UK aid to Commonwealth countries with bilateral programmes is projected to fall from £546 million in 2024–25 to £131 million in 2028–29, according to figures reviewed by the Guardian. The reductions come as King Charles attends the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Antigua, where reparations for slavery were kept off the agenda, and affect several countries among the world’s poorest.
Key Facts
The projected £131 million in 2028–29 includes £68 million for Nigeria, leaving £63 million for other countries.
Aid to Sierra Leone is projected to drop from nearly £30 million in 2024–25 to £5 million in 2028–29.
Aid to Rwanda is projected to fall from nearly £30 million in 2024–25 to £5 million in 2028–29.
Aid to Tanzania is projected to decline from £60 million in 2025–26 to £5 million in 2028–29.
Nigeria is scheduled to receive £68 million in 2028–29, down from £137 million this year.
Funding for the Caribbean Development Team is set to fall from more than £98 million in 2025–26 to £45 million in 2026–27.
At least 26 Commonwealth countries have been barred from applying to the Darwin Initiative, a nature-protection fund worth about £40 million a year.
The UK government did not contribute financially to the Commonwealth Nature Initiative, according to the Campaign for Nature’s UK lead.
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Russian households face rising financial pressure as the war in Ukraine continues. Utility bills have increased by more than 50% since the war began in 2022, including a rise of over 13% this year.
Key Facts
Russia's utility bills have risen by more than 50% since 2022.
Utility bills rose by over 13% in 2026, according to the report.
The increases add to financial strain for Russian households.
Moscow continues to launch strikes across Ukraine.
Russia is also grappling with drone attacks originating from Ukraine.
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King Charles called the transatlantic slave trade a “shameful chapter” that fills him with “profound sorrow” in an address opening the Commonwealth leaders’ summit in Antigua and Barbuda. He did not issue a formal apology, but said he was committed to addressing past wrongs through future action and modern partnerships.
Key Facts
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting brings together leaders from 56 member states every two years.
The summit’s theme is “Accelerating Partnerships and Investment for a Prosperous Commonwealth.”
Charles said the slave trade still casts a shadow over Caribbean islands and other Commonwealth members.
He said learning more about the history had strengthened his commitment to addressing its legacy.
Some people have called for the UK to make a formal apology for its role in the slave trade.
Andy Burnham said he was open to a formal apology but did not consider financial reparations the right answer.
The King’s Caribbean tour has renewed debate about the UK’s colonial legacy; he also visited a site of a slave rebellion in Guyana.
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Survivors of the Rapid Support Forces’ April 2025 assault on Sudan’s Zamzam displacement camp described starvation, killings and sexual violence as they fled. A United Nations Human Rights Office report documented at least 1,013 civilian deaths in the attack; the camp had been home to generations of people displaced by conflict in Darfur.
Key Facts
Zamzam camp, near el-Fasher in North Darfur, was established in 2004 and once sheltered hundreds of thousands of people.
Famine was confirmed in Zamzam in August 2024, and survivors said restrictions on goods left residents short of food.
The Rapid Support Forces captured Zamzam in April 2025 after months of attacks.
The RSF launched a three-day assault on the camp on April 11, 2025, burning homes and health facilities.
A United Nations Human Rights Office report documented at least 1,013 civilians killed, including 319 who were summarily executed.
The report also documented rape, gang rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence, particularly against the Zaghawa community.
The attack forced tens of thousands of people to flee Zamzam, with many going to Tawila and Dar al-Salam.
The RSF captured el-Fasher on October 26, 2025; more than 6,000 people are believed to have been killed in the attack and along escape routes.
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Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least 38 civilians and injured many others in the 24 hours before 3 November, according to Ukrainian officials. Strikes hit a humanitarian aid distribution site in Zaporizhzhia region, a hospice in Dnipro and a hospital in Kharkiv, while attacks on energy facilities disrupted water, heating and power services.
