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Gaza’s Civil Defence says 35 unidentifiable bodies uncovered in Gaza City as Hamas searches for dead Israeli captives.
Published On 11 Nov 202511 Nov 2025
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Tess de la MareWest of England
Getty ImagesDame Jilly Cooper suffered a fatal head injury during a fall at her Gloucestershire home, an inquest was told.
The writer – known for her steamy romantic novels such as Riders, Rivals and Polo – was found by family at her home in Bisley at about 17:00 BST on 4 October.
Gloucestershire Coroners’ Court was told Dame Jilly was initially alert and taken by paramedics to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, but her condition deteriorated.
She died in hospital, with her family present, at 08.30 BST on 5 October.
Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, reached a conclusion of accidental death and said Dame Jilly, 88, died as a result of a traumatic subdural haematoma.
Ms Skerrett said Dame Jilly had been unable to give an account of what had happened, but it was believed she had fallen down a flight of stairs “as there was a trail of blood” in that area of her home.
An urgent CT scan revealed she had sustained a skull fracture.
“The medical opinion was that this head injury was unfortunately catastrophic and therefore likely a terminal event,” Ms Skerrett added.
“She was made comfortable, her condition sadly thereafter deteriorated and she passed away in the emergency department with family present.”
In a statement, South Western Ambulance Service confirmed it had been called at 5.35 BST on 4 October and arrived at Dame Jilly’s home about 20 minutes later.
Ms Skerrett said: “The patient was able to speak to crew on arrival.
“She had no direct recollection of events prior. She was unsure how she had fallen. She had a vague recollection of falling down.”
PA MediaDr William Nattrass, Dame Jilly’s GP for around 14 years, said that she had sustained two falls previously, in 2018 and September 2024.
“Despite slowing mobility, she was managing well and remained as bright and engaging as ever,” he said in a statement read to the court.
The coroner said: “The circumstances surrounding her tragic death were she had suffered an unwitnessed fall at her home address on 4 October. She fell, perhaps down some stairs, sustaining a significant head injury.
“There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her fall. She passed away later, on 5 October, with family present.
“This is a case of accidental death, the accident being the unwitnessed fall by Dame Cooper at Dame Cooper’s address, triggering the tragic events that thereafter followed.
“May this office extend their sincere condolences to Dame Cooper’s family.”
Dame Jilly’s novels often portrayed the scandals, sex lives and social circles of the wealthy horse-loving country set.
Rivals recently became a hugely successful TV series starring A-listers such as David Tennant and Danny Dyer.
When her death was announced by her children, Queen Camilla described the author as “a legend”.
U.S. President Donald Trump has targeted China with a cascade of tariffs on imports worth billions of dollars in 2025, aiming to narrow the trade deficit, revive domestic manufacturing, and curb the fentanyl trade. The year has seen a mix of escalating tariffs, export controls, partial trade truces, and diplomatic talks as both sides navigate the high-stakes economic and geopolitical confrontation.
Timeline of Key Events:
November 11: China announces it will broaden access and investment opportunities for U.S. companies, especially in the services sector.
November 10: China pauses port fees on U.S.-linked vessels and suspends sanctions on affiliates of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean. The FBI director visited China to discuss fentanyl and law enforcement issues.
November 9: China suspends its ban on gallium, germanium, and antimony exports to the U.S., though licences are still required under dual-use controls.
November 7: Export control measures imposed on October 9, including restrictions on rare earths, lithium battery materials, and super-hard materials, are suspended. China begins forming a new rare earth licensing regime to potentially speed up shipments. U.S. soybean and log import licences are restored.
November 6: China purchases U.S. farm products, including wheat and sorghum shipments. COFCO holds a soybean procurement signing ceremony.
November 5: Beijing suspends retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports from November 10, including farm goods, while maintaining some duties in response to Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs.
October 30: Trump and Xi Jinping strike a new trade truce in South Korea, agreeing on tariff reductions, increased U.S. soybean purchases, and measures against illicit fentanyl trade.
October 25-26: Malaysia talks produce a trade deal framework to be finalized by leaders after U.S. and Chinese officials meet.
October 17: U.S. State Department condemns Chinese sanctions on Hanwha Ocean as coercive.
October 15-16: U.S. officials criticize China’s expanded rare earth export controls; Apple pledges investment in China.
October 14: Both nations impose additional port fees; China sanctions five U.S.-linked Hanwha Ocean units.
October 12-13: China calls new U.S. tariffs hypocritical; U.S. negotiators maintain Trump-Xi talks are on track.
October 10: Trump announces additional levies on imports and export controls on critical software, while threatening Boeing-related measures. China investigates Qualcomm over its purchase of Israeli Autotalks.
October 9: China widens rare earth export controls; U.S. plans to ban Chinese airlines from overflying Russia.
October 1-August 11: Both sides discuss soybean purchases, extend tariff truces, and negotiate rare earth and AI chip licences.
July-June: Framework deals reached for rare earths and magnets; trade truce discussions continue with limited breakthroughs.
May-April: U.S. and China escalate tariffs repeatedly, targeting key goods and tech sectors. Measures include punitive duties, export restrictions on dual-use items, and sanctions on companies.
March-February: Tariffs on Chinese imports rise sharply, with China retaliating on U.S. agricultural exports and key industrial sectors.
Why It Matters:
The trade war has disrupted global supply chains, affected technology access, and influenced agricultural markets. It also carries geopolitical consequences, particularly for U.S.-China relations and for allies in Asia relying on stable trade flows. Rare earths, semiconductors, and AI chips essential for defense and emerging technologies are central to the strategic stakes.
United States: Trump administration, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
China: President Xi Jinping, Vice Premier He Lifeng, negotiators Li Chenggang and industry regulators.
U.S. Companies: Apple, Nvidia, Boeing, Qualcomm, among others, affected by tariffs, export controls, and investment restrictions.
Global Markets: Critical minerals, rare earths, semiconductors, agricultural commodities, and shipping sectors.
What’s Next:
Despite temporary truce agreements, negotiations remain fluid. Both countries must finalize terms for rare earths, agricultural imports, tariffs, and enforcement mechanisms. Any failure to do so could trigger new rounds of tariffs, impact global supply chains, and increase diplomatic tensions. Private investment and corporate strategy will continue to pivot in response to policy changes.
With information from Reuters.
At least 13 people were killed and 20 injured when a car exploded near the Red Fort metro station in India’s capital New Delhi on Monday evening. Police say the blast, believed to have originated from a Hyundai i20 car, is being investigated under anti-terrorism laws.
Published On 11 Nov 202511 Nov 2025
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Al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM has besieged Mali’s capital, Bamako, cutting off key routes and causing severe fuel shortages. Al Jazeera’s Virginia Pietromarchi explains how the group is tightening its grip despite the military government’s promises of security. Here’s what we know.
