The US asks if Ukraine would give up the Donbas to join NATO, Zelensky says, as Russia rejects a pause in energy strikes

The stories

34 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

   The US asks if Ukraine would give up the Donbas to join NATO, Zelensky says, as Russia rejects a pause in energy strikes

   a fifth

   of Ukraine's land held by Russia, most of the Donbas included

   Russia took Crimea in 2014 [1]

   450,000

   Russian soldiers killed at least, by leaked official figures

   the war is now in its fifth year [5]

   1,200 to 1,300

   prisoners each side may swap, Zelensky estimates

   agreed in US talks in Moscow [5]

   What happened

   • The US asked whether Ukraine would leave the Donbas region if it could join NATO, Zelensky said on Saturday. [1]
   • 'This was the first time this had been raised,' said Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's president. [3]
   • NATO is a military alliance, and Ukraine has long wanted to join it to deter future attacks. [1]
   • Russia holds about a fifth of Ukraine, including most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas. [1]
   • 'Ukraine is not retreating and is not giving up its land to terrorists,' Zelensky said. [6]
   • US, Russian and Ukrainian officials met in Abu Dhabi this week, their first three-way talks since February. [8] The Geneva round then ended with no deal. [8]
   • Then the US envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, saw Russia's president Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Zelensky in Dublin. [1]
   • Kushner, who is Donald Trump's son-in-law, said both sides know compromises will be needed. [8][13]
   • Zelensky said he would put a full deal to a referendum, a vote by all Ukrainians. [1]
   • The deal would need security guarantees, no limits on Ukraine's army and money to rebuild the country. [1]
   • 'I have no right to make that decision on my own,' he said. [3]
   • He said any deal would not recognise the occupied land as Russian. [4] He also refused to make Ukraine neutral, as that needs a new constitution. [4]
   • Russia turned down a pause in attacks on energy sites, Zelensky said. [3]
   • Russian strikes on power stations have cut power and heating to millions of people as temperatures plunge. [2]
   • Zelensky called Putin's offer of a 'humanitarian mission' to Kostiantynivka a ploy to push Ukraine's troops out. [11]
   • Putin said 400 to 500 civilians still live in the town. [7]
   • Zelensky warned that Russia's push to redraw Europe's security could lead to more wars. [7]
   • He expects Putin to raise Finland, Sweden and US troops in the Baltic countries. [5]
   • His order is a ceasefire first, then the end of the war, then guarantees for Ukraine. [5]
   • Talks in Moscow agreed a swap of more than 1,000 prisoners on each side, Zelensky said. [5] He put it at 1,200 to 1,300. [5]

   Who is involved

   • Kushner and Witkoff US envoys; carried the question
   • Vladimir Putin Russia's president; calls Ukraine in NATO a red line
   • Volodymyr Zelensky Ukraine's president; says no land will be given, but a full deal could go to a referendum
   • Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff Donald Trump's son-in-law and his peace envoy; they carried the question from Putin to Zelensky

   How it unfolded

   1. February three-way talks in Geneva end with no deal [8]
   2. This week talks in Abu Dhabi
   3. Feb 2022 Russia launches its full-scale invasion [3]
   4. This week talks resume in Abu Dhabi [8]
   5. Thursday US envoys see Putin in Moscow, then Zelensky in Dublin [1]
   6. Saturday Zelensky reveals the land-for-NATO question [1]

   Why it matters

   Zelensky said Russia is 'betting everything' on this winter's fighting. [3]

   He will ask Ukrainians only if the US and other NATO partners confirm the whole package. [4]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why would Ukraine give up land it still holds?

      Ukraine has long wanted NATO membership, to deter the next attack. [1] The bits of Donbas it still holds are small in practical terms. [1]

      What Ukraine getsNATO membership

      vsvs

      What it givesthe rest of Donbas
   2. 2

      So why is that small piece so hard to give?

      Handing it over would mean accepting the Donbas as Russian. [1] The BBC calls that a big symbol for Ukraine, whatever its size. [1]

   3. 3

      Does Russia even want this swap?

      Putin calls Ukraine in NATO a red line, and named it as one reason for invading in 2022. [4]

      Ukraine looks to NATO→Putin calls it a red line→Russia invades in 2022
   4. 4

      Then why would the US float it?

      A US official said land cannot be settled before Europe's security after the war is agreed. [8] 'We're not going to be able to finalise one without the other.' [8]

      Agree Europe's security→Then settle the land
   5. 5

      Who is paying while they talk?

      Russia's war has cost at least 450,000 of its soldiers' lives, leaked official figures show. [13] Germany's aid to Ukraine reached about EUR 100 billion by June. [54]

      450,000+Russian soldiers killed

      ++

      EUR 100 billionGermany's aid to Ukraine
   6. 6

      Is Ukraine now being offered NATO membership?

      Not yet: US officials had earlier said it was off the table. [1] 'We need specifics, and we don't have them yet,' Zelensky said. [6]

      US: NATO off the table→US: what if Ukraine joined?→No written offer yet
   7. 7

      Will Ukraine come up when Trump meets Xi and Putin?

      Trump is expected to discuss Iran and nuclear stockpiles with them. [19] He is not expected to discuss the Ukraine war. [20]

   8. 8

      So what is really going on?

      Russia holds most of the Donbas and calls Ukraine in NATO a red line. [1][4] So this swap needs Russia to drop a demand it gave as a reason for war. [4]

      Russia holds the land→Ukraine wants NATO→Russia must accept NATO

   How it works

   Military planners call this defence in depth: several lines of defence, so losing one does not open the road.

   Ukraine's 'fortress belt' is 4 heavily defended cities in Donetsk that Russia wants it to give up. [9] Ukrainians fear that would open Russia's way west, even to Kyiv. [9]

   Seen it before

   A castle with three walls survives losing the outer one. Hand over a wall, and the next one becomes the front.

   The truth

   • What is really going on Talks, not battles, moved the day: the US asked whether Ukraine would trade the Donbas for NATO, and Netanyahu and Eisenkot bargained over who leads Israel. [1][14]
   • Trump's office and the US State Department did not immediately answer Politico's questions about the offer. [6]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether the US will put the land-for-NATO idea in writing with other NATO members.

     Zelensky says there are no specifics yet, and Trump's office and the US State Department did not immediately answer questions about it. [6]

   Good news

   • Ukraine and Russia agreed in US-brokered talks to swap more than 1,000 prisoners each, and Zelensky puts the number at 1,200 to 1,300 a side.

