Fresh protests in Tirana, despite new measures to curb unrest

🔮 Opinion poll puts Le Pen in the lead The street turmoil has given Le Pen a boost and an opinion poll published on Oct 25 put her on 32% to 33.5%, well ahead of her nearest rival, hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon on 17%, as voters desert mainstream parties for the political extremes. Surveys suggest she would easily defeat Melenchon in a run-off ballot, expected to be held in early May.

🔮 Thousands protest Czech government's public media overhaul after rushed vote PRAGUE, Oct 25 - Thousands protested in Prague on Sunday after government lawmakers gave initial backing to public media funding changes in a rare overnight vote despite criticism the overhaul will damage media independence.

🔮 Salvini said the first item on his agenda would be the approval of Italy's 2027-2029 budget bill on Tuesday •

🔮 This is a great tragedy for all the city's residents," Belgorod's mayor, Valentin Demidov, wrote on state-backed messaging app MAX.

🔮 Saudi says Riyadh airport partly reopens despite renewed Houthi threats but little traffic AI generated Saudi Arabia said its main airport resumed operations at two terminals on Oct 25 even as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis vowed to keep striking the facility, saying it remained a “military target”. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh had halted operations on Oct 10 following an attack claimed by the Houthis that killed 13 people, the deadliest in the kingdom in more than a decade. Saudi Arabia intercepted another wave of missiles and drones on Oct 25 as fighting with the militant group continued unabated. The conflict has become an increasingly destabilising element in the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, turning US ally Saudi Arabia into a pressure point in the wider war. Flight tracking data shows little traffic After the Saudi authorities announced the partial resumption of operations at the airport, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree vowed the facility would “never be safe” and urged airlines, airport staff and travellers not to use it.

🔮 Ackman wrote on X that from the perspective of someone who had an understanding of how Israel was perceived in the United States, "Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have caused Israel enormous reputational damage with their statements and actions." BOTH MINISTERS HAVE FACED SANCTIONS The founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, who praised Netanyahu last week, said a government without the two ministers would send a message that Israel was "turning a new page." "This will allow Israel to rebuild lost credibility, increase the opportunity for an expansion of the Abraham Accords, and enjoy a better relationship with Democrats and Republicans and Americans at large," he said.

🔮 He waved and smiled to the crowds after reaching the window unaided — the same spot where he announced on Oct 11 that he would have an operation to remove a small growth on his lung, in the first health scare of his papacy. “I'm making a heartfelt appeal for the hostilities to stop, so that the people in Yemen and across the entire region can live in peace,” he said in a very firm and clear voice.

🔮 The SUD Education teaching union said it would join the October 31 demonstration while the large CGT union said it would decide during the week.

🔮 Netanyahu rebuked for plan to use crypto to bypass economic sanctions JERUSALEM, Oct 25 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces re-election this week, is drawing criticism from economists and political rivals after suggesting Israel could use cryptocurrency to help shield its economy from potential international sanctions.

🔮 We will cut red tape like it's never been cut before," Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson said in his victory speech •