Key Facts
At least 33 people were reported killed in a glide-bomb attack on Komyshuvakha in Zaporizhzhia region; officials said more than 50 people might be trapped under rubble.
Residents were gathering for humanitarian aid when bombs hit the distribution site, located at a local school.
Russia’s defence ministry said the attack targeted Ukrainian military units and killed 25 servicemen; the article reported no credible evidence that the site was used by the military.
A missile destroyed a hospice in Dnipro, where nearly 50 terminally ill patients were moved to other facilities.
A separate strike in Dnipro killed two people and wounded 18, while strikes in Donetsk region killed five.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said 73 people were wounded in an attack on a hospital in Kharkiv, most of them elderly patients.
Attacks on energy infrastructure in nine regions affected water and heating; Kyiv’s water supply was cut off and the city’s metro network was suspended.
The UN human rights monitoring mission said the attack on the aid distribution site seemed to violate fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.
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Ukraine has begun using disused gas pipelines and tunnels to fight Russian forces near Kupiansk, adopting a tactic Russia has used for years to move past Ukrainian defenses. Kyiv says Operation Veles helped Ukrainian troops secure a pipeline and kill or capture Russian soldiers; analysts say the tactic is limited to existing underground networks and has become more common over the past year.
Key Facts
Ukraine launched Operation Veles in October in the Kupiansk region.
Ukrainian troops advanced about 15 kilometres through a gas pipeline roughly 1.2 metres in diameter, according to the article.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces killed about 100 Russian soldiers and captured more than 30 during the operation.
Analysts cited in the article said Russian troops used underground routes earlier, including near Avdiivka in 2024.
The article says Russian forces also used pipeline tunnels in efforts to retake Kursk and in the Kupiansk region.
The underground routes include Soviet-era gas pipelines and other tunnels built to carry Russian natural gas through Ukraine to Europe.
Analysts said underground operations are constrained by the routes that already exist, but have become more intensive over the past year.
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Israel’s October 27 election left both major blocs short of the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority, leaving coalition talks deadlocked ahead of certification of the results. Opposition leaders say they will seek to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, but their path to a majority remains unclear because Arab-led parties’ support is contentious and other potential partners have their own political interests.
Key Facts
Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition won 53 seats, while the opposition alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot won 48.
The Joint List and Ra’am, the two Arab-led lists, won the remaining 19 seats.
A majority in Israel’s 120-seat Knesset requires 61 seats.
The election results are due to be certified on Wednesday, after which formal coalition talks can begin.
Police investigated and discounted allegations of irregularities in the Arab vote; a separate Shin Bet inquiry remains ongoing.
President Isaac Herzog will consult the parties and choose which Knesset member gets the first chance to form a government.
An initial government-forming mandate lasts 28 days and may be extended by 14 days.
Opposition leaders said they would act to replace Netanyahu’s coalition, but did not explain how they would secure a parliamentary majority.
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The article says a Democratic takeover of Congress could renew debate over Ukraine aid, sanctions and weapons transfers, but would not immediately change U.S. policy or ease Ukraine’s shortage of air-defense missiles. Experts say President Donald Trump would retain broad control over foreign policy, while missile production limits and delivery delays would constrain any near-term effect.
Key Facts
Ukraine is watching the U.S. midterm elections for possible changes in congressional control.
Experts told Newsweek that Congress could put new Ukraine aid on the agenda if Democrats gain control of both chambers.
The State Department announced on October 30 approval of a possible sale to Ukraine of 500 Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles and related equipment.
Ukraine may wait years for the missiles because production and delivery are limited.
Experts said a new Congress could press the Pentagon to prioritize Ukraine, speed production or approve transfers from allied stocks.
The article says Trump wants Europe to pay for Ukraine’s weapons and views Ukrainian concessions to Russia as necessary for a peace deal.
Trump signed a Russia sanctions bill, then lifted restrictions on Russian diesel imports to ease pressure on U.S. fuel prices.