1. 02

   Russia drops its objection to Europe at the talks

   What happened

   • Russia said on Saturday it will not oppose European negotiators at the Ukraine talks. [12] Before, it said they had 'no business' there. [12]
   • 'We cannot and do not want to set conditions for their negotiating team,' said Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman. [12]
   • Europe will be represented by 5 countries, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland, plus the EU's own officials. [12]
   • Those 5 have said they are ready to send troops to secure Ukraine after a ceasefire. [13]
   • Jared Kushner, a US envoy, said he will help Europe and Russia talk to each other directly. [13]

   Who is involved

   • Jared Kushner US envoy; wants Europe and Russia talking

   Why it matters

   Russia wants to review how Europe is kept safe, so European leaders want a seat in the room. [7][8]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why would Russia let Europe in now?

      Russia says it first wants to hear what Europe's position could add to the peace process. [12]

      Europe joins→Russia hears its offer→Russia judges it
   2. 2

      And does Europe know what it wants?

      France's president, Emmanuel Macron, said Europe must 'state clearly' what it wants after the war, including to Russia. [13]

   How it works

   Negotiation scholars call it a multi-party negotiation: each new party at the table brings demands of its own.

   Kushner said Europe's presence lets the talks cover Europe's security after the war, not only Ukraine's land. [10]

   Seen it before

   A plan for two friends becomes a group chat once three more join, and now everyone has a say.

   The truth

   • Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said Europeans must decide 'whether they want peace or the continuation of the war'. [10]

1. 03

   Netanyahu asks Eisenkot for a unity government

   What happened

   • Israel's caretaker prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, asked his rival Gadi Eisenkot on Saturday to form a unity government. [14]
   • 'Let us go into the room, without preconditions,' Netanyahu said in a video. [14] Unlike his earlier calls, he did not say he must lead it. [14]
   • Netanyahu's bloc lost its majority in last month's election. [14] President Isaac Herzog then gave Eisenkot the first try at a government. [14]
   • Eisenkot's 4 parties won 48 of the 120 seats, Netanyahu's bloc 53 and 2 Arab-led parties 19. [14]
   • Eisenkot is now putting the ultra-Orthodox parties first, Channel 12, an Israeli TV station, reported. [16]
   • One of them, United Torah Judaism, has set out demands on the army draft, school funding and religion. [16]

   Who is involved

   • Netanyahu caretaker prime minister; wants unity
   • Eisenkot has the mandate; wants him out

   Why it matters

   Netanyahu says Iran is rebuilding its nuclear programme, and a narrow government cannot confront it. [14]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why offer unity now, after losing?

      Eisenkot called it 'yet another spin move', meant to delay a new government. [15]

   2. 2

      What would Eisenkot give Likud?

      His camp will offer Likud a place in government, not the top job, Channel 13 reported. [14] 'We will agree to compromises, but not on the matter of prime minister.' [14]

      Likud getsseats in government

      vsvs

      Eisenkot keepsthe top job
   3. 3

      What can the anti-Netanyahu camp do already?

      From Monday, its Avigdor Liberman is set to chair parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee. [17]

   4. 4

      So who holds the swing seats?

      The ultra-Orthodox: Shas says it is sticking with Netanyahu, while United Torah Judaism is talking to Eisenkot. [16]

   How it works

   Political scientists call it a caretaker government: one that runs the country only until a new one is formed.

   A new government needs 61 of the 120 seats, and Eisenkot's 48 cannot get there alone. [16]

   Seen it before

   A class captain stays on after losing the vote until the new captain has picked a team.

   Why a deal trades what one side minds least for what it wants most

   Negotiators call it logrolling: each side gives up what it values less to get what it values more, so both can come away ahead.

   The twist

   A swap only works when the two sides rank things in a different order. If both care most about the same thing, there is nothing to trade.

   The picture

   Ukraine givesthe rest of Donbas

   ↓→

   Ukraine getsNATO membership

   Step by step

   1. 1 Each side cares about several things
   2. 2 They care about them by different amounts
   3. 3 Each gives up what matters less to it
   4. 4 Each gets what matters more
   5. 5 If both want the same thing most, there is nothing to swap

   The same force, elsewhere today

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

   • Eisenkot's coalition talks

     United Torah Judaism offers its seats in return for what it cares about most: the army draft, school funding and religion.

   • Eisenkot's offer to Likud

     His camp offers Likud places in government, but keeps the prime minister's job, the one thing it will not trade.

   • Canada's trade deal with the Philippines

     Canada opens its own market a little to win new buyers, and Carney names farming, aerospace and mining as the winners.

   Where you've seen this

   Lawmakers

   one votes for another's bridge in return for support for their own school

   Divorce settlements

   one keeps the house, the other keeps the pension

   Swapping lunch at school

   you give the crisps you never eat for the apple you wanted

   The catch

   It works only if each side trusts the other to deliver its half. And the thing given away must really matter less to the giver than it looks from outside.

   And the whole of it

   Every swap made at a table is paid for by people who were not at it. Think of families near the Donbas front, or young ultra-Orthodox men facing the draft. Most of us sit on the paying side of some swap we never saw.

   The truth

   • Why it works on people Calling it 'unity' makes Netanyahu's offer sound generous, though he lost his majority and Eisenkot holds the mandate. [14]
   • Sources differ on when the two teams meet: Sunday, says the Times of Israel; Monday, says Middle East Eye. [14][15]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Who will lead Israel's next government.

     Neither camp has 61 of the 120 seats on its own, and United Torah Judaism has not yet picked a side. [16]

1. 04

   Trump may hold off on new Iran strikes

   What happened

   • Donald Trump has told advisers he may hold off on attacking Iran, three people told Reuters. [18] The condition is no new provocation from Iran or Yemen's Houthis. [18]
   • He launched the war with Israel in February. [18] Before the 3 November elections, 55% of Americans in a poll said the war was not worth it. [18]
   • Saudi Arabia's crown prince and Turkey's president both urged him not to resume attacks. [18]
   • Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said the pain on Iran's economy is 'so great' no strikes are needed. [19]
   • Still, a third US aircraft carrier is heading to the region, and all 3 could stay if needed. [18]

   Who is involved

   • Mohammed bin Salman Saudi crown prince; urged a pause
   • Tayyip Erdogan Turkey's president; urged a pause

   Why it matters

   Qatar's effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the route for Gulf oil, is now clouded, two diplomats told AP. [19]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      So is the war over?

      Not yet: Trump says the US is 'locked and loaded' and watching an Iranian nuclear site. [19]

   2. 2

      Why squeeze rather than strike?

      US spy agencies judge new strikes would not change Iran's demands much. [18] The blockade and sanctions are hurting Iran's economy, they say. [18]

      More strikeslittle change

      vsvs

      Blockade and sanctionshurting Iran

   How it works

   Strategists call this economic coercion: making a rival poorer until it changes course.

