On the eve of the congressional elections, American diplomacy held two conversations at once: with Iran, where Vice President JD Vance speaks of progress while Tehran sets conditions, and with Russia and Ukraine, whom Washington is inviting to Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November.
The world overnight into 3 November
- 10–11 November
Russia–Ukraine–US talks in Abu Dhabi - below $106
Brent on ICE, down 6.5% on the day - below $104
Brent according to the Prime agency - 70
shops in Belgium where hackers spoiled food - 6.3 billion dollars
estimate of the theft from Binance - 17 billion dollars
Anthropic’s third-quarter revenue
Based on the review
- 10–11 November
Iran: “no deadlines” and explosions near Qeshm
Vance told reporters that Washington had not set deadlines for Iran: the United States wants “the destruction of the nuclear programme with a guarantee that it will not be restored”. Last week US President Donald Trump said there were one or two targets left on Iranian territory; one of them he named as a site near Mount Kuh-e Kolang, where, according to Washington, an underground nuclear complex is located, while Tehran denies its existence. In the night to 3 November the Iranian agency IRNA reported several explosions near Qeshm island; the authorities did not name the cause. According to The Wall Street Journal, US forces struck Qeshm on 1 November, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had shot down two American drones south of the island. The sources reviewed offer no confirmation of these reports beyond the parties’ own words.
At the same time Vance noted that Washington has made “progress” in talks with Iran. Tehran, according to RBC, said it was ready to open the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the United States meets a number of its demands. Among Tehran’s demands, as TSN wrote, are an end to the American blockade and easing of sanctions; the RBC report does not list them.
Oil: Brent slides
The price of Brent crude on ICE fell below 106 dollars a barrel for the first time since 20 October, losing more than 6.5%, and by night, according to the Prime agency, dropped below 104 dollars. The sources do not name a cause for the fall: statements about Hormuz, about “intensive” talks and about the absence of deadlines coincided in time.
Abu Dhabi: round two
US special envoy Steve Witkoff announced that America will bring Russian and Ukrainian delegations together in Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November: the agenda is ending the war, post-war security guarantees and de-escalation. Witkoff himself and Jared Kushner will go for the US, a US official told Reuters. This is the second round of trilateral talks: Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov spoke of resuming the conversation after Putin’s meeting with Witkoff on 21 October. What exactly the sides will bring, the sources do not say.
Digital Tuesday: fridges, Binance and Anthropic’s bill
The most unusual news of the night is not political. Hackers, according to reports, spoiled food in 70 shops in Belgium by heating freezers to +50 °C; problems, it is reported, also arose in Sweden, Luxembourg and Estonia. France 24 analyses the case as an example of the weakness of household and industrial devices connected to the internet.
Crypto showed up alongside. North Korea called US accusations over the 6.3-billion-dollar Binance hack a provocation; we reported the FBI accusation itself on 1 November, and then the resumption of withdrawals. And Anthropic, developer of the Claude models, in an amended registration statement for a share offering showed quarterly revenue of 17 billion dollars with an operating loss of 567 million; the 23.3-billion net loss was created mostly by an accounting entry on convertible notes.
Europe: a resignation in Brussels, a woman president in Sofia
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, according to CGTN, submitted his resignation to the king because of a deadlock in coalition talks on a deficit-cutting budget; the king’s decision is not given in the report. In Bulgaria, Ulysmedia reports, a woman was elected president for the first time — Iliana Yotova.
What next
The results of the US elections will arrive in the night of 4 November, Astana time. Until then it has become known that talks with Iran proceed with no announced deadlines and that the Abu Dhabi meeting is set for 10–11 November; what the sides are ready to offer there, the sources do not say.
