Honorary Chamber President Says Conviction Could Bar Far-Right Leader From Running.
On Tuesday, Didier Guerin, the president of the honorary chamber of the French Supreme Court, expressed doubts about the possibility that far-right leader Marine Le Pen could run in the 2027 presidential elections following her conviction for misappropriation of European Parliament funds.
In an interview published by Le Monde, Guerin, who presided over the Supreme Court’s criminal chamber between 2014 and 2017, said she will not be able to run in the April-May elections if the appeal in cassation of the sentence handed down on appeal against Le Pen succeeds.
According to his thesis, if the Supreme Court annuls the appeal verdict, the ruling issued at first instance on March 31, 2025, will apply, which sentenced the far-right leader to two years of house arrest and five years of ineligibility with preventive application.
Le Pen was convicted of misappropriation of European Parliament funds, after having paid party workers and even domestic employees with European funds intended for parliamentary assistants.
Guerin considers that an appeal to the Supreme Court annuls the appeal judgment and imposes the first-instance sentence, so that de facto Le Pen is ineligible.
Le Pen launched her candidacy after the appeals court reduced the sentence to one year of house arrest and only 15 months of ineligibility, which she has already served.
Guerin affirms that the jurisprudence of the court to which he belongs supports his theory, contrary to what other jurists think, including the chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Remy Heitz.
The Supreme Court magistrate notes that the only possibility Le Pen has to run in the 2027 elections is, paradoxically, for the court to reject the appeals of the sentence and confirm her conviction.
If the Supreme Court’s decision is delayed beyond March 26, 2027, the deadline for validating candidacies for the first round on April 28, the far-right candidate will not be able to seek her fourth run for the Elysee, according to Guerin.
Marine #LePen is betting on public anger over rising prices, unrest, and immigration to propel her presidential bid, promising tougher borders and a sweeping return to law and order in France.https://t.co/inACuFz4DA
For her part, Le Pen has filed a complaint with the French Superior Council of the Judiciary against Judge Guerin over his statements about her ineligibility, considering that they violate magistrates’ duty of discretion and contain evaluations of a political nature, according to a statement from her six lawyers.
The lawyers of the far-right leader maintain that his interpretation contradicts current law on the provisional execution of sentences and the effects of judicial appeals.
They also note that the attorney general of the Supreme Court has defended a position contrary to that expressed by Guerin.
The statement also questions that an honorary magistrate publicly comments on a judicial decision of his own and considers future political scenarios, including the possibility that her candidacy be prevented or that she be removed if elected.
For this reason, Le Pen has asked the Superior Council of the Judiciary to remind Guerin of his ethical obligations, considering that his statements exceed the legal sphere and could compromise the image of the judicial institution.
The opposition bloc led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot edged ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition in Israel’s general election, but neither camp came close to the 61 seats needed to govern, exit polls showed Tuesday night.
With a historic turnout of close to 75%, Israelis turned out in the first election held after the start of the genocide in Gaza in October 2023.
The first projections from Israel’s election signal a shift in the balance of power. The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot prevailed by a narrow margin over PM Netanyahu’s coalition in Israel’s first election since the October 2023 attacks, according to polls circulated after the ballot box was closed.
Data from the Central Election Commission and projections from local TV channels 11, 12, and 13 agree that none of the dominant blocs has the 61 seats required to form a government in the 120-seat parliament.
The three main exit polls, published after voting closed at 10 P.M. local time, placed Eisenkot’s bloc at 52 to 53 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, against 50 for Netanyahu’s right-wing alliance.
The result opens a period of uncertain negotiations over who will form the next government, with neither side having reached the required majority in parliament (Knesset).
BREAKING: Early exit poll results are showing Netanyahu’s coalition and the opposition coalition both falling short of the seats needed for a majority.
Parties opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won more seats than his coalition in Tuesday’s parliamentary election, though Likud Party remained the most-voted party, and neither bloc reached the 61 seats needed to govern in the 120-seat Knesset.
Neither candidate can yet claim a clear path to 61. Netanyahu can argue that he heads the largest single party, while Eisenkot can point to the larger bloc.
That calculation gives the Arab-led lists unusual weight in the coming negotiations. For years the established Jewish parties have treated these alliances as off-limits partners. The projections may now force a reconsideration, because neither side appears able to reach a majority without them.
BREAKING: Israeli elections have ended and the exit polls are in. All three Israeli channels have Netanyahu's bloc at 50. Eisenkot's bloc is at 52 or 53. The Arab parties are at 17 or 18, the most seats they have ever won.
The two Israeli Arab parties that emerged as potential arbiters of the contest won between 17 and 18 seats according to the polls in the ballot box, a figure higher than expected. Both said that they would support Eisenkot to some extent, having mobilized their voters to help displace Netanyahu, whom they consider an “existential threat” in the event of a new term.
Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot have so far ruled out any formal alliance with Arab parties. However, these could allow Eisenkot to form a minority government by backing him from outside the coalition, or even abstaining in the Knesset vote to install the next government.
Coalition Talks Ahead
As the count continues, the next move belongs to the Israeli President, who must decide whom to invite first to try to assemble a coalition.
Any path to a majority now appears to run through the Arab parties. That reality will test whether the traditional Jewish bloc is willing to negotiate across a line it has long treated as closed.
The final tally will determine whether Eisenkot can turn his central role into a governing coalition, or whether Netanyahu finds another route to remain in power.
If, after all the negotiations, no one manages to form a majority, a new election would be called on March and the process would repeat. During that period, Netanyahu’s government would remain in a caretaker role. Public services would not be affected, but the government would lack the authority to push through major policy changes.
Israel’s most recent national election, held in November 2022, was the fifth in three and a half years, and even a new round might not resolve the country’s political deadlock. That election, returned Likud party to power with a 64-seat coalition.
The most likely scenario now is a prolonged negotiation or even new elections in the coming months. Until a government forms, Netanyahu’s administration would remain in office as a caretaker, unable to advance major policy changes.
The narrow margin leaves the next coalition in doubt. With neither side reaching 61 seats, both leaders will likely push to assemble a governing majority, a process that has repeatedly convulsed Israeli politics in recent years.
The Central Election Committee began counting ballots after polling stations closed and will release partial results overnight. Official tallies often diverge from exit poll projections, leaving the final composition of the Knesset uncertain for days.
Previously, U.S. Ambassador Waltz urged member states to reject Havana’s annual resolution against the blockade.
On Oct. 27 and 28, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) holds, for the 34th time, a debate and vote on a resolution presented by Cuba titled “Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States of America Against Cuba.”
On Tuesday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused the U.S. government of lying “in a crude and permanent manner” to the countries represented at the UNGA.
“With its crude lies at the UNGA, the U.S. government has launched a new desperate attempt to justify its economic aggression against Cuba and its criminal energy blockade,” he said, lashing out at U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and criticizing his “arrogance and haughtiness.”
“He forgets that he is at the United Nations. He is not at the U.S. National Security Council, in a Green Beret unit, or in a Signal group, where he has repeatedly demonstrated his incompetence and inability,” Rodriguez stated.
The Cuban diplomat said Waltz’s remarks before the General Assembly “are part of a media circus, threats and an election campaign” to which Washington “devotes substantial financial and human resources.”
“There is no justification for maintaining the act of collective punishment to which the Cuban people are subjected,” Rodriguez stressed.
Waltz Seeks to Put a Positive Spin on the U.S. Blockade
During his address, Waltz called on countries to vote against the text presented by Cuba, arguing that doing otherwise would contribute “to the mistreatment of the Cuban people.”
He also accused Cuban authorities of using the annual UN resolutions against the blockade as though they were international endorsements of the revolutionary government.
On Wednesday, more than 30 countries are expected to deliver speeches before the vote on the 34th resolution concerning the blockade against Cuba.
Since 1992, Cuba has presented this nonbinding resolution annually. In 2025, it received 165 votes in favor, seven against and 12 abstentions.
