What Europe is writing about: Fed raises rates for the first time since 2023, Trump threatens the EU over Canada, Hague convicts Thaçi

🔁 What's moving Europe today

• The US Fed raised interest rates for the first time since 2023, Trump immediately attacked the central bank chief Warsh and is demanding a cut to 1%. Almost all of Europe is writing about it. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇪🇸 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇬🇧 ↗
  • 🇳🇱 Despite criticizing the increase, Trump still says he trusts the Fed chief — stocks reacted nervously nonetheless. De Telegraaf ↗ · AD ↗
  • 🇭🇺 Hungarian banks immediately raised loan rates in response to the rate hike. Portfolio ↗
• The US Congress definitively passed a sanctions bill against Russia named after Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July — under it Trump can impose tariffs of up to a hundred percent on the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, and the sanctions also target Putin directly. The House of Representatives passed it 262:159, the Senate already did so in August, and the bill now awaits Trump's signature. Slovak and Czech media have not yet written about the bill itself. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇹🇷 ↗ · 🇺🇦 ↗ · 🇺🇸 ↗
• Trump is threatening the EU with high tariffs or a complete halt to trade over von der Leyen's plan to offer Canada associate membership in the Union, calling it "ridiculous." According to El Español, von der Leyen did not consult the plan in advance with all 27 member states. Our article → · 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇫🇮 ↗ · 🇪🇸 ↗
  • 🇮🇹 According to La Repubblica, the EU is building an associate-member "axis" with Canada — a signal aimed at both Washington and Moscow. La Repubblica ↗
  • 🇧🇪 Canada is also seeking a military connection with the EU — after economic rapprochement, military cooperation will follow, according to De Morgen. De Morgen ↗
• The Hague tribunal sentenced former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi to 25 years in prison for war crimes, turning a hero of independence into a convict. 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇨🇭 ↗ · 🇷🇸 ↗ · 🇭🇷 ↗ · 🇦🇱 ↗
  • 🇲🇪 Montenegrin President Milatović: "Celebrating war criminals has no place in European values." Vijesti ↗
  • 🇭🇷 Serbian President Vučić, following the verdict, also brought up General Ante Gotovina, calling the reactions hypocritical. 24sata ↗
  • 🇷🇸 In Pristina, stones were again thrown at the EULEX headquarters overnight, and part of the roof burned. N1 Serbia ↗
• In Sweden, the center-left opposition won narrowly, with the Sweden Democrats weakening for the first time after years of growth. 🇦🇹 ↗ · 🇩🇰 ↗ · 🇭🇺 ↗ · 🇫🇮 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗
  • 🇸🇪 According to an SVT projection, Sweden's Tidö governing coalition lost the election. Svenska Dagbladet ↗
• A war-damaged building collapsed in Gaza City, killing at least 21 people, including children. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇮🇪 ↗ · 🇸🇮 ↗ · 🇦🇱 ↗
  • 🇮🇹 The building was bombed two years ago; among the victims are 12 children, and dozens of people are missing. ANSA ↗

Tier A — geopolitical relevance for Slovakia

• A pre-election debate in Berlin turned heated over the AfD, with Schwesig and Holm exchanging sharp remarks about racism and migration Welt ↗
• 18.09.The debate over Chancellor Merz's potential fall is intensifying, with his confidant Frei insisting that "Merz remains chancellor." Tagesschau ↗ · Die Zeit ↗
• Germany and Canada will cooperate on artificial intelligence "in the service of humanity" Die Zeit ↗
• Banks will put 22 billion euros into an AI project by Google and Blackstone Handelsblatt ↗
• Turkey detained a journalist after a raid on an LGBT organization, while activists from Istanbul were released in the meantime Spiegel ↗
  • What else German media are writing →

• Poland is increasing the number of call-ups to professional military service Wirtualna Polska ↗
• The European Parliament has drawn up a list of countries posing hybrid threats to Europe Wirtualna Polska ↗
• The dispute over judge Berek is escalating, with PiS MP Kurowska leaving the building after a week, where she had been staying in protest against his nomination Do Rzeczy ↗
• The Sejm committee backed the law on civil partnerships despite the president's veto Wirtualna Polska ↗
• 18.09.The US is preparing new investments in Ukraine, which are expected to benefit millions of civilians. Onet ↗
  • What else Polish media are writing →

• The parliament's security committee will summon foreign minister Szijjártó over his work for the automaker BYD Népszava ↗
• A Hír TV presenter was fired after letting a retired caller's call to assassinate Prime Minister Péter Magyar go unchallenged Népszava ↗
• Interior Minister Pintér gave a confused explanation of why he was driving without mandatory insurance HVG ↗
• Opposition leader Péter Magyar (Tisza movement) promises to abolish mandatory chamber contributions, and the chamber immediately reacted to the proposal Portfolio ↗
• Fintech Revolut faces a cyberattack, hackers demand ransom Portfolio ↗
• Berlin wants to redraw EU diplomacy, Estonia's Kallas resists the major reform Népszava ↗
  • What else Hungarian media are writing →

