DE🇩🇪Germany
- Left-wing activist Lina E. released early from prison Tagesschau ↗taz ↗ — Remainder of sentence commuted to probation after appeal proceedings. Supporters and opponents gathered in front of the prison.
- Secret documents reveal controversial relations of weapons manufacturer KNDS with Qatar Der Spiegel ↗ — Manufacturer of Leopard tanks and Caesar self-propelled howitzers faces scandal. Sensitive timing as Europe massively increases military orders.
- Economic advisors to the government lowered Germany's growth forecast Tagesschau ↗ — Council of Economic Experts revised estimated growth downward. Industry struggles with energy costs and weak demand.
- AfD employee in Bundestag connected to motorcycle gang — entry denied Die Zeit ↗ — Security risk in parliament; staff member had ties to Bandidos gang.
- Israel called on residents of Tyre to evacuate immediately Die Zeit ↗Spiegel ↗ — Escalation in southern Lebanon, thousands leaving the coastal city.
- Ebola patient from Democratic Republic of Congo treated at Berlin's Charité — in stable condition Tagesspiegel ↗ — Uganda closed its border with Congo due to new Ebola outbreak.
- Four federal states for faster train to Poland Die Zeit ↗ — Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Saxony-Anhalt joint initiative for better cross-border connection.
- Trump's Peace Fund — zero balance Spiegel ↗ — 'Board of Peace' declared by Trump in Davos has no financial resources.
PL🇵🇱Poland
- Iran received draft agreement with USA — key deadline and Strait of Hormuz condition Do Rzeczy ↗Onet ↗ — USA condition the agreement on guarantees of freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
- NSDAP archives declassified: Germans surprisingly discover criminal past of ancestors Gazeta Wyborcza ↗ — Families learn for the first time what their grandparents did during the Nazi era.
- Mass layoffs becoming the norm on Polish labor market Rzeczpospolita ↗ — Trend of group layoffs accelerating across sectors.
- Polish prosecutor will examine actions of Israeli ministers Onet ↗ — Motion filed after visit of Israeli officials to Poland; diplomatically sensitive.
- Zelenskyy named elite unit after 'UPA heroes' — sparked strong emotions in Poland Rzeczpospolita ↗ — Decision reopens old wounds of Polish-Ukrainian history; UPA is a symbol of the Volhynia massacres in Poland.
HU🇭🇺Hungary
- Tisza government: abolition of diplomatic passports, mandatory disclosure of hospital infections Portfolio ↗ — Magyar Péter presented transparency measures upon Tisza government's takeover.
- Orbán founding 'Védvonal' — protective institution for Fidesz members Magyar Nemzet ↗HVG ↗ — Orbán: people 'cannot be persecuted just for Fidesz'. Opposition sees it as a political protective structure.
- British intelligence: half a million Russian soldiers died in Ukraine 24.hu ↗ — Figure cited by head of British military intelligence; Moscow denies the figures.
- Hungary seeks solution to Hungarian minority situation in Transcarpathia before planned Magyar-Zelenskyy meeting Politika ↗ — Budapest conditions good relations with Kyiv on guarantees of minority rights.
AT🇦🇹Austria
- FPÖ welcomed far-right AfD Saxony in parliament — SPÖ outraged Kleine Zeitung ↗ — Meeting of FPÖ parliamentary group with AfD; social democrats demand explanation.
- From July, all new cars must have mandatory alcohol interlock Der Standard ↗ — New European requirement comes into effect across the continent.
- Signa scandal: former chancellor Gusenbauer in court Der Standard ↗ — Former Austrian chancellor testified about his role in René Benko's collapsed real estate empire.
- Cuts at Austrian universities: 'Later it will cost double to triple' Kleine Zeitung ↗ — Academics warn of long-term impacts of austerity measures.
- Vienna faces wave of price increases from 2027: waste, sewage, water Kurier ↗ — Municipal services announce significant fee increases.
UA🇺🇦Ukraine
- Zelenskyy sent Trump an urgent letter about critical shortage of air defense Kyiv Post ↗Kyiv Independent ↗ — Kyiv urgently needs new anti-missile systems and ammunition for them; letter was also sent to members of Congress.
- Zelenskyy: Russia attacked twice with Oreshnik missiles on May 24 Ukraïnska pravda ↗ — Hypersonic missiles hit Ukraine; Zelenskyy informed Trump and congressmen about it.
- Russian rocket attack on playground in Kherson: father killed, mother and sons wounded Interfax UA ↗ — One of several attacks on civilian infrastructure during the day.
- Ukraine coordinates priorities before Ramstein summit Censor.net ↗ — Kyiv negotiates with partners on package of air defense, ammunition and drones.
- Strategy of 'logistical lockdown': Ukraine betting on deep strike against Russian supply routes Kyiv Post ↗ — Goal is to exhaust Russian attack capacity by disrupting supply chains to the front.
FR🇫🇷France
- Trump: USA not satisfied with Iran deal, 'leaders of first and second tier have been eliminated' BFM TV ↗ — US president signals that negotiations are not concluded and Washington wants more.
