Swedish election is close race with 10 days to go, poll shows

🔮 France announces first curfews as government grapples with unrest PARIS - France announced partial curfews on Oct 19 as protesters blocked the entrance to the Louvre in Paris and authorities scrambled to stem discontent over living costs, after weekend demonstrations spilled into some of the worst street violence in recent years. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu did not rule out imposing a state of emergency after the interior minister said police “had lost control” during the unrest, which flared six months before France elects a successor to President Emmanuel Macron. With organisers calling for a new round of protests on Oct 24, Lecornu’s office said partial curfews would be enforced from 8pm to 6am local time on Oct 19 and 20 in four northern cities, including Lille, to protect businesses. “

🔮 In a statement, the ministry said the amount represents just over 1% of total primary expenditure subject to spending limits under Brazil's fiscal framework, adding such adjustments will be made while preserving both the overall spending cap and the government's primary budget target. •

🔮 Accounts found to have breached its rules could face permanent bans, it said.

🔮 Mackenzie and his co-accused will be given their sentence on Nov 6.

🔮 Dmitriev said he believed Zelenskiy's decision to criticise Trump had backfired, adding on X: "Zelensky overplayed his hand, and his hubris and attacks on President Trump will have significant consequences."

🔮 “Under this change, campaigns could use their opponents’ voice to send out a message that is, at best, disingenuous and, at worst, a blatant lie,” Schumer said.

🔮 DHS said DeepSeek models pose “multiple threat vectors” and raised concerns that use of the product “may result in the transfer of sensitive data to the PRC if used by US government employees or vendors”.

🔮 Egypt's parliament is expected to vote this week on whether to authorise the armed forces to help defend Saudi Arabia against attacks by Yemen's Houthis if Riyadh requests its support.

🔮 Thand Ringqvist will now explore a centrist alternative, Riksdag Speaker Andreas Norlen told a press conference, while adding that it was not clear who would become prime minister if the talks succeed.

🔮 US President Donald Trump said on Oct 19 that his administration would begin renovation work immediately on a historic Washington golf course that a federal judge had ordered could not proceed without prior court notification.