World News · Thursday, 5 November 2026

Joshua Wong jailed for 10 more years in Hong Kong, two months before his release

61 stories 110 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.

Allies leaving beaten leaders Building↑

JD Vance, the US vice-president, blamed the Iran war for the midterm defeat a day after the vote. [10]
A Trump adviser said the US defence chief 'could be on the chopping block'. [13]
In Israel, an ultra-Orthodox faction declined to name Netanyahu or anyone else for prime minister. [42]

Ships and bombs in the Iran war High↑

Iran's Guards say 2 tankers and a tug burned in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. [30]
South Korea plans to move a navy unit to about 650km from the strait. [33]
The US sanctioned firms in India and Turkey for supporting Iran. [35]

Critics jailed or silenced High

Joshua Wong got 10 more years in Hong Kong for asking foreign powers for sanctions. [1]
Israeli police held a former Jaffa councillor, not yet charged, a legal group says. [48]
Rebels in eastern Congo raided a radio station and told it to clear its broadcasts. [96]

Anger over living costs Building↑

French authorities expected up to 700,000 people to march against a budget of cuts. [66]
Hundreds of garment factories shut in Bangladesh as workers demanded more than double the minimum pay. [85]
South Africans voted in anger at dry taps and power cuts. [9]

Votes with no clear winner Building→

Israel's two blocs won 53 and 48 seats, short of the 61 needed to govern. [40]
Johannesburg is not expected to have a clear winner in South Africa's count. [7]
New Zealand's two main parties are neck and neck before Saturday's vote. [84]

The stories

61 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
Joshua Wong jailed for 10 more years in Hong Kong, two months before his release

10 years

added to Joshua Wong's time in jail, two months before his release

The judge started at 13 and cut 3 for his guilty plea and mitigation. [2]

400

arrests and more under Hong Kong's national security laws since 2020

Newsrooms have closed and much of the opposition has gone into exile. [5]

20 years

the harshest sentence under the law so far, given to Jimmy Lai

Lai, a former media tycoon, was also jailed for foreign collusion. [1]
What happened
- A Hong Kong judge sentenced Joshua Wong, 30, to 10 more years on Thursday for colluding with foreign forces. [1]
- Wong was due to walk free in January 2027, about 2 months away. [2]
- He pleaded guilty in September, and the judge cut 13 years to 10 for that and other mitigating points. [2]
- Prosecutors said Wong and exiled activist Nathan Law sought foreign sanctions, which are trade and money penalties, on China. [1]
- The alleged conspiracy ran between 1 July and 23 November 2020, Reuters reports. [4]
- Only 2 months and 2 days of the new term overlap with the old one, the judge said. [1]
- The harshest sentence so far went to Jimmy Lai, a former media tycoon: 20 years for foreign collusion. [1]
- Dozens of people queued for hours for a court seat, and foreign diplomats came to watch. [1][3]
- The US consulate 'strongly condemns' the sentence, and China's foreign ministry told others to stop making 'irresponsible' remarks. [3]
- Taiwan's China policy office called it 'endless political persecution'. [2] Amnesty International called the law a tool to punish dissent. [2]
- Wong wrote in letters the Guardian saw: 'The only thing I worry about is that people will forget Hong Kong.' [5]
Who is involved

Wong was the teenage face of Hong Kong's democracy movement, and on Time magazine's cover in 2014. [3]
John Lee, Hong Kong's leader, called Wong and Law among the main culprits who undermined the city's stability. [1]
- Joshua Wong Hong Kong's best-known democracy activist, aged 30; sentenced to 10 more years
- Nathan Law a fellow activist now in exile in Britain; named as his partner in the alleged conspiracy
- Queue dozens waited for hours
- Diplomats sat in court
- Taiwan its China policy office
- Amnesty International a rights group
- William Tam the High Court judge who passed the sentence
- John Lee Hong Kong's leader; called Wong one of the main culprits against the city's stability
How it unfolded

Hong Kong's national security law came in during 2020, after huge pro-democracy protests in 2019 against China's growing control. [1]
Hong Kong's security office counts more than 400 arrests under national security laws. [5] Newsrooms have closed and many opponents have left the city. [5]
Wong is the only activist prosecuted twice under the law. [5] He was already serving 4 years and 8 months for an unofficial 2020 primary election. [3]
1. Now sentenced again
2. January 2027 the release he was due
3. 1 July 2020 alleged plot begins
4. 23 November 2020 alleged plot ends
5. 2019 huge protests
6. 2020 China imposes the national security law on Hong Kong. [1]
7. Now Wong's second sentence
8. 2014 Wong becomes a face of the Umbrella protests and appears on Time's cover. [3]
9. November 2024 Wong gets 4 years and 8 months for an unofficial primary election. [3]
10. September 2026 He pleads guilty to foreign collusion. [2]
11. 5 November 2026 A judge gives him 10 more years. [1]
Why it matters

Observers say the sentence shows the authorities want prominent activists in prison for as long as possible. [6] That scares other people away from activism, they say. [6]
China's government sees Wong as an anti-China figure who backs Hong Kong's independence, a red line for it. [6]

How it works

Legal scholars call this rule by law: repeat charges can keep one critic jailed, as Eric Lai of Georgetown says. [6]
Human Rights Watch says Hong Kong appears to be stacking charges against influential leaders. [1] Wong's new charge, from 2025, covers acts from 2020. [6]

Seen it before

A teacher adds a new detention whenever one pupil's old one is nearly over, so that pupil never leaves.
The truth
- What is really going on In Hong Kong, where choice in elections has been cut since 2019, Joshua Wong got 10 more years two months before his release. [6][1]
- Why it works on people One famous face in black-rimmed glasses stands in for more than 400 arrests, so a reader remembers Wong and forgets the rest. [5]
- The judge cited a US trip before the law came in, and social media posts Wong shared. [3]
- Hong Kong says its enforcement is based on evidence and the law keeps the city stable. [6] Critics say the law silences dissent. [1]
- Who gains Hong Kong's government and China — Its best-known critic stays in jail past January 2027, instead of speaking in public on release. [6]
- Who pays Other Hong Kong activists — Observers say each long sentence scares more people away from civic work. [6]

02
South Africa's ANC at 32% in the first count
What happened
- With about 12% of votes counted, the ANC had about 32%, just ahead of the Democratic Alliance on 31%. [7]
- Few districts have reported from Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, home to some of the biggest cities, so the picture could change. [7]
- A research body, the CSIR, projects a final tally of about 32% for the ANC and 26% for the DA. [7]
- About 12 million of 29.2 million registered voters had voted by 5pm, the election commission said. [9]
Who is involved

The ANC led South Africa out of apartheid under Nelson Mandela in 1994. [8] The Democratic Alliance, or DA, is a centre-right party. [8]
- ANC in power since 1994
- Democratic Alliance centre-right rival
How it unfolded

The ANC won 46% in the last local elections in 2021, down from 62% in 2011. [7]

Why it matters

South Africans are fed up with dry taps, power cuts and unemployment above 30%. [9]
Big cities like Johannesburg are not expected to have a clear winner, so parties get 2 weeks for coalitions. [7]
The result could shape the fight to succeed President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose term as ANC leader ends in 2027. [7]

How it works

Political scientists call this coalition bargaining: no party can rule alone, as in Johannesburg, so each trades posts and policies. [7]
The ANC can partner with the DA, as it does nationally, though they disagree on racial redress. [7] Or it can join the leftist EFF and Jacob Zuma's MK party. [7]

Seen it before

Three friends who want different films agree on one tonight, and another next week.
The truth
- Reuters warns the early count may not mirror the final result. [7] The research body says the ANC's share will hold while the DA's falls. [7]
- Who gains The Democratic Alliance in South Africa — Voters angry at the ANC give it a chance to share power in cities where no party can rule alone. [7]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether the ANC stays ahead of the DA in South Africa.
  
  The count was at about 12%, few big-city districts had reported, and one projection gives 32% and 26% while the count shows 32% and 31%. [7]
What comes next

The declaration of results is expected on Sunday. [7]

03
Vance blames the Iran war, and Trump half agrees
What happened
- JD Vance, the US vice-president, blamed the Iran war on Wednesday for his party's midterm defeat. [10] 'The reason we lost is the war,' he wrote. [10]
- Vance dared others to argue that 'losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it'. [11]
- President Trump then said Vance's view was 'largely true', because the war pushed up petrol prices for a short time. [11]
- But Trump also said he would do it again. [11] He told the New York Times that going to war was 'very wise'. [12]
Who is involved
- Vance the war cost us
- Trump it was very wise
How it unfolded

The US and Israel attacked Iran in February. [10] Vance backed the war in public and reportedly opposed it in private meetings. [10]
1. February the war begins
2. For months doubts stay private
3. Wednesday Vance goes public
Why it matters

Vance has not said he will run for president in 2028, but has been seen as his party's frontrunner. [11]
So the post is widely read as Vance moving away from an unpopular war before that race. [10]
How it works
Why a beaten leader's allies walk away the next morning

Political scientists call it the lame-duck effect: allies follow a leader for what he can do to them later, so when his future shrinks, they stop.

