Hubert Aiwanger, the deputy premier of the German state of Bavaria and leader of the Free Voters party, has died at the age of 55.

What happened

Aiwanger was found dead in his hotel room in central Berlin on the evening of Wednesday, 4 November 2026, police and prosecutors confirmed. On Thursday, prosecutors said an autopsy had found no evidence that anyone else was involved in his death. He had reportedly been due to speak at the opening of his party's new Berlin office on Wednesday afternoon, but pulled out, citing health concerns.

Who he was

Aiwanger became leader of the Free Voters in Bavaria in 2006 and national party chairman in 2010. Under him, the party entered the Bavarian state parliament in 2008, and since 2018 it has governed Bavaria as the junior coalition partner of the Christian Social Union (CSU), with Aiwanger serving as deputy premier and economy minister. Known for his blunt, folksy style, he presented his party as an alternative to the CSU, but it never won seats in the national parliament.

Tributes

Bavarian premier Markus Söder described his sudden death as an absolute tragedy. Aiwanger is survived by his partner, Free Voters politician Tanja Schweiger, and their two children.

What happens next

The Free Voters will need to choose a new leader, and the Bavarian government will appoint a new deputy premier and economy minister.

The United Kingdom says it will not invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit it is hosting in 2027, setting it apart from the United States.

What was said

In an interview reported on Thursday, 5 November 2026, Prime Minister Andy Burnham was reportedly asked whether Putin would be invited to the summit in Manchester in November 2027, and replied that he would not. He said the guest list was handled by the G20, but that Putin would not be coming because of an outstanding sanction.

A contrast with Washington

President Donald Trump has invited Putin to this year's G20 summit in Miami in December. The Kremlin has not confirmed whether the Russian leader will attend.

Background

Britain has avoided direct engagement with Russian ministers since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and has imposed wide sanctions on Russian officials. Tensions over Russia's role in the G20 were on display at a meeting of foreign ministers in October, when a planned group photo was cancelled after European ministers refused to pose with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The G20 includes the world's largest economies, and the African Union became a full member in 2023.

Why it matters

The disagreement highlights divisions among Western allies over how to deal with Russia as the war in Ukraine continues.

American rapper Nicki Minaj has doubled down on her support for President Donald Trump after his party's heavy losses in the US midterm elections.

What she posted

In a series of posts on X on Wednesday night, 4 November 2026, Minaj reportedly shared a numbered list of messages, declaring that Trump is still the president and, in a reference to herself, that 'the Queen' is still people's obsession. She also praised Vice President JD Vance, congratulated Republican winners including Florida's governor-elect Byron Donalds, described Elon Musk as a trillionaire and urged Republicans to wake up. She thanked her fans, known as the Barbz, and shared a video responding to criticism of her support for Trump.

Background

The Democrats are projected to have won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 3 November midterms, in a result widely seen as a rebuke of Trump's second-term agenda. Trump said he was not on the ballot and later admitted the Iran war had contributed to the losses. Minaj, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago, has in recent years become an outspoken supporter of Trump, which has divided her fan base.

How people reacted

Her posts drew mixed reactions, with some fans applauding her and others criticising her political views.

Paraguay's President Santiago Peña has resigned amid a political crisis caused by the collapse of a bank he was previously linked to.

What happened

In a video message posted on X, Peña said he was stepping down to protect the country's stability and democratic institutions, a day after opposition lawmakers requested his impeachment and the lower house of Congress voted to begin proceedings, according to reports on Thursday, 5 November 2026. He apologised to the people if he had failed them at any point, saying it was never his intention to betray their trust.

The bank collapse

The crisis began when Ueno Bank collapsed and froze its operations, reportedly leaving large numbers of customers unable to access their accounts. Lawmakers accused Peña of conflicts of interest, pointing to his past shareholding in the company that owned the bank.

Background

Peña, an economist and former finance minister, took office in August 2023 as a member of the long-dominant Colorado Party. Under Paraguay's constitution, the vice-president takes over when a president leaves office before the end of the term.

What happens next

Attention now turns to who will lead the country for the rest of the term, and to investigations into the bank's collapse and whether depositors will recover their money.