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The True Brief
Thursday 12 November 2026·12 items · about 6 min read·Free edition
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Front page · Top story
Rubio and Wang Yi discuss Trump's APEC trip and Xi's G20 visit, State Department says
OFFICIAL POST · Lead story
Official post · not independently verified. The State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi "At China's request". It said the two "discussed President Trump's upcoming travel to the APEC Summit in China and General Secretary Xi's upcoming visit to Florida to attend the G20 Summit." On X: 341,764 views and 370 reposts as of Thu 12 Nov, 04:13 ET.
Why it matters The readout says the two "agreed on the importance of meaningful leader-level conversations to advance goals such as peace and denuclearization, including at any potential trilateral leaders meeting with Russia."
G7 foreign ministers say they will keep acting against countries that help Russia's war
The G7 foreign ministers condemned "the provision of military assistance to Russia by North Korea and Iran, and the provision of weapons, military training and dual-use components by China". They said: "We made clear our intention to continue to take action against these countries." On Iran, they "called on Iran to cease its persistent attacks against civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz."
Why it matters The ministers met "under the 2026 French G7 Presidency in Paris, on 9 and 10 November 2026" and said: "We reiterated our support to ongoing US-led efforts to facilitate peace through direct and serious negotiations."
Zelensky says a meeting with Witkoff and Kushner is planned during his visit to Ireland
Official post · not independently verified. Ukraine's president wrote that he had arrived in Dublin "to attend the 9th European Political Community Summit". He wrote: "A meeting on diplomatic efforts with the American negotiating team – Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner – is also planned." On X: 157,955 views and 986 reposts as of Thu 12 Nov, 04:13 ET.
Zelensky asks partners to focus on sanctions, including on businesses that supply Russia's weapons production
Official post · not independently verified. Zelensky wrote that sanctions are necessary and that this "applies both to individual sanctions against Russian entities working for Putin and his system, and to businesses through which Russia obtains scarce components, equipment, and machine tools to produce weapons". He wrote: "We must restrict Russia’s weapons production". He wrote that he said this during a joint press conference with Micheál Martin. On X: 113,400 views and 524 reposts as of Thu 12 Nov, 04:13 ET.
Eurostat says 29.2% of people in the EU could not cope with unexpected expenses in 2025
The EU statistics office said: "In 2025, 29.2% of the EU population was unable to cope with unexpected financial expenses, slightly down from 30.0% in 2024." It said Greece had the highest share at 50.5%, followed by Latvia (43.7%) and Bulgaria (42.4%). The Netherlands had the lowest, at 15.3%.
Key numbersEU population unable to cope with unexpected financial expenses 29.2% (2025)·30.0% (2024)·Greece 50.5%·Netherlands 15.3% (lowest share)
Duffy says 12 trucking companies pledge to hire more than 13,000 veterans
Official post · not independently verified. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote that veterans "are getting into trucking with Freedom Haulers". He wrote that 12 trucking companies now pledge to hire more than 13,000 veterans and that "Nearly 400 Veterans have already used their GI bill to obtain benefits". On X: 10,790 views and 63 reposts as of Thu 12 Nov, 04:13 ET.
Key numbers12 trucking companies pledging to hire more than 13,000 vets·nearly 400 veterans have used their GI bill·$3.5 million invested in 21 states to expand training programs
UK reviews the water bonus ban, saying some executives' pay rose despite poor performance
The UK government said "A review of the bonus ban rule begins today". It said "some executives have seen their total pay rise over 2025-26 despite continued poor performance." Environment Secretary Angela Eagle said: "Where there are loopholes, I want them closed."
Why it matters The government said Ofwat's four-week call for evidence closes on 10 December and that the findings "will inform the government’s work to strengthen accountability in the water sector".
Key numbersover £10 million stopped going to water bosses since the ban was introduced·nine water companies triggered the ban in the last financial year·more than £6.5 million of potential bonuses blocked
UK Prime Minister Burnham tells COP31 the UK is committed to its 2050 net zero target
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said at his first COP as prime minister: "We’re committed to meeting our 2050 net zero target and committed to working with all of our partners to reach theirs." He said he supports the summit's focus on electrification and that "The shift to clean energy is the only route to energy security."
Why it matters Burnham said: "Yesterday the UK gave the green light on two major offshore wind projects which will bring billions of investment, power millions of homes and support thousands of jobs."
Weather Prediction Center forecasts the coldest air of the season so far for much of the central and eastern US
Official post · not independently verified. The NWS Weather Prediction Center wrote: "An anomalous polar plunge will bring the coldest air of the season so far to much of the central and eastern U.S. beginning Wednesday night". A Thursday forecast discussion said: "Below freezing temperatures are forecast to reach as far south as the Deep South by Saturday morning." On X: 10,523 views and 11 reposts as of Thu 12 Nov, 04:13 ET.
ESA says its Sentinel-3C satellite has reached its operational orbit
Official post · not independently verified. The European Space Agency wrote: "Sentinel-3C has reached its operational orbit!" It said that after launching on 15 September, the spacecraft "is now flying in tandem with, Sentinel-3B, as teams at #ESOC continue preparing Sentinel-3C for routine operations." On X: 28,958 views and 82 reposts as of Thu 12 Nov, 04:13 ET.
Trump at Arlington on Veterans Day: "we will always fulfill our duty to them"
Official post · not independently verified. The White House said President Trump spoke at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day. It quoted him: "America’s veterans have always fulfilled their duty to us, and while I’m President of the United States, we will always fulfill our duty to them." On X: 296,316 views and 1,082 reposts as of Thu 12 Nov, 04:13 ET.