World News · Wednesday, 4 November 2026

Democrats win the US Senate, AP projects, as CNN, CBS and CNBC project they have won the House too

54 stories 105 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.

Voters turning on those in power High↑

In South Carolina, a Democrat won a Senate seat in a state Trump carried by nearly 18 points. [8]
Polls put South Africa's ANC below a third of the vote, down from 45.6% in 2021. [13]
Spain's transport minister resigned 6 days after a train crash killed 69. [14]

Fighting around the Gulf High→

The US struck Iran's Qeshm Island, and Iran called the US reply to its peace plan 'not convincing'. [15]
Iran-backed Houthi fighters got within 80km of Aden, seat of Yemen's government. [16]
The Saudi-led coalition said it shot down a drone near Mecca. [17]

Russia striking before talks High↑

Russian strikes killed at least 38 Ukrainian civilians in a day, 33 of them at an aid centre. [18]
Russia confirmed US-led talks with Ukraine in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November. [19]
Germany's chancellor said he saw no sign Russia is serious about a ceasefire. [20]

Fights over who counts and who judges Building↑

Israel's attorney general said the security chief had handed over no evidence of election fraud. [21]
Poland's president accused the prime minister of a power grab over the top court. [22]
In Alaska, the Republican senator accused his rival of planting a 'decoy' candidate. [23]

Governments silencing critics Building↑

Ethiopia indefinitely suspended The Reporter, one of its few independent newspapers. [24]
Iran hanged two young men over January's protests. [25]
Kenya's police chief told a court that police never held a missing Tanzanian activist. [26]

The stories

54 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
Democrats win the US Senate, AP projects, as CNN, CBS and CNBC project they have won the House too

6

US Senate seats Democrats took from Republicans

they needed a net gain of 4 to win control [1]

18 points

Trump's 2024 lead in South Carolina, where a Democrat won a US Senate seat

the state last elected a Democratic senator in 1998 [12]

70%

of voters want more checks on the president

from exit polls by SSRS for AP and other outlets [8]

$11.6bn

spent on the 2026 campaigns, the most ever

pro-Israel groups alone spent about $40m against one Michigan candidate [10]
What happened
- Democrats won control of the US Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, the Associated Press (AP) news agency projected. [1]
- Republicans went into the vote holding 53 of the US Senate's 100 seats. [2] Democrats now have at least 51, a majority. [1]
- US TV networks CNN, CBS and CNBC also projected that Democrats had won the US House of Representatives. [3][4]
- Midterms fall halfway through a US president's 4-year term, and this was Donald Trump's second term. [5]
- Democrats needed a net gain of 4 Senate seats. [1] They took 6 from Republicans. [6]
- The 6 are North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Kansas, Texas and Iowa. [6]
- DW, a German broadcaster, counts a seat as won only once AP calls it. [6]
- In Maine, Republican Susan Collins conceded to Democrat Troy Jackson before AP had called that race. [7]
- Before the vote, Republicans held 218 seats in the US House and Democrats held 214. [5]
- A majority in the House is 218 of its 435 seats. [6]
- Democrats flipped Republican House seats from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to Kentucky, Arizona and North Carolina. [2]
- Democrat Annie Andrews won a Senate seat in South Carolina, a state Trump carried by nearly 18 points in 2024. [8]
- In Indiana, Democrat JD Ford beat Republican Victoria Spartz in a House district Trump won by 17 points. [2]
- In Florida, Republican Senator Ashley Moody won by only about 3 points, in a state Trump won by 13. [8]
- Andrews did far better than Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic candidate, in South Carolina's mostly Black counties. [9]
- Voters were angry about living costs, tariffs and the US war with Iran, which has pushed fuel prices up. [2]
- In exit polls for AP and other outlets, 50% of voters said the vote was a chance to rebuke Trump. [8]
- 70% of voters said they want the US Congress to put more checks on the president. [8]
- The campaigns cost $11.6bn, the most ever, says Ad Impact, which tracks political adverts. [10]
- Trump told the New York Times he was 'absolutely willing to accept those results'. [2]
Who is involved
- Susan Collins conceded
- Troy Jackson declared victory
- JD Ford Democrat, won
- Victoria Spartz Republican, lost
- Hakeem Jeffries leader of the Democrats in the US House; could become its first Black speaker
- Donald Trump US president since 2025; now faces a Congress run by the other party
- The Associated Press a US news agency that projects who has won each race; it called the US Senate
- Annie Andrews a children's doctor and Democrat; won South Carolina's Senate seat
How it unfolded
1. 2024 Republicans win the US presidency, Senate and House [1]
2. July 2026 Senator Lindsey Graham dies, and his sister takes his seat [12]
3. Tue 3 Nov Americans vote for all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governors [27]
4. Tue night AP projects a Democratic Senate; three TV networks project the House [1][3]
5. January the new US Congress meets [2]
Why it matters

A Senate majority lets Democrats block Trump's bills and reject his judges, including for the US Supreme Court. [11]
Democrats plan to investigate Trump's family business and his government's immigration enforcement. [5]
The truth
- What is really going on Voters angry about prices, tariffs and the Iran war turned against Trump's party across the US. [2]That shift won Democrats Senate seats in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina, which Republicans had held for decades. [1]
- Who gains Hakeem Jeffries and the House Democrats — Running the House gives them its committees and the power to demand documents and witnesses from Trump's government. [5]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether AP has called the US House.
  
  The House calls in our sources come from CNN, CBS and CNBC projections, and none of them reports an AP call on it. [4][3]
What comes next

The new US Congress meets in January. [2] Hakeem Jeffries could then become the first Black speaker of the House. [2]

02
Texas elects Democrats as senator and governor
What happened
- Democrat James Talarico beat Republican Ken Paxton, Texas's attorney general, for a US Senate seat. [28]
- Talarico is the first Democrat to win a Senate race in Texas since 1988. [11]
- Democrat Gina Hinojosa also beat Greg Abbott, the Republican governor, AP reported. [29]
- Hinojosa will be the first Democrat to run Texas since Ann Richards in the 1990s. [29] She will also be its first Latina governor. [29]
- Spending on the Texas Senate race topped half a billion dollars, a record. [28]
- Elon Musk, whose SpaceX rocket company is based in Texas, spent at least $212m backing Paxton. [28]
Who is involved
- James Talarico Democrat, won
- Ken Paxton Republican, lost
- Gina Hinojosa Democrat, won
- Greg Abbott Republican, lost
Why it matters

Republicans need Texas to win presidential elections, so this loss will alarm them, AP says. [29]
How it works

Political scientists call it a national tide: AP says a glum national mood dragged Republicans down even in Texas. [29]

Seen it before

When a whole class is cross with one teacher, even the pupils who never complain sign the letter.
Why a nationwide swing flips seats that looked safe

Psephologists, who study elections, call it uniform swing: when voters everywhere shift one way, every seat with a smaller lead than the shift changes hands.

The twist

A seat is only as safe as its lead. When the whole country moves further than that lead, the seat falls, even after decades.

