China's Communist Party expelled a record 33 members at a meeting that ended on Thursday. [1] A plenum is a closed meeting of the party's Central Committee, its top few hundred officials. [2] It happens roughly once a year, and this one lasted 4 days in a Beijing hotel. [1] Only 279 members came, down from 364 in July 2024 and 315 last October. [1] It was the first time under Xi Jinping that fewer than 300 attended. [1]

16 of the 33 expelled members came from the military, the party's statement said. [1] The Central Military Commission, which commands China's armed forces, normally has 7 members. [1] Purges have left it with just 2: Xi himself and General Zhang Shengmin. [2] Zhang Shengmin is the army's anti-corruption chief, who checks officers for wrongdoing. [2] On Thursday the party promoted him to the Politburo, its top governing body. [3] He is now the only military member of that body. [2]

Those expelled include Zhang Youxia, once the second most powerful man in China's military. [2] Ma Xingrui, who ran the party in the region of Xinjiang, was expelled too. [2] Liu Jianchao, a well-known diplomat missing from view since July last year, was also named. [1] The party gave no charges beyond 'serious disciplinary and legal violations'. [1]

Xi's third term has now removed a record 51 Central Committee members. [1] His first term removed 35 and his second 5. [1] Across the whole party, 680,000 people were disciplined in the first nine months of this year. [1] More than 2 million have been disciplined since Xi took over in 2012, an official said. [1]

Xi has called corruption the 'biggest threat' to the party. [1] In January he warned of 'two-faced cadres' who claim loyalty but ignore orders. [1] Chong Ja Ian, a Carnegie China scholar, says the campaign now protects Xi's own authority. [1] Kerry Brown, a China expert at King's College London, sees a cost to it. [4] He says more pressure on officials risks killing their will to act on their own. [4]

Why it matters. The party's next congress, held every five years, is due in the second half of 2027. [2] Xi is expected to win a 4th term there, the longest rule since Mao Zedong. [2] Analysts say the purges have left few suitable people to promote. [2]

A Russian drone hit a crowded platform at Dnipro's main railway station on Thursday, killing 14. [17] Dnipro is a city in central Ukraine; a train to Zaporizhzhia stood at the platform. [17] At least 14 more were wounded, among them an 11-year-old boy. [17] Ukraine's air force said it stopped 3 of 4 drones, but the 4th got through. [5] A threat warning was out, yet many people were still on the platform. [17] In Chernihiv, in the north, a Russian missile killed 2 girls aged 15. [17] Officials said it was a Banderol, a relatively cheap jet-powered cruise missile. [18] In September alone, drone threats forced evacuations from more than 5,800 train services. [19]

Why it matters. Zelensky asked how many such attacks Russia has made since some sanctions were eased. [5] Ukraine, the US and Russia are due to hold talks in November, he has said. [19]

NATO allies doubt Ukraine will get more US Patriot missiles before Tuesday's US midterm elections. [8] Patriots are interceptors: missiles that shoot down incoming ballistic missiles. [8] Ukraine has waited almost a month for Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, to approve them. [9] Each Patriot interceptor costs over $4 million and can take two years to build. [8] The US builds about 60 to 65 a month, by Ukraine's estimate. [8] Russia fired more than 100 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and nearby in two weeks, Zelensky said. [8]

Why it matters. CSIS, a Washington research group, says the Iran war used about half of US interceptor stocks. [8] Ex-US NATO envoy Kurt Volker thinks the US may keep them for a new Iran war. [9]

A container ship sank off Bulgaria's Black Sea coast after 3 sea drones hit it. [6] The Contship Jet carried 421 containers from Haifa in Israel to Constanta in Romania. [20] All 18 crew, 14 from the Philippines and 4 from Ukraine, were rescued. [6] At least 6 ships were hit by drones off Bulgaria this month, government statements say. [20] About two dozen sailors are feared dead. [20] A French patrol plane warned Bulgaria, but its navy could not stop the attack. [20] Nobody has said who launched the drones. [20]

Why it matters. Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, all NATO members, called for the attacks on ships to stop. [6] Some NATO members wonder whether Russia is testing their support for Ukraine. [6]

Aid was due to enter Oleshky on Friday, as a local truce passed 54 hours. [21] Oleshky is a Russian-held town in southern Ukraine, where about 2,000 people are trapped. [21] They have been short of food, water and medicine for months. [18] Human rights officials on both sides said no one had broken the truce. [21] Russian engineers were clearing mines from the roads for the aid convoy. [21] The Trump administration credits Melania Trump, the US first lady, with helping to broker it. [21]

Why it matters. The pause is planned to last six days, and residents will be able to leave. [21] France's President Macron said peace needs much more than one local truce. [5]

Seven tankers carrying about 288,000 tonnes of Russian diesel are sailing towards the US. [22] They are the first part of a deal Trump and Putin struck this month. [22] The deal reversed years of US sanctions, or punishments, on Russian oil. [22] Greenpeace, an environmental group, tracked the 7 ships using shipping websites. [22] It is unclear whether they can unload, amid a row over whether the shipments are legal. [22] The US is also moving to lift sanctions on Russia's 'shadow fleet' of tankers. [23] That fleet of old, often uninsured tankers carries oil around Western limits. [23]