   A months-long US blockade stops Iran's sea traffic, and sanctions add to it, so Iran's economy weakens. [18]

   Seen it before

   Instead of shouting at a neighbour, you stop lending them your ladder until they agree to talk.

   The truth

   • A Trump official said only that Trump 'holds all the cards' and alone knows what he will do. [18]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether Trump will order new strikes on Iran.

     He told advisers he may hold off but appears undecided, and a third aircraft carrier is moving into the region. [18]

2. 05

   Israel kills Hamas's Rafah commander

   What happened

   • An Israeli strike killed Samir Abu Younis, 53, who led Hamas's armed wing in Rafah, Hamas said on Sunday. [21]
   • Hamas says he helped plan the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. [21]
   • The drone strike hit the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, crowded with displaced people living in tents. [22]
   • Israel once called Mawasi a humanitarian zone, but has attacked it repeatedly. [22]
   • Two others were wounded and taken to Nasser hospital. [22] Israel hit that hospital's surgery ward on Thursday. [23]

   Who is involved

   • Samir Abu Younis Hamas's Rafah commander, 53

   How it unfolded

   1. 7 Oct 2023 Hamas attacks Israel
   2. Saturday Abu Younis killed

   Why it matters

   Gaza's health ministry says Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,643 people since the ceasefire began in October 2025. [22]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      How can there be a ceasefire and strikes?

      The October 2025 truce halted major fighting, but not Israeli attacks or Hamas's disarmament. [21]

      Truce stops big battles→Strikes go on→Hamas keeps its guns
   2. 2

      Who has died on the other side since?

      5 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, Reuters reports. [21]

      Palestinians killed1,643 people

      Israeli soldiers killed5 people

   How it works

   Lawyers of war call it a targeted killing: striking one named person rather than a fighting force.

   Israel's army and its Shin Bet security agency said they aimed a drone at one senior commander in Khan Younis. [22]

   The truth

   • Israel's military said it struck a senior Hamas commander but did not name him; only Hamas did. [21]
3. 06

   17 countries condemn the Nasser hospital strike

   What happened

   • Foreign ministers of 17 countries condemned Thursday's Israeli strike on Nasser hospital in southern Gaza. [23]
   • They include Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Indonesia and Pakistan. [23]
   • The strike hit the surgery ward, killing at least 6 people, including a 13-year-old boy. [23]
   • Israel said Hamas had set up a command centre inside the hospital complex. [23]
   • The ministers said such attacks undermine the ceasefire and clash with Trump's own plan for Gaza. [23]

   Why it matters

   They warned that Israel's limits on tents, caravans and medicine deepen the crisis as winter comes. [23]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      What are they asking Israel to do?

      To keep the truce, let aid through freely and honour its ceasefire terms. [24]

      Keep the truce→Let aid in→Honour the terms
   2. 2

      Why does a hospital get special protection?

      The law of war gives medical sites and health workers special protection, the ministers said. [23]

   How it works

   Lawyers of war call it the principle of distinction: an attack may aim at fighters, never at patients.

   Israel says Hamas used the hospital, while the ministers say the strike killed patients and medical staff. [23]

   The truth

   • The counts differ: 17 countries, by Dawn's list; 18, says Middle East Eye. [23][24]
4. 07

   EU demands open crossings as Gaza floods

   What happened

   • The EU asked Israel to reopen all Gaza's border crossings and give aid groups immediate access. [26]
   • Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, called the Nasser hospital strike 'deeply alarming'. [25]
   • Heavy rain has hit at least 106,000 people in Gaza in recent days, UNICEF says. [26]
   • Gaza's officials say more than 700 km of its sewage network has been destroyed. [26]
   • Israel says it supports winter preparations but will not let Hamas take aid. [25]

   Why it matters

   Most of Gaza's people are displaced and live in tents and damaged buildings, so rain soaks their shelter. [22]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      What does the EU say is short?

      It says Israel's limits on what crosses into Gaza cause shortages of shelter, medicine and medical kit. [25]

      Limits at the crossings→Shortages inside Gaza→Shelter and medicine run low
   2. 2

      Does Israel listen to Kallas?

      Israel's foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, cut ties with her in June over a reported apartheid comparison. [25]

   How it works

   Engineers call it drainage: pipes that carry rain away before it pools where people live.

   Damage from Israeli attacks on Gaza's infrastructure has made the floods worse, local officials and the UN said. [26]

   Seen it before

   A bathtub with a blocked plughole fills up even from a dripping tap.

5. 08

   France marches for a fifth Saturday

   What happened

   • About 106,000 people marched across France on Saturday, the fifth Saturday in a row, France's interior ministry said. [27]
   • It was the lowest turnout in recent weeks, and 219 people were detained. [27]
   • More than half a million marched on Thursday, during a strike led by unions. [28]
   • Unions rejected the French government's offer to raise the minimum wage by 0.6% and called another strike for Tuesday. [28]
   • Many marched against a bill giving police who fire their weapons a presumption of self-defence. [29]
   • Unions call it a 'licence to kill' that would make police harder to hold to account. [28]

   Why it matters

   France elects a new president next year, and Marine Le Pen's far-right party leads the polls. [27][28]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Who wants the police bill?

      Its backers include Le Pen's party, who say officers are now wrongly presumed guilty of excessive force. [28]

      Backersstop presuming guilt

      vsvs

      Unions'licence to kill'
   2. 2

      Why does that anger protesters so much?

      Lawyers for at least 18 people hurt at recent protests say they will sue France's interior ministry. [28]

      18injured protesters suing, at least

   How it works

   Lawyers call it the burden of proof: which side has to show what happened.

   Under the bill, an officer who fires 'will first be presumed to have acted lawfully', a student union says. [28]

   Seen it before

   If a referee is always assumed right, a player has to prove the foul never happened.

   The truth

   • Student unions counted 200,000 marchers, almost twice the French ministry's 106,000. [27]
6. 09

   Portugal's biggest march yet over rents

   What happened

   • Tens of thousands marched in more than 30 Portuguese towns and cities on Saturday against soaring rents. [30]
   • It was the biggest national march since the housing movement began weeks ago. [30]
   • Parliament has approved government plans to speed up evictions and loosen rental contracts. [30]
   • The bill would also scrap rent caps and let landlords ask for bigger deposits. [31]
   • Rents have risen 68% since 2020, Portugal's government says. [30]

   Why it matters

   From 2015 to 2025, house prices against incomes rose 61% in Portugal, the EU's biggest jump. [30] The Netherlands was next, at 34%. [30]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why would Portugal's government make evictions easier?