Published On 11 Nov 202511 Nov 2025
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Catherine, Princess of Wales is set to be among those attending services to mark Armistice Day on Tuesday.
Catherine will be at a ceremony held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, with a two-minute silence at 11:00 GMT to commemorate the end of World War One and to remember those who have died in all wars since.
Her husband, the Prince of Wales, will also deliver a video message to young people, sharing his views on the importance of wearing a red poppy and to say that “remembrance is for everyone”.
William’s message to children across the UK is to be played out at the Royal British Legion’s Remembrance Assembly on Tuesday morning.
The virtual event brings together children aged between nine and 14 in schools, libraries, home education and other learning settings across the UK.
“Armistice Day is an important time for us to stop and reflect – it is a reminder that remembrance is for everyone,” the prince will say.
“When we remember, we connect with service in a personal way.
“We learn from the courage of others, and we carry their stories forward, so they are not forgotten.
“It’s not just about the past – it’s about shaping who we become in the future.
“Remembrance teaches us empathy, resilience and responsibility.
“And when we wear a red poppy or take a moment of silence, we are saying, ‘Thank you. We have not forgotten, and we will not forget’.”
Meanwhile, the service in Staffordshire will feature the reading of a specially commissioned poem by the arboretum’s poet in residence, Arji Manuelpillai.
“A Sonnet For Us All captures the stories etched into the hundreds of memorials within the National Memorial Arboretum, it invites people to listen, reflect and consider the emotion that was the inspiration for these sculptures,” Mr Manuelpillai said.
“These human connections, and the gentle responsibility to carry love forward, are themes that resonate not only with me, but also with HRH The Princess of Wales, for whom the importance of service and compassion lies especially close to the heart.”
Later on Tuesday, William will join the King and Queen at Windsor Castle where a reception will honour veterans who served in the Pacific during the Second World War.
The event, which the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester will also attend, continues the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day – or Victory over Japan Day.
The TWZ Newsletter
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
The planned delivery of three AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters to the Indian Army has taken an unusual turn. The Antonov Airlines An-124 cargo aircraft carrying the rotorcraft to India returned to the United States with the Apaches still onboard, after a long stopover in the United Kingdom. A Boeing spokesperson told TWZ that the company was looking into “logistical issues” that they said had interrupted the transportation.
The unexpected movements were tracked by plane spotter @KiwaSpotter, who noted the heavy-lift An-124 serial UR-82008 arriving at Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, in Arizona, on October 30, after a flight from its operating base in Leipzig, Germany.
After being moved from the nearby Boeing facility in Mesa, the Apaches were loaded aboard the An-124, which then departed the United States on November 1 and flew to East Midlands Airport in England. When loaded, the helicopters were already painted in their distinctive Indian Army desert camouflage scheme. At least one of the Apaches could be identified in the photos, as serial IA-7105.
The An-124 and its Apache cargo then remained on the ground at the British airport for eight days before the aircraft departed, not headed toward India but returning over the Atlantic to its original point of departure at Mesa Gateway Airport, where they touched down on November 8.
The Apaches were later seen after being unloaded, now under tow, with their rotors removed.
The Indian Army has already received its first three AH-64Es in July this year, part of a six-aircraft deal worth $796 million that was signed back in February 2020, during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to New Delhi.
The first trio of rotorcraft was flown by Antonov Airlines An-124 to Air Force Station Hindon.
“These … helicopters will enhance the Army Aviation wing’s operational effectiveness, especially in challenging terrains,” Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh said at the time.
#WATCH | The first batch of Apache attack Helicopters for the Indian Army has reached India. The choppers will be deployed in Jodhpur by the Indian Army: Indian Army officials
(Source: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/zvSC5pXvgZ
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2025
These AH-64s are currently being used to train crews at Nashik, in Maharashtra state, western India, home of the Indian Army Aviation Training School. Ultimately, the Indian Army Apaches are expected to be stationed at Nagtalao Army Aviation Base, north of Jodhpur, in northwestern India.
The latest batch of three helicopters would have completed the Indian Army deliveries… had they arrived.
TWZ approached Boeing for more information, and a company spokesperson provided the following statement:
“We are currently addressing logistical issues caused by external factors to complete the delivery process for the remaining aircraft. We remain closely engaged with the U.S. government and Indian Army and continue working to execute our contract as expeditiously as possible to meet India’s needs and fleet requirements.”
It remains unclear what the exact nature of the problem was, and whether it was related to the Apaches, the An-124 carrying them, or some other factor in their long aerial transport to India. Potentially, “logistical issues” could involve something technical, relating to any of the aircraft involved, but they might also involve something more mundane, perhaps related to customs or other paperwork. There’s even the potential for some kind of diplomatic or political interference in the transport process, although it would be a little surprising if this wasn’t signaled in advance.
Unusually, New Delhi has ordered AH-64Es for two different armed services.
Previously, 22 Apaches were ordered by the Indian Air Force, and all have been successfully delivered.
The current delay in delivery comes amid New Delhi’s increasing willingness to buy new military aircraft from the United States. Other aircraft acquisitions in this category include the C-130J Hercules transport aircraft, the CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, and the P-8I Neptune maritime patrol aircraft (as the Poseidon is locally known).
At the same time, there have been increasing strains in U.S.-India politics of late. Within India, there have been growing questions about the reliability of the United States as a strategic partner. Tensions worsened after the terrorist attack in India in April and the ensuing India-Pakistan military clashes, after which the Trump administration imposed a 50 percent tariff against India. These penalties also reflected U.S. displeasure about continued Indian purchases of Russian oil.
What is clear is the Indian Armed Forces’ urgent need to bolster its attack helicopter capabilities, especially as it seeks to better counter its increasingly high-tech adversaries — chiefly China and Pakistan.
The same Boeing spokesperson told TWZ that the company plans to complete the delivery of the remaining Apaches on order for the Indian Army as soon as possible. We will continue to track this story and the eventual fate of the three AH-64s that the service is still waiting for.
Contact the author: [email protected]
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is once more in the crosshairs of his own party after a weekend deal to reopen the U.S. government angered progressives and exposed widening fractures within the Democratic ranks. The agreement ended the longest shutdown in U.S. history but failed to secure renewed healthcare subsidies for 24 million Americans a central Democratic demand.
Party Divisions Deepen:
Eight Democrats voted with Republicans to advance the measure, undermining Schumer’s position. Progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups like Our Revolution accused him of caving to President Donald Trump’s administration. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the compromise “pathetic,” while Rep. Ro Khanna urged Schumer to step aside as party leader.
Even moderates expressed frustration. New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill labeled the deal “malpractice,” saying voters had asked for “leadership with a backbone.”
