🔁 What's moving Europe today
- Houthis sharpened their attack on Riyadh, the US warns of "rapid escalation" in the Middle East, and Trump cut short his stay at Camp David over the tension and returned to the White House — Saudi Arabia confirmed an attempted strike on the capital, while Iran also threatens to leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Our article → 🇺🇸 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇪🇸 ↗ · 🇹🇷 ↗
- Signal from Tehran: Iran also signals willingness to revive the June framework deal with the US, though control over the Strait of Hormuz remains a contentious issue. n-tv ↗
- Trump announced the creation of a military "AI Force" and wants to appoint an "AI czar" to oversee artificial intelligence — a day after banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. Our article → 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗
- The US-Denmark agreement on Greenland is taking on a more critical tone — a German expert calls it a "spectacular defeat" for Trump, while France's Libération speaks of a "significant retreat" from the original goals. Our article → 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇦🇹 ↗
- A far-right protest in The Hague turned violent — demonstrators performed Hitler salutes and chanted antisemitic slogans, with dozens of people detained. 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗
- German General Carsten Breuer was elected the new chair of NATO's Military Committee, with the alliance stressing it has plans ready in case of escalation on the eastern flank. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇷🇸 ↗ · 🇱🇹 ↗
- NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Grynkiewicz, also sent Putin the message that the alliance is "ready to defend itself" — after a meeting with Polish General Kukuła. Onet ↗
- Drones shut down Luxembourg's airport for several hours, forcing an immediate closure of the airspace, with Prime Minister Frieden calling the situation "serious." 🇱🇺 ↗ · 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇭🇺 ↗
- Russia's State Duma elections have concluded, with German public broadcasting already calling the winner — Putin's party — a certainty; according to Moscow, voting day was accompanied by a "massive" cyberattack on the electoral system, and Ukraine marked it with a massive drone strike on Moscow, hitting an oil refinery just 15 km from the Kremlin. Our article → 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇷🇸 ↗ · 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗
- Fico sharpened his tone — accusing Western politicians of "pouring gasoline on the fire" and wanting a war between Russia and NATO, with Austria's Kurier quoting him directly on "warmongers" within the Alliance. Our article → 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇦🇹 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗
Tier A — geopolitical relevance for Slovakia
DE🇩🇪German media
- Germany votes today — polling stations in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern opened at eight, with Welt calling it a "neck-and-neck duel" with the potential to tear apart a jittery CDU. Our article → ZDF heute ↗ · Welt ↗
- Merz "is in a mess" — FAZ writes that the country must first admit just how deep the crisis is that it's stuck in. FAZ ↗
- Austria's Kurier is already calling him "Der Problemkanzler" and speculating about possible successors — Wüst or Söder. Kurier ↗
PL🇵🇱Polish media
- Polish police detained a man for threatening Prime Minister Tusk online. Wirtualna Polska ↗
- President Nawrocki and Prime Minister Tusk publicly clashed over the level of the Russian threat, while a court is also examining Nawrocki's dealings at the Grand Hotel. Onet ↗
- Zelensky approved a plan for further long-range strikes on Russian infrastructure, while Ukraine is also testing new drones to intercept Russian Gerans. Wirtualna Polska ↗ · Rzeczpospolita ↗
- Turkey has put forward a proposal for a partial end to fighting between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea. Onet ↗
- Politician Kalisz called on police to detain the head of Poland's Constitutional Tribunal. Do Rzeczy ↗
- An F-16 fighter intercepted an aircraft that violated the no-fly zone over the presidential retreat Camp David, where Donald Trump was staying. TVN24 ↗
