World · Saturday, 14 November 2026

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Trump, Xi and Putin will hold the first three-way summit on 19 November, and Trump wants the nuclear cuts China has refused

37 stories 77 sources

Signals on this beat

Big powers deciding for others Building ↑

EU leaders named 5 countries to speak for Europe in the Ukraine talks. [10]
Finland rejected a reported Russian demand that it leave NATO. [11]
Zelensky fears the Shenzhen meeting could weigh a Ukraine deal behind his back. [6]

Gulf shipping under fire High →

Iran said 3 oil tankers hit mines and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. [12]
Gulf states asked the UN Security Council to make Iran pay for its attacks since February. [13]

Governments taking more power Building ↑

Germany's parliament gave its spies the power to run sabotage operations abroad. [14]
Czechia's government wants to pay public broadcasters straight from the state budget. [15]
Uganda's army chief threatened the vice-president with arrest. [16]

Civilians killed far from any talks High ↑

Islamic State-linked gunmen killed at least 44 civilians in eastern Congo this week. [17]
Drones in Sudan killed at least 306 people in 3 weeks of October. [18]
An ambush in western Niger killed at least 37 villagers. [19]

The stories

37 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
Trump, Xi and Putin will hold the first three-way summit on 19 November, and Trump wants the nuclear cuts China has refused

5,000+

nuclear warheads each, for the US and for Russia

China has more than 600, by US defence department estimates [4]

86%

of the world's nuclear weapons held by the US and Russia together

China, third, has 620, SIPRI counts [7]

50+ years

since the two biggest arsenals last had no treaty cap

New START lapsed in February [6]

21

economies meeting at the APEC summit in Shenzhen

the three leaders meet on its sidelines on 19 November [1]
What happened
- A spokeswoman for Trump said he, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin will meet in China on Thursday, 19 November. [1]
- It will be the first three-way meeting between the leaders of the US, Russia and China. [2]
- Trump 'will discuss the reduction of nuclear weapons in the world', said Olivia Wales, a spokeswoman for Trump. [3]
- They meet in Shenzhen, China's tech hub, at a summit of 21 Asia-Pacific economies called APEC. [4]
- A senior US official said no agreement is expected. [5]
- New START, the last US-Russia treaty capping nuclear arsenals, expired in February. [6]
- That left the two biggest arsenals with no caps for the first time in more than 50 years. [6]
- Russia offered to extend the treaty by a year. [6] Trump said no and asked for a new deal that includes China. [6]
- SIPRI, a Stockholm research institute that tracks weapons, counts 620 Chinese warheads after a year of growth. [7]
- It estimates that the US and Russia together hold 86% of all nuclear weapons. [7]
- Russia has the most stored warheads, then the US, then China, SIPRI says. [1]
- Trump has said he expects China to 'catch up' within 5 years. [7]
- China has long refused nuclear talks with the US. [5] It says Russia and the US, with bigger arsenals, should talk to each other. [5]
- In October, China's foreign ministry called three-way talks 'neither fair, reasonable nor realistic' at this stage. [5]
- Chinese state media mentioned only 'bilateral' talks at the summit, not a three-way meeting. [3]
- Trump also plans to raise the US-Israeli war on Iran. [5] Ukraine is not expected on the agenda. [5]
- 'China is not really a part of that track,' a US official said of the Ukraine talks. [1]
- Trump and Xi will also hold their own talks over lunch, their fourth meeting since Trump returned to power. [2]
- No separate one-on-one meeting with Putin is planned. [2]
- Some compare it to Yalta, the 1945 summit where the US, Britain and the Soviet Union shaped the post-war order. [6]
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the comparison, saying deals made in Shenzhen cannot be imposed on others. [6]
- The Guardian lists those left out: Ukraine, eastern Europe and the Baltic states, Taiwan and even Iran. [8]
The US5,000 warheads
Russia5,000 warheads
China600 warheads
As The Hindu reports them: more than 5,000 each for the US and Russia, and more than 600 for China by US defence department estimates.
Who is involved
- Donald Trump the US president; wants a three-way nuclear deal that includes China
- Xi Jinping China's president and the summit's host; China has refused three-way arms talks
- Vladimir Putin Russia's president; first pitched the three-way meeting to Trump
- The US wants China in a deal
- China says the big two go first
- Dmitry Peskov Kremlin spokesman, rejects Yalta talk
- Ukraine not invited
- The Baltic states not invited
- Taiwan not invited
- Iran not invited
- Volodymyr Zelensky Ukraine's president; fears a deal on Ukraine made without Ukraine
How it unfolded
1. Monday Trump leaves
2. Tuesday ASEAN summit, Manila
3. Thursday Xi and Putin, Shenzhen
4. Feb 2026 New START expires, leaving no caps on the two biggest arsenals [6]
5. 15 Oct Trump says the US is talking to Russia and China about denuclearisation [20]
6. October Putin pitches a three-way summit in a call with Trump [9]
7. 13 Nov Trump's office confirms the meeting [1]
8. 19 Nov Trump, Xi and Putin are due to meet in Shenzhen [1]
Why it matters

Analysts expect the talks to be heavier in symbolism than substance. [4]
Edgard Kagan, a former US ambassador, said he would be 'shocked' by any joint statement on denuclearisation. [4]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why talk about nuclear weapons now?
  
  Because nothing has capped the two biggest arsenals since New START ended in February. [6]
  
  New START endsNo caps at allTrump wants a new deal
2. 2
  
  Why does Trump want China in it?
  
  He wants a 'new, improved and modernised' deal that includes China. [4]
3. 3
  
  How big is China's arsenal next to theirs?
  
  China has more than 600 warheads, the US defence department estimates. [4] The US and Russia have more than 5,000 each. [4]
  
  The US5,000 warheads
  Russia5,000 warheads
  China600 warheads
  As The Hindu reports them; each figure is a floor, not an exact count
4. 4
  
  So why would China say no?
  
  With the US and Russian arsenals far larger, China has shown little interest in a pact. [4]
  
  A cap on today's numbersChina stays far behindChina says no
5. 5
  
  What does Putin get out of it?
  
  For Putin's government, it is a chance to pose as a superpower equal to the US and China. [4] It also follows years of Western boycott of Putin. [9]
6. 6
  
  And what does Xi get?
  
  By hosting, Xi may want to show off China's growing clout and prestige, The Hindu reports. [4]
7. 7
  
  What does this have to do with the Ukraine talks?
  
  Zelensky fears the meeting could become a platform for a Ukraine deal behind Ukraine's back. [6]
  
  Three leaders meetUkraine not in the roomUkraine fears a deal about it
8. 8
  
  So who holds the leverage?
  
  Xi does: as host, China is trying to push nuclear cuts off the agenda, the Guardian says. [8] A US official called it 'the beginning' of a conversation. [1]
How it works

Arms-control experts call a contest between three nuclear powers tripolar: each must plan against the other two.
A cap at today's numbers would freeze China's 600-plus warheads against more than 5,000 for each rival. [4]

Seen it before

Two older children with full sweet tins want a rule that nobody takes more. The youngest, whose tin is nearly empty, refuses.
The truth
- What is really going on Trump's government has announced a three-way nuclear summit that China has not confirmed, and China said in October it is not ready for such talks. [3][5]The US wants China inside a cap, while China, with far fewer warheads, says the two biggest powers should talk to each other first. [1]
- Why it works on people A meeting of the three strongest leaders feels like a turning point, so the announcement reads as news, even though a US official said no agreement is expected. [5]
- Russia and China had not commented when Trump's office announced the meeting. [3]
- Nobody knows yet
  How many nuclear warheads the US and Russia really hold.
  