Generational and Leadership Pressures:
The backlash comes as Democrats face growing pressure for generational renewal. With Nancy Pelosi’s retirement and lingering concerns about President Biden’s age after the 2024 loss to Trump, many in the party see Schumer as a symbol of the old guard. Though he isn’t up for reelection until 2028, calls for new leadership are gaining traction ahead of the 2026 leadership vote.
The Stakes for Democrats:
Democrats had initially refused to approve a funding bill without an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies. The reversal has left many grassroots supporters disillusioned, fearing the party is forfeiting its leverage on healthcare and economic issues. Analysts warn that visible divisions could weaken Democrats’ message heading into midterm campaigns.
Schumer’s Defense:
In a Senate speech, Schumer argued that Democrats had succeeded in keeping healthcare “at the forefront of people’s minds” and blamed Trump for the shutdown’s cruelty. Allies like Senator Jeff Merkley attempted to redirect anger toward Republicans, describing the compromise as “a brutal blow” but not a betrayal.
Analysis:
The episode illustrates the enduring tension between pragmatism and idealism within the Democratic Party. Schumer’s calculation to end the shutdown may reflect realism in a divided Congress, but it also exposes the limits of compromise in an era when the party’s base demands confrontation over conciliation. Unless Schumer can reassert authority and articulate a clearer vision, he risks becoming the latest casualty of the Democrats’ generational reset.
With information from Reuters.
Former US diplomat Adam Clements says the meeting between the US & Syria is “a big first step” toward regional unity.
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Jannik Sinner begins his ATP Finals title defence with victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime on home soil in Italy.
Published On 11 Nov 202511 Nov 2025
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Italy’s Jannik Sinner began his bid to retain the ATP Finals title with a resounding 7-5, 6-1 win over injury-hit Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in their round-robin clash at a packed Inalpi Arena in Turin on Monday.
The pair were meeting for the fourth time since August, and eight days after their last clash, with the outcome the same as Sinner eased into the match before overpowering Auger-Aliassime, who needed medical attention during the second set.
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Sinner extended his incredible indoor hardcourt winning streak to 27 matches, his last defeat on the surface coming against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 ATP Finals decider.
The 24-year-old is also in a battle with Carlos Alcaraz to end the year as world number one. Sinner must retain his title in Turin to have any chance, while the Spaniard can secure the prize by winning two more matches after victory in his opener.
Sinner began with intent by winning the first game to love and went on to give up just three points on serve in the opening set while forcing five break points, displaying an impressive mixture of sharp backhand and forehand shots down the line.
Auger-Aliassime hung in, smashing eight aces to Sinner’s one during the first set, often at just the right time as he saved four break points, but the Italian came through when it mattered, breaking to win the set.
“It was a very tough match until 6-5. I had some chances to break,” Sinner said.
“He played some very aggressive tennis, so I’m happy to overcome a very tough test today. Obviously, winning the first match is very important in this competition and this format.”
Sinner stormed into a 3-0 lead in the second, and his opponent took a medical timeout for a problem in his left calf.
“I hope it’s nothing too serious,” Sinner said.
“I wish him obviously a very speedy recovery, and hopefully he is back to 100 percent physically.”
Auger-Aliassime saved two break points to avoid losing touch completely before Sinner sank the Canadian with another break to leave the Italian serving for the match, which he did in style, hammering home an ace to clinch the win.
While the Canadian struggled in the second set, Sinner began to enjoy himself, playing some deft drop shots to the delight of his home crowd, who rose to their feet to acclaim the win.
On Sunday, German Alexander Zverev beat American Ben Shelton 6-3, 7-6(6) in the other Bjorn Borg Group match. All four players in the group will meet each other, with the top two qualifying for the semifinals.
Tuesday’s action features the Jimmy Connors Group, where Alcaraz takes on last year’s finalist Taylor Fritz, with both players on one win each, and Italian Lorenzo Musetti faces Australian Alex de Minaur.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) playoffs begin on Thursday with four teams – Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – slugging it out to decide which nation will progress to the FIFA intercontinental playoff tournament in March, which is the final hurdle for qualification into the World Cup 2026 in North America.
The four teams were the best runners-up across the nine African qualifying groups – and the playoff winner will keep alive their nation’s hopes of becoming the continent’s 10th representative at next year’s finals.
Here is all to know about the CAF playoffs:
Morocco’s capital Rabat will host the African World Cup playoffs, using three different stadiums for the three matches.
Al Barid Stadium and Moulay El Hassan Stadium will be used for the semifinals.
The newly built Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which will host the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on January 18, will be the venue for the CAF playoff final.
The two sudden-death semifinal playoffs will be played at the following times:
The winner-take-all final will be played at the following time:
The draw was based on the current FIFA world rankings of the four teams as of October 17.
Nigeria was ranked highest (#41), followed by Cameroon (#54), Congo DR (#60) and Gabon (#77).
Based on the rankings, FIFA implemented a No.1 (Nigeria) vs No.4 seed (Gabon) matchup for the first semifinal and a No.2 (Cameroon) vs No.3 (Congo DR) second semi.
The winner of Sunday’s CAF playoff must still overcome teams from other continents in a FIFA intercontinental playoff scheduled for March in Mexico to decide the final two qualifiers for the World Cup.
The intercontinental playoff will feature two teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and one team apiece from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
Nine African countries have already qualified via direct entry from the CAF group stage: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia.
The tournament is being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The first match will be played in Mexico City on June 11, while the final will be staged in New Jersey, the US, on July 19.
Due to the expansion of the tournament – from 32 teams to 48 – the 39-day event is the longest in its history.
Goalkeepers:
Andre Onana (Trabzonspor, Turkiye), Devis Epassy (Dinamo Bucuresti, Romania), Simon Omossola (Saint-Eloi Lupopo, Congo)
Defenders:
Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui (Beijing Guoan, China), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders, US), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Al-Duhail, Qatar), Jackson Tchatchoua (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Darlin Yongwa (Lorient, France), Flavien Enzo Boyomo (Osasuna, Spain), Aboubakar Nagida (Rennes, France), Malcom Bokele (Goztepe, Turkiye)
Midfielders:
Frank Anguissa (Napoli, Italy), Martin Hongla (Granada, Spain), Jean Onana (Genoa, Italy), Yvan Neyou (Getafe, Spain), Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Arthur Avom (Lorient, France), Wilitty Younoussa (Rodez, France)
Forwards:
Vincent Aboubakar (c) (Azerbaijan Neftci, Azerbaijan), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (New York Red Bulls, US), Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow, Russia), Christian Bassogog (Al-Okhdood, Saudi Arabia), Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United, England), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Diriyah, Saudi Arabia), Frank Magri (Toulouse, France), Danny Namaso (Auxerre, France), Patrick Soko (Almeria, Spain), Karl Etta Eyong (Levante, Spain)
Goalkeepers:
Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege, Belgium), Timothy Fayulu (Noah, Armenia), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre, France)
Defenders:
Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian, Scotland), Gedeon Kalulu (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Steve Kapuadi (Legia Warsaw, Poland), Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk, Belgium), Arthur Masuaku (Sunderland, England), Chancel Mbemba (Olympique de Marseille, France), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley, England), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United, England)
Midfielders:
Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Glasgow Celtic, Scotland), Edo Kayembe (Watford, England), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier, France), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos, Greece), Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille, France), Charles Pickel (Espanyol, Spain), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland, England), Mario Stroeykens (Anderlecht, Belgium)
Forwards:
Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis, Spain), Samuel Essende (Augsburg, Germany), Brian Cipenga (Castellon, Spain), Meshack Elia (Alanyaspor, Turkiye), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids, Egypt).