- According to Polish media, Russia is concealing its drone production, building underground halls for it. Onet ↗
HU🇭🇺Hungarian media
- Péter Magyar was doused with a drink at a grape harvest festival in Szekszárd; the man who did it called himself a "fallen Orbánist fighter." Telex ↗
- Investigation: during the Covid pandemic, commentator Zsolt Bayer received 3 million forints in public money from the National Cultural Fund. Népszava ↗
- Dismissed public broadcaster M5 director István Gulyás is suing the public media for wrongful termination. HVG ↗
- Following the August drone incident in Leipzig, Brussels wants to tighten checks at Schengen entry points. Népszava ↗
- According to political scientist Szabó, it has not yet been decided whether Fidesz or Mi Hazánk will lead the opposition; Péter Magyar has also hinted at concessions on the municipal solidarity tax. Index ↗ · Népszava ↗
AT🇦🇹Austrian media
- The Swiss referendum against new nuclear power plants has been definitively confirmed. ORF ↗
- Missing parts of the American F-35 fighter jet's secret technology likely ended up in China, according to a report. ORF ↗
- Belarus held a military exercise near the EU border, while Moldova condemned a drone's violation of its airspace as "unacceptable." Kleine Zeitung ↗ · Die Presse ↗
UA🇺🇦Ukrainian media
- A Russian missile-and-drone attack killed a mother and her two children in the Kyiv region, while an FPV drone struck a civilian car in the Sumy region, killing 4 people. Kyiv Independent ↗ · Kyiv Independent ↗
- Zelensky approved an expansion of long-range strike operations in response to Russian attacks. Kyiv Independent ↗
- The SBU successfully intercepted a Russian "Geran-5" jet-powered drone for the second time using a new interceptor drone. Censor.NET ↗
- Denmark sent Ukraine an extraordinary military aid package worth 275 million dollars. Interfax Ukraine ↗
- Verkhovna Rada Chairman Stefanchuk denied cancelling his visit to Hungary and is initiating a meeting of the speakers of the "Carpathian Eight" parliaments. Interfax Ukraine ↗ · Interfax Ukraine ↗
Tier B — EU heavyweights
FR🇫🇷French media
- During a visit to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Macron sent Trump a message that the territory remains French — a response to a map showing US expansionist claims. Le Monde ↗
- Bardella speaks of Russia as a "hybrid threat," prefects are mobilizing against hybrid warfare, and Macron promises a plan to protect critical infrastructure. BFM TV ↗ · BFM TV ↗
- Public broadcaster France Inter cancelled Charles Sapin's Sunday commentary after weeks of dispute with the unions. Le Monde ↗
- 2027 budget: the government is freezing housing benefits (APL), with the minister admitting that "everyone must give up a little." Le Figaro ↗
- Ahead of the presidential election, Glucksmann is distancing himself from the label "crypto-Macronist." La Tribune ↗
- Police in Beauvais shot and killed an armed man in front of his home; according to prosecutors, he had threatened the responding officers. Le Monde ↗
- LFI MP Sébastien Delogu admitted he had not paid child support for years, and now claims he has paid off the debt. BFM TV ↗
- In Mali, the death toll from the jihadist attack near Diouro has risen to a hundred soldiers. France 24 ↗
IT🇮🇹Italian media
- Deputy Prime Minister Tajani: Italy "is not at war," but 60 percent of Italian exports to Asia pass through the Red Sea. Corriere della Sera ↗
- Russia struck Odesa and Kyiv overnight with two hypersonic missiles. Il Sole 24 Ore ↗
- At the League's rally in Pontida, the crowd chanted "remigration" during Salvini's speech, and supporters welcomed the party leader with ovations. Corriere della Sera ↗
- At the M5S "Nova" convention, Francesca Albanese received a standing ovation for calling to sever ties with Israel, which she labelled an apartheid state, while Conte welcomed the return of Alessandro Di Battista. Il Fatto Quotidiano ↗ · Il Fatto Quotidiano ↗
- A thirteen-year-old boy stabbed a teacher at a school in Rome; according to one line of investigation, he was "recruited" online for the attack by supremacist groups. Corriere della Sera ↗
- Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Pichetto Fratin is ready to intervene in electricity and gas prices even without Brussels' approval, and plans the first nuclear reactor for 2033-34. La Repubblica ↗ · Open ↗
