Elections

Italy's parliament has approved legislation paving the way for a return to nuclear power, nearly four decades after Italians voted to abandon it following the Chernobyl disaster. The move is part of a broader push to secure low-carbon energy supplies, and it has reignited debate in Italy over safety, cost and the country's energy future.

Ukraine carried out what is being described as a record-scale attack on Moscow, leaving parts of the Russian capital ablaze on the day Russians went to the polls. The strike marks one of the largest assaults on the city since the full-scale war began, and its timing on election day has drawn widespread attention to the conflict's escalation and its reach into the Russian heartland.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is seeking a final presidential term in Brazil's closely watched election, with reporting highlighting his lifelong focus on social issues as the core of his appeal. The vote is seen as a defining moment for the country, with Lula's track record on poverty reduction and social programmes central to his campaign message.

An investigation by The Jerusalem Post has found that social media accounts linked to Iran have been posing as Israelis in an effort to influence an election. The accounts reportedly adopted fake Israeli identities to spread content aimed at shaping voter opinion. The report highlights ongoing concerns about foreign interference in elections through coordinated inauthentic behaviour online.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has resigned ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for October, according to Reuters. The move comes as the country prepares to vote, and it is not yet clear whether Vucic intends to seek another office or influence the campaign from outside the presidency. Serbian politics has been tense in recent years, with regular protests and disputes over election conditions, so the resignation is drawing close attention at home and across the region.

Venezuela's president has returned from a visit to the United States without securing any agreements and without announcing a firm date for the country's elections, according to Reuters. The outcome leaves open questions about Venezuela's political timeline and its relations with Washington, and is drawing attention as observers watch for movement on both diplomatic and electoral fronts.

France's far right has made gains in indirect Senate elections, where mayors and local councillors choose half of the upper house's seats. The results point to the National Rally's continued expansion beyond its traditional strongholds. Observers see the vote as another sign of the party's growing normalization and mainstream acceptance in French politics.

Meta has blocked President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's Facebook page and campaign advertisements, with the suspension coming just two weeks ahead of Brazil's election. The move raises questions about how the platform regulates political accounts and campaign content in a major democracy, and why the restriction was imposed so close to voting day. The company's reasoning has not been made clear.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised opposition parties for uniting against him ahead of national elections. His comments reflect growing concern within his camp over a joint electoral challenge, as rival parties seek to pool support to end his long tenure in office. The remarks intensify what is shaping up as a sharply contested campaign in Israel.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic has resigned, according to a Reuters report, a move that paves the way for early elections in the country. The resignation marks a sudden turn in Serbian politics, and attention is now turning to when the vote will be held and who will compete to succeed him. Further details about the reasons behind the step and the timeline have not yet been reported.

Venezuela's President has concluded a visit to the United States without securing an agreement or announcing a date for the country's elections. The outcome leaves unresolved both diplomatic tensions and questions over the timeline for a vote that observers have been demanding. Analysts say the lack of a deal underscores the difficulty of reaching any breakthrough between the two governments, with Venezuelans at home still waiting for clarity on when they will go to the polls.

India's Election Commission is facing internal scrutiny, with reports that election commissioners themselves have raised questions over alleged irregularities concerning voter lists and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal. The development has intensified debate over the credibility of the electoral rolls ahead of polls, with opposition parties likely to seize on the apparent rift within the commission.

Experts warn that allies of Donald Trump positioned in key battleground states could exploit the period when midterm votes are counted to disrupt or challenge results. The concern is that loyalists in election offices or as poll watchers could amplify false fraud claims during the counting window, echoing efforts to overturn the 2020 election and undermining confidence in the midterms.

The US Supreme Court has ruled that states may use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of voters or voter registration applicants. The decision allows states to cross-check voter rolls against federal immigration records, a move supporters frame as election integrity enforcement and critics warn could lead to eligible citizens being wrongly purged from voter lists.

Venezuela's president has returned from a visit to the United States without securing any agreements or announcing a firm date for the country's next elections. The lack of concrete outcomes leaves unresolved questions over the election timetable and bilateral tensions between Caracas and Washington, with observers watching closely for any follow-up diplomatic steps.

India's electoral process is facing unprecedented scrutiny, with growing debate over public faith in how the country's elections are conducted. Questions are being raised about the independence and transparency of election institutions, prompting national and international discussion about whether trust in the world's largest democratic exercise has been shaken and what reforms might follow.

Election experts are warning that allies of Donald Trump could use the so-called counting window during the US midterms — the period after polls close while votes are still being tallied — to challenge or disrupt election results. The warning comes as officials brace for delays in counting and potential legal and political pressure, revamping concerns about efforts to contest outcomes reminiscent of the 2020 election.

