Nov 1, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC

Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has conceded defeat in Sunday's snap parliamentary election, ending twelve years of rule as prime minister and president. Addressing supporters in Belgrade, Vučić cited preliminary projections showing the opposition Student List movement secured between 135 and 140 seats in the 250-member parliament. This result puts the movement comfortably above the 126-seat majority threshold.

Vučić stated that his ruling coalition expects to hold approximately 105 seats. The election followed two years of widespread anti-government demonstrations and drew record voter turnout across the country. Following Vučić’s address, crowds gathered in the streets of Belgrade to celebrate the opposition's victory. Official final results have not yet been formally certified by electoral authorities.

Sources: Telex, HVG, 444.

Romania's Ministry of Environment has published draft guidelines for the Casa Verde Baterii program, scheduled to launch in October with a budget of 400 to 500 million lei. Replacing the previous first-come, first-served selection model, approval will now depend on a scoring system evaluating applicant co-financing levels and storage capacity.

While state subsidies have enabled households to reduce energy costs and feed surplus power to the grid, the initiative faces scrutiny. Prosumer representatives condemned draft provisions excluding existing battery owners, calling the decision "e de neînțeles" ("incomprehensible"). Furthermore, applicants cite long administrative delays, heavy bureaucracy, and installer price quotes exceeding market standards by over 100,000 lei.

Sources: Adevărul, Economedia, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.

Growing concerns over employment, media revenue, and tech governance are reshaping the debate surrounding artificial intelligence in Italy. Recent survey data indicates Italian approval of AI fell to 49% from 68% in 2020, while public concern nearly doubled to 45%.

The shift comes as publishers warn that AI-generated search summaries risk creating a "zero-click" web environment, cutting traffic to digital news outlets. Meanwhile, international discussions highlight both the economic impact of automated tools—linked to roughly 425,000 job cuts globally—and the influence of Italian leaders in the sector, such as Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.

As tech executives advocate against aggressive state intervention, European media and regulatory bodies continue to scrutinize the balance between rapid technological innovation and public oversight.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica.

Mass housing affordability demonstrations in Barcelona over the weekend have sparked calls for a general strike and amplified national political debates in Madrid. Turnout estimates for the protest ranged from 20,000 according to municipal police to 120,000 according to organizers. Tenant advocacy group Sindicat de Llogateres urged citizens to "paralizar el país" while coordinating next steps with major trade unions CCOO and UGT.

The gathering escalated late Saturday when approximately 500 violent demonstrators clashed with police, prompting law enforcement to draw comparisons to recent unrest in France and Italy. Meanwhile, opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo suggested Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez might advance general elections to "evitar el calvario judicial" surrounding his administration, amidst growing speculation within the governing party.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Vanguardia

Polish President Karol Nawrocki held emergency consultations in Warsaw following police operations at the Constitutional Tribunal, which led to the temporary suspension of tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski. Nawrocki cut short an overseas trip to return to Poland, meeting with Supreme Court First President Zbigniew Kapiński and parliamentary representatives to address the developing legal dispute.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended the executive actions, maintaining the government's stance on restoring the rule of law. International reaction included comments from the U.S. ambassador to Poland, who cautioned that "confrontation is the last thing Poland needs."

A General Assembly of Constitutional Tribunal judges has been convened for November 3 to address the tribunal's operational leadership and resolve the impasse.

Sources: Defence24, Rzeczpospolita, TVP info.