The picture

South Carolina (Senate)18 points
An Indiana House district17 points
Florida (Senate)13 points
Trump's winning lead in 2024 in three places. Democrats won the first two on Tuesday. In Florida, the Republican held on by about 3 points.
Step by step
1. Every seat starts with a lead from the last election
2. A national mood moves voters by a similar amount almost everywhere
3. Any seat whose lead is smaller than that move changes hands
4. So a big enough move reaches seats nobody thought were in play
5. Candidates and local issues make the move bigger in some places and smaller in others
The same force, elsewhere today

Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.
- A Democrat wins South Carolina's Senate seat
  
  Trump won the state by nearly 18 points in 2024, and the move against his party was bigger than that lead.
- Kansas elects its first Democratic senator since 1932
  
  About a quarter of Kansans are Democrats, Hamilton said, so the seat fell only because Republicans and independents moved too.
- Democrats flip House seats Trump won easily
  
  Florida's 3 redrawn seats had backed Trump by at least 9 points, and the move still kept them Democratic.
- Texas elects Democrats as senator and governor
  
  AP says a glum national mood dragged Republicans down even in Texas, where Democrats had not won in decades.
Where you've seen this

Rising seas

a 1-metre rise floods every street that sits less than 1 metre above the water, all at once

Exam grade boundaries

if every mark rises by 5, every pupil within 5 marks of a boundary goes up a grade

Household bills

when every bill rises by the same amount, each family with less spare money than that falls behind

The catch

The move is never exactly equal. Florida held on a 13-point Trump lead while South Carolina fell on nearly 18, because candidates and local voters bend it.

And the whole of it

Every voter in this story chose alone, in one booth, about one race. Added up, the same small shift in millions of separate choices decided who runs the US Congress, and no single voter could see it happening.
The truth
- Abbott's campaign spent $180m since last year and still lost. [29] AP says that shows money in politics has clear limits. [29]

03
A Democrat wins South Carolina's Senate seat
What happened
- Democrat Annie Andrews, a children's doctor, won South Carolina's US Senate seat, AP projected. [12]
- She beat Darline Graham, a Republican backed by Trump. [12]
- Graham was appointed to the seat after her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, died suddenly in July. [12]
- In a primary debate, Graham said national security was 'not my thing'. [12]
- South Carolina had not elected a Democrat to the US Senate since 1998. [12]
Who is involved
- Annie Andrews Democrat, won
- Darline Graham Republican, lost
How it unfolded
1. July Lindsey Graham dies
2. Then his sister takes the seat
3. Tuesday she loses it
Why it matters

Her win and Roy Cooper's in North Carolina were the first 2 of the 4 seats Democrats needed. [8]

How it works

Political scientists call this candidate quality: a weak nominee can lose a safe seat, as many voters judged Graham unqualified. [12]

Seen it before

A school team that always wins can still lose if the coach picks someone who has never played.
The truth
- Andrews says she owes no one in Washington anything. [12] She raised over $22m more than Graham, mostly in small donations. [12]
04
Kansas elects its first Democratic senator since 1932
What happened
- Democrat Adam Hamilton beat Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, AP projected. [30]
- Hamilton is a Methodist minister who founded the largest United Methodist church in the US. [30]
- No Democrat had won a Kansas Senate seat since 1932. [30]
- Hamilton said only about 25% of the people in Kansas are Democrats. [1]
- The $110m race was the most expensive in the state's history, AP reported. [30]
Who is involved
- Adam Hamilton Democrat, won
- Roger Marshall Republican, lost
Why it matters

Kansas farms and lorry firms face record diesel prices, and Hamilton campaigned on living costs. [30]

How it works

Political scientists call them swing voters: Hamilton says Republicans and independents in Kansas joined Democrats this time. [1]

Seen it before

A friend who always votes for pizza picks burgers once the pizza place gets worse.

About a quarter of Kansans are Democrats, Hamilton said, so the seat fell only because Republicans and independents moved too.
The idea, in story 02: Why a nationwide swing flips seats that looked safe →
The truth
- The New York Times reported that Marshall, a doctor, sued about 700 former patients over medical debts. [30] Hamilton's adverts used it. [30]
05
Collins concedes in Maine
What happened
- Republican Senator Susan Collins called Democrat Troy Jackson to concede Maine's US Senate race. [7]
- AP had not yet called the race when Jackson declared victory. [7]
- Collins has been a US senator since 1997 and was seeking a sixth term. [31][7]
- Jackson, a lumberjack and former leader of Maine's state senate, campaigned for only 101 days. [31]
- He replaced the first Democratic candidate, Graham Platner, who quit after an allegation of rape, which he denied. [31]
Who is involved
- Susan Collins Republican, conceded
- Troy Jackson Democrat
Why it matters

Maine has been hit by fuel costs from the Iran war and record heating oil prices. [31]

How it works

Political scientists call it split-ticket voting: in 2020 many Mainers backed Joe Biden and also re-elected Collins. [31]

Seen it before

Some families buy one brand of cereal and another brand of milk, choosing each on its own.
The truth
- Collins said her independence had brought federal money to Maine. [31] Jackson called her a loyal supporter of Trump. [31]
06
Ohio picks Brown for the US Senate and Acton for governor
What happened
- Democrat Sherrod Brown beat Republican Senator Jon Husted in Ohio, AP projected. [32]
- Husted was appointed in 2025 to the seat JD Vance left to become US vice-president. [32]
- More than $500m went on adverts in the race, and tech companies spent tens of millions against Brown. [32]
- Democrat Amy Acton beat Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to become Ohio's governor, US media projected. [33]
- Acton is Ohio's first Democratic governor since 2006 and the first woman elected to the job. [34]
Who is involved
- Sherrod Brown Democrat, won
- Jon Husted Republican, lost
- JD Vance now vice-president
- Amy Acton Democrat, won
- Vivek Ramaswamy Republican, lost
Why it matters

Both of Ohio's Senate seats were Republican, and winning one from Brown in 2024 helped Republicans take the US Senate. [32]

How it works

Campaign experts call it a backlash when an attack hurts the attacker, as Ramaswamy's advert about Acton's mother did. [34]

Seen it before

A player who shoves an opponent in front of the referee gets the yellow card himself.
The truth
- The advert left out that Acton was taken from her mother's care at 12. [34] That was after her stepfather was charged with raping her. [34]
07
Georgia elects the first Black woman governor in US history
What happened
- Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former mayor of Atlanta, won the race for governor of Georgia. [35]
- CNN and NBC News called the race for her. [35]
- She is the first Black woman elected governor of any US state. [35]
- She beat Rick Jackson, a billionaire health care boss who spent more than $100m of his own money. [35]
- Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff also held his Georgia seat, which AP called early in the night. [11]
Who is involved
- Keisha Lance Bottoms former Atlanta mayor
Why it matters

Trump endorsed Jackson in July and campaigned with him, so the loss is a setback for Trump too. [35]

How it works

Political scientists call Georgia a swing state: its voters backed Joe Biden in 2020 and Trump in 2024. [35]

Seen it before

In a class vote, the few pupils who change their minds each time decide the result.
08
Iowa elects a Democratic senator and governor
What happened
- Democrat Josh Turek beat Republican Ashley Hinson for a US Senate seat in Iowa. [10]
- Iowa had not elected a Democratic senator since 2008. [2]
- Democrat Rob Sand, the state auditor, won the race for governor, AP projected. [36]
- Sand is the first Democrat to win Iowa's governorship since 2006. [36]
- Iowa voted for Trump all three times he ran for president. [36]
Who is involved
- Josh Turek Democrat, won
- Ashley Hinson Republican, lost
Why it matters

