Overnight counts from Israel reversed exit polls, giving Netanyahu's bloc 54 seats to Eisenkot's 47-49, Likud first but short of 61, with Arab lists at 17-19 as potential kingmakers. Netanyahu promised a strong right-wing government while Trump claimed credit for the comeback.
Mid-morning attention shifted to Spain, where two high-speed trains collided on the Madrid-Andalusia line near Toledo, carriages falling down an embankment. The toll rose through the day to at least 68 dead and over 150 injured, with authorities citing human error. Seven Italians were aboard, three women reported missing.
In Milan a judge refused to validate the detention of Youssef Siher, ruling he never advocated violence, prompting Meloni to call the decision shameful.
In the afternoon the cabinet approved the 26-billion-euro 2027 budget, extending the 33% Irpef bracket to 55,000 euros and creating a 100-euro yearly pension fund for newborns, while postponing the energy-bills decree.