Overnight counting in Israel overturned Tuesday's exit polls, with Netanyahu's bloc moving narrowly ahead of the opposition as Likud emerged largest, yet still short of a majority. Dutch papers tracked the tally from a quarter to 85 percent counted, shifting focus to coalition arithmetic and the decisive role of Arab parties, with opposition figure Golan urging cooperation.
By mid-morning that count was displaced by a collision between two high-speed trains south of Madrid. Initial reports of ten dead rose through the day to 68, with more than 80 injured and Spain declaring three days of mourning. Attention turned to cause, with ministers saying a stationary train was rammed after traffic control authorized passing a red signal.
Meanwhile Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Netherlands, where the cabinet pledged fresh winter aid for Ukraine.