      It says easier rules will get landlords to put more homes up for rent. [31]

      Easier evictions→Landlords feel safer→More homes to rent, it says
   2. 2

      What do the marchers say to that?

      More than half of workers earn under EUR 1,000, while Portugal's government calls EUR 2,300 a 'moderate' income, campaigners say. [31]

      under EUR 1,000Most workers earn

      vsvs

      EUR 2,300Officials' 'moderate'
   3. 3

      So who pushed prices up?

      Much of the rise came from foreign buyers and investment funds, Al Jazeera reports. [30]

   How it works

   Economists call it supply response: whether more homes come onto the market when the rules change.

   Portugal's government bets that freer landlords will rent out more homes. [31] Campaigners say tenants will be left more vulnerable instead. [31]

7. 10

   Quad leaders to meet in Manila

   What happened

   • Leaders of the US, Japan, Australia and India plan to meet in Manila on 17 November, two people told Reuters. [32]
   • They are Donald Trump, Japan's Sanae Takaichi, Australia's Anthony Albanese and India's Narendra Modi. [34] The 4 form the Quad, a group of Indo-Pacific powers. [32]
   • It will be their first summit in two years, after one in Delaware in September 2024. [32]
   • They meet beside the summit of ASEAN, the 11-member Southeast Asian group, which opens on Sunday. [33][35]
   • Talks may cover critical minerals and safe shipping lanes after attacks on ships. [32]

   Who is involved

   • US Donald Trump
   • Japan Sanae Takaichi
   • Australia Anthony Albanese
   • India Narendra Modi

   How it unfolded

   1. Sep 2024 Quad summit in Delaware
   2. 17 Nov Quad summit in Manila

   Why it matters

   Days later, Trump meets China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin in Shenzhen, China. [33]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why would shipping top the list?

      The leaders want shipping lanes open to secure energy supplies, one planner said. [32] Attacks on ships are very likely to be raised. [32]

      Ships attacked→Energy supplies at risk→Quad on shipping lanes
   2. 2

      What else is weighing on the region?

      Southeast Asia's leaders face questions on trade, security and an ongoing energy crisis. [33]

   How it works

   Strategists call it balancing: countries join up so that no single power can push the region around.

   The Quad is widely seen as a counterweight to China's growing influence, though its members say it targets no one. [32]

   Seen it before

   Friends who walk home together are harder to push around than one walking alone.

8. 11

   Canada and the Philippines finish a trade deal

   What happened

   • Canada and the Philippines finished talks on a free trade deal on Saturday, Canada's prime minister Mark Carney said. [35]
   • The talks began only a year ago, and the deal should take effect in 2027. [35] Signing should take about 6 months. [35]
   • Carney is in Manila for the ASEAN summit, and says a deal with the whole bloc is 'substantially completed'. [35]

   How it unfolded

   1. A year ago talks begin
   2. Saturday talks finished
   3. 2027 deal takes effect

   Why it matters

   Canada wants to double its exports to countries other than the US by 2035. [35]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      Why is Canada rushing deals in Asia?

      Carney says it is building 'a dense web of reliable partners' to rely less on the US. [35]

   2. 2

      Who in Canada gains?

      Carney named farming, aerospace, mining and energy among the sectors that gain. [35]

      Farming

      ++

      Aerospace

      ++

      Mining

      ++

      Energy

   How it works

   Economists call it trade diversification: selling to many buyers so that no single one can squeeze you.

   Repeated trade clashes with Trump pushed Canada to seek buyers from Europe to Southeast Asia. [35]

   Seen it before

   A lemonade stand that sells only to one neighbour is stuck when that neighbour stops buying.

   Canada opens its own market a little to win new buyers, and Carney names farming, aerospace and mining as the winners.

   The idea, in story 03: Why a deal trades what one side minds least for what it wants most →
9. 12

   Myanmar bombs a camp for the displaced

   What happened

   • A Myanmar military airstrike killed 12 people at a camp for people displaced by war in Rakhine state, witnesses said. [36]
   • It hit Byar La camp late on Friday, and 18 more were hurt. [36] A 5-year-old was among the dead, a rescue group said. [36]
   • 'They believed the camp was safe,' said a 24-year-old rescue worker. [36]
   • Rakhine, on Myanmar's west coast, is held almost entirely by the Arakan Army, an armed group of an ethnic minority. [36]

   Why it matters

   Myanmar has been in civil war since the military seized power in a coup 5 years ago. [36]

   Think it through

   1. 1

      How many have died in the war?

      ACLED, a group that tracks conflicts, estimates more than 100,000 people killed on all sides. [36]

      100,000killed on all sides, at least

   2. 2

      Has the military explained this strike?

      No: it could not be reached, and the rescue worker said the camp was not in a combat area. [36]

      The militaryno comment

      vsvs

      Rescue workernot a combat area

   How it works

   Military historians call it a siege: cut a place off, then wear it down.

   The military blockades Rakhine and bombs it from the air regularly, while the Arakan Army holds the ground. [36]

   Seen it before

   A town whose only road is shut runs short of food even if no one attacks it.

   The truth

   • What is really going on The strikes went on anyway, from the tents of Mawasi in Gaza to a camp for the displaced in Myanmar. [22][36]
10. 13

    Sudan's army takes a key Kordofan town

    What happened

    • Sudan's army took al-Khuwai, a main town in West Kordofan, on Friday, local media reported. [37]
    • The war began in April 2023 between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. [37] Dagalo leads the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. [37]
    • The army's push broke the RSF siege of al-Obeid, capital of North Kordofan. [37]
    • The RSF still holds al-Nuhud, a town with gold mines, and parts of South Kordofan. [37]

    Who is involved

    • Sudan's army led by al-Burhan
    • Rapid Support Forces paramilitary, led by Dagalo

    Why it matters

    The war has killed about 150,000 people and driven more than 14 million from their homes. [37]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       What happens if the RSF loses Kordofan?

       An analyst expects it to pull back to Darfur, which could become the war's new centre. [37]

       Kordofan lost→RSF pulls back→Darfur at the centre
    2. 2

       Why might the RSF crack there?

       It relied on local tribes for fighters, and some groups have defected as the army advances. [37]

    How it works

    Military analysts call it a support base: the people a fighting force draws its strength from.

    The RSF's base is the Arab communities of south and east Darfur, not Kordofan, so its hold there is weaker. [37]

    Seen it before

    A team playing away, with no fans behind it, tires faster than one at home.

