🔁 What's moving Europe today
- Trump claims that both Russia and Ukraine have agreed to his "energy ceasefire" – "because he said so" – Moscow denies this and nevertheless attacked Ukrainian energy targets overnight with missiles and drones; two people died in an attack on Kyiv. The American president also declared that "Putin wants a deal more than Zelensky does." 🇺🇦 ↗ · 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇱🇻 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇬🇧 ↗
- Drones in the Black Sea hit two ships off the Bulgarian coast, one of which sank – Bulgaria sees Russia behind the attack, is seeking help from the EU and NATO, and plans to summon the Russian ambassador. 🇧🇬 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗ · 🇬🇧 ↗
- Trump's deal with Putin on Russian oil is running into criticism across nearly all of Europe and in the US Congress. Critics say the deal mainly benefits Moscow; according to Die Presse, Russia continues to attack Ukrainian energy facilities. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇦🇹 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗ · 🇸🇪 ↗ · 🇬🇧 ↗
- NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich presented a "theory of victory" over Russia. "We are ready to fight tonight," he told Moscow; according to NRC, he warned that NATO forces are prepared to destroy "everything and everyone" in the event of an attack on an alliance member. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗
- The EU approved its largest sanctions package against Russia to date – more than 1,600 new individuals and companies, targeting the military and drone complex. 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇭🇺 ↗ · 🇪🇸 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇺🇦 ↗
- Federal agents searched the home of Democratic congresswoman and Trump critic Ilhan Omar just before the elections; she responded that she "cannot be silenced" and spoke of political intimidation. The investigation is being led by the ICE immigration police division over alleged irregularities in her naturalization; the Department of Justice confirmed it approved the search warrant. Trump attacked Omar again at a campaign rally in Ohio, while newly elected New York mayor Mamdani said her citizenship "should not be weaponized"; Democrats are calling it an abuse of power. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇺🇸 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇺🇸 ↗
- A massive cyberattack knocked out cooling systems at hundreds of French supermarkets and also hit Belgian and Dutch stores; tons of food ended up in the trash. Damages run into millions of euros, and the Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation. 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇦🇹 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇫🇮 ↗
- German labor minister and SPD chair Bärbel Bas has resigned from both her government and party posts – Alexander Schweitzer takes her place in government. Chancellor Merz's coalition continues to shake, and a new SPD leadership will not be elected until the turn of the year. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇦🇹 ↗ · 🇨🇭 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗
- British Prime Minister Burnham accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards of planning an attack on RAF Fairford – the accusation was backed by thirty countries, and London is promising further sanctions against Iran. On that occasion he also repeated that Russia influenced the Brexit referendum. 🇬🇧 ↗ · 🇪🇸 ↗ · 🇵🇹 ↗ · 🇫🇮 ↗ · 🇭🇷 ↗
- Two Turkish nationals were detained in Germany in connection with arson at a Polish Starlink station; Warsaw sees it as an act of hybrid warfare linked to Russia. 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇱🇹 ↗
- Saudi Arabia is running low on interceptors against the Houthis, who attacked Riyadh again overnight – Qatar Airways has suspended flights to Riyadh and Dammam, major oil company executives are avoiding the city, and a bomb threat was reported at Tel Aviv airport. According to several media outlets, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is moving between palace bunkers, and Riyadh airport remains closed until October 17. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇧🇦 ↗ · 🇹🇷 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗ · 🇮🇪 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗
- Elon Musk is the biggest donor to Republicans ahead of the US midterm elections – over $276 million since July. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇬🇧 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇵🇹 ↗ · 🇺🇸 ↗
- Zelensky signed a law on education in national minority languages – it is meant to remove one of the main obstacles to opening EU accession clusters. 🇺🇦 ↗ · 🇭🇺 ↗ · 🇱🇹 ↗