Sand said Iowa had 10 years of one-party control. [36] He said that is what led it to where it is today. [36]

How it works

Political scientists call it divided government: Sand says that come January, both parties will be forced to work together. [36]

Seen it before

Two siblings sharing a room must agree on the rules, because neither can make them alone.
09
North Carolina's Cooper wins a seat Tillis left
What happened
- Democrat Roy Cooper, a former two-term governor of North Carolina, beat Republican Michael Whatley for the US Senate. [37]
- Whatley, a former chair of the Republican National Committee, had never held elected office. [38]
- Cooper is the first Democrat North Carolina has elected to the US Senate since 2008. [37]
- He replaces Republican Thom Tillis, who retired after breaking with Trump over Medicaid cuts in Trump's tax and spending law. [38]
Who is involved
- Roy Cooper Democrat, won
- Michael Whatley Republican, lost
Why it matters

Cooper said he would work to end the US war with Iran and 'stop the pain at the pump'. [37]

How it works

Campaign experts call it name recognition: voters already knew Cooper across the state, which built his polling lead. [38]

Seen it before

A shop the whole town already knows gets customers on its first day in a new street.
10
Democrats flip House seats Trump won easily
What happened
- In Florida, Republican lawmakers had redrawn the lines of 3 Democratic-held House seats to make them easier to win. [9]
- Republicans lost all 3. [9]
- In Pennsylvania, Democrats beat Republicans Scott Perry, Rob Bresnahan Jr and Ryan Mackenzie. [5]
- In New Jersey, Democrat Rebecca Bennett ousted Republican Tom Kean Jr. [5]
- In Texas's 15th district, Bobby Pulido, a Tejano music star, beat Republican Monica De La Cruz. [7]
Who is involved
- Scott Perry lost
- Rob Bresnahan Jr lost
- Ryan Mackenzie lost
- Rebecca Bennett Democrat, won
- Tom Kean Jr Republican, lost
Why it matters

Each flipped seat moves Democrats toward the 218 of 435 seats that make a House majority. [6]

How it works

Political scientists call drawing district lines to help one party gerrymandering, as Florida's Republicans did. [9]
Each redrawn Florida seat had backed Trump by at least 9 points, and Democrats still held all 3. [8]

Seen it before

Picking PE teams so your side has the best players still fails if everyone else plays better that day.

Florida's 3 redrawn seats had backed Trump by at least 9 points, and the move still kept them Democratic.
The idea, in story 02: Why a nationwide swing flips seats that looked safe →
The truth
- Republicans in Texas, Florida and Missouri redrew their maps at Trump's request, the Guardian reports. [5]
11
Trump says he 'wasn't on the ballot'
What happened
- Trump wrote: 'I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!' [10]
- He then posted a picture of a red cap printed with the word 'VETO'. [2]
- On a podcast released on Monday, he had said: 'I veto everything.' [4]
- He wrote that Fox News, a US TV channel, 'bears responsibility for these losses'. [7]
- He told the Wall Street Journal the Iran war was 'a piece of it'. [10]
How it unfolded
1. Monday a podcast: I veto everything
2. Tuesday night the VETO cap
Why it matters

With both chambers, Democrats can block Trump's plans, and his veto can block theirs. [2]

How it works

Psychologists call it self-serving bias: people credit themselves for wins and blame others for losses, as Trump blamed Fox News. [7]

Seen it before

A pupil who aces a test says he is clever, and blames the teacher when he fails.
The truth
- Trump had spent months urging his supporters to pretend he was on the ballot. [39]
12
Who voted, and why
What happened
- SSRS, a polling firm, surveyed more than 75,000 voters for AP and other outlets. [6] It shows who voted how. [6]
- Republicans lost support in every group of voters compared with the 2022 midterms. [6]
- Among white women, the Republican share fell from 56% to 48%. [6]
- Among white men, it fell from 60% to 55%. [6]
- 3 in 4 voters aged 18 to 24 voted Democrat. [6]
- Most Latino men and women voted Democrat. [6] Two years ago, Latino voters helped carry Trump to a second term. [6]
Why it matters

3 in 4 voters said they were angry or dissatisfied with the way the country is going. [8]

How it works

Statisticians call it a representative sample: 75,000 voters chosen to mirror the rest stand in for everyone who voted. [6]

Seen it before

Tasting one spoon tells you how the whole pot of soup tastes, if you stir it first.
The truth
- The survey combines interviews with early and postal voters and exit polls on Election Day. [6]
13
Michigan and Alaska are still counting
What happened
- Michigan's Senate race between Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers was too close to call late on Tuesday. [10]
- El-Sayed would be the first Muslim in the US Senate. [40]
- A final New York Times and Siena poll had put El-Sayed 11 points ahead. [40]
- Pro-Israel lobby groups spent about $40m against El-Sayed in the party primary and the main race. [10]
- In Alaska, polls showed Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola essentially tied. [23]
- Sullivan accused Peltola's campaign of recruiting a 'decoy' candidate with his name, a retired teacher called Daniel J Sullivan. [23]
Who is involved
- Abdul El-Sayed Democrat
- Mike Rogers Republican
- Dan Sullivan Republican
- Mary Peltola Democrat
Why it matters

Democrats needed to hold Michigan, where Democrat Gary Peters is retiring, as well as win new seats. [40][11]
The truth
- Sullivan called it the biggest cheating scandal in Alaska's history. [23] Peltola denied knowing of any such plan. [23]
- Nobody knows yet
  Who wins Michigan's Senate seat.
  
  The race was too close to call late on Tuesday, though a final poll had put El-Sayed 11 points ahead. [10][40]
- Nobody knows yet
  Who wins Alaska's Senate seat.
  
  Polls showed it tied, and Peltola denies Sullivan's claim about a 'decoy' candidate. [23]
14
Mamdani's allies win New York seats
What happened
- Three candidates backed by New York City's mayor, Zohran Mamdani, won seats in the US House. [41]
- They are Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez. [41]
- Mamdani, a democratic socialist, won the city's mayoral race in 2025. [41]
- Ending US military aid to Israel was central to all three campaigns. [41]
- Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, beat Republican Bruce Blakeman to keep New York's top job. [33]
- Aber Kawas won a New York state senate seat, called by the New York Times. [42] She is the first Palestinian American in a hijab to serve there. [42]
Who is involved
- Kathy Hochul Democrat, won
- Bruce Blakeman Republican, lost
Why it matters

The wins extend a shift to the left in New York City that began with Mamdani's own victory. [41]

How it works

Political scientists call these safe seats: the districts lean so heavily Democratic that the June primaries were the real contest. [41]

Seen it before

In a class where everyone supports one team, the only real vote is who becomes captain.
15
California elects its first Latino governor since 1875
What happened
- Democrat Xavier Becerra was elected governor of California, beating Steve Hilton, the Republican Trump endorsed. [43]
- Becerra, 68, is a former US health secretary and the son of Mexican immigrants. [43]
- He is California's first Latino governor since 1875. [43]
- More than 40% of Californians are Latino. [43] Nearly 1 in 2 children there has an immigrant parent. [43]
- Californians also voted on Proposition 40, a one-time 5% tax on fortunes above $1 billion. [44]
Who is involved
- Xavier Becerra Democrat, won
- Steve Hilton Republican, lost
Why it matters

Becerra has vowed to resist Trump's agenda for the last 2 years of Trump's term. [43]

How it works

Political scientists call it federalism: California has its own government, so Becerra can vow to resist Trump. [43]

Seen it before

Each house in a street sets its own bedtime, whatever the house next door does.
The truth
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether California's billionaire tax, Proposition 40, passed.
  
