Georgia’s Opposition at Risk: The Constitutional Court resumed hearings on a ruling-party bid to ban five opposition parties, a case that could sharply narrow political competition. Portugal’s Budget Showdown: Parliament began debating next year’s spending plans as housing protests grow; prices have surged 147% since 2015, and President António José Seguro has called a Council of State meeting. Israel Votes: Netanyahu faces a tight parliamentary race, with his record on the 2023 Hamas attacks and subsequent wars shaping the campaign. Election Shifts: Serbia’s student movement won a preliminary 52.65% of the vote, ending 14 years of rule by Aleksandar Vučić’s party; observers reported serious shortcomings in the election. Brazil’s Lula won a fourth presidential term, but the opposition will control Congress. US Midterms: Trump is campaigning for Republicans as cost-of-living concerns and the Iran war weigh on the party’s prospects.