  The Hindu reports more than 5,000 each. [4] Al Jazeera, citing SIPRI, says more than 4,000 each. [7] SIPRI puts Russia first on stored warheads and the US first on deployed ones, so a total depends on what is counted. [20]
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether Xi will sit down three-way at all, or hold only one-to-one talks.
  
  Chinese state media mentioned only bilateral talks, and Russia and China had not commented on the US announcement. [3]
What comes next

Trump leaves on Monday, joins the ASEAN summit in Manila on Tuesday, then meets Xi and Putin on Thursday. [2]

02
Europe picks 5 countries for Ukraine talks
What happened
- EU leaders picked 5 countries to speak for Europe in Ukraine peace talks: France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the UK. [10]
- The UK is not an EU member, but belongs to a group called the E3. [10]
- Ukraine, the US and even Russia had asked the EU to name one single envoy. [10]
- Instead, leaders at a summit in Dublin added Italy and Poland to the existing group. [10]
- That leaves Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, without the envoy job she wanted. [10]
- Kallas said 'Russians do not want me' because of her strong views. [21]
Who is involved
- Ukraine asked for one envoy
- The US asked for one envoy
- Russia asked for one envoy
- Kaja Kallas EU foreign policy chief, left out
Why it matters

Kushner, a US envoy, said Europe's place lets talks cover Europe's security after the war, not only Ukraine's borders. [22]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why not just send one person?
  
  Kallas said a negotiator always wants the other side weak, so Russia should not pick Europe's envoy. [21]
2. 2
  
  So who speaks for the EU?
  
  European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU treaties give him that role at leaders' level. [10]
How it works

Political scientists call this a principal-agent problem: one negotiator must speak for many governments that want different things.
Poland had warned against Western Europe deciding for the East, and it is now on the team. [10]

Seen it before

A class picks one pupil to talk to the head, and every group wants it to be theirs.

03
Russia asks for a new order in Europe
What happened
- After meeting US envoys, Putin's office said peace needs 'a new, long-term architecture' of security in Europe. [23]
- Russia has brought back its December 2021 draft treaties with the US and NATO. [23] 2 months after them, it invaded Ukraine. [23]
- Those treaties would have barred Ukraine and Georgia from ever joining NATO. [23]
- They would also pull NATO forces back from countries that joined after the Soviet Union broke up. [23]
- Bild, a German newspaper, reported that Russia also asked for Finland to leave NATO. [11]
- Finland's defence minister, Antti Hakkanen, said: 'Such matters are in no way a matter for negotiation.' [11]
- Finland, which has a 1,340-kilometre border with Russia, joined NATO in 2023. [11]
Who is involved
- Ukraine never allowed to join
- Georgia never allowed to join
How it unfolded
1. Dec 2021 Russia's draft treaties
2. 2 months later the full invasion
Why it matters

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, called Russia's demands a 'trap' to shift attention from a ceasefire. [23]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why raise this now?
  
  In Moscow, getting Europe's security into the Ukraine talks at all is seen as a win. [23]
2. 2
  
  What does Russia offer back?
  
  Bild said Russia offered to take its nuclear weapons out of Belarus. [11]
  
  Russia asksFinland out of NATO
  Russia offersnukes out of Belarus
How it works

Negotiation experts call this linkage: tying a separate issue to a deal, so the other side must pay for both.
Kallas wants a ceasefire first, and Europe's wider security only after a peace deal. [23] Russia wants both in one deal. [23]

Seen it before

A seller says you can have the bike only if you also buy his old helmet.
Why a nuclear arms deal is harder with three countries than with two

Arms-control experts call it a tripolar contest: each nuclear power must plan against the other two, so no single cap suits all three.

The twist

With two rivals, matching each other is a limit both can sign. With three, each wants enough weapons to face the other two at once, and the three totals that would satisfy them cannot all be met.

The picture

The US5,000 warheads
Russia5,000 warheads
China600 warheads
As The Hindu reports them. A cap at these numbers would freeze China far behind, which is why it refuses.
Step by step
1. Two rivals can agree to stay roughly equal
2. A third nuclear power grows
3. Each now plans against the other two together
4. The smallest refuses a cap that freezes it behind
5. The biggest will not cut while the third keeps growing
The same force, elsewhere today

Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.
- Iran's MPs and the NPT
  
  Iran faces the US and Israel together, so some MPs now argue that only a bomb of its own answers two nuclear-armed enemies.
- The Gulf states and Iran at the UN
  
  Iran counts the Gulf states and the US as one side, so it says they owe it for US strikes, while they say they were never in the war.
- Russia's reported demand on Finland
  
  Russia measures itself against NATO as a whole, so it asks a neighbour to leave the alliance before any deal on Ukraine.
- Turkey and Qatar's pact
  
  Qatar no longer counts on one protector, so it adds a partner, and any attacker would now face two countries instead of one.
Where you've seen this

Board games for three players

whoever leads gets attacked by the other two at once, so nobody wants to look strongest

Three shops on one street

a price deal between two of them fails if the third can undercut both

The Cold War arms talks

US-Soviet limits could be signed partly because only two sides had to agree

The catch

The pattern explains why talks stall, not that they must fail: the US and Russia kept their arsenals capped for more than 50 years before New START ended.

And the whole of it

Each of the three governments counts its warheads against the other two. Everyone else, from Kyiv to Taipei, lives with whatever totals they settle on, without a seat in the room.

04
Ukraine fires 1,200 drones; Russia hits a hospital
What happened
- Ukraine fired almost 1,200 drones at Russian targets overnight, one of its biggest air attacks of the war. [22]
- Russia said at least 4 people were killed in its southern Volgograd region. [24]
- A Russian drone hit a hospital in central Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, at 3am, injuring 3 people. [24]
- Staff evacuated 30 people from the hospital, and rescue crews saved 7 more. [25]
- In Odesa, a port city in the south, another drone attack killed 2 people. [25]
Why it matters

The attacks came as US envoys briefed Putin in Moscow and Zelensky in Dublin after talks in Abu Dhabi. [22]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why fight harder while talking?
  
  Ukraine's army claims more than 26,000 Russian casualties in the first 10 days of November. [26]
  
  26,000Russian dead and wounded, Ukraine claims
2. 2
  
  What is making Ukraine's defence harder?
  