Goalkeepers:
Francois Junior Bekale (Hafia, Guinea), Loyce Mbaba (Stella d’Adjame, Ivory Coast), Lukas Mounguenou (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Demba Anse Ngoubi (Mosta, Malta)
Defenders:
Aaron Appindangoye (Sivasspor, Turkiye), Jonathan do Marcolino (Bourg-en-Bresse, France), Jacques Ekomie (Angers, France), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Paris 13 Atletico, France), Yannis Mbemba (FC Dordrecht, Netherlands), Johan Obiang (Orleans, France), Mike Kila Onfia (Hafia, Guinea), Anthony Oyono and Jeremy Oyono (both Frosinone, Italy)
Midfielders:
Oumar Samake Nze Bagnama (Stade Abdijan, Ivory Coast), Eric Bocoum (Gol Gohar, Iran), Guelor Kanga (Esenler Erokspor, Turkiye), Mario Lemina (Galatasaray, Turkiye), Didier Ndong (Esteghlal, Iran), Andre Biyogho Poko (Amed, Turkiye)
Forwards:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Olympique de Marseille, France), Teddy Averlant (Amiens, France), Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC, US), Alan do Marcolino (Lusitania Lourosa, Portugal), Randy Essang Matouti (Khenchela, Algeria), Noha Lemina (Yverdon Sport, Switzerland), Bryan Meyo (Oympique Lyonnais, France)
Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania), Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)
Defenders:
Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France), Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Benjamin Fredericks (Dender, Belgium), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia)
Midfielders:
Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkiye), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, US)
Forwards:
Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Olakunle Olusegun (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkiye), Moses Simon (Paris FC, France)
Mark SavageMusic correspondent
Getty ImagesSam Fender has donated the entirety of his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust (MVT), which works to preserve the UK’s grassroots music venues.
The star was presented with the cheque on 16 October as his third album People Watching was named the best record of the last 12 months.
He has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues played in his early career.
“I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out,” said Fender. “These venues are legendary, but they are struggling.”
Since the start of 2023, more than 150 of these venues have permanently closed their doors – about 16% of the entire UK sector.
In the last year, major artists including Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by adding a small levy to their ticket prices, which goes to help smaller concert halls.
Fender also took part, raising more than £100,000 on his 2024 arena tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The money helped venues that were facing imminent closure due to challenges arising from floods, fires and bereavements, as well as licensing issues, legal disputes and noise complaints.
Other venues received financial assistance in upgrading facilities and technical equipment that directly benefitted artists and audiences.
“The idea that money from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense,” Fender has said.
Getty ImagesHe is not the first artist to donate his Mercury Prize winnings to worthy causes.
When Pulp won the trophy in 1996 for their album Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the band would donate their prize money to the charity War Child.
In 2002, rapper and singer Ms Dynamite split her bounty between several good causes, including the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.
“And I donated a grand to Highgate Newtown, my local community centre, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed new equipment,” she told the Guardian in 2013.
Two years ago, Ezra Collective gave their winnings to the local youth club that nurtured their band, alongside other grassroots music organisations.
And 1994 winners M People donated their prize to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed with the condition.
“Winning was quite enough,” said singer Heather Small. “The money was the cherry on top but we didn’t need the cherry, because we had the cake. So our winning touched somebody else’s life.”
Last week, the MVT announced it had saved two grassroots venues in south-east England, by bringing them into community ownership.
The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in Bristol were purchased under the Own Our Venues initiative, which is supported by Arts Council England and music fans who buy “shares” in the properties.
The TWZ Newsletter
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
Iran states it has more missiles now than it had during the 12 Day War with Israel. While the accuracy of that claim is questionable, experts who follow Tehran’s missile program say that the country has ramped up production in an effort to have its arsenal ready to overwhelm Israeli missile defenses, which were degraded during the war. All this comes amid growing concerns about a new conflict over Iran’s nuclear program.
“Our missile power today far surpasses that of the 12-Day War,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently proclaimed. “The enemy in the recent 12-day war failed to achieve all its objectives and was defeated.”
“Iran’s defense production has improved both in quantity and quality compared to before the 12-day Israeli-imposed war in June,” Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, the country’s defense minister, said on Monday.
Meanwhile, Iranian officials have told Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, that “missile factories are working 24 hours a day,” The New York Times reported. Vaez added that if there is another war, “they hope to fire 2,000 at once to overwhelm Israeli defenses, not 500 over 12 days” as they did in June. “Israel feels the job is unfinished and sees no reason not to resume the conflict, so Iran is doubling down preparedness for the next round.”
While “it’s not clear exactly how many missiles in a larger volley the Islamic Republic may choose to fire, there is no doubt that they may still try to find a way to overwhelm either interceptors or dependent sites with a greater number of projectiles fired at once,” Vaez added.
In addition to increasing the number of missiles it is producing, Iran is also applying lessons learned from the 12-Day War to improve their effectiveness, Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) think tank, told TWZ.
“The Islamic Republic also learned how to fire less and get more bang for your buck based on the targets and based on the location and based on the firing sequence, or the launch formula, that the regime employed when it fired for some bases that were further east in Iran during the 12-Day War,” he explained. “There is no doubt the regime wants to improve the lethality of its missile force. It certainly has learned a lot between Operation True Promise One, True Promise Two and True Promise Three.”
During the conflict, Iran claimed it used what it calls the Fattah-1 medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM). Authorities in Iran explicitly touted those, the Haj Qassem and Kheibar Shekan, as offering high terminal maneuverability and/or high speeds specifically intended to reduce their vulnerability to missile defense interceptors. You can see videos claiming to show Fattah-1 missiles hitting Israel.
#Iran / #Israel 🇮🇷🇮🇱: Iranian Forces have struck Israeli positions and Headquarters in the city #TelAviv with Missiles.
During the waves #IRGC launched various missiles including what seems to be possible “Fattah-1/2” Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles as well. pic.twitter.com/uVFWpk0b2w
— War Noir (@war_noir) June 13, 2025
#Iran / #Israel 🇮🇷🇮🇱: Iranian Armed Forces launched a new wave missiles and hit numerous locations including #TelAviv.