  None of our sources reports a result, and California counts slowly: in 2024 it finished nine days after Election Day. [44][105]
16
Trump says US military aid to Israel will end
What happened
- Trump said US military aid to Israel will stop at the end of this year. [45] It is worth $3.8bn a year under the current deal. [45]
- He told Fox News that Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, agreed to it 'months ago'. [46]
- The aid comes under a 10-year deal signed by Barack Obama, which began in 2019 and runs until September 2028. [45]
- Trump said Israel can still buy US weapons 'whenever they want'. [45]
- In May, Netanyahu told CBS, a US network, that he wanted to bring US aid 'to zero'. [46]
How it unfolded
1. 2019 the 10-year deal starts
2. Sept 2028 it was due to end
Why it matters

Trump said ending the aid removes 'a bad talking point' for Democrats such as Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed. [47]

How it works

Economists call aid like this a subsidy: one country pays part of another's costs, so ending it moves the bill. [48]
An Israeli finance official said losing 2 years of aid, $8bn, would have to come from citizens' taxes. [48]

Seen it before

When parents stop paying for a phone, the pocket money has to cover it.
The truth
- Israel's finance ministry was surprised: 'No formal document was submitted,' an official told Walla, an Israeli news site. [48]
- Since October 2023 the US has approved $8.8bn in extra military aid, The National reports. [49] That is more than the $7.6bn left in the deal. [49]
- Who gains Republicans attacked over aid to Israel — Trump said ending the aid takes away a 'bad talking point' that Democrats such as El-Sayed used against them. [47]
- Who pays Israeli taxpayers — An Israeli finance official says the lost aid would have to come from citizens' taxes. [48]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether US military aid to Israel really ends this year.
  
  The aid deal runs to September 2028, and Israel's finance ministry says no formal document was submitted. [45][48]
17
Israel's attorney general rebukes the security chief
What happened
- Israel's attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, said the Shin Bet security service had given her no evidence of election fraud. [21]
- Shin Bet's chief, David Zini, is a close ally of Netanyahu. [21] He wants to question Arab party leaders over claims of foreign meddling. [50]
- He has given prosecutors no evidence on 3 of the 4, a report says. [50] They include Mansour Abbas and Ahmad Tibi. [50]
- Arab parties won a record 19 of the Knesset's 120 seats on 27 October. [51]
- Netanyahu's Likud party accused the attorney general of 'obstructing the investigation'. [21]
Who is involved
- Gali Baharav-Miara attorney general
- David Zini Shin Bet chief
Why it matters

Those seats left both Netanyahu and his rival Gadi Eisenkot short of the 61 needed to govern. [53]

How it works

Lawyers call this the burden of proof: she says no one will be investigated without evidence. [21]

Seen it before

A teacher cannot punish a pupil for cheating without showing the copied answers.
The truth
- Law enforcement officials have found no evidence for the fraud claims, Middle East Eye reports. [53]
What comes next

The election committee's chief, Noam Sohlberg, said the official results would still be published on Wednesday. [52]
18
Iran calls the US reply 'unconvincing'
What happened
- Iran's plan would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. [15] Mohsen Rezaei, of Iran's top security council, called the US reply 'not convincing'. [15]
- The strait is a crucial route for oil and gas exports. [54] Both the US and Iran have blockaded it since the war began. [54]
- The plan would take 2 days, if the US meets 7 demands, including lifting sanctions. [15]
- Trump confirmed the US struck Qeshm, an Iranian island in the strait, calling it a 'minor attack'. [15]
- Qatar, which passes proposals between the two sides, says it is working on an interim deal. [54]
Who is involved
- Qatar passes proposals
Why it matters

The war began with US and Israeli strikes in late February. [54] It has pushed up prices around the world. [55]

How it works

Negotiation experts call it an interim deal: Qatar says a first step lets both sides show they keep their word. [54]

Seen it before

Friends who fell out might first agree to share a lunch table before they make up.
The truth
- The US called the strikes defensive, aimed at missile batteries that had fired on US planes. [56] Iran's deputy foreign minister said: 'We are still in a state of war.' [56]
- Who gains Qatar — Passing proposals between the US and Iran in real time puts Qatar at the centre of the talks. [54]
19
Iran hangs two young protesters
What happened
- Iran hanged Amirhossein Maleki and Amirhossein Ebrahimi at Isfahan prison on Tuesday, said Hengaw, a Norway-based rights group. [25]
- They were arrested in January's protests, among the largest challenges to Iran's rulers since 1979. [25]
- They were among 36 people executed this year over those protests, Iran Human Rights says. [25]
- Iran has carried out 691 executions this year. [25]
Why it matters

The hangings come during Iran's war with the US and Israel, amid a wider crackdown on dissent. [25]

How it works

Human rights lawyers call it due process: the right to a fair trial. [25] Rights groups documented torture and forced confessions in both cases. [25]

Seen it before

A referee who sends a player off without looking at what happened has skipped a fair process.
The truth
- 'None of those executed were charged with murder,' Iran Human Rights said. [25] Iran's authorities pointed to the deaths of 4 security officers. [25]
20
Russian strikes kill at least 38 Ukrainians in a day
What happened
- Russian strikes killed at least 38 civilians in Ukraine over 24 hours. [18] They hit an aid centre, a hospice and a hospital. [18]
- At least 33 died when 9 bombs of 3,000kg each hit an aid centre. [18] It was in Komyshuvakha, a village in the Zaporizhzhia region. [18]
- President Volodymyr Zelensky said more than 50 people could be trapped under the rubble. [18]
- In the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, a strike on a hospital wounded 73 people, most of them elderly patients. [18]
Why it matters

Zelensky called the aid centre attack Russia's answer to his offer to extend a local ceasefire in Kherson. [18]

How it works

Lawyers judge strikes by the principle of distinction, and Russia says this one killed 25 soldiers. [18]
A regional official said: 'They had come for help - not to a military facility.' [57]

Seen it before

In dodgeball you may only throw at players in the game, never at people watching.
The truth
- The BBC reported no credible evidence that the site was being used by Ukraine's army. [18]
- Nobody knows yet
  How many people died in Komyshuvakha.
  
