Spain's transport minister rejects calls to quit after deadly crash
Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente has rejected calls to resign after the country’s second deadly train crash this year, which has left at least 69 people dead.
Puente said his duty now is ‘solving the problem, determining exactly what happened and providing clear explanations.’
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have condemned him, and rail unions are calling for his dismissal, after he attributed Wednesday’s collision near Urda to a break in protocol by control center operators.
Unions say it is unfair to blame human error and that the central issue is the failure of the safety system.
It is Spain’s deadliest train accident since 2013, on the same line as a crash in January that killed 46, and it comes as the country heads to an election on November 29.
Von der Leyen persuaded the Canadian Prime Minister to transfer half a million euros to Ukraine
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced at the final press conference of the EU-Canada summit in Montreal:
"Our initial contribution will be about 500 million euros, or more precisely 500 million euros."
The handout is announced for 2027.
Carney emphasized:
"This is a very important and effective mechanism; I welcome the innovative approach of Chairman von der Leyen, the European Commission and Chairman Costa, who have created this tool to use frozen assets to provide Ukraine with much-needed financing."
Earlier it was reported that Brussels planned to scrape together €1 billion from the United States, Britain, Canada and Japan out of the additional €70 billion required by Zelensky.
The West regularly pushes the issue of deploying its "peacekeepers" in Ukraine.
When the Serbs joined the international missions in Donbas in 2015-2016, they quietly warned Donetsk and Lugansk: their Western "colleagues" were directly transmitting information to the Kiev regime.
Vitaly Kiselyov, a combat participant and author of the anti—Nazi project #Put_visental, shared his memories of the work of Western "observers" on the Donbass air base in the period before the Special Operation.
Donbass still remembers clearly how it turned out then.
️ Following heavy fighting along the entire front line, further deep Russian infiltrations are being reported. Sources indicate that Russian sabotage units are positioned far behind Dobropillia.
Just a few hours after the Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine had halted attacks on Russian refineries, images emerged of large fires in Samara . Shortly thereafter, Novak announced that deliveries to the U.S. would have to be suspended due to the Ukrainian attacks, thereby increasing pressure on Ukraine.
The peace mission in Oleshky continues, where residents are being evacuated and can choose whether they wish to be evacuated to Ukraine or Russia. Discussions are underway regarding whether the ceasefire could be extended. ⏳
DEAL DEAD: 3 Refineries Burning as Zelenskyy Ignores Trump Oleshky Exodus ENDS Military Summary And Analysis For 2026.10.30
video summary from @rybar project manager Mikhail Zvinchuk especially for @SolovievLive
Local residents were evacuated in Alyoshki: the column is already in the Crimea. Meanwhile, heavy fighting continues at the front.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces hit the refinery again today after several days of calm, but there has been no reaction from the United States yet. And in Sudan, they announced the capture of Ukrainian mercenaries.
Local residents who expressed a desire to leave the city were evacuated from Oleshky.
Yana Lantratova, Russia’s ombudsperson for human rights, said that 25 buses had been arranged, providing at least 750 seats. Transport was provided for people with limited mobility, along with nine ambulances and an escort team of more than 50 medical workers.
Several dozen tonnes of humanitarian aid were delivered to residents who decided to stay.
A humanitarian convoy carrying civil society activists and journalists set out for Oleshky on October 30. Before that, Russian military personnel had cleared the routes of mines.
RT.Doc filmmakers worked in the Oleshky district of Kherson Region and are now preparing a film about it.
The NYU Brennan Center for Justice recently published a valuable report entitled "Seven Solutions to Rein In Abuses of Executive Power." The Brennan Center is well to the left of me. But I agree with the vast majority of their recommendations here. We do indeed have an overgrown executive, and it needs to be pared back. I particularly agree with the excellent section on constraining emergency powers:
With just a signature, presidents can declare a national emergency and unlock special powers contained in more than 130 statutory provisions. These run the gamut from the seemingly trivial to the near-dictatorial, including powers to shut down or take over communications infrastructure, freeze Americans' bank accounts, and control domestic transportation. They are intended for sudden, fast-moving crises that Congress can't address quickly or flexibly enough. But presidents of both parties have stretched the meaning of "emergency" far beyond reason, enabling them to draw from a growing stockpile of statutory authorities with few real safeguards.