- The EU and China agreed on a cap for imports of hybrid cars – no more than 350,000 units a year, a de-escalation of the trade war. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇦🇹 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇱🇻 ↗
- According to a BBC investigation, auditing firm Deloitte helped forge documents to help Russian-British oligarch Roman Abramovich avoid taxes – backdated papers also made his yachts and villas disappear from the accounts.** 🇬🇧 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇵🇹 ↗ · 🇬🇧 ↗
DE🇩🇪German media
- CDU in Saxony-Anhalt is considering leaving the negotiating chamber to avoid votes going to the AfD candidate for premier – a dispute over maintaining the "wall" against the far right. Süddeutsche Zeitung ↗
- Iran claims it attacked a supertanker in the Strait of Hormuz. Spiegel ↗
- Israel denied a visa to a taz newspaper correspondent, a dispute over press freedom continues. Welt ↗
- A Hamburg court seized podcast recordings of a Die Zeit journalist in the "Block" case, the editorial team speaks of an attack on press freedom. Spiegel ↗
- Merz is pushing for a reduction in the electricity tax for all households, critics call it a risky populist move. Tagesspiegel ↗
- Berlin's Die Linke has postponed by two weeks the congress at which it was to vote on starting coalition talks with the SPD and the Greens. Tagesspiegel ↗
- A joint dinner between representatives of Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW and the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt has sparked a rift within her movement. Welt ↗
PL🇵🇱Polish media
- Services published a communiqué about a planned assassination attempt on Prime Minister Tusk and the defense minister, but Tusk still walked to the government office anyway, former head of the BOR protection service Mirosław Gawor says this could make protecting the premier harder. Onet ↗
- The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection UOKiK imposed multimillion fines on four banks for unjustified fee hikes of up to 200 percent. Rzeczpospolita ↗
- Central bank governor Glapiński may face the State Tribunal, NBP warns of the consequences of the Sejm committee's decision. Do Rzeczy ↗
- Former justice minister Ziobro may be brought before the State Tribunal, not only over prosecutors' charges. Rzeczpospolita ↗
- Łukasz Gibała became mayor of Kraków on his fourth attempt and immediately announced his first decisions, KO politicians admit their candidate was a weak choice. Rzeczpospolita ↗
- The investigative committee on the Pegasus wiretapping affair published its findings – "it wasn't just wiretapping, but a takeover of a life," says committee chair Magdalena Sroka. Rzeczpospolita ↗
HU🇭🇺Hungarian media
- Opposition leader Péter Magyar accused half of Fidesz-KDNP MPs in parliament of illegitimacy, claiming they secured their mandates fraudulently. 24.hu ↗
- András Baka nominated Péter Fejes for the post of chief prosecutor. Telex ↗
- Fraudsters posing as employees of the state office NVVH attempted to swindle two billion forints, a court remanded two suspects in custody. Telex ↗
- Tisza party MP Tibor Kaprinyák will have his case decided by the faction's ethics committee on Tuesday over photos from a luxury hunt. Telex ↗
- Zsolt Borkai resigned his mandate on the Győr city council, leaving politics for good. Telex ↗
- Sensitive information about US nuclear weapons leaked, Washington responds with a drastic step. Portfolio ↗
AT🇦🇹Austrian media
- The European Commission is reviewing XXXLutz's acquisition of the Porta company. ORF ↗
- Interior Minister Karner defends the detention of Ukrainian journalists in Vienna – "it's not a simple scenario." Der Standard ↗
- Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger declined a trip to Lavrov in Moscow and declared Israeli politician Ben Gvir unwelcome in Austria. Die Presse ↗ · ORF ↗
- ÖVP openly criticizes coalition partner Neos in the dispute over mandatory military service. Kurier ↗
- The WKStA anti-corruption prosecutor's office is investigating the insolvency of Meinl Bank. Der Standard ↗
- New grid electricity tariffs – those who draw a lot of power at once will pay more. Der Standard ↗
- Sexual harassment of a girl by a robot in Cologne livestreamed – two minors under investigation. Der Standard ↗
- OpenAI and Anthropic are secretly preparing for AI's "day X" catastrophe, according to Der Standard. Der Standard ↗
UA🇺🇦Ukrainian media
- Russia launched a massive attack on Kharkiv, destroying the entrance of an apartment building in the Kholodnohirskyi district – according to current reports three people died, at least 11 are injured, including a paramedic. Ukrainska Pravda ↗ · 🇲🇩 ↗
- The Kremlin rejected Zelensky's proposal for a 60-day truce during the election period, offering only a one-day pause. Ukrainska Pravda ↗
- NATO has drawn up a defense plan against Russia, including strikes on military targets directly inside Russia and Belarus. Censor.NET ↗
