Nov 9, 2026, 07:30 AM UTC

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has officially tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a new government following parliamentary consultations. Although former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party secured the most seats in the recent election, Eisenkot received 67 recommendations after Netanyahu's right-wing coalition lost its majority in late October.

Accepting the mandate, the former military chief and head of the centrist Yashar party pledged to lead Israel out of its crisis and bring the country back to "safe shores." Eisenkot urged rival political factions to accept "unconventional political steps" to establish a working majority.

However, building a ruling coalition remains challenging, as several supporting parties are reluctant to work together. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is exploring remaining options to stay in power.

Sources: Die Presse, Tagesschau, Der Spiegel, ORF, FAZ.

French political leaders across the right and center are accelerating preparations for the 2027 presidential election amid debates over candidate selection and strategy.

Laurent Wauquiez, head of the right-wing Les Républicains parliamentary group, urged declared candidates to meet within two weeks to select a "single candidate" before Christmas. His demand follows a joint appeal by 66 lawmakers advocating for a primary. Concurrently, Horizons leader Édouard Philippe has reinforced a rightward campaign pivot, accepting the risk of alienating center-left voters by choosing to "say unpopular things."

Separately, left-wing leader Raphaël Glucksmann claimed he declined the prime minister role after the 2024 legislative elections to show distance from President Emmanuel Macron, though executive sources stated no formal proposal was made.

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

A direct telephone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has highlighted growing divisions among European nations regarding diplomatic engagement with Moscow.

The joint outreach, conducted from Helsinki, was intended to project European resolve amid the war in Ukraine. However, the direct intervention triggered friction among Nordic allies and underscored wider debates over maintaining lines of communication with the Kremlin.

While proponents maintain that diplomatic channels are essential for delivering firm messages directly to Russia's leadership, critics contend that high-level calls risk fracturing Western unity and offering diplomatic credibility to Moscow.

Sources: Politico Europe.

Security and defense developments across Eastern Europe highlight growing internal and external challenges linked to the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that "Chimprom," an international drug syndicate led by a Russian citizen and tied to corruption within the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), has expanded operations into Poland and aims to reach Germany.

Simultaneously, Polish defense analysts are reviewing military readiness, noting that Poland’s current annual training of 50,000 volunteers may be inadequate. Comparisons with the war in Ukraine indicate that high attrition rates require vast, adaptable reserves, as over half of original combatants have been replaced since 2022. Analysts also emphasize the ongoing challenge of Russian hybrid warfare tactics, which integrate political, informational, and military operations.

Sources: Defence24, Money, Rzeczpospolita

A 24-year-old Polish national suspected of killing six people in Krakow’s Main Square on Saturday has died in hospital, Polish police confirmed. The attack left four women and two men dead, while 16 others were injured, including two police officers. Polish authorities reported that three additional bodies were later discovered at the suspect's residence.

The deceased victims include four Polish citizens, one British national, and one Austrian national. Police noted that the injured individuals represent six different nationalities, including citizens from Austria, Germany, Portugal, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Poland. Polish law enforcement continues to investigate the attack.

Sources: STV News, Sweden Herald.