Tuesday, 3 November 2026
Iran says it can reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the US meets its demands, while Trump keeps the option of strikes open. The standoff is playing out on the water: Iran's Revolutionary Guards say 11 tankers violating its passage rules have caught fire since 25 October, and the UN maritime agency says the true number of attacks may be higher.
Russian bombs hit a school used for aid in Komyshuvakha, killing 18, Zelensky says, while Kyiv and Moscow dispute how the Oleshky truce was used. In Yemen, Reuters, citing sources, reports that Houthi forces have come within 80 km of Aden. The Israeli army said on Monday it had ended its siege of Hebron, which Le Monde says displaced about 3,000 Palestinians, and the UN's OCHA recorded 397 settler attacks in the West Bank in the first 26 days of October, the highest monthly figure since official measurements began. In Myanmar, the military struck a maternity clinic and a school, killing 15 people including a newborn, Reuters reports.
Brent crude fell sharply to a two-week low on Monday as Iran and the US signalled continuing contacts to end the war. Chipmaker Marvell agreed to buy Lumentum at an enterprise value of $115 billion, a bet on optical networking for AI data centres. The Bank of England is expected to raise its rate to 4% on Thursday.
Africa CDC counts 5,376 Ebola deaths, almost all in Congo, from the Bundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine or treatment is approved. Congo's public health institute puts its fatality rate at 51.6%. Americans vote today in midterms in which polls favour the Democrats, so the first results are the thing to watch tomorrow.
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Russian bombs hit a school used for aid in Komyshuvakha, killing 18, Zelensky says, while Kyiv and Moscow dispute how the Oleshky truce was used. In Yemen, Reuters, citing sources, reports that Houthi forces have come within 80 km of Aden. The Israeli army said on Monday it had ended its siege of Hebron, which Le Monde says displaced about 3,000 Palestinians, and the UN's OCHA recorded 397 settler attacks in the West Bank in the first 26 days of October, the highest monthly figure since official measurements began. In Myanmar, the military struck a maternity clinic and a school, killing 15 people including a newborn, Reuters reports.
Brent crude fell sharply to a two-week low on Monday as Iran and the US signalled continuing contacts to end the war. Chipmaker Marvell agreed to buy Lumentum at an enterprise value of $115 billion, a bet on optical networking for AI data centres. The Bank of England is expected to raise its rate to 4% on Thursday.
Africa CDC counts 5,376 Ebola deaths, almost all in Congo, from the Bundibugyo strain, for which no vaccine or treatment is approved. Congo's public health institute puts its fatality rate at 51.6%. Americans vote today in midterms in which polls favour the Democrats, so the first results are the thing to watch tomorrow.
Important today

Iran offers two-day Hormuz reopening while Trump keeps strike option

Democrats favoured as US midterms open after Michigan Senate endorsement

Russian bombs kill 18 at Zaporizhzhia aid site as Oleshky truce is disputed

Ebola deaths pass 5,300 as Congo's fatality rate tops 50%

Hormuz tanker fires continue as IMO says attack count is understated

Oil hits two-week low on Iran talks as Gulf growth and Europe's gas buffers strain

Houthis reported near Aden as fighting spreads to al-Jawf and Saudi airports

Spain train crash toll holds at 69 as investigators cite chain of faults and polls turn against Sánchez