Peru’s human rights prosecutors closed the criminal case over the forced sterilizations of thousands of women during Alberto Fujimori’s government, extinguishing charges against 52 former officials despite acknowledging that the mass surgeries amounted to crimes against humanity.
The Fourth Supra-National Criminal Prosecutor’s Office specialized in Human Rights issued Fiscal Provision No. 25 on October 22. The ruling, which runs more than six thousand pages, formally declared the case time-barred and ordered the file closed.
In its decision, the Public Ministry recognized evidence of crimes against humanity and harm suffered by more than 4,000 victims of forced sterilization. Even so, criminal liability was declared extinguished for 52 people, a decision that protects the former officials who designed and implemented the program.
The case was closed under Law 32107, approved in 2024 with the backing of lawmakers allied to former President Alberto Fujimori. The statute imposes strict time limits on the prosecution of crimes against humanity, setting aside the protection those abuses have long held under international treaties.
Under international law, crimes against humanity are not subject to statutes of limitation. Law 32107 introduced a domestic exception to that principle, and its application extinguished the proceedings for all 52 defendants at once.
🚨 La Fiscalía archivó la investigación contra 52 personas por las #EsterilizacionesForzadas durante el gobierno de Alberto Fujimori, entre ellas Alejandro Aguinaga, exministro de Salud y actual senador. Lo más grave: reconoce indicios de crímenes de lesa humanidad, pero declara… pic.twitter.com/dSaeConv1P
Text reads: “The Public Prosecutor’s Office closed the investigation against 52 people for the forced esterilizations during the government of Alberto Fujimori, including Alejandro Aguinaga, former Minister of Health and current senator. Most serious: it recognizes indications of crimes against humanity, but prescribes the crimes by applying a law driven by fujimorismo. Thousands of women are still waiting for justice.”
The law’s application halted the criminal proceedings overnight and favored senior officials who held ministerial posts during the 1990s. Among them is Alejandro Aguinaga Recuenco, who served as Health Minister under Alberto Fujimori’s administration and now holds a Senate seat for the Fuerza Popular party.
The resolution shielding Aguinaga does not conceal the gravity of what occurred. Prosecutors acknowledged that the mass surgical interventions were performed without the free, prior and informed consent of the women affected.
Former Ministers Eduardo Yong Motta and Marino Costa Bauer were also released from the process. According to the document, the operations constituted a widespread and organized practice directed by the State against poor women in rural areas.
The investigation officially covered 4,172 people harmed by serious injuries. Five women lost their lives. Celia Edith Ramos Durand, María Mamérita Mestanza Chávez, Alejandra Aguirre Auccapiña, Reynalda Betalleluz Aguilar and María Genoveva Espínola Otiniano are named in the case file.
Victims Denied Justice
Between 1996 and 2000, more than 272,000 women and 22,000 men were subjected to family planning programs. Pressure, deception and quotas reported by the State to the presidency marked those campaigns, and forced sterilization became official reproductive health policy.
The case ranks among the most emblematic human rights violations of Peru’s 1990s. Its closure shuts down a judicial avenue that had remained open since the first complaints against the state-run birth control program emerged.
In December 2025, the Transitory Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court declined to apply Law 32107 in parallel proceedings to guarantee that investigations could continue. That ruling prompted disciplinary inquiries by the National Board of Justice against the magistrates involved.
The legal wrangling is not over. Parallel investigations have stayed alive under the high court’s stance, but the main case over the program’s architects and executors has now been closed for good.
Nearly three decades after the first allegations, the criminal path has been extinguished. The closure leaves no one criminally accountable for the officials who designed and executed the forced sterilizations. The file now ends under a norm that Peru’s own judiciary had questioned, while the fight over its reach continues.
Von der Leyen, Carney, and Costa will discuss a new framework for Canada’s relationship with the European Union.
On Thursday and Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Council President Antonio Costa will meet in Montreal for the 21st European Union-Canada summit.
They and other senior officials will discuss possible features of a status that would allow Canada to become an “associated member” of the European Union.
For the EU, the meeting will be an “important milestone” in relations between the two sides and will pave the way for an “even broader and deeper” political partnership and greater cooperation.
Specifically, European and Canadian leaders are expected to launch a “Partnership for the Future,” a framework for shared prosperity and economic security backed by new initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties, deepening economic relations and reinforcing their joint position on the world stage.
The summit’s agenda will cover a wide range of issues, from trade, digital affairs and critical raw materials to defense and security, as well as cooperation in education, research, innovation, and youth affairs.
Yves-François Blanchet sur Paul St-Pierre Plamondon et le sommet Canada-UE : « tu peux venir t'asseoir, mais t'as pas le droit de parler. »
Blanchet on Quebec's premier at the Canada-EU summit: "You can come sit down, but you have no right to speak." pic.twitter.com/O3rSPGTc5y
EU sources said it was “clear” that one of the summit’s main topics would be a discussion of the proposal von der Leyen put forward last month — and which Carney welcomed — for Canada to become the EU’s first associated member state.
Currently, this status does not exist as a defined category in the European treaties. Therefore, its specific implications remain to be negotiated.
“This is somewhat uncharted territory, but I think what we want, together with our member states, side by side, and together with Canada over the next 12 months, is to have the ambition, confidence, creativity and vision to shape it together… It is the highest form of collaboration imaginable. For now, frankly, I see it as something very specific to Canada,” a senior EU official said.
“There is no doubt among the member states about their ambition for this relationship. All member states are clear that they want the closest possible partnership with Canada. So that is not in question,” another EU source said.
Nevertheless, some member states have reservations because this is uncharted territory. That is precisely the work that will need to be done in Montreal ahead of the next summit in 2027.
The senior official outlined three pillars for this membership: defining more joint policies on climate, energy, artificial intelligence, innovation, or security; having Canada participate more in EU programs, such as the Horizon Europe research program, or fully integrating it into Erasmus+; and, finally, bringing the institutions on both sides closer together to strengthen governance.
“The goal is to build a partnership that comes closer to membership than anything we have done before. It is clearly a partnership without membership (…), aimed at generating greater prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic,” the official said.
The EU was split today over whether to offer “associate membership” status to Canada, with several countries refusing to sign off on a statement containing that phrase just 48 hours before a summit between the two sides in Montreal.https://t.co/7hIHdoOeIw
Relations between Canada and the EU are already close in trade, security, defense, research and technological cooperation. Their main frameworks include the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which has been provisionally applied since 2017, as well as recent progress in defense, digital trade and specific European programs.
They have long been strategic partners and share common values, including democracy, a commitment to a rules-based international order, and free and fair trade.
One of the key areas where the EU sees “enormous potential” is critical raw materials. Imports into the EU have already increased significantly and could rise further through the bloc’s “raw materials mechanism,” which focuses on facilitating connections between Canadian suppliers of these materials and European buyers.
Another idea under consideration is the possible joint stockpiling of critical raw materials, as well as the option of giving the EU priority access to Canadian reserves, EU sources said.
Paris 2024 Olympic champion Erislandy Álvarez (65 kg) will headline Cuba’s squad for the Guizhou International Boxing Tournament, to be held in China from November 3 to 12.
The Cuban delegation will consist of seven men and six women, according to national commissioner Robinson Poll, as reported by the digital publication Jit.
Álvarez returns to competition following his recovery from a surgical procedure that kept him out of the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo and the recent Continental Championship in Puebla. The 2023 Tashkent World Championship silver medalist leads a team aiming to continue Cuba’s strong performance in this international event.
In the men’s division, alongside Álvarez, the roster includes Ángel Sober (50 kg), Deibys Abreu (55 kg), Rolando Martínez (60 kg), Keilor García (80 kg), Fredisney Morales (90 kg), and Joel Duvergel (+90 kg).
The women’s squad features Dayira Mesa (70 kg)—a champion at the 2026 Santo Domingo Games—as well as bronze medalists from that same regional event: Dinaibys de las Nieves (51 kg), Carysney García (54 kg), Magda Massó (57 kg), and Keilor García (80 kg). Rounding out the team are Melani Girado (60 kg) and Naybel Morado (75 kg).