The twist

A leader's hold on his allies rests on the years he has left, not on his title. So his hold can shrink overnight while his title stays the same.

The picture

January 2029Trump's term ends
2028Vance may run
Trump cannot run again, and Vance might. Vance's future runs on past Trump's, and his post came the day after the vote.
Step by step
1. Allies back a leader because he can reward or punish them later
2. Game theorists call that later 'the shadow of the future'
3. A defeat, or a term about to end, shortens that shadow
4. Each ally starts weighing the next leader, not this one
5. Every public break makes the next break safer
The same force, elsewhere today

Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.
- Vance blames the Iran war
  
  He has a 2028 race to think about and Trump does not, so he broke in public on Wednesday over a war he had defended.
- Trump backs Hegseth as an adviser sees a sacking
  
  Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, said out loud that the defence chief has 'a reckoning' coming.
- Herzog starts Israel's coalition talks
  
  Degel HaTorah, a faction from Netanyahu's own camp, chose on Wednesday to name no one rather than name him.
- North Korea turns its back on a Trump meeting
  
  Analysts say Kim now has less reason to meet Trump after the US defeat, because Trump can deliver less.
Where you've seen this

A head teacher who has resigned

staff stop asking her permission and start asking the deputy

A football manager about to go

players stop trying to please him once they know he will not pick next year's team

A company boss retiring in June

managers bring their best ideas to whoever is likely to follow

The catch

A beaten leader still holds real powers, such as a veto and wide room in foreign policy. One EU diplomat told Euronews that Trump may be 'more a mad dog than a lame duck'.

And the whole of it

Vance, Tillis, Degel HaTorah and Kim each did these sums from their own seat, and none of them can see how much power the leader really has left. People far from those rooms, from Israeli taxpayers to tanker crews, live with what they decide next.
The truth
- An AP survey of over 100,000 voters says the war was not top. [12] About 1 in 3 called it crucial, and about half said that of costs or corruption. [12]
What comes next

Vance has said he will decide after this election whether to run in 2028. [12]

04
Trump backs Hegseth as an adviser sees a sacking
What happened
- Asked if he would replace Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump said: 'No, I think he's doing a very good job.' [13]
- But one Trump adviser said Hegseth 'could be on the chopping block' because of the war. [13]
- Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, said Hegseth has 'a reckoning' coming. [13] Tillis said strained ties with lawmakers hurt a $1.5 trillion defence spending plan. [13]
Who is involved

Hegseth runs the US military for Trump, who has called him a champion of the Iran war. [13]
- Pete Hegseth US defence secretary
- Trump a very good job
- An unnamed adviser on the chopping block
How it unfolded

In 2006, President George W Bush fired his defence chief the morning after a midterm loss over the Iraq war. [13]
1. 2006 Bush fires his defence chief
2. Now Trump keeps his, for now
Why it matters

Democrats have promised to investigate Hegseth, including how he handled the Iran war. [13]

How it works

Sociologists call this scapegoating: a group loads its failure on one member, as the adviser predicted when he named Hegseth. [13]
The adviser said: 'Someone is going to get blamed for this and you know it's not going to be him.' [13]

Seen it before

A team loses badly and the owner sacks the coach, though the owner chose the players.

Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican, said out loud that the defence chief has 'a reckoning' coming.
The idea, in story 03: Why a beaten leader's allies walk away the next morning →
The truth
- What is really going on JD Vance, the US vice-president, blamed the Iran war for his party's defeat one day after the vote, and Trump's adviser named the defence chief as a possible sacking. [10][13]
- The US Defence Department says Hegseth is '100 percent committed' to staying until Trump's term ends in January 2029. [13]
05
Mississippi and Alaska are still counting
What happened
- Democrat Scott Colom led Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in Mississippi by 1,138 votes, with almost 96% counted. [15]
- That lead was just 28 votes a day earlier. [16]
- Mississippi still has about 3,600 mail ballots to count, plus an unknown number of provisional ones. [17]
- In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola led Republican Senator Dan Sullivan by 637 votes, with nearly a quarter uncounted. [17]
How it unfolded

Democrats have not won a Mississippi Senate seat since 1982, and Trump carried the state by 22 points in 2024. [15]
1. 1982 last Democratic Senate win
2. 2024 Trump wins by 22 points
3. Wednesday night Colom ahead
4. 13 November certified results due
Why it matters

Democrats have already won at least 54 Senate seats. [17] Winning both would leave them fewer votes short of the 60 that stop a filibuster, a delaying tactic. [17]

How it works

Election scholars call Alaska's method ranked-choice voting: voters number the candidates, so counts can take days or weeks. [17]
If nobody passes 50% in Alaska, the last candidate goes out and those ballots pass to second choices. [17]

Seen it before

Friends vote on a pizza topping, drop the least liked, and vote again with the rest.
The truth
- Mississippi is the only state with no formal rule for an automatic recount. [17] A candidate would need a court order. [17]
- Nobody knows yet
  Who wins Mississippi's Senate seat, and Alaska's.
  
  About 3,600 mail ballots and an unknown number of provisional ones are uncounted in Mississippi, and nearly a quarter of the vote in Alaska. [17]
What comes next

Mississippi's counties have until 13 November to send in certified results. [17]
06
Michigan elects the first Muslim US senator
What happened
- Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat, won Michigan's open Senate seat, media projections say. [18] He is the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. [18]
- 'Michigan, we did it!' he told supporters in Detroit, after beating Republican Mike Rogers. [19]
Who is involved

El-Sayed, 42, is a doctor and former public health official. [18] He ran on lower costs and universal health care. [19]
- Abdul El-Sayed doctor, aged 42
How it unfolded

Haley Stevens, a Democrat he beat in the primary, backed Rogers at the last minute. [19] The seat was held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters. [19]
1. Primary El-Sayed beats Stevens
2. Late on Stevens backs Rogers
3. Election El-Sayed wins
Why it matters

El-Sayed made opposing US military aid to Israel a central promise. [20] Trump named him when he said on election day that the aid would stop. [20]
The truth
- The Hindu reports that Trump himself cited the political cost of the aid for Republicans. [20] Its report does not put a number on how many votes that moved. [20]
07
What a Democratic Congress can and cannot do
What happened
- Democrats will hold at least 54 of 100 Senate seats and gained at least 30 House seats. [14]
- It is the first time Trump has faced a Democratic Congress in both chambers. [14]
- Trump's first public event after the vote marked the final steel beam of his new White House ballroom. [21]
- Robert Garcia, a Democrat due to lead a House oversight committee, said 'Lawyer up' as results came in. [22]
- Garcia named targets including Trump's family, immigration officers and the handling of the Epstein files. [22]
Who is involved

Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, is on track to be the first Black speaker of the House. [14] 'We don't work for Donald Trump,' he said. [14]
Why it matters

From January the US Senate can block Trump's cabinet and judge nominees, and the US House could start an impeachment. [22]

How it works

Political scientists call this divided government: one party has the presidency, another Congress, as in the US now. [22] Trump can reject what Democrats pass. [22]
So Democrats can investigate and block, but their promised cuts to health and fuel costs need Trump's signature. [22]

Seen it before

Two parents must both sign a school form, so one can stop the trip the other wants.
The truth
- Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat, warned the win is not 'a mandate', saying his party is 'deeply unpopular'. [22]
What comes next

The new US Congress meets on 3 January. [17]
08
Five election doubters lose governor races
What happened
- Five Republicans who cast doubt on the 2020 result lost races for governor in swing states on Tuesday. [23]
- They were Andy Biggs, John James, Stacy Garrity, Tom Tiffany and Rick Jackson. [23] Their states were Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia. [23]
- Trump said he was 'absolutely willing' to accept the outcome and would work with Democrats. [24]
How it unfolded

Before the vote, Trump's officials would not rule out sending immigration agents to polling places. [24] Many of those efforts never happened. [24]

Why it matters

In some US states, governors play a major role in running elections, and these states matter in 2028. [23]

