Nov 1, 2026, 11:00 AM UTC

Former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal has secured the required endorsements to compete in the French left-wing primary ahead of the 2027 election. Royal stated she maintained "beaucoup d'amitiés au sein du PS" to gather support, bringing the field to seven declared candidates. Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure also confirmed his candidacy in the primary jointly organized with Place Publique, scheduled for two rounds in October.

Despite calls for campaign unity, internal friction has emerged. Royal drew attention by criticizing competitor Raphaël Glucksmann, referring to him as the "chouchou des médias." Meanwhile, Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel announced an independent presidential campaign, opting to bypass the primary process entirely.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will skip the upcoming Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit in Turkey, marking his first absence from an official gathering of the bloc in 17 years.

Azerbaijani state media highlighted Aliyev's strategy to transform the OTS beyond cultural ties into a vital platform for security, energy, and transport integration. However, independent reporting indicates that the president's decision not to attend reflects emerging political friction between Baku and Ankara following recent diplomatic disagreements. Azerbaijani officials have not publicly detailed the specific reasons for his absence, though state-aligned outlets maintain that Baku remains central to the alliance's prestige.

Sources: OC Media, Trend News Agency

French political figures and authorities are assessing the political and social fallout following nationwide unrest on October 17, which resulted in over 2,500 arrests and around 3,000 looted shops. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged a temporary "loss of control" during the height of the demonstrations.

The movements originally began as student demonstrations over educational conditions but rapidly broadened into wider anti-government rallies targeting President Emmanuel Macron. As politicians engage in mutual accusations during an active election season, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu attributed the violence primarily to fringe activists. However, analysts emphasize a more complex background involving widespread youth frustration and broader social discontent.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.

Russian online streaming platform Amediateka has censored nearly half of its foreign television series, according to a Mediazona investigation. The outlet reported that over 7,300 fragments totaling more than 75 hours of footage were cut from approximately 200 titles. The excised scenes—covering themes such as non-traditional relationships, drug use, suicide, and incest—have significantly altered key plotlines in major series including Game of Thrones.

In parallel developments, a Russian court banned the romance novel Heated Rivalry over its portrayal of a romance between two male hockey players. Meanwhile, secondary schools in Novosibirsk received new patriotic education textbooks. The materials portray military service in Ukraine as an honorable duty while strongly criticizing Western cultural influences and non-traditional relationships.

Sources: Mediazona, NEXTA, The Insider, Verstka.

A transmission error correction following a recount in Berlin's Spandau district has reassigned a direct mandate from Christian Democratic Union (CDU) candidate Bettina Meßner to Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate Tommy Tabor. The adjustment also reduces the Berlin Abgeordnetenhaus by five seats due to overhang recalculations.

Alongside administrative updates, recent data reveals shifting voter patterns across the capital. Forsa polling shows Die Linke leading at 22 percent, significantly driven by strong support among younger voters. Meanwhile, election participation among residents with a migration background remains comparatively low in areas like Neukölln. However, reporting indicates some young voters of Turkish origin are increasingly drawn to the AfD due to concerns over public safety and economic stability.

Sources: Correctiv, DW, FAZ, Die Zeit, Tagesschau