The text reads, “Erislandy Álvarez to reappear at Guizhou tournament He leads the squad of seven men and six women entered by #Cuba.”
The squad will train under the guidance of coaches Julián González Cedeño, Fermín Espinoza, and Yuri Echevarría. In the previous edition of the tournament, Cuba secured three gold titles—won by Saidel Horta (57 kg), Jorge Cuéllar (71 kg), and Nelson Williams (92 kg)—along with two bronze medals, earned by Arianne Imbert (66 kg) and Yoana Rodríguez (75 kg).
The 2026 Guizhou International Boxing Tournament marks the competitive return of Erislandy Álvarez and offers a new opportunity for Cuban boxing to achieve international success in China.
#Cuba | Cuba is moving forward with reforms to give state-owned enterprises greater autonomy, attract investment, and boost production amid energy shortages and US sanctions. The measures aim to modernize the economy while preserving public control of strategic sectors.… pic.twitter.com/DUCF3XxafR
The vote for the 26th Knesset serves as a crucial referendum on the state’s institutions, economy, and military strategy.
The legislative elections for the 26th Knesset, the legislative power, take place at a critical political crossroads for Israel. Scheduled as the first parliamentary contest since the outbreak of hostilities against Gaza following the events of October 7, 2023, these elections serve as a national referendum on the governance model of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The outgoing 25th Knesset became the first Israeli legislature since 1988 to complete its full four-year term without early dissolution, surviving despite severe domestic turmoil, mass protests over judicial reforms, and persistent coalition instability.
However, the upcoming vote occurs under international scrutiny and severe domestic polarization. Official data from the Israeli Central Elections Committee shows the number of ballots needed across the country to fill all 120 seats in parliament.
Political analysts note that the campaign reflects deep fractures within Israeli society regarding military strategy, economic priorities, and the future shape of the state’s institutional structure.
Social and Geopolitical Context of the 2026 Elections
The socio-political environment surrounding the current electoral moment is marked by the prolonged attacks on Gaza and wider regional escalations involving Lebanon and Iran.
These conflicts have heavily strained the Israeli economy, accelerated militarization across public life, and deepened existing social divides.
Economic pressures, driven by soaring military expenditures and disruptions across key industrial sectors due to a labor crisis resulting from the movement of Palestinians, the trade blockade, and the brain drain, have intensified Israeli public debate concerning state budgets and resource allocation.
Simultaneously, domestic divisions have intensified around long-standing structural issues, most notably the military conscription exemptions granted to the ultra-Orthodox Haredi population, generating coalition crises and widespread friction between secular citizens and religious factions.
On the diplomatic front, the state faces unprecedented international isolation, underscored by ongoing proceedings at the International Court of Justice and arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, former Israeli Defense Minister, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Despite mounting global pressure and civil society accountability campaigns, the political establishment continues to rely heavily on strategic diplomatic and military backing from Western allies, maintaining an insular focus on security doctrines as voters head to the polls.
Netanyahu escalates racist incitement with false claims of ballot raids by Muslim Brotherhood —— Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intensified his election-day rhetoric, publishing inflammatory claims on social media that supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood were… pic.twitter.com/Oq6hWpSDku
The Electoral System: Proportional Representation and Coalition Dynamics
Israel uses a closed-list nationwide proportional representation system to elect the 120 members of the Knesset. The entire country forms a single electoral district.
Voters select a political party slate rather than individual constituency representatives. To gain representation in parliament, a party list must clear an electoral threshold of 3.25 percent of the total valid votes.
Because no political party in Israeli history has ever won an absolute majority of 61 seats on its own, every administration requires a multi-party governing coalition.
Following the Central Elections Committee, official vote tallies determine seat allocations using the d’Hondt method, which allocates parliamentary seats among the various candidate lists based on the votes received.
Parties frequently enter formal surplus vote-sharing agreements before election day to capture remaining unallocated seats.
Once results are certified, the President of Israel holds consultations with elected party leaders before tasking a chosen candidate, typically the head of the largest faction or coalition bloc, with forming a government within a 28-day timeframe.
This framework gives smaller sectoral and single-issue parties significant leverage during post-election negotiations. Far-right, religious, and nationalist slates often demand key ministerial posts, policy concessions, or budget allocations in exchange for their critical coalition votes.
Political analysts note that institutional features of the system, combined with state policies, impact electoral participation among Palestinian citizens of Israel. Electoral threshold adjustments and legal challenges against Arab-led party slates continuously shape voter turnout in Palestinian municipalities.
While Palestinian citizens account for roughly 20 percent of the population, their representative parties face ongoing systemic exclusion from executive coalition agreements, restricting their influence within the parliamentary framework.
As Arab voter turnout rises, Israel’s far-right leaders are sounding the alarm. War criminal Netanyahu accused “supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood” of raiding polling stations and “stealing the elections,” saying Israel is “in a war for the home.”
The candidate field for the 26th Knesset reflects a fragmented political landscape divided into distinct ideological camps, which we will detail:
The Right-Wing and Religious Coalition
• Likud: Led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the ruling party centers its platform on national defense, state security, and maintaining its long-standing parliamentary dominance.
• Otzma Yehudit: Headed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, this far-right faction advocates for expanded settlements, strict law-and-order policies, and hardline security measures.
• Religious Zionist Party–Zehut: Led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich alongside Moshe Feiglin, this nationalist alliance focuses on West Bank administration, land policies, and conservative social programs.
• Ultra-Orthodox Parties: Shas, led by Aryeh Deri, and United Torah Judaism (UTJ), led by Yitzhak Goldknopf, prioritize state funding for religious institutions and maintaining draft exemptions for Haredi seminary students.
The Opposition Alliances
• Together (Beyachad): A political alliance formed by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid. The joint platform focuses on institutional stability, economic reform, and governance changes.
• Yashar: A new political movement launched by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. The party presents a technocratic platform focused on national security, military management, and state administration.
• Yisrael Beiteinu: Headed by Avigdor Lieberman, this right-wing secular nationalist party focuses on mandatory military conscription for all demographic groups and civic policy reforms.
• The Democrats: Formed through the merger of the Labor and Meretz parties under the leadership of former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan, this unified center-left party emphasizes judicial independence and social-democratic domestic policies.
Arab-Majority Parties
• Joint List: Re-established by Hadash, Ta’al, and Balad under the leadership of Yousef Jabareen, the alliance campaigns on civil rights equality, an end to house demolitions, legal recognition for unrecognized Bedouin villages, and opposition to military occupations.
• United Arab List (Ra’am): Led by Mansour Abbas, this pragmatic Islamist faction focuses on securing municipal development funds, infrastructure investments, and crime-reduction programs for Arab communities.
Netanyahu: Governance Record, Systemic Corruption, and Legal Jeopardy
Benjamin Netanyahu, with more than 15 years, is the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israel. Netanyahu governance has consistently centered on maintaining military administration over occupied Palestinian territories, expanding West Bank settlements, and privatizing state assets.
Netanyahu administrations restructured national tax policies, deregulated key economic sectors, and prioritized defense spending over social welfare initiatives. Netanyahu’s political trajectory remains deeply entwined with ongoing legal proceedings across both domestic and international courts. In domestic tribunals, he faces active criminal charges across three separate indictments known as Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000.
– Case 1000 involves charges of fraud and breach of trust regarding allegations that he received expensive gifts from wealthy business figures in exchange for political favors.
– Case 2000 includes fraud and breach of trust charges related to negotiations with media publishers to secure favorable press coverage in return for legislation restricting competing news outlets.
– Case 4000 contains the most severe charges, bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, alleging that Netanyahu granted regulatory concessions to telecom giant Bezeq in exchange for positive coverage on the Walla news platform.
Netanyahu consistently denies all allegations, maintaining that the investigations represent a politically motivated campaign by law enforcement authorities. In early 2023, his government introduced a major judicial reform initiative designed to restructure judicial appointments and limit Supreme Court oversight over executive decisions.
