What Europe Is Writing About: Tusk Warns of Russian Attacks on NATO, Swedish PM Falls, Carney Before the European Parliament for Canada's Associate Membership

🔁 What's moving Europe today

• Poland repeatedly closed airports and scrambled fighter jets over Russian attacks on neighboring Ukraine, PM Tusk warned against Russian hybrid attacks on NATO countries, and Trump announced "significant progress" in talks on a permanent US military base in Poland. Nearly all of Europe is writing about it. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇪🇸 ↗ · 🇬🇧 ↗
  • 🇮🇹 Two Russian military aircraft violated Lithuanian airspace, Italian fighter jets intervened. ANSA ↗
• Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson resigned after a narrow election defeat, center-left Magdalena Andersson will attempt to form a new government. 🇦🇹 ↗ · 🇨🇭 ↗ · 🇬🇧 ↗ · 🇫🇮 ↗
• A UN investigation concluded that the US strike on an Iranian school may have been a war crime. 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇬🇧 ↗ · 🇭🇷 ↗ · 🇸🇮 ↗
• Canadian PM Mark Carney welcomed the European Commission's proposal for Canada's associate membership in the EU at the European Parliament, and responded to Trump's threat of harsh tariffs by saying this is not an alliance against the US. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇨🇭 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗
  • 🇧🇪 Trump threatens the EU with "very harsh tariffs" if it grows closer to Canada. La Libre ↗
• The European Commission (von der Leyen) has promised Ukraine another €3.3 billion for missiles and drones. 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇭🇷 ↗ · 🇷🇸 ↗
• Ireland is boycotting Eurovision for the second year in a row (in 2027 in Burgas, Bulgaria) over Israel's participation. 🇮🇪 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇧🇬 ↗
• The US approved the sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia for approximately $24.3 billion. 🇬🇧 ↗ · 🇹🇷 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗

Tier A — geopolitical relevance for Slovakia

• The left-wing Die Linke narrowly edged out the CDU in a poll ahead of Sunday's Berlin state parliament elections Tagesspiegel ↗
• The SPD narrowly edged out the AfD in a poll ahead of Sunday's elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern n-tv ↗
• Nearly half of Germans expect Chancellor Merz to be replaced before the end of the year Welt ↗
• A man allegedly threw a bag with flammable material at a synagogue in Wuppertal just before the most important Jewish holiday, police detained the suspect Tagesschau ↗
• Security services detained an Islamist in Brandenburg who was allegedly preparing an attack ZDF heute ↗
  • What else German media are writing →

• The CBA (Central Anticorruption Bureau) detained KO MP Wojciech Król in connection with an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office Rzeczpospolita ↗
• Former Chief Justice of the Polish Constitutional Court Przyłębska could face up to 10 years in prison, the prosecutor's office has opened an investigation Do Rzeczy ↗
• The Sejm failed to override the presidential veto of the "close person status" law (LGBT partnerships) — the coalition was short 27 votes Gazeta Wyborcza ↗
• Russia denied the 1939 Soviet aggression against Poland — a statement by the Russian foreign ministry that sparked outrage in Poland Do Rzeczy ↗
  • What else Polish media are writing →

• Businessman Dániel Jellinek and former head of state asset manager MNV Norbert Szivek were remanded in custody in the Volánbusz case, the court cited risk of flight, hiding and obstruction of evidence Telex ↗
• PM Péter Magyar (Tisza) announced asset checks on politicians, support for pensioners is to be decided in the 2027 budget Portfolio ↗
• Police are investigating the residency bond case on suspicion of breach of duty in managing others' assets after a complaint from Transparency International HVG ↗
• The Prime Minister's Office filed a criminal complaint on suspicion of fraud involving a 300 million forint grant for the Artificial Intelligence Research Center 444 ↗
  • What else Hungarian media are writing →

