [45]
Drone attacks on ships off Bulgaria left 21 people missing in October. [4]

Borders turning violent Building↑

Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged fire, shutting the Torkham crossing for nearly five hours. [43]
Venezuela's army struck a Colombian rebel camp on its side of the border, killing at least 19. [41]
The UN ended its 35-year mission in Western Sahara and warned of fighting. [61]

The stories

37 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
Iotova wins Bulgaria's presidential runoff and becomes its first elected woman president, as Radev's camp takes both top offices

58%

of the vote for Iotova in early counts

against about 38% for Gyurov, who conceded the same night [2]

23%

of voters took part in the first round

a record low; exit polls put the runoff at about 27 to 29% [1]

21

people missing after drone attacks on ships off Bulgaria

in October; Bulgaria's government says nothing yet ties them directly to Russia [4]
What happened
- Iliana Iotova won Bulgaria's presidential runoff on Sunday, early vote counts showed. [2]
- The counts gave her about 58% and her rival, Andrey Gyurov, about 38%. [2]
- She becomes the first woman elected as Bulgaria's head of state. [2]
- Gyurov conceded: "This is how the Bulgarian citizens have voted." [3]
- The war in Ukraine was the central issue of the campaign. [2]
- Iotova opposes military aid to Ukraine and favours talks with Russia. [4]
- Iotova said: "Peace can come only through negotiations." [3]
- Gyurov said: "Russia must stop its aggression so that the next steps can be taken." [3]
- In October, drone attacks on ships off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast left 21 people missing. [4]
- On Wednesday a Greek container ship sank after sea drones hit it. [1]
- In the first round on 25 October, Iotova won 35% and Gyurov 32%. [6]
- Polls before that round had given Iotova a 20-point lead. [6]
- Her first-round lead over Gyurov was only 43,000 votes. [9]
- Only 23% of voters took part in the first round, a record low. [1]
- Exit polls put Sunday's turnout at about 27 to 29%. [1]
- Exit polls at 8pm gave Iotova about 51% and Gyurov 43 to 45%. [1]
- Another 4.1% voted against both candidates, one exit poll found. [10]
- Bulgaria's presidency is mostly ceremonial: parliament must approve all major policies. [8]
- But Bulgaria's president commands the armed forces and can veto laws. [2]
- In a political crisis, Bulgaria's president can also appoint an interim government. [2]
- Bulgaria's president also signs treaties and appoints ambassadors, for a 5-year term. [8]
Iotova, round one35%
Gyurov, round one32%
Iotova, runoff count58%
Gyurov, runoff count38%
The first round was close; the runoff count was not.
Who is involved

Bulgaria, a country of 6.4 million people, is in both the EU and NATO. [4]
Iotova, a former journalist, was elected vice-president beside Rumen Radev in 2016 and 2021. [7]
Gyurov is a banker and former caretaker prime minister, backed by pro-Western parties. [4]
As caretaker prime minister, Gyurov signed a security agreement with Ukraine. [1]
- Iliana Iotova Bulgaria's acting president since January and an ally of the prime minister; she favours talks with Russia and won
- Rumen Radev Bulgaria's prime minister, who left the presidency to win parliament; his party backed Iotova
- Andrey Gyurov a banker and former caretaker prime minister backed by pro-Western parties; he lost and conceded
- Iotova talks with Russia, no arms aid
- Gyurov firm support for Ukraine
- Commander of the armed forces
- Can veto laws
- Prime Minister Radev runs Bulgaria's government
- President Iotova his ally
- Election commission rejected it
- Gyurov's team appealing
How it unfolded

She became acting president in January, when Radev quit to run for parliament. [1]
Radev won that election and is now Bulgaria's prime minister. [1]
1. January Radev resigns; Iotova acts as president
2. Later Radev wins parliament
3. October drones hit ships off Bulgaria
4. Wednesday a Greek container ship sinks
5. Round one stayed home
6. Runoff voted
7. January Radev resigns to run for parliament; Iotova becomes acting president [1]
8. 25 Oct first round: Iotova 35%, Gyurov 32%, turnout 23% [6][1]
9. 1 Nov runoff: Iotova wins and Gyurov concedes [3]
10. Monday official results due [3]
Why it matters

Radev's party, Progressive Bulgaria, backed Iotova, and the vote was its first big test. [8]
Bloomberg says the win helps Radev tighten his grip on power. [10]
Iotova is expected to keep Bulgaria in the EU while seeking closer ties with Russia. [2]
That includes pushing to lift EU sanctions on Russia, DW reports. [2]
Bulgaria is the EU's poorest member, and Iotova promised to tackle poverty. [7]

How it works

Bulgaria uses two rounds: a winner needs more than 50%, or the top two vote again. [5]
A retired engineer in Sofia skipped round one, expecting a runoff, and voted only in it. [4]
The truth
- What is really going on Several of today's stories turn on the few powers a head of state holds.
- What is really going on In Bulgaria, Prime Minister Radev's ally won the presidency, so his camp now holds both top offices.
- Radev's government says nothing yet ties the attacks directly to Russia. [4]
- The opposition accused Radev of using state resources to campaign for Iotova, against election law. [7]
- The election commission rejected that, and Gyurov's team is appealing in court. [7]
- Who gains Rumen Radev, Bulgaria's prime minister — His ally now holds the presidency, the office that can veto his laws and appoint interim governments. [10][2]
- Nobody knows yet
  Bulgaria's exact result.
  
  Exit polls gave Iotova about 51% to 52.5%, while early counts put her near 58%; the official result is due on Monday. [1][2][10][3]
- Nobody knows yet
  Who sent the drones that hit ships off Bulgaria.
  