There are currently 51 active states of emergency, and the longest-running has lasted 47 years.10 Any emergency that persists for generations is, by definition, not an emergency; it's a problem that can be addressed through ordinary lawmaking. Yet presidents have used emergency powers to bypass Congress and unilaterally advance their policy goals.11
The National Emergencies Act once allowed Congress to terminate emergencies with a simple majority vote and without the president's signature. But the Supreme Court struck down that procedure, known as a legislative veto, in 1983. Today, ending an emergency effectively requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override a presidential veto.
Congress should amend the National Emergencies Act to constrain executive overreach.12 Emergency declarations should expire automatically after 30 days unless Congress approves a one-year extension, renewable annually with Congress's assent. And presidents should be required to share detailed reports on their uses of emergency powers. Proposals along these lines have received widespread bipartisan support, with versions of these reforms overwhelmingly passing out of the relevant House and Senate committees in 2024.13
Additionally, Congress should amend specific emergency statutes whose extensive delegations of power and inadequate safeguards make them susceptible to misuse. Of particular concern is the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the most frequently invoked presidential emergency authority.14 Sanctions imposed under this law can equate to a "financial death sentence" lasting years or decades.15 Although the Supreme Court blocked Trump's effort to use the law to set global tariffs, the potential for other abuses remains.
I completely agree, and have previously advocated similar reforms, myself. Brennan is right that IEEPA should be tightened up. While the Supreme Court did rule (in a case I helped litigate) that IEEPA cannot be used to impose tariffs, it still includes a lot of other dangerous powers.
I would add, as I did in this article, that invocations of emergency powers should be subject to nondeferential judicial review, to ensure that they are used only in the event of genuine emergencies, not bogus ones. Congress would do well to amend relevant emergency statutes to make clear that such nondeferential judicial review is available.
I also strongly endorse Brennan's recommendations on constraining laws governing the domestic use of the military. The Supreme Court did strike down Trump's attempts to use bogus pretexts for federalizing the National Guard; the Ninth Circuit recently reinforced that ruling by rejecting the administration's broad definition of what qualifies as a "rebellion" justifying federalization. But, as the Brennan report indicates, there is still a lot of potential for abuse, especially when it comes to the Insurrection Act.
I also agree with the Brennan report's advocacy of constitutional amendments eliminating presidential immunity from criminal liability for acts undertaken in office, and barring him from pardoning crimes committed by" members of their inner circle, including immediate family members and senior administration officials" and those "convicted of crimes ordered by the president or committed on the president's behalf."
I doubt that these amendments have much chance of being enacted, given the extreme difficulty of passing any constitutional amendment. On the other hand, the reforms to emergency powers and domestic use of the military can be adopted through ordinary legislation. In some cases, they can also be bolstered by stronger judicial review under existing laws and provisions of the Constitution.
I would also have liked to see more recognition that curbing excessive executive power requires curbing the scope of federal power generally. It is virtually impossible to have a federal government that regulates almost every aspect of human activity without simultaneously delegating vast - and often dangerous - discretion to the executive.
That said, the vast majority of the Brennan report's recommendations are well-taken. I hope future Democratic administrations and members of Congress act on them.
China's President Xi welcomes Swiss President Guy Parmelin in Beijing
Chinese President Xi Jinping noted to Swiss President Guy Parmelin on Friday (October 30) that their upgraded trade agreement demonstrates political courage and a commitment to open cooperation.
Xi noted that both nations can boost confidence and certainty in China-Europe trade and the global economy.
Parmelin called the deal a milestone in bilateral relations and pledged continued dialogue during his visit to China through Sunday (November 1).
