🔁 What's moving Europe today
- Suspicion of pulmonary plague in Russia after the death of a lab technician in Siberian Irkutsk — both the US and WHO are demanding transparency from Moscow, Trump wants to call Putin about it, and the American embassy has warned Americans in the region. The most widespread topic of the day, covered by dozens of newsrooms across the entire continent. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇷🇸 ↗ · 🇬🇷 ↗ · 🇱🇹 ↗
- Putin celebrated his 74th birthday with a massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities (at least 11 dead); Zelensky had warned in advance of a "massive attack". Ukraine responded with drones against a shadow-fleet oil tanker near Sochi. Meanwhile, near Varna the search for the crew of the cargo ship Alfa Vatan, sunk after an attack on two merchant vessels, was called off — Bulgarian authorities, however, found no drone remnants. 🇺🇦 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇧🇬 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗ · 🇱🇹 ↗
- French high-school protests entered their third day: hundreds of thousands in the streets, 24 lycées burned or ransacked, thousands detained and 215 students injured — according to Lecornu, mostly after assaults rather than police action; a stun grenade cost a 15-year-old student in Lens his hand. Macron called an emergency meeting and the interior minister suspended the use of stun grenades, as the movement spreads to Belgium and overseas territories. 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇩🇪 ↗
- Christa Pike survived two doses of a lethal injection in Tennessee and is conscious — "medically unprecedented," doctors say; the state governor has not yet decided on a stay of her sentence. Trump has also approved the first military execution by shooting in more than 60 years. 🇮🇪 ↗ · 🇺🇸 ↗ · 🇬🇧 ↗ · 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇷🇸 ↗
- Three years since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023: Israel commemorates the victims amid pre-election division, Gaza counts tens of thousands of dead, and European capitals are addressing both the security of gatherings and rising antisemitism. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇦🇹 ↗
- Kosovo's parliament elected Justina Širokë Pulja as president just after midnight, averting early elections — the deal between the ruling VV and the opposition PDK came at the last minute. 🇷🇸 ↗ · 🇭🇷 ↗ · 🇧🇦 ↗ · 🇦🇱 ↗ · 🇭🇺 ↗
- Former head of Germany's foreign intelligence service BND, August Hanning, was arrested on suspicion of espionage and treason — investigators say he passed information to Azerbaijan. The SPD and the Greens are demanding a ban on consulting work for former intelligence officers, while US and British intelligence services are checking for possible risks to their own sources. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗
- An armed man with a knife was shot by Swedish police directly in front of the Royal Palace in Stockholm and detained — according to police, the man was behaving aggressively. 🇸🇪 ↗ · 🇩🇰 ↗ · 🇱🇹 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗
ES🇪🇸Spanish media
- The first general strike of the Sánchez era — over housing, on the eve of early elections and with the support of the government itself. El Mundo ↗
- A new decree forces authorities to take on the debt of vulnerable tenants and tightens speculative purchases of flats — owners warn of flats being withdrawn from the market. El País ↗
- French banking group BPCE enters Catalonia's Sabadell, complicating further banking mergers in Spain. El País ↗
- The Constitutional Court has sent the ruling on the amnesty, including for embezzlement, to the Supreme Court — the government says Puigdemont can return whenever he wants. El País ↗ · La Vanguardia ↗
FR🇫🇷French media
- Debate on the 2027 budget began in the National Assembly — on the table are 1,700 amendments, €45 billion in savings and up to €18 billion in new taxes. Le Figaro ↗
- RN refuses to keep funding European programs and promises to break the budget's "great taboo." BFM TV ↗
- Astronaut Sophie Adenot is returning to Earth after more than 230 days on the ISS. BFM TV ↗
IT🇮🇹Italian media
- "Melonellum" — the new electoral law passed two confidence votes; the opposition calls it unconstitutional. La Repubblica ↗
- Garlasco case: prosecutors claim investigators concealed another zero blood test on the bicycle pedals. ANSA ↗
- Sinner ends his season due to a knee injury — the break until 2027 could cost him more than €18 million in prize money and bonuses. La Repubblica ↗
- Budget "manovra": the 5.0 bonus until 2029 and AI vouchers for small and medium-sized businesses. Il Sole 24 Ore ↗
DE🇩🇪German media
