Nov 1, 2026, 03:30 PM UTC

Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey's opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), has publicly criticized President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan following the transfer of the acting mayoralty in Istanbul's Üsküdar district to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Speaking at a rally in Üsküdar and during a television appearance, Özel challenged Erdoğan's commitment to democratic principles, characterizing the local council vote outcome as a violation of voter intent.

The CHP had won the district leadership in recent municipal elections. Özel described the local council proceedings as unethical and contrary to political fairness. During his television interview, Özel also addressed a recent meeting between Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş and President Erdoğan, explaining that the talks focused strictly on resolving municipal administrative obstacles in the capital.

Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced plans to attract two major foreign investors to Kraljevo within the next year, aiming to create roughly 1,000 new jobs for the city. Speaking during a visit to the region, Vučić emphasized the importance of securing substantial industrial investment to support local employment and spur economic development outside Belgrade.

Concurrently, the Serbian National Assembly wrapped up its daily legislative session in the capital shortly after 6:00 PM local time. Lawmakers completed deliberations on the scheduled agenda items for the day and are scheduled to reconvene tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM to continue parliamentary proceedings.

Sources: Tanjug

French authorities have established an extensive security operation in Orléans ahead of the Rassemblement National party congress this weekend, where party leader Marine Le Pen is scheduled to deliver a major address.

Prefecture officials deployed nearly 3,000 law enforcement personnel to manage between 20,000 and 30,000 expected counter-demonstrators. Local measures in Orléans include a curfew for minors under 15 and a complete ban on unapproved public gatherings on 25 October. Police in Paris also authorized drone surveillance to monitor key gathering points.

The heightened security measures follow nationwide protests on 24 October that resulted in 1,314 arrests across France, with 126 people taken into custody in Paris. Officials reported that 53 security personnel were injured during the demonstrations. Authorities warned that any individuals attempting to provoke violence or clashes during the weekend event would face swift law enforcement intervention.

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

Polish President Karol Nawrocki returned to Warsaw on Friday evening to summon extraordinary consultations with parliamentary parties after the suspension of Constitutional Tribunal President Bogdan Święczkowski triggered a severe political crisis.

The escalation followed the Polish government's request to strip Święczkowski and his deputy of judicial immunity for criminal prosecution, leading a tribunal judge to declare the president suspended. In response, protesters attempted to storm the Constitutional Tribunal building, prompting the deployment of riot police.

While opposition figures described the events as a "coup d'état," Prime Minister Donald Tusk's administration maintained that the measures were necessary to restore the rule of law. President Nawrocki stated that the "constitutional order has been violated" and cited threats to internal security.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, Moldova1, Newsmaker, Ziarul de Gardă.

A joint international media investigation led by Forbidden Stories revealed that the United States government deported at least 25,447 migrants to 28 third countries under non-transparent agreements through late August. The findings show roughly 20,000 individuals were sent to Mexico, while over 5,000 were transferred to nations with which they had no prior connections, including asylum seekers with recognized fears of persecution.

Following the disclosures, more than ten United Nations human rights experts called on Washington to immediately halt third-country deportations, citing severe risks of torture, abuse, and displacement. Concurrently, rights group Human Rights First reported that the U.S. administration is preparing flights to transfer hundreds of Afghan detainees to Pakistan for subsequent return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Those facing potential deportation include relatives of individuals who assisted American forces.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Index, Klix, Vijesti