Europe will join the next Russia-Ukraine talks, as Putin tells US envoys his land demands have not changed

The stories

42 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.

1. 01

   Europe will join the next Russia-Ukraine talks, as Putin tells US envoys his land demands have not changed

   123

   drones Russia sent at Kyiv hours after the talks ended

   Ukraine shot down 94 of them [9]

   4

   Ukrainian regions Putin still demands in full

   Russia already holds about a fifth of Ukraine [1]

   EUR 70 billion

   missing from the money the EU promised Ukraine

   the EU found the gap in October [5]

   What happened

   • Europe will have a seat at the next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks, US envoy Steve Witkoff said on Thursday. [1]
   • Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the US president's son-in-law, held more than 4 hours of talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. [2]
   • Putin told them that Russia's demand for Ukrainian land has not changed. [3]
   • The two envoys then flew to Dublin, Ireland's capital, to brief Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky. [3]
   • About 50 leaders met in Dublin for the European Political Community. [4] It is a forum set up in 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine. [4]
   • Zelensky said Europeans will now sit at the table, not wait on the sidelines as in Abu Dhabi. [2]
   • EU governments have not agreed who should take Europe's seat. [5] Many national leaders want to be there themselves. [5]
   • The names most tipped are Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, and Antonio Costa, who chairs EU summits. [5]
   • Putin said four-way talks would begin once Europe names one negotiator who can speak for it. [6]
   • One EU official said they did not expect leaders to agree on a special representative. [6]
   • Putin insisted on full control of 4 Ukrainian regions that Russia claims to have annexed. [6]
   • Russia already holds about a fifth of Ukraine. [1] Ukraine refuses to give up the rest of the Donbas, its eastern region. [1]
   • Putin also called foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine a "continuation of war". [6]
   • He said Russia would treat such troops as a target, so the war would start again. [5]
   • Putin wants the talks to cover how Europe's whole security is arranged, not only Ukraine. [7]
   • He said his demands could include Ukraine never joining NATO, the Western military alliance. [5] They could even include removing Finland and Sweden. [5]
   • "We will be the ones to define and decide for our future security," France's President Emmanuel Macron replied in Dublin. [8]
   • Estonia's prime minister, Kristen Michal, asked whether anyone should discuss their defence with the threat itself. [5]
   • Hours after the Abu Dhabi talks ended, Russia attacked Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, with ballistic missiles and 123 drones. [9]
   • Ukraine shot down 94 of the drones. [9] One person was killed in Kyiv and 5 were hurt, the mayor said. [9]
   • Russia said it was aiming at drone factories and power substations. [9]
   • Planned power cuts have run in Ukraine since October, as Russia hits its grid. [10] Some Kyiv families go without power for up to 20 hours. [10]
   • Officials fear life becomes impossible for millions if supply falls below 4 hours a day. [10]
   • Ukraine has hit Russian oil refineries in return, causing fuel shortages in Russia over the summer. [1]
   • Zelensky said new limits on Starshield, the military version of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service, are hurting Ukraine. [1]
   • He said Starshield has been capped at 100mph along the front line. [6] That makes Russia's jet-powered drones harder to catch. [6]
   • Similar limits last month caused confusion over who had ordered them. [6]

   Who is involved

   • Europe joins next time
   • Kaja Kallas the EU's foreign policy chief; one of the two names tipped to speak for Europe
   • Antonio Costa chairs EU summits
   • Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner the US envoys; Kushner is the US president's son-in-law; they carried messages from Putin to Zelensky
   • Vladimir Putin Russia's president; he kept his demand for four Ukrainian regions
   • Volodymyr Zelensky Ukraine's president; he wants Europe at the table and one EU envoy named this month

   How it unfolded

   1. Friday EU leaders debate one envoy
   2. End of Nov Zelensky's deadline for a name
   3. Wed 11 Nov Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi end with a prisoner swap agreed [1]
   4. Thu 12 Nov Russia attacks Kyiv with missiles and 123 drones [9]
   5. Thu 12 Nov Putin meets the US envoys in Moscow for more than 4 hours [2]
   6. Thu evening the envoys brief Zelensky in Dublin [3]
   7. Fri 13 Nov EU leaders argue over who speaks for Europe [12]

   Why it matters

   For the EU, the talks are about its own safety too. [3] Ireland's prime minister said many EU states feel an existential threat. [3]

   The EU also pays a growing share of the bill for Ukraine. [12] In October it found a EUR 70 billion gap in the money it promised. [5]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why was Europe kept out of the room?

      Russia's chief negotiator refused to meet Europeans, because they arm and fund Ukraine. [8] Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said: "Let them sit there in the hotel." [75]

   2. 2

      How much has Europe actually given Ukraine?

      More than the US has, the Kiel Institute counts. [76] From 2022 to February 2026, Europe gave about EUR 200 billion and the US EUR 115 billion. [76]

      Europe200 EUR bn

      The US115 EUR bn
   3. 3

      Is the US still paying?

      Since Trump returned in January 2025, Congress has approved no big new aid for Ukraine. [77] The EU now picks up more and more of the bill. [12]

      The USno big new aid since 2025

      vsvs

      Europepays more and more
   4. 4

      Does Europe still buy Russia's gas and oil?

      Yes: in September, EU countries paid Russia EUR 1.7 billion for fuel, the research group CREA counts. [78] Hungary bought the most, EUR 475 million. [78]

      EUR 1.7 billionpaid to Russia for fuel by EU countries in September

   5. 5

      So why does the US want Europe in now?

      Jared Kushner said: "We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table." [79] He said a lasting peace needs credible security guarantees. [11]

   6. 6

      What does Europe hold that a deal needs?

      EU leaders have argued for months over using EUR 190 billion of frozen Russian money. [80] And the EU is preparing its 22nd round of sanctions on Russia. [81]

      EUR 190 billionFrozen Russian money

      ++

      a 22nd round comingSanctions on Russia
   7. 7

      Did Putin really agree to let Europe in?