Marvell agrees $115bn all-stock takeover of Lumentum

Anthropic discloses revenue surge and $895bn commitments ahead of IPO

Supermarket freezers overheated across Europe weeks after French attack

Bank of England and RBA expected to hike as ECB and BOJ signal tightening
All stories
Global · 4
Middle East · 7
- Iran offers two-day Hormuz reopening while Trump keeps strike option
- Hormuz tanker fires continue as IMO says attack count is understated
- Houthis reported near Aden as fighting spreads to al-Jawf and Saudi airports
- Eisenkot gains backing as Netanyahu questions Israeli election result
- Israel ends 10-day Hebron siege as UN logs record settler attacks
- OpenAI signs deals with ADNOC, G42 and Abu Dhabi as Altman travels to UAE
- Israeli strikes kill at least three in Gaza despite ceasefire
North America · 5
- Democrats favoured as US midterms open after Michigan Senate endorsement
- Marvell agrees $115bn all-stock takeover of Lumentum
- Anthropic discloses revenue surge and $895bn commitments ahead of IPO
- Trump administration asks Supreme Court to block 20,000 California mail ballots
- Nine dead after Learjet crash in Palm Beach, Florida
Europe · 9
- Russian bombs kill 18 at Zaporizhzhia aid site as Oleshky truce is disputed
- Spain train crash toll holds at 69 as investigators cite chain of faults and polls turn against Sánchez
- Supermarket freezers overheated across Europe weeks after French attack
- French school protests resume on smaller scale as German unions launch strikes
- Poland's Constitutional Tribunal clash deepens as EU Commission backs parliament's right to appoint judges
- US pushes Russian gas deliveries to Europe, Kremlin says transit not possible now
- Belgian PM De Wever offers resignation after budget talks fail
- Iotova wins Bulgarian presidential runoff
- Hackers send false nuclear warnings through Russian and Ukrainian alert apps
Africa · 5
- Ebola deaths pass 5,300 as Congo's fatality rate tops 50%
- Tigray fighting pushes Ethiopia's health system toward collapse as Sudan complains to UN about drones
- UN envoy expects Sudan transition talks with RSF within weeks
- Western Sahara refugees face uncertain future as UN mission MINURSO ends
- Trump removes South Africa from AGOA trade programme
Asia · 7
- Newborn among 15 killed as Myanmar military strikes maternity clinic and school
- India evacuates thousands ahead of second cyclone in a week
- China steps up Gulf diplomacy as Xi hosts Oman's sultan and Wang Yi meets Iranian official
- China launches $15bn swap facility to support stocks after sell-off
- Japan weighs near-doubling of defence spending over five years
- South Korean sergeant dies at frontline unit as North Korea vows faster nuclear buildup
- Bangladesh garment workers block highway as wage protests enter third day
South America · 2
Geopolitics · 26
- Iran offers two-day Hormuz reopening while Trump keeps strike option
- Democrats favoured as US midterms open after Michigan Senate endorsement
- Russian bombs kill 18 at Zaporizhzhia aid site as Oleshky truce is disputed
- Hormuz tanker fires continue as IMO says attack count is understated
- Ebola deaths pass 5,300 as Congo's fatality rate tops 50%
- Houthis reported near Aden as fighting spreads to al-Jawf and Saudi airports
- Spain train crash toll holds at 69 as investigators cite chain of faults and polls turn against Sánchez
- Newborn among 15 killed as Myanmar military strikes maternity clinic and school
- At least 19 dead in Venezuelan army attack on Colombian rebel camp
- India evacuates thousands ahead of second cyclone in a week
- French school protests resume on smaller scale as German unions launch strikes
- Eisenkot gains backing as Netanyahu questions Israeli election result
- Israel ends 10-day Hebron siege as UN logs record settler attacks
- Trump administration asks Supreme Court to block 20,000 California mail ballots
- Tigray fighting pushes Ethiopia's health system toward collapse as Sudan complains to UN about drones
- Nine dead after Learjet crash in Palm Beach, Florida
- China steps up Gulf diplomacy as Xi hosts Oman's sultan and Wang Yi meets Iranian official
- Poland's Constitutional Tribunal clash deepens as EU Commission backs parliament's right to appoint judges
- UN envoy expects Sudan transition talks with RSF within weeks
- Belgian PM De Wever offers resignation after budget talks fail
- Japan weighs near-doubling of defence spending over five years
- Iotova wins Bulgarian presidential runoff
- South Korean sergeant dies at frontline unit as North Korea vows faster nuclear buildup
- Israeli strikes kill at least three in Gaza despite ceasefire
- Western Sahara refugees face uncertain future as UN mission MINURSO ends
- Bolivia declares drought emergency as super El Niño hits Peru's fisheries
Economy · 7
- Oil hits two-week low on Iran talks as Gulf growth and Europe's gas buffers strain
- Bank of England and RBA expected to hike as ECB and BOJ signal tightening
- Oracle and Alphabet tap bond markets as AI selloff eases
- US pushes Russian gas deliveries to Europe, Kremlin says transit not possible now
- China launches $15bn swap facility to support stocks after sell-off
- Bangladesh garment workers block highway as wage protests enter third day
- Trump removes South Africa from AGOA trade programme
Technology · 6
- Marvell agrees $115bn all-stock takeover of Lumentum
- Anthropic discloses revenue surge and $895bn commitments ahead of IPO
- Supermarket freezers overheated across Europe weeks after French attack
- Binance customers withdraw billions after record hack linked to North Korea
- Hackers send false nuclear warnings through Russian and Ukrainian alert apps
- OpenAI signs deals with ADNOC, G42 and Abu Dhabi as Altman travels to UAE