Fresh warnings received ahead of the October 7 Hamas attack have put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's responsibility for the failures of that day back at the center of Israel's election campaign. Commentators argue the new material reignites debate over whether the government ignored advance intelligence, turning security accountability into a central election issue.

A Supreme Court ruling concerning a disputed election may conflict with state law, according to reporting from Honolulu Civil Beat. The potential clash between federal and state legal authority has drawn attention, with observers weighing how the decision could affect election administration and the balance of power between courts and state legislatures.

Pope Francis met with victims of sexual abuse and called for 'wise leaders' to take responsibility, comments coming as France prepares for an upcoming presidential election. The meeting and his remarks have drawn attention for linking moral leadership to the political moment, with observers weighing what influence his words may carry on voters.

Israel has banned Arab political parties from contesting the upcoming election, a move set to remove Arab representation from the ballot. Reports are examining which parties are affected and the implications for Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up roughly a fifth of the population. Critics describe the ban as anti-democratic, while its impact on the election's outcome remains a key question.

With crime dominating Brazil's election campaign, residents of Rio de Janeiro are organizing their own responses to gang activity in neighborhoods where state protection falls short. The issue has become central to the presidential race, with candidates' security policies under scrutiny amid persistent violence in the city's favelas and peripheries.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for states to run voter citizenship checks using the federal SAVE database ahead of the midterm elections. The decision lets election officials verify the citizenship status of registered voters against federal records. Supporters say it protects election integrity, while voting-rights groups warn it could lead to eligible voters being wrongly flagged or purged from rolls close to the vote.

Indian news channel News18 is running live coverage bundling several major stories: a controversy involving India's Election Commission, remarks by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a reported attack by Yemen's Houthis, and escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. The live broadcast combines domestic Indian political news with international conflict developments in the Middle East.

The first results from France's Senate elections have been published online, according to an announcement from the Senate itself. The indirect elections, held by an electoral college of local representatives, determine the upper house's composition. Early results are being closely watched for what they indicate about the balance of power in the chamber.

Attention is turning to the meaning of a recent election result, with commentators and the public weighing in on its implications for governance and policy. The question of what the outcome signals has drawn broad engagement as voters and analysts alike try to interpret the result's significance for the country's political direction.

Opinion polls ahead of Israel's upcoming Knesset election are showing widely divergent results, leaving the likely outcome uncertain. With surveys differing on party support and potential coalition scenarios, analysts and voters are watching closely as campaigning intensifies and the vote approaches.

A senior Hamas leader has dismissed Israel's election, saying its outcome will bring no change for Palestinians. The comments, reported by Le Monde, reflect Hamas's longstanding position that Israeli politics offers no path to Palestinian statehood or relief from occupation, regardless of which coalition forms the next government.

Maine Senator Susan Collins is running for re-election in her first race since the Supreme Court overturned abortion rights, a decision she defended with her vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The issue has become a central line of attack against her, with Democrats arguing her vote directly enabled the ruling. Collins, known for her swing-vote influence, faces renewed scrutiny over abortion policy in a state where the issue resonates strongly with voters.

During a hearing on the Election Commission, the Supreme Court discussed the argument that the body must not only be independent but must also be seen to be independent. Reports of the arguments in court have drawn wide attention in India, with the exchange feeding into ongoing public debate over the independence of election administration and how the Commission's credibility is perceived.

The Supreme Court has rejected a Republican-drawn congressional map in Missouri, handing Democrats a win in the ongoing battle over redistricting. The ruling could force new district lines ahead of upcoming elections and affects the balance of a state where Republicans currently dominate the congressional delegation. Observers are weighing what the decision means for Democratic prospects in Missouri and for the broader national fight over gerrymandering.

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to enshrine stricter neutrality rules in law, a measure that would have restricted cooperation with NATO and other military alliances. The result keeps Switzerland's existing neutral status flexible, allowing continued security cooperation with Western partners. Supporters of the initiative had argued for firmer neutrality, while opponents warned it would isolate the country as European security concerns grow.

The Indian Express has published a special investigation into the Election Commission of India, reporting that the Election Commissioners are divided on key issues concerning the body's functioning. The report draws on findings from inside the commission, a constitutionally empowered body that has faced growing public scrutiny over its independence and conduct of elections. The story has drawn wide attention amid ongoing debate about electoral integrity in India.

Germany's CDU has been pushed out of power in state elections, with the AfD and Die Linke emerging as the winners in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin respectively. Attention now turns to coalition negotiations, as no party has a straightforward path to government and analysts are debating who will govern the two states and how the results reshape national politics ahead of the federal race.