Why it matters. It makes up nearly 19% of the world's oil tanker capacity, S&P Global estimates. [23]

The EU reopened 21.3 billion euros of unspent defence loans on Thursday. [24] The money comes from SAFE, a cheap-loan scheme to help EU countries arm faster. [24] Italy, Hungary and France borrowed far less than expected, leaving money unspent. [24] The European Commission wants countries to spend it on joint projects with Ukrainian firms. [24] Ukraine faces a 70 billion euro gap in its budget. [24] Missile defence, drones and ammunition are the most urgent needs, the EU defence commissioner wrote. [24]

Why it matters. Countries can apply until 13 November. [24]

A German and a Ukrainian company tested an armed ground robot for Ukraine's army. [25] The vehicle, GEREON, is built by ARX Robotics and drives with no one inside. [25] ROBONEERS, a Ukrainian firm, makes the weapons module mounted on top. [25] Soldiers fire it by remote control, from a safer distance. [25] Unarmed versions already carry supplies and wounded soldiers in Ukraine. [25]

Why it matters. The first armed ones are due by the end of 2026. [25] The deal was signed during Chancellor Merz's visit to Kyiv in early October. [25]

Israel's final count gave Netanyahu's bloc 53 of the 120 seats in parliament. [26] The opposition bloc, led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, won 48 seats. [26] Two Arab-led parties won a record 19 seats between them. [27] A government needs 61 seats, so neither bloc can rule alone. [27] Netanyahu's Likud party said the election was 'stolen' with foreign money given to Arab parties. [11] The election committee's head asked Shin Bet, Israel's security service, to investigate. [28] Shin Bet said it was not blaming a whole community that voted lawfully. [26] Qatar, accused of sending the money, called the claims 'ridiculous'. [29]

Why it matters. Most Jewish opposition parties say they will not govern with Arab parties. [30] The new parliament is sworn in on 10 November. [30]

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he hopes to restart peace talks with Israel's next government. [31] He spoke in Nicosia, Cyprus's capital, beside Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. [31] He asked Cyprus to mediate, saying it has good ties with both sides. [31] Christodoulides said Cyprus was 'at Palestine's disposal'. [31] Talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for years. [32]

Why it matters. Israel's own election left neither bloc with a majority to form a government. [32]

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said talks with Israel have not yet settled the key issues. [33] They include a ceasefire, Israel pulling out of south Lebanon, the border and prisoners. [33] A Lebanese army team set out its demands at US-hosted talks in Tampa, Florida. [33] Those talks were held on 20 and 21 October. [33] A June deal tied a slow Israeli pull-out to disarming the armed group Hezbollah. [33]

Why it matters. Aoun said Israeli strikes in Lebanon are undermining stability. [33]

The World Food Programme, the UN's food agency, says hunger in Gaza is getting worse. [34] It cut the number of people it feeds from 1.6 million to 1.1 million. [34] Daily hot meals fell from 250,000 to 150,000. [34] Each family's monthly flour ration was halved, from 50kg to 25kg. [34] The agency blames falling donations. [34] Parents are skipping meals so their children can eat, a spokeswoman said. [34]

Why it matters. The cuts began almost three weeks before the WFP announced them on 19 October. [34]

Israel extended a ban keeping preacher Ekrima Sabri out of Al-Aqsa Mosque until April 2027. [35] Al-Aqsa, in occupied East Jerusalem, is the third holiest site in Islam. [35] Sabri heads the Higher Islamic Council in Jerusalem. [35] It is the 5th such order against him since August 2024. [35] A Palestinian monitoring group counts over 1,000 bans from the mosque and Old City this year. [35]

Why it matters. Far-right Jewish activists are increasingly allowed to pray there under police protection. [35] That breaks a long-standing rule on who may pray at the site. [35]

Iran says it has a letter from US Vice-President JD Vance, but has not replied. [36] The letter offers to restart talks to end the war between the US and Iran. [37] That war is in its 8th month and has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. [38] Trump played it down, saying the letter was about medical supplies. [38] The offer asks Iran to make nuclear promises first, in return for lifting sanctions. [37] Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Ghalibaf said its 7 conditions must be agreed first. [37]

Why it matters. The US told Gulf states to prepare for a short attack on Iran after the midterms. [39] Senator Chris Murphy, briefed on that plan, called it 'insane'. [39]

Iran said four tankers caught fire after hitting mines near the Strait of Hormuz. [40] The strait usually carries about a fifth of the world's oil and gas. [40] Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the tankers had switched off radar and ignored warnings. [40] A day earlier, the US military said it had cleared mines from the main routes. [40] A Guards spokesman told the US to prove that with independent evidence. [40] No flags or owners of the tankers were given. [40]

Why it matters. Iran has restricted traffic through the strait since the war began on 28 February. [40]