  Radev says the attacks serve Russia, but his government says no evidence yet links them directly to Russia. [4]
What comes next

Official results are expected on Monday. [3]

02
Israel's election chief rejects a fraud claim
What happened
- Israel's election chief said on Sunday that the 27 October vote was "conducted properly". [15]
- Netanyahu's Likud party says Arab-led parties "stole" the election, without giving evidence. [13]
- Arab-led parties won a record 19 of the parliament's 120 seats. [12]
- Netanyahu's bloc fell to 53 seats, from 68 in the old parliament. [13]
- The claim leans on a Shin Bet inquiry into alleged Qatari money for Ra'am. [11]
- Qatar and Ra'am both deny it. [11]
- On Sunday police released two of three activists arrested with envelopes of cash. [13]
Netanyahu's bloc53 seats
Eisenkot's bloc48 seats
Arab-led parties19 seats
Seats won on 27 October, out of 120.
Who is involved

He is Noam Sohlberg, a Supreme Court judge who heads the Central Elections Committee. [11]
He spoke in a video beside the Shin Bet security chief and the attorney general. [11]
- Noam Sohlberg head of the Central Elections Committee
- Election chief
- Shin Bet chief
- Attorney general
- Qatar denies it
- Ra'am party denies it
Why it matters

Neither bloc can govern alone, so the fight is over who forms a government. [12]
How it works

In Israel, President Isaac Herzog chooses which leader tries first to form a government. [14]
That leader then has 42 days to build a majority. [14]
Why a mostly ceremonial president matters most when parliament is stuck

Political scientists call them reserve powers: the few things a mostly ceremonial president can do, which decide events when parliament is stuck.

The twist

A president's few powers are used only when parliament cannot decide. So they matter most on exactly the days a country is stuck.

The picture

Netanyahu's bloc53 seats
Eisenkot's bloc48 seats
Arab-led parties19 seats
Israel's 120 seats after the 27 October vote. No bloc has half, so Herzog's choice of who tries first carries weight.
Step by step
1. Many countries split the top job: a prime minister runs things day to day, and a president is head of state
2. The prime minister needs a majority in parliament to pass laws
3. That president keeps a few powers: signing laws, swearing people in, choosing who forms a government
4. On normal days the majority decides and nobody notices those powers
5. When parliament is split, or the two offices are rivals, those powers decide what happens next
The same force, elsewhere today

Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.
- Israel's election chief rejects a fraud claim
  
  Neither bloc has a majority of the 120 seats, so President Isaac Herzog now chooses which leader gets the first try at forming a government.
- The EU backs Poland's parliament in the court fight
  
  President Nawrocki comes from the camp opposed to Prime Minister Tusk, and he has used his duty to swear in judges by refusing it.
- Cape Verde's presidential campaign begins
  
  If Joana Rosa of the MpD wins on 15 November, Cape Verde's president and its parliament majority will come from rival parties, which the country calls cohabitation.
Where you've seen this

Company boards

the chair normally just runs the meeting, but gets the casting vote when the board splits evenly

Football referees

they barely touch the game when it flows, and decide it when two sides clash

Germany's president

signs every law, and has refused a handful judged to break the constitution

The catch

These powers work only while both sides accept them as the rules. A president who uses them for one side can start a fight over the rules themselves, as Poland's court dispute shows.

And the whole of it

Bulgarians, Israelis and Poles all live under a head of state most people think of as a figurehead. The person holding those powers was chosen years before the day they are needed, often by the few who turned out to vote.
The truth
- What is really going on In Israel, Netanyahu's party calls the vote stolen while President Herzog prepares to choose who tries first to form a government. [10][12][14]
- Why it works on people A claim that a vote was stolen can rest on an open inquiry, and an open inquiry cannot be answered in detail, so the claim sounds unanswered even after the election chief rejects it. [15]
- The election chief says the inquiry is classified, so he cannot answer the claims in detail. [15]
- Together, Eisenkot's bloc and the Arab-led parties hold 67 seats, enough for a majority. [14]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether Israel's opposition and the Arab-led parties will govern together.
  
  Together they hold 67 seats, but it remains unclear whether they will agree to form a government. [13][14]
- Nobody knows yet
  What the Shin Bet inquiry into alleged Qatari money has found.
  
  The election chief says it is at a classified stage, so neither side's claims about it can be checked. [15]
What comes next

Herzog receives the certified results on Wednesday and then consults the parties. [14]

03
Netanyahu presses Trump to strike Iran after the vote
What happened
- Trump and Netanyahu discussed on Saturday whether to step up attacks on Iran, Axios reported. [16]
- Netanyahu pressed for strikes right after Tuesday's US midterm elections, the report said. [16]
- Trump wanted to let the negotiations with Iran play out. [16]
- An Israeli official called the call "tough"; an American official called it "direct". [16]
- Trump said one or two Iranian sites remain, which the US could hit "in 10 minutes". [17]
- He named Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear site; Iran denies nuclear work there. [17]
- Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said Trump had not decided on new strikes. [17]
Who is involved
- Donald Trump
- Benjamin Netanyahu
How it unfolded

The US and Israel started the war on Iran with strikes on 28 February. [20]
1. Tuesday US midterm elections
2. Straight after strikes, Netanyahu urged
Why it matters

Both leaders have tied the timing of any attack to elections in their own countries. [17]

How it works

The report calls Trump's approach two tracks: air strikes, and talks toward a deal. [16]
The truth
- Netanyahu has called this a "historic, one-time opportunity" to topple Iran's government. [17]
04
Iran floats a two-day plan to reopen Hormuz
What happened
- Iran is discussing a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz with Qatar. [18]
- Under the plan, the strait would reopen within two days of a deal with the US. [19]
- Peace talks would restart if the US meets a set of Iran's demands, Iran says. [18]
- Iran's army spokesman warned that a new war could last longer than the last one. [20]
- A Revolutionary Guards spokesman said war with the US would have "no geographical limitations". [20]
Who is involved

Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, said no final answer had been reached. [19]
That repeated a warning from Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's new supreme leader. [20]
- Abbas Araghchi Iran's foreign minister
- Mojtaba Khamenei Iran's new supreme leader
How it unfolded

Iran shut the strait, a vital waterway for energy, early in the war. [21]
The old supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in the first strikes on 28 February. [20]

Why it matters

Gulf states call reopening the strait a must, given its role in world energy and trade. [23]

How it works

Negotiators call the order of steps sequencing, and it is the sticking point here. [23]
The sides disagree on what comes first: nuclear talks, or lifting sanctions. [23]
The truth
- Iran says the Doha visit was not meant to open talks with the US. [19]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether Iran's two-day plan to reopen Hormuz goes anywhere.
  