How it works

Election lawyers call a gap close enough to fight the margin of litigation, and this gap was far wider. [24]

Seen it before

A football team can argue about one offside goal, but not about a 7-0 defeat.
The truth
- An unnamed Trump adviser told CNN the result was 'too big to rig'. [24] Trump has doubted nearly every election since 2016 except 2024, which he won. [24]
09
Europe asks if a weaker Trump is more dangerous
What happened
- EU officials fear Trump may turn to foreign policy now that Congress will fight him at home. [25]
- One EU diplomat said he 'will be more a mad dog than a lame duck'. [25]
- But EU diplomats also say a Democratic Congress could push Trump to keep sending Ukraine air defence. [25]
- European politicians read a warning at home: anger over prices can sink whoever is in power. [26]
How it unfolded

Spain, Italy, France, Greece and Poland all have elections coming. [26] Italy's Giorgia Meloni has already faced protests over fuel costs. [26]

Why it matters

Marine Le Pen, France's far-right leader, is polling high for the 2027 presidential vote. [27] Politico says the US result helps challengers like her. [26]
The truth
- Irene Tinagli, an Italian opposition politician, says Trump's fall shows what happens when populists fail on promises. [26] She is from Italy's opposition, so she has a stake in that reading. [26]
- Who gains Marine Le Pen in France — Politico says anger at living costs hurts whoever is in power, and she is the challenger for 2027. [26][27]
10
North Korea turns its back on a Trump meeting
What happened
- Kim Jong Un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, said it had 'no need to sit face to face' with the US. [28]
- The same day North Korea tested a new air-defence missile and ran a cruise missile drill at a pretend airport. [29]
- It was North Korea's 4th weapons launch in a month. [29]
- Her words came after the FBI accused North Korea of stealing $6 billion from Binance, a crypto exchange. [28]
Who is involved
- Air-defence missile new design
- Cruise missile hit a virtual airport
How it unfolded

Trump said he 'may' meet Kim Jong Un during his Asia trip this month, then backed off in October. [28]
1. Earlier Trump says he may meet Kim
2. October Trump backs off
3. Wednesday Kim's sister says no need
Why it matters

Analysts say Kim has even less reason to meet Trump after the US midterm defeat. [28]

How it works

Negotiators call this your best alternative to a deal, and professor Lim Eul-chul says Kim's is staying as he is. [28]
In 2019 Kim rode home 60 hours by train after a failed summit. [28] Now Trump makes the offers and Kim holds back. [28]

Seen it before

If you are happy with your old bike, you can wait for a buyer to offer more for it.

Analysts say Kim now has less reason to meet Trump after the US defeat, because Trump can deliver less.
The idea, in story 03: Why a beaten leader's allies walk away the next morning →
11
Iran says ships burn on banned Hormuz routes
What happened
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards, its elite force, said 2 oil tankers and a tugboat burned on unauthorised routes through Hormuz. [30]
- They said one tanker hit a mine on the southern route. [30] A tug sent to fight a second fire also burned. [30]
- A day earlier the Guards said 4 tankers were destroyed by mines and 2 other ships were stopped. [31]
- A 25-year-old Indian sailor, Nahim Gandhar, died when a suspected drone hit a cargo boat of dates off Oman. [32]
Who is involved

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for the world's energy, and Iran claims control of it. [31]
- Nahim Gandhar sailor, aged 25
How it unfolded

The war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February and has been stuck for months. [31] Iran says it will reopen the strait only if its demands are met. [31]
1. February the war starts
2. For months a stalemate
3. Now ships still burning
Why it matters

Iran's chief negotiator says it is 'ready for battle', while its president says nobody gains from more war. [31]
The truth
- Every count of burned tankers comes from the Guards, who also claimed the fires hurt the US politically. [30] None of these reports names the tankers. [30][31]
- Who pays Crews on Gulf cargo boats — They carry the danger of crossing, and a family in Gujarat will bury its son in Oman. [32]
- Nobody knows yet
  How many ships burned in Hormuz, and whose they were.
  
  The Guards said 4 tankers on Wednesday and 2 tankers and a tug on Thursday, and the reports we read rely on them. [31][30]
12
South Korea moves its navy closer to Hormuz
What happened
- South Korea plans to send its anti-piracy navy unit near Duqm in Oman, about 650km from the Strait of Hormuz. [33]
- South Korea's defence ministry says the mission is non-combat, and the unit will work separately from allied forces. [33]
- Its patrol planes may not target or watch Iranian territory, its waters or the inside of the strait. [33]
Who is involved

The Cheonghae unit has patrolled the Gulf of Aden since 2009. [34] It has a 4,400-tonne destroyer, a helicopter and about 300 sailors. [34]
How it unfolded
1. Next week the cabinet
2. After that the National Assembly
Why it matters

The move follows pressure from Trump, who complained that South Korea gave too little help in the Iran war. [33]

How it works

Scholars of alliances call this abandonment and entrapment: a smaller ally dreads being dropped, and being dragged in. [33]
South Korea shows both: Trump scaled back joint drills, so it moves closer, yet it bars its planes from Iran. [33]

Seen it before

You help a friend who is in a fight by holding his coat, but you will not throw a punch.

What comes next

The cabinet is due to back the plan next week, then lawmakers vote. [34]
13
US sanctions Indian firms for fake ship papers
What happened
- The US Treasury sanctioned companies and people in India and Turkey on Wednesday for supporting Iran. [35] The Turkish firm served Iran's airlines, and the Indian network served oil ships. [35]
- It says a network run by Suniel Kumar Sharma gave false flags and certificates to sanctioned ships carrying Iranian oil. [35]
- Ships like that carry no insurance for damage, so an accident could cost billions, the report says. [35]
- Treasury calls the campaign Operation Economic Outcast, and said last week Iran's inflation was around 90%. [35]
- Iran's own figures show its economy down more than 10% from a year earlier. [36]
Why it matters

A Tehran businessman says many Iranians are pleased by the Democrats' wins, and some hope they rein Trump in. [36]

How it works

Economists call these secondary sanctions: they punish outsiders who help the target, as with Sharma's firms in India. [35]
Each helper removed makes it harder for Iran to move oil to buyers. [35] That is the stated aim: to cut the money that funds the war. [35]

Seen it before

A shop bans you, and then bans your friend for buying things for you.
The truth
- Treasury warned it will keep going after anyone who helps Iran, a day after voters punished the war. [35] A Tehran analyst blames US calls for 'unconditional surrender' for stalled diplomacy. [36]
14
Iranian MP threatens US bases in Europe
What happened
- An Iranian lawmaker told Euronews that Iran's missiles would hit Europe if the US used bases in Italy or Germany. [37]
- 'This time we will not let Europe's assistance to America' go without consequence, said Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani. [37]
- Crowds rallied on Wednesday outside the former US embassy in Tehran, on the anniversary of its 1979 seizure. [38][39]
- A huge billboard in central Tehran now reads 'We will kill Trump'. [39]
Who is involved

Ardestani sits on the national security committee of Iran's parliament. [37] State media also warned a new war could reach 'the heart of Europe'. [37]
- Ardestani Iranian lawmaker
How it unfolded
1. 1979 the embassy is seized
2. Wednesday crowds return
Why it matters

EU governments that host US bases now hear they could be targets if strikes on Iran resume. [37] Trump has not ruled out more military action. [36]
The truth
- This is one lawmaker's threat and state media, not a stated government decision. [37]
15
Herzog starts Israel's coalition talks, and Haredi party holds back
What happened
- Isaac Herzog, Israel's president, began talks on Wednesday on who should try to form the next government. [40]
- Israel's election committee certified the 27 October vote after checking 9,069 polling stations. [41] It found no faults that changed the result. [41]
- 'Now is the time to face reality,' Herzog said. [40]
- Degel HaTorah, a Haredi or ultra-Orthodox faction, said it will back no one for prime minister. [42]
- Likud, Netanyahu's party, was last in line on Thursday. [42] It and its allies, including Shas and the far right, said they would name him. [42]
- Netanyahu points to 'serious suspicions' of foreign spending on the vote. [43] A minister from Ben-Gvir's party told Herzog it was 'bought with money'. [44]
Who is involved
- Degel HaTorah ultra-Orthodox faction, backing no one
How it unfolded

Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc won 53 of 120 seats and Gadi Eisenkot's 48, while Arab-led parties won a record 19. [40]
1. Wednesday smallest parties
2. Thursday Likud, the largest
Why it matters

Eisenkot has a major Arab party's backing. [43] The law lets Herzog pick whoever has the best chance, not the largest party. [42]

How it works

Political scientists call this a pivotal party: a small group that decides when no bloc has a majority, as here. [40]
Neither bloc reaches the 61 seats needed. [40] So talk has turned to a joint government, or a deal between Eisenkot and Arab parties. [40]

Seen it before

In a class vote split two ways, the 3 friends who have not chosen decide what the class does.