Hundreds of “Emad” , “Kheibar Shekan” and “Fattah-1/2” Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles were reportedly launched. pic.twitter.com/YvWrnEfVUI
— War Noir (@war_noir) June 15, 2025
🚨 BREAKING:
Iran’s IRGC confirms the first-ever use of the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile in a strike on Tel Aviv.
With Mach 13-15 speed and a 1,400 km range, it reached the target in under 5 minutes, maneuvering both inside and outside the atmosphere. pic.twitter.com/Oc3DyvdrUq
— Defence Index (@Defence_Index) June 18, 2025
While it is unclear exactly what mix of new missiles Iran is building, increasing the production of higher-speed, more survivable ones would be a problem for Israel, given their increased ability to pierce missile defenses.
Improving the overall effectiveness of their ballistic missile barrages is clearly a top priority for Tehran, just as defending against future attacks is for Israel. As we previously noted, Iran launched 631 missiles during the 12-Day War, of which 500 reached Israel, according to assertions made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Of those missiles that did land on Israeli soil, 243 hit open areas, requiring no air defense response. A total of 36 missiles hit populated areas, while 221 missiles were intercepted. That represented an 86% success rate, the Israeli analysis claimed. We cannot independently verify the details provided by Israel.
Still, having to fire so many interceptors placed a huge strain on Israel’s vaunted integrated air and missile defense system (IADS), according to several published reports, which the IDF denied. The U.S. expended many advanced interceptors during the onslaught, as well.
“U.S. and Israeli defenses were stretched thin and vast numbers of interceptors were needed to defend against Iran’s ragged retaliation,” the Foreign Policy Research Institute concluded.
Beyond interceptions, Israel managed to destroy a significant number of Iran’s launchers during its aerial interdiction campaign over Iran, as well as temporarily blocking or destroying missile storage sites, and disrupting command and control of Iranian missile forces during the war, greatly reducing Tehran’s ability to get off shots. It is unknown how many missiles were destroyed on the ground during the war and how many were left untouched.
“Iran also has learned about its vulnerabilities, and it is seeking to build back better, as safely as possible,” Taleblu suggested. “But the rate and the speed at which it rebuilds, probably in the short term, may outpace the rate and the speed at which Israel is rearming to defend itself.”
We detailed the overall battle of attrition between Iranian standoff weapons and Israeli (and U.S.) air defenses during the war. What is happening after the conflict is part of a broader issue with missile defense — the enemy can, and usually does, seek to outproduce the defensive capacity of the missile shield, and usually can at a lower comparative cost.
You can read more about Israel’s IADS in our deep dive here.
Iranian officials say concerns about their missiles, as well as their nuclear energy program, are being used as a pretext for possible future attacks.
“What does this issue have to do with the West that it feels entitled to comment on the range of Iran’s missiles?” Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani rhetorically asked on Monday. “No country has the right to interfere in the independent defensive capabilities of another nation.”
As it works to rebuild its missile arsenal, Iran is getting help from China.
“European intelligence sources say several shipments of sodium perchlorate, the main precursor in the production of the solid propellant that powers Iran’s mid-range conventional missiles, have arrived from China to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas,” CNN reported late last month.
The shipments, containing some 2,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, began arriving on Sept. 29, the cable network explained. They were bought by Iran from Chinese suppliers in the wake of the war.
“The purchases are believed to be part of a determined effort to rebuild the Islamic Republic’s depleted missile stocks,” the news outlet added. “Several of the cargo ships and Chinese entities involved are under sanctions from the United States.”
“China is appearing to play a key role here by providing precursor chemicals that do go into solid propellant, rocket fuel, and oxidizer,” Taleblu observed.
Beyond assisting Iran’s offensive missile capabilities, China is reportedly considering a deal to give Tehran advanced HQ-9 air defense systems to help make up for those destroyed by Israel during the 12-Day War. While Iran’s long-range weapons arsenal are often the focus, rebuilding the country’s air defenses is also clearly a top priority after Israel quickly obtained air supremacy over the country.
The issue of new Iranian missile production comes against the backdrop of concerns that Tehran has developed a new facility to continue what U.S. officials claim is its nuclear weapons ambitions. The U.S. says it destroyed a great deal of Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons during June’s Operation Midnight Hammer, in which U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped 14 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs on Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities. A U.S. nuclear-powered, guided missile (SSGN) submarine in the Central Command Area of Responsibility launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles against key surface infrastructure targets at Isfahan, officials added.
However, as The New York Times noted, Iran “appears to be continuing to work on a new enrichment site known as Pickaxe Mountain. It has refused to give international inspectors access to that site or any other suspected nuclear sites other than those already declared.”
The result “is a dangerous stalemate — with no negotiations, no certainty over Iran’s stockpile, no independent oversight,” the newspaper explained. “And many in the Gulf believe that makes another Israeli attack on Iran almost inevitable, given Israeli officials’ long-held view that Iran’s nuclear program is an existential threat.”
The pace of Iran’s missile development could be a large factor for the timing of any future conflict with Israel, Taleblu told us.
“There is a race to build back better. For Israel, it’s interceptors. For the Islamic Republic of Iran, it’s medium-range ballistic missiles,” Taleblu posited. “The fuzzy math between the two may determine the time when the next round between Israel and Iran takes place.”
Contact the author: [email protected]
This article discusses the important issues underlying the #MeToo movement that has spread across the globe. On the one hand, the #MeToo movement has succeeded in gaining cross-border support for victims of sexual harassment, so that victims do not feel alone and have the courage to speak out. However, the #MeToo movement has not yet fully succeeded in reaching all groups. This article will explore why this massive online campaign has not truly reached those who need it most: victims without internet access, without digital devices, or who are technologically illiterate. As a result, they remain unable to voice their experiences of abuse and receive the support they need.
The #MeToo movement has indeed succeeded in changing the way we view, understand, and even produce new regulations in many countries. This demonstrates the power of the internet. However, the reality is that millions of victims living in villages, remote areas, or from poor families still feel alone. This is why this article will discuss the three main obstacles that have prevented #MeToo from being fully successful: limited digital access, inequality in technological capabilities and security, and weak direct activism in the field.
In my opinion, #MeToo is still far from successful. Success in changing laws has not been followed by success in helping those with proven limitations. These three main reasons will be discussed in more detail in this article. #MeToo was initially successful because it spread quickly on the internet. Platforms such as Twitter can connect people from all over the world. That’s amazing! However, this initial success mainly occurred in developed countries that have cheap and fast internet. This means that the movement reached more wealthy, educated people living in big cities. This shows that the movement was biased from the start because it only focused on issues faced by internet-savvy people. This was also evident when #MeToo, which had been around since 2006, only went viral and spread worldwide when Hollywood actresses started using #MeToo on social media in 2017.