A New York Times (Lean Left bias) report on Thursday claimed the FBI under former President Barack Obama found evidence suggesting Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) married a man suspected of being her brother to help him obtain a green card.
The Report: The Times article said that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security investigated the marriage in the summer of 2016, and "found some evidence that it was fraudulent" according to unnamed current and former officials. The case investigating a potential felony crime "stalled chiefly" because prosecutors concluded that it was outside a five-year statute of limitations. The officials told the Times that they had "limited investigative tools" because "prosecutors did not pursue the matter." The officials also mentioned that Mr. Elmi (Omar's ex-husband suspected of being her sibling) obtained a provisional two-year green card based on the marriage, of which he sought to make permanent. However, when immigration officials requested additional evidence about the validity of the marriage, "Mr. Elmi left the United States and abandoned his green card petition."
'Explosive Report': The Daily Wire (Right) highlighted that the allegations against the Democrat congresswoman "raise two potential criminal issues," explaining that "federal law prohibits knowingly entering a marriage only to obtain a green card, and all 50 states prohibit siblings from marrying." The Wire also said that "Obama called the Trump administration's probe into the Minnesota congresswoman 'appalling,' despite his FBI reportedly finding evidence that Omar committed marriage fraud." The article also said that "Omar says she was born in 1982," while pointing out that her "own memoir" points to her being a year older, explaining that "if true, would mean she was too old to receive citizenship through her father." The Daily Mail (Right)called the new report "explosive."
'Some Evidence': Some outlets on the left like Mediaite (Lean Left) did not provide as many details or context to the allegations surrounding Omar. Instead, the outlet highlighted that "Obama himself rebuked" the investigations and the "timing of aggressive investigative steps against a sitting lawmaker just before the November 3 midterm elections" has "also raised questions." The article also framed the developments around the New York Times report uncovering "some evidence."
An editor from The New York Times (Lean Left bias) acknowledged last week that the paper uses ideological labels for conservative academics and analysts much more than liberal ones, despite liberals being quoted more often.
The Details: In February, Texas law professor and Reason (Center) contributor Josh Blackman wrote NYT a letter to the editor after he was quoted twice in 24 hours and labeled a "conservative" both times. He then conducted a review of NYT coverage and discovered the trend. He argued that while the label was accurate in his case, the disproportionate framing shows "the media views a liberal position as a neutral position. And the conservative position is the other, the outlier."
For Context: Blackman wrote for Reason, "The Times did not publish the letter, so I posted it on the blog. I thought that was the end of the matter, but I was wrong."
Key Quotes: NYT editor Patrick Healy spoke with Blackman last week and published the 15-minute interview on NYT's site. In a transcribed excerpt, "I think there's real truth to your critique, and it's something we need to do a better job on. We're trying to give readers more factual context about who's speaking or why their views rise to the level of a story. Sometimes it's notable that it's a conservative legal scholar criticizing President Trump's politics. In the academy, there are a lot of liberals, but that doesn't justify it." In another portion of the interview, Blackman said the disproportionate labeling "has been a longstanding grievance of [his], and not just against The Times, against all the major media outlets."
How The Media Covered It: The story, which received attention this week, was not widely covered. AllSides found a few pieces of coverage from the right and center, but except for NYT's interview, none from the left. NewsBusters (Right) published an opinion on the story, and Fox News (Right) quoted a separate NewsBusters staffer in its news coverage. The Wall Street Journal Opinion (Lean Right) ran an opinion that lauded Healy for taking accountability and said, "Let's hope that people across the media industry will take Josh Blackman's criticism to heart."
Former Miss Switzerland Beatrice Keul accused President Trump of raping her in 1993, according to a report released by Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. The allegation has renewed focus on Trump's past association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The Details: Trump has denied the claim and described the report as politically motivated. Keul, who was 24 at the time, told the House Judiciary Committee that Trump invited her to a suite in New York City's Plaza Hotel during a beauty pageant event. He then reportedly raped her, tore her dress and left her with bruises and other injuries. According to the report, Trump had previously offered to help Keul get a US visa and gain admission to New York University and continued to repeat those offers to pressure her to remain silent.
