Hungary’s economy flatlined in Q3, defying forecasts of modest growth and dealing a setback to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ahead of April elections.

Despite Orbán’s pre-election spending spree—including wage hikes and new subsidies—economic stagnation and a cost-of-living crisis have helped the opposition Tisza party take the lead in polls.

Source: Bloomberg

Sudan: A suicide bombing targeted the Zariba Sheikh El-Burai area in North Kordofan early this morning.

Tanzania: Protests erupted again Thursday across several regions over alleged election irregularities.

Almost 100,000 young Ukrainian men have fled the country in just two months after President Zelensky relaxed travel restrictions for those aged 18 to 22.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury publicly pushed back against French Dassault Aviation’s complaints over the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project:

“If they’re not happy with what was decided and they don’t agree to continue in this setup, they are free to move out of FCAS.”

Footage has been released allegedly showing protesters entering an airport in Tanzania.

Sudan: UAE-backed RSF militants killed 12 medical workers in the city of Bara, North Kordofan.

BIG: Leaked documents reveal that Amazon and Google, under Israel’s Nimbus cloud contract, agreed to secretly notify Israel whenever they hand over data to foreign governments — even when gag orders prevent disclosure.

They use a coded “winking mechanism”: each request triggers a symbolic payment to Israel matching the foreign country’s dialing code (e.g. ₦IS 1,000 for the U.S., ₦IS 3,900 for Italy).

If disclosure is legally forbidden, the firms must pay ₦IS 100,000 within 24 hours.

The Guardian and +972 Magazine say this arrangement bypasses U.S. and EU laws that forbid third-party notification.

Unlike Microsoft— which ended a contract with Israel’s Unit 8200 over surveillance concerns — Amazon and Google agreed not to suspend Israel’s access even if terms are breached.

Both companies also reportedly fired employees who opposed their Israel work.

WATCH: Russian drone attacks Ukraine's Sumy in broad daylight.

German Chancellor Merz in Ankara, Türkiye:

I want to send a message from Ankara: Let’s make better use of the extraordinary potential our relationship offers in the coming years.

We are entering a new geopolitical era, where the politics of great powers will be decisive.

My conclusion is this: as a German, as a European, we must strengthen our strategic partnerships.

Türkiye cannot — and must not — remain on the sidelines in this process.

German Chancellor Merz in Ankara, Türkiye:

Germany and Türkiye, as NATO allies, share the same interests.

It is well known in Ankara that Russia’s militant revisionism poses a comprehensive threat to the security of Europe and the Atlantic region.

After receiving Germany’s approval, we are pleased with Türkiye’s decision to acquire 20 Eurofighters.

These aircraft will serve our shared security.

German Chancellor Merz in Ankara, Türkiye:

I, along with the German federal government, want to see Türkiye in the European Union.

German Chancellor Merz:

Germany will always stand by Israel.

German Chancellor Merz:

The children in Gaza were hostages of Hamas.

Turkish President Erdogan:

Hamas has no bombs, no nuclear weapons. But all these weapons are in Israel’s hands.

And Israel, using these weapons, for example just last night, again struck Gaza with these bombs.

Don't you see these things in Germany? Aren't you following them?

Turkish President Erdogan:

By targeting Gaza, they have been trying to subdue it through genocide openly. And this still continues.

Our Red Crescent cannot deliver food aid there.

So far, we have tried to deliver over 100,000 tons of aid, but it is not enough. Continued aid is essential.

WATCH: Ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) protest military connoscription and the arrest of draft dodgers in Jerusalem.

NOW: Massive crowds at Ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) protest against military connoscription in Jerusalem.