Degel HaTorah, a faction from Netanyahu's own camp, chose on Wednesday to name no one rather than name him.
The idea, in story 03: Why a beaten leader's allies walk away the next morning →
The truth
- Herzog told a far-right minister that 'everything at this stage is speculation', with no figure shown for any money. [44] The Shin Bet security service is still investigating. [45]
16
Rabbis refuse to let Deri quit after Shas's worst result
What happened
- Aryeh Deri asked on Wednesday to step down as leader of Shas, an ultra-Orthodox party in Israel. [46]
- Shas fell from 11 seats to 6 in the vote, its worst result in more than 3 decades. [46]
- Its council of rabbis said no, ruling that 'the most experienced general is needed to lead the battle'. [46]
Why it matters

The council says that battle is to win blanket exemptions from army service for Haredi religious students. [46]
The truth
- Deri, 67, once went to prison for corruption, and has led Shas for decades. [46]
17
Herzog warns of a West Bank flare-up
What happened
- Israel's president wrote to Netanyahu of a 'highly explosive and dangerous reality' in the West Bank as settler violence rises. [47]
- Herzog wrote that commanders report 'limited tools and a shortage of manpower'. [47]
- He called harm to innocent Palestinians a 'moral disgrace'. [47]
- On Wednesday evening settlers beat 2 people, a Palestinian man and a foreign activist, near Jericho, Wafa news agency reported. [48]
Who is involved

The letter also went to the defence minister, the army chief and the attorney general. [47]
- Israel Katz defence minister
- Eyal Zamir army chief
- Gali Baharav-Miara attorney general
Why it matters

Herzog says the olive harvest and elections in Israel and the US add to the danger. [47] A flare-up would hurt Israel's security, economy and standing abroad, he wrote. [47]
The truth
- The report of the letter describes a warning, and names no new order or step. [47]
18
Israel holds an Arab activist without charge
What happened
- Israeli police detained Abed Abou Shhadeh, a former Jaffa councillor, overnight, and Adalah says there is no charge yet. [48]
- Adalah, a Palestinian legal group, says it is 'a campaign to silence Arab journalists and political activists'. [48]
Who is involved

Abou Shhadeh represented Jaffa's Palestinian community on the city council. [48]
- Abed Abou Shhadeh former city council member
Why it matters

His arrest comes a week after Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats, which Netanyahu's camp disputes. [40]
The truth
- Adalah says he has not been charged, and the report gives no police reason for the arrest. [48] He was due in court on Wednesday. [48]
19
Israel's army saw Hamas chiefs go underground before 7 October
What happened
- Israel's army saw Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif and other commanders enter tunnels on the eve of 7 October 2023. [49]
- It was one of at least 5 warning signs now cleared for publication. [49]
- Others were Hamas fighters taking covers off rocket tunnels and moves in its anti-tank missile units. [49]
- Around midnight the army learned Deif's emergency command post had been switched on. [49] It sent a drone from the West Bank to look. [49]
Why it matters

Until Wednesday most of these signs were classified, so Israelis are only now learning how much was seen that night. [49]

How it works

Intelligence scholars call this signal and noise: warnings look clear only afterwards, and this one was a mystery to officers. [49]
Deif had in fact entered the post, the army later confirmed. [49] At the time, officers could not tell if it was him or an aide. [49]

Seen it before

A smoke alarm that often goes off for burnt toast gets ignored on the night of a real fire.
The truth
- These details come from the army's own investigation, chosen by security officials for release. [49]
20
Israel scrambles after Trump's aid announcement
What happened
- Trump's statement that $3.8 billion a year in US military aid will end this year caught Israeli officials off guard. [50]
- Israel's defence ministry would need other money for major arms deals due in the coming year. [50]
- Yair Lapid, a former prime minister, said the US result shows Israel 'cannot afford' for Netanyahu to stay. [51]
How it unfolded

The 10-year US aid agreement does not expire until the end of September 2028. [50]
1. This year Trump's date
2. September 2028 the agreement's end
Why it matters

Israel's taxpayers would carry the cost, or other parts of the budget would be cut. [50]
Eisenkot has promised to 'deepen' ties with the US across both parties. [43]

How it works

Economists call this a budget constraint: money for one use comes from another, as with Israel's arms deals. [50]

Seen it before

If your pocket money stops, the phone you are paying off now comes out of what you spend on food.
The truth
- The Times of Israel writes 'if' Trump's statement is accurate and he follows through, so the date is not settled. [50]
- Who gains Gadi Eisenkot in Israel — The US result lets his side call Netanyahu 'toxic' and promise better ties with both US parties. [51][43]
- Who pays Israeli taxpayers — If US aid stops early, the arms bill falls on them or on other parts of the budget. [50]
- Nobody knows yet
  When US military aid to Israel really ends.
  
  Trump says this year, and the written agreement runs to September 2028. [50]
21
A Gaza teacher is shot in her tent classroom
What happened
- Sahar Abushbeika, a teacher in Khan Younis, says an Israeli bullet hit her back during a lesson on 30 September. [52]
- She told Middle East Eye she heard a drone and a small explosion first. [52]
- Many pupils get about 3 hours of lessons a day, 3 days a week. [52] Her school has no tables or chairs. [52]
How it unfolded

More than 97% of Gaza's schools have been destroyed or damaged, the report says. [52]

Why it matters

Volunteer teachers like her are trying to help children make up for years of lost schooling. [52]
The truth
- This is the teacher's own account to one outlet, and the report carries no reply from Israel's army. [52]
22
Saudi Arabia and Syria sign a defence deal
What happened
- Syria and Saudi Arabia signed a defence agreement and more than $403 million in Saudi loans on Wednesday in Riyadh. [53]
- The loans go to energy, housing, health and infrastructure in Syria. [53]
Who is involved

Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's president, met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on his second visit in under a month. [53]
- Ahmed al-Sharaa Syria's president
- Mohammed bin Salman Saudi crown prince
How it unfolded

Days earlier, Syria's foreign minister said it is weighing a mutual defence pact with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. [53]

Why it matters

Saudi Arabia wants defence help in a renewed war with Yemen's Houthis, who have hit its airports and oil sites. [53]

How it works

Scholars of alliances call this hedging: adding partners, and Saudi Arabia is asking the US, Europe and Middle East states. [53]

Seen it before

You keep two friends who can drive you home, in case one is busy.
The truth
- Syria's foreign ministry calls the defence deal the 'most notable', but did not give its terms. [53][54]
- Nobody knows yet
  What Saudi Arabia and Syria agreed on defence.
  
  Syria calls the deal its most notable, and did not disclose the terms. [53]
23
Iraq's prime minister visits Bahrain
What happened
- Ali Al Zaidi made the first visit to Bahrain by a leader of Iraq since 2003. [55]
- Al Zaidi's office said the 2 countries share 'a common security' and should favour dialogue in the region. [55]
Who is involved
- Ali Al Zaidi Iraq's prime minister
- King Hamad Bahrain's king
How it unfolded
1. 2003 Iraq's old order falls
2. Wednesday first PM visit since
Why it matters

Al Zaidi invited King Hamad to visit Iraq, and both sides spoke of closer economic and political ties. [55]

How it works

Since May, Al Zaidi has been moving to repair ties with Gulf states. [55] He says he came to 'revive the historic relationship'. [55]

Seen it before

Two neighbours who stopped talking start again with one knock at the door.
24
Bodycam shows the second bomb at Komyshuvakha
What happened
- Ukraine's police released bodycam video from an officer killed in the 2 Russian strikes at Komyshuvakha, in southern Ukraine. [56]
- The death toll is at least 40, and Zelensky says more than 30 people may still be under rubble. [56]
- In it, a radio warns of more bombs, and an officer shouts for people to run to a shelter. [56]
- Seconds later the shelter, at least 2 floors underground, is hit and the recording stops. [56]
- Ukraine says 9 glide bombs hit, some weighing 3,000kg, as people gathered for aid. [56]
- The BBC's checking team confirmed the video was filmed at the same place as footage of the aftermath. [56]
- Russian attacks also cut power and water for hours across Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, and the land around it on Wednesday. [58]
Why it matters

Police officers and rescue workers were among the dead. [57]

How it works

Weapons researchers call this a double tap: a second strike on one place, as Ukraine says this was. [56]
Zelensky says bombs first hit people seeking aid, then the rescuers and police who came to the scene. [56]

Seen it before

A bully hits one pupil, waits for the friends who come to help, and hits them too.
The truth
- Russia's military has not publicly commented on this strike. [56] Zelensky says there has been 'very little reaction from the world'. [56]
- Nobody knows yet
  How many people are still under the rubble at Komyshuvakha.
  