  Iran's foreign minister says no final answer has been reached and progress depends on the US answering Iran's questions. [19]
05
A Qatari gas tanker is hit in the Gulf
What happened
- Unidentified objects hit the Al Mayeda, a Qatari ship that carries liquefied natural gas, on Friday. [21]
- Qatar condemned the attack and said it "reserves its right to take all necessary measures". [21]
- More than 120 commercial ships have been hit in the region since the war began. [21]
- October was the worst month of the war for shipping, with at least 29 ships hit. [21]
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards say two oil tankers caught fire after hitting mines in Hormuz. [22]
Who is involved

Its owner, Nakilat, said on Sunday that nobody was hurt and the ship still works. [21]
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council also condemned it. [21]
- Nakilat the ship's Qatari owner
- Saudi Arabia
- Bahrain
- The UAE
- Gulf Cooperation Council
How it unfolded

Attacks rose after the US put a blockade back on Iran's southern ports in July. [21]
1. July US blockade of Iran's ports again
2. October the worst month for ships
Why it matters

Qatar called the attack a threat to the security of global energy supplies. [21]
The truth
- Nakilat did not say who fired, and Qatar says it is investigating. [21]
- Who pays Crews on merchant ships near Iran — More than 120 commercial ships have been hit since the war began, at least 29 in October alone. [21]
- Nobody knows yet
  Who hit the Qatari gas tanker Al Mayeda.
  
  Its owner called them unidentified objects, and Qatar says it is still investigating. [21]
06
Gulf neighbours brace for a new round
What happened
- At a security meeting in Bahrain, the UAE said it is "braced for the worst". [23]
- He said the UAE wants a diplomatic deal, not another round of fighting. [23]
- Iran has attacked all six Gulf states and Jordan since the war began. [23]
- Gargash said joint Gulf responses to the attacks had proved "hollow". [23]
- Iraq's national security adviser, Qasim Al Abudi, said Iraq would stay neutral if war resumes. [24]
- Iran-backed armed groups in Iraq have fired at Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE. [24]
- A US envoy said Syria and Lebanon are "turning a corner" toward rebuilding. [25]
Who is involved

Anwar Gargash, who said it, advises the UAE's president on foreign affairs. [23]
- Anwar Gargash adviser to the UAE's president
- Qasim Al Abudi Iraq's national security adviser
How it unfolded

For months Iraq could not export its oil, he said. [24]

Why it matters

Gargash said a new escalation would serve neither the region nor Iran. [23]

How it works

A neutral state keeps its land from being used against either side, and Iraq promises that. [24]
The truth
- Al Abudi admitted some Iraqis sympathise with one side or the other. [24]
07
Kherson's truce ends with no breach
What happened
- The truce in Ukraine's Kherson region ended on Sunday night after 6 days, with no breach. [26]
- It was the longest truce between Russia and Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion. [26]
- Neither Russia nor Ukraine said it would extend it. [26]
- About 2,000 civilians were in Oleshky when the truce began. [28]
- Evacuees travelled by bus through Russia and Belarus to reach Ukraine. [27]
- Ukraine's army evacuated 167 more people from the region on Sunday, 22 of them children. [26]
Who is involved

The truce let people leave Oleshky, a Russian-held town beside the Dnipro river. [29]
Melania Trump, the US first lady, and Pope Leo XIV helped broker the truce. [29]
- Russia no extension
- Ukraine no extension
- Melania Trump US first lady
- Pope Leo XIV head of the Catholic Church
How it unfolded

Russia has held Oleshky since the first days of the invasion in February 2022. [29]
1. February 2022 Russia takes Oleshky
2. This week truce and evacuation
Why it matters

Civilians in Kherson prepared on Sunday for the fighting to return. [28]

How it works

A humanitarian ceasefire is a short, local stop in fighting for one rescue job. [29]
The truth
- While it held, strikes went on elsewhere in Ukraine and Russia. [29]
Good news
- Melania Trump said nearly 800 people were evacuated while the truce held. [26]
- The six-day truce around Oleshky, in Ukraine's Kherson region, ended on Sunday night with no breach reported by either side. Nearly 800 people got out of the besieged town while it held.
08
Russian strikes cut power in four regions
What happened
- Russia struck power networks in four Ukrainian regions overnight into Sunday, Zelensky said. [30]
- The regions were Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr and Khmelnytskyi. [30]
- Substations, transformers and power lines were hit, he said. [30]
- Hundreds of thousands of families were left without power, Zelensky said. [30]
- Another strike killed 2 people, including a 13-year-old girl, in the Vinnytsia region. [29]
- Even in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, power is cut for most of the day. [29]
- Ukraine hit a missile-fuel factory in Russia's Rostov region, Zelensky said. [29]
Who is involved
- Dnipro
- Vinnytsia
- Zhytomyr
- Khmelnytskyi
- Patriot stops ballistic missiles
Why it matters

Zelensky says Russia is exploiting Ukraine's shortage of missile interceptors before winter. [29]