- Sarkozy: conclusion of Libyan appeal proceedings — 'I did not betray the trust of the French' BFM TV ↗Le Figaro ↗ — End of proceedings in which he is accused of receiving millions from Gaddafi for his election campaign.
- Heat wave hits France: 'It doesn't make sense that school still operates' Marianne ↗ — Orange alert, record temperatures; debate about closing schools during heat waves.
- Spain: investigation of former Prime Minister Zapatero weakens Spanish left Ouest France ↗ — 'Fallen angel of Spanish socialism' faces accusations; PSOE dependence grows.
- Mali: army bombs Kidal, rebels and soldiers in positions RFI ↗ — Offensive of Mali's army on northern city of Kidal continues; Tuareg rebels resist.
- Iconic Duralex glassware factory seeks court protection from creditors Ouest France ↗ — Two years after media-watched takeover by employees, the glassware factory is in trouble again.
- EU wants to prioritize European players in satellite frequencies Le Monde ↗ — Response to Starlink dependence; SpaceX allegedly raised prices for US military.
- Son of Vincent Bolloré: media scandal is 'unrest', calls for peace Libération ↗ — Bolloré family reacts to wave of criticism following changes in TV station ownership.
IT🇮🇹Italy
- League says "no" to Ukraine's EU membership — opposition calls on Meloni to reject her own partners Corriere della Sera ↗ — Internal government rift in Italy over Kyiv's European perspective.
- Pope Leo XIV. takes receivership of Padre Pia hospital: debts of 250 million euros, 1,300 payment orders Corriere della Sera ↗ — Vatican intervenes in hospital management after financial crisis revealed.
- Meloni: "Italy is Europe's leader in PNRR absorption." FT: "Plan was a failure" Il Fatto Quotidiano ↗ — Contradictory assessments of Italian performance in drawing down EU post-Covid funds.
- Gaza flotilla: Italian prosecutors request rogatory letters to Israel — minister Nordio hesitates Open ↗ — Nordio weighs diplomatic consequences of issuing international request.
- SpaceX rocket in flames during ocean landing maneuver Corriere ↗ — Dramatic footage from failed Falcon booster landing.
- Murder at Certosa station in Milan: victim's father identified MS-13 leader by tattoos Open ↗ — Arrest of members of Mara Salvatrucha organized crime group from Latin America.
- EU and Baltic states: fighting Moscow's hybrid and cognitive warfare La Stampa ↗ — Drones and disinformation from Russia: the Baltics under pressure, EU forming response.
CH🇨🇭Switzerland
- RAF terrorist Daniela Klette: 13 years in prison after 30 years on the run Tages-Anzeiger ↗ — Court in Verden issues verdict for series of armed robberies; judge: "Whoever aims like this accepts fatal injuries."
- Israel in Lebanon without ceasefire — "Recipe for new tensions" Tages-Anzeiger ↗SRF ↗ — Situation in southern Lebanon increasingly complex, diplomatic perspective for ending fighting lacking.
- Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah visited the Pope — sees "disturbing things" in his own technology Tages-Anzeiger ↗ — Researcher who helped create AI system Claude publicly speaks about existential concerns from artificial intelligence.
- Federal Council cuts 60 jobs in communications services SRF ↗ — Response to parliamentary mandate to save; government communications departments to shrink.
- Swiss farmers rejected premiums for leaving the sector SRF ↗ — Suisseporcs proposal to reduce production rejected at delegate assembly.
LU🇱🇺Luxembourg
- Zelensky asks USA in letter for air defense help Luxemburger Wort ↗ — Confirmation of Ukraine's urgent request.
- Trump's Peace Fund empty — zero dollars Luxembourg Times ↗ — "Board of Peace" declared in Davos contains no funds.
- Hungarian parliament blocked withdrawal from International Criminal Court Luxemburger Wort ↗ — Political shift following Magyar Péter's rise; parliament revoked government plan.
- Pope Leo XIV. in the role of "anti-Trump" Luxemburger Wort ↗ — Vatican openly positions itself against Trump policy on migration and climate.
- Luxembourg activist on detention in Israel Luxemburger Wort ↗ — Straightforward testimony on detention conditions; diplomatic incident for Luxembourg.
ES🇪🇸Spain
- Ferraz case: Santos Cerdán offered 50,000 euros for silence — acted alone or with knowledge of PSOE leadership? El País ↗ — Judge reveals details of corruption network around PSOE campaign chief; key question remains unanswered.
- Zapatero investigation weakens Spanish left La Vanguardia ↗ — Ex-premier, "fallen angel of Spanish socialism," faces new allegations; PSOE crisis deepens.
- Electric cars nearly overtake gasoline cars in EU El Diario ↗ — Historic shift: share of electric vehicles in European market sales rising.
- Unions declared unlimited strike in Madrid schools for start of school year El País ↗ — Pattern from Valencia; teachers organizing before September school start.
BE🇧🇪Belgium
- UK and Poland signed defense and security pact against Russian threat HLN ↗ — Bilateral treaty strengthens NATO's eastern flank.