  At least 33 are confirmed dead, and Zelensky says more than 50 could be trapped under the rubble. [18]
21
Russia and Ukraine to meet in Abu Dhabi
What happened
- Russia's presidency confirmed that US-led talks with Ukraine will take place in Abu Dhabi on 10 and 11 November. [19]
- They are the first three-way talks since February. [20]
- Russia's team will be led by Vladimir Medinsky, a Putin aide who led earlier talks that failed. [19]
- Germany's chancellor, Friedrich Merz, was asked about a ceasefire. [20] He said: 'I do not see that happening so far.' [20]
- Zelensky hopes the talks open the way to a meeting with Russia's president, Vladimir Putin. [20]
Who is involved
- Vladimir Medinsky leads Russia's team
How it unfolded
1. 10 Nov talks open in Abu Dhabi
2. 11 Nov second day
Why it matters

European officials expect to be in Abu Dhabi, but are unlikely to have a seat at the table. [20]

How it works

Negotiation experts call this mediation: a third party, here US envoy Steve Witkoff, brings two enemies to the table. [19]

Seen it before

When two friends will not speak, a third friend passes messages until they can.
22
The EU sets a slower path for Ukraine
What happened
- The European Commission, the EU's executive, is preparing a more cautious plan for Ukraine's EU membership talks, Politico reports. [58]
- It sets no date for membership and urges Ukraine to speed up reforms to its courts and laws. [58]
- Ukraine could finish talks in 7 policy areas next year, the document says. [58]
- Moldova is now seen as moving faster, so the two countries' bids may be split apart. [58]
- Montenegro's EU minister said it aims to join by 2028. [59] 'We don't want second-grade membership,' she said. [59]
- Ukraine's prime minister rejected permanent limits on its farm exports after it joins. [60]
Who is involved
- Moldova faster
- Ukraine slower
Why it matters

The EU sees membership as tying Ukraine to its institutions and making a new Russian attack harder. [58]

How it works

Political scientists call this conditionality: the EU offers membership only as a country meets its rules, as with Ukraine's reforms. [58]

Seen it before

A club lets you in only after you have kept its rules for a while.
23
Spain's transport minister resigns after the crash
What happened
- Spain's transport minister, Oscar Puente, resigned on Tuesday, 6 days after a train crash near Urda killed 69 people. [14]
- He said a minister 'cannot remain in office after two accidents of this seriousness in less than a year'. [14]
- In January, a derailment on the same Madrid-Seville line killed 46 people. [61]
- He also withdrew from the lists for Spain's early general election. [14]
- All 69 victims have now been identified, including 15 foreigners. [62]
Why it matters

Opposition parties and some government allies had demanded he answer for a rail system many Spaniards now see as unsafe. [14]

How it works

Political scientists call this ministerial responsibility: a minister answers for his department, as Puente did for the rail system. [14]

Seen it before

A team captain says sorry for a loss, even if he did not miss the goal himself.
The truth
- The opposition criticised Puente for seeming to blame human error for the crash. [14]
24
Hoax bomb threats hit 7 flights across Europe
What happened
- Seven passenger planes across Europe were searched or diverted after bomb threats on Tuesday. [63]
- No explosives were found, and Britain's government called them 'malicious hoaxes'. [63]
- Italian fighter jets escorted a Ryanair flight from Dublin into Rome. [63]
- Modlin, one of Warsaw's 2 main airports, closed briefly after a diverted plane landed. [63]
- Four of the flights were Ryanair's, and the others were Wizz Air, LOT and SAS. [63]
Who is involved
- Italian fighter jets escort
Why it matters

Countries are now working together to check whether the threats were coordinated to disrupt air travel. [64]

How it works

Security experts call it a credibility check: crews must judge each threat, and a plane diverts if it seems real. [64]

Seen it before

Even a prank call about a fire makes the fire engine drive out.
The truth
- Investigators had no immediate evidence that a hostile state was behind it. [63]
- Nobody knows yet
  Who sent the bomb threats against 7 European flights.
  
  Investigators had no immediate evidence of a hostile state, and countries are still checking whether the calls were coordinated. [63][64]
25
Poland's leaders clash over the top court
What happened
- Poland's president, Karol Nawrocki, accused Prime Minister Donald Tusk of an illegal power grab over the Constitutional Tribunal. [22]
- The Tribunal can strike down laws. [65] Its 15 judges are elected by parliament for 9 years. [65]
- On Friday its president and his deputy, appointed under the former Law and Justice government, were suspended. [22]
- On Tuesday, 8 judges elected by Tusk's majority met and said they had enough members to resume work. [22]
- Nawrocki attacked Tusk on live TV at a security council meeting, and Tusk got no chance to reply on camera. [22]
Who is involved
- Karol Nawrocki president
- Donald Tusk prime minister
Why it matters

The European Commission and Tusk's government say the court must meet EU rules on impartial judges. [22]

How it works

Lawyers call it judicial independence: judges must be free of politics, and each side says the other broke that. [22]

Seen it before

A football match goes wrong when each team brings its own referee.
26
Yemen's Houthis close in on Aden
What happened
- Houthi forces have advanced to within 80km of Aden. [16] That is the closest since the war's early months in 2015. [16]
- Aden is the temporary capital of Yemen's internationally recognised government. [16]
- The Houthis, an Iran-backed movement, seized Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014. [17]
- Yemen's government reshuffled its cabinet, naming 3 new ministers, including Information Minister Salem Al Awlaki. [16]
- Nearly 300,000 people have been displaced since August. [16]
- Taiz is Yemen's third-largest city, with about 1 million people. [66] Human Rights Watch says the Houthis block its fuel, water and medicine. [66]
How it unfolded
1. 2014 Houthis take Sanaa
2. This week Houthis near Aden
Why it matters

The Houthi push threatens the main road between Aden and the besieged city of Taiz. [16]

How it works

Military historians call it a siege when an army cuts a city's supplies, as the Houthis have done to Taiz. [66]

Seen it before

Blocking the only door to a room means nobody inside can fetch food.
The truth
- The Saudi-led coalition said it shot down a drone near Mecca. [17] The Houthis called that 'a slanderous and recycled lie'. [17]
- Who pays Families in Taiz — With the roads blocked by the fighting, food prices there have risen by at least 50%. [16]
27
Yemen says Iran's Guards and Hezbollah direct the Houthis
What happened
- Yemen's government said 21 agents of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Lebanon's Hezbollah are directing Houthi operations. [67]
- Interior Minister Ibrahim Haidan said they are 14 Guards experts and 7 Hezbollah members. [67]
- He said they help choose ships to attack and build explosive boats and underwater weapons. [67]
- 'This is not a training mission, but a fully fledged general staff,' he said. [67]
Why it matters

If true, it would mean Iran's people are supervising Houthi operations, not just funding and training them. [67]

How it works

Political scientists would call this a proxy war: Yemen says Iran helps plan and direct the Houthis' fighting. [67]

Seen it before

An older brother who gets a younger one to throw the snowball still started the fight.
The truth
- The ministry did not name the 21 agents or give evidence for its claims. [67]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah really direct the Houthis.
  
  Yemen's government named none of the 21 agents and gave no evidence. [67]
28
Syria says it stopped a Hezbollah-linked refinery plot
What happened
- Syria says it arrested 2 members of a Hezbollah-linked cell planning to blow up the oil refinery in Homs. [68]
- Hezbollah, a Lebanese armed group backed by Iran, said it 'categorically denies' any link. [68]
- Hezbollah backed Syria's former ruler, Bashar al-Assad, but is unwelcome under President Ahmad al-Shara. [68]
- Explosive devices were seized, Syria's Internal Security Forces said. [68]
- The arrests came a day after Syrian and Lebanese officials met in Damascus to discuss border security. [68]
Who is involved
- Bashar al-Assad Hezbollah's ally
- Ahmad al-Shara not its ally
How it unfolded
1. A day earlier Syrian and Lebanese officials meet
2. Tuesday arrests over the plot
Why it matters

Syria has repeatedly targeted suspected Hezbollah members since al-Shara's government took power in 2024. [68]

How it works

Security experts call this a pre-emptive operation: stopping an attack before it happens, as Syria says its agents did. [68]