      Not yet: the Kremlin says it will decide once it sees Europe's "genuine intention". [82] Its spokesman mocked EU leaders for squabbling "like spiders in a jar". [83]

      The US says Europe joins→The Kremlin wants proof first→No decision yet
   8. 8

      So what is really going on?

      Europe pays more and more of Ukraine's bills, and holds Russia's frozen money. [12][80] So the US now wants it at the table, and Russia sets conditions first. [79][82]

      Europe pays the bills and holds the money→A deal needs Europe→The US invites it in→Russia sets conditions

   How it works

   Peace researchers call the moment a war can be settled "ripeness": both sides feel stuck, and both are hurting.

   Russia has gained little ground this year, yet Putin shows no sign of easing his demands. [1] So the talks produced a prisoner swap, not a ceasefire. [1]

   Seen it before

   Two friends fighting over one game stop only when both are tired and see a fair way to share.

   The truth

   • What is really going on Europe won a promise of a seat at the next Russia-Ukraine talks on Thursday. [1]But Putin told the US envoys he still wants 4 Ukrainian regions in full, and Russia hit Kyiv with 123 drones the same day. [6][9]So far the talks have produced a prisoner swap, not a ceasefire. [1]
   • Why it works on people Talk of who sits at the table feels like movement, even when neither side has changed what it wants.
   • The Kremlin did not confirm that Putin agreed to let Europe join. [2]
   • Putin's aide, Yuri Ushakov, said Europe must first choose "peace" or "war". [7] Russia treats Europe as a side in the war because it arms Ukraine. [7]
   • Who gains The Russian government — By making one European negotiator a condition, it can wait while EU leaders argue over who that is. [7]
   • Who pays Families in Kyiv — Without power their lifts, taps and heating stop, just as winter starts. [10]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Who will speak for Europe at the next talks.

     EU leaders came to Friday's summit still at odds, and one EU official said they did not expect agreement on a special envoy. [12][6]

   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether Putin really agreed to let Europe in.

     Witkoff said he did, but the Kremlin did not confirm it. [1][2]

   Good news

   • Kushner said the US is working towards the largest prisoner exchange of the war, which could reunite thousands of families. [11]

   What comes next

   EU leaders discuss naming one envoy on Friday, and Zelensky wants a name by the end of the month. [7]

1. 02

   Iran says it hit a US radar in Bahrain

   What happened

   • Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Friday they destroyed a US early-warning radar in Bahrain. [23]
   • The Guards are an Iranian force seen as more influential than its regular army. [20] They called the strike revenge for an air attack on a phone tower in Sirik. [24]
   • It is Iran's first claim of an attack on US forces in a Gulf country since early September. [13]
   • Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, its main fleet in the Middle East. [24]
   • The war began on 28 February, when the US and Israel struck Iran. [13] The US has since blockaded Iran's ports. [13]

   How it unfolded

   1. Early Sept the last claimed attack on US forces
   2. Friday the Bahrain radar claim

   Why it matters

   Trump said Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states asked him to hold off on big new strikes. [25]

   "I'm not sure I agree with it," Trump said of their request. [25]

   How it works

   Strategists call a strike sized to match the one before it a proportional response: it answers without widening the war.

   The Guards answered a hit on one phone tower with a strike on one radar. [24] They called it a "serious warning". [24]

   Seen it before

   A child shoved in the queue shoves back just as hard, to warn without starting a real fight.

   The truth

   • Neither the US nor Bahrain commented on the Guards' claim. [24]
   • Nobody knows yet

     How much damage Iran's strike did in Bahrain.

     Only Iran's own media described the radar as destroyed. [24]

1. 03

   Trump says the US needs no Iran deal

   What happened

   • Trump wrote that the US does not "need a deal with Iran", because "we've got their Strait". [26]
   • He told Vice-President JD Vance to turn his "complete and total attention" to fraud at home instead. [26]
   • The Wall Street Journal had reported that Vance was thinking of meeting a top Iranian security official. [26]
   • Oil prices rose after Trump's post. [26]
   • Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Iran does not want to keep fighting. [27] He said the ball is in the US court. [27]
   • Ghalibaf said Iran sent clear demands, and the US has not answered. [27]

   Who is involved

   • JD Vance US vice-president

   Why it matters

   The fight over the Strait of Hormuz goes on. [23] Nearly three dozen tankers were hit there in October. [23]

   Ghalibaf said Iran wants to get past a state of "no war, no peace". [27]

   How it works

   Negotiation experts call a side's fallback if talks fail its BATNA: its best alternative to a deal.

   Trump says the US already holds Iran's money and its strait. [26] So he judges that a deal would add little. [26]

   Seen it before

   A shop with a long queue of buyers has no reason to haggle with the one customer at the till.

   Why a war ends in a deal only when both sides are hurting and stuck

   Peace researchers call it ripeness: talks end a war only when both sides feel stuck in a fight that hurts, and can see a way out.

   The twist

   A war does not end when it becomes terrible. It ends when both sides believe more fighting will not get them a better deal.

   Step by step

   1. 1 Each side compares the deal on offer with what more fighting might win
   2. 2 A side that expects to gain, or finds waiting cheap, holds out
   3. 3 So talks bring small swaps, like prisoners, but no settlement
   4. 4 Each side hits the other where it hurts, to change that sum
   5. 5 A deal comes when both feel stuck and hurting, and see a way out

   The same force, elsewhere today

   Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.

   • Trump says the US needs no Iran deal

     Trump says the US already holds Iran's money and its strait, so waiting costs him little and he sees no reason to settle.

   • A Ukrainian drone hits a Russian warship

     Ukraine struck Russia's Ust-Luga oil port and a warship near it, raising what the war costs Russia far from the front.

   • The Houthis keep hitting Saudi Arabia

     The Houthis aimed at the pipeline that carries about 4% of the world's oil, which raises what the war costs Saudi Arabia.