Opposition figures and legal experts argued that these proposals aimed to undermine judicial independence and stall his ongoing trial, prompting widespread domestic protests and deep institutional instability.
On the international stage, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, determining that reasonable grounds exist to hold him criminally responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The court cited specific charges, including the deliberate use of starvation as a method of warfare and intentional attacks directed against civilian populations.
Although the Israeli government rejects the jurisdiction of the tribunal, the warrants impose severe diplomatic constraints and travel limitations on Netanyahu across states parties to the Rome Statute.
Voter turnout in Israeli elections as of 16:00 GMT surpassed all votes cast in the 2022, as per data released by the Central Elections Committee.
The final distribution of seats in the 120-member Knesset will determine whether the incumbent coalition or opposition alliances secure the 61-seat majority required to govern.
If the right-wing and religious coalition retains power under Netanyahu’s leadership, the administration is expected to immediately revive paused judicial reform packages to restructure judicial selection processes and restrict legal oversight of executive actions.
Under this outcome, state policy would focus on expanding West Bank settlement infrastructure, maintaining long-term military control over Gaza, and preserving military conscription exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox population to maintain internal coalition stability.
Alternatively, if an opposition alliance formed by figures such as Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, or Yair Lapid captures a parliamentary majority, executive authority would shift toward institutional stabilization. An opposition-led government would likely halt proposed judicial overhauls, reinstate traditional oversight mechanisms, and launch official state inquiries into military and intelligence failures.
Regarding military service, an opposition government would attempt to implement universal conscription policies that include Haredi citizens, a move likely to provoke significant resistance from religious sectors.
Striped of executive protections, Netanyahu’s domestic criminal trials would proceed without executive delays, while international legal pressures stemming from International Criminal Court warrants would remain active.
In the event that neither political bloc achieves a clear 61-seat threshold, the Knesset would enter a state of severe parliamentary deadlock. Under Israeli electoral law, Netanyahu would remain in power as caretaker Prime Minister while political factions negotiate prospective coalition agreements or initiate procedures for new legislative elections, extending the prevailing political uncertainty.
Sources: TeleSUR – Al Jazeera – Al Mayadeen – Press Tv – Anadolu Agency – TRT World – RT – The Times of Israel – Reporteros Sin Fronteras – BBC – DW – EFE – AP News – AFP
Issued in a brief, unsigned opinion, the justices’ decision favors President Donald Trump’s administration, which opposes maintaining a practice that President Joe Biden formalized.
“In 2024, Biden’s administration adopted a regulation that formally codified administrative closure procedures, concluding that it lets judges efficiently manage their caseloads and promote the fair treatment of immigrants. That regulation replaced a prior rule adopted in 2020 during Trump’s first term in office that had been judicially blocked,” Reuters reported.
When Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, however, he announced that he would no longer allow administrative closure of cases as a mechanism for reducing workloads in immigration courts.
The family of Renee Good, one of two US citizens fatally shot by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in January,have sued the Trump administration, saying there had been "no accountability" for her killing during deportation sweeps.
Texas had already challenged that policy in a federal court, arguing that the rule lets immigration judges “effectively grant indefinite amnesty to aliens illegally present in this country.”
Three cities with large immigrant populations — Baltimore, Maryland; Columbus, Ohio; and New Haven, Connecticut — along with an immigrant rights advocacy group, filed a lawsuit seeking to preserve Biden’s decision. The courts rejected these requests, bringing the matter before the Supreme Court.
Administrative closure of deportation proceedings, however, has been practiced for decades. According to government statistics, the rule has benefited about 360,000 migrants since 1990.
Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff will receive a monthly compensation of R$ 17,562.80—equivalent to approximately 3,200 US dollars—as financial reparation for the political persecution, illegal detentions, and physical and psychological torture she endured during Brazil’s military dictatorship, which lasted from 1964 to 1985.
The measure was published this Tuesday, October 27, in the Official Gazette of the Federal Government (in Portuguese Diario Oficial da União) and follows a final ruling by the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region (TRF1).
The resolution was issued by Brazil’s Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship. In addition to the permanent monthly payment, the ministry calculated retroactive payments totaling R$ 6,616,492.19 for the period recognized by the judiciary, with financial effects dating back to October 21, 1997. Any amounts previously received by Rousseff as reparation must be deducted from this total.
The monthly payment was calculated based on the salary scales for professionals at the former Foundation for Economics and Statistics of Rio Grande do Sul (FEE)—a state-linked institution where Rousseff worked as an economist prior to her arrest. The reparation acknowledges the loss of her employment with that foundation as a consequence of political persecution during the military regime.
This month marks 60 years since Brazil's military coup ushered in 21 years of US-backed, authoritarian dictatorship. This weekend people came out to protest the amnesty law which protects military torturers & murderers from prosecution. My story @telesurenglish#23MSemAnistiapic.twitter.com/cxISd0tpQi
The judicial decision, issued in December 2025, mandated that the former president receive a permanent, ongoing monthly allowance, based on the remuneration for the position she held before her arrest. This new resolution replaces a previous measure from August 2025, which had established a one-time compensation payment of R$ 100,000.
Dilma Rousseff was detained in 1970, at the age of 22, for her involvement in a resistance organization against the Brazilian military dictatorship. During her captivity, she was subjected to physical and psychological torture and spent nearly three years in prison. The judicial system acknowledged that she had been persecuted and prevented from working from the day of her arrest until October 21, 1997.
The former president was a member of the Armed Revolutionary Vanguard Palmares (Vanguardia Armada Revolucionaria Palmares), a group that opposed the military regime. Financial reparation is a measure provided for under Brazilian law for individuals recognized as victims of political persecution during that period.
Rousseff joined the Workers’ Party (PT) in 1999, and four years later, she was appointed as a minister by then-president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In January 2011, Lula handed the presidential sash to her following her electoral victory with 56.01% of the vote, making her the first female president in the history of Brazil.
🇧🇷 Lula wins a fourth presidential term in Brazil!
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has secured a fourth term with 51.77% of the valid vote, marking a decisive moment in Brazil’s political landscape.
What does Lula’s victory mean for Brazil’s future and the region? Share your thoughts… pic.twitter.com/eLDPfkeg12
The Russian president hosts the Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit in Moscow.
On Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin accused Western nations of destabilizing the global gas industry through “terrorist attacks” on Russian pipelines and trade barriers, while calling on gas-exporting countries to strengthen cooperation in the face of mounting challenges.
Speaking at the 8th Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Moscow, Putin said the organization—founded 25 years ago as a platform for expert analysis and market forecasting—has evolved “without any backroom intrigue or attempts to manipulate the market.”
The Russian leader noted that GECF member countries account for 70% of the world’s natural gas reserves and approximately 40% of global gas exports, making a “significant contribution to global energy security and the balanced development of countries and macroregions.”
Putin said natural gas currently accounts for a quarter of the global energy mix, with consumption rising 1.2% in 2025 to 4.2 trillion cubic meters. He predicted these trends would continue, saying “the role of natural gas as a mainstay of global energy, industry, agriculture and international trade will only grow.”
President @drpezeshkian met Russian President Vladimir #Putin on the sidelines of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum Summit. They discussed expanding political, economic, trade and energy cooperation, including joint projects in the oil and gas sectors. pic.twitter.com/ie6N35iz5h
— Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran (@Iran_GOV) October 27, 2026
He also pointed out that Russia ranks first in the world in natural gas reserves and second in production, having built a “unique production complex” that enables supply diversification and development of gas processing and chemical production.
However, Putin painted a bleak picture of the current global gas industry, citing deteriorating conditions in the Middle East and attacks on Russian infrastructure.
“Russian gas pipelines to Europe have been subjected to outright terrorist attacks—they were blown up,” Putin said, referring to the 2022 explosions on the Nord Stream pipelines.
“Some countries have also imposed barriers to purchasing equipment and technology for the sector. As a result, the global gas industry faces uncertainty,” he added and warned that efforts to exclude Russia from global gas markets would backfire.