Palestinian political factions have gathered in Cairo for talks ahead of the Palestinian Legislative Council elections scheduled for November. The meetings, hosted with Egyptian backing, focus on preparations for the vote, the first PLC election in years, and whether rival groups including Fatah and Hamas can agree on terms for holding it.

India's Election Commission has ordered a review of recent changes to the country's voter rolls, according to Reuters. The move comes amid ongoing scrutiny of electoral lists in India, where revisions to voter registration have been a recurring point of political debate. Details of the scope of the review and which states or constituencies are affected were not immediately available.

Brazil's government has extended measures providing relief on fuel prices, moving shortly before the country's election. The decision keeps pump prices lower for consumers, and it is drawing scrutiny from analysts who weigh the cost to public finances against the political benefit of easing cost-of-living pressures at a sensitive moment in the campaign.

A new Israeli election poll shows former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot tied with Benjamin Netanyahu, while far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reaches a record high in support. The figures point to a fluid political landscape ahead of the vote, with the far right gaining strength even as Netanyahu's own standing faces a serious challenge.

Recent election surveys in Israel are split over whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing bloc can secure the 61 seats needed for a Knesset majority. Some polls put the coalition within reach of a governing majority, while others show it falling short, leaving the shape of the next government uncertain ahead of the vote.

Democrats are being urged to offer a positive agenda rather than simply opposing Donald Trump as the US midterm elections approach. Commentators are weighing what the party is getting right and wrong in its messaging, with the warning that being 'anti-Trump' alone is not enough to win over voters.

The Rassemblement National will form a parliamentary group in the French Senate for the first time, with at least 10 senators following indirect elections. The party won a seat in Gironde, another in Var, and two seats in Bouches-du-Rhône. Commentators describe the milestone as a first step in the far-right party's institutional expansion, long dominated by mainstream parties.

France is holding its Senate elections today, with 178 of the 348 seats in the upper house being renewed. The grand electors, drawn from local elected officials, are casting their votes, with the far-right RN in a position of strength in several areas. The left says it expects little from the vote, since indirect elections by local officials limit its chances.

France's far right has gained ground in the country's indirect Senate elections, where senators are chosen by an electoral college of local officials rather than by direct public vote. The results point to the continued rise of the far right in French politics, adding to pressure on President Emmanuel Macron's camp ahead of future national contests.

CNN's Harry Enten rounds up the biggest stories in American politics, covering key Senate showdowns, signs of potential Democratic "blue waves," and allegations of corruption involving Donald Trump. The roundup uses polling and data analysis to frame what voters are talking about heading into the next election cycle, drawing heavy attention from viewers following the 2026 midterms.

Donald Trump says he held a phone conversation with Venezuelan official Delcy Rodriguez about elections in Venezuela. Details of what was discussed have not been disclosed, and the Venezuelan government has not confirmed the call. The reported contact comes amid ongoing international scrutiny of Venezuela's electoral process and strained relations between Washington and Caracas.

The US Supreme Court has for the third time declined to let Missouri put in place a new congressional map expected to help Republicans win more House seats. The order leaves the map on hold while litigation continues, and it marks repeated refusals by the justices to intervene on the state's behalf, keeping the redrawn districts out of use for now.

A far-left party has won the Berlin election, with the nationalisation of housing as a central pledge. The result, reported by Reuters, signals strong voter support in the German capital for radical measures to address the housing crisis, including taking private rental stock into public ownership. Commenters are weighing what the win means for German politics and housing policy elsewhere.

The US Supreme Court has cleared the way for states to use the federal SAVE database to verify the citizenship status of registered voters. The decision permits election officials to cross-check voter rolls against immigration records, a move backers say protects election integrity and critics warn could lead to eligible voters being wrongfully purged. The ruling is drawing sharp reactions from voting rights groups and election officials across the country.

India's Election Commission has ordered a review of recent changes to voter rolls, amid ongoing disputes over the accuracy and fairness of electoral lists. The move comes as opposition parties have criticised deletions and additions of voters, arguing the revisions could disenfranchise legitimate electors. Officials say the review is intended to ensure rolls are complete and error-free ahead of upcoming polls.

French voters are heading to the polls in the 2026 Senate elections, with grand electors in around sixty departments called to cast ballots. The vote is the last nationwide election before the 2027 presidential election, giving it added political weight. French media are providing live coverage of the results and what they mean for the balance of the upper house.

Fatah officials say talks being held in Cairo may lead to a delay in the planned Palestinian elections. The discussions in the Egyptian capital are reportedly focused on the electoral process, and sources within the faction suggest the vote's timetable could be pushed back as a result. The potential postponement is drawing attention given the significance of the elections for Palestinian politics.

