Following a second tragic train crash in Spain this year, Transport Minister Óscar Puente has stepped down, explaining that his resignation was a matter of political dignity, consistency and political sensitivity. Sixty-nine people were killed in a collision between two high-speed trains in the Spanish town of Urda. Another 46 died in a similar accident in Andalusia in January.
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Tuesday hinted at a change of direction and signalled a willingness to issue an official apology for colonial slavery. King Charles expressed his deep regret over the historical injustice, but avoided making an outright apology. Commentators discuss the implications.
The US midterms, in which a new House of Representatives and a third of the Senate will be elected, are taking place today. According to the polls, the Democrats might win a majority in one or even both chambers of Congress, making it more difficult for President Donald Trump to push through his policies. Commentators discuss the ramifications.
The UN 2026 Biodiversity Conference (COP17) took place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 31 October. The around 200 participating states agreed on an action plan to accelerate the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework adopted four years ago in Montreal. Among other measures, more funding is to be channelled into nature conservation and around 450 billion euros in subsidies for harmful activities are to be phased out.
According to projections, the incumbent Iliana Iotova has won the run-off election for the presidency in Bulgaria. With almost all votes counted, she has secured a clear victory over her pro-Western challenger, Andrey Gyurov. Iotova advocates dialogue with Russia and opposes military aid for Ukraine.
The President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, will vacate her post ahead of schedule on 7 February 2027, the bank has announced. Normally she would have remained in office until October 2027. European commentators speculate on what prompted her early resignation and how things look regarding who succeeds her.
With all the votes counted in Israel's general election, it is now clear that neither of the two major blocs has secured a sufficient majority to form a government: Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies won 53 seats in the Knesset, while the electoral bloc led by his challenger, Gadi Eisenkot secured 48. Arab parties won 19 of the 120 seats.
Flávio Bolsonaro has fled to the US following his defeat in the Brazilian presidential election. The defeated right-wing candidate has denounced electoral fraud and political persecution and described himself as "Brazil's leader" on social media platform X. Critics accuse him of evading justice. Commentators seek explanations.
Sixty-eight people lost their lives on the high-speed railway line from Madrid to Andalusia on Wednesday, when one train crashed into another that was stationary on the open track. This is the second serious train accident on the route this year. The media examine the causes and consequences for the country, where a snap election is due to take place in a month's time.
The grassroots Student List movement, which stood for the first time for election, has won a clear victory in Serbia's snap election, securing 54 percent of the vote and thus an absolute majority in the parliament. Former President Aleksandar Vučić has conceded defeat. Europe's media assess the challenges and the foreign policy implications of the change of government in Belgrade.
Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finland's President Alexander Stubb have had a phone conversation with Vladimir Putin for the first time since the war began. Their initiative has drawn sharp criticism from their Nordic partners. Who should negotiate with Moscow, and what role can Europe play? Nordic media discuss diplomatic solo efforts and how to deal with Russia.
A ceasefire has come into force in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in southern Ukraine, to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered and the remaining civilian population to be evacuated. Residents of the city are starving because they have had little access to food, water or other supplies for a long time due to landmines and drone attacks. Melania Trump played a key role in securing the truce.