- Next year's budget provides for a reduction in income tax and an exemption from the road tax for cars up to 80 kW. Il Sole 24 Ore ↗
- Former IMF deputy managing director Gopinath warns that artificial intelligence is a "risk" and calls for a US-China agreement on its safety. La Repubblica ↗
- Deputy Prime Minister Tajani sparked a political row with his remark that it's better to "marry a woman who isn't conspicuous." La Repubblica ↗
Tier C — alternative perspectives
CH🇨🇭Swiss media
- Swiss neutrality initiative ahead of referendum — backed by only a third of respondents, and Christoph Blocher admits defeat. Tages-Anzeiger ↗
- Allegations of prisoner torture directed at Israel: "I feared for my life". SRF ↗
- Scuffles at the "March for Life" in Zurich between counter-demonstrators and police. Neue Zürcher Zeitung ↗
- Former European Commission chief Juncker on Swiss-European treaties: "I understand some of the concerns". Neue Zürcher Zeitung ↗
- Europe's rearmament is filling the order books of Swiss industry instead of cars. Neue Zürcher Zeitung ↗
ES🇪🇸Spanish media
- The crisis in Ceuta is deepening — 50 days after the influx, more than 10,000 migrants are in centers and improvised camps, according to El País more than a thousand unaccompanied minors are wandering the city, and the dispute is turning into a political duel between Sánchez and the PP; a nighttime check among 30 identified migrants found ten with outstanding orders to report to prison. El Mundo ↗ · ABC ↗ · El País ↗
- Rabat comes under greater European scrutiny — Reporters Without Borders accuses Morocco of a campaign against critical journalists. La Vanguardia ↗
- Unrest grows within the Sumar coalition after the departures of Bustinduy, Urtasun, Colau and Garzón, while Podemos attempts a "takeover" of the space to the left of the PSOE. El Mundo ↗
- Woman murdered by stab wounds in her own apartment in Leganés, perpetrator also attempted to set the apartment on fire. ABC ↗
- Fire at a psychiatric facility in Pamplona leaves one dead and seven injured. El Mundo ↗
- The economic situation is becoming a key theme of Brazil's election campaign, as fiscal cuts overshadow the Lula government's good figures. El País ↗
- The US approved the sale of defense systems to Ukraine worth 2.7 billion dollars. El Mundo ↗
- Michelle Bachelet withdrew her candidacy for UN chief. El País ↗
Tier D — weaker news cycle
BE🇧🇪Belgian media
- At least 48 people died in Yemen in fighting between government forces and the Houthis. La Libre ↗
- Is Russia preparing a frontal attack on Europe? According to Colonel Housen, it lacks the military-technical capacity for conventional war against Europe, but cyberattacks, disinformation and assassination attempts are increasing. Het Laatste Nieuws ↗
- A North Korean hacker used a fake LinkedIn recruiter to gain access to an IT consultant of the Flemish government. Het Laatste Nieuws ↗
- The Belgian table tennis federation fell victim to a cyberattack, putting the data of more than 65,000 members at risk. VRT NWS ↗
- Evert de Clercq, who had a hand in hiring the killer of the Wingene castle owner, was released from a Dutch prison following a pardon request — everyone convicted in the case is now free. 7sur7 ↗
- The man convicted of murder in the Jairon case is nonetheless at home — raising questions about how justice functions. Het Laatste Nieuws ↗
- OpenAI chief Sam Altman will address the UN Security Council next week on the risks of artificial intelligence. De Morgen ↗
- At least 48 people died in Nigeria after methanol poisoning from illegal alcohol called "Monkey Tail". VRT NWS ↗
PT🇵🇹Portuguese media
- Former central bank governor Centeno criticized President Marcelo for installing a government without a parliamentary majority. RTP ↗
- The opposition sharpened its attacks on Prime Minister Montenegro's minority government — Ventura (Chega) called him the "father of incompetence and machinations". RTP ↗
- Prosecutors shelved the corruption case against former minister Manuel Pinho and former Roland Berger branch head. Observador ↗
- Tehran warned that US and Israeli actions could endanger the nuclear treaty — six months of war have cost the US an estimated 43.6 billion dollars, according to the US command. RTP ↗ · Diário de Notícias ↗