   Where you've seen this

   Strikes at work

   a strike ends when both the company and the workers lose more each week than a deal would cost them

   Divorces

   a settlement comes when both sides' legal bills grow bigger than what they hope to win in court

   Price wars

   two shops stop cutting prices only when both are losing money and neither is winning customers

   The catch

   Leaders rarely admit how much a war hurts them, so a moment that is ripe for a deal can pass without anyone saying so.

   And the whole of it

   Families in Kyiv living without power, families waiting for prisoners to come home and drivers in Russia queuing for fuel are all inside this sum. None of them decides when the war is ready to end.

1. 04

   A Ukrainian drone hits a Russian warship

   What happened

   • Finland's military confirmed that a Russian warship was hit in the Gulf of Finland on Wednesday. [14]
   • The Gulf of Finland is a narrow arm of the Baltic Sea between Finland and Estonia. [28]
   • Ukraine's SBU security service said it hit the small warship Naro-Fominsk. [14] The ship carried cruise missiles. [14]
   • It was part of a wider drone attack on Russia's Ust-Luga oil export port on the Baltic coast. [14]
   • Russia said it stopped at least 146 Ukrainian drones over the Leningrad region in recent days. [28]

   Why it matters

   It is thought to be Ukraine's first drone attack on a Russian ship in Baltic waters used by ordinary shipping. [14]

   Finland's foreign minister said the sea stays safe, but the gulf also carries tankers and undersea data cables. [14]

   How it works

   Military planners call it horizontal escalation: widening a war to new places instead of hitting harder in the old ones.

   Ukraine hit a Russian ship in Baltic waters open to ordinary shipping. [14] That raises the question of whether its strikes will spread further. [14]

   Seen it before

   A playground fight that spills into the corridor now worries every class, not just the two fighters.

   Ukraine struck Russia's Ust-Luga oil port and a warship near it, raising what the war costs Russia far from the front.

   The idea, in story 03: Why a war ends in a deal only when both sides are hurting and stuck →

   The truth

   • Nobody knows yet

     What the strike in the Gulf of Finland did.

     Finland gave few details, and it was not clear whether anyone was killed. [28]

2. 05

   A car bomb kills a Russian colonel

   What happened

   • A bomb under a car killed a Russian officer in St Petersburg on Thursday morning. [29]
   • Russian media said he was a colonel and chief navigator of the 6th Air and Air Defence Army. [29]
   • The bomb was set off from a distance as he drove out of a courtyard. [29] A passing bus had its windows blown out. [30]
   • Russia's Investigative Committee opened a murder case. [29]
   • A lieutenant colonel was killed in the same district on 27 August. [29]

   How it unfolded

   1. 27 Aug a lieutenant colonel killed
   2. Thursday a colonel killed

   Why it matters

   Russia accuses Ukraine of a string of killings of its officers since the 2022 invasion. [29]

   The truth

   • Ukraine has claimed some of these killings and stayed silent about others. [29] Investigators have not linked this blast to the war. [30]
3. 06

   The Houthis keep hitting Saudi Arabia

   What happened

   • Yemen's Houthis, a rebel group allied with Iran, said they hit Saudi oil and military sites again. [15]
   • They named a pumping station on the East-West Pipeline and the Yanbu oil port on the Red Sea. [15]
   • Saudi Arabia sends about 4 million barrels a day through that pipeline. [15] That is about 4% of the world's oil supply. [15]
   • Saudi Arabia said it shot down Houthi drones over Riyadh and the Eastern Province. [15]
   • The UN Security Council renewed sanctions on the Houthis for another year, by consensus. [31]
   • The asset freeze and travel bans now run until 14 November 2027. [31]

   How it unfolded

   1. Thursday sanctions renewed
   2. 14 Nov 2027 the new end date

   Why it matters

   Airlines keep cancelling flights to Saudi Arabia. [25] British Airways has put off its London-Riyadh route until 11 January 2027. [25]

   How it works

   The Houthis aimed at the pipeline that carries about 4% of the world's oil, which raises what the war costs Saudi Arabia.

   The idea, in story 03: Why a war ends in a deal only when both sides are hurting and stuck →

   The truth

   • Saudi Arabia said the Houthis also aimed at the Mecca region. [15] The Houthis called that a "grave falsehood". [15]
   • Who pays Travellers to Saudi Arabia — Airlines have cut flights for weeks, some until January, because of the Houthi attacks. [25]
4. 07

   Dutch coalition survives a tax revolt

   What happened

   • The Netherlands' government nearly collapsed this week over its tax plan for 2027. [16]
   • Prime Minister Rob Jetten leads a minority coalition of three parties with 66 of 150 seats. [32]
   • His party, D66, and the Christian Democrats made a deal with two opposition parties to pass the plan. [33]
   • The deal moves about EUR 1 billion of tax from wealth to income. [32]
   • The third partner, the VVD, called it "a poor proposal" that breaks the coalition agreement. [33]
   • The plan passed on Thursday night by the smallest possible majority. [16] Jetten's government then survived a no-confidence vote. [16]

   How it unfolded

   1. Thu night tax plan passes
   2. Then no-confidence vote defeated

   Why it matters

   The VVD leader, Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, is also defence minister, and wants a "fundamental reset". [33]

   How it works

   Political scientists call a government without a majority a minority government: it must borrow votes for every law.

   Jetten needed opposition votes to pass the budget, and that is what left his own VVD partner outside. [32]

   Seen it before

   A group project where two people do a deal with another team leaves the third partner out.

   The truth

   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether the Dutch coalition holds.

