The most important world events of the past 24 hours
Abu Dhabi talks end after two days: partial understanding, no ceasefire deal, large prisoner swap agreed
🐱 Scout diplomat · Abu Dhabi talks end after second day
Two days of US-Ukraine-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi ended on Wednesday, with Russia's chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky saying mutual understanding had been achieved on some issues but not on others, and that negotiations would continue. He said the sides had agreed on a large-scale prisoner swap, with details to be made public soon. The first day lasted about four hours and focused on humanitarian issues, but the sides remain far apart on a ceasefire, territory and security guarantees, and Moscow said it does not accept a European role in the talks for now.
Background: This was the first round of trilateral talks since February, and Trump has said he believes a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war is "very close".
Iran strikes Oman's Didamar Island navigation station as Hormuz shipping attacks continue
🐱 Scout field reporter · Iran strikes Omani navigation station
Iran on Tuesday struck a navigation station on Oman's Didamar Island, with Tehran claiming its personnel were "helping the flow of oil smuggling by the enemy"; Omani officials confirmed hearing an explosion, but Oman disputes that the navigational aids were damaged and the extent of any damage remains unclear. The same day, Iran's Revolutionary Guard said a tanker caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after hitting a naval mine, and the UK Maritime Trade Operations office confirmed a tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile about 19 nautical miles northeast of Lima, Oman. The International Maritime Organization recorded 35 shipping incidents in the strait in October, the highest monthly total of the war. Trump says the war is "effectively over", but talks are stalled and the US is still reinforcing its forces in the Middle East.
Background: The US-Iran war has lasted more than eight months, and Hormuz shipping traffic has fallen to roughly 20 percent of its prewar level.
US charges three Iranian operatives over alleged RAF Fairford terror plot
🐱 Scout anchor · US charges three Iranian operatives
The US Justice Department on Tuesday unveiled an indictment charging three men with supporting Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Kata'ib Hezbollah, in connection with nearly 20 alleged attacks and plots in Europe and the United States, including a suspected plot against Britain's RAF Fairford air base in September. Prosecutors say one Iraqi national tried to pass coded messages to two other alleged operatives through phone calls to family members from jail in New York. Britain arrested several people outside the base in September and charged two British men; Iran's embassy in London denies the allegations. The charges have not been tested in court.
Background: Fairford was used by US bombers for strikes on Iran, and the US withdrew B-1B bombers from the base in September after a suspected Iran-linked security incident.
Bangladesh violence escalates: over 100 crude bomb blasts, arson kills bus driver
Bangladesh saw a fresh wave of coordinated violence on Tuesday and Wednesday, with police saying more than 100 crude bomb explosions went off overnight near the Padma Bridge toll plaza, briefly halting toll collection; a 55-year-old bus driver was burned to death in his sleep in Faridpur, and at least 22 vehicles were torched nationwide in 24 hours. The BBC reported that Monday's blasts and arson had already injured at least 25 people, including journalists and police officers. The violence follows the banned Awami League's call for a Dhaka "lockdown" on November 13, the day a court is due to deliver its verdict in the crimes-against-humanity case against former prime minister Hasina.
Background: Hasina fled to India after being ousted in protests in 2024, and her party and student wing have since been banned; Bangladesh this week rejected her passport renewal application.
Krakow gunman visited Breivik websites, minister says, suggesting far-right influence
Poland's Justice Minister Waldemar Zurek said on Tuesday the dead gunman had visited websites about Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik, adding there were signs he may have been influenced by right-wing extremism; police also found a silencer in the gunman's car. A day earlier prosecutors said they had no evidence yet tying him to a specific ideology, while the interior minister refused to retract his far-right claim, turning the motive question into a political dispute; the government said it would review gun permit rules.
Political developments and international relations
House Republicans shelve Hegseth impeachment in 211-204 vote
The US House voted 211 to 204 on Tuesday evening to refer eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to the Judiciary Committee, effectively shelving the effort for the rest of this Congress. Rep. Thomas Massie, who introduced the articles, was the only Republican to vote against referral, while 11 Democrats were absent — Reuters noted the motion would have failed had just eight of them been present and voted against it. The articles accuse Hegseth of waging war on Iran without congressional authorization for more than 90 days, among other charges; Democrats may revive the effort after taking control of both chambers on January 3, 2027.
Background: Massie introduced the impeachment resolution in September, accusing Hegseth of abuse of power in the Iran military campaign, strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats and the operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
COP31 leaders' summit opens with 102 heads of state in attendance
The COP31 leaders' summit opened on Wednesday in Antalya, Turkey, bringing together heads of state and government from 102 countries under the theme "Towards a Sustainable, Resilient and Fair Future"; the day's agenda included high-level dialogues on clean energy transition and green industrial opportunities, with speakers including Brazilian President Lula, European Commission President von der Leyen and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng. No landmark decision is expected from this conference, but countries will negotiate on power-sector transition and climate finance.
Background: The conference opened on Monday and runs until November 20; the United States formally left the Paris Agreement earlier this year and has sent no official delegation.
