Europe

• Serbia: Vučić defeated in election, new leadership from students 29 October 2026
  The Student List party has defeated president Aleksandar Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party in elections following widespread protests against corruption and government accountability failures. Vučić’s years in power were marked by accusations of increasing authoritarianism, restrictions on civil society, and close relations with Russia and China. His defeat has raised hopes…
• Spain: another high-speed train crash causes at least 68 deaths 29 October 2026
  At least 68 people have died and eighty have been injured after a high-speed train collided with a stationary train south of Madrid. Fifteen people were seriously injured, while rescuers continued searching wrecked carriages for additional victims. Transport minister Óscar Puente said that the train had been authorised to proceed…
• Ukraine: humanitarian aid set to reach Oleshky as truce holds for three days 29 October 2026
  A temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine around the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky has held for three days, raising hopes that desperately needed humanitarian assistance can reach about two thousand trapped civilians on 30 October. The six-day agreement has allowed military engineers to begin clearing landmines from roads ahead of…
• Lithuania: huge illegal synthetic drugs operation uncovered by police 23 October 2026
  Lithuanian police have uncovered one of the largest synthetic drug laboratories in the Baltic region, seizing substantial quantities of illegal substances and chemicals near Vilnius. Investigators recovered more than 500 kg of methamphetamine, 300 kg of amphetamine, 4.5 kg of synthetic cathinone, and over 3,000 litres of materials used to…
• Vatican: Pope Leo's successful cancer treatment 23 October 2026
  Pope Leo XIV will not require further cancer treatment following surgery to remove a malignant growth from his right lung, according to doctors at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. Tests confirmed that the 71-year-old pontiff had a localised lung adenocarcinoma, which was successfully removed during a ninety-minute operation on 13 October. Surgeons…