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An organiser for South Africa’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party was shot dead at his home in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday night while coordinating the party’s election campaign. Police opened a murder investigation as the country prepared for Wednesday’s local elections, amid reports of political killings and increased security measures.
Key Facts
Police spokesman Robert Netshiunda said investigators are examining the motive for Lastborn Shazi’s killing.
The MKP identified Shazi as one of its organisers.
Police said 20 murders involving political representatives, party members and supporters had been recorded during the municipal election period.
President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered more than 500 soldiers to KwaZulu-Natal to support police.
Police identified more than 165 polling stations in the province as high-risk.
Voters will elect councillors, who will choose mayors responsible for municipal services.
Polls project the MKP could become the largest party in eThekwini, where it could displace the governing African National Congress.
Jacob Zuma leads the MKP, which split from the ANC in 2023; the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 national election.
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Brazil is closely watching the U.S. midterm elections as relations with Washington have become more tense since Donald Trump returned to the White House. The article links the strain in part to U.S. trade policies that imposed steep tariffs on Brazilian imports.
Key Facts
Brazil is monitoring the U.S. midterm elections.
Relations between Brasília and Washington have grown increasingly tense since Trump returned to the White House.
U.S. trade policies have imposed steep tariffs on Brazilian imports.
The tariffs have added to friction between Brazil and the Trump administration.
FRANCE 24 correspondent Jan Onoszko reported from Rio de Janeiro.
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The article says uncertainty about what Iran has built at Pickaxe Mountain could make any U.S. strike difficult to assess. Analysts cited in the article say the underground site’s depth and lack of inspections leave open whether centrifuges are there and whether a strike could disable them.
Key Facts
Donald Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity that striking Pickaxe Mountain could be done within an hour and was “not a big deal.”
The article says the United States and Israel believe Iran moved thousands of centrifuges to the site after the June 2025 U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
A leaked Defense Intelligence Agency assessment reportedly said the 2025 strikes set Iran’s nuclear program back by a few months; later public estimates varied.
The article says Iran’s stockpile of more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent has not been verified by inspectors.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies says it cannot confirm or rule out that centrifuges are inside Pickaxe Mountain.
The Institute for Science and International Security estimates the underground halls are at least 100 meters deep; the article says no public schematics have emerged and inspectors have not entered the site.
The article cites analysts who say the U.S. GBU-57 bunker-buster may need repeated hits at such depths, while collapsing entrances could delay access but not prevent rebuilding.
The article says there is no proof that use of a nuclear weapon is under consideration; it notes such a strike could cause radioactive fallout.
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A Russian strike hit a Ukrainian school being used to distribute aid, killing at least 31 people, according to local authorities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack a “vile terrorist attack.”
Key Facts
The strike hit a school in Ukraine that was being used as an aid distribution centre.
Local authorities reported at least 31 people killed.
The attack was described as a Russian “double tap” strike.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack.
The report was issued on November 3, 2026.
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The article says Russia is positioning itself for a possible conflict in space. It suggests a future war could begin with satellites tracking or approaching one another in orbit rather than missiles crossing national borders.
Key Facts
The article focuses on Russia's actions in space.
The headline describes Russia as maneuvering for a possible space war.
The article raises the possibility that satellites could stalk one another in orbit.
It contrasts a potential space conflict with missiles crossing borders.
The excerpt does not provide details about Russia's specific actions or evidence.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hopes U.S.-mediated talks with Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11 will pave the way for a meeting among himself, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for Russia to engage seriously in ceasefire and peace negotiations, while European governments sought a role in discussions about Ukraine’s security.
Key Facts
The Abu Dhabi talks are scheduled for November 10 and 11 and will involve representatives from the United States, Ukraine and Russia.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said the discussions would cover post-war security, de-escalation, humanitarian efforts and steps toward peace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia would send a delegation led by Vladimir Medinsky.
