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The True Brief
Sunday 1 November 2026·11 items · about 6 min read·Free edition
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Front page · Top story
Zelensky says Ukraine is preparing trilateral format with US, Russia
OFFICIAL POST · Lead story
Official post · not independently verified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on X: "We are now preparing for a trilateral format – Ukraine, the United States, and Russia – in the first half of November." He wrote that he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan "discussed the prospects for this format and other possibilities, including ways to involve Türkiye and all of Europe, as well as the possibility of holding meetings here in Türkiye." He said it was "during joint statements to the media" with Erdoğan. On X: 412,972 views and 1,066 reposts as of Sun 1 Nov, 04:07 ET.
CENTCOM says US forces have redirected 144 commercial vessels under the Iran blockade
Official post · not independently verified. US Central Command wrote that the aircraft carrier USS George Washington "supports enforcement of America’s ironclad blockade against Iran." It added: "As of Oct. 31, U.S. forces have redirected 144 commercial vessels to ensure compliance." On X: 81,322 views and 246 reposts as of Sun 1 Nov, 04:07 ET.
Rubio says US shoots down a drone or missile aimed at a ship "virtually every day, every other day"
Asked in Atlanta what guarantees the US would give Gulf partners if it resumed strikes on Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said "CENTCOM is there now protecting it," referring to Gulf oil and gas moving through the Straits of Hormuz. He said: "Virtually every day, every other day, we shoot down a drone or a missile that’s aimed at a ship". On other countries joining in, he said: "we’ve had some very limited cooperation but not much".
State Department says it has revoked more than 300,000 visas
Official post · not independently verified. The State Department said a review of visa holders led to "the revocations of over 300,000 visas -- the most in American history." It cited criminal activity and public safety among the reasons, and said "Over 4,000 visas have been revoked for birth tourism alone." On the first post: 72,051 views and 487 reposts as of Sun 1 Nov, 04:07 ET.
G20 foreign ministers' meeting ends with a US chair's statement on energy and shipping
The State Department published the US presidency's chair's statement after G20 foreign ministers met in Atlanta on 30 and 31 October. It says it is important to ensure energy flows, including "safe navigation and transit passage through international waterways". It says the presidency looks forward to "the Leaders’ Summit in Miami and the presidency of the United Kingdom in 2027."
Quad ministers say they intend to provide over $85 million for "trusted SI"
The US Secretary of State and the foreign ministers of Australia, India and Japan met in Atlanta on 31 October. Their joint release said the ministers "expressed their intent to provide over $85 million of technical and financial assistance to support access to trusted SI across the Indo-Pacific". It uses the term "Super Intelligence (SI)"; a footnote says: "In Australia, India, and Japan, ‘Super Intelligence’ refers to ‘artificial intelligence.’" They also "expressed grave concerns regarding economic coercion" and announced a first-ever Quad Business Leaders’ Forum.
Zelensky says Russian drones hit power plants in Kyiv and Shostka
Official post · not independently verified. Zelensky wrote: "Last night, Russian “shaheds” struck a combined heat and power plant in Kyiv." He said four substations were hit in the Dnipro region and that "In the early morning, a Russian drone struck a combined heat and power plant in Shostka." On X: 208,430 views and 1,661 reposts as of Sun 1 Nov, 04:07 ET.
Guterres says a UN staff member has died in Houthi custody in Yemen
Official post · not independently verified. UN Secretary-General António Guterres wrote that he was "appalled & deeply saddened" by the death of UN colleague Mohammad el Shami "while in the custody of the Houthi de facto authorities in Yemen". He wrote that el Shami "had been arbitrarily detained by the Houthis since 2024" and called it "the second death of a UN staff member in Houthi detention". On X: 69,727 views and 193 reposts as of Sun 1 Nov, 04:07 ET.
National Weather Service posts that Daylight Saving Time ends at 2am
Official post · not independently verified. The National Weather Service wrote: "Daylight Saving Time ends at 2am overnight tonight for those of you that applies to, so turn clocks back one hour before bed if they don't do it on their own". On X: 44,701 views and 127 reposts as of Sun 1 Nov, 04:07 ET.
Bessent says Strait of Hormuz traffic is back to pre-conflict levels "minus Iranian barrels"
Official post · not independently verified. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote: "The Strait of Hormuz transit levels are back to pre-conflict levels minus Iranian barrels." He added: "The world can live without Iranian oil." On X: 335,867 views and 3,014 reposts as of Sun 1 Nov, 04:07 ET.
NASA's Hubble account posts a new image of the Cat's Head Nebula
Official post · not independently verified. NASA's Hubble account wrote: "Happy Hubble Halloween! This new image of the Cat's Head Nebula shows a star-forming region with an eerily feline resemblance." A NASA Science article of Thu 29 Oct, 10:01 ET, says Hubble and Webb "have captured a hauntingly dynamic star-forming scene" within the Carina Nebula, "about 7,500 light-years away from Earth". On X: 74,578 views and 365 reposts as of Sun 1 Nov, 04:07 ET.