  Zelensky said speed limits on SpaceX's Starshield system made Russian drones harder to shoot down. [24]
  
  Starshield slowedDrones harder to hitMore strikes get through
How it works

Strategists call it negotiating from strength: each side tries to gain ground before a deal fixes the lines.
As delegations met in Abu Dhabi, Finland's military detected a strike on a Russian warship in the Baltic. [27]

Seen it before

Two children both grip a toy harder just before a parent steps in to settle it.
05
Mines set 3 tankers on fire in Hormuz
What happened
- Iran said on Saturday that 3 oil tankers had hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire. [12]
- The strait is a waterway vital for world shipping. [28]
- Iran has told ships they need its approval to cross, and has attacked those it says broke its rules. [29]
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards said 2 of the tankers had switched off their radar and tracking systems. [12]
- A UN official told the Security Council that at least 25 seafarers have died there since February. [29]
- A shipping security monitor, UKMTO, says traffic through the strait is about 65% below pre-war levels. [30]
Why it matters

Bahrain told the UN that about 1,600 ships are affected, with more than 23,000 seafarers stuck aboard. [31]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Is it getting any safer?
  
  No: the UN's shipping agency counted 35 incidents in October, the most of any month of the war. [29]
  
  35ship incidents in October, a record
2. 2
  
  Who pays for it?
  
  The UN official said the disruption pushes up energy, transport and insurance costs, and threatens food supplies. [31]
  
  Ships attackedInsurance and transport cost moreEnergy and food cost more
How it works

Shipping insurers call it war-risk cover: an extra charge for any ship that sails into a war zone.
Iran's navy warned that any tanker in its restricted area 'will be set on fire' by mines. [29]

Seen it before

When a road gets a gang at the bridge, every driver pays extra or takes the long way round.
The truth
- Iran did not name the tankers or say where they came from. [12]
06
Gulf states ask Iran to pay for attacks
What happened
- Gulf Arab states demanded on Friday that Iran pay full compensation for its attacks on them since February. [13]
- The Gulf Cooperation Council, the group of Gulf Arab states, made the demand at the UN Security Council. [13]
- Its chief, Jasem Al Budaiwi, said Iran has fired thousands of missiles and drones since 28 February. [13]
- He said they hit airports, ports, oil and gas sites, power stations and homes. [13]
- Iran's deputy UN envoy, Gholamhossein Darzi, said Gulf states let the US use their land and airspace. [32]
- He said those states should pay Iran for the damage instead. [32]
Who is involved
- Gholamhossein Darzi Iran's deputy UN envoy
How it unfolded
1. 28 February the war begins
2. Friday the Gulf asks Iran to pay
Why it matters

Saudi Arabia now sends 4 million barrels of oil a day through a pipeline that avoids Hormuz. [13]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Were the Gulf states part of the war?
  
  The GCC says no: it says they were not party to the war and tried to stop it. [13]
2. 2
  
  Then why does Iran blame them?
  
  Darzi singled out Bahrain as helping US attacks. [32] Bahrain rejected that at the same meeting. [32]
How it works

International lawyers call it state responsibility: a state that breaks international law must repair the harm it caused.
Each side blames the other for the damage, so each says the other owes the repair. [13]

Seen it before

Two neighbours each blame the other's dog for the dug-up garden, and each sends a bill over the fence.

Iran counts the Gulf states and the US as one side, so it says they owe it for US strikes, while they say they were never in the war.
The idea, in story 03: Why a nuclear arms deal is harder with three countries than with two →
07
Nuclear watchdog cannot check Iran's uranium
What happened
- The UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, said it cannot confirm Iran has kept its nuclear material for peaceful use. [33]
- It is 'increasingly concerned' about a uranium plant at Isfahan that it has never inspected. [33]
- Iran told the agency about the plant on 12 June 2025. [34] Israel's attacks began the next day. [34]
- Before those strikes, Iran had about 441kg of uranium enriched to 60%, close to weapons grade. [34]
- Iran told the agency that inspections cannot resume while the US threatens more attacks. [35]
How it unfolded
1. 12 June 2025 Iran declares the plant
2. The next day Israel's strikes begin
Why it matters

Some Iranian MPs want to leave the NPT, the treaty meant to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. [36]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why would they want to leave?
  
  MP Kamran Ghazanfari said Iran needs a nuclear deterrent because the US and Israel have threatened it. [36]
2. 2
  
  Does everyone in Iran agree?
  
  No: former MP Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said leaving the treaty lays the ground for future wars on Iran. [36] Iran's foreign ministry says it is still committed to it. [36]
3. 3
  
  How does this reach next week's summit?
  
  Trump plans to raise the Iran war when he meets Xi and Putin in Shenzhen. [2]
How it works

Arms-control experts call it verification: a promise about weapons counts only when inspectors can check it.
Iran has not let inspectors into sites bombed in June 2025, so the stockpile cannot be checked. [35]

Seen it before

A teacher who cannot see your work cannot say whether you copied it.
08
Mossad chief in the US as Netanyahu pushes
What happened
- Roman Gofman, head of Mossad, Israel's spy agency, was in Washington on Friday for talks on Iran, Axios reported. [37]
- He was due to meet John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, and Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff. [37]
- Netanyahu is pressing Trump to restart the war on Iran, the report said. [37]
- Netanyahu lost his majority in last month's election and now leads a caretaker government. [38]
- Israel's top court has ruled that an outgoing government should avoid moves it cannot undo, unless they are urgent. [38]
Who is involved
- Roman Gofman head of Mossad
- John Ratcliffe CIA director
- Steve Witkoff Trump's envoy
Why it matters

Trump has resisted. [37] Rubio said US sanctions had already caused Iran enough economic pain. [37]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Can a caretaker government start a war?
  
  On paper, yes: Israel's Basic Law gives it the same powers as a regular government. [38]
2. 2
  
  Does the next prime minister know what is planned?
  
  Israel's Channel 12 said Gofman's trip was not disclosed to Gadi Eisenkot at his security briefing. [37]
  
  Eisenkot is briefedThe trip is left outHe learns it from the news
How it works

Lawyers call it caretaker restraint: an outgoing government keeps running things but avoids big moves it cannot undo.
Netanyahu keeps full legal power, but the court's rule asks him to hold back on lasting moves. [38]

Seen it before

A supply teacher can run the class for a week, but would not change the school's rules.
The truth
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether Netanyahu's caretaker government will strike Iran again.
  
  On paper it has full powers, but Israel's top court has told outgoing governments to avoid irreversible moves unless they are urgent. [38]
09
Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of racism
What happened
- Gadi Eisenkot accused Netanyahu on Friday of a 'racist' campaign against Israel's Arab citizens. [39]
- Eisenkot is a former army chief, and Israel's president asked him to form the next government. [40]
- Arab citizens make up more than 20% of Israel's people. [39]
- Two Arab-led parties won 19 of the 120 seats in parliament. [39]
- Eisenkot's own bloc holds only 48 seats, short of the 61 needed for a majority. [41]
Who is involved
- Gadi Eisenkot ex-army chief, forming a government
Why it matters

With the 19 Arab seats, the parties backing Eisenkot hold 67, but most of his allies reject them as partners. [40]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Is anyone in his own camp threatening to leave?
  
  The mother of Yashar MP Elyasaf Peretz said he would quit if Eisenkot governs with an Arab party. [40]
2. 2
  
  Did Arab parties cheat in the vote, as Netanyahu claims?
  