Zelenskyy said his Berlin visit would address diplomatic coordination, air defenses and support for Ukraine’s energy sector.
Merz said he did not yet see Russia engaging seriously in negotiations for a ceasefire and peace agreement.
U.S. envoys are due to meet representatives from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, NATO and the European Union in Brussels this week.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs an additional 70 billion euros from European countries next year.
Putin and Zelenskyy have not had direct contact since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
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The jury at Southwark Crown Court has retired to consider verdicts in Russell Brand’s trial on seven charges involving six women. Brand denies all charges, which relate to alleged offences between 1999 and 2009.
Key Facts
Brand faces three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.
The allegations involve six women and span 10 years, beginning in 1999.
Brand has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The jury has eight men and four women.
Judge Mr Justice Bennathan told jurors he could accept only a unanimous verdict from all 12.
The prosecutor said the women’s accounts described a similar pattern of behaviour.
Brand’s barrister argued that a documentary about the allegations had affected the fairness of the case and questioned the delay in reporting.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, November 3, that he had reached a deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end Washington’s $3.8 billion in funding to Israel. Trump said the funding would stop after the end of 2026.
Key Facts
Trump announced the deal on November 3, 2026.
Trump said he reached the deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The funding at issue is $3.8 billion in security assistance to Israel.
Trump said Washington would stop providing the funding after the end of 2026.
FRANCE 24 reported the announcement in a video report by Jerusalem correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky.
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First Lady Melania Trump will host representatives from Russia and Ukraine at the White House, according to a Tuesday press release. The announcement follows what the release describes as a localized ceasefire she secured earlier this month in Oleshky, a front-line city.
Key Facts
Melania Trump plans to host representatives from Russia and Ukraine.
The meeting will take place at the White House.
The announcement appeared in a Tuesday press release.
The release says Trump secured a localized ceasefire earlier this month.
The ceasefire was in Oleshky, described as a front-line city.
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Lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV-prevention drug given twice a year, has shown strong protection in studies, but supply remains limited in Uganda and elsewhere. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has tentatively approved a generic version for 120 low-income countries, which could lower the price and expand access, though advocates say current plans will not reach enough people quickly enough.
Key Facts
Lenacapavir is an HIV-prevention drug developed by Gilead Sciences and is administered twice a year.
Studies have shown that lenacapavir can provide nearly complete protection from HIV.
People in Mbarara, Uganda, report difficulty obtaining lenacapavir because clinics do not have enough doses.
The FDA has tentatively approved a generic version of lenacapavir for use in 120 low-income countries.
The generic version could cost about $40 per year, compared with a U.S. list price of $28,218.
The Global Fund hopes to provide lenacapavir to 3 million people by the end of 2028.
Doctors Without Borders says the planned supply and country coverage are insufficient and has urged Gilead to expand access.
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President Donald Trump said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to end U.S. military aid to Israel by the end of 2026. Trump said the United States provides $4 billion a year and that Israel no longer needs the support, but he did not explain which aid would end or how.
Key Facts
Trump said he and Netanyahu made the agreement months ago.
Trump said the United States gives Israel $4 billion a year.
Trump said the United States will stop paying Israel by the end of 2026.
Trump said Israel is comfortable with ending the aid and has become a successful country.
Trump said Republicans face criticism from Democratic candidates over the aid.
Trump did not specify which forms of military aid would end.
Trump did not explain how the aid would be ended.
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Actors Dominic Fumusa and David Zayas discuss their roles as detectives who hunt serial killers in the television series “Dexter: Resurrection.” They also talk about how they began their acting careers.
Key Facts
Dominic Fumusa stars in “Dexter: Resurrection.”
David Zayas stars in “Dexter: Resurrection.”
Both actors play detectives in the series.
Their characters hunt serial killers.
The actors discuss how they got started in acting.
The interview appeared on CBS News.
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