Access barriers directly undermine the success of #MeToo. The movement fails to reach all those affected by abuse who live in villages, in conflict areas, and those who are technologically illiterate and lack financial resources. It is not only these disparities that set them apart, but also the lack of support and justice that is part of this difference. Victims without a signal, without a cell phone, or without data do not have the tools to know their rights. This situation is a very common problem for many people.
This failure results in “solidarity poverty.” According to a study by Amalia, A. R., Raodah, P., & Wardani, N. K. (2024), “In low- and middle-income countries, 300 million fewer women than men use mobile internet.” This shows that the issue of access is not only a geographical problem but also an economic and gender issue. Because they lack the ability to speak out, the #MeToo movement does not truly represent all victims, but only those who have the privilege of being connected.
In addition, there is also a gap in digital literacy and security that will become a second barrier preventing victims from successfully participating in the #MeToo movement. Victims who are technologically illiterate do not know how to use social media safely and anonymously. Furthermore, they lack knowledge about how to store digital evidence so that it is not lost. They do not understand privacy regulations, the dangers of doxing (spreading personal data), or cyber attacks. This ignorance causes them to fear speaking out even more than they fear the perpetrators.
In many countries, this issue is made more difficult by the threat of retaliation through legislation (e.g., defamation laws/cybercrime laws) that can be used against victims and lead to revictimization (ICJ, 2023). When victims speak without legal representation or digital literacy, they risk being perceived as lying. Victims in large cities have better digital safety nets than those in remote areas. This is why “Solidarity with Quotas” emerged. Only those who are digitally literate and financially secure can speak up, while others remain silent out of fear.
Due to these limitations, the #MeToo movement around the world has been dominated by issues occurring in large offices, elite campuses, or among public figures. In line with the criticism expressed by PUSAD Paramadina, the #MeToo movement in Indonesia is considered to have not yet reached a wider audience, as the discussion is still limited to those who are literate in social media and come from the middle to upper classes (Kartika, 2019). This criticism is not only relevant in Indonesia, but also in many other countries.
However, the problems with the #MeToo movement are not limited to the internet. The failure of activism to change offline behavior is also a weakness. Solidarity on the internet can indeed raise donations and spread information, but it often fails to translate this momentum into equitable direct assistance. The digital resources and extraordinary public attention received by this movement have not been wisely allocated to the areas most in need. This shows that digital activism often focuses only on the most popular topics but has no real impact on the most vulnerable victims.
Despite the large number of new laws passed as a result of #MeToo, integrated service centers, shelters, and legal services are still concentrated in capital cities or large cities. Victims who are not within reach of these services must face significant distances and costs to obtain justice. This situation shows that inequality in access to protection is still deeply rooted. This is in line with research published by Jurnal Perempuan (2024), which states that Online Gender-Based Violence (KBGO) is not an anomaly, but a continuation of gender-based violence that has been entrenched for centuries in patriarchal systems. Therefore, gender inequality will only persist in the real world if the struggle is only carried out in the online realm and is not balanced with the provision of real services for victims.
Three major issues hindering the success of the #MeToo movement are limited access, limited digital capabilities, and a lack of direct participation in the field. This shows that a digital struggle without real interaction risks losing sight of its main goal: justice for all victims, not just those connected to the virtual world.
The world has been changed by the #MeToo movement. However, the world it has changed is one that is connected to the internet. Millions of other women continue to struggle in silence, in places where there is no signal and no courage. Meanwhile, some people still cannot access it. This movement has raised awareness around the world, but there are still people who are left behind, hindered by digital poverty and the gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not. Digital justice should not be limited to viral hashtags or phone screens. In truth, solidarity is not just about thousands of posts or supportive comments. Rather, it comes from the courage to step into the real world, listen to those who are unheard, and ensure that protection is available for both those who can reach the network and those left behind. Because true justice does not require popularity to be seen, and true solidarity is measured by how far we collaborate with those who are most silent, not by how much we speak.
About 50,000 people are expected to attend the 12-day climate summit in the Brazilian city of Belem.
Published On 10 Nov 202510 Nov 2025
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The 30th annual United Nations climate change conference (COP30) has started in the Brazilian city of Belem, with leaders calling for countries to take a united approach against global warming.
“In this arena of COP30, your job here is not to fight one another – your job here is to fight this climate crisis, together,” the UN’s climate chief, Simon Stiell, told delegates on Monday.
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Some 50,000 people from more than 190 countries are expected to attend the 12-day event, which is being held at the edge of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest.
Addressing the conference, Stiell said that previous climate talks had helped, but that there was “much more work to do”.
The UN climate boss noted that countries would have to move “much, much faster” in driving down greenhouse gas emissions. “Lamenting is not a strategy. We need solutions,” he said.
His comments came as a new UN analysis of countries’ climate plans found that the pledged reductions fall far short of the drop needed by 2035 to limit temperatures to 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial temperatures.
If this threshold is breached, the world will experience far more severe impacts than it has so far, experts say.
“Climate change is no longer a threat of the future. It is a tragedy of the present,” Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stressed at the start of COP30.
Brazil’s leader condemned those seeking to undermine efforts to combat the climate crisis.
“They attack institutions, they attack science and universities,” he said. “It’s time to inflict a new defeat on the deniers.”
The United States is not sending any delegates to COP30 in keeping with President Donald Trump’s anti-climate change stance.
“It’s a good thing that they are not sending anyone. It wasn’t going to be constructive if they did,” the US’s former special envoy for climate, Todd Stern, said of the Trump administration’s decision.
COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago said the US’s absence “has opened some space for the world to see what developing countries are doing”.
Pablo Inuma Flores, an Indigenous leader from Peru, urged world leaders to do more than simply give pledges at this year’s conference.
“We want to make sure that they don’t keep promising, that they will start protecting, because we as Indigenous people are the ones who suffer from these impacts of climate change,” he said.
In a letter to COP30 that was published on Monday, dozens of scientists expressed their fears about the melting of glaciers, ice sheets and other frozen parts of the planet.
“The cryosphere is destabilising at an alarming pace,” they wrote. “Geopolitical tensions or short-term national interests must not overshadow COP30. Climate change is the defining security and stability challenge of our time.”
Polish Independence Day commemorates the re-establishment of the state of Poland at the end of the first world war in 1918.
For 123 years prior to 1918, Poland had been partitioned under the rule of Prussia, Austria, and Russia.
On November 11th 1918, the day that the first world war ended, this partition was removed and Poland was granted its independence.
On this date, the Polish Military Organisation’s secret departments demobilized soldiers and legionnaires disarmed the Germans in Warsaw and other Polish towns. The Regency Government appointed Józef Piłsudski as commander in chief over the Polish forces and three days later he was given complete civil control. He formed a new centralized government, which on November 21st issued key measures including a manifesto of agricultural reforms. Piłsudski also brought in more favourable conditions for the workers and called parliamentary elections.