  Netanyahu alleged fraud by Arab-majority parties. [39] Israel's electoral authorities rejected the claims. [39]
  
  Netanyahuclaims fraud
  Election officialsreject it
How it works

Political scientists call small parties whose seats decide who governs kingmakers. [39]
Netanyahu's coalition won 53 seats, so Eisenkot's 67 depend on the Arab parties. [40]

Seen it before

In a class vote, the small group that has not picked a side decides who wins.
10
Turkey and Qatar sign a defence pact
What happened
- Turkey and Qatar signed a mutual defence pact in Istanbul on Friday. [42]
- They promise a shared stand against any outside armed attack on either country. [43]
- The day after, Turkey's law approving a separate pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan came into force. [44]
- That pact, signed in August, treats an attack on one as an attack on all. [42]
- Turkey says it will not send troops against the Iran-backed Houthis under that pact. [44]
Who is involved
- Turkey signs the pact
- Qatar signs the pact
How it unfolded
1. Friday pact with Qatar
2. Saturday Saudi-Pakistan pact in force
Why it matters

The Qatar pact comes amid growing questions over whether the US will keep protecting the region. [43]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Is this an alliance against someone?
  
  A Qatar University scholar said no: the aim is to raise the cost of any attack, so none comes. [43]
  
  Attack costs moreAttackers think twiceNo attack
2. 2
  
  Then why sign it now?
  
  He said the region fears new fighting after the US-Israeli war on Iran. [43]
How it works

International relations scholars call this hedging: a country adds partners so it never depends on one protector.
Turkey, with NATO's second-largest army, now has defence pacts with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. [44]

Seen it before

A pupil not sure a best friend will stand up for them makes two more friends.

Qatar no longer counts on one protector, so it adds a partner, and any attacker would now face two countries instead of one.
The idea, in story 03: Why a nuclear arms deal is harder with three countries than with two →
The truth
- The text did not say what would trigger the pact, or what a joint response would be. [43]
11
Hungary digs up an ex-minister's cash
What happened
- Hungary's new anti-graft office found about $19.5m in cash, some of it buried in forests. [45]
- More was hidden in farm buildings, warehouses, homes and safes, the office said. [45]
- The searches were tied to Miklos Sesztak, Orban's development minister from 2014 to 2018. [46]
- He is suspected of taking more than $37m in bribes on overpriced used buses and building work. [46]
- 12 Treasury staff spent 8 hours counting it on 5 machines, the finance minister said. [45]
Who is involved
- Miklos Sesztak Orban's minister, 2014 to 2018
How it unfolded

Peter Magyar beat Viktor Orban in April, ending 16 years of Orban's rule, on a promise to chase corruption. [45]
1. April Magyar wins the election
2. This week the cash is dug up
Why it matters

Magyar called it 'the end of the Fidesz-KDNP mafia', meaning Orban's old ruling coalition. [45]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Who else is caught up?
  
  3 more Orban-era figures are in custody in other cases: two ministers and Orban's brother. [45]
  
  3 of 3
  Orban-era figures held in other cases
2. 2
  
  What does Orban say?
  
  Orban has called the probes into his circle political persecution aimed at jailing him. [45]
How it works

Political scientists call it transitional justice: a new government holding the old one's officials to account.
Magyar created a new office with powers to investigate and prosecute, and it found the cash. [46]

Seen it before

A new class captain opens the old captain's locker and finds the missing sweets.
The truth
- Sesztak has denied wrongdoing, and his lawyer did not comment on the cash. [46]
12
Sudan's aid runs out as drones kill
What happened
- The UN's aid plan for Sudan has raised only 47% of the $2.9bn it needs, aid agencies say. [47]
- About 33.7 million people in Sudan depend on aid. [47]
- The money is meant to bring life-saving aid to 20.4 million people. [47]
- Drones killed at least 306 people in the first 3 weeks of October alone, the UN says. [18]
Who is involved
- Sudan's army one side
- The RSF paramilitary, the other
How it unfolded

The war began in April 2023, between Sudan's army and a paramilitary force, the RSF. [18]

Why it matters

Only 10% of the 15.4 million who need shelter have been helped. [47]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why is the money not there?
  
  Donor countries are cutting their aid budgets, DW reports. [47]
2. 2
  
  Why do drones make it worse?
  
  Drones now bring the war 'to places that were once safe', the Guardian reports. [18]
3. 3
  
  Where does Sudan's gold go?
  
  Swissaid says the UAE imports gold from Sudan, Russia and Yemen that it counts as conflict gold. [48]
  
  Sudan's goldSold to the UAEMoney for the war
How it works

Aid workers call it a funding gap: the money promised falls short of what the plan needs.
Because of that gap, agencies have reached only 10% of the people who need shelter. [47]

Seen it before

A school trip that collects half its money can only take part of the class.
The truth
- Nobody knows yet
  How many people Sudan's war has killed.
  
  Estimates of the death toll vary from 150,000 to more than 400,000. [18]
13
A baby dies of cold in Gaza
What happened
- A 9-month-old baby, Kinan Arqiq, died of severe cold in Gaza, the local health ministry said. [49]
- He was declared dead at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza. [49]
- His father found him in their tent in al-Mawasi: 'his skin had turned blue'. [50]
- Most of Gaza's more than 2 million people live in makeshift shelters. [49]
- A day earlier, Israeli drones hit the same hospital's surgery ward, killing 6 people. [50]
How it unfolded
1. A day earlier drones hit the surgery ward
2. Thursday the baby dies
Why it matters

His death deepens fears over a lack of shelter, warm clothes and medicine as winter sets in. [49]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why is shelter so short?
  
  Middle East Eye reports that Israel still restricts the aid entering Gaza. [50]
  
  Aid restrictedFew tents and blanketsFamilies exposed to cold
2. 2
  
  What does Israel say about its strikes?
  
  Israel's army said it killed more than 10 militants in Gaza this week for breaking the ceasefire. [51]
  
  Israel's army10 militants
  Gaza's hospitalshit
How it works

Doctors call it hypothermia: the body loses heat faster than it can make it.
His family sheltered in a tent as temperatures fell and heavy rain flooded the camps. [50]

Seen it before

Sitting in wet clothes on a cold day chills you far faster than sitting dry.
14
France braces for a fifth wave of protests
What happened
- France planned to deploy about 70,000 police and gendarmes for a fifth wave of national protests on Saturday. [52]
- Between 50 and 60 marches were expected, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said. [52]
- The protests began in September over conditions in state schools. [53]
- They grew into protests over high living costs and strained public services. [53]
- On 17 October, police lost control of whole neighbourhoods in Paris, Marseille and Lyon, France's 3 largest cities. [53]
- UN experts raised concerns about the arrest of nearly 7,000 minors at school blockades. [53]
How it unfolded
1. September school protests begin
2. 17 October riots in 3 cities
Why it matters

A Reuters review found the heavy police response fed the anger, ahead of next year's presidential election. [53]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Who is marching now?
  
  Parents, teachers, left-wing politicians and trade unionists have joined the students. [53]
2. 2
  
  What does France's government say?
  