- Ukrainian strikes on three data centers belonging to Russia's Yandex caused outages, which the company has still not fixed. Censor.NET ↗
- Nigel Farage called Ukraine "one of the most corrupt countries in the world," sparking criticism. Ukrainska Pravda ↗
- Zelensky announced a new meeting of the "coalition of the willing" after a phone call with Merz. Censor.NET ↗
- Britain imposed sanctions on a Dutch businessman for supplying machinery to Russian missile manufacturers – the case was uncovered by the Kyiv Independent. Kyiv Independent ↗
FR🇫🇷French media
- High school students are entering another week of protests against education cuts, with teachers set to join Tuesday's march. Le Figaro ↗
- A fourteen-year-old student shot the principal and a teacher at a school in Aubagne, bringing a shotgun hidden in a guitar case; according to Le Figaro, his aim was "to kill teachers." Le Figaro ↗
- Ségolène Royal, after losing the primary, made her support for Glucksmann's campaign conditional – if it shifts toward "Macronism," she won't be part of it. Le Figaro ↗
- Republican presidential candidate Retailleau presented a €197 billion savings program for the 2027 budget and spoke of a "nearly bankrupt France." Libération ↗
- Rating agency Fitch is considering downgrading France's credit rating. Le Figaro ↗
- Prime Minister Lecornu promises to cut diesel prices at the pump by up to 18 cents per liter starting November 1. Le Figaro ↗ · BFM TV ↗
- Macron announced the seizure of a tanker from Russia's "shadow fleet" near Réunion island for illegally transporting fuel. Le Figaro ↗
- Congo's former president Kabila has taken the lead of a new political-military coalition that also includes M23 rebels, raising the threat of further escalation in eastern DR Congo. Le Monde ↗
IT🇮🇹Italian media
- Matteo Salvini formally resigned as head of the League and announced his own congress, including a new logo and political secretariat. Corriere della Sera ↗
- 2027 budget: Finance Minister Giorgetti wants to use part of the energy funds to help families. AGI ↗
- Meloni is pressing Brussels with a letter alongside Chancellor Merz – aiming to tell the EU "what isn't working in energy and flexibility." Corriere della Sera ↗
- The opposition filed 30 lawsuits with the Constitutional Court against the "Melonellum" electoral law, raising six doubts about its constitutionality. Corriere della Sera ↗
- MPS bank: CEO Lovaglio insists on his plan ahead of the decisive shareholders' meeting. La Repubblica ↗
- Gas futures prices in Amsterdam jumped 3.34% to €84.16 per megawatt-hour. ANSA ↗
- Stellantis is opening up the possibility of a second model for the Mirafiori plant, seeking state help with energy and logistics costs. Il Fatto Quotidiano ↗
- Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Gemelli hospital, with surgery for a lung nodule expected as early as today according to Italian media – the Vatican has suspended audiences for a week, and Sunday's Angelus is also in question. AGI ↗ · Il Sole 24 Ore ↗ · Corriere della Sera ↗
CH🇨🇭Swiss media
- CDU support at a deep low in polls, Chancellor Merz seeking a "liberating blow" through relief measures. Neue Zürcher Zeitung ↗
- A referendum against relaxing the law on military equipment exports has been launched in Switzerland, with the alliance starting to collect signatures. SRF ↗
- American rating agency warns: Zurich could lose its top AAA rating over 7.2 billion francs in debt. Tages-Anzeiger ↗
LU🇱🇺Luxembourg media
- Prime Minister Luc Frieden cannot follow Merz's "austerity mania" in the EU budget, the paper writes in an editorial. Luxemburger Wort ↗
- Luxembourg is considering further legal steps in the $16 billion arbitration dispute with Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman. Luxembourg Times ↗
ES🇪🇸Spanish media
- The Supreme Court upheld the suspension of voting rights for people who obtained citizenship under the "grandchildren's law" – the state attorney's appeal was rejected by five votes to one. El Mundo ↗
- Sánchez admitted he hid for 74 days that Moroccan warships had entered Ceuta's waters during the mass entry of migrants – King Felipe VI visited the city today, tense after the revelation. El Español ↗ · La Vanguardia ↗
- The left-wing Frente Amplio proposed Ada Colau as its candidate for prime minister, leaving Podemos's involvement open. El País ↗
- The PP mayor of Algeciras faces a second accusation of sexual abuse of party officials, his own party is demanding his resignation. El Mundo ↗
- Clashes broke out between far-right activists and a camp of protesters at Madrid's Puerta del Sol, one police officer injured, two detained. El Mundo ↗
- The first serious rift between Catalan premier Illa and ERC over leadership of the public broadcaster TV3 after a report on vaccines. El Confidencial ↗
- Renault is questioning the future of its Valladolid plant if subsidies for Chinese electric vehicles continue, while Seat awaits a decision on a second platform for its Martorell plant. El País ↗
