From a looming war in the Gulf to a wave of protests across Europe and an election that could end Benjamin Netanyahu's political career, the last 48 hours have been packed with fast-moving global events. Here are the biggest developments, and what to watch next.
Iran braces for a possible new US-Israeli attack
Tehran's internal intelligence assessment puts a high likelihood on large-scale bombing beginning before Israel's October 27 elections, according to a Drop Site report citing a senior Iranian official, who said Israel would fire the first shots at Iran's newly deployed air defenses and the US would target southern defenses along the Strait of Hormuz, possibly attempting to seize an island. The White House denied any strike is planned before America's midterm elections, while a source briefed on war planning told NPR that the US and Israel are preparing for a possible attack in early November, after the November 3 midterms. The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, carrying roughly 10,000 sailors and Marines, are heading to the region, and the US is trimming embassy staffing in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the UAE over assessed Iranian threats.
Protests sweep Europe as France arrests nearly 1,000
A wave of demonstrations over the cost of living, inequality, housing, and opposition to war rolled across France, Italy, Albania, Spain, and Portugal on Saturday. In France, nearly 1,000 people were arrested, with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez saying the figure would rise significantly; the government put turnout at 410,000 while organizers claimed nearly 800,000. Police used water cannons and tear gas in Paris after projectiles were thrown. In Italy, clashes erupted in Rome, Bologna, and Turin, with six people taken to hospital in Bologna, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence. In Albania's capital Tirana, protesters set buildings ablaze as police deployed water cannons.
Israel votes on Tuesday as thousands rally against Netanyahu
Three days before Israel's general election, thousands marched in Tel Aviv in an anti-government demonstration organized by the October Council, a group founded by families of victims and hostages from the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Leaders of the four main opposition parties joined, including former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who is neck and neck with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the polls. The latest poll from public broadcaster KAN gave Eisenkot's bloc 52 seats and Netanyahu's 50 in the 120-seat parliament, with neither side holding a majority. The vote is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership.
Saudi Arabia says Houthi missiles targeted Mecca and Medina
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted two ballistic missiles allegedly launched by Yemen's Houthis toward the Mecca and Medina regions, while the Houthis denied targeting Islam's holiest cities, calling Riyadh's allegations a "grievous falsehood." Separately, Riyadh's airport resumed flight operations after a two-week closure linked to Houthi attacks, a sign of how far the regional confrontation has disrupted daily life in the Gulf.
Typhoon Champi moves on, leaving Taiwan to clean up
Emergency crews in Taiwan scrambled on Saturday to restore power to tens of thousands of homes after Typhoon Champi battered the island. One person was killed and more than 500 injured since Thursday, and around 56,000 households were still without power on Saturday, down from more than 146,000 at the storm's peak. More than 5,000 people had been evacuated ahead of the storm, which toppled trees, brought down power lines, and dumped nearly 24 centimeters of rain on Miaoli county. Taiwan's Central Weather Administration lifted its land and sea warnings on Saturday evening as the storm, briefly a super typhoon with winds near 300 kilometers per hour, weakened and headed toward China and Japan.
Jordan manhunt continues after church funeral massacre
Jordan's security forces are still hunting the gunmen who opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud in Karak governorate on Friday, killing nine people and wounding 40. King Abdullah II vowed the attack would be met with the "harshest retaliation" and ordered security forces to respond with an "iron fist." No group has claimed responsibility, and authorities have not publicly named suspects. The US embassy in Amman said security had been stepped up at malls, embassies, and other locations across the country, and Jordan began three days of national mourning on October 23.
What to watch next
All eyes are on Tuesday's Israeli election and whether the vote, or the days around it, changes the calculus on Iran. In Europe, the question is whether the protest wave grows or fades after a weekend of mass arrests. And in Jordan and Taiwan, the focus shifts to manhunts and recovery, two slow stories that will test whether this weekend's shocks harden into longer crises.
Sources: The Times of India, Europe Says / ANI, AFP via Bangsar, The Manila Times, Reuters via Tribune.