  Officials blame far-left radicals and 'opportunistic delinquents' for the violence. [53]
How it works

Sociologists call it backfire: a crackdown seen as unfair can make a movement bigger.
Images of riot police baton-charging teenagers drew parents and teachers into the marches. [53]

Seen it before

A teacher who punishes the whole class for one note can turn everyone against the teacher.
15
Rubio attacks the International Criminal Court
What happened
- Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, attacked the International Criminal Court in a speech on Friday. [54]
- He warned the court against 'quoting laws to men with swords'. [55]
- The court, in The Hague, tries people accused of the gravest crimes when their own countries cannot. [55]
- The US signed the court's founding treaty but never ratified it. [55] Israel, Russia and China are not members either. [55]
- The speech came about a month after the US announced new sanctions on the court. [55]
Who is involved
- Marco Rubio US secretary of state
- The US signed, never ratified
- Israel, Russia, China not members
How it unfolded
1. A month ago US sanctions on the court
2. Friday Rubio's speech
Why it matters

It was his first big speech since Republicans lost the midterms, fuelling talk of a 2028 run for president. [54]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why give it to this audience?
  
  The Federalist Society, a conservative legal group, is an occasional stop for Republican hopefuls. [54]
2. 2
  
  What did he say the Iran war is for?
  
  He said its goal is to stop Iran ever building a nuclear weapon. [54]
  
  The Iran warRubio's stated aimNo Iranian bomb
How it works

International lawyers call it jurisdiction: a court's power to judge depends on who has agreed to it.
The US never ratified the treaty, and says it does not recognise the rules the court enforces. [55]

Seen it before

A club's rules bind its members, and someone who never joined says they do not apply to him.
16
All US flights halted for hours
What happened
- The US aviation agency, the FAA, stopped flights taking off across the country for about 5 hours on Friday. [56]
- It was the longest nationwide ground stop in 25 years. [56]
- A telecoms outage hit the country's 22 regional air traffic control centres. [57]
- FlightRadar24 counted more than 4,700 cancellations and 10,000 delays on Friday. [57]
- Cirium, an aviation data firm, said 1.5 million passengers were due to fly after 4pm that day. [57]
Why it matters

Airlines warned recovery would take days, with Thanksgiving travel less than 2 weeks away. [57]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Was anyone in danger?
  
  Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said more than 3,000 flights already in the air landed safely. [56]
  
  3,000flights in the air, landed safely
2. 2
  
  Could it happen again?
  
  Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he could not guarantee it would not. [56]
How it works

Engineers call it a legacy system: old equipment that new parts must still work with.
Officials said new equipment being added overwhelmed the older system, causing radar and radio gaps. [56]

Seen it before

Plugging a new games console into a very old TV can make the picture drop out.
17
Germany gives its spies power to act
What happened
- Germany's parliament gave its spy agencies new powers on Friday, by 309 votes to 190. [14]
- The BND, which spies abroad, may now run secret operations there, including sabotage. [14]
- That could mean disrupting disinformation networks or the supply chains for weapons. [14]
- The domestic service, the BfV, may now act against threats instead of only gathering information. [14]
- Agents may also enter homes and offices in secret to prepare surveillance, under some conditions. [58]
- An independent board will oversee the agencies. [58]
Who is involved
- An independent board oversees the agencies
How it unfolded

For historical reasons, German intelligence has mostly gathered information rather than acted on it. [14]

Why it matters

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called it 'a reform of the century', needed against foreign threats. [14]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  What threats is it meant for?
  
  Holger Munch, head of Germany's federal criminal police, said hybrid attacks blur the line between police and spy work. [58]
2. 2
  
  Who objects?
  
  The Left Party's Clara Bunger said Dobrindt was creating a new German secret police. [14]
How it works

Germany calls it the separation principle: police investigate, and spies only gather information. [58]
For the first time, the BfV may dismantle explosives or weapons when it finds a specific threat. [14]

Seen it before

Lunch monitors who could only report fights are now allowed to step in and stop them.
18
Conflict gold keeps flowing into the UAE
What happened
- The UAE imported at least 591 tonnes of illicit gold in 2024, a new report says. [59]
- The report is by Swissaid, a Swiss aid and development group. [59]
- That gold was worth $74 billion, the report says. [59]
- Gold smuggled from war zones, Russia or Africa made up 42% of the UAE's gold imports. [59]
- The UAE brought in new rules in 2023, after a global anti-money-laundering body raised concerns. [59]
- The report says many refiners and traders ignore the rules, and checks are lax. [59]
How it unfolded
1. 2023 new rules
2. 2024 591 tonnes still arrive
Why it matters

The UAE was the world's second-biggest gold exporter in 2024, selling to Switzerland, India and China. [59]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Whose gold is it?
  
  In 2024, 174.5 tonnes came from Russia, Yemen and Sudan, which Swissaid counts as conflict gold. [48]
  
  174.5 tonnesfrom Russia, Yemen and Sudan
2. 2
  
  What does Swissaid want done?
  
  It wants the UAE put on an international watchlist for possible financial wrongdoing. [59]
How it works

Investigators call it laundering: passing dirty goods through a clean market until no one can trace them.
Some of the African gold entered the UAE officially, through third countries, the report says. [59]

Seen it before

Parts of a stolen bike mixed into a shop's spare parts soon look like any other parts.
19
Islamic State-linked gunmen kill 44 in Congo
What happened
- Gunmen linked to Islamic State killed at least 44 civilians in north-eastern Congo this week. [17]
- The attackers were the ADF, a group formed from former Ugandan rebels. [17]
- The raids hit villages in Ituri province, days after the ADF killed 66 people in North Kivu, next door. [17]
- Victims were hacked with machetes or shot, a local official, Gabriel Tonge, said. [17]
- Ugandan and Congolese troops are in the area, so far without much success. [17]
Who is involved
- The ADF ex-Ugandan rebels, IS-linked
Why it matters

The area is a hotspot of an Ebola outbreak that has killed more than 5,400 people since May. [17]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why has no army stopped them?
  
  The ADF stays in the bush and sets ambushes, a humanitarian source said. [17]
2. 2
  
  What does the fighting do to the Ebola response?
  
  In the North Kivu attack, 3 health workers died and clinics were burnt. [17]
  
  3 of 3
  health workers killed
How it works

Epidemiologists call it contact tracing: finding everyone a sick person met, so the virus stops spreading.
WHO's chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called the region's instability one of the greatest obstacles to the Ebola response. [17]

Seen it before

A nurse cannot find out who caught a cold in class if nobody can get into the school.
20
An ambush kills 37 villagers in Niger
What happened
- Armed men killed at least 37 civilians in an ambush in western Niger, local sources said. [19]
- The villagers were going to a weekly market in Tera, in the Tillaberi region. [19]
- A local self-defence group was escorting them, and 11 of its members died. [19]
- Tillaberi lies where the borders of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali meet. [19]
- Niger has been ruled by a military government since a coup in 2023. [19]
Why it matters

ACLED, a conflict monitor, says Tillaberi was the central Sahel's deadliest region for civilians last year. [19]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Who is fighting there?
  
  Jihadists linked to al-Qaeda and to Islamic State, the report says. [19]
2. 2
  
  Why that region?
  
  ACLED puts the rise in violence down to its place on the 3-country border, where jihadists operate. [19]
  
  Three borders meetFighters cross freelyCivilians attacked
The truth
- The death toll comes from a former local official and a resident, not from Niger's government. [19]
21
South Sudan delays its first election again
What happened
- South Sudan moved its first national elections from 22 December to 11 February. [60]
- The vote has been put off several times since independence from Sudan in 2011. [60]
- The new date came on the day voter registration was due to start, at more than 3,100 centres. [60]
- Riek Machar, the former vice-president and President Salva Kiir's main rival, is under house arrest. [61]
Who is involved
- Salva Kiir president
- Riek Machar rival, under house arrest
How it unfolded

Their forces fought a civil war from 2013 to 2018 that killed at least 400,000 people. [60]
1. 22 December the old date
2. 11 February the new date
Why it matters

The UN had warned that a vote could set off widespread conflict. [60]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Is the country even ready?
  