BE🇧🇪Belgian media
- A police officer from an anti-raid unit died from injuries after chasing a stolen car in Brussels's Jette, while another person was killed in a separate shooting in Ixelles. VRT NWS ↗ · Het Laatste Nieuws ↗
- Days of unrest near Brussels-South station have ended, leaving a trail of destruction and nine minors detained. Het Laatste Nieuws ↗
- The Walloon government is aiming for a budget deficit of 1.35 billion euros in 2027. De Morgen ↗
- Flemish media minister Cieltje Van Achter is definitively refusing further negotiations on savings at public broadcaster VRT – which is to save another roughly 10 million euros. VRT NWS ↗
- Israel is heading into historic elections, with Netanyahu in a tight race against his former chief of staff, who lost a son in the war. Het Laatste Nieuws ↗
- The EU and the United Kingdom announced a summit for November 20 in Brussels. La Libre ↗
- Belgium is keeping the "Russian House" in Brussels open despite the risk of propaganda and disinformation. De Standaard ↗
PT🇵🇹Portuguese media
- Interior Minister Luís Neves dismissed the ministry's secretary-general Ricardo Carrilho, with the communiqué citing a reorganization of the general secretariat. Jornal de Negócios ↗
- An interview with former PM Passos Coelho reopens the question of a PSD coalition with Chega, as PM Montenegro signals that PSD should not live "tied" to Chega. RTP ↗
- The city of Porto labeled the tent camp an "illegal occupation" and confirmed an intervention – authorities on Monday morning called on housing-rights protesters to leave Praça D. João I and remove the tents they have been sleeping in since Saturday. CM Jornal ↗
- Two Chega MPs stormed into a university radio studio in Coimbra. Expresso ↗
- Israel's Supreme Court is asking the army to set deadlines for the return of 30,000 Palestinians expelled from the West Bank. CM Jornal ↗
- Oil company Galp achieved a record refining margin of $33.8 per barrel – the highest in the company's history. Expresso ↗
- Deputy Governor Máximo dos Santos is leaving Banco de Portugal at the end of the month, with no replacement named yet. Expresso ↗
IE🇮🇪Irish media
- Unions rejected Minister Jack Chambers's offer of talks on pay before the WRC and are insisting on the announced strike. Irish Independent ↗
- Former swimming coach George Gibney was sentenced to 16 years and eight months, of which he will serve 15 and a half years, for sexually abusing four young swimmers. Irish Examiner ↗
- Alleged drug gang boss Daniel Kinahan will apply for bail "at the right time", while seeking disclosure of files from two foreign investigations before the Special Criminal Court. The Irish Times ↗
- The Orange Order is appealing in court against the ban on the Drumcree march. The Irish Times ↗
- Irish engineer Robert Pether has returned home after five years of imprisonment in Iraq. The Irish Times ↗
NL🇳🇱Dutch media
- The EU wants to "hold a dialogue" with Washington over US sanctions against the International Criminal Court. Trouw ↗
- Dutch Health Minister Hermans is scrapping the thirteen-week ultrasound scan for pregnant women from 2028 – the Health Council recommended last month not to include it in standard care. NOS ↗
- The opposition in The Hague is attacking the government's tax plan, criticizing the "sly freedom allowance". NU.nl ↗
- A Dutch soldier was sentenced to two years in prison, ten months of it suspended, for selling confidential information from police systems in exchange for cocaine and money. NU.nl ↗
🌍 Other Countries
RS🇷🇸Serbian Media
- SPS chief Dačić announced his candidacy for President of Serbia, although Vučić trusts someone from the opposition more. Danas ↗
- European Parliament mission finally coming to observe Serbian elections, invitation arrived after the deadline. N1 Serbia ↗
HR🇭🇷Croatian Media
- Air measurements near the controversial landfill in Gospić confirmed it is clean, further measurements will be ensured by the county. Večernji list ↗
- Young AfD representative resigned after publication of a "Greater Germany" map with parts of twelve other states, the map caused outrage across Europe. Index.hr ↗
TR🇹🇷Turkish Media
- PKK has withdrawn from four camps in northern Iraq, according to Turkish security sources – another step in the peace process. TRT Haber ↗
- Erdoğan, after a government meeting, stated that in Turkey "no one, not even himself," is above criticism. Cumhuriyet ↗
RO🇷🇴Romanian Media
- The Senate approved AUR's political declaration demanding an explanation from the government regarding the alleged waiver of the EU veto right, acting Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu called it "a lie from beginning to end." Pro TV Stirile ↗
- The decision on house arrest in the Călin Georgescu case was postponed, after two weeks behind bars he returned to DIICOT to complete computer examinations. Pro TV Stirile ↗