November 11th was announced a national holiday in 1937. In 1945, when Poland became a communist regime as a result of the Yalta conference, at the request of Stalin following the end of the second world war, the holiday was abolished.
In 1989, following the collapse of the Communist government fell, Independence Day was reinstated as a national holiday.
Ninety-seven percent of Muslim respondents in a CAIR survey say they voted for New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
Published On 10 Nov 202510 Nov 2025
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Muslim voters in the United States overwhelmingly favoured Democratic candidates in last week’s elections, amid mounting anger at President Donald Trump’s policies, a new exit poll suggests.
The survey, released by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Monday, shows 97 percent of Muslim voters in New York backed democratic socialist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
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Virginia’s Democratic Muslim American Senator Ghazala Hashmi also received 95 percent of the Muslim vote in the state in her successful bid for lieutenant governor, according to the poll.
Non-Muslim, more centrist Democratic candidates received strong backing from Muslim voters as well, the CAIR study showed.
Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill – Democratic congresswomen who won the gubernatorial races – both received about 85 percent support from Muslim voters, according to the survey.
California’s Proposition 50, which approved a congressional map that favours Democrats, won 90 percent support from Muslim voters, the poll suggested.
CAIR said it interviewed 1,626 self-identified Muslim respondents for the survey.
The group said the results showed high turnout from Muslim voters.
“These exit poll results highlight an encouraging truth: American Muslims are showing up, speaking out, and shaping the future of our democracy,” the group said in a statement.
“Across four states, Muslim voters demonstrated remarkable engagement and commitment to the civic process, casting ballots that reflect their growing role as active participants in American life.”
The November 4 election, one year ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, offered a boost for Democrats.
But the race for New York, which saw Trump endorse former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, saw a spike of Islamophobic rhetoric, particularly from Republican lawmakers and commentators.
CAIR said Muslim voters showed that they are rising up in “the face of anti-Muslim bigotry” to “build a better future for themselves and their neighbors, proving that participation, not prejudice, defines our nation’s strength”.
The survey’s results show that the Democrats are recovering the support of some Muslim voters who deserted the party in last year’s presidential election due to former President Joe Biden’s uncompromising support for Israel amid the brutal assault on Gaza.
CAIR said it recorded 76 Muslim candidates in last week’s election, 38 of whom won.
In Michigan, the Detroit suburbs of Hamtramck, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights elected Muslim mayors in the polls.
Several Muslim candidates are vying for seats in Congress in next year’s election, including Abdul el-Sayed, who is seeking a US Senate seat in Michigan.
Speaking at this year’s COP30 in Brazil, UN chief Antonio Guterres called the inability to limit global warming to 1.5C (2.7F) a “deadly moral failure”.
But does the same apply when it comes to protecting the environment in conflict?
Israel’s two-year war on Gaza has created 61 million tonnes of rubble, with nearly a quarter contaminated with asbestos and other hazardous materials.
And scientists warn that Israel’s use of water, food and energy as weapons of war in Gaza has left farmland and ecosystems facing irreversible collapse.
In Syria, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has cited his country’s worst drought in more than six decades as evidence of accelerating climate change and warned that it could hinder Syria’s post-war recovery.
So, why isn’t conflict seen as a climate issue? And why is the environmental toll of war so often ignored?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests: Kate Mackintosh – deputy chair of the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide
Elaine Donderer – disaster risk specialist
Farai Maguwu – director of the Zimbabwe-based Centre for Natural Resource Governance
Published On 10 Nov 202510 Nov 2025
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I don’t like the word unprecedented. But I’ve used it twice in less than 24 hours.
The first time was on Sunday night, after the resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness. That, in fact, might have involved a bit of overreach.
After all, this has happened before at the BBC. Back in 2004, two senior figures departed – admittedly not on the same day, but on subsequent days.
The then BBC chairman, Gavyn Davies, and the director general, Greg Dyke, resigned in light of the Hutton report.
That was the inquiry into the death of government scientist Dr David Kelly which found that the BBC’s reporting on the Iraq “sexed-up dossier” was flawed.
But my use of unprecedented on Monday feels entirely appropriate.
A US president threatening to sue the BBC for $1bn is completely new territory for the corporation.
We’ve seen a succession of US media operations previously cave in as Donald Trump launched lawsuits.
Paramount Global paid him $16m to settle a dispute over an interview broadcast on CBS with former vice-president Kamala Harris.
ABC News paid him $15m to settle a defamation lawsuit after its anchor falsely claimed he had been found “liable for rape”.
Now the president has the BBC in his sights. He wants a full retraction of the Panorama documentary, an apology for the “false, defamatory, disparaging, misleading and inflammatory statements” made about him in it, and appropriate compensation “for the harm caused”.
If he doesn’t get them by Friday, he’s put the BBC “on notice” that he will be looking for damages of “no less than $1,000,000,000”.
Whether you are a supporter or a detractor of the BBC, I think everyone would agree these are incredibly testing times for the corporation.
Events have developed rapidly over a week.
First we got the series of claims about the Panorama documentary and also wider systemic bias first made in the Telegraph.
Six days later came the resignations of director general Tim Davie and news CEO Deborah Turness.
Quickly some were voicing concerns about a politically orchestrated campaign against the BBC from the right. Others said this was all about accountability in the face of gross failures.
Now the BBC faces a potentially very costly legal battle with Donald Trump.
It should be basking in the success of Celebrity Traitors with the programme’s hugely popular finale broadcast just last Thursday. Instead the BBC is plunged into a crisis some would argue of its own making.
It’s taken until Monday to apologise for the Panorama edit and to push back on the notion that the corporation suffers from institutional bias.
The interview I did with BBC chair Samir Shah should have been done much earlier – with the DG or Deborah Turness last week, as the headlines ramped up.
The apology should have come then. Now the BBC is on the back foot.
It will take robust leadership to steer a course through. But two of the leaders most likely to have been able to steady the ship are now on the way out.
The midday sun blazed over Bare village, but the heat that lingered in the air was nothing compared to the heaviness in people’s hearts. Two days had passed since three young farmers were killed in a violent attack by armed men, yet the air still pulsed with grief and fear.
Men sat in groups, deep in deliberation, while children lingered quietly around their mothers in front of their homes. The quiet was not peace—it was mourning.
A few nights earlier, the rice fields on the outskirts of Bare, a rural community in Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State, northeastern Nigeria, had turned into a killing ground.
A few days earlier, Peter James, 24, secured a job harvesting rice on a commercial farm. He invited his friend, Cyprian, 20, and ten others to join him. It is the height of the harvest season in Bare, when labourers often camp overnight in the fields, working by moonlight. It’s a source of livelihood for many young people in the community.