  Officials said not all the equipment needed had reached the centres. [60]
2. 2
  
  Why does Machar matter so much?
  
  He is accused of crimes against humanity, and his supporters have clashed with government forces. [60]
  
  Machar arrestedHis supporters fightThe vote slips
How it works

Political scientists call it a transitional period: a stopgap government that rules until elections are held.
South Sudan's leaders have extended that transition several times as the vote kept slipping. [61]

Seen it before

A class that keeps postponing its captain vote keeps the old captain.
The truth
- The electoral commission did not give a reason for the delay. [60]
22
Museveni's son threatens Uganda's vice-president
What happened
- At least a dozen generals and senior officers have been arrested in 15 months under Uganda's army chief. [16]
- The army chief is General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, 52, son of President Yoweri Museveni. [16]
- Museveni has ruled Uganda for 4 decades. [16]
- This week Muhoozi threatened Vice-President Jessica Alupo with dismissal and arrest, and suggested he take her job. [16]
- The ruling party called reports that it had rejected backing him as successor 'completely false'. [16]
Who is involved
- Yoweri Museveni president for 4 decades
- Muhoozi Kainerugaba his son, army chief
Why it matters

The fight is over who will succeed Museveni, between the army and the ruling party. [16]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why arrest so many generals?
  
  Some see an effort to sideline officers who oppose Muhoozi. [16] Others see an anti-corruption drive. [16]
  
  One viewsidelining rivals
  Another viewfighting graft
2. 2
  
  Has the party agreed on him?
  
  A recent meeting of its top leaders ended without agreement on backing him, AFP reported. [16]
How it works

Political scientists call it the succession problem: long-ruling leaders rarely leave a clear way to choose the next one.
In Uganda that fight runs between the army, where Muhoozi is strong, and the ruling party. [16]

Seen it before

When a long-serving coach never names a successor, the assistants start fighting over the job.
23
Czechs rally against a public media bill
What happened
- Hundreds of thousands were expected at a rally in Prague on Sunday against a bill on public media. [15]
- The bill would scrap the licence fee that pays for Czech Television and Czech Radio. [15]
- Instead, the 2 broadcasters would be paid straight from the state budget. [15]
- Their money would fall by about 15% in the first year. [15]
- Prime Minister Andrej Babis's coalition pushed the first reading through at 4:36am on 24 October. [15]
Why it matters

Critics accuse Babis's government of trying to undermine the broadcasters' independence. [15]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why does the coalition want it?
  
  It calls the licence fee an unfair tax, and says other EU states have made similar changes. [15]
2. 2
  
  Who is the fee unfair to, they say?
  
  The 3 coalition parties' voters tend to be less well-off, DW reports. [15]
  
  3 of 3
  parties in the coalition
How it works

Political scientists call it media capture: a government gaining a hold over news outlets through their money.
The bill moves the broadcasters' money from a fee viewers pay to a budget Babis's government sets. [15]

Seen it before

A school paper paid for by the head teacher may think twice before criticising the head.
24
5 EU countries plan a hub in Rwanda
What happened
- 5 EU countries are set to announce a deal on Monday to send rejected migrants to a hub in Rwanda. [62]
- They are Austria, Denmark, Germany, Greece and the Netherlands. [62]
- It would apply only to asylum seekers who have used up every option to stay legally. [62]
- A recent change to EU rules allows such hubs if they meet human rights standards. [62]
- The deal is due to be announced in Vienna, as a pilot for others. [62]
How it unfolded

Britain's earlier plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was struck down by the UK Supreme Court. [62]
1. Earlier the UK's Rwanda plan struck down
2. Monday the EU plan is announced
Why it matters

Rights groups warn the hubs could lead to abuses far from EU oversight. [62]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  What is still undecided?
  
  Which nationalities would be sent, and how they would live, depend on the final deal. [62]
2. 2
  
  Is this the only deal planned?
  
  Deals with other countries, and with other EU members, are likely to follow, Politico reports. [62]
  
  Rwanda firstA pilotMore deals
How it works

Migration experts call these return hubs: centres abroad for people a country has ordered to leave.
The deal is part of an EU push for more control over who enters and who stays, Politico says. [62]

Seen it before

A club that cannot send a banned member home makes him wait in a room down the road.
25
A car bomb in Moscow hurts an ex-aide
What happened
- A car bomb in Moscow wounded Sergei Zavorotny, 72, once an aide to a former Ukrainian prime minister. [63]
- He worked for Mykola Azarov in Kyiv until 2014, when Azarov fled to Russia. [63]
- Azarov said Zavorotny's condition was 'rather critical'. [63]
- A 2020 US Senate report described him as an officer of Russia's foreign intelligence service. [63]
- The blast came a day after a Russian colonel was killed by a bomb in St Petersburg. [63]
How it unfolded
1. Until 2014 aide to Azarov in Kyiv
2. 2014 Azarov flees to Russia
Why it matters

Both blasts are seen as part of a series of attacks on figures linked to the war. [63]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Who is behind it?
  
  Russia's Investigative Committee said only that investigations and explosives tests had begun. [63]
2. 2
  
  Why would he be a target?
  
  The US Senate report tied him to Russian influence operations, the BBC says. [63]
The truth
- Some details of the attack come only from unconfirmed reports, the BBC notes. [63]
26
US top court to rule on the border asylum ban
What happened
- The US Supreme Court agreed on Friday to hear the case over Trump's ban on asylum at the Mexican border. [64]
- Asylum is protection for people who fear persecution in their home country. [64]
- Lower courts found the ban illegal, and the Trump administration wants those rulings overturned. [64]
- The ban has stayed in force while the case goes on. [64]
- It was one of a series of immigration limits Trump set on returning to office in 2025. [64]
How it unfolded
1. 2025 Trump sets the ban
2. Friday the court takes the case
Why it matters

The ruling will decide whether a US president can stop people even applying for asylum. [64]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  What does the Trump administration argue?
  
  It argues it can 'categorically deny asylum' to migrants the order covers. [64]
2. 2
  
  And the other side?
  
  Lawyers at the ACLU, a rights group, say the law requires each case to be judged on its own. [64]
How it works

Lawyers call it the separation of powers: the US Congress writes the laws, and the US president carries them out.
Federal law gives a right to seek asylum, so the court must decide whether an order can override it. [64]

Seen it before

A head teacher can choose who makes the team, but cannot ban pupils from trying out.
27
Orban's banished university looks home
What happened
- Central European University, which Orban's government pushed out of Budapest, is open to growing there again. [65]
- The financier George Soros founded it in 1991. [65]
- It moved its main work to Vienna in 2019, after a law widely seen as targeting it. [65]
- The EU's highest court struck that law down in 2020, too late for the university. [65]
- It still has 312 staff in Budapest, but 476 staff and all its teaching are in Vienna. [65]
Who is involved
- George Soros founded it in 1991
How it unfolded
1. 2019 moves to Vienna
2. 2020 EU court strikes the law down
Why it matters

Its rector, Carsten Schneider, said 'our hand is reaching out' to Hungary's new government. [65]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Will it move back?
  