11. 14

    Iraq sacks 9 officials over militia oil

    What happened

    • Iraq's prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, sacked 9 senior security officials over oil smuggling in Jurf al-Nasr. [38]
    • Jurf al-Nasr, in Babil province, is a stronghold of Kataib Hezbollah, an armed group backed by Iran. [38]
    • An inquiry found illegal oil refineries there, and 2 big pipelines that had been tapped. [38]
    • Babil's police chief and a director of the state oil pipeline company were among those sacked. [38]
    • The smuggling was worth up to $30 million a month, Al Jazeera reported. [38]

    Who is involved

    • Babil's police chief sacked
    • A pipeline company director sacked

    Why it matters

    Kataib Hezbollah has threatened the prime minister and accused him of corruption. [38]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Is this really about corruption?

       An Atlantic Council analyst says it is more about disarming the militia. [38] 'The prime minister cleverly decided to frame it as anticorruption,' he said. [38]

    2. 2

       How does cutting oil money weaken a militia?

       The aim is to cut the money of a group that has resisted Iraq's government, the analyst said. [38]

       Oil smuggled→Money for the militia→Money cut off
    3. 3

       What does this have to do with Iran?

       Kataib Hezbollah is backed by Iran, which the US is now squeezing with a blockade and sanctions. [38][18]

       US squeezes Iran→Iraq squeezes Iran's ally

    How it works

    Economists call it rent: money earned by controlling a resource, not by making anything.

    The group earned by tapping pipelines in its area, which past governments were careful not to touch. [38]

    Seen it before

    A pupil who sells the school's own pencils back to classmates gets rich without making anything.

12. 15

    Car bomb kills a father and child near Damascus

    What happened

    • A bomb in a car killed a man and his daughter in Jaramana, a suburb of Damascus, Syria's capital. [39]
    • It went off on Saturday, and his wife was seriously hurt. [39] Security forces sealed off the area and opened an investigation. [39]
    • Jaramana is home to many Druze, a religious minority, and has seen tension with backers of Syria's government. [40]
    • Syria is led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, after Islamist-led fighters removed Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. [39][40]

    How it unfolded

    1. Dec 2024 Assad removed
    2. Saturday car bomb in Jaramana

    Why it matters

    Several bombs have hit Damascus in recent months, and authorities mostly blame ISIL, the Islamic State group. [39]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Who was behind the earlier attacks?

       Authorities blamed ISIL cells, including for an attack in July during Macron's visit. [39]

    2. 2

       Was this one aimed at civilians?

       Most recent bombings hit security forces, not civilians, Al Jazeera's reporter said. [39] Saturday's dead were a father and his child. [39]

       Most bombingssecurity forces

       vsvs

       Saturday's deada father and child

    The truth

    • Reports differ on the wounded: Syrian state TV said 2, Syria's interior ministry 1. [40]
    • Nobody knows yet

      Who set the car bomb that killed a father and child in Jaramana.

      Syria's security forces have said only that they opened an investigation. [39]

13. 16

    Saudi Arabia executes a former child protester

    What happened

    • Saudi Arabia executed Jawad Qureiris on Saturday, who was 14 or 15 during protests in 2011 and 2012. [41]
    • He came from a Shia family in the Eastern Province, where most people are Shia Muslims. [41]
    • He was arrested in December 2020 over protests and posts on social media. [41]
    • A second man, Fadel Al-Safwani, was executed the same day. [41]

    Who is involved

    • Fadel Al-Safwani executed the same day

    How it unfolded

    1. 2011-2012 protests; he is 14 or 15
    2. Dec 2020 arrested
    3. Saturday executed

    Why it matters

    Since August 2025, Saudi Arabia has executed 5 men who were children at the time of the alleged crimes. [41]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Who were the 5?

       All came from Shia families in the east, executed over protests during and after the Arab Spring. [41]

    2. 2

       Is his family a target?

       One brother was killed by security forces, and another was arrested at 13. [41]

       Brother killed→Brother arrested at 13→Jawad executed
    3. 3

       Is anyone else at risk?

       Reprieve, a rights group, warns that Youssef al Manasif faces imminent execution. [41]

    The truth

    • Saudi Arabia's interior ministry says the men joined a terrorist group and fired on security forces. [41] His family says he was tortured into a false confession. [41]
14. 17

    Turkey's spying charge reaches an MP's wife

    What happened

    • Turkish police held Yonca Verdioglu Sik, who works for a German foundation, on accusations of spying. [42]
    • She was released, but now faces a travel ban. [42]
    • Her questioning was about money her employer, the Heinrich Boll Foundation, sent to her bank account. [42]
    • She is married to Ahmet Sik, an opposition MP and journalist who has been looking into a stock market scandal. [42]

    Who is involved

    • Yonca Verdioglu Sik works for a German foundation
    • Ahmet Sik opposition MP and journalist

    Why it matters

    As an MP he is protected from prosecution, so critics say the pressure is aimed at him through her. [42]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Is this new in Turkey?

       No: since the 2016 coup attempt, journalists, rivals and foreign staff have been accused of spying. [42]

    2. 2

       What happens to people charged this way?

       Many are later acquitted or convicted of something else, sometimes years later. [42]

    3. 3

       So why bring the charge at all?

       DW calls the result a 'chilling effect': long detention and damage to careers scare others into silence. [42]

    How it works

    Political scientists call it lawfare: using courts and charges as a weapon against opponents.

    Any investigation can mean long detention and harm to a career, even if an acquittal comes years later. [42]

    Seen it before

    A teacher who keeps one pupil after class without saying why gets the whole room quieter.

15. 18

    Burkina Faso seeks critics living abroad

    What happened

    • Burkina Faso issued arrest warrants on Friday for about 20 people, including exiled journalists and a former minister. [43]
    • They include RFI journalist Newton Ahmed Barry and former foreign minister Djibril Bassole. [43]
    • They face terrorism charges, including 'glorification of terrorism'. [43]
    • Burkina Faso, in West Africa, has been ruled by soldiers since a coup in September 2022. [43]
    • It also wants Ivory Coast to act against an influencer with 4 million followers who mocks the region's military rulers. [43]

    Who is involved

    • Newton Ahmed Barry RFI journalist
    • Djibril Bassole former foreign minister

    Why it matters

    The military government has cracked down hard on criticism, and now reaches critics who fled. [43]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Can Burkina Faso get people back from abroad?

       Only if other countries agree: it asked Ivory Coast to help 'in the name of international judicial cooperation'. [43]

    2. 2

       Who else is under watch?

       France 24 and some of its commentators are under scrutiny, and Meta was asked to identify page owners. [43]

    How it works

    Lawyers call it extradition: one country asking another to hand over a person for trial.