• Magna founder Frank Stronach (94) will not go to prison — the judge in the trial over sexual assault allegations stressed that Stronach will not end up behind bars, the verdict will come in December Kleine Zeitung ↗
• Justice Minister Sporrer defends crown witness status for Thomas Schmid, saying the anti-corruption prosecutor's office WKStA is not biased Kleine Zeitung ↗
• The first report against parents for violating the headscarf ban in schools has been filed, and dozens of proceedings have begun Die Presse ↗
• Saudi Arabia halted oil exports on ships headed to Europe Der Standard ↗
  • What else Austrian media are writing →

• Russia pounded Kyiv overnight with missiles and drones, at least 20 people were injured Kyiv Independent ↗
• The "nuclear" sanctions law against Russia is awaiting Trump — he may sign it, but he may also veto it Kyiv Post ↗
• A Russian strike hit the Amstor shopping center in Zaporizhzhia, a major fire broke out Ukrayinska Pravda ↗
• An explosion at a conscription office in Lviv region is being investigated as an act of terrorism, the SBU detained two men Censor.NET ↗
• The National Bank of Ukraine raised its key rate to 16% amid accelerating wartime inflation Kyiv Post ↗
• Russians have struck a major Ukrainian steel plant for the fourth time this month Kyiv Independent ↗
  • What else Ukrainian media are writing →

Tier B — EU heavyweights

• Éric Zemmour announced his candidacy for president in 2027 — in a debate on BFMTV, former minister Copé sharply criticized him for his remarks about women BFM TV ↗
• PM Lecornu announced the 2027 budget with €54 billion in savings, the deficit continues to deepen and the recovery of public finances is being pushed back a year Le Monde ↗
• Former minister Rachida Dati denies before the court a corrupt pact with Carlos Ghosn, claiming she merely "worked as a lawyer" BFM TV ↗
• Minister for Rural Affairs Michel Fournier is leaving the French government Le Monde ↗
• A French police officer linked to far-right ideology charged with preparing a terrorist attack Le Monde ↗
• The mayor of the Breton town of Concarneau detained by police in connection with a rape investigation BFM TV ↗
  • What else French media are writing →

• Italy wants to escort its own merchant ships through the Bab al-Mandab strait with a frigate rather than wait for a joint EU approach ANSA ↗
• Trump declared that a "key moment" is approaching in Iran and he must soon make an important decision ANSA ↗
• The attack on a rabbi in Milan was motivated by religious hatred, according to the judge — the judge ordered the 20-year-old attacker to report regularly to police ANSA ↗
• After a letter from opposition leader Schlein, Meloni exchanged messages with her about an energy pact, but it sparked a dispute within the opposition's "campo largo" — Conte and Bonelli call it a mistake La Repubblica ↗
• Salvini negotiates with governors ahead of the League's Pontida rally, northern members demand changes to the party's statutes in a federalist direction Corriere della Sera ↗
  • What else Italian media are writing →

Tier C — Alternative Perspectives

• Dispute over capital requirements for UBS continues — while politicians are running out of time, bankers are taking theirs Neue Zürcher Zeitung ↗
• Major dispute over Swiss F-35 fighter jets — "this jet will cause far more costs" versus "completely wrong" Neue Zürcher Zeitung ↗
• National Council tightens asylum policy — alliance of SVP, FDP and Mitte pushed through the tightening Tages-Anzeiger ↗
• Mercosur trade agreement passed parliament — why the package is so important for Switzerland Tages-Anzeiger ↗
  • What else Swiss media are writing →

• Drones reported over Luxembourg in the airspace near Medernach Luxemburger Wort ↗
• Luxembourg approaches 700,000 inhabitants — migration is the main driver of growth Luxembourg Times ↗
• Attack near Mecca puts Saudi crown prince in a tight spot Luxemburger Wort ↗

• European Parliament, in a non-binding resolution, links the Sánchez government's mass regularization of migrants to the crisis in Ceuta and demands that Morocco's access to EU funds and markets be conditioned on border cooperation El Mundo ↗
• Internal report by Isabel Díaz Ayuso's government finds that the decision to rent a luxury penthouse was not "sufficiently" explained El País ↗
• Supreme Court prosecutor's office examines whether to open an investigation against former Valencian premier Mazón for perjury before Congress over the DANA floods El País ↗
• After joining the Andalusian government, Vox demands that the People's Party back impeachment of PM Sánchez for "treason" El País ↗
• Uncontrollable fuel prices push the Spanish government toward a third aid package, while fiscal watchdog AIReF also worsened its forecast for this year's deficit to 2.7% of GDP ABC ↗ · El País ↗
• Court rules that the whistleblower of a €25 million fraud at the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) was dismissed in retaliation after alerting the ministry El Mundo ↗
  • What else Spanish media are writing →