- Saxony-Anhalt: AfD politician Tobias Rausch elected speaker of the state parliament, also with CDU votes — Klingbeil called it "breaking a taboo." Die Zeit ↗
- A coalition committee at the chancellery is easing tensions between the CDU and SPD, including over the dispute on nursing care and the reform package. ZDF heute ↗
- Germany and France have agreed to soften the combustion-engine ban from 2035. n-tv ↗
- Porsche is cutting 40% of management positions and, under new CEO Leiters, is returning to combustion engines and luxury. Süddeutsche Zeitung ↗
- The federal government has blocked the sale of a logistics company at the Port of Hamburg to a Chinese firm. Handelsblatt ↗
PT🇵🇹Portuguese media
- "VAT carousel": the European Public Prosecutor's Office carried out 250 searches across Portugal, on suspicion of fraud worth €130 million. Expresso ↗ · RTP ↗
- The PS will abstain on the 2027 budget vote to avoid a "political abyss." Observador ↗
- PM Montenegro refuses to scrap the agreement with Chega on the rental law — the opposition wants to know about other deals between the government and the far right. RTP ↗
- Almost 3,000 already-approved pensions are being corrected, with 1,300 teachers waiting for placement. Diário de Notícias ↗
BE🇧🇪Belgian media
- PM De Wever is stuck on the budget — the plan to trade higher net wages for a VAT reform is running into opposition from MR and regionalization issues. De Morgen ↗
- The jury trial of Nicolas Ullens (murder of his stepmother) has been postponed to November 4 after a bias objection. De Standaard ↗
- The Nobel Prize in Physics goes to Belgian scientist Francis Halzen — while the Flemish government cuts €35 million in research funding. De Standaard ↗ · De Standaard ↗
- Antwerp police may administratively arrest known troublemakers for 12 hours without cause — critics call it unlawful. VRT NWS ↗
- The government's energy support was a "damp squib" — almost none of those eligible received anything. De Standaard ↗
NL🇳🇱Dutch media
- NSC loses its last representative in the European Parliament — MEP Dirk Gotink is leaving over the party's possible rapprochement with Mona Keijzer. NU.nl ↗
- The cabinet is starting talks with social partners on a new social agreement, and unions have suspended planned actions. AD ↗
- The state is reducing its stake in ABN Amro to 10.5% — another step in the gradual sell-off of the crisis-era bank bailout. AD ↗
- The government's draft asylum law introduces criminal liability for "frustrating return" — up to six months in prison for obstructing deportation. NU.nl ↗
- The number of cancer diagnoses in the Netherlands is set to rise by a quarter by 2045. NOS ↗
PL🇵🇱Polish media
- Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine, Polish army scrambled fighter jets — Swedes sent their aircraft over Poland as reinforcement. Onet ↗
- 2027 budget has no money for the Constitutional Tribunal — the president's spokesman called it "an attack on sovereignty and the constitution." Rzeczpospolita ↗
- Paramount-Skydance merger changes owner of TVN television — Skydance's chief assures editorial independence. Wirtualna Polska ↗
- New poll: KO leads, but the current governing coalition loses its majority. Rzeczpospolita ↗
HU🇭🇺Hungarian media
- Cancellation of the highway concession worth 23 trillion forints: according to Magyar, Mészáros is ready to leave — the core of unraveling Orbán's system. Telex ↗
- "Mészáros files II": Direkt36 investigation reveals even more luxury around Orbán's friend than suspected. Telex ↗
- September inflation unexpectedly low — food got cheaper, while fuel prices rose sharply. Portfolio ↗
AT🇦🇹Austrian media
- Austria seeks new fighter jet — American F-15EX is on offer, while the army also demands more funding for anti-drone defense. Der Standard ↗
- Reform of military and civilian service sent for consultation, most still missing — both FPÖ and the Greens are open to it. Der Standard ↗
- Investigative committee questioned the WKStA prosecutor who analyzed Pilnáček's laptop. Der Standard ↗
- FPÖ must again pay compensation to Meinl-Reisinger over the "suitcase of money" remark about Ukraine. Kurier ↗
- Magnitude 3.7 earthquake repeatedly hit the Hall area in Tyrol. Kurier ↗
UA🇺🇦Ukrainian media
- Zelensky: energy infrastructure is one of the main targets of the Russian attack — power outages reported in five regions. Interfax Ukraine ↗
- EU ambassadors approved sanctions against more than 1,500 persons and entities from Russia. Interfax Ukraine ↗
- Operation "Griffin": robots crossed with drones are smashing the Russian rear — interview with the commander of the NC13 unit. Ukrayinska Pravda ↗
GB🇬🇧British media