Anthropic IPO roadshow draws heavy demand; bankers weigh higher price, valuation above $1.5 trillion
The Financial Times reported late Tuesday, citing five people familiar with the matter, that institutional orders on the first day of Anthropic's IPO roadshow already covered the entire offering, and bankers are preparing to price shares above the $70 to $78 range, which could lift the fully diluted valuation to $1.5 trillion or more, with combined proceeds from the IPO and a $26 billion private placement topping $100 billion; CNBC also reported institutional demand stronger than for SpaceX at the same stage. Pricing is expected on November 18, with Nasdaq trading under the ticker ANT starting November 19; the company has not yet filed a new price range.
Background: Anthropic launched its IPO roadshow on Tuesday, offering 825 million Class A shares at $70 to $78 each, raising about $58 billion to $64 billion.
US stock futures rebound on Wednesday; Goldman sees another hike in March
After US stocks fell across the board on Tuesday on the hotter-than-expected CPI reading, futures rebounded in early trading on Wednesday, with Nasdaq futures up about 1.9%; November 11 is Veterans Day, with the bond market closed. Fed Governor Waller had said a 0.3% core CPI reading could justify a 50-basis-point hike, and Goldman Sachs now expects the Fed may raise rates again in March 2026.
Background: The Labor Department reported on Tuesday that October CPI rose 0.4% month on month, above the expected 0.3%, and traders put the probability of a December Fed hike at nearly 99%.
Tech companies, research breakthroughs and digital policy
Nvidia board hires US law firm to investigate Huang over alleged Chinese spy links
Nvidia confirmed on Tuesday that its board has hired New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, with former acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim leading an independent investigation into CEO Jensen Huang's relationship with a woman US officials suspect of ties to Chinese intelligence; the FBI is conducting a separate inquiry. Huang has acknowledged an extramarital affair and apologized, and the board says it has no reason so far to believe company secrets or US national security have been compromised; three Republican House committee chairmen have asked Huang to attend a closed-door briefing on November 18. The espionage allegations themselves are unproven, and China calls them "groundless".
Background: Nvidia shares fell about 5.5% on Tuesday, roughly 30% below their October high; the company reports third-quarter earnings on November 17.
Alibaba confirms T-Head spin-off for Hong Kong listing, said to seek $2-3 billion
Alibaba said late on Tuesday that its chip design unit T-Head (Pingtouge) filed confidentially for a Hong Kong listing on September 11 and that the exchange has confirmed it may proceed with the spin-off; Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter, reported the offering could raise $2 billion to $3 billion and is targeted for 2027, with T-Head remaining an Alibaba subsidiary. Alibaba disclosed no offering size or timetable, and the listing still needs approval from the exchange's Listing Committee and a filing with China's securities regulator.
Background: T-Head is Alibaba's chip design arm, investing in AI chips and RISC-V architecture; its Zhenwu V900 AI chip, unveiled in September, was described by Alibaba as China's most powerful AI chip by computing performance.
Sources: Reuters, International Financing Review (2 outlets)
Military developments, security situations and conflicts
US pulls aircraft from RAF Mildenhall as Army officer arrested in UK over alleged spying for Russia
The US on Monday pulled at least 10 KC-135 tankers and other aircraft from Britain's RAF Mildenhall over an Iran-related threat, dispersing them to Germany, Spain and elsewhere, and raised security at Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath to FPCON Charlie, the second-highest level. On Tuesday, a 41-year-old US Army officer was arrested near Gloucester on suspicion of offences under the National Security Act, assisting Russian intelligence; he is understood to serve with NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, and FBI Director Kash Patel said the case involves "allegations of espionage". Police say the case is not linked to the Fairford investigation, and the officer has not been charged.
Background: This is the second time in three months the US has pulled aircraft from a British base, after B-1B bombers left RAF Fairford over a suspected Iran-linked security incident.
Europe's bomb-threat wave spreads to schools: at least 300 in Italy, 470 in Scotland targeted
Europe's hoax bomb-threat wave spread to schools on Wednesday: at least 300 schools in Italy were evacuated after receiving the same bomb alert email, with the education minister saying the number could rise; the same day, 470 schools in Scotland received threatening emails, with some evacuating, though police called them hoaxes with no credible threat. At least 35 flights and 20 airports had already received threats, and the European Commission is due to convene member-state security experts on Wednesday to discuss the response.
Background: Between November 2 and 6, anonymous emailed bomb threats hit flights across several European countries, forcing diversions and fighter escorts, with no one charged so far; European intelligence is investigating whether Russia is behind the threats, which the Kremlin denies.
China-related news (international media coverage only)
Bessent calls for rebalanced US-China trade as Trump-Xi Shenzhen meeting nears
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday at a National Committee on US-China Relations dinner in New York that the US economy is overdependent on foreign supply while China is overdependent on foreign demand, arguing for reducing strategic dependence on China without full decoupling, with the goal to "de-risk, not to decouple"; he also addressed US-China cooperation and competition in AI, saying the two sides should harbor no illusions about their differences. Trump and Xi are expected to hold their third meeting of the year on November 18-19 on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, with the trade truce running until January 10, 2027.
Background: The US-China Business Council has agreed on preferential tariffs for $30 billion of non-sensitive goods; China extended its suspension of new rare-earth controls by two months to January 10 on November 9.