How it works

Patriot interceptors are the only effective weapon Ukraine has against Russia's ballistic missiles. [29]
The truth
- The Wall Street Journal reported Ukraine agreed to pause refinery strikes until after the US vote. [30]
- Russia said more than 100 Ukrainian drones attacked its Nizhny Novgorod region the same night. [30]
- Who pays Ukrainian families in Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr and Khmelnytskyi — Russian strikes on substations and power lines left hundreds of thousands of them without electricity. [30]
09
A Michigan Democrat endorses the Republican
What happened
- Haley Stevens, a Democrat in the US Congress, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan's Senate seat. [31]
- She appeared with Rogers at a church after El-Sayed asked her to stay away. [31]
- Stevens said: "I don't belong in Abdul's campaign." [31]
- One fellow Democrat called the switch a "despicable betrayal". [31]
Who is involved

El-Sayed would be the first Muslim elected to the US Senate if he wins. [33]
- Haley Stevens Democrat
- Mike Rogers Republican candidate
- Abdul El-Sayed Democratic candidate
- Arab American voters turning to El-Sayed
How it unfolded

Stevens had lost the Democratic nomination to Abdul El-Sayed. [31]
Their feud began over an outside group's advert linking US support for Israel with high prices. [31]

Why it matters

Michigan is one of the seats that decides which party controls the US Senate. [32]
Arab Americans who backed Trump in 2024 are turning to El-Sayed, The National reports. [33]

How it works

That nomination is chosen in a primary, a vote among a party's own supporters. [31]
The truth
- Rogers gains a known Democrat's backing 2 days before the vote. [31]
- Who gains Mike Rogers, Michigan's Republican Senate candidate — A Democrat who lost her party's nomination endorsed him two days before the vote. [31]
10
Trump's last rallies are in states he usually wins
What happened
- Trump held his last rallies of the campaign on Sunday in Dubuque, Iowa, and Salina, Kansas. [32]
- Both are states he has won easily before, AP notes. [32]
- Republicans first cancelled the two stops, then put them back. [32]
- Kansas has not elected a Democratic senator in 94 years; Adam Hamilton is trying. [32]
- At both rallies Trump again called El-Sayed a "jihadist". [34]
- He told supporters to "pretend I'm on the ballot". [34]
- More than 52 million votes had already been cast. [32]
How it unfolded
1. Sunday Dubuque, Iowa
2. Sunday Salina, Kansas
Why it matters

Rallying in safe states shows Republicans defending ground they hold, AP says. [32]
The truth
- Al Jazeera says Trump repeated an unfounded claim that El-Sayed belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood. [34]
11
Polls lean Democratic before Tuesday's vote
What happened
- Democrats lead Republicans 51.5% to 43.1% in the RealClearPolling average of polls. [36]
- Tuesday's vote decides which party controls Congress, the US parliament. [36]
- Democrats cast 43% of early votes, Republicans 31% and voters with no party 25%. [35]
- Georgia had more than 2.8 million early voters, 13% more than in 2022. [35]
- Texas set a midterm record, with 7.6 million early votes. [35]
- But polls have missed before: Trump beat his poll numbers in 2016 and 2024. [37]
- Polls had El-Sayed winning Michigan's primary by double digits; he won by 1%. [37]
Why it matters

A political scientist said strong Democratic early voting may reflect a "referendum on Trump". [35]

How it works

A poll asks a few people and estimates everyone; it fails if some groups stop answering. [37]
Pollsters say Americans are harder to reach as they drop landlines and screen calls. [37]
The truth
- A political scientist at Emory said even loyal Republicans are "not too enthusiastic about voting". [35]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether the US polls are right this time.
  
  Democrats lead the averages, but polls missed Trump's strength in 2016 and 2024 and El-Sayed's margin in Michigan's primary. [36][37]
12
South Carolina Republicans push a write-in rival
What happened
- Some South Carolina Republicans are campaigning to write in Congressman Ralph Norman for the Senate. [38]
- Write-in votes were only 0.1% of South Carolina's 2022 Senate vote. [38]
Who is involved

Trump endorsed the party's nominee, Senator Darline Graham. [38]
- Ralph Norman write-in choice
- Darline Graham Republican nominee, backed by Trump
- Graham
- Norman
How it unfolded

Graham was appointed to the US Senate to finish her brother's term after his sudden death. [38]
She beat Norman in the August primary, and he has refused to campaign with her. [38]
1. 1998 the last Democratic Senate win
2. Tuesday Annie Andrews tries
Why it matters

A New York Times poll found the race tied; Trump won the state by 18 points. [37]
No Democrat has won a Senate seat in South Carolina since 1998. [38]

How it works

A write-in candidate is not printed on the ballot; voters write the name in. [38]
The truth
- Among independents, 30% of likely voters, Andrews led Graham by 20 points, a poll found. [38]
- Who gains Annie Andrews, South Carolina's Democratic Senate candidate — Republicans splitting off to write in Ralph Norman weakens Darline Graham in a race a poll calls tied. [38][37]
13
A leading Democratic senator has a stroke
What happened
- Chris Murphy, a US senator from Connecticut, had a stroke and is in hospital. [39]
- He sought care on Saturday for numbness in his arm. [39]
- His chief of staff said he is "awake and alert" and expected to recover fully. [39]
- He is not up for re-election on Tuesday. [39]
- Trump said he was "really surprised" and that "nobody wants to have that". [39]
Who is involved

Murphy is a top Democrat on the US Senate's spending and foreign relations committees. [39]
- Chris Murphy senator for Connecticut
Why it matters

Murphy pledged Democrats would withhold money for the Iran war if they won the US Senate. [39]
Good news
- Chris Murphy, a US senator, was awake and alert in hospital after a stroke, and his doctors expect a full recovery.
14
NATO allies fear what a Trump defeat brings
What happened
- European diplomats fear Trump could step up attacks on NATO if Republicans lose on Tuesday. [40]
- Five NATO diplomats told Politico Europe this, without being named. [40]
- Their worry: a president blocked by the US Congress at home turns to foreign affairs. [40]
- That could mean pulling thousands more US troops out of Europe, three diplomats said. [40]
- Trump's White House said he "has done more for NATO than anyone else". [40]
- It cited allies' pledge to raise defence spending to 5% of their economies by 2035. [40]
Why it matters