- Badenoch at Tory conference promises to cut National Insurance Contributions (NIC) and inheritance tax — speaks of "a battle for the soul of Britain." Daily Mail ↗ · The Guardian ↗
- Record fuel prices (~£10 per gallon) increase pressure on Labour ahead of a planned excise duty hike. Daily Mail ↗
- Shell doubles per-barrel profit from refineries — the oil giant is considering cutting investment in the North Sea. The Guardian ↗
- Flydubai plane hijacking: co-pilot reportedly trained to fly at one of Britain's largest flight schools. The Sun ↗
- British couple convicted of espionage in Iran met with British officials — son waits for the phone to ring. Sky News ↗
IE🇮🇪Irish media
- €8.5 billion Budget 2027: cap on childcare fees, higher state pension, more expensive cigarettes. The Irish Times ↗
- Fiscal watchdog criticizes the budget — public finances heading onto a "worse trajectory," relying on risky corporate tax revenues. The Irish Times ↗
- Drone spotted near Portlaoise prison, two detained for delivering drugs. Irish Independent ↗
- Creeslough: four years since the gas station explosion that claimed ten lives. RTÉ ↗
CH🇨🇭Swiss media
- Federal Councillor Parmelin backs down on foreign wine imports — farmers say he "deceived" them. Tages-Anzeiger ↗
- President of the organizing committee of the Crans-Montana Ski World Championships had to temporarily step down. Neue Zürcher Zeitung ↗
- After last year's unrest in Bern, police custody extended from 24 to 48 hours — critics demand an explanation. SRF ↗
LU🇱🇺Luxembourg media
- Cattenom: nuclear plant's protective valves near the border were incorrectly calibrated due to a calculation error. Luxemburger Wort ↗
- Unions warn of a split in BIL bank amid speculation about its takeover. Luxembourg Times ↗
US🇺🇸American media
- US trade deficit exceeds $100 billion for the first time since March 2025. The Hill ↗
- Trump shifts course on controversial tax-funded ads — ahead of midterm elections, this underscores political risk. The Hill ↗
MT🇲🇹Maltese media
- Only 16% of Maltese expected the jury to acquit Yorgen Fenech in the murder case of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Lovin Malta ↗
- Justin Trudeau and global tourism leaders arrive in Malta for a major summit. Lovin Malta ↗
RS🇷🇸Serbian media
- Campaign ahead of October 25 parliamentary elections intensifies — Vučić in Valjevo met both protesters and his own rally. N1 Serbia ↗
- Darijana Filipović (HDZ) announced first steps after taking office in the BiH Presidency — office in Mostar, ambassador swap. Danas ↗
- Funeral of war criminal Biljana Plavšić in Banja Luka with a commemoration at Banski dvor. Kurir ↗
HR🇭🇷Croatian media
- MED9 summit in Split: Macron, Meloni and the Jordanian prince with Plenković — "the Mediterranean is a key strategic area for the EU." Index.hr ↗
- Dispute over waste in Gospić and Sisak — the ministry rejects "false information," chief inspector promises to report those responsible. 24sata ↗
- "Za dom spremni" banner at a match in Split triggers UEFA fines and a dispute over interpreting the Ustasha salute. Index.hr ↗
- Hungary opens communist-era files — a public online database will reveal the names of tens of thousands of regime informants. N1 Croatia ↗
BA🇧🇦Bosnia and Herzegovina media
SI🇸🇮Slovenian media
- Four referendums on Sunday — including voting rights for third-country nationals, Catholic Church urges participation. RTV Slovenija ↗
- Info360 poll predicts victory for the governing coalition, but "polls shouldn't be trusted." Siol ↗
MK🇲🇰Macedonian media
- SDSM (Filipče) proposes "vetting" for all officials, progressive taxes, and taxation of excess profits. Libertas ↗
- Senior public prosecutor in Bitola suspected of influencing colleagues and reducing sentences for bribes. Libertas ↗
ME🇲🇪Montenegrin media
AL🇦🇱Albanian media
- 130th day of protests against PM Rama — demonstrators demand his resignation. Balkanweb ↗
- Explosion in Elbasan: suspected warning message, investigators pursuing several leads. Balkanweb ↗
BG🇧🇬Bulgarian media
- Governing majority "Progressive Bulgaria" blocked a hearing of PM Radev on drone attacks near Varna. 24 Chasa ↗
- Government to buy five more IRIS-T air defense systems. Dnevnik ↗
- Plovdiv: arrested professor allegedly paid doctors 6,000–7,000 euros in health insurance fund money-extraction scheme. 24 Chasa ↗
RO🇷🇴Romanian media
- PM-designate Luca Niculescu began negotiations with the parties — PSD (Grindeanu) refuses to give the government a vote in advance and is setting conditions. Pro TV ↗ · HotNews ↗
- Simion (AUR) tells Politico: "nobody wants a second Greece" — claims a stable government cannot be formed without early elections. Digi24 ↗
- Călin Georgescu demands the seizure of his villa in Mogoșoaia be lifted, Bucharest tribunal to decide. Digi24 ↗