Tier D — Weaker News Cycle

• Flemish government faces "the toughest budget preparation in history" — child benefits are also on the chopping block De Standaard ↗
• Federal money for Brussels security allegedly also ended up funding a Disneyland trip, according to MP Denis Ducarme (MR), as well as home appliances and social housing. Ducarme cites sources within the administration; this has not yet been confirmed, and Interior Minister Bernard Quintin has requested a report on how the money was spent De Morgen ↗ · VRT NWS ↗
• Belgian court upholds rent regulation in Brussels, landlords lose fight against price caps La Libre ↗
• Belgian study charts a path to climate neutrality by 2050: 70% fewer cattle, much more forest De Standaard ↗
• Court halts part of construction on the Ventilus project, a key link for offshore wind energy VRT NWS ↗
  • What else Belgian media are writing →

• Government approves 10-cent-per-liter diesel subsidy for taxi drivers, hauliers, care homes and firefighters RTP ↗
• Portuguese government also approves proposal to cut income tax (IRS) up to the sixth bracket, along with an extraordinary payment for pensioners Expresso ↗
• In the Marquês case, three former ministers rise to defend ex-PM Sócrates Observador ↗
• Chega MP Cristina Rodrigues claims parliament speaker Aguiar-Branco accepted the JPP-proposed inquiry commission because it was milder Observador ↗
• New poll shows Socialists (PS) in the lead, with Chega close behind and the governing AD in third place Observador ↗
  • What else Portuguese media are writing →

• Six people found in a truck trailer at Rosslare port, all taken to hospital — police investigating with help from the immigration service The Journal ↗
• Former justice minister McEntee, now foreign minister, accused of acting "without lawful authority" in the Garda whistleblowers case The Irish Times ↗
• Nearly 500 people detained ahead of deportation since Minister O'Callaghan took office The Journal ↗
• Permit revoked for data center in County Mayo over missing grid connection and conflict with the climate plan Irish Independent ↗
  • What else Irish media are writing →

• PM Jetten lacks a majority for the budget after Dutch Prinsjesdag, the opposition has not yet backed his plan and further negotiations lie ahead NU.nl ↗
• Police detain dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators who came to Amsterdam's Dam Square despite a ban — a pro-Israel rally was held there NOS ↗
• Over ten detained in turbulent protests against asylum center in Opheusden, riot police intervened NOS ↗
• Grid operator Enexis lacks network capacity for 86,000 planned homes, with Brabant faring worst NU.nl ↗
• Mother finally gets her daughters back after eleven years of fighting, taken away as part of the benefits scandal (toeslagenaffaire) De Telegraaf ↗
• Fraudsters siphon off billions of euros from healthcare every year AD ↗
  • What else Dutch media are writing →

🌍 Other countries

• Premier Andy Burnham has been branded a "Starmer continuity candidate" — leaked documents show he's using ideas prepared to keep Starmer in office Daily Mail ↗
• Keeping nationalised British Steel afloat cost the government £555 million by mid-June, a parliamentary scrutiny committee is demanding a credible plan from it The Guardian ↗
• Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is sending lawyers after Labour cuts, which are forcing a Conservative council to raise the local tax by 94% Daily Mail ↗
• The Archbishop of Canterbury withdrew an interfaith dialogue award from a Muslim cleric who had praised bin Laden BBC News ↗
• An investigation revealed that a hospital manager rewrote a report on infant deaths to make the deaths of two victims of mass murderer Lucy Letby look natural The Mirror ↗
• A court ordered Google to overhaul its global ad business for abusing an illegal monopoly Daily Mail ↗
  • What else British media are writing →

