Reform UK councillor charged with 12 counts of rape and multiple other offences

George Madgwick, party leader on Hampshire county council, faces charges related to four teenagers between 2008 and 2021

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/nov/03/reform-uk-councillor-george-madgwick-charged-12-counts-rape

Serbia arrests owner of bank linked to Vučić regime

Alta Bank owner Davor Macura is accused of emptying bank’s vault after election loss of Serbian strongman

https://www.ft.com/content/af6b1093-0d68-47e6-999e-24b1161cf4ac

Hungary appoints Péter Fejes as new top prosecutor to head anti-graft drive after Orbán downfall

Hungarian lawmakers elected a new prosecutor general on Tuesday as part of Prime Minister Péter Magyar's push to hold nationalist ex-leader Viktor Orbán and his allies accountable for corruption.

https://www.euronews.com/2026/11/03/hungary-appoints-peter-fejes-as-new-top-prosecutor-to-head-anti-graft-drive-after-orban-do

How Badly Will the AfD Email Hack Hurt the German Far Right?

The disclosures, some of which directly contradict the party’s public statements, are drawing fresh scrutiny from journalists and German domestic intelligence.

https://newrepublic.com/article/217223/afd-email-hack-hurt-german-far-right

Hungary is not blocking Ukraine's EU accession talks, Kyiv's ambassador insists

Hungary has raised no new substantive objections to Ukraine's EU accession talks, Kyiv's new ambassador to the European Union, Taras Kachka, told Euronews, expressing confidence that the remaining two negotiating clusters could open before the end of the year.

https://www.euronews.com/2026/11/03/hungary-is-not-blocking-ukraines-eu-accession-talks-kyivs-ambassador-insists

Dutch MP proposes law banning 'harmful addictive design features' on all digital platforms

MP Barbara Kathmann tabled a proposal in the Dutch Parliament to end addictive design features such as endless scrolling, autoplay and manipulative algorithms for all online services including social media, gaming, dating apps and streaming platforms.

https://www.euronews.com/2026/11/02/dutch-mp-proposes-law-banning-harmful-addictive-design-features-on-all-digital-platforms

European force to hold first Ukraine support exercise in Poland

Around 2,800 troops from 10 European countries will take part in a military exercise in southeastern Poland from November 9 to 22, testing a multinational force designed to support Ukraine after a potential ceasefire. Led by France and Britain, the force aims to bolster Ukraine's security without taking on an offensive role.

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261103-european-force-to-hold-first-ukraine-support-exercise-in-poland

‘Traitors in every family’: Hungary to unmask communist-era informants and confront past

From 1945 to 1989 security police relied on tens of thousands of spies to suppress dissent. To rebuild trust, their files will finally be made public

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/02/hungary-informant-names-revealed-communist-era-past

US Pushes for Russia to Resume Gas Sales to Europe

US officials are promoting a plan for Russia to resume sales of natural gas to Europe via pipelines running through Ukraine.

The idea was promoted by US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff during trips to Moscow and Kyiv in September, and would involve selling Russian gas via a US intermediary to avoid European restrictions.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-02/us-pushes-for-russia-to-resume-gas-sales-to-europe-wsj-reports

Serbia shuts down bank favoured by Russians

Alta Bank is suspected of wiring large amounts of money out of the country after election loss of former president Aleksandar Vučić

https://www.ft.com/content/c478c8b6-789f-4253-8970-1244b93c1cce

Fact check: How Russia tries to influence US midterm elections

Fake videos show Hollywood celebrities denouncing US Democrats. Researchers say the clips are part of the Russian-linked Matryoshka disinformation campaign. Here's how the operation works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBLhE1EStYI

Russia ramps up disinformation war on UK with propaganda claiming Britain is ‘ungovernable and defenceless’

Putin’s campaign to erode trust and cause chaos has reached staggering levels amid Britain’s support for Ukraine and Russia’s closer relations with Donald Trump

https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/russian-disinformation-uk-putin-ukraine-b3066537.html

Fact check: Misleading France protest videos go viral

Weeks of student protests across France have fueled a wave of viral content online. But some of the most-shared videos and images are misleading.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/q0qXr_-g8Nc

Youth-led rallies sweep Europe

Protests in France have helped inspire youth demonstrations elsewhere in Europe, from Portugal and Italy to Germany. Germany saw particularly large rallies on Saturday, led by a youth initiative whose name roughly translates as “Gen Z has got this”.

https://www.france24.com/en/youth-led-rallies-sweep-europe

EU Commission: Polish Parliament has right to appoint judges to the Constitutional Court

The statement comes after a confrontation outside the Constitutional Tribunal building on Friday night, broadcast live on television, that has pushed a decade-old dispute into the wider European political debate.

https://www.euronews.com/2026/11/01/eu-commission-polish-parliament-has-right-to-appoint-judges-to-the-constitutional-court

'Gen Z' demonstrations across Germany demand more education funding

Police and protesters clashed Saturday in Germany where tens of thousands of young people took to the streets, inspired by similar movements in other European countries. Organized by the "GenZ regelt!" ("Gen Z has got this!") group, marches were held nationwide to demand more funding for education and to protest the high cost of living.

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261031-german-police-protesters-clash-after-gen-z-demos

Thousands of people continue to protest for affordable housing in Portuguese capital

Thousands of people took to the streets in Portugal once again to demand more affordable housing. The streets of Lisbon’s historic center filled with protesters holding signs criticizing the government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and calling for more housing.

https://apnews.com/video/thousands-of-people-continue-to-protest-for-affordable-housing-in-portuguese-capital-736068469d2f47fb86c7dffb18cfaf55

Mass protests sweep Italy during nationwide strike

Tens of thousands of people, mostly students and workers, ​took to the streets across Italy on Friday to demand ‌higher wages and stronger public services, protest against the rising cost of living and oppose increased military spending.

https://www.reuters.com/world/mass-protests-sweep-italy-during-nationwide-strike-2026-10-30/

Hundreds of thousands of protesters march across France for third week in a row

Cities across Europe faced wave of protests against rising cost of living.

https://www.politico.eu/article/france-youth-protests-cost-of-living-spread-europe/

Massive Gen Z protests set to sweep cities across Germany

Young people in Germany are taking to the streets in some 34 cities, calling for greater political say and a more hopeful future. The protests come amid a wave of youth demonstrations across Europe.

https://www.dw.com/en/massive-gen-z-protests-set-to-sweep-cities-across-germany/live-79814694