Democrats are expected to win the US House and may win the Senate, Politico notes. [40]

How it works

A "lame duck" leader has fading power; one official says such presidents often turn abroad. [40]
The truth
- Trump's White House says allies should have backed the US in the Iran war. [40]
15
Venezuela's army strikes Colombian rebels
What happened
- Venezuela's army attacked a Colombian rebel camp in Apure state on Friday. [41]
- At least 19 people were killed, a rights group and a military source said on Sunday. [41]
- The rights group FundaRedes first counted 9 dead; 10 more bodies came later, making 19. [41]
- Drones and attack helicopters struck the camp, the military source said. [41]
Who is involved

The camp belonged to the ELN, the National Liberation Army, a Colombian guerrilla group. [41]
- ELN Colombian guerrilla group
- Delcy Rodriguez Venezuela's leader since January
How it unfolded

Armed groups smuggle drugs and mine illegally along the 2,200km border. [41]
Delcy Rodriguez has led Venezuela since the US removed Nicolas Maduro in January. [41]

Why it matters

Colombia has long accused Venezuela of ignoring rebels on its side of the border. [41]
An expert called the strike a "change in doctrine" for Venezuela's army. [41]
The truth
- The source said US intelligence helped; the US State Department did not answer questions. [41]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether the US helped Venezuela strike the ELN camp.
  
  Only an unnamed Venezuelan military source says so, and the US State Department did not answer. [41]
Good news
- Terrorist attacks in Pakistan fell from 226 in September to 143 in October, and deaths from them fell from 260 to 111, an Islamabad research group counted.
What comes next

The military source said forces would keep searching because "there are more camps". [41]
16
Turkey moves Ocalan to a new part of his prison
What happened
- Turkey moved Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed Kurdish militant leader, to a new part of his prison. [42]
- Mithat Sancar, a pro-Kurdish lawmaker, confirmed the move on Saturday. [42]
- Better prison conditions for Ocalan have been a main Kurdish demand in the peace effort. [42]
Who is involved

He heads the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which fought Turkey for 42 years. [42]
- Abdullah Ocalan jailed leader of the PKK
- Mithat Sancar DEM Party lawmaker
How it unfolded

He has been held on Imrali, an island in the Marmara Sea, since 1999. [42]
Ocalan told the PKK to disarm in February 2025, and it agreed 3 months later. [42]
Turkey's parliament then offered thousands of PKK fighters a conditional pardon. [42]
1. Feb 2025 Ocalan's call to disarm
2. 3 months later the PKK agrees
Why it matters

Sancar said the peace process has been on pause for 2 months and should speed up. [42]
The truth
- Sancar did not confirm the new section is more comfortable, though his words suggested it. [42]
17
Pakistan and Afghanistan trade fire at the border
What happened
- Pakistani and Afghan border forces exchanged fire at several points on Sunday. [43]
- The firing shut Torkham, a busy border crossing, for nearly 5 hours. [43]
- It began over an Afghan check post being built near the border. [43]
- A mortar shell killed 1 civilian near the Angoor Adda crossing. [43]
- Pakistan's military spokesman said Afghanistan's Taliban rulers could not "absorb the punishment" Pakistan could inflict. [43]
Who is involved
- Pakistan
- Afghanistan
How it unfolded

Both countries had agreed not to build within 100 metres of the border. [43]

Why it matters

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan's rulers of sheltering militants who attack inside Pakistan. [43]
The truth
- The spokesman called India "the biggest terror sponsor" behind the attacks. [43]
- Who gains Pakistan's army — The US said it heard Pakistan's concerns about attacks from Afghanistan, backing its case as the border clashes went on. [43]
Good news
- Attacks in Pakistan fell from 226 in September to 143 in October, a research group counted. [44]
18
Somali pirates seize an Iranian fishing boat
What happened
- Somali pirates seized the Azini, an Iranian fishing boat carrying 23 people. [45]
- A Puntland police officer said 12 pirates took it on Thursday off north-eastern Somalia. [45]
- On board were 21 Iranian crew and 2 Somali guards. [45]
- The crew's safety is unknown, a maritime security centre said. [45]
- It warned the pirates could use the boat as a "mother ship" for more attacks. [45]
How it unfolded

Pirates hijacked six commercial ships between April and August this year. [45]
In September, pirates killed 5 crew of the tanker MT Honour 25. [45]

Why it matters

Ships already reroute around danger in Hormuz and the Red Sea, so voyages have grown longer. [45]

How it works

Navies cut Somali piracy sharply over the past decade with patrols and better ship security. [45]
The truth
- Nobody knows yet
  The fate of the Azini's 23 people.
  
  The maritime security centre says the crew's safety is unknown. [45]
What comes next

The EU's naval mission, Operation Atalanta, is investigating. [45]
19
Switzerland reopens its office in North Korea
What happened
- Ignazio Cassis became the first Swiss foreign minister to visit North Korea since 2003. [46]
- He was in Pyongyang, the capital, on 29 and 30 October. [46]
- Switzerland reopened its office there on 19 October; the old one closed in 2020. [46]
- Cassis said he offered Swiss help to ease tensions between the two Koreas. [46]
- He said the offer appeared to be well received. [46]
Who is involved

He met North Korea's foreign minister, Choe Son Hui. [46]
- Ignazio Cassis Switzerland's foreign minister
- Choe Son Hui North Korea's foreign minister
How it unfolded

Switzerland has helped watch over the 1953 armistice that halted the Korean War. [46]
1. 2020 Swiss office closes
2. 19 October office reopens
Why it matters

