🇺🇸⚡️ — Six former senior U.S. officials tell Reuters that governments led by both presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden have asked SpaceX to enable and disable Starlink in various global locations in line with U.S. foreign policy objectives.

The Biden administration had SpaceX disable some Starlink terminals to stop Hezbollah and Ansarallah from using it for communications and enable it to provide internet access for Iranians during its Internet shutdown and for Ukraine to support its armed forces against Russia.

The Trump administration likewise had SpaceX enable Starlink in 2025 and 2026 during the American/Israeli wars with Iran to assist Iranian protesters with internet access and communications.

🇩🇪 Germany has signed additional gas supply contracts worth almost €245 million due to low storage levels, according to Reuters.

As of October 21st, German gas storage facilities were only 61.1% full, compared to 75.4% for the same period last year.

The Association of German Underground Gas Storage Operators (INES) has warned that gas storage facilities in Germany could be completely empty as early as the beginning of February 2027 if the upcoming winter is cold.

🔗 https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germany-secures-extra-winter-gas-supplies-storage-levels-lag-2026-10-23/

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️ — Reporter: How and when do you see the war ending?

Trump: I see it ending soon. I see it ending one way or another, through agreement or otherwise.

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️ — Reporter: Is there anything you would have done differently in the last two years?

Trump: I had to attack Iran, or they would have had a nuclear weapon. If they had a nuclear weapon, you and I might not be here right now talking.

🇺🇸⚔️🇮🇷 US Tanker Fleet Update 21/OCT/2026

Overall numbers across CENTCOM and Europe have now stabilised back to the levels they were at back at the start of September, around 190-195.

There are a few tankers dotted around at other sites temporarily (Glasgow Prestwick and Aviano) during ongoing exercises or in preparation for other movements.

The number of KC-135 and KC-46 tankers on their 2nd or 3rd return trip to CENTCOM/Europe continues to grow, now exceeding 90 aircraft.

🔗 Defence Geek

—🔴 JUST IN: A demonstration is reported to be underway in Clermont-Ferrand, where authorities have banned gatherings in the city centre for Saturday.

➡️ Trade unions had maintained their call to protest and challenged the ban in court.

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

—🔴 JUST IN: Around 150 people gathered near Lyon 3 University on Saturday morning.

➡️ Police fired tear gas to disperse them after protesters blocked traffic, an AFP journalist reported.

➡️ Demonstrations are banned across a large part of central Lyon today.

🔗 AFP report

✅ @balkanspectator — the leading Balkan news channel in English

🇫🇷 French city of Orléans imposes a two-night curfew on children under 15 ahead of protests against the right-wing National Rally congress

Security measures tighten ahead of the protests, with bridges blocked, shops secured and streets cleared

🔗 Anadolu English (@anadoluagency)

🇫🇷 The African mayor of the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, Bally Bagayoko, was in Orléans today and led the counterprotest against National Rally.

The counterprotest was far below the 30k number promised by France Unbowed (La France Insoumise, LFI).

Despite the tense situation, no violence was reported in Orléans so far.

@CIG_telegram

🇫🇷 The LFI mayor of Saint-Denis, Bally Bagayoko sides with Emmanuel Macron in calling the Trappes shooting yesterday a "racist attack" despite no evidence confirming that.

Bagayoko: "Wherever those who stand up against racism to say that France is anti-fascist, I will be by their side (...) This is the umpteenth racist attack that comes to tell us that from now on we must act."

@CIG_telegram

🇫🇷 The Yellow Vests announced they plan a new series of protests across France on October 31st against the "increasing authoritarian nature" of the administration of Emmanuel Macron and government of Sébastien Lecornu.

🔗 https://www.franceinfo.fr/societe/manifestations/les-gilets-jaunes-appellent-a-une-nouvelle-mobilisation-le-31-octobre-et-denoncent-une-derive-autoritaire_8252203.html

🇫🇷 The Loiret Prefecture estimates that 11k people are attending the counterprotest against the National Rally congress in Orléans.

Besides the mayor of Saint-Denis, Bally Bagayoko representing LFI, other notable French politicians attending the protest are:

🔶 Olivier Faure, the First Secretary of the French Socialist Party

🔶 Sophie Binet, the General Secretary of the Confédération Générale du Travail (General Confederation of Labour)

The manifestation was orderly and no arrests were made by the local police.

The Loiret Prefecture deployed 3000 policemen including riot police and armoured cars.

@CIG_telegram