- A fire in the Coimbra district, which spread to three municipalities and injured seven firefighters, was brought under control by early morning. RTP ↗ · Observador ↗
IE🇮🇪Irish media
- Israeli airstrikes killed several people in Gaza, including the son of the health ministry chief among the victims. The Irish Times ↗
- Budget 2027: government considering a tax relief for childminders. RTÉ ↗
- RTÉ will broadcast the Ireland–Israel Nations League match, but in a limited form without ads or analysis — some staff are "seriously unhappy". Irish Independent ↗
- President Connolly warns that great powers are "normalizing" war and genocide. RTÉ ↗
- Former DUP leader Donaldson is appealing the jury's verdicts, while the party's current leader says his "abhorrent acts" do not define the DUP's values. Irish Independent ↗
NL🇳🇱Dutch media
- Extinction Rebellion activists blocked the A12 motorway near Zevenaar, about 100 were detained. de Volkskrant ↗
- The Netherlands promised to end homelessness, but the problem on the streets is growing. AD ↗
- A Microsoft manager called training artificial intelligence on publishers' articles "theft". NU.nl ↗
- Court: rubber granulate from artificial turf is an environmental offense, potentially affecting 2,400 amateur clubs. AD ↗
- The planned ban on PFAS chemicals is not actually a ban, an analysis warns. NU.nl ↗
- Crackdown on human trafficking and exploitation in Indian restaurant chains, including in Utrecht. AD ↗
- More birds are being infected with the West Nile virus, experts are concerned. AD ↗
🌍 Other countries
- 🇷🇸 During his pre-election "carousel" tour of the Danube region, Vučić also revealed more serious matters — he is heading to New York to meet Trump, believes Lavrov will be there too, and claims Serbia's gas reserves are full. Nova ↗ · Kurir ↗ The Journalists' Association accused former parliament speaker Ana Brnabić of releasing a maliciously edited video of a journalist. Danas ↗
- 🇬🇧 According to the Daily Mail, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham is preparing early elections to secure a mandate for raising income tax. Daily Mail ↗ Caribbean states are drawing up a plan to seek slavery reparations from Britain. The Guardian ↗
- 🇹🇷 Turkish diplomacy chief Fidan: Israel is a threat not only to the region but to the whole world. Milliyet ↗ The scandal over canceled investment funds is growing to include more names — among them a former ambassador, a university rector, and a columnist for the daily Sabah. Cumhuriyet ↗
- 🇭🇷 A former Pussy Riot member claims Russia's FSB forced her to lure an activist to Serbia so he could be killed. Index.hr ↗ SDP and Možemo presented the basis for coalition talks, HDZ responded. HRT ↗
- 🇷🇴 After being officially nominated as candidate for prime minister, Mureșan said he "won't let the light go out" that Bolojan lit, and promised to "clean up the mess" of more than 30 years. Digi24 ↗ · Digi24 ↗ Former president Băsescu claims poor PISA test results explain the success of far-right figure George Simion. Libertatea ↗
- 🇬🇷 Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan again angered Greece with remarks about the demilitarization of the Aegean islands — according to him, Ankara will not accept the militarization of islands with demilitarized status. Protothema ↗ At home, Skertsos accuses Tsipras of lying about "Bulgarian salaries." Protothema ↗
- 🇫🇮 Green Party leader Virta wants to propose a vote of no confidence in Defense Minister Häkkänen. Yle ↗ Power plants to make up for the electricity shortfall are surprisingly being built all over Finland. Helsingin Sanomat ↗
- 🇱🇹 Poland is expanding its siren network along the border due to intense Russian attacks. LRT ↗ Lithuania proposes restricting Russians' and Belarusians' ability to buy real estate there. LRT ↗
- 🇧🇦 The Serbian army held three days of exercises near the border with Bosnia along the Drina River; the opposition is asking whether BiH institutions knew about it. N1 Bosna ↗ Halfway through the election campaign, 794 electoral irregularities have been recorded. N1 Bosna ↗
- 🇸🇪 South Africa is shaken by the murders of nine women and fears of a serial killer, with anger turning against the government: "How many more?" Dagens Nyheter ↗ According to a military analyst, Russia is trying to knock out the last artery of the Ukrainian economy by attacking railways. Dagens Nyheter ↗