    Burkina Faso attached extradition requests to 14 of the warrants, so each depends on the country where that person lives. [43]

    Seen it before

    A school can expel a pupil, but it cannot make another school send them back.

16. 19

    Pakistan sends a minister to India

    What happened

    • Pakistan will send its climate minister, Musadik Malik, to a meeting in New Delhi on 20 to 22 November. [44]
    • He will be the first Pakistani minister to visit India in more than 3 years. [44]
    • The meeting is a dialogue of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a regional group, and India proposed it. [45]
    • India put the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty on hold after a terror attack at Pahalgam in April 2025. [44] The two then fought in May 2025. [45]

    How it unfolded

    1. Apr 2025 Pahalgam attack; treaty on hold
    2. May 2025 military conflict

    Why it matters

    Malik has attacked that decision, saying in June Pakistan would 'cut off those hands' trying to control the Indus. [44]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Who did India invite?

       Pakistan's culture minister, but Pakistan chose to send Malik instead. [44]

       India invitedthe culture minister

       vsvs

       Pakistan sendsMusadik Malik
    2. 2

       What does India say it wants?

       India's culture minister said the two share a past and 'should not have any differences over these issues'. [44]

    How it works

    Diplomats call it signalling: who a country sends says as much as whether it goes.

    Pakistan said yes to India's invitation, but chose a minister known for attacking India's water decision. [44]

    Seen it before

    Turning up to a party but sending your grumpiest cousin says something too.

17. 20

    4 Pakistani soldiers killed in the west

    What happened

    • 4 Pakistani soldiers, including a major, were killed in operations in Balochistan and North Waziristan, the army said. [46]
    • The army said its forces killed 24 militants since 13 November. [46]
    • Militants attacked army patrol vehicles with armed drones on 14 November, killing Major Omer Minhas Nasir. [46]
    • The army blamed groups it calls 'Fitna al-Hindustan', and says India backs them. [46]

    Why it matters

    Troops are patrolling the Quetta-Taftan highway to keep it open for local traffic. [46]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Does India back the groups?

       That is the army's claim, made in its own statement. [46]

    2. 2

       Why do drones change the fight?

       The army says the groups now use drones and roadside bombs against civilians and soldiers. [46]

       Drones and roadside bombs→Patrols attacked→More operations

    The truth

    • Pakistan's state names the Baloch groups 'Fitna al-Hindustan' to stress India's alleged role, Dawn notes. [46]
18. 21

    Amnesty urges Pakistan-run Kashmir to free activists

    What happened

    • Amnesty International urged the new government of Pakistan-run Kashmir to free hundreds of detained activists. [47]
    • They were held under anti-terror laws for protesting about the cost of living. [47]
    • Amnesty wants a ban lifted on the Joint Awami Action Committee, a movement of traders, lawyers and students. [47]
    • It campaigned against high power bills, flour prices and taxes. [47]
    • Prime Minister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani took office in August. [47]

    Who is involved

    • Joint Awami Action Committee traders, lawyers, students; banned

    Why it matters

    UN experts have raised concerns about anti-terror laws being used against activists. [47]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Why use anti-terror laws on protesters?

       Protests turned violent earlier this year, and the movement was then banned under the anti-terror act. [47]

       Protests turn violent→Movement banned→Members arrested
    2. 2

       Who has been caught up?

       Hundreds of activists, protesters and journalists were put on watchlists or arrested. [47]

    How it works

    Lawyers call it proscription: banning a group, so that belonging to it becomes a crime.

    Once the movement was banned under the 2014 anti-terror act, links to it became grounds for arrest. [47]

    Seen it before

    If a school bans a club, simply sitting at its lunch table can get a pupil in trouble.

19. 22

    A faulty router grounded every US flight

    What happened

    • A router installed during a cable upgrade caused Friday's nationwide halt to US flights, the transport secretary said. [49]
    • The contractor, L3Harris, was swapping old copper lines for fibre at a remote site. [49]
    • The router sent 1,000 connection attempts every 4 to 5 seconds, unsettling 17 of 22 control centres. [49]
    • Finding the fault took 45 minutes, because maintenance is logged on paper. [49]
    • No flights took off from the continental US for more than 4 hours. [48]

    Why it matters

    Transport Secretary Sean Duffy says it could happen again unless the US Congress pays to upgrade air traffic control. [48]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       What would a fix take?

       Trump has asked the US Congress for $30.1 billion. [48] Duffy put a full overhaul at $50 billion. [49]

       Trump's request$30.10 billion

       Full overhaul$50 billion
    2. 2

       Was it a cyberattack?

       No: 'We see zero evidence of anything nefarious,' said Bryan Bedford, head of the aviation agency. [48]

    How it works

    Engineers call it a cascading failure: one fault spreads through systems that are linked together.

    One router flooded the others with connection attempts, so 17 of 22 centres lost stable voice links. [49]

    Seen it before

    One phone stuck spamming a group chat can make the whole chat unusable.

    The truth

    • Duffy says officials are still working out 'whether we had incompetence' or a faulty router. [50]
20. 23

    A Democrat wins Alaska for the first time since 1998

    What happened

    • Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins won Alaska's governor race, the first Democrat to do so since 1998. [51]
    • The Associated Press called it on Friday, 10 days after the polls closed. [51]
    • He beat 3 Republicans, one backed by Donald Trump, and won more than 50% of first choices. [51]
    • He promised to make all oil and gas producers pay corporate income tax, and to pause new data centres. [51]

    How it unfolded

    1. 1998 last Democrat elected
    2. Friday Kreiss-Tomkins called the winner

    Why it matters

    Democrats now hold 30 US governorships after this month's midterm elections. [51]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Is this part of a wider swing?

       Yes: Democrats also won the governor's race in Kansas and flipped 8 Senate seats. [51]

       8Senate seats flipped by Democrats

    2. 2

       What did Alaskans want changed?

       He campaigned on living costs, school funding and a ferry system cut back under the last governor. [51]

    How it works

    Election experts call it ranked-choice voting: voters list the candidates in order of preference.

    More rounds of counting are needed only if nobody wins over half of first choices, and he did. [51]

    Seen it before

    Ranking pizza toppings means your second choice still counts if your first one runs out.

21. 24

    Fetterman threatens to quit the Democrats over Israel

    What happened

    • US Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, said he could leave his party over who leads it in the Senate. [52]
    • He named Senator Chris Van Hollen, an Israel critic who has challenged Chuck Schumer for the post. [52]
    • Fetterman called Van Hollen 'very anti, hostile to Israel'. [52]
    • Fetterman has met Israel's prime minister at least 4 times. [52]

    Who is involved

    • John Fetterman Democratic senator; may quit
    • Chris Van Hollen critic of Israel; challenger
    • Chuck Schumer current Democratic leader

    Why it matters

    Van Hollen says the party needs new leaders after voters chose change in the midterms. [52]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Does the party need his vote?