• Erdogan signed off on a sweeping police personnel reshuffle — police chiefs were replaced in 39 provinces Hürriyet ↗
• A court terminated the position of Gürsel Tekin, the man he had installed as head of Istanbul's CHP Cumhuriyet ↗
• A wide-ranging investigation into capital market manipulation brings arrests and travel bans — Muhammed Yarız is in custody, 48 people are barred from leaving the country Cumhuriyet ↗
• Interior Minister Çiftçi: police carried out 1,568 operations against 557 criminal groups, including "new generation" gangs, sending 6,916 people into custody Hürriyet ↗
• More than two years since the murder of Narin Güran: her father announced a march to the presidential palace Cumhuriyet ↗
  • What else Turkish media are writing →

• Bosnian Serb leader Dodik met with Netanyahu and declared that Republika Srpska can count on Israel as a partner Danas ↗
• At a briefing in the US Congress ahead of Serbia's elections (October 25), Congressman Joe Wilson warned that Russia and parts of the government-controlled security apparatus are using various mechanisms to influence the electoral process Nova ↗
• Kurir claims that Montenegro's former president Đukanović is interfering in Serbia's elections through Srdanović, the leader of the students' list, citing leaked Sky ECC messages Kurir ↗
• The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights recorded a sharp decline in human rights compliance in Serbia Nova ↗
• The case of former Belgrade police chief Veselin Milić in the Senjak affair was taken over by the First Basic Court, the prosecution accuses him of failing to report a murder N1 Serbia ↗
  • What else Serbian media are writing →

• The dispute over an illegal landfill near Gospić continues — a civic initiative criticizes the government's scientific council for deciding nothing beyond further discussions Večernji list ↗
• After the murder of a mother of six in Slatina, the Croatian Women's Network is preparing protests in 16 cities — findings show police and prosecutors made mistakes, yet no one will be held accountable Index.hr ↗
• Croatia becomes the first EU country to introduce special visas for truck and bus drivers from third countries 24sata ↗
• Croatia faces its historically most expensive diesel starting Tuesday, fuel prices continue to rise Index.hr ↗
• A Hungarian court remanded in custody one of Hungary's richest men, linked to Viktor Orbán's son-in-law, who also holds assets in Croatia N1 Croatia ↗
  • What else Croatian media are writing →

• President Nicușor Dan nominated MEP Siegfried Mureșan for prime minister, both PSD and AUR refuse to vote for him Digi24 ↗
• Four more organizers of the violent protest at Piața Victoriei detained for 30 days Digi24 ↗
• Romania is in recession and once again has the highest inflation in the EU, according to Eurostat Adevărul ↗
• The European Public Prosecutor's Office detained the former prefect of Timiș county (USR) on suspicion of EU funds fraud Pro TV Stirile ↗

• Zelensky thanked Finland and President Stubb for a "very strong" support package Ilta-Sanomat ↗
• An explosion at a Swedish army facility injured seven armed forces personnel Yle ↗
• A parliamentary report criticizes the communication and risk management of energy company Fortum in the Uniper affair Helsingin Sanomat ↗
• Battery maker Ioncor launches layoff negotiations Yle ↗

• Trump again threatens a military strike on Iran — "I have to decide whether to destroy them" Protothema ↗
• Turkey is rocked by a stock exchange manipulation scandal — an outflow of $18 billion from investment funds Protothema ↗
• The case of singer Mazonakis's death: the anti-money laundering authority will examine the finances of two doctors who are in custody To Vima ↗
• Polls ahead of Greece's political season: the ruling ND consolidates a sizable lead To Vima ↗

• A drone shot down over Lithuania was confirmed to be Russian, but its target was Ukraine, not Lithuania LRT ↗
• Foreign Minister Budrys: the US military presence is part of Lithuania's deterrence, he received assurance from Rubio that the current reduction in American troop numbers won't last long LRT ↗
• A map of an alleged Russian "peace plan" showing part of Lithuanian territory is a fake, it was not published by the New York Times and bears signs of artificial intelligence 15min ↗
• Dispute over the "General Defense" movement capable of mobilizing 400,000 people — the Nemuno aušra party wants to turn to the prosecutor's office and the intelligence service Lietuvos Rytas ↗