South Korea hopes the Swiss office will help it talk to the North. [46]
The truth
- The visit came as North Korea fired about 10 short-range missiles towards the sea. [46]
Good news
- The office lets Switzerland deal directly with North Korea's government again. [46]
- Switzerland reopened its office in North Korea, and Ignazio Cassis became the first Swiss foreign minister to visit since 2003, offering to help the two Koreas talk.
20
North Korea tests cluster-bomb warheads
What happened
- North Korea tested cluster-bomb warheads for short-range missiles on Saturday, state media said. [47]
- State media said one warhead can destroy an area of 12 to 13 hectares. [47]
- Kim Jong Un, North Korea's leader, did not attend this test. [47]
Who is involved

A cluster warhead breaks open over a target and scatters many small bombs. [47]
- Kim Jong Un North Korea's leader, absent
How it unfolded

It follows recent tests of attack drones, a torpedo and a hypersonic missile. [47]
A landmine blast on the border recently wounded 3 South Korean soldiers. [47]

Why it matters

The test came days after Switzerland's minister offered to help the Koreas talk. [46]
The truth
- North Korea denies laying the mine. [47]
What comes next

Officials said units will be able to use all the new weapon types this year. [47]
21
Russia builds a giant radar in Kaliningrad
What happened
- Russia is nearly finished building a huge radar in Kaliningrad, reports say. [48]
- Each of the site's three arms is more than 500 metres long. [48]
- A retired Lithuanian commander said it could watch about 3,000km, across most of Europe. [48]
- Russia has not confirmed it is building it. [48]
Who is involved

Kaliningrad is a small piece of Russia on the Baltic Sea, between Poland and Lithuania. [48]
- Poland
- Kaliningrad, Russia
- Lithuania
Why it matters

It could give Russia early warning of NATO troop movements, the commander said. [48]

How it works

It is an over-the-horizon radar, built to see beyond the Earth's curve. [48]
The truth
- A Latvian analyst warned both sides may arm further, raising the risk of a first strike. [48]
22
Russia holds a teenager after a US warning
What happened
- Russia's FSB security service said it detained a minor over a threat to a Moscow park. [49]
- On Saturday the US embassy warned of a "credible threat of a mass casualty event" there. [49]
- The site, the Tsaritsyno museum park, closed on Saturday evening and reopened on Sunday. [49]
- The FSB said he posted TikTok photos in tactical clothing, holding what looked like a gun. [49]
Who is involved
- US embassy
- Russian authorities
How it unfolded

In March 2024 a similar US warning came days before the Crocus City Hall attack. [49]
That attack, at a concert hall near Moscow, killed more than 150 people. [49]
Then, Putin called the Western warnings "provocative". [49]
1. Saturday park closed, visitors moved out
2. Sunday park reopens
3. March 2024 US warning
4. Days later attack on a concert hall
Why it matters

The embassy said the US was working with Russian authorities on a response. [49]
23
Serbia arrests a police chief close to Vucic
What happened
- Serbia arrested Marko Kricak, head of its criminal police, and charged him with abuse of office. [50]
- He is accused of tampering with an inquiry into a May murder in Belgrade. [50]
- Student groups had accused Kricak of brutality against peaceful protesters. [50]
- Removing Vucic loyalists from the police was one of the students' demands. [50]
Who is involved

Kricak, 42, was seen as a supporter of Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's defeated president. [50]
- Marko Kricak head of Serbia's criminal police
- Aleksandar Vucic Serbia's defeated president
- Student groups accused him of brutality
How it unfolded

A student-led list beat Vucic's camp in the parliamentary election on 25 October. [50]
1. 25 October students win the election
2. Sunday the police chief's arrest is reported
Why it matters

DW says the arrest is a sign of Vucic's hold on the state slowly wearing away. [50]
The truth
- Belgrade's chief prosecutor said the arrest has "no link" to the election result. [50]
24
Portugal's police clear housing protest camps
What happened
- Police cleared housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto before dawn on Sunday. [51]
- Police used shields and batons, and said some protesters threw bottles and paint. [51]
- Police arrested 13 people: 6 in Lisbon and 7 in Porto. [51]
- Police said 13 officers were hurt; activists said more than 30 protesters were. [51]
Who is involved
- 13 officers hurt
- 30+ protesters hurt
How it unfolded

Protesters had pitched tents after peaceful marches against a rental bill on Saturday. [51]
More than 1,000 people marched in Lisbon against soaring housing costs. [51]

Why it matters

The activist group Acampada Lisboa called a new rally: "We will not be silenced." [51]
The truth
- A lawyer for those held in Porto called the police response disproportionate. [51]
25
The EU backs Poland's parliament in the court fight
What happened
- The European Commission said Poland's parliament has the right to appoint new top-court judges. [53]
- Nawrocki has refused to swear in some judges the current parliament elected. [52]
- The court's leaders, linked to the Law and Justice party, kept those judges from work. [52]
- On Friday, a judge taking charge of the court suspended its chief and his deputy. [52]
- Nawrocki then pushed his way into the court shortly after midnight on Saturday. [52]
- Tusk said a politician cannot give orders in a court, "even if he is the president". [52]
Who is involved

That supports Prime Minister Donald Tusk in his fight with President Karol Nawrocki. [52]
- Donald Tusk prime minister
- Karol Nawrocki president
- The court's leaders linked to Law and Justice
How it unfolded

The fight goes back to Law and Justice's court changes of 2015 to 2023. [52]
1. Friday the court's chief suspended
2. After midnight Nawrocki enters the court
3. 2015 to 2023 Law and Justice changes the courts
4. Now the new majority tries to undo them
Why it matters

The court's makeup and its rulings have been disputed for more than a decade. [53]

How it works

Poland's president must swear judges in, so his refusal keeps them out of the court. [52]