  Zelensky says more than 30 may be, a regional official says 59 are missing, and Russia has not commented. [56][61]
25
Melania Trump to host Russia and Ukraine at the White House
What happened
- Melania Trump, the US first lady, was due to host Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House on Thursday. [59]
- Peskov, Russia's spokesman, said it depended on 'logistical arrangements' working out. [59]
- Zelensky gave Melania Trump Ukraine's highest award for women, the Order of Princess Olga. [60]
Who is involved

Lubinets and Lantratova are their countries' human rights chiefs. [60] Dmitriev is a senior Russian official, and Arakhamia leads Zelensky's party in parliament. [60]
- Russia Kirill Dmitriev, Yana Lantratova
- Ukraine Dmytro Lubinets, Davyd Arakhamia
- Lubinets Ukraine's rights chief
- Lantratova Russia's rights chief
How it unfolded

Lubinets and Lantratova travelled together last week into Oleshky, a Russian-held town, to get civilians out during a brief truce. [60]
1. Last week truce and evacuation at Oleshky
2. Thursday White House
3. Next week Abu Dhabi talks
Why it matters

The meeting comes before US-led talks in Abu Dhabi on ending the war, now in its 5th year. [61]

How it works

Diplomats call this humanitarian diplomacy: starting with civilians' safety, as the rights chiefs did at Oleshky. [60]
The 2 rights chiefs went into Oleshky together, which the BBC calls an unusual show of cooperation. [60]

Seen it before

Two children in a fight still swap homework notes before they can talk about the fight.
The truth
- Trump's White House says she secured the truce herself. [60] Both sides thanked her, but neither said how far she was involved. [60]
26
Zelensky flies to Madrid and hopes for US aid
What happened
- Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president, made a surprise visit to Madrid on Wednesday, kept secret until his plane landed. [62]
- He came for meetings during the Ibero-American summit of 22 nations, including Spain's prime minister and king. [62][63]
- He told German television that Democrats 'speak very clearly' about supporting Ukraine. [64]
Why it matters

He says more US aid could affect Vladimir Putin, Russia's president, and thanked Republicans as well. [64]
The truth
- EU officials note that Trump keeps more room for manoeuvre in foreign policy, whoever holds Congress. [25]
27
Ukraine's drones hit a Russian online shop's warehouse
What happened
- A Ukrainian drone set fire to a warehouse of Ozon, a Russian online retailer, in Adygeysk on Wednesday. [65]
- It was the second attack on that site. [65] Ukraine has hit dozens of warehouses of Ozon and its rival Wildberries since July. [65]
Who is involved
- Ozon Russian online retailer
- Wildberries its rival
Why it matters

Ukraine aims to hurt Russia's economy and war effort, while battle lines on the ground barely move. [65]

How it works

Military planners call this strategic attack: hitting what pays for a war, not the front, as with Ozon's warehouses. [65]

Seen it before

A shop that cannot beat its rival on price blocks the rival's delivery van instead.
The truth
- Russia has mounted similar attacks on Ukrainian commercial sites. [65]
28
France strikes over the budget
What happened
- French authorities expect 500,000 to 700,000 people to march on Thursday, with 80,000 in Paris, as unions strike. [66]
- Hospital workers, air traffic controllers, post office staff, teachers and rail staff are all called out. [27]
- The interior minister sent 70,000 police and promised 'an extremely firm response' to violence. [66]
- Paris police banned a main march route from Bastille to Concorde. [66] Rennes, Toulouse and Lyon pushed marches out of their centres. [27]
- The CFDT union expects a turnout like the 2023 pension protests, when over 1 million marched. [66]
How it unfolded

High school pupils began protesting over poor conditions, and riots on 17 October were France's worst in years. [66]
1. Weeks ago pupils start protesting
2. 17 October the worst riots in years
3. Thursday unions join
Why it matters

France's government is struggling to pass a budget of cuts with public debt near 120% of economic output. [27]
President Emmanuel Macron has only months left in office, and Marine Le Pen polls high to replace him next spring. [27]

How it works

Economists call this austerity: spending cuts to reduce debt, which French rail unions say would freeze pay and worsen poverty. [27]
Unions want a higher minimum wage, which has had no extra rise since 2012. [66] The budget fight has joined anger over living costs and schools. [27][66]

Seen it before

A family in debt stops the pocket money first, and the children go on strike at the dinner table.
The truth
- Sophie Binet, who leads the CGT union, calls the protest limits a 'dangerous authoritarian drift'. [27] An attempted murder inquiry covers petrol bombs thrown at security forces in Paris. [66]
29
An Aer Lingus flight diverts on a bomb alert
What happened
- An Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Rome diverted to a French military base at Evreux after a bomb alert. [67]
- The French prime minister's office said it was monitoring the situation closely. [67]
- The Airbus A320 circled Chartres, then flew past Evreux without touching down, the report said. [67]
How it unfolded

2 days earlier, 7 planes across Europe were searched or diverted after hoax bomb alerts. [67]
1. Tuesday 7 planes searched or diverted
2. Thursday Aer Lingus diverted
Why it matters

That makes 2 waves of alerts in one week for Europe's airlines and their passengers. [67]

How it works

A cheap false alarm can cost a lot: hoax alerts sent 7 planes to be searched or diverted. [67]

Seen it before

A pupil rings in a fake fire alarm, and the whole school stands in the yard for an hour.
The truth
- The report we read was written with the plane still in the air, so the outcome is not known here. [67]
30
A top Bavarian politician is found dead in Berlin
What happened
- Hubert Aiwanger, 55, deputy leader of Bavaria, was found dead in a Berlin hotel on Wednesday, police said. [68]
- He was in Berlin to open a party office, but missed the event feeling unwell, the Bild daily reported. [68]
Who is involved

He led the populist Free Voters party and was Bavaria's economy minister. [68]
- Hubert Aiwanger Free Voters leader, aged 55
How it unfolded

In 2023 he faced a national row over reports he wrote an antisemitic pamphlet as a 17-year-old schoolboy. [68]
1. 2023 the pamphlet row
2. Wednesday found dead
Why it matters

Markus Soeder, Bavaria's premier, called it an 'absolute tragedy', and the Free Voters were his junior partners in government. [68]
The truth
- The cause is not clear, and prosecutors have opened an inquest to rule out anyone else's involvement. [68]
- Nobody knows yet
  How Hubert Aiwanger died.
  
  Police and prosecutors have opened an inquest, and the cause is not yet clear. [68]
31
Serbia arrests police over a torture claim
What happened
- Serbia detained police officers on Wednesday accused of torturing protesters in a government garage in Belgrade in August 2025. [69]
- State broadcaster RTS said Igor Zmiric, commander of the special anti-terrorist unit, was among them. [70]
- Serbia's interior ministry says the officers used force and threats to get information and punish people. [70]
- One woman detained in August 2025 had accused Zmiric of kicking her as she lay on the floor. [70]
Who is involved
- Igor Zmiric special unit commander, RTS says
How it unfolded

Protests began after a station canopy killed 16 people in Novi Sad in 2024. [69] On 25 October a student list ousted the ruling party. [69]
1. 2024 canopy kills 16
2. August 2025 the garage
3. 25 October students win
Why it matters

A student-led movement that grew from these protests won the election last month. [70]

How it works

Political scientists call this transitional justice: holding an old order's servants to account, as Serbia's ministry did after the vote. [69]
The events date from August 2025, and these arrests came after the party loyal to Vucic lost. [69]

Seen it before

A new head teacher finally reads the complaints the last one kept in a drawer.
The truth
- The Guardian's report says 9 serving officers and 1 former, while Euronews says 8 serving and 1 former. [69][70]
- Nobody knows yet
  How many Serbian officers are being held.
  