- Constitutional Court addresses government's dispute with the Supreme Court over unpaid judges' salaries and the SAFE program dispute. G4Media ↗
GR🇬🇷Greek media
- Rubio in Athens: meeting with Gerapetritis on F-35s and energy, new security cooperation memorandum signed. Naftemporiki ↗ · Protothema ↗
- e-EFKA fraud: Kabouris couple before investigators over suspicious account withdrawals. Protothema ↗
- Minister Pleuris: Samaras "is part of ND's history," but his statements are unfair — rift within the right wing intensifies. Protothema ↗
- Tax revenues up by 5.5 billion euros over two years — thanks to high prices and stricter revenue estimates. Naftemporiki ↗
MD🇲🇩Moldovan media
- Government approves public interest status for construction of the Strășeni–Gutinaș power line. Ziarul de Gardă ↗
- Moldova Security Forum: representatives of Ukraine, NATO and Moldovan leadership discuss security. Newsmaker ↗
TR🇹🇷Turkish media
- İzmir mayor Cemil Tugay switches from CHP to the ruling AKP — Erdoğan received him personally, Özel reacts. Hürriyet ↗
- "Fon" investigation: money allegedly flowed through Switzerland to Dubai, prosecutors tracking the transfer route. Cumhuriyet ↗
- Operation against Esenyurt municipality: 17 people detained. Hürriyet ↗
- Tragedy near Girne in northern Cyprus: death toll from sunken boat rises to 25. Habertürk ↗
LT🇱🇹Lithuanian media
- Laura Matjošaitytė case expands into two investigations — ethics commission VTEK examining her ties to the head of the tax authority, bar association looking into undeclared services for "Nemuno aušra". LRT ↗ · LRT ↗
- Seimas criticizes president's proposal to regulate fuel prices. LRT ↗
- Olekas: Trump's words about a permanent US base in Lithuania should be taken seriously. LRT ↗
FI🇫🇮Finnish media
- Ministry of Finance proposes raising retirement age to 70 to save public finances and abolishing home care support. Yle ↗
- Book: "Finland is not ready for the kind of war Russia is waging" — Defense Forces respond to criticism. Ilta-Sanomat ↗
- Ten people fled from Russia into Finland across the border this year, some with military backgrounds. Ilta-Sanomat ↗
SE🇸🇪Swedish media
- Inflation in Sweden doubled — from 0.7% in August to 1.5% in September, still below the Riksbank's two-percent target. NRK ↗ · Svenska Dagbladet ↗
- Säpo investigation: intelligence agency overlooked a suspected terrorism financier. Aftonbladet ↗
- After murder of a woman in Okinawa, US soldiers banned from alcohol for 48 hours. Aftonbladet ↗
NO🇳🇴Norwegian media
- 2027 state budget: 608.4 billion NOK from the oil fund, GDP growth 1.7%, inflation 2.7%. VG ↗ · Aftenposten ↗ · Aftenposten ↗
- Defense spending rises to 191.7 billion NOK. VG ↗
EE🇪🇪Estonian media
IS🇮🇸Icelandic media
DK🇩🇰Danish media
- Government reaches compromise on citizenship after months of disputes — Frederiksen speaks of "proportionality". Berlingske ↗
- Government releases 200 million DKK to strengthen 100 selected schools. Berlingske ↗
- Danish cinemas suspend controversial Gaza documentary on third anniversary of Hamas attack. Berlingske ↗
LV🇱🇻Latvian media
🔁 Cross-country topics
- French high school protests spreading beyond France (to Belgium and overseas territories) — 🇫🇷 FR · 🇧🇪 BE · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇩🇪 DE · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇬🇧 UK · 🇸🇪 SE · 🇷🇸 RS · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇩🇰 DK (12 countries)
- Houthis attack airports in Saudi Arabia and Yemen — 🇵🇹 PT · 🇧🇪 BE · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇺🇦 UA · 🇬🇧 UK · 🇷🇸 RS · 🇭🇷 HR
- AfD wins speaker of a state parliament for the first time (Saxony-Anhalt) — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇨🇭 CH · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇷🇸 RS
- Messi's farewell to the Argentine national team — 🇪🇸 ES · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇩🇪 DE · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇬🇧 UK · 🇱🇹 LT · 🇫🇮 FI · 🇸🇪 SE · 🇷🇸 RS · 🇭🇷 HR
🔭 What was barely covered at home
- EU is preparing a 15-year probationary period for new members and the possibility of stripping their voting rights — "we don't want more Orbáns," is the message from Brussels after the experience with Hungary. For Ukraine, awaiting accession, this amounts to a fundamental change in the terms of the accession process. 444 ↗
- According to the New York Times, advisers from Trump's inner circle took hundreds of thousands of dollars from Bosnia's SNSD for election help – the White House claims it lifted sanctions on Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik "to avert a catastrophe in the Balkans." Slovak and Czech media are covering the Bosnian election, but not this backstory. NYT / N1 ↗
