From a terror attack near Paris to Israeli demolitions in the West Bank and a tariff U-turn driven by the US midterms, the last 48 hours have delivered some of the year's most consequential developments. Here is The Morning Post's roundup of the biggest global events — wars, protests, terror attacks, and major diplomatic moves — updated October 24, 2026.
Macron Calls Trappes Shooting a 'Racist Terrorist Attack' as France Braces for Protests
President Emmanuel Macron has declared the deadly shooting near Paris a "racist terrorist attack" after one person was killed and five wounded in a series of attacks; the suspected gunman has been apprehended, according to BBC News. The attack comes as France prepares for another day of nationwide protests — a week after nationwide unrest — with some 70,000 officers deployed. Paris St-Germain's Ligue 1 match against Lyon was moved back 24 hours as the capital prepared for the weekend demonstrations. Macron had earlier vowed to ban "illegitimate" protests and blamed "seditious" far-left elements for the unrest, language that has itself inflamed the standoff between the government and demonstrators.
Israel Demolishes Buildings in Hebron, Raids Across West Bank
Israeli forces have begun demolishing Palestinian buildings in Hebron after two Israeli soldiers were shot dead by two Palestinian gunmen at a checkpoint outside the West Bank city on Friday morning, the BBC reports. Al Jazeera reports Israeli forces raided at least 15 towns across the northern West Bank, detaining dozens of Palestinians, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a full lockdown of the occupied West Bank. Israeli bulldozers demolished a three-storey building in Hebron, with families given five minutes to collect their belongings, and hundreds of Palestinian families were ordered to evacuate homes in the Ein Deir Bahha area. The Israeli army said the Hebron operation would last "for several days."
Trump Warns of New Iran Strikes, Threatens Cuba
US President Donald Trump has warned Washington could relaunch strikes against Iran, saying he would order "another little Epic Fury" if provoked, and threatened Cuba — saying the US will "take care of Cuba" on its way back from Iran — during a midterm-elections rally in Florida, IndiaTV News reported on October 24. "We'll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran. Those beautiful ships, they'll pass Cuba," Trump told the crowd, adding that US warships would stop off the Cuban coast. Iran has warned the US against fresh strikes and said it is ready for a counteroffensive if provoked. Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez rejected the warning on X, saying Cuba's coastline has "razor-sharp limestone spikes, an inhospitable environment for those who make it to our shores with hostile purposes." Trump's remarks came as Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Cubans to form a "discreet partnership" with the CIA — and Trump has repeatedly called for a leadership change in Havana.
Ukraine Confirms Ceasefire in Russian-Occupied Oleshky
Ukraine and Russia have confirmed a truce in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, where residents had been eating garden weeds to survive, the BBC reports — with the White House saying Melania Trump brokered the ceasefire. Separately, Ukraine says Starlink access remains restricted for its military despite Trump's claim the limits were lifted, with President Zelensky saying the technology limits continue to affect Ukrainian forces.
US Eases Some Canada Tariffs as House Votes to Overturn Them
The White House will lift tariffs on some Canadian goods from October 30 — easing duties on certain machinery while placing them on other products such as carpets — as midterm elections loom, the BBC reports. In a parallel move, the US House voted to overturn Trump's tariffs on Canada, with six Republican lawmakers joining Democrats to back the resolution.
Trump Cuts Some Canada Tariffs to Boost Collins Ahead of Midterms
President Donald Trump signed an order Friday removing 50% tariffs on some Canadian agricultural and forestry products — plywood sheets, paper products, certain machinery, refrigeration equipment, packing crates and seaweed — effective October 30, four days before the November 3 midterms, the Wall Street Journal reported. The move is aimed at aiding Maine Senator Susan Collins, locked in a tight re-election race with Democrat Troy Jackson, who has made the trade war a central campaign issue. The White House offset the relief by adding carpets, paints, shampoos, cocoa powder and other goods to the 50% tariff list. In a parallel development, the US House voted to overturn Trump's tariffs on Canada entirely, with six Republicans joining Democrats.
Serbia Election: Student Movement Takes Vucic to the Wire
The Student List has emerged from almost two years of anti-corruption protests to form the biggest challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic's rule in a neck-and-neck election, the BBC reports. The vote is being watched as the most consequential test of Vucic's long rule — a result the students see as a referendum on corruption and a government they accuse of state capture, while Vucic's camp frames the election as a choice between stability and chaos.
What to Watch Next
France's Saturday protests and the Trappes terror investigation will dominate the weekend news cycle. The Oleshky ceasefire's durability remains uncertain, Trump's Iran rhetoric keeps oil markets on edge, and Serbia's election outcome could reshape Balkan politics. The Morning Post will update these stories as they develop.
Sources: The Wall Street Journal, CNA, IndiaTV News, Al Jazeera, BBC News