Paraguay's Senate unanimously removed President Santiago Peña after the collapse of Ueno Bank left millions without access to savings. Russia hit Kyiv and its surrounding region overnight with missiles and drones, damaging a major bridge and energy sites. The United States said it carried out a second round of minor strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island. A Kenyan court sentenced cult leader Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison for the deaths of 190 children.
World mood: Uneasy · 60 stories from 868 headlines
President Trump confirmed the US carried out minor strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island, saying it knocked out an anti-aircraft device in minutes. He said 'it's not a war' and claimed a lot of progress in talks. Iran said its forces are stronger than before the war. Qatar is mediating and has floated a plan that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz alongside nuclear inspections. The US also offered a $20 million reward for information on Iran's nuclear program.
Why it matters: The war and the Hormuz shipping disruption drive global oil prices and fuel costs.
The US and Iran have been in conflict for months. Ships near the Strait of Hormuz have been attacked. Qatar leads mediation efforts.
Democrats won the House and flipped the Senate in the midterm elections, and their gains grew as counting continued. Abdul El-Sayed won a Senate seat in Michigan and will be the first Muslim senator. Democrats say they will focus on living costs and investigate the administration. Trump replaced chief of staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller, the architect of his immigration policy.
Why it matters: Divided government will shape US spending, tariffs, immigration and foreign policy for the rest of Trump's term.
Midterm elections are held halfway through a president's term. Republicans held both chambers before this vote.
Paraguay's Senate unanimously removed President Santiago Peña on Friday over the collapse of Ueno Bank. He was then placed under house arrest. Vice President Pedro Alliana was sworn in as president. Regulators had seized the digital bank, leaving millions of customers unable to reach savings and pension payments. Protesters clashed with police outside Peña's home and demanded jail rather than house arrest. Alliana promised to compensate savers. Peña was moved to a military unit for his safety and is due to give testimony to prosecutors.
Why it matters: A bank failure toppled a president and left a large share of Paraguayans cut off from their money.
Ueno Bank was a digital bank used by about half of Paraguayans. Regulators placed it under administration this week. Opponents accused the government of letting it expand too fast.
Russia struck Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight, hitting the Northern Bridge and energy facilities. Five people were hurt, including a 14-year-old, and the city had power, heating and water outages. Russia said it targeted military-industrial and energy sites. President Zelenskyy accused Moscow of trying to push Ukraine into a bad deal. Ukrainian, Russian and US delegations are due to meet in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10 and 11, and the Kremlin has named its delegation.
Why it matters: The attacks hit civilian infrastructure just before the first three-way talks since February.
Russia has fought a full-scale war against Ukraine for over four years. Both sides regularly strike energy networks. Winter raises the stakes for heating and power.
Global tech stocks fell after the midterms raised fears of tighter rules on AI and data centers, wiping trillions from market values. Nikkei 225 dropped almost 6 percent on Saturday's data. Voters rejected data center projects in all but one of 41 local measures. US tech shares recovered partly on Friday, but Wall Street still posted a fourth weekly loss.
Why it matters: Falling AI stocks hit retirement funds and could slow the investment boom behind much of recent market growth.
AI companies have driven stock gains and heavy spending on data centers. Opposition to data centers has grown on cost and environmental grounds.
Oil fell about 11 to 15 percent for the week on hopes of a US-Iran deal. Attacks on ships near Hormuz continued. Analysts warn tension could push prices above $100. Brent is near $98.
Why it matters: Fuel and shipping costs worldwide depend on whether Hormuz reopens.
Early results show National and Labour each just under 30 percent of the party vote. Neither bloc is expected to win a majority. A minor party may become kingmaker. The campaign centered on the cost of living, and counting continues.
Why it matters: Coalition talks will decide who leads a country with a close, cost-of-living-focused electorate.
National leader Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins both seek to be prime minister.
A Kenyan court sentenced Paul Mackenzie to 200 years in prison for murdering 190 children. He ordered followers to starve themselves in a forest so they would meet Jesus. More than 20 co-accused were also sentenced. Reactions were mixed, with some calling the term fair and others saying it did not go far enough.
Why it matters: The verdict closes a case that exposed the deaths of children in the Shakahola forest.
Mackenzie founded the Good News International church. Bodies were found in Shakahola forest in 2023.
A Tanzanian court acquitted Chadema leader Tundu Lissu of treason but sentenced him to four years for inciting unrest. He says the charges are political. Chadema plans an appeal and bail request. Amnesty International called the process unfair.
Why it matters: The sentence removes the main opposition leader from Tanzanian politics after disputed 2025 elections.
Lissu has been detained since April last year. The charges relate to statements opposing the 2025 election results.
A new wave of bomb threats hit European airlines and Irish and UK media outlets. At least 18 to 20 flights were affected within hours. No explosives have been found. Ireland and Spain call it a likely coordinated campaign. A Russian extremist group denied involvement and no culprit has been named.
