Links to reports from Reuters and the Associated Press and to a discussion from Consortium News; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials. (Scroll up or down for this date’s GAZA, IRAN and UKRAINE, and down for ALL OF IT 10-31-26.) — MCM

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White House maps path to govern without Congress if Democrats win, by Nandita Bose and Tim Reid | Reuters  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s White House has spent months preparing for a possible Democratic takeover of Congress, developing plans to keep advancing major parts of his agenda through executive power while bracing for investigations of . . . READ MORE . . .

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French protest violence eases while scattered riots hit Germany ahead of school return, by Angela Charlton and Kirsten Grieshaber | AP  PARIS — French authorities expressed relief today after mass protests over rising living costs resulted in less violence than previous weekends. But police expect new demonstrations as high schools at the heart of the movement reopen Monday after their autumn break. Germany faced . . . Click HERE for report with video and photos. Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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The World This Week — Is the Trump era over? Joe Lauria of CN, retired CIA analyst Ray McGovern and former U.S. Marine Corps counterintelligence officer (and former U.N. weapons inspector) Scott Ritter on * prospects for ending the Iran and Ukraine wars, * related autumn 2026 diplomacy, * post-election maneuvering in Israel, * post-midterms possibilities in the United States, * street protests in France and Germany, * “Russiagate” in Europe, * tourism last week in Paris, and * dockworkers’ work stoppages in dozens of countries over Gaza. Click HERE for video of talk.