     The VVD wants a "fundamental reset" and has not said what that means. [33]

5. 08

   Trump wants to "get Cuba done"

   What happened

   • Trump said on Thursday he would "certainly consider" using military force against Cuba. [34]
   • He said he wants to "get Cuba done" before he leaves office in 2029. [34]
   • Politico reported it was the first time Trump put a timeline on a possible operation. [34]
   • Trump said his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, whose parents are from Cuba, "would love to do it". [34]
   • The US has kept Cuba under an oil blockade in all but name since January, after it seized Venezuela's president. [34]

   Who is involved

   • Marco Rubio US secretary of state

   Why it matters

   The blockade has caused nationwide blackouts and shortages of fuel and food, and Cuba calls it collective punishment. [34]

   How it works

   Political scientists call this coercion: using pressure and threats to make another government give way.

   The US has squeezed Cuba with a blockade and sanctions on its leaders. [34] Now Trump adds talk of force. [34]

   Seen it before

   A landlord who turns off a tenant's heating to make him leave is using the same squeeze.

   The truth

   • In March the head of US Southern Command told senators that US troops were not rehearsing an invasion. [34]
   • Who pays People in Cuba — The US oil blockade brings blackouts and fuel and food shortages, and now a threat of force. [34]
6. 09

   Xi says Taiwan will be reunited

   What happened

   • China's leader Xi Jinping said Taiwan's "complete reunification" with China "will certainly be realised". [35]
   • He spoke on the 160th birthday of Sun Yat-sen, who helped lead the revolution that ended China's emperors. [35]
   • China says self-governed, democratic Taiwan is its territory. [35] Taiwan rejects that. [35]
   • Xi did not mention force, which China has never ruled out. [35]
   • Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said the words were not much different from the past. [36]

   Why it matters

   Xi meets Trump next week at the APEC summit in Shenzhen, in southern China. [35] Taiwan holds local elections soon after. [35]

   In May the US paused a USD 14 billion weapons sale to Taiwan, which Trump called a negotiating chip. [35]

   How it works

   Strategists call this signalling: saying one thing in words while showing strength with ships and planes.

   Xi spoke only of peaceful reunification. [35] The same day, Taiwan detected 29 Chinese military aircraft patrolling around the island. [35]

   Seen it before

   A neighbour who says there are no hard feelings while parking his truck across your drive is sending two messages.

7. 10

   Taiwan reports a large Chinese sea drill

   What happened

   • China massed more than 100 military and coast guard ships around Taiwan in early November, a senior Taiwan official said. [37]
   • The official said the drills were never announced. [37] They included practice attacks on other militaries and on cities, including Taiwan's. [37]
   • The official said the fleet was bigger than China's last named drill around Taiwan, nearly a year ago. [37]
   • A Chinese submarine also fired an intercontinental missile from the Yellow Sea into mainland China, the official said. [37]

   Why it matters

   Taiwan's officials call it "silent intimidation": pressure that avoids setting off an alarm. [37]

   The truth

   • China's defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. [37]
   • The source is one Taiwan official who would not be named. [37]
8. 11

   Israel's defence minister rejects any brake

   What happened

   • Israel's caretaker defence minister, Israel Katz, said Israel's outgoing government does not need the opposition's approval for new strikes. [38]
   • "We do not need approval from the opposition or any legal authority," Katz wrote. [38]
   • Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief, leads the opposition bloc. [38]
   • Eisenkot urged Benjamin Netanyahu, the caretaker prime minister, not to use force without a direct and immediate threat. [38]
   • Netanyahu threatened to restart the Iran war during the election campaign. [38]

   Who is involved

   • Gadi Eisenkot opposition leader, ex-army chief
   • Benjamin Netanyahu caretaker prime minister

   Why it matters

   Katz says Israel's outgoing government can still order new strikes on its own. [38]

   The truth

   • Netanyahu's office said Eisenkot was turning national security into politics. [38]
9. 12

   1.1 million sign to review the EU-Israel deal

   What happened

   • The European Commission will examine its agreement with Israel after more than 1.1 million EU citizens signed a petition. [22]
   • Only 14 of 136 such petitions in more than a decade reached the 1 million signatures needed. [22]
   • France gave the most signatures, 339,479. [22] Italy gave 283,863 and Spain 151,821. [22]
   • A group of 11 left-wing parties started it, saying Israel failed to prevent genocide in Gaza. [22]

   Why it matters

   The Commission must reply by May 2027. [22] Politico says real change is unlikely. [22]

   How it works

   EU law calls this a European Citizens' Initiative: a petition from more than 7 countries that the Commission must examine. [22]

   The rule makes the Commission answer, not act. [22] Earlier this year it turned down a 1.2 million-name petition on abortion funding. [22]

   Seen it before

   A school suggestion box that must be read by the head teacher still does not make the head teacher agree.

10. 13

    France and Israel trade entry bans

    What happened

    • France turned away Yossi Dagan, an Israeli settler leader, at a Paris airport. [39]
    • Dagan heads a body that oversees settlements in the occupied West Bank. [39] France says he helped set up 35 of them. [39]
    • France has banned 59 Israelis linked to the settler movement since 2024. [39]
    • Israel's foreign ministry called the ban "completely unacceptable". [39]
    • Israel has barred French left-wing officials, including Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of France Insoumise. [40]

    Why it matters

    France's foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, called Israel's ban "demagogic". [40]

    Relations have worsened since France recognised a Palestinian state last year. [39]

11. 14

    53 countries press Israel on Gaza aid

    What happened

    • 53 UN member states urged Israel's incoming government to let aid into Gaza without limits. [41]
    • Britain, Qatar and Jordan led the appeal at the UN in New York. [41]
    • They said aid is still below the level set by Security Council Resolution 2803, which backed the US peace plan. [41]
    • About 1.7 million of Gaza's 2.2 million people live in tents, makeshift shelters or damaged buildings, UNICEF estimates. [41]
    • On Thursday an Israeli strike on Nasser hospital killed 10 people, The National reported. [41] Israel said it aimed at a Hamas commander. [41]

    Why it matters

    Winter brings a risk of cold and illness for people without proper shelter, Britain's ambassador warned. [41]