“Any attempts to exclude Russia from the global gas market or hold back the development of our gas industry have serious consequences, above all in the form of rising, exorbitant costs for end users abroad—companies, industrial enterprises and households,” he said.
Putin directed particular criticism at Europe, saying the continent is “undermining its own industry and social sector by rejecting Russian energy supplies and terminating long-term contracts.”
'It's my pleasure to welcome you to Moscow for the 8th GECF Summit' — Vladimir Putin
Quoting a Russian proverb, he said: “Do not dig a pit for someone else, or you may fall into it yourself. In my view, this is precisely what has happened in EU countries.”
To address industry challenges, Putin called for enhanced cooperation among gas-exporting nations rather than the erection of barriers.
“We must build on our own capabilities and sovereign technologies, developing open, trust-based cooperation founded on mutual benefit and respect for each other’s interests,” he said.
The Russian leader expressed confidence that the GECF and its members have the resources to tackle complex challenges in the gas industry and global energy sector, adding that Russia “stands ready to make a substantial contribution to this work.”
On Monday, in Yerevan, Armenia, Cuba presented its priorities for the conservation of biological diversity during the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The conference, held from October 19 to 30, 2026, serves as the first review meeting on the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Daimar Cánovas, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), highlighted that Cuba’s National Biodiversity Program—with a vision toward 2030—is aligned with the global agreement adopted at COP15 in 2022, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, with specific targets set for 2030 and long-term goals for 2050.
Cánovas González participated in an event titled “Yerevan Call for Positive Incentives for Biodiversity,” which also saw the launch of the Friends of Target 18 group and the “Biodiversity Financing Challenge,” held as part of the High-Level Segment of COP17.
The Deputy Minister explained that one of Cuba’s key environmental priorities is the need to reformulate economic and financial incentives that currently have a negative impact on biodiversity. The goal is to transform these into mechanisms that promote conservation, ecosystem restoration, and the sustainable use of natural resources.
In this context, the country has begun an assessment within the agricultural sector—a strategic sector, alongside mining, fisheries, and tourism—to evaluate incentives linked to Target 18 of the Kunming-Montreal Framework.
Cánovas also highlighted the process of greening the national banking system, an initiative promoted as a financial solution and supported by the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN). This initiative promotes the integration of environmental criteria into banking policies and products.
Identified opportunities include positive incentives linked to agroecology, the restoration of productive landscapes, the protection of coastal and marine ecosystems, agrotourism, and nature-based economic activities.
Furthermore, Cuba plans to promote credit lines for biodiversity, sustainable financial instruments, and support mechanisms for producers, cooperatives, MSMEs, and businesses that adopt practices compatible with the conservation and rational use of natural resources.
These actions will contribute to meeting the national targets of the National Biodiversity Program through 2030, as well as the commitments Cuba has made under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, while strengthening resource mobilization and financial sustainability.
The session was attended by the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Astrid Schomaker, and the President of COP17, Hambardzum Matevosyan—who serves as the Minister of Environment of Armenia—along with other officials from the host country.
#COP17 | With 40% of the world’s land degraded, delegates in Mongolia are negotiating a stronger global response to drought and desertification. Science, financing and land restoration are at the center of talks running through Aug. 28.#UNCCD#Mongolia#ClimateActionpic.twitter.com/uFdPwt0s6L
The far-right politician escapes Brazilian justice two days after losing the presidential runoff.
On Tuesday, Brazilian and Argentine media outlets raised the possibility that Flavio Bolsonaro, the far-right presidential candidate who lost Sunday’s presidential runoff, had left Brazil for Argentina before planning to travel to the United States on a private jet.
“Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro fled to the United States. The plane is in flight. The information was confirmed by ‘people close to the family,’” Nacho Lemos, teleSUR’s correspondent in Brazil, reported.
“Pilot Mauro Mattosinho told the newspaper today that he had received information that Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro’s name appears on the passenger list of a private jet currently in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina,” he added.
“Flavio fled with his family to the U.S. and will seek political asylum from Trump. The operation to help Flavio Bolsonaro flee involved a small group of allies in Brazil and the U.S., who contacted the Trump administration,” the Brazilian outlet Metropolis reported.
FLÁVIO BOLSONARO FUGIU do Brasil.
Tal qual o pai e o irmão bananinha, é um covarde que saiu escondido do Brasil, com passagem pela Argentina, rumo aos Estados Unidos. Quem diz isso são os próprios aliados da família que tem a covardia no seu DNA. ✅ Jair Bolsonaro tentou se… pic.twitter.com/sKMkDxj6mZ
Legislator Alencar Santana’s text reads, “Flavio Bolsonaro has fled Brazil. Like his father and his brother ‘Bananinha,’ he is a coward who snuck out of Brazil—passing through Argentina—on his way to the United States. This is according to the family’s own allies; cowardice is in their DNA. Jair Bolsonaro tried to take refuge in the Hungarian embassy. Eduardo Bolsonaro snuck off to the United States. Flavio Bolsonaro snuck off to the United States. Catch the thief!
Previously, on Monday, Brazilian authorities took away Bolsonaro’s passport to prevent him from leaving the country. This happened when Flavio went to visit his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a 27-year prison sentence under house arrest for attempting a coup against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
“The Bolsonaro family’s patriotism has just boarded a flight to the United States! Flavio Bolsonaro fled Brazil after losing the election and violating a court order,” lawmaker Anielle Franco commented on social media.
“The courage was all talk. When it comes time to face the consequences, the destination is always the same: fleeing!” added the sister of Marielle Franco, the socialist activist who was murdered in Rio de Janeiro by far-right militias linked to the Bolsonaro clan.
Flávio Bolsonaro está a caminho dos EUA, diz Reuters.
The text reads, “Flavio Bolsonaro is on the way to the USA, says Reuters.”
Flavio Bolsonaro Is Under Investigation for Money Laundering
Brazil’s Federal Police canceled Bolsonaro’s passports because he had failed to comply with a court order to surrender them as part of an ongoing investigation.
On Monday, Bolsonaro was barred from leaving the country and ordered to surrender his passports within 24 hours. The decision was issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the trial in which Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
For months, Flavio has been under investigation in a money-laundering case, according to the newspapers O Estado de Sao Paulo and O Globo. The case is being handled under judicial secrecy.
At the center of the police investigation is Willer Tomaz, a lawyer and close friend of Flavio who has been identified as the operator of a corporate network involving suspicious financial transactions linked to the sports betting industry.
Flavio was listed as a user with extensive access permissions to an account shared with Tomaz, who is also under scrutiny by authorities over a corruption scandal involving improper deductions from the pensions of millions of retirees.
On Monday, after receiving the order to surrender his passports, Flavio Bolsonaro publicly stated that he had no intention of leaving the country for Miami.
His brother Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former congressman who went into self-imposed exile in the United States after declaring himself the victim of judicial persecution, lives in that city.
The text reads, “‘I will not give up on my country’—and yet he fled less than 48 hours later. Catch the thief!!!! Flavio Bolsonaro, a traitor to his country.”
The Far-Right Senator Did Not Request Asylum in Argentina
On Tuesday, Argentine presidential spokesman Adrian Ravier said that his government “took note of the election results in Brazil.” These were the first remarks by the administration of far-right President Javier Milei following Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s victory in the Oct. 25 runoff.
During a news conference, Ravier said there would be no official statement from the Argentine government regarding the election and defended Milei’s silence.
“When Javier Milei was elected in 2023, President Lula made no gesture to personally congratulate him. The president is not a hypocrite. There are clearly ideological differences between the two leaders,” Ravier said, adding that trade relations with Brazil would continue and “we do not expect any of this to change.”
Milei’s spokesman held the news conference as Argentine media outlets continued reporting on the possibility that Bolsonaro had crossed the border and was in Argentina. “There has been no asylum request for Bolsonaro,” Ravier stressed amid the uproar caused by reports published in the Argentine press.
Early Tuesday, local media reported that Bolsonaro had crossed from Brazil into Puerto Iguazu, in the Argentine province of Misiones, to board a private plane owned by Baires Fly S.A. The flight was scheduled to take off during the early morning hours.