President Nawrocki comes from the camp opposed to Prime Minister Tusk, and he has used his duty to swear in judges by refusing it.
The idea, in story 02: Why a mostly ceremonial president matters most when parliament is stuck →
The truth
- Europe's conservative ECR group backed Nawrocki and accused Tusk's government of breaking the law. [53]
What comes next

The court's judges meet on Tuesday, which could start another fight over control. [52]
26
Britain plans longer waits for migrants to settle
What happened
- Britain's home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, will set out new settlement rules on Monday, the Guardian reports. [54]
- Most legal migrants are likely to wait 10 years, and some up to 15. [54]
- The standard wait for settlement would double under the plans. [54]
- Care workers already in Britain are expected to get some exemption. [54]
- The wait could shrink for higher earners or people who contribute locally. [54]
Who is involved

Settlement, or indefinite leave to remain, is a migrant's right to stay in Britain for good. [54]
- Shabana Mahmood Britain's home secretary
How it unfolded

Britain granted about 200,000 health and care worker visas in the last five years. [54]

Why it matters

Care services depend on migrant staff, and a letter warns they would shrink without them. [54]
The truth
- The letter's signers called the plans "an iteration of Windrush era policies". [54]
- In the Windrush scandal, mainly Black Britons were wrongly detained and deported despite their rights. [54]
- Who pays Legal migrants in Britain — Most will likely wait 10 years, and some 15, before they can settle for good. [54]
27
A former UK finance minister says Britain belongs in the EU
What happened
- Rachel Reeves, Britain's former finance minister, said Britain's future "lies in the European Union". [55]
- She wrote that Brexit "has made us poorer, weaker and less secure". [55]
- Burnham has said he would like Britain to rejoin the EU in his lifetime. [55]
- But he ruled out reversing Brexit in this parliament. [55]
- Ministers would spend up to 450 million pounds a year so EU students pay British fees. [56]
- The offer depends on Britain joining the EU's Made in Europe industry plan. [56]
Who is involved

Prime Minister Andy Burnham sacked her when he took office. [55]
Why it matters

Made in Europe would put trade limits on countries outside the EU. [56]

What comes next

A summit in Brussels later this month could settle the deal, ministers hope. [56]
28
MPs say Britain makes China policy up as it goes
What happened
- A committee of British MPs said the government makes up China policy "as it goes along". [57]
- It said the UK government promised a steady China plan in 2024 and has not delivered. [57]
- It cited the blocking of a Chinese firm, Ming Yang, from building a Scottish wind plant. [57]
- That plant was worth 1.5 billion pounds. [57]
- The report proposes a "red zone" of industries closed to Chinese investment. [57]
Who is involved

Liam Byrne, a Labour MP, chairs the committee on business and trade. [57]
- Liam Byrne committee chair
Why it matters

Byrne warned new EU trade rules could cut Britain off from its largest market. [57]
The truth
- The MPs also say British firms profit in China and shoppers gain from cheap imports. [57]
29
Canada and the US move toward a trade deal
What happened
- Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, said he had a "good conversation" with Trump about trade. [58]
- Teams from both countries will work in the coming weeks to reach a deal, he said. [58]
How it unfolded

In August, Trump put a 50% tariff, a tax on imports, on $20bn of Canadian goods. [58]
That was 5.5% of Canada's exports. [58]
Canada hit back with tariffs on US steel, dairy and appliances. [58]
1. Sunday Carney's call with Trump
2. Tuesday US midterm elections
Why it matters

Carney's news came 2 days before the US midterm elections. [58]
The trade fight has become an issue in the US campaign. [58]
30
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill eight
What happened
- Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 8 people on Sunday, hospitals said. [59]
- In Gaza City, a strike killed 3 people, including a 4-year-old boy. [59]
- In Khan Younis, a drone strike killed 5 police officers, Gaza's interior ministry said. [59]
- Israel's military said it hit militants but gave no evidence. [59]
- Israel says Hamas is rearming, and Hamas denies it. [60]
Who is involved
- Israel says Hamas is rearming
- Hamas denies it
How it unfolded

A ceasefire began in October 2025, but Israeli strikes have gone on almost daily. [59]
Since then 1,580 people have been killed, Gaza's health ministry says. [59]
The UN considers Gaza's health ministry figures reliable. [59]

Why it matters

Israeli troops have ordered residents out of about two-thirds of Gaza. [60]
Nearly all of Gaza's 2 million people live in the last third, mostly in tents. [60]
The truth
- The deal is stuck: neither Hamas disarming nor an Israeli withdrawal has been agreed. [60]
- Who pays People in Gaza — Strikes go on almost daily under the ceasefire, and 1,580 have been killed since it began, Gaza's health ministry says. [59]
31
The UN's Western Sahara mission ends after 35 years
What happened
- The UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara ended on Sunday after 35 years. [61]
- The UN Security Council failed to renew it on Friday. [61]
- Russia vetoed a US plan, though 11 of the 15 council members backed it. [61]
- The US plan made Morocco's autonomy offer the only basis for talks. [61]
Who is involved

The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, wants an independent state for the Sahrawi people. [61]
- Morocco claims the land
- Polisario Front wants independence
- Algeria blamed the US
How it unfolded

Morocco has claimed the territory since Spain withdrew in 1975. [61]
The mission, MINURSO, was set up in 1991 to watch a ceasefire and prepare a referendum. [61]
1. 1991 mission set up
2. Sunday mission ends
Why it matters

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that fighting could escalate. [61]

How it works

Any of the 5 permanent council members can veto a plan, as Russia did. [61]
The truth
- Morocco's palace called the end a "significant development"; Algeria blamed US "excessive bias". [61]
- Who gains Morocco — With the UN mission gone, its palace calls it a significant step toward taking the issue off the Security Council's agenda. [61]
- Who pays The Sahrawi people of Western Sahara — They lose the UN mission set up in 1991 to prepare a referendum on their future. [61]
What comes next