    The truth

    • The UN aid chief said waiting for a new Israeli government is not an acceptable excuse. [41]
    • Who pays Families in Gaza's tents — Aid stays below agreed levels while Israel forms a new government, so they face winter without enough shelter. [41]
12. 15

    Axe-wielding men attack a Lagos rally

    What happened

    • Men armed with axes, clubs and machetes attacked an opposition rally in Lagos, Nigeria's economic capital, on Thursday. [21]
    • The crowd had come for Peter Obi, a presidential candidate who came third in 2023. [42]
    • The attackers broke the hall's doors and glass walls, a photographer at the scene said. [42] Journalists were also attacked. [21]
    • Police fired tear gas to break up the crowd. [42]
    • Obi's party blamed the ruling All Progressives Congress. [42] The party's spokesman said there was no evidence. [42]

    Who is involved

    • Peter Obi opposition candidate
    • Bola Tinubu president, seeking a second term

    Why it matters

    Nigeria votes for its president on 16 January 2027. [21]

    Obi's party also says Tinubu's government pressures venues to cancel its events. [21] Nigeria's government denies this. [21]

    How it works

    Political scientists call this electoral violence: force used to frighten candidates and voters before a vote.

    Obi's supporters now face violence at rallies and cancelled halls two months before polling day. [21]

    Seen it before

    A bully who blocks the door to a class election meeting changes who turns up to vote.

    The truth

    • Who pays Opposition supporters in Nigeria — They risk violence at rallies, and they say venues keep cancelling their events under pressure. [21]
13. 16

    Colombia bombs the Gulf Clan

    What happened

    • A Colombian air strike killed 8 people, including a senior leader of the Gulf Clan, the country's biggest crime gang. [43]
    • President Abelardo de la Espriella said he personally approved the strike, in the north-west province of Antioquia. [43]
    • He said Haminton Mosquera, one of 10 top targets, was "brought down". [43]
    • The Gulf Clan mainly smuggles cocaine to the US and Europe. [43] It also runs illegal mining. [43]

    Who is involved

    • Abelardo de la Espriella Colombia's president, elected in June

    Why it matters

    De la Espriella won in June promising air strikes on the gangs. [43] He says the offensive will not stop. [43]

    The truth

    • Critics dislike how he shows off the strikes. [43] He put out a video of himself among 23 body bags from an earlier one. [43]
14. 17

    Van Hollen challenges Schumer

    What happened

    • Chris Van Hollen, a Democratic senator from Maryland, said he will challenge Chuck Schumer to lead the US Senate. [17]
    • The Democrats take control of the US Senate in January, after this month's midterm elections. [17]
    • "The American people called for change," Van Hollen said. [17]
    • Schumer replied within a minute that he has "the votes to continue" as leader. [17] He pointed to 55 seats and counting. [17]
    • Abdul El-Sayed, a newly elected senator from Michigan, said he will back Van Hollen. [44]

    Who is involved

    • Chris Van Hollen progressive senator
    • Chuck Schumer the Democrats' Senate leader

    Why it matters

    Schumer has faced criticism over how he led the Democrats during Trump's presidency. [44]

    The fight pits a progressive, Van Hollen, against a centrist, Schumer. [17]

15. 18

    Hegseth gives a medal to the guard who scolded him

    What happened

    • Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, gave a medal to the soldier who scolded his group at a war grave. [45]
    • Specialist Thomas Iglesias told Hegseth's group to be quiet at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day. [45]
    • The tomb holds unknown soldiers from both world wars and the Korean War. [45] It has been guarded around the clock since 1948. [45]
    • A loud laugh was heard after the group took photos at the site. [45]
    • The Joint Service Commendation Medal is rarely given to junior soldiers, AP reports. [45]

    How it unfolded

    1. 1948 the guard begins, around the clock
    2. Veterans Day the guard scolds Hegseth's group

    Why it matters

    "We love standards," Hegseth wrote, as he praised the soldier. [45]

    The US defence department said the medal was "for the execution of his duties" at the tomb. [45]

16. 19

    Spain passes housing rules by one vote

    What happened

    • Spain's interim parliament passed new protections for tenants by 35 votes to 34 on Thursday. [46]
    • It came a day after Spain's first nationwide general strike in 14 years. [47]
    • Tenants judged by social services to be in a fragile position cannot be evicted without another home, until 2030. [46]
    • The rules also add a 10% tax on flats rented to tourists, as on Airbnb. [46]
    • A second package, making leases renew automatically, was rejected again. [46]

    How it unfolded

    The interim chamber has 69 members, against 350 in the full parliament. [46] Spain's government waited for it because the numbers were better. [46]

    Why it matters

    The main opposition, the conservative Popular Party, says it will repeal the measures if it wins the 29 November election. [46]

17. 20

    A Spanish judge suspends a far-right group

    What happened

    • A judge in Gijon, in northern Spain, suspended the far-right group Nucleo Nacional. [47]
    • The court ordered its office shut and its bank accounts and social media blocked. [47]
    • Police arrested 14 members last week on suspicion of stirring up hatred. [47]
    • They said they seized more than 20 firearms, some unlicensed, and a lot of ammunition. [47]
    • A member called the case "persecution and political repression" in a video. [47]

    Why it matters

    The ruling comes ahead of Spain's general election on 29 November. [47]

18. 21

    Hungary scraps its abortion heartbeat rule

    What happened

    • Hungary's government said it will end a rule forcing women to be shown signs of fetal life before an abortion. [48]
    • Emergency contraception will be sold without a prescription. [48]
    • Hungary will also ratify the Istanbul Convention, a European treaty against violence towards women. [48] It defines rape by the absence of consent. [48]
    • The changes come from Prime Minister Peter Magyar, who replaced Viktor Orban. [48] Orban's government brought in the heartbeat rule in 2022. [48]

    How it unfolded

    1. 2022 Orban brings in the rule
    2. Now Magyar scraps it

    Why it matters

    Among EU members, only Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovakia have still not ratified the treaty. [48]

    The truth

    • Magyar said the rule did not reduce abortions. [48]
19. 22

    The EU readies Hungary's EUR 10 billion

    What happened

    • The European Commission is set to approve almost all of Hungary's EUR 10 billion from an EU recovery fund. [49]
    • The money comes from the fund set up after the pandemic, which ends this year. [49]
    • The EU froze the money over corruption and the rule of law under Viktor Orban. [49]
    • Peter Magyar won a landslide in April, promising to unfreeze it. [49]
    • In May he and Ursula von der Leyen agreed to release EUR 16.4 billion in all. [49]

    Why it matters

    All payments must be approved by the end of November, to be paid before the year ends. [49]

    How it works

    Political scientists call this conditionality: money paid only when a government meets rules set in advance.