  The Guardian counts 9 serving and 1 former, and Euronews 8 serving and 1 former. [69][70]
Good news
- Student groups who repeatedly accused police of brutality now see officers in custody. [70]
32
Hungary opens its secret police files
What happened
- Hungary released its communist-era secret police 'agent files' on Wednesday, with an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 agent names. [71]
- Prime Minister Peter Magyar called it one of the promises of 1990, 'later denied and lied about'. [71]
- Politicians, clergy and TV personalities appear in the registers, along with many people with no public role. [71]
How it unfolded

Soviet tanks crushed Hungary's uprising on 4 November 1956, and decades of dictatorship followed. [72] The files open on that anniversary, 36 years after the system changed. [72]
Since 1997 Hungarians could read their own files, but never learn who informed on them. [72]
1. 4 November 1956 Soviet tanks
2. 1990 the regime ends
3. Wednesday the files open
Why it matters

Some informers acted by choice, while others passed on information without knowing it. [72] DW says the release is sure to spark more debate about guilt from that era. [72]

How it works

Historians call this lustration: exposing who served a fallen regime, as Hungary's new government has now done with these files. [71]
For decades, Magyar says, limits on access allowed blackmail and pressure on those named. [71] Open files, he argues, take away that hold. [71]

Seen it before

A secret only one classmate knows can be used against you, until everyone knows it.
The truth
- Critics blame past governments' reluctance on fear of naming their own public figures, across all parties. [71]
Good news
- Hungary opened its communist-era secret police files to the public for the first time, 36 years after the system changed.
33
Montenegro could join the EU in 2028
What happened
- The EU said on Wednesday that Montenegro could finish its entry talks this year and join in 2028. [73]
Who is involved

Montenegro, a Balkan country of 630,000 people, leads the 9 countries seeking membership. [73]
How it unfolded

The last country to join the EU was Croatia, in 2013. [73]
1. This year talks could end
2. 2028 membership
3. 2013 Croatia joins
4. 2028 Montenegro may
Why it matters

All 27 members must still ratify a treaty, and Montenegro must still reform on rights and financial services. [73]

How it works

Lawyers call the EU's rule book the acquis: a candidate like Montenegro rewrites its laws to match it. [73]

Seen it before

Joining a club means agreeing to every rule it already has, before you get a key.
Good news
- Montenegro could finish its EU entry talks this year and join in 2028, the first new member since Croatia in 2013.
34
EU warns Georgia it is on a collision course
What happened
- Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, said Georgia's government is on 'a collision course' over its slide from democracy. [74]
- EU foreign ministers will hold a 'deep dive' on new measures in January. [74]
- The EU's yearly report finds new limits on civic life and worse rights in Georgia, a candidate to join. [74]
How it unfolded

Hungary and Slovakia blocked sanctions on Georgian officials in 2024. [74] Viktor Orban has since lost power in Hungary. [74]
1. 2024 Hungary and Slovakia block
2. This year Orban loses power
3. January ministers talk again
Why it matters

Sanctions need every member to agree, so Orban's fall could remove one block on them. [74]

How it works

Political scientists call this a veto player: one member who can stop a decision, as Hungary could until Orban fell. [74]

Seen it before

One friend refusing to go means the whole group stays home.
The truth
- Kallas said it is too early to say if she will propose sanctions, because members still differ. [74]
35
Germany and the EU's chief clash over Canada
What happened
- Ursula von der Leyen, who runs the EU's Commission, wants Canada as an 'associate member' of the EU. [75]
- Germany led a push to cut the phrase from a joint statement of all 27 governments. [75] Hours later she used it in Montreal. [75]
Who is involved
- Ursula von der Leyen associate member
- Friedrich Merz not that word
How it unfolded

Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor, once floated that same status for Ukraine, and it was rejected, including by Ukraine. [75]
1. First phrase removed
2. Hours later she says it in Montreal
Why it matters

Germany also wants 'hundreds of billions' cut from the EU's next budget of around 2 trillion euros. [75]
The truth
- This comes from 4 unnamed diplomats who spoke to Politico. [75]
36
Spain's rail chief quits after the Toledo crash
What happened
- Luis Pedro Marco de la Pena, head of Spain's rail infrastructure company Adif, resigned on Wednesday. [76]
- Adif runs Spain's tracks, signals and traffic control. [76] It is under scrutiny after the crash that killed 69 people near Toledo. [76]
- Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez named a temporary transport minister, Carlos Cuerpo, after Oscar Puente quit on Tuesday. [76][77]
Who is involved
- Marco de la Pena head of Adif
- Carlos Cuerpo new transport minister
How it unfolded

The crash was Spain's second deadly rail accident this year, after 46 died near Adamuz in January. [76]

Why it matters

Spain votes on 29 November, and most polls predict Vox, a far-right party, could enter government as a junior partner. [26]
The truth
- A day earlier a senior official said there were no plans to remove him, and dismissed rumours about Puente. [76] Both then went. [76]
37
Kosovo protests a killing the police were warned about
What happened
- Arlinda Zekaj, 49, was killed with an axe in Kosovo on 25 October, soon after police drove her home. [78]
- She had asked police for protection from her husband's family, DW reports, and was told she was exaggerating. [78]
- The alleged killer, her brother-in-law Albert Sylaj, had fled by the time officers came. [78]
- It was the 8th femicide, the killing of a woman for being a woman, in Kosovo in 2026. [78]
- Feminists poured red paint on the steps of Kosovo's government, under a banner saying 'The state killed Arlinda'. [78]
Who is involved
- Albert Sylaj the alleged killer, fled
How it unfolded
1. Evening police drop her home
2. Minutes later officers find her body
Why it matters

Thousands marched across Kosovo on 1 November, many carrying photographs of murdered women. [78]

How it works

Police drove Zekaj home after she reported her husband, though she had asked for protection from his family. [78]

Seen it before

A goalkeeper who leaves the net just as the other side shoots has picked the worst moment.
The truth
- DW says police and prosecutors ignored her pleas, and that this is what made the killing possible. [78]
38
UK MPs warn parliament could fail 'catastrophically'
What happened
- A committee of MPs warned on Wednesday that delays in repairing Britain's parliament building risk 'catastrophic failure'. [79]
- The building has crumbling stone, old wiring, leaks and high asbestos, and parts are over 900 years old. [79]
- Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, its chair, warned of a blaze like Notre Dame's, and of injury or death. [79]
Who is involved
- Geoffrey Clifton-Brown committee chair
How it unfolded

MPs first voted in 2018 to move out for repairs, then disagreed about going ahead. [79]
1. 2018 vote to move out
2. Since no agreement
3. Later this year more votes
Why it matters

The repairs need billions of pounds, and MPs have not agreed how to proceed. [79]

How it works

Engineers call this deferred maintenance: a repair waits, and the bill and danger grow, as with MPs' indecision. [79]

Seen it before

A small leak in a roof costs little this week and a new ceiling next year.
The truth
- Parliament's own members have been unable to decide how to go ahead, and both houses vote again later this year. [79]
39
UK is 'dangerously' reliant on China for minerals
What happened
- UK MPs say Britain is 'dangerously' dependent on China for minerals needed for weapons, clean energy and AI. [80]
- China dominates the refining of 7 kinds of mineral, including lithium for electric cars. [80]
- MPs heard demand for lithium could rise 45-fold by 2030, and for rare earths 16-fold. [80]
- Rare earths are metals used in magnets for military jets, and in cars and washing machines. [80]
Why it matters

Liam Byrne, the chair, says Britain cannot rearm or build AI without securing them. [80]

How it works

Economists call this a supply bottleneck: one stage most goods pass through. [80] MPs heard the bottleneck is the processing stage. [80]

Seen it before

If everyone's homework goes through one photocopier, its owner decides when it comes out.

What comes next

The MPs want a central policy and a finance fund for mines. [80]
40
Indonesia sends 20,000 troops to Jakarta in a wiretap scandal
What happened
- Indonesia's military has deployed more than 20,000 troops and personnel to Jakarta, its capital, a navy officer said. [81]
- It comes after police arrested 3 senior officers accused of tapping the phone of President Prabowo Subianto. [81][82]
- Police say journalists, politicians and business people were tapped too, without any legal basis. [81][82]
- Prabowo's spokesman said it may count as 'leading to treason'. [82]
Who is involved

One is Listyo Sigit Prabowo, 57, no relation, a former national police chief. [82] He became Prabowo Subianto's chief of staff last month. [82]
- Listyo Sigit Prabowo ex-police chief, aged 57
- Prabowo Subianto Indonesia's president
Why it matters

Prabowo is already under pressure over the economy and wildfires, and reshuffled his cabinet for a 7th time last month. [82]

How it works

Adrianus Meliala, an Indonesian criminologist, strongly suspects the tapping served other parties, not the state or police. [81] If proven, he says, it was political manoeuvring. [81]

Seen it before

Someone who secretly reads a friend's messages knows their plans before they share them.
The truth
- The army calls the deployment 'standard procedure', and officials have not confirmed it is linked to the scandal. [81] The suspects have not answered publicly. [81]
- Nobody knows yet
  Why Indonesia's police chiefs tapped the president's phone, if they did, and why 20,000 troops went to Jakarta.
  