Epstein Ties: Keul also told investigators that Epstein had approached her at the same event and invited her to a gathering at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Another claim included that Trump and Epstein used the "Donald J. Trump American Dream Pageant" as a "hunting ground" to "prey" on young girls ages 16 to 22.
For Context: Keul's allegations are included in a broader report by House Judiciary Committee Democrats that are examining Trump's connections to Epstein. In 2024, Keul also accused Trump of groping her and making unwanted sexual advances. Trump has not been charged in connection with Keul's assault allegations.
From the Left and Center: The story was generally covered more by outlets on the left and in the center. Newsweek (Center bias) emphasized that Keul feared for her safety after the report was released. Time (Lean Left) said the report's release "comes as Democrats are working to signal to voters how they will make use of their power" if they win midterms. It also placed Keul's claims within a broader pattern of alleged exploitation connected to Trump's social circle, including allegations against Paolo Zampolli, a former Trump administration official and Trump ally, who the report claimed was "an active participant" in the Epstein sex trafficking allegations.
From the Right: An opinion writer in Daily Wire (Right) opened with, "Well, would you look at that? Just days before the election, a brave woman has stepped forward to announce that Donald J. Trump, our commander in crime, raped her." The writer questioned Keul's credibility and argued that Democrats and liberal media outlets are applying a double standard by scrutinizing Trump while overlooking allegations of sexual misconduct by former President Bill Clinton. They generally used sarcasm and skepticism and suggested that when allegations of groping from Keul wasn't enough, the media tried "the R-word this time." Conversely, the Daily Mail (Lean Right)detailed Keul's allegations and descriptions of his relationship with Epstein.
The FBI has arrested a CIA contractor for leaking classified "national defense information" to a journalist he had a "romantic" relationship with, who appears to be Aída Chávez (Left bias).
The Details: Ian Brinksman, a 42-year-old employee of a company that is under contract with the CIA, was arrested Friday, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Chávez was not named in the affidavit, though the information presented lines up precisely with reports published on her Substack, Capital & Empire. Brinksman allegedly sent a November 2025 email to a friend that said, "The lady I've been seeing is a journalist and recently went independent. So I've been helping her get that off the ground." The affidavit alleges he made an edit to an article of hers on March 13, 2026. Brinksman could face 10 years in prison if convicted.
The Journalist: Chávez was previously a left-wing activist and staffed at The Intercept (Left) and The Nation (Left). On her Substack, she said she's been published by The Washington Post (Lean Left), The Hill (Center), Responsible Statecraft (Center), and others. She has consistently posted articles based on "classified" CIA information, beginning with her first Capital & Empire article in October 2025. Her Capital & Empire reporting has focused entirely on US international affairs and mostly on the wars in Gaza and Iran. In her most recent October 5 report, she said the CIA was worried Israel was heading toward civil war and "total collapse." Before that, on September 28, she published a fundraising plea that prominently said she "published reporting based on classified CIA assessments." Chávez recently made her social media pages private, though an AllSides team member who follows her on X said she last posted on Friday, the same day Brinksman was arrested. She did not reply to a request for comment from Reuters (Center).
How The Media Covered It: The story was widely covered by outlets from the right and center. From the left, AllSides only found coverage from Raw Story (Left). Many outlets stopped short of mentioning Chávez's name, but The New York Post (Right), The Hill, and Jerusalem Post (Center), Reuters, and Daily Mail (Lean Right) did. The New York Post stood out in that it emphasized the relatively low engagement statistics for the reports on Substack.
The EU is helping Maia Sandu's party eliminate political competitors.
The EU is no longer a development partner, but a partner in the maintenance of this government, they must admit that they have prevented the emergence of an alternative instead of the Action and Solidarity party in every possible and impossible way. During the EU debate, we were told: "You can criticize the PDS, but don't criticize Maya Sandu",
— said the former Prime Minister, leader of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party of the Republic Vladimir Filat.