Election forecasters are pushing back on concerns among Democrats that recent polling giving their party an advantage amounts to a temporary 'sugar-high' that will fade before election day. According to The Hill, the models and analysts tracking the races do not currently reflect the pullback Democrats worry about, though they caution the picture could still shift as the vote approaches.

The Gaza election body says it is planning up to 110 polling centers, with security identified as the main challenge to holding the vote. The electoral commission is working on arrangements despite the difficult conditions on the ground, and officials stress that safety for voters and staff remains the decisive factor in whether the centers can open as planned.

A Maricopa County official is speaking publicly about how the Arizona county is working to address mistrust in its election security, according to NPR. Maricopa has been a focal point of election fraud claims since 2020, when it underwent a widely criticized partisan review of ballots. The official's comments address efforts to rebuild voter confidence through transparency and public outreach ahead of upcoming elections.

Fabien Roussel, leader of the French Communist Party, has promised to avoid harsh attacks on Jean-Luc Mélenchon during the presidential campaign. His campaign director, senator Ian Brossat, told La Tribune that "we will not fall into aggression", signalling an effort to keep leftist infighting civil even as the two rivals compete for the same electorate.

Attention in France is turning to the 2027 presidential election, with early polls pointing to a possible face-off between Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Commentary is focusing on the political dynamics behind such a duel, including the strength of each camp's electorate and what it would mean for the country's future direction.

With early voting now underway, election officials are publicly working to reassure voters that the process is secure and results will be trustworthy. They are emphasizing safeguards in place for ballot handling and counting, aiming to counter lingering public doubts about election integrity ahead of Election Day.

Republicans are redirecting campaign funds into dozens of US House districts that had previously been considered safe seats, according to Reuters. The spending shift suggests party strategists see unexpected vulnerability ahead of the elections, and are moving resources to defend districts that were once assumed secure rather than focusing only on competitive races.

The US Postal Service says it will not deliver mail ballots in states that refuse to hand over voter lists, a requirement tied to a proposal pushed by President Trump. The stand-off puts election officials and the agency on a collision course ahead of upcoming votes, raising concerns about ballot access and administration in affected states.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has accused Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara of politically motivated interference, after she ordered a freeze on planning approvals for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank. Smotrich, who oversees settlement policy, claims the move is designed to influence the upcoming election. The dispute deepens the ongoing conflict between the government and the attorney general over settlement expansion and the rule of law.

Public confusion and anxiety about US elections are rising, and analysts are asking whether those feelings will keep voters away from the polls. The concern centres on how uncertainty over election rules, candidates and confidence in results could depress participation, making turnout a key question heading into voting.

Amid the ongoing controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, BJP leader Abhijeet Dipke has made a major announcement concerning Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The development places the Election Commission at the centre of political attention, with the SIR exercise already drawing criticism from opposition parties over its impact on voters in poll-bound states.

Swiss voters have rejected a referendum proposal that would have imposed tighter rules on the country's long-standing neutrality, according to Al Jazeera. The vote means Switzerland's neutral stance, which has shaped its foreign policy for centuries, will not be further constrained by law. The outcome matters amid ongoing debate in Europe over whether neutral states should take clearer positions on the war in Ukraine and broader security questions.

Israel is heading into an election with attention fixed on whether Binyamin Netanyahu can hold on to power. Poll tracking shows the race being watched closely, with commentators weighing whether the long-serving leader and his coalition can secure enough seats to stay in office or whether rivals will edge him out.

An Arizona election official spoke with NPR about how the state is working to counter public mistrust in election security. The discussion focused on measures election offices are taking to reassure voters that results are accurate and processes are secure, amid ongoing skepticism about election integrity in Arizona and across the United States.

House Democrats are preparing an extensive oversight agenda targeting the Trump administration should they win control of the chamber in the upcoming elections. Party members say they would use subpoena power and committee investigations to scrutinise administration policies and conduct. The plan signals that a Democratic House majority would put the White House under sustained congressional examination.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has banned online gambling ahead of the country's presidential election, according to a BBC report. The move, announced on the same day the ban was enacted, is expected to become a talking point in the election campaign, with gambling regulation emerging as a live political issue in Brazil.

California's state Supreme Court has ruled that a county sheriff violated election law by seizing ballots. The decision establishes that the sheriff's actions during an election investigation were unlawful, and it is drawing attention to the limits of law enforcement authority over election materials in the state.

The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has emerged as the biggest winner in Morocco's parliamentary elections, but without securing an outright majority. The result leaves the party needing coalition partners to govern, and attention now turns to negotiations over forming a new government.

The Trump-backed SAVE America Act would require voters to show photo ID and provide documentary proof of US citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, when registering to vote in federal elections. Supporters say the measure protects election integrity, while critics argue it could disenfranchise eligible voters who lack easy access to citizenship documents.