       Not now: Democrats won 55 Senate seats, so they keep their majority without him. [52]

       55Democratic Senate seats

    2. 2

       What has Van Hollen said about Gaza?

       In 2025 he said Israel's government was using 'food as a weapon of war'. [52]

    How it works

    Political scientists call it a pivotal vote: one member's leverage depends on whether the majority needs him.

    There was talk he might defect if Democrats won just 51 seats; with 55, his threat weighs less. [52]

    Seen it before

    A player who threatens to quit matters more to a team of six than to a squad of twenty.

22. 25

    US Navy fires commanders without telling lawmakers

    What happened

    • The US Navy has fired several senior officers without its usual public announcements, Middle East Eye reports. [53]
    • They include the commander of the USS Michael Murphy, a destroyer sent against Iran, fired for a 'loss of confidence'. [53]
    • The leaders of the submarine USS South Dakota were removed in October after it reportedly hit the seabed. [53]
    • Two Democratic lawmakers complained that the Navy did not tell the House Armed Services Committee. [53]

    Who is involved

    • Joe Courtney and Adam Smith Democratic lawmakers; not told

    Why it matters

    The silence adds to doubts about what the military has told the public about the Iran war. [53]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       What else has been slow to come out?

       AP reports that limits on satellite pictures delayed news of damage to 26 US bases hit by Iran. [53]

       26US bases damaged by Iranian strikes

    2. 2

       Why does telling US lawmakers matter?

       The lawmakers said the silence raised questions about the Navy's commitment to transparency. [53]

    How it works

    Political scientists call it civilian oversight: elected lawmakers checking the armed forces.

    The Navy did not notify the House Armed Services Committee, which is meant to check it. [53]

    The truth

    • The Navy made none of its usual public announcements of the firings. [53]
23. 26

    Germany's record budget leans on borrowing

    What happened

    • Germany's budget committee approved a record EUR 561 billion federal budget for 2027 early on Friday. [54]
    • It came after nearly 16 hours of talks among the governing parties. [54]
    • Revenue falls EUR 123 billion short, so Germany's government must borrow. [54]
    • With special funds for defence and roads, total borrowing tops EUR 210 billion. [54] Only in 2021 did Germany borrow more: EUR 215.4 billion. [54]

    How it unfolded

    1. Friday committee approves
    2. 27 Nov final vote in parliament

    Why it matters

    Defence spending rises by about EUR 27 billion, to just under EUR 110 billion, as Russia's war goes on. [54]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Where does most of the money go?

       Social spending and pensions: more than EUR 200 billion, as more Germans retire. [54]

    2. 2

       Why are pensions rising so fast?

       People born in the 1960s, when over 1 million babies were born a year, have begun to retire. [54]

       1 millionbabies a year in the 1960s, over

    How it works

    Economists call it the dependency ratio: how many retired people each worker's taxes must support.

    Births nearly halved in the early 1970s, so fewer workers now pay for more pensioners. [54]

    Seen it before

    When older club members leave and few new ones join, fewer people pay for everyone's kit.

    What comes next

    Parliament holds the final vote on 27 November. [54]

24. 27

    AI fakes in Nigeria's voter register

    What happened

    • Nigeria's election body says it is investigating pictures in its draft voter register that appear made by AI. [55]
    • The register also had duplicate names and people who had died. [55]
    • The general election is just over 2 months away. [55]
    • President Bola Tinubu faces Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. [55]
    • The commission, INEC, set up a unit to watch for deepfakes, fake videos made with AI. [55]

    Who is involved

    • Bola Tinubu president; seeks re-election
    • Atiku Abubakar former vice-president
    • Peter Obi opposition figure

    Why it matters

    A fact-checker says AI-made falsehoods are already 'becoming commonplace' before the vote. [55]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Is the danger only fake stories?

       No: real evidence can now be dismissed as AI-made, an Abuja media expert warns. [55]

       Fakes are easy→Real clips doubted→Truth harder to prove
    2. 2

       Has that happened already?

       A lawmaker who made inflammatory remarks at a rally later claimed the clips were manipulated. [55]

    The truth

    • Critics say INEC has not opened its procedures to public view, which would make the vote more transparent. [55]
25. 28

    Nigeria warns travellers about Addis Ababa's height

    What happened

    • Nigeria warned citizens with health problems about flying through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. [56]
    • 16 Nigerians with existing illnesses died this year while changing planes there, Nigeria's foreign ministry said. [56]
    • The city sits 2,334 metres above sea level, one of the world's highest capitals. [56]
    • Its Bole airport is a major hub for flights between Africa, the Middle East and Asia. [56]

    Why it matters

    People with heart and lung disease face the most risk. [56]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Why is height dangerous?

       The air is thinner, so less oxygen reaches the blood and the heart must work harder. [56]

       Thinner air→Less oxygen in the blood→The heart works harder
    2. 2

       Is Nigeria telling people to avoid Ethiopia?

       No: Nigeria's ministry said it did not want to discourage travel through the city. [56]

    How it works

    Doctors call it hypoxia: too little oxygen reaching the body.

    For people with existing conditions, the extra work can sometimes lead to heart failure. [56]

    Seen it before

    Running up stairs leaves you panting because your body wants more air than it is getting.

    The truth

    • Nigeria's ministry did not name the dead or say how they died. [56]
26. 29

    UK to consider changing the age of consent

    What happened

    • The UK government will consider changing the age of consent, after a woman said Russell Brand raped her at 16. [57]
    • Mia Latter, now 37, gave up her right to anonymity to tell her story to the Sunday Times. [57]
    • Brand, a comedian, was 30 at the time she describes. [57] He is now in jail for other attacks. [57]
    • In the UK, adults of any age can legally have sex with 16- and 17-year-olds. [57]
    • Latter wants a staggered age of consent, making relationships between adults and 16- or 17-year-olds illegal. [57]

    Who is involved

    • Mia Latter 37; says Brand raped her at 16

    Why it matters

    Louise Haigh, in effect the deputy prime minister, said a change 'deserves proper consideration and scrutiny'. [57]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Is a change now likely?

       Haigh called it 'a massive step' and promised only to consider it. [57]

    2. 2

       What does Latter say people get wrong?