- Belgium summoned Russian ambassador after call for diplomats to leave Kyiv 7sur7 ↗La Libre ↗ — Foreign Minister Prévot: "We will not be intimidated."
- Bende van Nijvel case: excavations at French cemetery — DNA research on gang bodies VRT NWS ↗ — One of Belgium's most mysterious unsolved cases gets new momentum.
- Ebola in Congo: mortality rate below 25% — WHO assesses situation La Libre ↗ — Uganda closes borders; Belgian community watches ebola spread in region.
GB🇬🇧United Kingdom
- Mandelson failed security vetting for US ambassador — ties to China, Russia, Israel The Independent ↗Daily Mail ↗ — Scandal questions position of Blair confidant in key diplomatic role.
- Blair attacks Labour: Starmer must "tear apart" irrational Net Zero targets Daily Mail ↗ — Ex-PM opens intra-party storm; Burnham: "Blair doesn't understand what's happening."
- Emergency room doctor stabbed at London hospital The Mirror ↗ — Healthcare worker safety: recurring theme in British media.
- Burnham counters Blair: centrists like him are responsible for Farage's rise The Independent ↗ — Intra-party debate over Labour's direction intensifying.
NL🇳🇱Netherlands
- Germany and Netherlands to establish joint NATO command in Baltic Trouw ↗NOS ↗ — New defensive architecture on eastern flank; troops headed to Estonia.
- Strict regulation slows startups in EU — Netherlands calls for loosening De Telegraaf ↗ — Netherlands lobbies for change in European rules for young company financing.
SE🇸🇪Sweden
- Commentary: Putin and Trump fell into the same trap of arrogance Expressen ↗ — Analytical essay on parallels in behavior of two world leaders.
- Russia allows private air defense systems Dagens Nyheter ↗ — Law permits private operators to run anti-aircraft defense; read as sign of internal uncertainty.
- LKAB builds Europe's first critical raw materials production plant — challenge to China Dagens Nyheter ↗ — Swedish state-owned mine breaks EU dependence on Chinese rare earth suppliers.
FI🇫🇮Finland
- Russian military aircraft violated Finnish airspace — Finland summoned ambassador Helsingin Sanomat ↗ — Aircraft flew over Gulf of Finland during maneuver; diplomatic response followed.
- Coalition on brink of collapse: Purra blocked entire state budget over peat dispute YLE ↗ — Perussuomalaiset party chair blocks budget finalization; government crisis deepens.
HR🇭🇷Croatia
- Plenković: government preparing for "serious dialogue" with Hungary over MOL Večernji List ↗ — Croatia won arbitration; now negotiations follow over conditions of further cooperation.
- Plenković announces taxation of excess profit margins of companies HRT ↗ — Government wants special tax to punish firms with excessively high profits.
RS🇷🇸Serbia
RO🇷🇴Romania
- Iranians after internet restoration: "I felt like a prisoner released after three months" Digi24 ↗ — Testimonies about digital isolation during US military operations in Iran.
- Bulgaria's new prime minister calls on Europe to reconsider strategy toward Russia HotNews ↗ — New Bulgarian government signals a less confrontational approach; calls for talks with Moscow.
🔁 Cross-country themes
- Israel escalates in Lebanon: evacuation call for Tyre — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇨🇭 CH · 🇸🇪 SE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇺🇦 UA · 🇧🇪 BE (6 countries)
- Zelensky asks Trump for air defense (letter + Ramstein) — 🇺🇦 UA · 🇱🇺 LU · 🇧🇪 BE · 🇭🇺 HU (4 countries)
- Heatwave swept Europe — orange alerts, record temperatures — 🇫🇷 FR · 🇮🇹 IT · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇮🇪 IE (5 countries)
- Trump-Iran: deal not enough, Washington demands more — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇭🇺 HU · 🇬🇷 GR (5 countries)
- Daniela Klette (RAF) — 13 years prison after 30 years on the run — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇨🇭 CH · 🇧🇪 BE (3 countries)
- Ebola in Congo: Uganda closes borders, patient in Berlin — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇧🇪 BE · 🇷🇴 RO · 🇭🇷 HR (4 countries)
- UK-Poland: defense pact against Russia — 🇬🇧 UK · 🇵🇱 PL · 🇧🇪 BE (3 countries)
Foreign-lens candidates
Foreign-lens candidate: "Anthropic co-founder traveled to the Pope and sees disturbing things in his own AI" (Tages-Anzeiger, Switzerland) — Christopher Olah, one of the creators of the Claude system, publicly speaks about existential concerns. SK/CZ media do not cover internal testimonies of AI researchers.Foreign-lens candidate: "LKAB vs. China: Sweden builds Europe's first critical minerals plant" (Dagens Nyheter) — A key element of European strategic autonomy. The EU is dependent on China in rare earths; Sweden wants to break that. Relevant to Slovak industrial and energy context.
Foreign-lens candidate: "Russia allows private air defense systems — what this says about Putin's army" (Dagens Nyheter) — Read: the Russian state cannot defend its own territory without the private sector. An indicator of internal weakness of the Russian army, which SK/CZ media underestimate under Fico's influence.