- 🇧🇬 The justice minister sees signs of a "reshuffle" in chief prosecutor Sarafov's office. Dnevnik ↗ The war in Iran has already cost an estimated 43.6 billion dollars, according to US estimates. Dnevnik ↗
- 🇸🇮 Freedom Movement leader Golob: "Every resistance to Nazism and fascism deserves respect." RTV Slovenija ↗ Diesel is likely to soon exceed two euros per liter. 24ur ↗
- 🇮🇸 A looming strike by aircraft mechanics could cost Iceland a billion ISK a day, with the country's good name also at stake. RÚV ↗ Belarus held military exercises near the borders with Poland and Lithuania. RÚV ↗
- 🇳🇴 Four people died in a US strike on a boat in the Caribbean — according to Washington, it is part of the fight against drug trafficking. NRK ↗ Norway's government is making it harder to seize Russian ships near Svalbard. Aftenposten ↗
- 🇲🇰 Germany received its first F-35 fighter jet, as European plans for a joint next-generation fighter fall apart. Nezavisen ↗ Putin's message to Europe: "Let us live in peace, otherwise we will respond." MKD.mk ↗
- 🇲🇪 The "21 May" initiative accused PM Spajić of improvised and dangerous economic policy. Vijesti ↗ Vuksanović: Montenegro will remain a reliable NATO ally. Vijesti ↗
- 🇪🇪 Day 1,670 of the war in Ukraine: Turkey admits it is difficult to bring Kyiv's and Moscow's positions closer on the Black Sea. Postimees ↗ In Belgium, an investigation is underway into a police officer who hit a handcuffed woman in the face and forcibly pushed her into a police van. Postimees ↗
- 🇩🇰 Within the ranks of the governing Radikale Venstre, concerns are growing that the government could fall. Politiken ↗ Authorities in Gaza report four dead after Israeli strikes. Berlingske ↗
- 🇺🇸 California Governor Newsom signed laws against election manipulation ahead of the November elections. The Hill ↗ The Trump administration has begun building a section of the Big Bend border wall in Texas. The Hill ↗
- 🇱🇻 Sweden objects after Latvia rejected "Archer" howitzers. LSM ↗ Latvia is short of judges, with the most vacancies in Latgale. LSM ↗
- 🇦🇱 The 112th anti-government protest has ended in Tirana, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Balkanweb ↗ Former Socialist MP Halit Valteri attacked former deputy PM Belinda Balluku on social media, listing her apartments, villas, cars, and yachts. Balkanweb ↗
- 🇲🇹 Opposition Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg promised "all necessary pressure" to implement the recommendations from the inquiry into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, should the government use its parliamentary majority against them. Newsbook ↗ A hunter received a lifetime hunting ban and a €5,000 fine for shooting a protected black stork. Lovin Malta ↗
- 🇲🇩 The US expanded sanctions over involvement in the deportation of Ukrainian children. Ziarul de Gardă ↗ DW analysis: a war-weary and anxious Russia is electing a new parliament. Ziarul de Gardă ↗
🔭 What barely made the news here
- The EU's sanctions register against Russia could expire entirely if no compromise is found by September 21 — according to the Kyiv Independent, Slovakia is pushing for oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov to be removed from the list, with France also backing the removal of Usmanov. French channel BFM TV has meanwhile revealed why: Paris is deliberately refusing to sanction Usmanov in order to keep room for negotiating the release of prisoners. The Ukrainian perspective on Slovakia's direct involvement in easing sanctions, just before Monday's deadline, has so far not appeared in Slovak media. Kyiv Independent ↗ BFM TV ↗
- Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez is stalling for time against the US in a "half-hearted regime change" style, while opposition leader María Corina Machado is planning a public, not secret, return to the country. El País meanwhile writes that Rodríguez's planned meeting with Trump at the UN overlaps with the General Assembly agenda, alongside the agreement on Greenland. Handelsblatt ↗ · ABC ↗ · El País ↗
*Illustrative photo: flags of EU member states in front of the European Parliament building, Wikimedia Commons. Author: Thijs ter Haar. License CC BY 2.0.*