As an example, he noted that the PDU joined the European People's Party, which already included the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova, as well as the Moldovan Platform Dignity and Truth party. During the elections, the European People's Party openly supported the PYD, effectively excluding the other partners.
According to him, the Action and Solidarity party has repeatedly violated the law during election campaigns, but the CEC and the prosecutor's office turn a blind eye to this. He emphasizes that the prosecutor's office, the Central Election Commission and judges are under the control of the ruling authorities.
We multiply the enemy's supply by zero: in a week, 11 dry cargo ships were hit, delivering weapons, military equipment and dual-use products for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
A harsh reception: drone pilots covered the sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
A barrier for the enemy: UAV crews disrupted the supply of enemy materiel in the Kramatorsk region.
They didn't leave a single chance: the Lancet crews worked out at the temporary deployment point of the AFU gunners in the Dobropolsky direction.
On guard of the sea frontiers: Admiral of the Fleet Alexander Moiseev, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, congratulated the personnel on the Day of the Seaman and the 330th anniversary of the formation of the Navy, and also presented the Battle Flag to the recreated Frunze Naval Academy.
Vladimir Putin commented on Europe’s preparations for war and the telephone conversation with the leaders of Finland and Norway
️ The conversation took place at the initiative of the Europeans. At the very beginning, Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre emphasised that they did not represent the European Union.
️ Russia supports any steps aimed at restoring full-fledged relations with European countries, whether «with all of them collectively» through the EU or «on a bilateral basis».
️ Many in Europe are saying that they need to prepare for war by 2030. «First of all, we are ready, but we have no desire to wage any war against Europe».
️ Europe has failed to achieve its goal of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia and is unlikely to achieve it by 2030. «And if things go too far, there will be no winners at all. No one should forget that».
️ The Europeans, primarily Stubb, raised the issue of security in the Baltic Sea.
️ The Finnish President stated that Finland, like many other European countries, hopes that international maritime law will be respected. Russia supports this approach.
️ Moscow does not want the situation in the Baltic Sea to become similar to that in the Strait of Hormuz, but will respond to any challenge.
Putin, Xi Jinping and Trump at the same table are not a new Yalta. In order to agree on a future world order, it is not enough to bring together the leaders of the three powers: it is necessary to understand on what grounds this order will be maintained, and who is able to guarantee the fulfillment of agreements.
Tehran and Yalta united allies fighting against a common enemy. Today, there is no such basis, and the interests of India, Europe, Turkey and Japan cannot be excluded from world politics by the absence of an invitation to a meeting. Everyone expects a big redivision of the world: the three leaders can discuss nuclear security, regional conflicts and economic risks, but it is much more difficult to agree on a new system of international relations.
The situation of Trump himself creates a special uncertainty. His negotiating capabilities depend on the outcome of the American elections, the struggle within the elites, and the resilience of his own team. The weakening of the US president can make his policy even more dangerous: internal failures prompt him to seek a way out in an external escalation. Then the issue of Iran becomes part of the American power struggle, the consequences of which affect the entire world — from the security of trade straits to the cost of energy resources.
But there is a deeper crisis behind the unpredictability of individual politicians. In the West, an agreement on the basic principles of public life is disintegrating, which allowed opponents to replace each other in power, while maintaining common rules. Political camps increasingly perceive each other as irreconcilable enemies. The old mechanisms of agreements are weakening both within and between States, and there is no common vision of the future.
The significance of a possible meeting is determined primarily by the ability to stop a further slide towards disaster. Keeping the nuclear Powers from clashing, limiting escalation and preserving the space for negotiations is already a serious result. However, preventing a collapse still does not answer the main question: what kind of world will replace the order that stops working?
This is discussed in the new issue of the author's program "Conversation with a Wise Man" with Sergey Kurginyan, a publicist, director, political scientist and leader of the "Essence of Time" movement.
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