  Not wholesale: Schneider said it is 'thriving tremendously' in Vienna. [65]
2. 2
  
  Who is studying there now?
  
  For the first time, US students are its largest group of master's students, at 10%. [65]
  
  10 of 100
  of master's students are from the US
How it works

Economists call it a credible commitment: people invest only when they trust a promise will last.
Schneider said any move depends on goodwill and money that does not come from Hungary's government. [65]

Seen it before

A shop thrown out of a market waits to see if the new manager means it before coming back.
Good news
- Central European University, forced out of Budapest by Orban's government in 2019, says it is open to growing there again under Hungary's new government.
28
Philippine court orders preacher's arrest
What happened
- A Philippine court ordered the arrest of Apollo Quiboloy, a jailed preacher wanted in the US. [66]
- He faces US charges of child sex trafficking. [66]
- The court found probable cause on Thursday, a step towards his possible extradition, the Philippine justice department said. [66]
- Quiboloy calls himself the 'appointed son of God' and leads the Kingdom of Jesus Christ sect. [66]
- He is already on trial in the Philippines for human trafficking, and denies all the charges. [66]
Why it matters

The warrant came days before Trump visits Manila on 17 November. [66] President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's office called that a coincidence. [66]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Will he be sent to the US?
  
  Not yet: under Philippine law, the court must hold hearings before deciding. [66]
2. 2
  
  Is anyone else wanted?
  
  2 officers of his sect face the same order and are still at large. [66]
  
  2 of 2
  sect officers still at large
How it works

Lawyers call it extradition: one country handing a suspect to another to stand trial there.
The US asked in August, and the Philippine government filed its petition in court on Monday. [66]
29
Everyone survives a New Orleans ship crash
What happened
- A tanker hit a river cruise ship docked in New Orleans on Friday, tipping it onto its side. [67]
- The cruise ship was the American Heritage, and the tanker was the Atlantic Asphalt. [67]
- 32 people went to hospital, none of them critically hurt. [68]
- Some people fell into the river, whose water is cold and currents dangerous. [68]
Who is involved
- American Heritage the cruise ship, hit
- Atlantic Asphalt the tanker
Why it matters

Everyone was accounted for, which Mayor Helena Moreno called 'a miracle on the Mississippi'. [68]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Who got them out?
  
  Tugboat crews, police and other rescuers rushed in, the mayor said. [67]
2. 2
  
  What went wrong?
  
  It is under investigation, but the Coast Guard said there seemed to be 'some type of a loss of steering'. [67]
How it works

Accident investigators call it root-cause analysis: tracing a crash back to the first thing that went wrong.
Here they are checking whether the tanker lost its steering before it hit. [67]

Seen it before

When a bike crashes on a hill, the real question is why its brakes failed.
The truth
- The BBC quotes the port as saying about 129 passengers were aboard. [67] The Guardian quotes the port's press secretary saying 197. [68]
Good news
- No one died, and the 32 in hospital had mostly bumps and bruises. [68]
- Everyone aboard a river cruise ship hit by a tanker in New Orleans was accounted for, and none of the 32 people taken to hospital was critically hurt.
30
Turkey detains steel workers after a deadly blast
What happened
- Turkish security forces detained at least 9 people protesting at a steel plant where a blast killed 19 on Monday. [69]
- The plant belongs to the company HABAS, in Aliaga, near the city of Izmir. [69]
- Workers were protesting a new ban on bringing phones into the plant. [69]
- They shouted 'We want to live with dignity' outside the factory. [69]
- Security forces blocked some roads leading to the site. [69]
How it unfolded

Officials say a crane collapsed and dropped 120 tonnes of molten steel onto a furnace. [69]

Why it matters

The ban came from the company's chairman, who is under house arrest during the blast investigation. [69]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why ban phones after a blast?
  
  A workers' group, the Aegean Workers' Collective, says it is to stop them sharing images from inside. [69]
  
  A deadly blastPhones bannedNo pictures from inside
2. 2
  
  Who was detained?
  
  Oktay Turk of the workers' group said he was among those held. [69]
The truth
- HABAS declined to answer AFP. [69] The ruling AKP and its ally, the MHP, voted down a full parliamentary inquiry. [69]
31
UN keeps peacekeepers in Central Africa
What happened
- The UN Security Council voted unanimously to extend its peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic to November 2027. [70]
- The mission is called MINUSCA, and France drafted the resolution. [70]
- It will back a pilot army garrison and help disarm former fighters. [70]
- In the capital, Bangui, hundreds marched on Friday against rising living costs. [71]
- The opposition coalition, the BRDC, wants petrol cut to 850 CFA francs a litre. [71]
- It also wants 5 civil society leaders, arrested on 15 October, set free. [71]
How it unfolded
1. Now the mission renewed
2. November 2027 its new end date
Why it matters

Liberia, speaking for 3 African council members, said: 'A task handed over must remain a task delivered.' [70]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why are people marching?
  
  An opposition spokesman said fuel prices rise every 6 or 7 months. [71]
2. 2
  
  Is the mission shrinking?
  
  France's UN envoy said it will adjust its troop numbers as the Central African government takes on more. [70]
  
  UN troopsAdjusted downNational forces step up
How it works

Peacekeeping experts call this a transition: the UN hands security back to a country's own forces, step by step.
The resolution moves MINUSCA's work toward backing national forces, especially in border areas. [70]

Seen it before

Training wheels come off a bike one at a time, while a parent still holds the seat.
32
France takes its Algeria quarrel to the EU
What happened
- France asked the European Commission on Friday to examine whether Algeria is breaking its trade deal with the EU. [72]
- France accuses Algeria of an almost total block on French imports, and of halting urea shipments to France. [72]
- The EU-Algeria deal took effect in 2005 and cut tariffs between them. [72]
- France says the deal allows measures against a side that breaks its commitments. [72]
Who is involved
- France backed Morocco
- Algeria opposes Morocco's claim
How it unfolded

Ties worsened after President Emmanuel Macron backed Morocco in its dispute with Algeria over Western Sahara. [72]
Last year, Algeria passed a law calling French colonisation a 'state crime'. [72]

Why it matters

France is moving its quarrel with Algeria up to the EU level. [72]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  What does France want Brussels to do?
  
  It asked the Commission to see at once whether the deal's measures could be imposed. [72]
2. 2
  
  Why is it so bitter?
  
  Relations have been complex since French colonial rule, Africanews says. [72]
How it works

Trade lawyers call this a safeguard clause: a deal lets one side respond if the other breaks it.
France wants the EU to use that clause against Algeria's block on its imports. [72]

Seen it before

If a friend stops lending you games, you can stop lending yours, as you both agreed.
33
IMF says Lebanon's bank fix is not ready
What happened
- The IMF said more work is needed before it can agree a plan to fix Lebanon's banks. [73]
- Agreement is one step towards billions of dollars in IMF help. [73]
- An outline deal in April 2022 needed a law on who bears the banks' losses. [73]
- The cabinet sent a draft of that law to parliament in 2025. [73]
- Lebanon's parliament has still not voted on it, because banks and political parties contest the text. [73]
Who is involved
- Banks contest the law
- Parties contest the law
How it unfolded
1. April 2022 an outline deal
2. 2025 a draft law sent
Why it matters

The plan must also say how savers get their deposits back. [73]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why is it stuck?
  