    The money stayed frozen while Orban was in power. [49] Hungary said in August it had met the conditions, and the Commission checked. [49]

    Seen it before

    Pocket money paid only after the chores are done works the same way.

    The truth

    • Who gains Hungary's government — Meeting the EU's conditions lets it collect money that was frozen for years under Orban. [49]
20. 23

    UK court convicts two men of spying for Iran

    What happened

    • A London court convicted two men of spying on UK-based journalists for Iran's Revolutionary Guards. [20]
    • Mostafa Sepahvand, 41, and Farhad Javadi Manesh, 46, visited addresses linked to their targets and took photos. [50]
    • The targets included two journalists from Iran International, a Persian TV channel in London. [50]
    • Sepahvand used ChatGPT to find one reporter's home address. [50] He hoped to be paid GBP 150,000 for an attack. [50]
    • One man was also convicted of plotting an attack. [20] A third defendant was cleared. [20]

    Who is involved

    • Mostafa Sepahvand aged 41
    • Farhad Javadi Manesh aged 46

    How it unfolded

    1. Thursday guilty verdicts
    2. Mid-Dec sentencing

    Why it matters

    The Guardian says hostile states now hire stand-ins who often have little idea who they are targeting. [50]

    How it works

    Such hired helpers are called proxies: people who do a state's work at arm's length. [50]

    Sepahvand reported to a Guards commander called Amin by WhatsApp. [50] Iran's government still denied the charges. [20]

    Seen it before

    A child who sends a younger brother to grab the biscuits can say he never touched the tin.

    The truth

    • Who pays Kambiz Hosseini, an Iranian satirist in Britain — Threats linked to the spying forced him to leave his home and stop performing. [50]

    What comes next

    Sentencing is due in mid-December. [20]

21. 24

    Russia jails a rights lawyer for 12 years

    What happened

    • A court in Kaliningrad jailed Maria Bontsler, a 66-year-old rights lawyer, for 12 years for treason. [19]
    • Kaliningrad is Russia's territory on the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Poland. [19]
    • Prosecutors said she passed information to Ukraine about security officers there. [19]
    • She had defended people accused of political crimes, the rights group Slovo Zashchite said. [19]
    • The trial was held in secret, without her or her lawyers present, the group said. [19]

    Why it matters

    Since the 2022 invasion, Russia has passed laws that punish criticism of the army. [19]

    The truth

    • Her lawyers said none of the information was secret. [19]
22. 25

    Italy's schools get bomb hoaxes again

    What happened

    • Bomb threats hit 3,778 Italian schools on Thursday, a second day in a row. [51]
    • On Wednesday 6,300 schools got similar emails, signed "Mikhail Andropov". [52]
    • No bombs were found. [51] This time only 77 schools were evacuated. [51]
    • Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called in opposition leaders. [52] Italy's government told schools not to evacuate over a mass email alone. [51]
    • A bomb alert at Calais station also delayed trains in northern France. [51]

    Why it matters

    Schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland were also threatened on Wednesday. [51] It is unclear whether the cases are connected. [51]

    How it works

    Emergency planners set a threshold: how much evidence is needed before a building is emptied.

    Italy now puts that line above a mass email, so a school needs a second sign before pupils leave. [51]

    Seen it before

    A fire alarm someone keeps pulling for fun stops working once everyone knows to check before running.

    The truth

    • Nobody knows yet

      Who sent the bomb hoaxes to Italy's schools.

      No bombs were found, and Macron said it is too soon to blame foreign powers. [51][52]

23. 26

    No NATO summit in Albania next year

    What happened

    • Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama said NATO will not hold its summit in Albania in 2027, as had been planned. [53]
    • He said that if there is a summit in 2028, it will be in Tirana, the capital. [53]
    • A NATO official said only that the next summit will be in Albania, date not set. [53]
    • NATO is thinking of ending its yearly summits, which could avoid a tense meeting with Trump, diplomats say. [53]

    How it unfolded

    1. 2027 no NATO summit in Albania
    2. 2028 maybe Tirana, Rama says

    Why it matters

    Reuters reported that the US government and NATO members unhappy with Albania's low defence spending resisted the plan. [53]

    Rama faces protests at home over a luxury resort backed by Jared Kushner in a protected wetland. [53]

24. 27

    Lebanon asks Syria to hand over murder suspects

    What happened

    • Lebanon asked Syria to arrest and hand over two Syrians suspected of killing Ahmed al-Alwani, a former Iraqi MP. [54]
    • Al-Alwani was found dead in a Beirut apartment on Monday, reportedly strangled. [55]
    • He left a Beirut hotel with several Syrian men in a white Range Rover soon after arriving, Iraq says. [55]
    • A Lebanese man has been arrested and is being questioned. [54]
    • Al-Alwani, a Sunni politician from Ramadi, spoke out against Iran's influence in Iraq. [54]

    Who is involved

    • Ahmed al-Alwani former Iraqi MP, critic of Iran

    Why it matters

    Iraq warned against using the killing to stir up sectarian strife, fighting between religious groups. [55]

    The truth

    • The suspects have not been named, and the motive is still unclear. [54]
25. 28

    The PUK quits Kurdistan's government

    What happened

    • The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, one of Iraqi Kurdistan's two big parties, said it is leaving the regional government. [18]
    • Its leader, Bafel Talabani, called it the biggest political crisis in the region's history. [18]
    • The regional parliament met for the first time in nearly two years and elected a speaker. [18]
    • Only 52 of 100 members took part, just over the 51 needed. [18]
    • The PUK's 23 members and New Generation's 15 boycotted it. [18]

    Who is involved

    • Bafel Talabani PUK leader

    Why it matters

    Talabani said "I recognise no parliament" and warned of naming rival officials. [18]

    That raises fears of two rival administrations in one region again. [18]

    How it works

    Parliaments set a quorum: the smallest number of members who must be present for a vote to count.