• DANS chief on the "Petrohan" tragedy: had someone reacted in time, six people could have been alive — he points to a report the intelligence agency gave the prosecution in January 2025 24 Chasa ↗
• Fico: Europe is closer to war than ever before 24 Chasa ↗
• A court gave suspended sentences to police officers who escorted a drunk driver in a Porsche, who killed a Frenchman 24 Chasa ↗
• The regulator expands scrutiny of the sale of the Maritsa-Iztok 3 power plant — a case linked to businessman Kovački Dnevnik ↗

• Swedish experts: this is how Magdalena Andersson will form a government after the center-left bloc's narrow victory Expressen ↗
• Market interest rates in Sweden are rising — driven up by the Fed's rate hike, expensive fuel from the war with Iran, and a stronger economy Aftonbladet ↗
• An explosion at a military shooting range in Karlsborg injured seven soldiers SVT ↗
• The US Congress approved new sanctions against Russia Dagens Nyheter ↗

• MEP Tonin lost immunity in the KNOVS case — Minister Vrtovec, himself charged in the case, calls it an attempt to topple the center-right government Delo ↗ · Delo ↗
• Investigative show Tarča: the government took control of energy company Gen-I in a "lightning operation" RTV Slovenija ↗
• Health insurer ZZZS faces a €100 million shortfall RTV Slovenija ↗
• The murder of Satko Zovko in Ljubljana's Brdo: the court excluded most key evidence against the accused, yet the prosecution still insists on the indictment Delo ↗

• US Senate questioned Trump's nominee for ambassador to BiH — he clearly acknowledged the Srebrenica genocide N1 Bosna ↗
• Bosnia's investigative agency SIPA requested data on the work of Deputy Minister Duška Jurišić at the prosecution's request — she links this to her lawsuit against Minister Hurtić Radio Sarajevo ↗
• Izetbegović stirred up a dispute over the electoral system — by claiming that a Bosniak vote carries seven times less weight than a Croat vote Klix.ba ↗
• Federation of BiH Prime Minister Nikšić responded to American criticism of the Southern Interconnection project N1 Bosna ↗

• French President Macron convened party leaders and presidential candidates for an emergency meeting on security threats Morgunblaðið ↗
• Former education minister claims that People's Party leader Inga Sæland pressured him to resign while he was still in hospital after heart surgery — he left the government and then also left the party Vísir ↗
• A far-right police officer suspected of preparing a terrorist attack was arrested in France RÚV ↗
• Nine people were charged in connection with the largest cocaine smuggling case in Icelandic history RÚV ↗

• Allied fighter jets will reinforce Latvia's airspace during the Saeima elections — a security measure amid concerns about Russia LSM ↗
• Latvia put hockey player Alexander Ovechkin and an oligarch close to Putin on its list of undesirable persons Diena ↗
• The government reversed its decision and will buy cheaper self-propelled howitzers from a Czech company Diena ↗
• The Saeima is speeding up increases in fees for the transit of Russian grain through Latvia LSM ↗

• PM Mickoski criticized the EU's approach at the Atlantic Council: membership should be merit-based, "but in our case it isn't" Libertas ↗
• Mickoski proposes postponing the effective date of constitutional changes that are a condition for progress in talks with the EU Nezavisen ↗
• Opposition leader Filipče accused PM Mickoski of lying about the celebration: according to the PM, not a single denar was spent on it, according to Filipče, 5.5 million euros of public money Nezavisen ↗
• The Macedonian minority organization OMO Ilinden in Bulgaria denied claims that it lacks registration documents Libertas ↗

• Norway on the brink of a rail strike — mediator negotiating down to the wire before Friday morning Aftenposten ↗
• Right-wing newspaper Document received 8.4 million kroner in state support — while calling the prime minister a "traitor to the nation" Aftenposten ↗

• Estonia is ready to close its border with Russia immediately — in the event of Russian mobilization ERR ↗
• Estonia is considering pushing the completion of Rail Baltica to 2034 — meant to plug a hole in the state budget ERR ↗
• Angry teachers demand the education minister's resignation Postimees ↗