  Indonesia's government says the motive is not yet known, and its army has not linked the troops to the case. [81][82]
41
A Seoul court upholds Yoon's election conviction
What happened
- A South Korean appeals court upheld ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol's 18-month suspended sentence for lying on the campaign trail. [83]
- Yoon had lied about his ties to a shaman, among other things, the court found. [83]
How it unfolded

Yoon declared martial law in December 2024, and has already been sentenced to life in prison for insurrection. [83]
1. December 2024 martial law
2. Later life sentence for insurrection
3. Wednesday election conviction upheld
Why it matters

If the top court agrees, his old party must repay 39.7 billion won, or $29.6 million, to the election commission. [83]

How it works

Lawyers call this a clawback: public money returns if a condition breaks, as with South Korea's campaign refunds. [83]

Seen it before

A shop refunds your bus fare if you buy, and asks for it back if you return the goods.
The truth
- Yoon's lawyers call the ruling 'unjust' and say they will appeal to the Supreme Court. [83]
42
New Zealand votes on Saturday, too close to call
What happened
- New Zealand votes on 7 November, with polls showing the governing National Party and Labour neck and neck. [84]
- Neither is on course to win enough seats to govern alone, so smaller parties may decide it. [84]
- Labour promises cheaper healthcare and transport, and National promises to return the budget to surplus. [84]
- The populist New Zealand First wants major power companies broken up. [84] The Greens want a publicly owned supermarket chain. [84]
Who is involved
- Christopher Luxon National, prime minister
- Chris Hipkins Labour, opposition
- Labour cheaper care and transport
- National a budget surplus
- New Zealand First break up power firms
- The Greens a public supermarket chain
How it unfolded

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon survived 2 attempts by his own MPs to remove him, in April and August. [84]
1. April first attempt
2. August second attempt
3. 7 November the vote
Why it matters

Most parties are campaigning on the economy, and smaller ones on both sides target power companies and supermarkets. [84]

How it works

Political scientists call this mixed-member proportional voting: 2 ballots, with party shares setting the seats in New Zealand's 120-seat parliament. [84]
A party needs 5% of the party vote, or one local seat, to get in. [84] Since 1996 only one government, Labour's in 2020, has ruled alone. [84]

Seen it before

A class votes for a team list and a captain separately, so the list shows what everyone really wants.
43
Bangladesh promises new garment pay from December
What happened
- Bangladesh's wage board agreed on Wednesday to a new garment pay structure from December, on the 5th day of protests. [85]
- It has not set the amount. [85] Workers want the monthly minimum raised to 30,000 taka, or $242, from 12,500 taka. [85]
- Police used tear gas and sound grenades in Savar and Gazipur, and hundreds of factories have shut this week. [85]
Why it matters

The industry employs about 4 million people and earns more than 80% of Bangladesh's exports. [85]
An Indian official source told The Hindu the unrest narrows Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's chance of an India visit. [86]

How it works

Economists call this collective bargaining: workers bargaining together, here on a board with workers and factory owners. [85]

Seen it before

One child asking for later bedtime gets a no, but all of them asking at once gets a talk.
The truth
- The board's first meeting set a date and no number, so nobody knows yet what workers will get. [85]
- Who pays Bangladesh's garment workers — Factories shut around them, and no pay figure has been agreed yet. [85]
Good news
- First pay on the new scale is due in January, the workers' representative says. [85]
44
Thailand tells China to ask for 2 Uyghur men in court
What happened
- Thailand said on Wednesday that China must make a formal extradition request if it wants 2 Uyghur men returned. [87]
- The men wrote letters pleading not to be sent back, fearing abuse or torture. [87]
Who is involved

The 2 men, from China's Uyghur minority, have been held in Thailand for more than a decade. [87]
How it unfolded

Thai authorities detained more than 300 Uyghurs in 2014, and sent 40 men back to China last year. [87] Its security chief says courts decide this time. [87]
1. 2014 300 Uyghurs detained
2. Last year 40 sent back
3. Now a court to decide
Why it matters

If a court rules for them, they could go to another country. [87] If it rules against them, they will be extradited under the treaty. [87]

How it works

Lawyers call this non-refoulement: not sending someone back to possible torture, the fear activists raise over these men. [87]
The truth
- China's foreign ministry says the two countries' cooperation follows the law, and did not comment on the 2 men's fate. [87]
45
A UN panel praises Pakistan's marriage-age law
What happened
- A UN committee welcomed Pakistan's 2025 law raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 for boys and girls. [88]
- The committee still worries about the high number of child brides. [88] It asked how well the measures are working. [88]
- Members also asked about bonded labour, when workers are held to pay off a debt. [88]
Why it matters

Members also asked about rebuilding after the 2022 and 2025 floods. [88]
Good news
- A UN committee welcomed Pakistan's 2025 law raising the minimum age of marriage to 18 for both girls and boys.
46
Salvadoran soldiers patrol Haiti as the search goes on
What happened
- Haiti's police found the burned truck of 4 missing Salvadoran aviation technicians, but no sign of the men. [89]
- The truck was outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, in gang-held Croix-des-Bouquets. [90]
- El Salvador's government says more than 2,000 of its soldiers are in Haiti. [91] President Nayib Bukele posted videos and wrote: 'Gather your gangs so we can go fight with them.' [90]
How it unfolded

The technicians vanished in an ambush on 18 October. [89]
1. 18 October the ambush
2. This week the truck is found
Why it matters

The UN says the Salvadoran troops are outside its gang suppression force, and must follow international law. [89]

How it works

Lawyers call this the chain of command: who answers for soldiers. [89] Haiti and El Salvador have not said the same. [89]

Seen it before

If a visiting coach brings his own team to your school, somebody has to say whose rules they play by.
The truth
- Bukele also wrote that some in Haiti finance the gangs or supply their weapons. [89]
- Nobody knows yet
  Where the 4 Salvadoran technicians are, and who commands the soldiers searching for them.
  
  Police found only their burned truck, and Bukele has not confirmed Haiti's claim to command foreign forces. [89]
47
A US judge stops Afghan deportations for now
What happened
- A federal judge in New York barred the Trump administration from sending Afghans to Afghanistan or Pakistan this week. [92]
- Judge Valerie Caproni's order expires on Saturday, 7 November. [92]
- US media reported that more than 150 Afghans would be deported through Pakistan. [93]
Why it matters

Advocates and dozens of US lawmakers warned that their lives would be at risk. [92]

How it works

Lawyers call this a temporary restraining order: a short stop until a judge can look properly, as Caproni's order is. [92]

Seen it before

A referee stops play for a moment to look at a replay before giving a decision.
The truth
- US immigration officials told the court there were no flights planned this week anyway. [93] So the order may change little until it ends. [93]
- Who pays Afghans held in the US — Their protection lasts only until Saturday's expiry, and their fate after that is unclear. [92]
48
Somalia rejects an Israeli ambassador to Somaliland
What happened
- Somalia called Israel's ambassador to Somaliland and its planned embassy there 'null and void'. [94]
- Michael Lotem presented his papers to Somaliland's president last week, and they laid a cornerstone for an embassy in Hargeisa. [94]
Who is involved

Somalia says Somaliland is still part of its territory. [94] Israel formally recognised Somaliland on 26 December 2025. [94]
- Somalia it is our land
- Israel recognises Somaliland
How it unfolded
1. 26 December 2025 Israel recognises it
2. Last week ambassador arrives
3. Tuesday Somalia objects
Why it matters

Somalia warns of more tension in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. [94]

How it works

Lawyers call this recognition of states: others treating a place as a country, the step Israel took here. [94]

Seen it before

A club is a club when other clubs agree to play it, whatever it says about itself.
49
Mozambique: 1,235 flee new attacks in two weeks
What happened
- At least 1,235 people fled Islamist attacks in northern Mozambique from 14 to 27 October, a UN agency says. [95]
- Of them, 584 were children, 386 women and 265 men. [95]
- Mocimboa da Praia, Macomia, Muidumbe and Meluco were the 4 districts affected. [95]
- Most, 939 people, are staying with host communities, and 296 went to resettlement centres. [95]
Who is involved
- Host communities 939 people
- Resettlement centres 296 people
Why it matters

Food is the top need in 88% of places checked, then shelter in 71% and health care in 44%. [95]