But that Tuesday night, Nov. 4, the serenity of the farmland was shattered around 9 p.m.
“We were gathering the rice into bags when we heard gunshots,” Peter recalled, his voice unsteady as he spoke from a mat in his father’s compound. “The people appeared out of nowhere. When they came closer, we realised that they were herders. They didn’t say anything or take anything. They just opened fire on us.”
Peter said he recognised them as herders because some have grazed their cattle within the community for years.
In the chaos that followed, Cyprian was hit in the neck and collapsed beside him. Peter felt a burning pain in his cheek and arm—gunshot wounds. Somehow, he fled into the darkness and staggered home, bloodied and half-conscious, arriving close to midnight.
“I heard a scream outside, and when I went out, I saw my son staggering. His face and his shirt were covered in blood,” 49-year-old Gloria James, Peter’s mother, told HumAngle.
The farm lay an hour’s walk from the village, but Peter’s injuries slowed him to a crawl, taking him two hours. Gloria raised an alarm after she saw her son, and villagers mobilised a rescue team. By the time they arrived at the farm, the gunmen had vanished. Cyprian was dead. Two others were critically wounded.
They carried the injured back to the village and buried Cyprian the next morning. Both wounded men died later that day.
There are currently no security operatives stationed in the community. After the incident, members of Bare reached out to the police station in Numan town; officers came, assessed the situation, and left, promising to follow up.
When contacted, Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, the Spokesperson for the Adamawa State Police Command, told HumAngle that he had not yet been briefed on the incident. “I will let you know if I have any information,” he said.
No arrests in connection with the attack have been made yet, according to residents and local leaders who spoke to HumAngle.
The attack is the first reported in Bare this year and is part of a long, bitter struggle between farmers and herders in the area—a conflict that residents say has festered for nearly a decade. Bare and neighbouring communities like Mararaban Bare have seen repeated cycles of bloodshed, often triggered by disputes over land and water.
When HumAngle visited Bare, the District Head was away in Yola, the state capital, attending a meeting convened by the Adamawa State government over the recent violence, so we spoke with his representative, Anthony Duwaro.
Anthony said that the locals lived peacefully with the herders who settled in their communities for generations. One herder we met during a trip to the area in October is 40 years old and has lived there all his life.
The herders have their settlement about half an hour away from Bare. Anthony said they traded and used resources together. But things changed in 2017, during the harvest.
“We went to the farm and realised that they led their cattle into it. We confronted them, and that’s when the problem began,” he recalled.
Since then, clashes have become almost predictable. “It happens every harvest season,” Anthony said, lifting his shirt to reveal scars from a previous attack. “We report to the authorities, but the cycle continues. Now, people are afraid to return to their farms.”
Despite several reconciliation meetings between both sides, he said the latest attack on the young men proved that the conflict was far from over. “One time, the clash was so brutal that people lost their lives, farms and properties were also destroyed. Most of us were rushed to the General Hospital in Numan,” he recounted.
With no police station nearby, only one in Numan town, several kilometres away, villagers rely on local vigilantes for protection. The community’s police outpost was burnt down during a similar incident in 2018 and has not been restored.
Anthony described the conflict as a “battle of survival”. “We depend on farming to feed our families. They depend on grazing for their cattle. But when the cattle destroy our crops, we can’t just fold our arms. If we confront them peacefully, they retaliate with attacks.”
Several peace talks have been held between the host community and the herders, yet tensions remain unresolved. Just a week before the latest attack, locals accused herders of grazing on their farms, further heightening the conflict.
While the herders have not claimed responsibility for the killings, they say worsening environmental pressures are making it harder for their cattle to find feed. “We do not wish to provoke anyone; we are only after the welfare of the cattle,” Alhaji Ngala, the chairperson of the local herders’ community, told HumAngle in an interview before the recent attack.
He blamed the clashes on the loss of “traditional grazing routes”. “If we can have access to routes and enough water supply, then our minds will be at peace,” he said.
Another herder, Muza Alhaji Shenya, who has lived in the Bare area for two decades, said industrialisation and farmland expansion have pushed them onto the highways as they go in search of water and greener pastures.
HumAngle recently reported how nearby Mararaban Bare has faced its own crisis due to the contamination of the only local water source by cattle waste. An uneasy arrangement now exists: locals use the river in the morning, and herders use the water in the afternoon. Still, residents say they need to treat the water before drinking or cooking with it.
“There has never been a time when we confronted the herders except when they led their cattle to our farms,” Anthony said. “We don’t have a problem with them.”
The struggle in Bare mirrors a broader crisis playing out across Nigeria’s rural and urban communities. In July, a HumAngle analysis showed how pastoral life is collapsing due to climate change, farmland expansion, and urbanisation in Nigeria. This situation is forcing some herders to cross to neighbouring countries in search of food and water for their cattle.
Authorities have attempted various interventions, but with little success. In recent years, several state governments have enacted anti-open grazing laws, requiring herders to rent land for ranching, which has been protested by some associations of cattle breeders.
Although the Adamawa State has not passed such legislation, officials announced in December 2024 plans to establish grazing reserves “as a measure to bring an end to farmers and herders clashes in the state”.
The idea is not new. In 2019, the Nigerian government introduced the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) scheme to establish designated settlements for herders nationwide. But the initiative was derailed by mistrust and controversy, and later suspended by the former President Muhammad Buhari’s administration.
A few months later, another intervention, the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) was inaugurated to “create a peaceful environment for the transformation of the livestock sector that will lead to peaceful coexistence, economic development, and food security…” The Plan, whose first phase execution was budgeted at ₦120 billion, has not been actualised.
“If implemented properly, [the NLTP] could resolve many of these issues,” said Malik Samuel, a Senior Researcher at Good Governance Africa, who researches armed violence in the country. “Ranching is the most effective alternative. Moving cattle around will always spark conflict.”
Back in Bare, the national debate feels distant.
Chrisantus Bong sits under a tree surrounded by relatives murmuring words of comfort. A few metres away, beside a silo, lies the grave of his son, Cyprian.
The sixty-one-year-old told HumAngle he is still struggling to accept the loss. He said if he could turn back the hands of time, he would have prevented him from going to the farm that night.
While he struggles with his grief, he fears that more tragedy lies ahead. “They have taken others before. They took my son this time. They might take someone else tomorrow,” Chrisantus said.
Residents say the killings have left the community paralysed by fear and anger.
“We have reported this issue countless times to the authorities,” Chrisantus added. “The perpetrators are not strangers. They live around us and should be interrogated.”
Peter is healing from his gunshot wounds, but the emotional scars remain. Cyprian was his closest friend, and he watched him die. “I saw the bullet pierce his neck,” he whispered. Peter’s mother said he has hardly left his room since the attack.