Seen it before

A teacher who takes away the water balloon before break stops the prank before it starts.
The truth
- Syria did not name the suspects or say where they are from. [68]
29
Jordan charges 3 men over the church attack
What happened
- Jordan charged 3 men with terrorism over the shooting at a church funeral in Karak that killed 9 Christians. [69]
- The attack at St George's Greek Orthodox Church on 23 October also injured 34 people. [69]
- It was the deadliest attack on Jordan's Christians since the 1950s. [69]
- Jordan has about 250,000 Christians among its 11 million people. [69]
Why it matters

King Abdullah II said the attackers had 'betrayed' the Jordanian family. [69]

How it works

Lawyers call Jordan's State Security Court a special court: a military judge there brought these charges. [69]
30
Lebanon's power company cuts off government offices
What happened
- Electricite du Liban, Lebanon's state power company, began cutting power to public bodies that have not paid their bills. [70]
- They include the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, some town councils and water companies. [70]
- Beirut's airport avoided a cut with a last-minute payment deal. [70]
- Hospitals with unpaid bills are spared. [70]
- The company can produce only a few hours of power a day, so most people pay for private generators. [70]
Who is involved
- Beirut airport a last-minute deal
Why it matters

The company says the cuts protect public money and are not aimed against the state. [70]

How it works

Accountants call unpaid bills arrears; the company says some public bodies never even contacted it to settle theirs. [70]

Seen it before

When a flatmate never pays for the wifi, the others end up changing the password.
31
King Charles calls slavery a 'monstrous injustice'
What happened
- King Charles opened the summit of the Commonwealth's 56 member countries in Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday. [71]
- He called the slave trade a 'monstrous injustice' that fills his heart 'with horror'. [71]
- He stopped short of an apology or support for reparations. [72]
- Caribbean leaders and campaigners have stepped up their demands for both. [72]
- Britain's prime minister, Andy Burnham, has said he could be open to an apology. [71]
Why it matters

The trade 'still casts a shadow over these islands', the king said. [72]

How it works

Historians call it a historical injustice: the king says the slave trade still shadows these islands. [72]

Seen it before

A family can still be paying off a debt a grandparent ran up long ago.
The truth
- Instead of payments, the king pointed to education, jobs, trade and climate help. [72]
32
The UN elects five judges to the world court
What happened
- The UN elected 5 judges to the International Court of Justice, the UN's top court for disputes between countries. [73]
- The new judges are Britain's Dapo Akande, France's Francois Alabrune and Jordan's Mahmoud Hmoud. [73] Singapore's Rena Lee and Kenya's Phoebe Okowa also won. [73]
- Okowa won 183 votes in the General Assembly and 13 in the Security Council. [74]
- Britain had no judge on the court after Christopher Greenwood lost his seat in 2017. [75]
Why it matters

The court has a record 24 cases pending, including South Africa's genocide case against Israel. [73]

How it works

Political scientists call it a double majority: a judge must win 2 separate votes, one in each UN body. [73]
The Council backed Ecuador's Marcelo Vazquez-Bermudez and the Assembly backed Okowa, until he withdrew. [73]

Seen it before

A school play needs both the teacher and the head to agree on who gets the lead role.

What comes next

The judges' 9-year terms begin on 6 February 2027. [73]
33
The world court will rule on the Rohingya on 19 November
What happened
- The International Court of Justice will rule on 19 November on whether Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya. [76]
- The Rohingya are a mostly Muslim minority, and Myanmar's army drove hundreds of thousands into Bangladesh. [76]
- The Gambia, a West African country, brought the case under the 1948 Genocide Convention. [76] Judges have weighed it for 7 years. [76]
- Myanmar denies genocide and says it fought insurgents who had killed security personnel. [76]
Who is involved
- The Gambia genocide
- Myanmar fighting insurgents
Why it matters

Lawyers are watching it for clues to South Africa's genocide case against Israel. [76]
The truth
- The court has no way to enforce its rulings. [76]
34
The ICC's president says US sanctions aim to block justice
What happened
- Tomoko Akane, a Japanese judge, is president of the International Criminal Court. [77] She accused the Trump administration of trying to obstruct international justice. [77]
- She briefed the UN General Assembly remotely, because of US sanctions. [77]
- The ICC, set up in 2002, tries people for war crimes and crimes against humanity. [77]
- The US put sanctions on the whole court last month, after penalising its officials. [77]
- She asked all 193 UN members, not only the court's 125, to defend it. [77]
Who is involved
- Tomoko Akane ICC president
Why it matters

The US campaign is over the court's investigations into the US and its allies, including Israel. [77]

How it works

Political scientists call it a sanction: a penalty meant to change what someone does, here aimed at the court itself. [77]

Seen it before

Banning the referee from the stadium is one way to stop him giving penalties.
35
Greenland approves more US bases
What happened
- Greenland's parliament ratified a security deal with the US and Denmark on Tuesday. [78]
- It allows 2 new US military bases and Trump's 'Golden Dome' missile defence system. [78]
- Greenland governs itself but belongs to Denmark, and the deal keeps it under Danish control. [78]
- Earlier this year, Trump repeatedly threatened to take control of the island. [78]
Who is involved
- Greenland governs itself
- Denmark keeps control
Why it matters

Foreign Minister Mute Egede said 'peace and stability are no longer something we can take for granted'. [78]

How it works

Scholars of international relations call it a security bargain: Greenland grants bases, and Trump's pressure to take the island eases. [78]

Seen it before

Letting the older kid use your garden can stop him trying to take it.
The truth
- Pele Broberg, who leads the pro-independence Naleraq party, said 'no economic benefit has been gained' from the deal. [78]
36
Hungary picks a new top prosecutor to chase graft
What happened
- Hungary's parliament elected Peter Fejes as prosecutor general, to pursue corruption under former leader Viktor Orban. [79]
- Fejes won 139 votes to 6, and Orban's Fidesz party boycotted the vote. [79]
- Three former ministers are in custody, including a former central bank governor. [79]
- Prime Minister Peter Magyar's Tisza party holds more than two-thirds of the 199 seats. [79]
- Fejes apologised for past decisions of his office, or its failure to act. [79]
Why it matters

Critics say the office shielded Orban's circle during his 16 years in power. [79]

How it works

Political scientists call it transitional justice: Magyar's new government is pursuing ministers from Orban's era. [79]

Seen it before

A new class monitor checks what happened to the lunch money the old one kept.
The truth
- Who gains Peter Magyar's government in Hungary — A prosecutor elected by its two-thirds majority can now pursue the former ministers of Viktor Orban. [79]
37
Czech public media go on strike
What happened
- Czech public media workers went on strike, and thousands rallied across the country. [80] They oppose a plan to change how public broadcasting is paid for. [80]
- Prime Minister Andrej Babis, a billionaire, wants to fund it from the state budget instead of a licence fee. [80]
- The broadcasters would get about 15% less money. [80]
- Babis says 'nobody wants to control public media'. [80]
Why it matters

Critics say it would let the governing coalition control the media, as populist governments did in Slovakia. [80]

How it works

Media scholars call it editorial independence, and protesters fear money straight from the state would let the government stifle it. [80]