GB🇬🇧British Media
- AI Minister Kanishka Narayan warned that a breach of Britain's cyber defenses is "likely", the government wants to deploy advanced AI against attacks. BBC News ↗
- Britain has spent 1.6 trillion pounds on working-age benefits over the past 20 years, three times what it invested in infrastructure. The Sun ↗
GR🇬🇷Greek Media
- Greece wants to ban children under 15 from accessing Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok from 2027 through a draft law. Protothema ↗
- A poster for an archaeological conference featuring a Wehrmacht flag over the Acropolis sparked a wave of criticism. Naftemporiki ↗
BA🇧🇦Bosnian-Herzegovinian Media
- The CIK election commission stated that manipulating results via scanners was not possible, and warned against disinformation about new voting technologies. N1 Bosna ↗
- A court again postponed the enforcement of the sentence for Vojin Pavlović for denying genocide and glorifying Mladić. N1 Bosna ↗
LT🇱🇹Lithuanian Media
- A man was shot dead in Vilnius on Savanorių Avenue, according to Delfi the victim is kickboxing champion Vincas Jašmontas. LRT ↗
FI🇫🇮Finnish Media
- Fifty to a hundred people demonstrated in Helsinki in front of Google's headquarters against planned data centers. Yle ↗
BG🇧🇬Bulgarian Media
- At a secret facility near Sofia, two masked men set fire to 11 Starlink antennas, according to MP Ivaylo Mirchev. Dnevnik ↗
SI🇸🇮Slovenian Media
- FIFA chief Infantino faces a new scandal – he allegedly received undisclosed million-euro payments, the investigation also mentions a luxury villa. Delo ↗
SE🇸🇪Swedish Media
- A third student suspected of a crime was taken into custody at Sigtuna school – the appeals court decided this after a lower court rejected the request. SVT ↗
MK🇲🇰Macedonian Media
- The government boasts of 4.3% economic growth and inflation 25% lower than the EU average. MKD.mk ↗
IS🇮🇸Icelandic Media
- In the Reykholt case, Andri Már Mortensen Birgisson received eight years in prison, six people were charged in total for holding a man captive and beating him to extort money from him. RÚV ↗
EE🇪🇪Estonian Media
- Ülle Madise took office as Estonia's new president, taking over from outgoing President Karis. Äripäev ↗
ME🇲🇪Montenegrin Media
- Former President of Serbia and Montenegro Svetozar Marović is free – the court ruled that his sentence has absolutely expired under the statute of limitations. Vijesti ↗
NO🇳🇴Norwegian Media
- The daughter of Norwegian real estate investor Christian Ringnes has reportedly come forward as a whistleblower in the Epstein case, according to daily DN, and speaks of her involvement in a controversial think tank. VG ↗
DK🇩🇰Danish Media
- An attack that leaked 8.7 million Danish personal ID numbers was created by artificial intelligence – according to Politiken, the suspected hacker "vibe-coded" the theft program using AI. Politiken ↗
US🇺🇸American Media
- The Department of Justice launched an antitrust investigation into NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, and Fox News following Trump's threats against the media. NPR ↗
LV🇱🇻Latvian Media
- A group called "Black Russians" has claimed responsibility for the incident on the Latvian border, analysts see traces of secret services behind it. LSM ↗
AL🇦🇱Albanian Media
- Mass protests "Rebellion 135" demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and a technical government, demonstrators march toward the government office in Tirana. Balkanweb ↗
MD🇲🇩Moldovan Media
- Oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc, after being sentenced to 19 years for creating and leading a criminal organization, appeared before the appeals court – demanding an explanation of the charges, "I don't understand the accusation," he told the judges. Ziarul de Gardă ↗
MT🇲🇹Maltese Media
- Part of a square in Tarxien collapsed, angry residents say "people could have died." Newsbook ↗
🔭 What barely made it to our media
- Acting Romanian Prime Minister Luca Niculescu has until Thursday to present a program statement and a government – he is considering a "hybrid" or technocratic government, since PNL refuses to govern with PSD again. This is another example of political instability in a NATO and EU member state. G4Media ↗
- Hungary's scientific network HUN-REN lost both its chairman and director general in a single day – both departed by mutual agreement, with Stipsicz András becoming the new interim chairman at the government's proposal. The political influence on science also resonates in the Slovak debate on research independence. Telex ↗
- Serbia's Dodik and Croatia's Čović confirmed their alliance and want to lead post-election coalition talks in Bosnia. Forming a government in Bosnia has long been a sensitive topic for the region. N1 Bosna ↗
*Illustrative photo: the Berlaymont building, headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels. Wikimedia Commons. Author: KenSwe72. License CC BY 4.0.*
