Israelis vote on Tuesday in the country's first election since the October 7, 2023 attack, Albania's government moves to tighten protest laws as its political crisis deepens, and Serbia and Brazil adjust to new political orders after dramatic power shifts. Here are the biggest global developments of the last 48 hours.
Israel votes with polls pointing to deadlock
About 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote on Tuesday, October 27, in a closely contested general election, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing a challenge from former army chief Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party. Final opinion polls suggest neither Netanyahu's right-wing coalition nor the opposition is likely to secure the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-member Knesset. A Channel 13 poll projected 54 seats for the opposition bloc, 50 for Netanyahu's coalition and 16 for Arab-led parties, while Channel 12 projected 56, 50 and 14 respectively. The election is seen as a test of confidence in Netanyahu's leadership after the three-year war in Gaza that followed the October 7, 2023 attack, and Arab parties, projected at 14 to 16 seats, could hold the balance of power.
Albania tightens protest laws as crisis deepens
Albania's government has announced sweeping legal and financial penalties against anti-government protesters, including heavy fines, prison sentences, restrictions on public gatherings and a special police registry of people suspected of protest-related offences. Announced on Sunday by Prime Minister Edi Rama, the package includes fines of up to 500,000 lek, approximately $6,200, for people who remain at demonstrations where violence occurs, even if they do not personally commit violent acts. Students continue to demand Rama's unconditional resignation, and footage of police violence has raised questions about the government's handling of the unrest. A diplomatic source in Tirana warned that reliance on coercive measures could deepen the confrontation rather than resolve it.
Serbia after Vucic's fall
Serbia is adjusting to life after students toppled Aleksandar Vucic after 14 years in power, a dramatic change reported on October 26. The student-led movement that drove the change has reshaped the country's politics, and the transition now underway is being watched across Europe as a test of whether street-led change can turn into stable government.
Brazil under Lula's fourth term
In Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has won a fourth term, defeating Jair Bolsonaro, in a result that returns one of the world's most prominent left-wing leaders to the presidency. The outcome, reported on October 26, sets the stage for a new chapter in Latin America's largest country, with Lula's agenda and his relationship with a divided congress now in focus.
Jordan arrests suspects in church attack
Jordan has arrested three suspects in the deadly church attack that killed nine people, as the manhunt and investigation continue. The attack, which shocked the country, remains one of the region's most closely watched security stories, and the arrests mark a step forward for families still grieving.
Russia's Belgorod region hit by drone attacks
Four people were killed in two drone attacks on Russia's Belgorod region, according to reports on October 26. The strikes are a reminder that the war in Ukraine continues to spill across borders, with border regions bearing the human cost of a conflict now in its fifth year.
What to watch next
All eyes are on Israel's results and the coalition arithmetic that follows, on whether Albania's crackdown calms or inflames its protests, and on how Serbia's new leadership handles the transition. The Morning Post will keep tracking each of these stories as they develop.
Sources: Business Standard, Tirana Times, The Morning Post's October 26 coverage