  The sides disagree over how big the losses are and how to share them. [73]
  
  How big are the losses?Who carries them?No agreement
2. 2
  
  Did anything move this week?
  
  The IMF said there was progress clarifying the approaches of Lebanon's central bank and government. [73]
How it works

Economists call it burden sharing: deciding who loses money when banks fail, the owners, the savers or the state.
The law would set that split, and the banks contest the draft. [73]

Seen it before

When a shared pizza falls on the floor, nobody wants to be the one left without a slice.
34
Zimbabwe's president clips his heir's ministry
What happened
- Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa has cut back the powers of his ally Kudakwashe Tagwirei. [74]
- Tagwirei, a businessman, is widely seen as Mnangagwa's successor. [74]
- He was made minister of economic development and investment promotion a month ago. [74]
- Under a new legal order, the finance minister oversees 58 laws and Tagwirei only 2. [74]
- Tagwirei's 2 laws cover competition and the census. [74]
Who is involved
- Emmerson Mnangagwa president
- Kudakwashe Tagwirei seen as his successor
Why it matters

It raises questions about what his new ministry can actually do. [74]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Who keeps the money?
  
  Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube keeps control of the national purse and the financial system. [74]
2. 2
  
  How fast had Tagwirei risen?
  
  He was fast-tracked into Zimbabwe's Senate and the ruling party's top bodies. [74]
  
  SenateParty leadershipCabinet
How it works

Political scientists call it coup-proofing: a ruler keeps any heir from growing strong enough to push him aside.
Tagwirei got a ministry's title while the finance minister kept the 58 laws that run the money. [74]

Seen it before

A captain names a vice-captain, then keeps the team sheet in his own pocket.
35
Sao Tome's runner-up keeps the top job
What happened
- Sao Tome and Principe's president reappointed Prime Minister Americo Ramos on Thursday. [75]
- The country held legislative elections in September. [75]
- Ramos's party came second, with 23 of the 55 seats. [75] The MLSTP came first with 24, short of the 28 for a majority. [75]
- Of the other 8 seats, 6 belong to a 3-party coalition and 2 to the Basta movement. [75]
Who is involved
- Americo Ramos prime minister, again
Why it matters

Ramos's government must tackle a lack of jobs that is driving many young people abroad. [75]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why not the party that came first?
  
  President Carlos Vila Nova said the MLSTP could not guarantee enough support in parliament. [75]
  
  MLSTP wins most seatsNo majority promisedVila Nova turns to Ramos
2. 2
  
  Does the MLSTP accept that?
  
  The MLSTP has reportedly disputed Vila Nova's account. [75]
How it works

Political scientists call it government formation: the head of state asks whoever can win a vote of support.
With 24 seats, the MLSTP still needed 4 more partners' seats to reach 28. [75]

Seen it before

The team with the most players can still lose a tug of war if the others pull together.
36
Drive-through border checks for the Channel Tunnel
What happened
- The European Commission agreed new drive-through border checks for the Channel Tunnel, the Guardian reports. [76]
- Drivers will give fingerprints and face images at kiosks without leaving their cars. [76]
- Folkestone in England and Calais in France will each have 120 kiosks, watched by police through cameras. [76]
- The checks are for the EU's entry and exit system, which British travellers must use. [76]
- That system was due everywhere by 9 September. [76] But 9 of the 27 EU states, France included, still lag. [76]
Why it matters

Getlink, which owns Eurotunnel, wants to avoid 'short-term and long-term chaos' at the border. [76]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why fingerprints at all?
  
  All non-EU citizens, Britons included, must give them entering and leaving the Schengen area. [76]
  
  EnteringFingerprints and faceLeaving
2. 2
  
  What does Getlink want next?
  
  Its chief, Yann Leriche, will present a 40-page plan for an 'intelligent border'. [76]
  
  40 pagesplan for an intelligent border
How it works

Border engineers call it throughput: how many travellers a crossing can check in an hour.
Checking drivers in their cars, not in a terminal building, is how Getlink hopes to avoid that chaos. [76]
37
Syria drops a visa rule for Americans
What happened
- Syria lifted a new rule that made US citizens get a visa before arriving, an official said on Friday. [77]
- Several Americans had complained online after being turned away. [77]
- Nothing changed for other countries' citizens, including Europeans. [77]
- Western countries, including the US, have lifted Assad-era sanctions to help Syria rebuild. [77]
How it unfolded

Syria's government came to power when Islamist-led fighters overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. [77]
1. December 2024 Assad overthrown
2. This week a visa rule, then a U-turn
Why it matters

Syria counted 719,000 tourists from outside Arab countries in the first half of 2026, up from 131,000 in 2025. [77]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why reverse it so fast?
  
  The rule had caused an uproar online, AFP reported. [77]
  
  Rule imposedUproar onlineRule dropped
2. 2
  
  What is Syria trying to rebuild?
  
  International flights have resumed as it recovers from more than a decade of civil war. [77]
The truth
- Syria gave no reason for the rule, saying only that it was imposed temporarily by Syria's interior ministry. [77]
Good news
- Syria counted 719,000 visitors from outside the Arab world in the first half of 2026, up from 131,000 in 2025.

More World editions

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Across the beats

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37 on this beat today.

Trump, Xi and Putin will hold the first three-way summit on 19 November, and Trump wants the nuclear cuts China has refused

Europe picks 5 countries for Ukraine talks

Russia asks for a new order in Europe

Why a nuclear arms deal is harder with three countries than with two

Ukraine fires 1,200 drones; Russia hits a hospital

Mines set 3 tankers on fire in Hormuz

Gulf states ask Iran to pay for attacks

Nuclear watchdog cannot check Iran's uranium

Mossad chief in the US as Netanyahu pushes

Eisenkot accuses Netanyahu of racism

Turkey and Qatar sign a defence pact

Hungary digs up an ex-minister's cash

Sudan's aid runs out as drones kill

A baby dies of cold in Gaza

France braces for a fifth wave of protests

Rubio attacks the International Criminal Court

All US flights halted for hours

Germany gives its spies power to act

Conflict gold keeps flowing into the UAE

Islamic State-linked gunmen kill 44 in Congo

An ambush kills 37 villagers in Niger

South Sudan delays its first election again

Museveni's son threatens Uganda's vice-president

Czechs rally against a public media bill

5 EU countries plan a hub in Rwanda

A car bomb in Moscow hurts an ex-aide

US top court to rule on the border asylum ban

Orban's banished university looks home

Philippine court orders preacher's arrest

Everyone survives a New Orleans ship crash

Turkey detains steel workers after a deadly blast

UN keeps peacekeepers in Central Africa

France takes its Algeria quarrel to the EU

IMF says Lebanon's bank fix is not ready

Zimbabwe's president clips his heir's ministry

Sao Tome's runner-up keeps the top job

Drive-through border checks for the Channel Tunnel

Syria drops a visa rule for Americans