On Tuesday, Flavio Bolsonaro disappeared from his country without acknowledging Lula da Silva’s election victory. His Liberal Party, however, did acknowledge the result.
teleSUR/ JF
Sources: O Globo – Metropolis – teleSUR – O Estado de Sao Paulo – EFE
Airstrikes carried out by Jordan on Monday night against positions in southern Syria—allegedly linked to the jihadist group Islamic State (IS)—have triggered a diplomatic rift between the two nations. The friction stems from a lack of prior coordination and the fact that the strikes resulted in civilian casualties, including children.
On Tuesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry criticized the Hashemite Kingdom for conducting the military operation without prior coordination, describing the action as completely unacceptable and a violation of Syria’s national sovereignty.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry also suggested that certain suspicious groups might be attempting to strain relations between Damascus and Amman, though it provided no further details regarding this claim.
Jordan framed the airstrikes as retaliation for an attack last Friday on a church in the western part of the kingdom, which left nine people dead and approximately 40 injured. Jordanian authorities attributed the attack to the Islamic State, although the organization has not yet claimed responsibility.
#Syria hardened its stance on the Jordanian attack carried out yesterday in the South.
While the Syrian Foreign Ministry initially expressed "reservations" about the Jordanian airstrikes in a statement last night, this morning, as the civilian death toll was confirmed, Damascus… pic.twitter.com/RvgfBLFVIV
Mohammad Momani, Jordan’s Minister of Government Communications and government spokesperson, stated on the social media platform X that the strikes were launched in response to the movements of these organizations and their acts against Jordan’s national security.
Momani expressed regret over the civilian casualties, maintaining that the armed forces had taken every possible precaution to avoid harming innocent people.
Syrian authorities confirmed that seven people were killed in the strikes, which targeted four areas in the southern province of Daraa. The victims included three children and an 80-year-old man.
Both countries have confirmed the establishment of an urgent joint committee to strengthen coordination in the fight against terrorism. Meanwhile, Momani expressed a commitment to developing bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of both nations.
#Syria | At least 14 people were killed and 11 injured in an explosion at a temporary weapons depot near Sarmada in Idlib province. Rescue teams are searching the rubble for survivors, while authorities have not yet determined the cause of the blast.#Idlib#teleSUREnglishpic.twitter.com/q5utCtzkFE
Cuba Presses Case Against Six-Decade Blockade as Washington Applies Pressure on Sovereign States.
On Oct. 27 and 28, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) holds, for the 34th time, the debate and vote on the resolution presented by Cuba titled: “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.”
Under the slogan “Cuba is not a threat, the blockade is,” the island defends its right to exist without the criminal weight of the blockade, while it considers “unfounded pretexts” the arguments put forward by Washington to maintain and intensify the siege in recent years, as well as denouncing the efforts deployed by the White House to condition Wednesday’s debate, with the use of direct threats and pressures against sovereign states to change their voting intention.
In this forum, Washington’s diplomatic isolation on this question is evidenced year after year, with the majority of the international community demonstrating its support for Cuba’s demand for the immediate cessation of this policy, a global will that is systematically ignored by the North American nation.
Against this backdrop, Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez recently warned of the brutal deployment of extreme pressures against numerous states to force them to change their position regarding the draft resolution against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba, particularly with intense coercive efforts by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
He explained that the U.S. has been engaged for months in efforts to coerce other governments. He showed several documents that attest to intimidating messages against those nations, which contain lies such as that the U.S. blockade is legal and that the U.S. allows trade with Cuba.
In the documentation presented, the Cuban Foreign Ministry detailed that “the accumulated damages during more than six decades of application of this policy reach US$178.7 billion,” an accounting impact that hinders the obtaining of foreign currency and slows cross-border trade.
The total amount of damages to Cuba derived from the blockade in the period from March 1, 2025, to Feb. 28, 2026, shows a record figure of US$8.083 billion.
The Cuban Foreign Affairs Ministry stressed that “the persecution of oil tankers and banking institutions worsened the electricity generation crisis,” by causing continuous failures in the national interconnected system, and blocked the purchase of “medicines for hospital use.”
The consequences derived from this policy of maximum asphyxiation are identified by Havana as the main brake on the country’s economic and social development, while generating invaluable harm to the population, which suffers the hardships caused by a stance of collective punishment described by the highest authorities of the Caribbean archipelago as a “silent genocide.”
The Cuban delegation in New York asserted that “the international community will again choose truth, dignity and international solidarity,” while it will reject “diplomatic maneuvers aimed at fracturing the historical support for the island.”
Cuban FM Rodriguez highlighted that what is unusual in this case is the extreme and unprecedented intensification of the U.S. blockade, to which has been added, under the excuse that the archipelago is a threat to U.S. national security, an energy siege that prevents the arrival of fuel to the country under the risk of sanctions and tariff reprisals, extraterritorial actions that violate international law and free maritime trade.
This will then be the first time that the UNGA pronounces itself as a whole against the energy blockade and the collective punishment against our country, with serious humanitarian damages. In addition to the energy blockade, all Cuban commercial operations are pursued, he noted, as part of a policy to cause deliberately planned damages and destabilize the country by generating suffering and desperation.
The U.S. Permanent Representative Mike Waltz is a disgrace to what it means to be a diplomat.
The man talk, walks, and acts like a character from the film Idiocracy.
Cuba will not stay idly as this person eviscerates the principles of the United Nations.…
Cuban FM Rodriguez urged the United Nations General Assembly to call to order the U.S. representative, Mike Waltz, for offensive statements that lie to distract attention from the consequences of the blockade they impose on the island.
He asked the speaker to prepare better and stop ignoring the serious humanitarian repercussions that the North American siege entails. Finally, he wished Waltz a better performance in his future political positions after describing his current performance as “disastrous.”
Eritrea Calls for Compliance with International Law
The representative of Eritrea, on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, urged compliance with international law regarding the question of the blockade against Cuba with respect to United Nations rules.
The African diplomat affirmed that, furthermore, the siege against Cuban medical collaboration with third countries, in which Washington’s stance has persisted, is a cruel maneuver, when this has allowed saving millions of lives around the world, while the U.S. promotes ongoing international conflicts.
Namibia and Africa: With Cuba, Solidarity Over Silence
Namibia joined previous declarations of support for the Cuban resolution while recalling Cuba’s support and participation in the struggle for national liberation on the continent and against Apartheid.
The regional representative noted that these positions are contrary to the rules of free trade among nations. The diplomat announced his vote in favor of the Cuban draft resolution, then recalled that respect for sovereignty and non-interference should be the compass of bilateral relations.
He lastly appealed to the United Nations to assume the responsibility of responding to these injustices and to put solidarity above silence toward Cuba.
At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Singapore condemned the severe human and economic impact of the U.S. blockade on Cuba. 🇸🇬🇨🇺
Ambassador Burhan Gafoor, speaking on behalf of ASEAN, noted that unilateral sanctions caused critical shortages, affecting more than 60% of… pic.twitter.com/AeeiyiWPEg
Uruguay Highlights Cuba’s Weight in South-South Cooperation
Uruguay’s representation praised Cuba’s weight as a key link for South-South cooperation, and therefore proposed not only immediately ceasing the North American siege, but also removing it from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The South American diplomat expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences of the application of these sanctions and the brake on the achievement of sustainable development goals. She exemplified how these actions constitute an unsustainable threat to the laws of free trade and relations among nations.
She thus extended the solidarity of the group, and in particular of Uruguay, with the Cuban population, while reiterating the unjustifiability of imposing this type of relations between states for political reasons.
NAM Urges Respect for the Cuban People’s Rights
To Cuba’s cause for the lifting of the U.S. blockade was added the representation of Uganda, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). In accordance with the bloc’s position, the African nation expressed particular concern about the measures adopted by Washington, which amount to an unprecedented naval blockade without basis in international law.