How it works

Aid workers call this internal displacement: people forced out who stay in their own country, as these 1,235 did. [95]

Seen it before

When a flood hits one street, the next street's spare rooms fill first.
50
New Congo rebels threaten a radio station
What happened
- The Committee to Protect Journalists says rebels of a new Congo group raided radio station Kamole FM on 16 October. [96]
- They wanted presenter Guillaume Munguakonkwa to announce a meeting, and told the station to clear its broadcasts with them. [96]
- He hid for 5 days after his director warned him the rebels were looking for him. [96]
Who is involved

The group is the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation, or FRN. [96]
- FRN new rebel coalition
- Guillaume Munguakonkwa radio news presenter
Why it matters

'I may face military reprisals from one side or the other,' Munguakonkwa told the press freedom group. [96]

How it works

Researchers call this rebel governance: an armed group acting like a state, as the FRN did by vetting radio. [96]

Seen it before

A gang that takes over the playground starts deciding who can use the slide and who gets told what.
The truth
- This account comes from the radio director and presenter, through the press group. [96]
51
Fighting forces Tigray families to flee again
What happened
- Families who had just returned home in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, have had to flee again, the UN says. [97]
- Thousands more are displaced in Debre Birhan in Amhara and Shire in Tigray. [97]
Who is involved
- Debre Birhan Amhara
- Shire Tigray
How it unfolded

A 2022 deal at Pretoria ended a 2-year war between federal forces and Tigray's main party, the TPLF. [97] New fighting began in late September. [97]
1. November 2022 Pretoria deal
2. Late September fighting returns
Why it matters

Insecurity and blocked movement are disrupting aid, including on key roads from Gonder. [97]
The truth
- The UN gave no breakdown by place and did not say when the latest moves began. [97]
52
Mugabe's son arrested over luxury cars
What happened
- Police in Zimbabwe arrested Bellarmine Chatunga, son of the late President Robert Mugabe, over 2 allegedly smuggled luxury cars. [98]
- He and 4 others are held at Highlands police station in Harare, the capital. [98]
- The cars had no temporary permit or entry record, investigators reportedly found. [98]
Why it matters

Officers say they were assaulted in the raid, and Chatunga is accused of assaulting an anti-corruption officer. [98]
The truth
- These are police claims from police documents, and no court has ruled. [98]
53
Nigeria's president asks to borrow $7.7 billion
What happened
- President Bola Tinubu asked Nigeria's Senate to approve $7.7 billion of foreign loans for this year's budget gap. [99]
- Nigeria's Senate president said it replaces an earlier request for $20.3 billion. [99]
- The money could come from development lenders or commercial loans, the letter says. [99]
Why it matters

The loans would help cover a deficit of about 31.4 trillion naira. [99]

How it works

Economists call this deficit financing: borrowing to fill a budget gap. [99] Nigeria plans 18.4 trillion naira at home and 10.79 trillion abroad. [99]

Seen it before

If your allowance runs out, you borrow some from a parent and some from a friend.
54
Eastern Libya picks a new central bank chief
What happened
- Libya's eastern parliament chose Fawzi Abu Khazam as central bank governor, with 78 of 90 members present in favour. [100]
Who is involved

Libya has a UN-recognised government in Tripoli and a rival one in the east, backed by Khalifa Haftar, a commander. [100]
- Tripoli UN-recognised
- The east backed by Haftar
How it unfolded

Naji Issa, the last governor, was chosen in 2024 during a stand-off that halted oil output. [100] He resigned without public reasons. [100]
1. 2024 Issa is chosen
2. August he resigns
3. This week Abu Khazam
Why it matters

The Tripoli-based High Council of State, the rival chamber, has not yet commented on the vote. [100]
55
An inquiry hears of mixed-up remains in Malawi's crash
What happened
- A medical officer told Malawi's parliament that body parts from the crash that killed Saulos Chilima were in wrong bags. [101]
- Andrew Mwale said he ordered the bags opened at a funeral home on 11 June 2024. [101] He banned anyone from touching the bodies. [101]
- A day later, he said, preserved remains had gone. [101]
Why it matters

Parliament's committee is trying to find out what happened in the crash, which killed Chilima and others. [101]

How it works

Investigators call this the chain of custody: who held the evidence, and when. [101] Mwale's account of vanished remains shows a gap in it. [101]

Seen it before

If your homework goes through 5 hands, the teacher cannot be sure whose work it is.
56
A UN chief candidate says Sudan's RSF must answer
What happened
- Lana Nusseibeh, an Emirati diplomat running to lead the UN, said Sudan's RSF must answer for 'atrocities'. [102]
Who is involved

The RSF, or Rapid Support Forces, has fought Sudan's army since April 2023. [102]
How it unfolded

A 2021 coup came before the war. [102] Politico reported that Sudan's army-backed government opposes her over alleged Emirati support for the RSF, which the UAE denies. [102]
1. 2021 a military coup
2. April 2023 civil war begins
3. Now she runs for UN chief
Why it matters

She vowed to make Sudan a priority if elected, and has taken leave as UAE ambassador to campaign. [102]
The truth
- Both the RSF and the army stand accused of grave wrongdoing, and she named only the RSF in that quote. [102]
57
Sudan's factories restart, at 40%
What happened
- Mansour Gaily's sweet factory in Omdurman, Sudan, has restarted, but at 40% of what it made before the war. [103]
- He puts his losses at $1 million. [103]
- About 1,800 industrial sites were damaged, 650 factories destroyed, Sudan's industry ministry says. [103]
Why it matters

Khartoum was a main industrial centre, making food, textiles and consumer goods, until war began in April 2023. [103]
The truth
- 'We lost everything,' said one plastics maker, who called the damage and looting systematic. [103]
Good news
- Mansour Gaily's sweet factory in Omdurman, Sudan, is working again at 40% of its old output after a war that cost him about $1 million.
58
Britain flies home an Ebola patient as the US adds a check
What happened
- A British health worker with Ebola is being flown from the Democratic Republic of Congo for treatment. [104]
- The patient is stable, and the UK says the risk to the public stays low. [104]
- Anyone flying to the US must now sign that they were not in Congo in the past 21 days. [105]
How it unfolded

The outbreak, declared on 15 May, has passed 10,000 cases and 5,000 deaths. [104]

Why it matters

It is the largest and deadliest outbreak in Congo's history. [104]
59
Grizzlies kill a mother and daughter in Canada
What happened
- Officials in British Columbia, Canada, confirmed that grizzly bears killed Jenny Balcarras and her daughter Selah Reed, 20. [106]
- They were found near a trail close to their home in Bella Coola, a town of about 2,100 people. [106]
Who is involved
- Jenny Balcarras art therapist
- Selah Reed aged 20
How it unfolded

Earlier this year a grizzly attacked schoolchildren and teachers in the same community. [106]

Why it matters

Officers are investigating whether more than one bear was involved, in a town still shaken by the earlier attack. [106]
60
Pope Leo meets Bob Dylan
What happened
- Pope Leo XIV met Bob Dylan, 85, at the Vatican on Wednesday, before Dylan's concert in Rome on Thursday. [107]
- Leo gave a rosary, and Dylan gave his autobiography, Chronicles: Volume One. [107]
Who is involved
- Pope Leo XIV born in Chicago
- Bob Dylan aged 85
How it unfolded

Dylan sang for Pope John Paul II in 1997. [108]
1. 1997 Dylan sings for John Paul II
2. Wednesday Dylan meets Leo
Why it matters

Leo has quoted Dylan's anti-nuclear song, Go Away You Bomb, in a book preface. [107]
61
A building collapses in Old Delhi
What happened
- 2 people died when a building under construction collapsed in Chawri Bazaar, Old Delhi, on Thursday, local media reported. [109]
- A third person was pulled out injured, and 6 fire units were sent. [109]
How it unfolded

A building fell in Delhi's Satya Niketan area 2 months ago, killing 7 people. [109]
1. 2 months ago 7 dead
2. Thursday 2 dead
Why it matters

The collapse hit a crowded wholesale market during the festive shopping rush. [109]
The truth
- It was at first unclear how many people were inside. [109]

Across the day

What is true of the whole day.

The truth, across the day

Who gains JD Vance — Breaking early lets him keep distance from an unpopular war, and The Hindu's analyst says it keeps him in front for 2028. [110]
Who pays Ordinary Iranians — The economic crisis deepens under the US naval blockade, and it lands on the people who live there. [36]

Joshua Wong jailed for 10 more years in Hong Kong, two months before his release

61 stories on this beat today.

Why a beaten leader's allies walk away the next morning

What is true of the whole day.