Seen it before

A school newspaper paid for by the head teacher may think twice before criticising the head.
38
Britain's top court hears the Palestine Action appeal
What happened
- Britain's Supreme Court began a 2-day hearing on Wednesday on the ban on Palestine Action. [81]
- Britain outlawed the pro-Palestinian group as a terrorist organisation in July last year. [81]
- Showing support for it is a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison. [81]
- About 4,200 people have been arrested since the ban, says Defend Our Juries, a campaign group. [81]
- The ban followed vandalism at an air force base and actions against Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms maker. [81]
How it unfolded
1. July last year the ban begins
2. Wednesday the appeal is heard
Why it matters

The ban puts the group in the same legal category as al-Qaeda. [81]

How it works

Lawyers call this proscription: banning a whole group, so that even showing support for it becomes a crime. [81]
The truth
- The ban has not ended support for the group, and has led to mass arrests, Euronews reports. [81]
39
South Africans vote as the ANC is expected to fall
What happened
- South Africans voted on Wednesday in local elections for nearly 300 municipalities, which run water, power and rubbish collection. [82]
- The ANC led South Africa out of apartheid in 1994. [13] Polls put it below a third of the vote this time. [13]
- It won 45.6% in the 2021 local elections and 40.2% in the 2024 national vote. [13]
- In KwaZulu-Natal, party supporters forced their way into an election storage site, and police dispersed them. [83]
- Only 1.4 million of the 2.6 million people approved for early special votes cast them. [84]
2021 local45.6%
2024 national40.2%
The ANC's share of the vote
Why it matters

No party is big enough to replace the ANC, so many cities face shaky coalition governments. [85]

How it works

Political scientists call it vote fragmentation: when support splits among many parties, nobody wins a majority, so cities need coalitions. [13]

Seen it before

When a class splits its vote between 6 candidates, the winner may have only a few friends.
The truth
- Ramaphosa says the ANC is 'going higher and higher'. [82] Polls and pundits predict further losses. [82]
40
Ethiopia suspends The Reporter newspaper
What happened
- Ethiopia's media authority indefinitely suspended The Reporter, one of the country's few independent news outlets. [24]
- It accused the paper of content that 'contradicts Ethiopia's national interests' and harms investment, tourism and diplomacy. [24]
- The Reporter publishes newspapers in English and Amharic and runs a news website. [24]
- In February, the authorities revoked the licence of another outlet, Addis Standard. [24]
- Ethiopia ranks 148th of 180 countries on press freedom, says Reporters Without Borders, a press-freedom group. [24]
How it unfolded
1. February Addis Standard loses its licence
2. This week The Reporter is suspended
Why it matters

Five journalists are detained, and four face terrorism charges that carry the death penalty, the group says. [24]

How it works

Lawyers would call this rule vague: critics say 'national interests' is used to shut down any critical reporting. [86]

Seen it before

A rule that only says 'no bad behaviour' lets a teacher punish almost anything.
The truth
- Who pays Readers of Amharic news in Ethiopia — With The Reporter suspended, the country's last privately owned Amharic newspaper is shut. [86]
41
Tigray rebels claim heavy army losses
What happened
- Tigray's rebel TPLF claimed it killed 500 Ethiopian soldiers and wounded 800 near Aksum on Saturday. [87]
- Federal troops took Mekelle, Tigray's regional capital, in early October, but TPLF fighters keep counter-attacking. [87]
- The TPLF said phone and internet services were cut in the area. [87]
- Sudan accuses Ethiopia of letting 70 drone attacks be launched from its land since February. [87]
How it unfolded
1. Early October troops take Mekelle
2. Saturday TPLF attack near Aksum
Why it matters

The fighting has raised tension with Eritrea, which Ethiopia accuses of backing armed groups. [87] Eritrea denies it. [87]

How it works

Conflict researchers call it the fog of war: with phones and internet cut, neither side's claims can be checked. [87]

Seen it before

After a playground fight, each side tells its own story and nobody else saw it.
The truth
- Ethiopia's government has not commented, and the figures could not be checked independently. [87]
- Nobody knows yet
  How many soldiers died near Aksum.
  
  The TPLF says 500, Ethiopia's government has not commented, and the figure could not be checked. [87]
42
Kenya registers 50,000 Ethiopians fleeing Moyale
What happened
- Kenya and the UN refugee agency began registering Ethiopians who fled renewed clashes in the border town of Moyale. [88]
- More than 50,000 people have crossed into Kenya since fighting grew in late October. [88]
- The UN counted 50,000 on 29 October, up from 36,000 two days before. [89]
- The clashes began on 20 October after a Somali regional flag was raised on the Ethiopian side of Moyale. [89]
- Moyale is run jointly by Ethiopia's Somali and Oromia regions. [89]
- Many shelter in schools and churches, and most are women and children. [89]
How it unfolded
1. 20 October a Somali regional flag is raised
2. Late October 50,000 cross into Kenya
Why it matters

The arrivals are straining food, water and shelter in Kenya's Marsabit County. [88]

How it works

Refugee lawyers call it temporary protection: people get safety at once, before each case is checked. [89]

Seen it before

A school takes in pupils from a flooded school next door before sorting out their records.
43
Uganda arrests a former deputy army chief
What happened
- Uganda's army arrested Peter Elwelu, a former deputy chief of its armed forces. [90] It accuses him of plans to destabilise part of the country. [90]
- It says it found 15 guns, army uniforms and 2 pick-up trucks with him. [90]
- Army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba had stripped him of his rank of lieutenant general and made him a private. [91]
- Elwelu is held by the army at an unknown place. [90]
Who is involved
- Peter Elwelu former deputy army chief
Why it matters

Elwelu once disagreed with Kainerugaba over military operations, which needed a meeting led by Uganda's president. [90]
The truth
- Uganda's government has not backed up its claims, and his wife says he is innocent. [90]
44
Senegal's parliament blocks the budget
What happened
- Senegal's parliament voted 109 to 20 to block changes to this year's budget. [92]
- The budget is key to a new $2.2bn, 3-year programme from the International Monetary Fund. [92]
- The IMF says Senegal's debt reached 132% of its economy by the end of 2024. [92]
- That followed the discovery of billions of dollars in borrowing the previous government had misreported. [92]
- Ousmane Sonko, the parliament speaker, leads the majority Pastef group and is feuding with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. [92]
Who is involved
- Ousmane Sonko speaker
- Bassirou Diomaye Faye president
Why it matters

The deadlock could delay an IMF board vote planned for as early as next month. [92]

How it works

Political scientists call it the power of the purse: parliament controls spending, so it can block a government's plans. [92]

Seen it before

Parents who hold the money can say no to the trip, whatever the child has planned.
45
The UN peacekeeping chief meets Congo's rebel alliance
What happened
- The head of MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping force in Congo, met leaders of a new rebel alliance in Goma. [93]
- The alliance includes the M23 rebels and is led by Joseph Kabila, Congo's president from 2001 to 2019. [93]
- A Congolese court sentenced Kabila to death in his absence last year, for treason and war crimes. [93]
- M23 seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, last year. [93]
- Congo, the US and UN experts accuse Rwanda of backing M23. [93]
Who is involved
- Rwanda accused of backing
- M23 rebels
How it unfolded
1. 2001 Kabila becomes president
2. 2019 he leaves office
Why it matters