UN equipment is now being shipped back to the countries that sent troops. [61]
32
French Islamic State members on trial in Baghdad
What happened
- Thomas Barnouin, a French member of Islamic State, told a Baghdad court he regrets joining. [62]
- He pleaded guilty to belonging to the group and to terrorist acts. [62]
- He is one of 47 French detainees moved from Syria to Iraq last year. [62]
- Last week the court gave the first French defendants up to 20 years in jail. [63]
Who is involved

Islamic State, or IS, held large parts of Syria and Iraq from 2014 to 2017. [63]
- Thomas Barnouin French Islamic State member
How it unfolded

Barnouin, 45, was captured in Syria by Kurdish forces almost 9 years ago. [62]
1. Last week first sentences, up to 20 years
2. Sunday Barnouin in court
Why it matters

About 1,500 French people are believed to have joined IS. [63]
The truth
- France brought home hundreds of family members but refused to take back most of the men. [63]
33
Bangladesh sets up a garment wage board
What happened
- Bangladesh set up a board on Sunday to review the minimum wage for garment workers. [64]
- Thousands kept protesting near Dhaka, the capital, and police fired tear gas. [64]
- Garment workers earn about 13,000 taka, or $106, a month, a labour group says. [64]
- They are asking for a bit more than 30,000 taka. [64]
- The board includes Bangladesh's government, workers and factory owners. [64]
- Bangladesh's labour minister blamed "a coterie seeking to destabilise the government". [64]
Who is involved
- Government
- Workers
- Factory owners
Why it matters

Clothing earns most of Bangladesh's foreign income, sold to shops in Europe and the US. [64]

How it works

Labour economists call a board of government, owners and workers a three-way, or tripartite, body. [64]
The truth
- Labour leaders say inflation and rising household costs are driving the protests. [64]
- Who pays Bangladesh's garment workers — They earn about 13,000 taka, or $106, a month while household costs rise. [64]
34
A governance index finds rights falling in Africa
What happened
- The Mo Ibrahim Foundation's index found 30 African countries governed better in 2025 than 2016. [65]
- Those 30 countries are home to half of Africa's people. [65]
- But 23 countries got worse, and 1 stayed the same. [65]
- It found gains in economic opportunity and human development, but steep falls in security and rights. [65]
- Seven of the ten biggest decliners had at least one coup in the decade. [65]
- Burkina Faso fell the most; Nigeria, Sudan and Tunisia also did badly. [65]
Who is involved

Mo Ibrahim is a Sudanese-British telecoms billionaire who funds the index. [65]
- Mo Ibrahim funds the governance index
Why it matters

Ibrahim said African leaders copy strongmen elsewhere, asking: "why not me too?" [65]
Good news
- Six in ten Africans are under 25, and Ibrahim says they are better educated. [65]
- Thirty African countries, home to half the continent's people, were better governed in 2025 than in 2016, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's index found.
35
Cape Verde's presidential campaign begins
What happened
- Campaigning began on Saturday for Cape Verde's presidential election on 15 November. [66]
- President Jose Maria Neves is seeking a second term. [66]
- His main rival is expected to be Joana Rosa, a former justice minister, for the MpD. [66]
- Six candidates are running. [66]
Who is involved

Cape Verde is an island country of 520,000 people in the Atlantic Ocean. [66]
- Jose Maria Neves president
- Joana Rosa MpD
How it unfolded

His party, the PAICV, won a majority in parliament in May. [66]
Since its first free elections in 1991, Cape Verde has had no electoral violence. [66]

Why it matters

Neves says wages must rise and has promised reforms to raise household income. [66]

How it works

It has twice had a president and a government from rival parties, called cohabitation. [66]

If Joana Rosa of the MpD wins on 15 November, Cape Verde's president and its parliament majority will come from rival parties, which the country calls cohabitation.
The idea, in story 02: Why a mostly ceremonial president matters most when parliament is stuck →
36
A business jet crashes in Florida, killing nine
What happened
- A business jet crashed into a South Florida neighbourhood on Sunday, killing all 9 aboard. [67]
- The Learjet 60 was flying from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas. [68]
- The pilot reported ice and turbulence, then asked to climb 2,000 feet. [67]
- The jet then dived at up to 30,000 feet a minute. [67]
- The pilot radioed: "We're going to crash into the ground." [68]
- Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis, said nobody on the ground appeared to be hurt. [68]
- About 600 people were moved out of a nearby mobile home park. [67]
Why it matters

The jet came down only feet from homes and inches from passing cars. [67]
The truth
- Nobody knows yet
  Why the Learjet fell.
  
  The pilot reported ice and turbulence, but the US crash investigator has not yet found a cause. [67]
What comes next

The National Transportation Safety Board, the US crash investigator, is looking into the cause. [67]
37
Armed police patrol Sydney after the Bondi attack
What happened
- Police carrying long rifles have started patrolling busy areas of Sydney, Australia. [69]
- The new Armed Response Command will grow to 250 officers. [69]
- The unit will also guard sports matches and places of worship. [69]
- Jewish community groups welcomed the patrols. [69]
Who is involved
- Sports matches
- Places of worship
How it unfolded

In December, two gunmen killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach. [69]
It was Australia's worst mass shooting in almost 30 years. [69]

Why it matters

It led to sweeping gun law reforms and a crackdown on hate speech. [69]
The truth
- Amnesty International warned of the "militarisation of policing" and asked that protests not be targeted. [69]
What comes next

One alleged gunman faces 78 charges, including 15 of murder; police killed the other. [69]

Iotova wins Bulgaria's presidential runoff and becomes its first elected woman president, as Radev's camp takes both top offices

37 stories on this beat today.

Why a mostly ceremonial president matters most when parliament is stuck