• Senators from both parties are unhappy with the Pentagon's briefing on the war with Iran — Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colby, they say, did not give them clear answers The Hill ↗
• Washington will allow the Iranian delegation into the UN General Assembly — visas will also be granted to top Iranian officials NBC News ↗
• RFK Jr. under pressure over vaccines — Pennsylvania asks CDC for emergency help amid rising measles cases The Hill ↗

• Court clears the way for a lawsuit against Telenor — the company reportedly handed over customer data to the military junta Politiken ↗
• Danish defense minister to examine whether an arms factory could be built on the site of a closing chemical plant (formerly Cheminova) DR ↗
• German police arrested an Iraqi man suspected of preparing an attack on a church DR ↗

• MP Camaj: on September 24 I will vote to remove parliament speaker Mandić Vijesti ↗
• Montenegro will raise the minimum wage to between 1,000 and 1,400 euros starting in January Vijesti ↗
• Mijajlović denied cocaine trafficking in court Vijesti ↗

• Russian drone injures a girl in Kyiv region — day 1,667 of the war Ziarul de Gardă ↗
• Economist warns of stagflation in the Moldovan economy — a "bitter pill," according to Lupușor BANI.md ↗
• Moldovan farmers are "on the edge of the abyss," threatening protests Newsmaker ↗

• 110 days of protests against PM Rama continue — 25 people arrested near parliament Balkanweb ↗
• Opposition: Socialists' proposal on judges' salaries is a "constitutional coup" — according to Democratic Party parliamentary leader Bardhi, the majority is ignoring constitutional court rulings Gazeta Shqiptare ↗ · Gazeta Shqiptare ↗
• A ruling by Kosovo's Specialist Chambers sparked protests in Pristina — joined also by the sons of Thaçi and Veseli Gazeta Shqiptare ↗

• After Yorgen Fenech's acquittal in the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder case, jurors from his trial were arrested — police are questioning them over possible perjury Lovin Malta ↗ · Lovin Malta ↗
• Malta's population grew by 30.9% over ten years — the highest in the EU — central bank: without migration it would fall by 56% by 2100 Lovin Malta ↗

🔁 Cross-country themes

• Brussels tightens children's access to social media via the "Kids Act" — ban under 13, restricted account under 15 — 🇫🇷 FR · 🇹🇷 TR · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇳🇱 NL
• Russia's "mock" parliamentary elections to the Duma began with no chance of change — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇪🇸 ES · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇷🇸 RS · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇳🇴 NO
• Putin placed Russian assets of Nestlé and Auchan, plus a stake in the former Leroy Merlin, under temporary forced administration — 🇫🇷 FR · 🇧🇪 BE · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇩🇪 DE · 🇨🇭 CH
• A third person infected with malaria by a mosquito from a plane has died near Frankfurt Airport — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇬🇷 GR
• Lithuania discovered twelve smuggling tunnels on the border with Belarus — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇷🇴 RO
• The Hague court sentenced Kosovo's Hashim Thaçi and three KLA commanders to a combined 81 years in prison — 🇷🇸 RS · 🇲🇰 MK · 🇧🇦 BA
• The Pentagon is considering withdrawing tens of thousands of US troops from Europe — 🇮🇹 IT · 🇷🇸 RS · 🇵🇱 PL

Foreign-lens candidates

• A rabbi was attacked in Milan — when confirming the detention, the judge described the attack as motivated by religious hatred; the accused faces charges of a racially motivated crime. SK/CZ mainstream media do not cover the topic. Value for SK: growing concerns about antisemitism in the EU, a concrete judicial assessment (the hate motive was stated by the judge already in the preliminary ruling), not just general rhetoric about extremism. ANSA ↗
• Dutch chipmaker Nexperia, Chinese-owned, has found a partner in India after the rift with China — Tata Electronics will manufacture and package its chips. SK/CZ do not cover the topic. Value for SK: a concrete case of semiconductor production expanding outside China — illustrates the real impact of the Chinese-Dutch tech dispute on global supply chains, also relevant for the Slovak automotive industry, which depends on chips. Trouw ↗