Uganda also condemned the weight of this measure in expanding the extraterritorial effects of the blockade that affect not only Cubans but also third countries, for which it is not only a bilateral question. Likewise, it urged the international body to mobilize efforts to prevent a military intervention, in violation of the current world order.
Ugandan diplomacy concluded by reiterating the country’s and the bloc’s commitment to cooperate in maintaining multilateralism and in defense of international forums where differences can be settled peacefully.
The United Nations General Assembly will hold its 34th annual debate +vote on October 27–28, 2026, regarding the Cuban blockade
— Movement for African Emancipation (@Arise4freedom) October 27, 2026
ASEAN: Lifting the Blockade Is a Position of Coherence
At the opening of the debate, the representative of Singapore, on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), noted that demanding the immediate cessation of the U.S. blockade against the island represents a collective act of coherence in line with the multilateral order based on rules and not on the use of force and coercive pressure.
The regional bloc expressed particular concern about the situation of the Cuban people, who are subjected to effects on the energy sector that hinder the exercise of basic human rights.
It forcefully mentioned the wait for more than 100,000 surgical operations for patients, with a high proportion of children, threatened by the current restrictions.
ASEAN added its voice to the international call of the body’s 81st General Assembly to end the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba.
Polls Favor Democrats as the MAGA leader Ramps Up Campaigning to Help Republicans Retain Control of Congress.
U.S. citizens will head to the polls in one week for midterm elections that are shaping up as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s performance and will determine whether Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress during the second half of his term.
Polls for the Nov. 3 elections point to a favorable outlook for the Democratic opposition, prompting Trump to throw himself into the campaign, with nearly daily rallies this week in key states.
According to an analysis by Decision Desk, based on polling averages, Democrats have a 79% chance of winning the House of Representatives, up 2 percentage points from last week, and a 57% chance of regaining control of the Senate, up 1 point from a week ago.
With the U.S. midterm elections approaching (November 3), the war involving Iran has driven up oil prices and the cost of living, making these issues a focal point ahead of the vote.
Republicans Set to Lose the House of Representatives
The House will see all 435 seats up for election for two-year terms. Republicans currently hold a narrow majority of 219 seats to the Democrats’ 214, meaning the opposition needs a net gain of three seats to take control.
According to RealClearPolitics’ polling average, Democrats hold a clear lead in House voting intentions, with 51.1% support compared with 42.8% for Republicans.
Over the past week, Cook Political Report has revised its forecasts in 19 districts in favor of Democrats, many of them in traditionally Republican states. The opposition is virtually assured of winning 220 seats, above the magic number of 218 needed for a majority.
Republicans face particular difficulties in Midwestern states that voted for Trump in 2024 but where dissatisfaction with his economic management, high gasoline prices and the U.S. war on Iran has grown.
It is common for the president’s party to lose control of the House in so-called midterm elections. This happened to Trump during his first administration, when Democrats took advantage of their gains to launch impeachment proceedings against him.
TRUMP DOESN'T WANT REPUBLICANS TO LOSE. HE'S TERRIFIED OF WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DO.
Michael Tomasky's theory in The New Republic is provocative. It's also contradicted by Trump's own behavior.
Tomasky argues that Donald Trump secretly wants Republicans to lose the midterms… pic.twitter.com/u6mgoL8KSL
On Nov. 3, 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats will also be up for election. Republicans currently hold a majority of 53 seats to the Democratic caucus’ 47.
The opposition faces a somewhat more difficult path: It needs to wrest four seats from Republicans while holding on to its own to secure a majority in the upper chamber, which has among its responsibilities confirming Supreme Court justices.
According to polls, the race is close in seven states: Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas. All the seats being contested in those states are currently held by Republicans, except for Michigan’s, which is held by a Democrat.
One of the races attracting the most attention is in Texas, long considered a Republican stronghold, where Democrat James Talarico now leads Ken Paxton, a Trump ally, by 1.8 percentage points, according to RealClearPolitics.
In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, from the Democratic Party’s more progressive wing, leads Republican Mike Rogers by 2.5 points. In Maine, Democrat Troy Jackson leads incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins by 1.2 points.
🚨WATCH: President Trump tells a crowd in Michigan it is “their fault” if Republicans lose the midterms
Polls have the Democrats ahead of the Republicans in both the Michigan gubernatorial and US senate races pic.twitter.com/YWhRwHixGa
In addition, 36 states will elect governors, with Democrats starting as favorites in 20 of them and potentially winning a majority of the country’s governorships for the first time since 2010.
Expected Democratic victories include those of Xavier Becerra in California and Kathy Hochul in New York, while Republicans Greg Abbott and Byron Donalds lead in Texas and Florida, respectively.
The race is much tighter in three states: Georgia and Nevada, currently governed by Republicans, and Wisconsin, governed by a Democrat.
In Alaska, Cook Political Report identifies Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins as the favorite. His victory would mark his party’s first gubernatorial election win in the state since 1994.
Trump’s Popularity at Record Lows
Against this backdrop, Trump is entering the final stretch of the campaign, which will take him to Texas, Ohio, South Carolina, Florida, Kansas and Iowa in a last-ditch effort to mobilize his MAGA movement base.
A Reuters-Ipsos poll released Monday puts Trump’s approval rating at 32%, a slight rebound from the record low of 31% recorded last week.
President Pezeshkian Says U.S. Naval and Air Blockades Destabilize Global Energy Markets.
On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian branded U.S. actions that cause dangerous surges in hydrocarbon prices on the world market as “economic terrorism.”
“Economic terrorism, in the form of the U.S. naval and air blockade against Iran, in addition to Washington’s pressure on other countries to comply with this blockade, are illegal actions that seriously destabilize energy markets,” he said during his address at the summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), the so-called “gas OPEC.”
Pezeshkian also pointed out that U.S. military interventions in the Persian Gulf region not only affect regional actors but also disrupt the process of energy pricing, supply and transportation, which threatens global economic growth.
The Iranian leader then invited international investors to do business with the Persian nation. “Foreign investors can, without running any risk, take advantage of incentives and benefits that we offer in the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors,” he stressed.
🇶🇦🇷🇺🇮🇷 Qatar’s Emir Tamim joins Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the eighth Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit in Moscow. Ahead of the group photo, Tamim held separate talks with Pezeshkian: Qatar’s published account lists Hormuz, energy supplies and… pic.twitter.com/g1ipI3Z0Ux
Pezeshkian highlighted that, despite the sanctions imposed on Tehran, Iran was able to increase its natural gas production capacity to 300 billion cubic meters per day.
Commenting on the Iranian leader’s speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed that “illegal sanctions” only have harmful consequences.
“You drew attention to the illegal sanctions that some countries impose in the energy sector. I completely agree that they only have harmful consequences for all market actors, both producers and gas exporters,” he said.
On Tuesday, National Court Judge María Tardón requested that the Spanish government urgently declassify all reports from the National Intelligence Center (CNI) concerning the mass entry of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco, which took place on July 30 and 31, 2026. The magistrate set a maximum deadline of 15 calendar days for the submission of the documentation.
In her request, Tardón asks for all notes and reports produced by the CNI and distributed to authorities from July 30, 2026, onwards, regarding investigations into the events. She also requests any documents pertaining to the actions taken by Moroccan authorities up to the present date.
Furthermore, the judge demands the disclosure of the list of authorities who received the declassified notes from July 27 and 30, as well as any subsequent communications. The requested documents include a note sent by the CNI to Moroccan intelligence services, along with any alerts regarding irregular migration from Morocco to Spain issued throughout the month of July.
In the magistrate’s view, this information is essential for clarifying the facts. The objective is to determine which authorities were aware—and from what point in time—of the planned mass entry scheduled for July 30, 2026, as well as what decisions were taken or, conversely, failed to be taken.
Tardón maintains that these documents will shed light on the actions taken by the authorities of the Kingdom of Morocco. The judicial request notes that the government had already declassified information regarding the migration crisis—including CNI notes and communications—on September 8; therefore, she argues that this new disclosure is entirely compatible with the requirements of state security and defense.