The UN force's mandate is up for renewal next month, and the alliance wants it ended. [93]
The truth
- Alliance vice-president Bertrand Bisimwa called the mission 'a total failure' after 28 years. [93]
46
An Al-Qaeda-linked group killed 27 in Burkina Faso, HRW says
What happened
- Human Rights Watch says an Al-Qaeda-linked group killed at least 27 civilians in northern Burkina Faso. [94] It did so in 2 attacks in September. [94]
- On 1 September the group, JNIM, attacked a gold mining site in Soubo, killing 24 people. [94]
- On 5 September a bomb on a dirt track killed 3 people on a motorcycle, including a child. [94]
- Local people believe JNIM planted it, HRW says. [94]
Why it matters

Human Rights Watch calls the attacks apparent war crimes. [94]

How it works

Lawyers call it the laws of war: they forbid attacking civilians, and those who order such attacks can be prosecuted. [94]
47
Kenya's police chief denies holding a Tanzanian activist
What happened
- Kenya's police chief, Douglas Kanja, told the High Court that police have never held Twaha Mwaipaya, a missing Tanzanian activist. [26]
- Mwaipaya was reportedly abducted on 25 October in Kamulu, in Machakos County. [26]
- The court had ordered police to produce him, dead or alive, after rights groups led by Vocal Africa applied. [26]
- A report of his disappearance was filed at Ruai police station and is being investigated. [26]
How it unfolded
1. 25 October Mwaipaya goes missing
2. Tuesday police chief denies holding him
Why it matters

The hearing is part of a wider case over a wave of abductions in Kenya. [26]

How it works

Lawyers call an order like this habeas corpus: the court told police to produce Mwaipaya, dead or alive. [26]
The truth
- 'We don't abduct and make people disappear,' Kanja told the court. [26]
48
India's navy frees 20 crew from pirates off Somalia
What happened
- India's navy freed all 20 crew of the Azini, an Iranian fishing boat seized by pirates off Somalia. [95] India's defence ministry announced it. [95]
- Pirates had hijacked the boat on 29 October off Somalia's north-east coast. [95]
- Indian marine commandos were dropped from an air force C-17 transport plane and boarded the boat. [95]
- The operation took 48 hours. [95]
How it unfolded
1. 29 October pirates seize the Azini
2. Now all 20 crew freed
Why it matters

Pirates can use a seized boat as a 'mother ship' to attack cargo ships. [95] Officials feared this one would be used in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. [95]

How it works

Navies call it interdiction: tracking a ship and blocking its escape before boarding, as India's warship and aircraft did. [95]

Seen it before

A cat waits by the mouse hole so the mouse cannot run back in.
Good news
- India's navy freed all 20 crew of the Azini, an Iranian fishing boat held by pirates off Somalia, and no one was hurt.
49
North Korea fires missiles for the 4th time in a month
What happened
- North Korea fired several missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Wednesday, South Korea's military said. [96]
- It was North Korea's 4th weapons launch in a month. [96]
- Kim Yo Jong is the sister of leader Kim Jong Un. [96] She said North Korea has 'no need to sit face to face' with the US, which she called hostile. [96]
- Kim Jong Un also visited a shipyard and called for the 'most advanced' warships. [97]
Why it matters

A missile expert says the tests suggest North Korea may be preparing mass production, perhaps for export to Russia. [98]
The truth
- South Korea and the US were still studying exactly what was fired. [96]
50
China says a 'shell' found in Papua New Guinea is a wine bottle
What happened
- A 32kg object was found at a building site in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea's capital. [99] Police arrested 4 Chinese nationals. [99]
- Australia's ABC broadcaster cited unnamed sources calling it an unexploded Chinese 130mm artillery shell. [99]
- China's embassy said it was a 'shell-shaped wine bottle' that 'poses no danger at all'. [99]
- Police had earlier dismissed claims that it was merely a dummy, the Post Courier newspaper said. [99]
Why it matters

Police commissioner David Manning called it 'a very concerning discovery'. [99]
The truth
- The BBC has not checked what the object is. [99]
- Nobody knows yet
  What the object found in Port Moresby is.
  
  China's embassy says a wine bottle, and unnamed sources told Australia's ABC it is a 130mm shell. [99]
51
Gunmen kill 2 police guarding polio workers in Pakistan
What happened
- Gunmen on a motorcycle killed 2 police officers guarding polio vaccinators in Mohmand, in north-west Pakistan. [100]
- A third officer was wounded, and no group claimed the attack. [100]
- Pakistan began a campaign on Monday to vaccinate 24 million children against polio. [100]
- Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where wild polio is still endemic, the WHO says. [100]
Why it matters

The Pakistani Taliban and other groups often attack polio teams, falsely calling the vaccine a Western plot to sterilise children. [100]

How it works

Epidemiologists call this eradication: Pakistan aims to wipe out polio by vaccinating 24 million children. [100]
52
Bangladesh sends paramilitaries as garment protests go on
What happened
- Bangladesh deployed paramilitary forces as garment workers' wage protests ran into a 4th day. [101]
- Protesters threw bricks, and police used batons and tear gas around Dhaka, the capital. [101]
- 58 police officers have been injured since the protests began, police say. [101]
- Bangladesh is the world's second-biggest clothes exporter after China. [102]
- The industry employs about 4 million workers and earns more than 80% of Bangladesh's exports. [102]
Who is involved
- Protesters bricks
- Police batons, tear gas
Why it matters

Brands such as H&M, Zara and Gap are entering their busiest ordering season. [102]

How it works

Economists call it collective action: workers press together for higher pay, as Bangladesh's garment workers are doing. [101]

Seen it before

One pupil asking for a later bedtime is ignored, but a whole class asking gets heard.
The truth
- The protests continue despite the government's new board to review the minimum wage. [101]
- Who pays Garment workers in Bangladesh — Police have filed cases against thousands of unnamed protesters for burning police vehicles and damaging property. [101]
53
Turkey widens its stock-fraud probe
What happened
- Turkey's justice minister, Akin Gurlek, said investigators found 'a comprehensive criminal organisation' reaching high into the financial bureaucracy. [103]
- The probe into alleged market rigging affects the savings of nearly half a million investors. [103]
- Police detained the head of the Istanbul stock exchange days ago. [103]
- Investigators are looking at 433 suspects. [103]
- A senior figure in President Erdogan's AK Party resigned over her investments. [103]
Why it matters

Gurlek says those meant to watch the money used bribes to make the checks useless. [103]

How it works

Economists call it market manipulation: trickery that pushes share prices, which Gurlek says a cartel did to control the market. [103]

Seen it before

A kid who spreads a rumour that a card is rare can sell his own copy for more.
54
Israeli ex-generals help Palestinians pick olives
What happened
- About 30 senior former Israeli officers, including 6 generals, helped Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the West Bank. [104]
- They acted in solidarity amid a rise in attacks by extremist Israeli settlers on Palestinians. [104]
- Former Major General Eyal Ben-Reuven said the attacks remind him of his parents' stories of Jewish suffering. [104]
- 'Occupation is the main problem of Israeli society,' said former Colonel Doron Meinert. [104]
Why it matters

Meinert said Israelis must try to solve the occupation together with the Palestinians. [104]
The truth
- Many Palestinians say the Israeli army enables the settler violence. [104]
Good news
- About 30 former senior Israeli officers, including 6 generals, helped Palestinian farmers bring in their olive harvest in the West Bank.

Democrats win the US Senate, AP projects, as CNN, CBS and CNBC project they have won the House too

54 stories on this beat today.

Why a nationwide swing flips seats that looked safe