World · Vote Timeshttps://votetimes.com/en/world/The latest politics news in the world, told with context and rigour.enUS announces Ukraine-Russia talks in Abu Dhabi for 10-11 Novemberhttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/ukraine-russia-us-talks-abu-dhabi/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/03/ukraine-russia-us-talks-abu-dhabi/Tue, 03 Nov 2026 06:00:00 GMTSteve Witkoff says Washington will mediate working-level negotiations. The sources we checked carry no response from Kyiv or Moscow to the announcement.DiplomacyUnresolved: Trump asks Supreme Court to set aside California ballotshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/california-ballots-supreme-court-noncitizen-list/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/california-ballots-supreme-court-noncitizen-list/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 21:00:00 GMTThe request covers the mail ballots of more than 20,000 voters the administration says are likely not citizens. Two courts refused it, California calls the list unreliable, and the justices have not ruled.ElectionsChina keeps its LaLiga blackout: how Beijing's pressure workshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/china-laliga-mbappe-beijing-state-pressure/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/china-laliga-mbappe-beijing-state-pressure/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:45:30 GMTThe foreign ministry says it takes Mbappé's apology seriously; state group CMG says there is nothing to discuss. The suspension was still in place on 1 November, and we have found no reaction from Spain's government.DiplomacyEuropean Parliament awards the Sakharov Prize to the ICChttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/sakharov-prize-2026-international-criminal-court/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/sakharov-prize-2026-international-criminal-court/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:10:13 GMTThe 2026 prize comes about two weeks after Washington announced new sanctions against the court. Brussels is weighing how to shield it.InstitutionsRussia frees Hubbard and agrees in principle to resume talkshttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/witkoff-putin-st-petersburg-hubbard/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/witkoff-putin-st-petersburg-hubbard/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 13:10:13 GMTAfter meeting Trump's envoy on 21 October, Putin agreed in principle to negotiate again with the US and Ukraine after 10 November, according to the Kremlin. No date or venue has been reported.DiplomacyBurnham heads to Commonwealth summit open to a slavery apologyhttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/burnham-slavery-apology-commonwealth-summit/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/burnham-slavery-apology-commonwealth-summit/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:33:25 GMTThe UK prime minister says he will listen to calls for a formal apology for the slave trade, but rules out reparations and offers help with debt instead.DiplomacyIsrael's election leaves no bloc with 61 seats: what happens next?https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/israel-election-no-majority-netanyahu/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/israel-election-no-majority-netanyahu/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:33:25 GMTOn the published count, Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats, the opposition 48 and the Arab parties a record 19. Two dates are already fixed: 4 and 10 November.ElectionsUS midterms: what early voting and polls do and do not tell ushttps://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/us-midterms-early-vote-polls-guide/https://votetimes.com/en/2026/11/02/us-midterms-early-vote-polls-guide/Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:33:25 GMTMore than 53 million ballots are already in and Democrats lead the polling averages. Neither fact decides who controls Congress: a guide to reading 3 November.Elections