#Spain’s government will declassify around 40 intelligence and security documents related to the mass entry of migrants into #Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31, seeking to clarify what authorities knew ahead of the crisis and whether #Morocco played a role in the unprecedented… pic.twitter.com/fYfEDCzDd9
The judge argues that state security may have already been compromised in the context of the events under investigation: “Determining who was responsible for this attack on state security is the objective of the ongoing investigation,” the judicial document states.
In addition to the declassification of information, Judge Tardón has requested that the government urgently authorize CNI (National Intelligence Center) officials to provide testimony in court regarding the events in question. This measure is part of the judicial inquiry into the mass arrival of people in the autonomous city.
On July 30 and 31, more than 80,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco, either by swimming or on foot. While most subsequently returned to Moroccan territory, an indeterminate number of migrants—from both the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa—remained in the city.
Since then, Ceuta has been grappling with a socioeconomic crisis, marked by expressions of discontent toward the government regarding its handling of the emergency. The judicial investigation seeks to establish what information was available prior to the events and what responsibilities may have existed on both the Spanish and Moroccan sides.
#Spain | A Moroccan naval incursion near Ceuta has renewed concerns over maritime sovereignty and border security. The incident highlights longstanding sensitivities between Madrid and Rabat.#Morocco#Ceuta#teleSUREnglishpic.twitter.com/EBjubtX4rp
Mohmed Abdulkarim and Nouman Essghir were charged under National Security Act 2023.
On Tuesday, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service announced that two men have been charged with national security offenses following an incident involving Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford last month.
Mohmed Abdulkarim, 24, and Nouman Essghir, 24, were both charged under National Security Act 2023 following a counter-terrorism policing investigation, according to the public prosecution authority.
Abdulkarim was charged with one offense of assisting a foreign intelligence service in carrying out UK-related activities, and Essghir was charged with one offense of entering a prohibited place for a purpose prejudicial to the UK.
On Sept. 27, British police evacuated homes near RAF Fairford while army bomb-disposal experts were called in to examine several vehicles nearby. Seven people have since been arrested on suspicion of explosives offenses and preparing an act of terror.
The alleged "Iranian attack" on the RAF base in Fairford is becoming increasingly ridiculous.
It seems the "Iranian commandos" forgot their bombs, their guns? But decided to call the Police on themselves?
On the day of the incident, after a farmer raised the alarm about a group of men acting suspiciously, police arrived at the scene and initially detained five men.
“Two military sources believed the men were stealing fuel, as barrels and equipment for storing it were found in their vehicles near a diesel supply point. The following day, the five men were released on police bail after being questioned,” noted British journalist Brit Matters.
RAF Fairford is a British military airbase used by the U.S. Air Force. The Pentagon confirmed earlier this month that all U.S. bombers deployed to RAF Fairford had returned to their home stations in the United States.
Britain said that it was “highly likely” that Iran was involved in the RAF Fairford incident, but the accusation was rejected by Iran, who called it a “sordid plot to advance the anti-Iran campaign.”
The second edition of Venezuela’s International Festival of Arts and Disability, “DiverFest,” will take place from November 2 to 21, featuring performances in dance, theater, and pantomime, alongside workshops, talks, and virtual activities focused on cultural inclusion. The European Union (EU) delegation in Caracas announced on Tuesday that it is supporting the event in collaboration with the organizers.
The festival will be divided into three phases. From November 2 to 6, the first stage will focus on direct engagement, research, and the exchange of knowledge with individuals with Down syndrome.
Between November 11 and 15, there will be an intensive program of dance, theater, and pantomime, as well as workshops, discussions, conferences, and book presentations. According to the EU, these activities will center on art, disability, and technological innovation as applied to this sector.
The third stage, scheduled for November 17 to 21, will be primarily virtual, with the exception of an in-person closing event. It will include workshops on inclusive dance and the use of sign language in theater, with activities specifically designed for people with disabilities, those with limited mobility, or those living in other regions of the country.
¡El arte no tiene barreras ni etiquetas! 🎭✨
🇻🇪🇫🇷🇪🇺 La segunda edición de El DiverFest, el Festival Internacional de Artes y Discapacidad de Venezuela, presenta tres semanas de talento, música, teatro, danza y diversidad.
— Unión Europea en Venezuela 🇪🇺🇻🇪 (@UEenVenezuela) October 27, 2026
The text reads, “Art knows no barriers or labels! The second edition of El DiverFest—the International Festival of Arts and Disability in Venezuela—presents three weeks of talent, music, theater, dance, and diversity.”
Partnerships and Community Participation
DiverFest is the result of a cooperation project between Producciones DV and the French Embassy in Venezuela, with the support of the civil association Apoye. For this edition, the festival has expanded its reach by bringing in the EU delegation in Caracas as a new partner.
The first edition was held in 2025; since its inception, the event has been dedicated to highlighting, promoting, and empowering the artistic talent of people with disabilities, fostering cultural inclusion and equal opportunity through the performing and visual arts, the European delegation noted.
Meanwhile, the Kümelen Day Center will present an arts festival titled A Journey Through Time ( in spanish Un viaje en el tiempo), featuring individuals with functional diversity. The event will bring together music, dance, theater, and audiovisual media at the Sala Payró in the Teatro Auditorium.
The program will include a tango performance coordinated by Germán Suárez, a choreographed piece set to Astor Piazzolla’s “Adiós Nonino,” a theatrical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, the audiovisual projection Changing Channels ( in spanish Cambiando de dial), and a stage production titled Between Seasons ( in spanish Entre estaciones). The event will conclude with a musical performance by the guest group Aunquinco Malambo.
🇻🇪 The U.S. has removed Venezuela from its list of investment restrictions, signaling a shift in Washington’s sanctions policy toward the South American nation.
What does this decision mean for Venezuela’s economic prospects, foreign investment, and its oil sector? How could it… pic.twitter.com/LSJKaOlTM3
Restrictions on suppliers, changes in procurement policies and replacement of existing ICT infrastructure affect supply chains.
On Tuesday, SEO Amsterdam Economics reported that a proposed revision of the European Union’s Cybersecurity Act, known as CSA2, could lead to losses ranging from 290 million euros (US$324 million) to 2.2 billion euros (US$2.46 billion dollars) for Dutch businesses in the first year of implementation.
The report, titled The Price of Security and commissioned by the Netherlands China Business Council (NCBC), cautions that the impact could extend beyond businesses directly affected by the restrictions, spreading through supply chains and hitting firms in other sectors of the Dutch economy.
The legislation was proposed by the European Commission at the beginning of this year. The draft introduced “non-technical risks” in the name of cybersecurity and supply chain security.
In particular, the draft would identify “countries posing cybersecurity concerns” and “high-risk suppliers,” and exclude listed countries and suppliers from relevant EU supply chains across 18 sectors, including energy, transport, and information and communications technology.
However, the economic implications of restricting suppliers could be substantial, particularly for businesses that rely on existing information and communications technology infrastructure and have limited short-term alternatives, according to the report.
🚨🇪🇺 BREAKING: Critical software vulnerabilities trigger government website shutdowns across at least SIX European countries, affecting public authorities, hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure.
Companies may also need to modify existing systems, adjust production processes and reorganize supply chains to accommodate replacement products. These changes could generate additional costs beyond the losses estimated in the report.
“Security measures do not exist in an economic vacuum,” NCBC Chairman Jochum Haakma said at a seminar on the report on Monday, adding that restrictions on suppliers, changes in procurement policies and the replacement of existing ICT infrastructure can affect entire supply chains, investment decisions and ultimately the competitiveness of the European economy.
In a letter to parliament on June 19, Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel said the government was concerned about the European Commission’s proposed power to designate entire countries and suppliers as high-risk, citing potentially far-reaching economic, legal and geopolitical consequences, as well as insufficiently clear and detailed criteria and procedures.
The report notes that restrictions on supplier choice could also yield other adverse consequences, as diminished competitive pressure may result in higher prices, lower quality and reduced innovation.
“Strategic autonomy is an important European ambition, but autonomy should not lead to isolation,” Haakma noted.
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