Why it matters: Repeated hoaxes divert flights and force newsrooms to evacuate, straining aviation security.
Threats have arrived by email for about a week. Fighter jets have escorted some civilian planes.
Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot gained backing from Arab-led parties, which hold 19 seats, in the effort to form a government. A coalition needs 61 of 120 seats. President Herzog faces a key choice. Failure to form a government could leave Netanyahu in power.
Why it matters: The outcome decides who leads Israel during the regional war.
Israel voted Oct. 27 with no clear winner. Arab-led parties rarely join coalitions.
At least 30 people were reportedly killed in an attack on a market in Taiz province. Houthi rebels blamed Saudi airstrikes. Taiz health facilities are reportedly 80 percent shut and 313,000 are displaced.
Why it matters: The deaths deepen a humanitarian crisis in a city already under siege.
Yemen's Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition have fought for years.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay for a 12-day tour including Argentina and Peru, three weeks after lung cancer surgery. He said he felt 'pretty good'. He urged healthcare for all before about 30,000 people.
Why it matters: It is the pope's first major trip since surgery and returns him to the region he served for two decades.
Treasury Secretary Bessent and Trade Representative Greer spoke with Vice Premier He Lifeng and pressed China on farm purchases and rare earths. China raised its own concerns. Trump may meet Xi in Shenzhen, and the trade truce expires in January.
Why it matters: The truce affects tariffs and supply of rare earths.
The Supreme Court ruled the president's one-year term extension unlawful. The opposition accuses the president of sending troops to arrest the chief justice. Elections due next year are in doubt.
Why it matters: The crisis threatens Somalia's first nationwide vote since 1969.
A high court removed the ADC party leadership and disqualified Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate. The vote is two months away. Uncertainty hangs over the election.
Why it matters: It reshapes the opposition field in Africa's most populous country.
The CDC reported 5,182 measles cases this year, the most since 1991. Children and teens are almost 60 percent of cases. At least eight deaths were reported.
Why it matters: Falling vaccination makes outbreaks harder to contain.
Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000.
Au Kam San was sentenced to 12 years and six months for subversion. The closed-door trial was the first under the 2009 law. His wife called it persecution.
Why it matters: It shows the law's reach over political activism in Macau.
The IEA expects the UAE to become the largest generator of solar electricity by 2031. It also forecasts 4,800 GW of new renewables by 2031, with the Hormuz crisis speeding deployment.
Why it matters: Fuel price spikes are accelerating clean power.
A report found Chinese investors backed processing and manufacturing projects worth over $16 billion across Africa. Projects aim to process minerals locally.
Why it matters: More processing could bring jobs to African producers.
SK Hynix, Samsung, SoftBank and TSMC fell as tech sold off. Korea's market halted trading. India drew inflows as an AI hedge, and Sensex rose over 2 percent.
Why it matters: Asian economies are exposed to the AI trade.
Unions and students plan Saturday marches. Yellow Vests urge mass disobedience. Wounded protesters will sue the interior minister over police violence. France is also facing rising debt costs.
Why it matters: Unrest and debt costs weigh on France's stability.
The Paris deal's 1.5C goal has been missed. COP31 opens Monday in Antalya, Turkey, which pushes electrification. The UN says nearly 90 million displaced people live in high climate-risk countries.
Why it matters: Talks decide how fast countries cut emissions.
The Secret Service arrested Ronny Yordrix Guanipa Chrinos, found parked near the White House with multiple guns. Officials say he said voices told him to kill Trump. He faces weapons and theft charges.
Why it matters: It prompted another security alert around the president.
The king warned that challenges to his order moving Najib to house arrest could be unlawful. A RM50 million fine was paid, meeting a condition. Prosecutors sought to delay the transfer.
Congressman Julio Portillo and three officers were killed in an armed attack in Zacapa province. Reports said the attack targeted another congressman who escaped unharmed.
Why it matters: It highlights drug-trafficking violence in eastern Guatemala.
Five people were rescued off Kiribati after months drifting at sea. The governor of Chuuk state in Micronesia said he was talking with Kiribati's government about their return.
Fears of tougher AI rules after the US midterms drove markets. Japan's Nikkei fell 5.96% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 1.27%. European stocks also fell, with the Euro Stoxx 50 down 0.98%. India's Sensex rose 2.17% as money moved away from AI-heavy markets. Oil stayed near $98.
AI regulation scare
The Democratic sweep raised worries about limits on data centers and AI. Tech shares fell worldwide, then partly recovered in the US. The IMF said an AI slowdown matters for central banks.
Oil and Iran talks
Oil fell sharply on the week on deal hopes but stayed high as ships were attacked. Brent was nearly flat on the day.
Strong US jobs
Hiring beat forecasts and unemployment fell to 4.1%. That may keep US borrowing costs elevated, with the 10-year yield near 4.86%.
Trade truce watch
The US pressed China on farm purchases and rare earths. The truce expires in January.
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