Yemen's Houthis claimed 6 attacks on Saudi airports and oil sites on Thursday. [41] The Houthis are an Iran-backed armed group in Yemen. [41] Targets they named included the Ras Tanura refinery and Riyadh's main airport. [41] Saudi Arabia said it shot down 2 ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh, its capital. [10] Reporters heard at least 8 explosions in the city. [10] The Houthis said Saudi strikes killed 12 people in western Yemen. [10] Nobody has independently confirmed the Houthi claims. [41]

Why it matters. The attacks came days after Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani officials held peace talks in Tehran. [41]

Iran's Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Leila Abolhasani, a nail technician. [42] She was accused of setting a shop on fire during protests in January. [42] Her supporters say she was only filming the burning shop. [42] She had been sentenced to death in August for 'enmity against God'. [42] Between 25,000 and 50,000 people were detained during those protests. [42] Iran has executed at least 34 people in cases linked to them, Amnesty International says. [42]

Why it matters. A UN-backed inquiry called the crackdown crimes against humanity. [42]

The US Justice Department filed a revised lawsuit over Alaska's Senate race on Thursday. [12] It asks to stop the result being made official if Republican Dan Sullivan narrowly loses. [12] A second man named Dan Sullivan, a retired teacher, is also on the ballot. [43] The New York Times reported that Democrat Mary Peltola's team helped recruit him. [12] Peltola's campaign denies any link to either Sullivan campaign. [43] Alaska's Republican governor, Mike Dunleavy, ordered a criminal investigation. [12]

Why it matters. Under the US constitution, the states run elections, not the president. [12] Alaska's race is one of 7 toss-ups that decide who controls the US Senate. [12]

Americans vote on Tuesday in midterm elections that decide who controls the US Congress. [44] Republicans hold the US Senate 53 to 47, and 35 seats are being contested. [45] The Cook Political Report, an election analyst, rates 7 races as toss-ups. [45] 6 of the 7 are seats Republicans now hold; Michigan's is the exception. [45] Trump cancelled rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Thursday. [44] He will hold 'tele-rallies' instead, broadcast to nearly 20 states. [44]

Why it matters. Whoever controls the US Congress can pass or block Trump's plans for his last two years. [44]

A Muslim American group warns that anti-Muslim provocateurs could keep Muslims from voting on Tuesday. [46] The Muslim Public Affairs Council published the report, written by a group that tracks Islamophobia. [46] It documented rallies outside mosques, confrontations and online claims of an 'Islamic takeover'. [46] Such events often bring calls for more police, which can scare people away from polls. [46] Trump and his allies have attacked Muslim Democrats such as Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. [46]

Why it matters. The report urges Muslim Americans to go to vote in groups, not alone. [46]

Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican candidate for governor of Ohio, says his campaign stopped airing an attack ad. [47] The ad featured the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. [47] Court records show Acton's mother lost custody of her in 1978. [47] Her stepfather had been charged with raping her as a child. [47] Ramaswamy's campaign had said it would spend $4 million to air the ad. [47]

Why it matters. Democrats and Republicans alike criticised it. [47]

Foreign ministers of the G20, the world's biggest economies, begin 2 days of talks on Friday. [48] US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosts them in Atlanta, in the US state of Georgia. [48] The US has uninvited South Africa, partly over its legal case against Israel. [48] It has invited Russia, but not Ukraine. [48] Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is under Western sanctions, will attend. [48] The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said she would urge more support for Ukraine. [48]

Why it matters. The war with Iran and its effect on energy and shipping hang over the talks. [48]

Leaked audio appears to show a Madrid control centre clearing a high-speed train to move on. [49] Another train had stalled on the same track about 25km ahead. [49] The trains collided near Urda, in central Spain, on Wednesday morning. [49] Investigators revised the death toll to 69, down from 74 given earlier. [50] A computer fault shut the line's safety system on 63km of track at about 8:30. [51] The crash came at 8:53. [51]

Why it matters. Vox, a far-right party, filed a homicide complaint against Transport Minister Oscar Puente. [52] Spain votes in an early general election next month. [52]

EU and Canadian leaders met in Montreal for a two-day summit on Thursday and Friday. [53] European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set out an 'associate membership' for Canada. [53] No such status exists yet; she first floated it last month. [53] It would mean close ties on policy and shared research projects. [53] Germany and others question the name, fearing Canada gets special treatment. [53] The summit's declaration is expected to leave out the words 'associate member'. [54]

Why it matters. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the name matters less than what changes for Canadians. [54]

Serbia's student movement demanded that top police, spy and court officials resign. [55] The students won last Sunday's election, ending 14 years of rule by Aleksandar Vucic's party. [55] Their movement began after a station roof fell in Novi Sad in 2024, killing 16. [56] They fear evidence of wrongdoing could be destroyed during the weeks-long handover. [56] Votes will be rerun at about 50 polling stations on Sunday, 1 November. [55]

Why it matters. Vucic's party took control of state institutions after coming to power in 2012. [55]