    The PUK's boycott could not stop the vote, because 52 members came and the quorum was 51. [18]

    Seen it before

    A class vote that needs half the class present goes ahead if just one more than half turn up.

26. 29

    Iraq delays disarming the militias

    What happened

    • Iraq will not reach a deal this year to disarm militias backed by Iran, a prime minister's adviser said. [56]
    • Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi set a new deadline of June 2027. [56]
    • US troops left Iraq in September. [56]
    • Two militia groups resist the talks and a third has shown it is willing, Iraq's government says. [56]

    How it unfolded

    1. This year no deal
    2. June 2027 the new deadline

    Why it matters

    Disarming them is seen as key to rebuilding trust with Iraq's Gulf neighbours. [56]

27. 30

    Imran Khan's sisters freed after 53 days

    What happened

    • Two sisters of Imran Khan, Pakistan's jailed former prime minister, were freed after 53 days in detention. [57]
    • Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were held under a public order law. [57] Noreen's son said there was no charge and no trial. [57]
    • Their sister Aleema Khan is still in jail. [58]
    • "No reason given," Noreen's son wrote of their release. [57]
    • Imran Khan, 74, was briefly taken to hospital this week and returned to prison. [59]

    Who is involved

    • Uzma Khan freed
    • Noreen Niazi freed
    • Aleema Khan still held

    Why it matters

    He has been in prison for more than three years. [59] All but one of his convictions have been suspended or overturned. [59]

    The truth

    • Khan says the charges are political, and Pakistan's government denies that. [59]

    Good news

    • Two sisters of Imran Khan, Pakistan's jailed former prime minister, went home this week after 53 days held without charge.
28. 31

    The Gambia names five presidential candidates

    What happened

    • The Gambia's election commission named 5 candidates for the presidential vote on 5 December. [60]
    • They include President Adama Barrow, who is running for a third term after first saying he would not. [60]
    • Ousainou Darboe, a former vice-president, is running for a fifth time. [60] He came second every time before. [60]
    • Talib Ahmed Bensouda quit as a mayor near Banjul, the capital, last week to run. [60]
    • Barrow's government had accused him of financial wrongdoing, which raised fears he would be barred. [60]

    Who is involved

    • Adama Barrow president, seeking a third term
    • Ousainou Darboe main opposition leader
    • Talib Bensouda youth favourite
    • Talib Ahmed Bensouda quit as mayor to run

    How it unfolded

    Barrow beat the dictator Yahya Jammeh in 2016, ending 22 years of a rule accused of torture. [60]

    1. 2016 Barrow beats Jammeh
    2. 5 Dec Barrow seeks a third term

    Why it matters

    Lawmakers have twice rejected new constitutions that would have limited presidents to two terms. [60]

    How it works

    Political scientists call it incumbency advantage: a sitting leader runs with the state's attention and power behind him.

    Barrow keeps the presidency while he campaigns, and his government accused a popular young rival of wrongdoing. [60]

    Seen it before

    The team captain who also picks the teams has a head start before the match begins.

    The truth

    • Who gains Adama Barrow, The Gambia's president — With no term limits, which lawmakers rejected twice, he can stand again while he runs the state. [60]
29. 32

    Four girls die after eating oranges in Uganda

    What happened

    • 4 girls aged 9 to 11 died at a school in Kampala, Uganda's capital, police said. [61]
    • Police suspect poisoning. [61] The head teacher has been arrested to help the investigation. [61]
    • 8 pupils shared oranges brought by a classmate, the school said. [61] 5 of them started vomiting. [61]
    • Detectives will visit the village where the oranges came from. [61]

    Why it matters

    Some parents said the school did not tell them clearly or quickly what had happened. [61]

    The truth

    • Nobody knows yet

      Whether the girls in Kampala were poisoned.

      Police suspect poisoning, but post-mortems have not yet given a cause. [61]

30. 33

    A truck crash kills 14 in the UAE

    What happened

    • A truck crash killed 14 people and injured 30 in Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates, just before midnight. [62]
    • The truck's driver lost control in slow-moving traffic and hit 23 vehicles, including 5 trucks. [62]
    • The truck caught fire, and the fire spread to several other vehicles, the UAE's interior ministry said. [62]
    • DNA tests are being used to identify the dead. [62]
    • Half of the injured have left hospital. [62]

    Why it matters

    The dead and injured came from the UAE, Oman, India, Brazil, Pakistan, Jordan and Egypt. [62]

31. 34

    A Brooklyn building collapse kills 8

    What happened

    • A three-storey building in Brooklyn, New York, collapsed on Wednesday, killing at least 8 people. [63]
    • At least 17 were injured, including 3 firefighters, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. [63]
    • Workers were digging a construction pit on the lot next door when it fell. [64]
    • About 250 firefighters and paramedics worked in dangerous conditions to search the rubble. [64]

    Why it matters

    Investigators are looking at both the building and the construction site next to it. [64]

    The truth

    • Nobody knows yet

      What made the Brooklyn building fall.