       She says the age gap is not 'the most heinous bit' of what happened to her. [57]

    The truth

    • Brand denied all of Latter's claims when they were first reported in 2023. [57] Her case was not part of his trial. [57]
27. 30

    Spain weighs a US bid to extradite a Hamas-linked heir

    What happened

    • Spain's High Court heard a US bid to extradite James 'Fergie' Chambers, a rich US activist, over alleged Hamas support. [58]
    • It is the first known US attempt to extradite a citizen over alleged support for Hamas, the Guardian reports. [58]
    • Chambers got about $250 million in 2023 from selling shares in his family's firm, Cox Enterprises. [58]
    • The US charges include riot over 2023 protests at Elbit, an Israeli arms maker, and money laundering. [59]
    • Spain's prosecutor backs sending him. [59] The court rules next week, and the cabinet can then overturn it. [58]

    Who is involved

    • Fergie Chambers US activist and heir; held in Spain

    Why it matters

    The decision may be among the last of Pedro Sanchez's government before Spain votes on 29 November. [58]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       What does the money trail show?

       His defence says most of the transfers to Tunisia paid for a football club, Club Africain. [58]

    2. 2

       Why is this awkward for Spain?

       Spain's Socialist-led government is strongly pro-Palestinian, which has strained ties with the Trump administration. [59]

       Spain's governmentpro-Palestinian

       vsvs

       Trump administrationwants him sent

    How it works

    Lawyers call it extradition review: courts check a foreign request against their own country's law.

    Chambers's lawyers argued that Spanish law gives the 3 judges grounds to refuse the US request. [58]

    The truth

    • The money sent differs by report: $7.2 million, says the Guardian; $7.5 million, says the Times of Israel. [58][59]
28. 31

    Nazi-era claim over a $180 million Van Gogh

    What happened

    • Heirs of the painting's 1930s German owners, the Fischers, say it was perhaps sold under Nazi pressure. [60]
    • Blossoming Chestnut Trees, by Vincent van Gogh, carries an estimate of $180 million. [60]
    • Sotheby's, the auction house, plans to sell it in New York on Wednesday. [60]
    • Samuel Fischer, a famous German publisher, bought it in 1909. [60] It went to an Amsterdam dealer in 1932 or 1933, then Paris in 1936. [60]

    How it unfolded

    1. 1909 Fischer buys it
    2. 1932 or 1933 sent to Amsterdam
    3. 1936 goes to Paris

    Why it matters

    The heirs' lawyer says Nazi damage to the family's publishing firm forced the sale, the New York Times reported. [60]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       What does Sotheby's say?

       Its research has 'not established' a sale under duress, but it will work with the family. [60]

    2. 2

       Who has owned it since?

       Four other owners held it before this year's sale. [60]

    How it works

    Lawyers call it restitution: returning, or paying for, property lost through persecution.

    Sotheby's says it traced the painting's owners back to 1890 and takes restitution 'extremely seriously'. [60]

    Seen it before

    If a bully made you sell your bike cheap, getting it back later feels fair even after others bought it.

29. 32

    Pope Leo urges Peru not to answer violence with brutality

    What happened

    • Pope Leo XIV urged Peruvians not to answer injustice with brutality, visiting towns he once served as bishop. [61]
    • About 20,000 people came to his open-air Mass in Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, a town of about 6,000. [61]
    • On Friday he said Mass for about 500,000 people in Chiclayo, his old diocese. [62]
    • Leo, born in Chicago, was bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023 and holds Peruvian citizenship. [61]

    How it unfolded

    1. 2015 becomes bishop of Chiclayo
    2. 2023 leaves Chiclayo

    Why it matters

    Peru's murder rate nearly doubled in 5 years, from 5.8 to 10.7 per 100,000 people. [61]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       What has Peru's government done?

       President Keiko Fujimori declared states of emergency, including in Lima in August. [61]

    2. 2

       Why do the crowds worry health officials?

       Measles cases in the Americas are almost 5 times last year's, with at least 81 deaths. [62]

       81measles deaths in the Americas, at least

    How it works

    Epidemiologists call it a mass gathering: a crowd in which one infection can reach many people.

    PAHO, the Americas' health agency, rated the measles risk 'very high' because vaccination is low in Peru and Argentina. [62]

    Seen it before

    One child with a cold at a birthday party can send half the guests home sniffling.

30. 33

    $300 million for clean water in Sindh

    What happened

    • The World Bank approved $300 million to bring safe water and sanitation to 1.5 million people in rural Sindh, Pakistan. [63]
    • More than half of children under 5 in rural Sindh are stunted, held back in growth. [63]
    • The project will build solar-powered water systems and expects to create more than 14,000 jobs. [63]
    • A housing body set up for flood victims would become a rural water company. [63]

    Why it matters

    Stunting is one of Pakistan's most severe and lasting problems, the World Bank's country director said. [63]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       Why spend on toilets to fight stunting?

       Unsafe water and sanitation are a major cause of stunting, the bank says. [63]

       Unsafe water→Sick children→Stunted growth
    2. 2

       Who will it reach?

       1.5 million people in selected rural areas of Sindh. [63]

       1.5 millionpeople in rural Sindh

    How it works

    Public health experts call it a root cause: the thing that keeps making people ill.

    Dirty water gives children repeated diarrhoea, which stops them absorbing nutrients from food. [63]

    Good news

    • 1.5 million people in rural Sindh are due to get safe water and sanitation. [63]
31. 34

    China builds military ties in Laos and Cambodia

    What happened

    • China and Laos opened a joint military training centre north of Vientiane, Laos's capital, at the end of September. [64]
    • China says Laotian air force pilots will train at the Ban Keun airfield. [64]
    • Satellite images showed 8 Chinese-made K-8 jets there in early October, Reuters found. [64]
    • In 2025 China expanded its use of Cambodia's Ream naval base on the Gulf of Thailand. [64]
    • Early in November, China's foreign minister Wang Yi hosted 5 neighbours, who agreed to closer economic and security ties. [64]

    Why it matters

    Bases there would give China 'strategic depth' and better access to the South China Sea, a German scholar says. [64]

    Think it through

    1. 1

       So is it a Chinese air base now?

       Not yet: the runway is 2,000 metres, too short for big Chinese bombers, which need 3,000. [64]

       Ban Keun's runway2,000 metres

       Bombers need3,000 metres
    2. 2

       Why does Laos go along?

       Laos is heavily in debt to China, and a China-Laos railway ties the two closer. [64]

       Debt to China→A shared railway→Closer military ties

    How it works

    Strategists call it access: the right to use another country's ports and airfields.

    China gains influence by shaping how such a base is trained and run over several years, a foundation head says. [64]

    Seen it before

    The friend who helps set up your games console gets a say in where it goes.