      Digging was going on right beside it, but the cause is still under investigation. [74]

    Good news

    • In Brooklyn, rescuers pulled a woman alive from the rubble of the collapsed building on Wednesday evening.
32. 35

    Fewer migrants reach rich countries

    What happened

    • Migration to rich countries fell for a second year in 2025, an OECD report said on Thursday. [65]
    • The OECD is a club of 38 rich countries. [65] They took 6.1 million new permanent migrants in 2025, down from 6.2 million in 2024. [65]
    • Humanitarian migration, people let in for protection, fell 26%. [65] Migration for work rose 13%. [65]
    • Permanent migration fell 32% in the UK, 19% in Canada and 14% in the US. [65]

    Why it matters

    Many Western countries have seen a backlash against irregular migrants fleeing war and hardship. [65]

    Portugal rose 139% and Spain 25%, after both cleared backlogs or widened their rules. [65]

    The truth

    • Who gains People moving to rich countries for work — Rich countries let more people in for jobs in 2025 while letting fewer in for protection. [65]
33. 36

    EU lawmakers demand Ukraine's children back

    What happened

    • The European Parliament demanded that Russia return the Ukrainian children it has taken. [66] The vote was 536 to 8, with 37 abstaining. [66]
    • The EU counts 20,651 confirmed cases of Ukrainian children deported or moved by Russia, as of September. [66]
    • The resolution condemns forced adoption, teaching children to be Russian, and training them for the army. [66]

    How it unfolded

    The parliament passed a similar resolution more than a year ago. [66]

    1. A year ago a first resolution
    2. Thursday a second one

    Why it matters

    About 1.6 million Ukrainian children still live in areas Russia occupies, by EU estimates. [66]

34. 37

    Pope Leo comes home to Peru

    What happened

    • Pope Leo XIV arrived in Peru, the last stop of a 12-day South American tour. [67]
    • He was born in Chicago, but spent more than 20 years working in Peru and became a bishop there. [67]
    • He took Peruvian citizenship in 2015. [67] "I am also returning to my homeland," he said. [67]
    • President Keiko Fujimori met him at the airport. [67]
    • The Vatican estimated that 3 million people lined his route into Lima, the capital. [67]
    • The visit follows stops in Uruguay and Argentina. [67]

    Why it matters

    France 24 asked a Peruvian scholar whether this pope can help a deeply divided Peru talk again. [68]

35. 38

    Haitian police retake the national stadium

    What happened

    • Haitian security forces took back the country's main football stadium on Thursday, France 24 reported. [69]
    • Gangs had held it for two years. [69]
    • Troops from El Salvador took over security at the stadium. [69]

    How it unfolded

    1. Two years ago gangs take the stadium
    2. Thursday the state takes it back

    Why it matters

    El Salvador is sending 2,000 soldiers to Haiti, after an ambush left 4 of its troops missing. [69]

    Good news

    • Haitian security forces took back the country's main football stadium on Thursday, after two years in the hands of gangs.
36. 39

    The US reports on Venezuela's USD 12 billion

    What happened

    • The US State Department published a 53-page report on more than USD 12 billion from Venezuelan oil and minerals. [70]
    • US forces seized Venezuela's leader, Nicolas Maduro, in January. [70] He faces drug-trafficking charges in New York. [70]
    • Since then the US has controlled who buys Venezuela's oil, through accounts run by the US Treasury. [70]
    • More than USD 12 billion had been paid out by 30 September, the report says. [70] About USD 169 million remains. [70]
    • The US hired the auditing firm KPMG to check the transactions. [70]

    Why it matters

    Venezuelan rights activists fear the US cares more about oil money than about democratic reform. [70]

37. 40

    Nigeria agrees to take back its migrants

    What happened

    • Nigeria agreed to take back its citizens who live in EU countries without the right to stay. [71]
    • The deal was signed in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, after a decade of talks. [71]
    • Only 1 in 3 irregular migrants in the EU is actually sent home. [71]
    • Nigerian papers reported the EU pledged almost EUR 100 million for migration and security work. [71]

    Why it matters

    The money would also pay for legal routes for Nigerians into the EU, the reports said. [71]

    How it works

    Diplomats call this issue linkage: tying one deal to another so that each side gets something.

    The EU needed Nigeria to take people back, so it reportedly added money and legal routes to make the deal. [71]

    Seen it before

    Swapping your dessert for help with homework gets both people something they want.

    The truth

    • Two days after the signing, the details were still unclear. [71] Accounts differ on what Nigeria got. [71]
    • Who gains Nigerians hoping to move to the EU legally — The EU's reported pledge would pay for legal routes into Europe. [71]
38. 41

    India and Bangladesh call off a meeting

    What happened

    • India and Bangladesh postponed talks on visas and borders set for 17 and 18 November, The Hindu reported. [72]
    • A diplomatic source said the main reason was tension over Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's ousted prime minister. [72]
    • Hasina has said she will return to Bangladesh next month. [72]
    • It would have been the first such meeting in more than two years. [72]

    How it unfolded

    The last was held in May 2024, just over two months before a youth-led uprising brought down her government. [72]

    1. May 2024 the last consular talks
    2. Two months on Hasina's government falls

    Why it matters

    The talks were to cover border control, visas and returning people detained on both sides. [72]

39. 42

    Pakistan's election chief accuses the government

    What happened

    • Pakistan's chief election commissioner, Sikandar Sultan Raja, accused the federal government of trying to "sabotage" local elections in Islamabad. [73]
    • He said Pakistan's government told teachers not to work at the polls, leaving the commission short of staff. [73]
    • Raja said the elections will be held as planned. [73]

    Why it matters

    The same hearing looked at claims that a minister broke campaign rules in a by-election. [73] Breaking them can bring up to 2 years in jail. [73]

    How it works

    Political scientists call this an independent election body: one that runs votes without taking orders from those in power.

    "Directions do not come from them to us," Raja said of Pakistan's prime minister and government. [73]

    Seen it before

    A referee who will not take instructions from either team's coach keeps the match fair.