• The Temelín nuclear power plant near the Austrian border was shut down on an emergency basis ORF ↗
• Austria's ombudswoman "genuinely shaken" by the state of prisons, with staff desperately lacking Kurier ↗
• Vienna's City Temple (synagogue) reopened after renovation Der Standard ↗
• Two pumps damaged on a Saudi Arabian oil pipeline, sabotage suspected ORF ↗
  • 🇩🇪 Saudi Arabia is trying to partially restore the pipeline within a few days, oil prices dipped slightly. Handelsblatt ↗
• FPÖ representatives Kickl and Vilimsky met with Likud representatives in the European Parliament Kleine Zeitung ↗
• Austrian Chancellor Stocker visited Poland, for the first time in 19 years Kleine Zeitung ↗
  • What else Austrian media are writing →

• 18.09.Russia launched an overnight attack with 157 drones and missiles; air defense shot down 131 targets, but in the Kyiv region it damaged 33 facilities across four districts and injured 16 people. Censor.NET ↗ · Ukrainska Pravda ↗
• Zelensky signed a law against fraudulent call centers Kyiv Post ↗
• Ukraine eliminated Russian general Grunis in the occupied Donbas Kyiv Independent ↗
• NATO shot down a Russian "Gerbera" drone over Lithuania Kyiv Post ↗
• A sanctioned former press secretary of Zelensky was denied entry to the European Parliament Kyiv Independent ↗
• EU ambassadors advanced a major plan of defense projects, with Ukraine playing a significant role in it Kyiv Independent ↗
• The US is easing sanctions on two Belarusian companies as part of a prisoner exchange Kyiv Post ↗
  • What else Ukrainian media are writing →

Tier B — EU heavyweights

• Summer heatwaves caused nearly 8,000 excess deaths, the most since 2003 L'Obs ↗
• CGT union calls strike for October 8 at Total over fuel prices Ouest-France ↗
• Israel and Morocco to open mutual embassies France 24 ↗
• The peak of the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is behind us France 24 ↗
• Salah Abdeslam again challenged his solitary confinement regime in prison Ouest-France ↗
• 18.09.Fishermen's anger spreads to more Mediterranean ports — Nice and Grau-du-Roi — despite new government aid. BFM TV ↗
  • What else French media are writing →

• Meloni's government surprisingly scrapped the highway tax for small and medium-sized cars, opposition calls it a pre-election move ANSA ↗
• Ex-Ilva case: layoffs of subcontractor employees suspended, decision awaits the Court of Cassation on October 20 Corriere della Sera ↗
• In Milan, three unknown assailants attacked and beat a rabbi at a bus stop ANSA ↗
• Defense Minister Crosetto: growing drone threat is making Russia "nervous" La Repubblica ↗
  • What else Italian media are writing →

Tier C — alternative perspectives

• Pentagon admitted the US has placed weapons in space Neue Zürcher Zeitung ↗
• SVP demands more extensive stripping of citizenship from dual citizens after the Winterthur attack Tages-Anzeiger ↗
• Head of the State Secretariat Seco Budliger announces resignation, was a key figure in the customs dispute with the US SRF ↗
  • What else Swiss media are writing →

• French Minister Rachida Dati was supposed to be a "Trojan horse" in the European Parliament Luxemburger Wort ↗
• Senior Luxembourg police chief escapes disciplinary proceedings, despite falsifying working hours Luxembourg Times ↗

• Unrest in Ceuta: more than 100 attackers set fire to prison cells, injured a guard ABC ↗
• Moncloa changes strategy in Ceuta, shifts blame to government delegate Vivas ABC ↗
• Court blocked use of Ceuta port for migrant camp, government "in shock" eldiario.es ↗
• Downpours paralyzed Valencia, alert declared for drainage ditches El País ↗
• Russia reportedly hiring a network of hitmen directly on US soil, according to El Mundo, for $40,000 per target El Mundo ↗
• 18.09.Government opens investigation into claims that soldiers beat migrants in Ceuta. eldiario.es ↗
  • What else Spanish media are writing →

Tier D — weaker news cycle

• Drone over Charleroi airport halted flight operations, police detained the pilot just before a planned strike La Libre ↗
• De Wever reopens the issue of state reform while searching for 10 billion for the budget De Standaard ↗
• Belgian PM confirms plan to send undocumented migrants to centers outside the EU La Libre ↗
• Unplanned reactor shutdown at controversial Czech nuclear power plant due to a technical issue De Morgen ↗
• Canada and Germany launch cooperation on ethical artificial intelligence De Morgen ↗
  • What else Belgian media are writing →

• Interpol-wanted Russian shooter detained in Lisbon right after arriving from Israel CM Jornal ↗
• US secretly met with Houthis in Oman, effort to ease tensions in the Red Sea Observador ↗
• Portugal is the third country in Europe with the highest number of mpox cases CM Jornal ↗
• Democratic congressman blocks Trump's plan to sell heavy bombs to Israel CM Jornal ↗
  • What else Portuguese media are writing →

• MP Michael Healy-Rae attacked and struck through a car window in central Dublin, ended up in hospital Irish Independent ↗
• Man charged with attempted attack on PM during the Ploughing Championships Irish Examiner ↗
• Central Bank warns Ireland's budget deficit will reach €20 billion by 2030 The Irish Times ↗
  • What else Irish media are writing →

• General political debates in The Hague reveal chaos in the minority government as it seeks a budget deal de Volkskrant ↗
• Oussama B., wanted for years, detained in Paris, helped prepare the murder of lawyer Derk Wiersum NRC ↗
• New Iranian platform tracks down dissidents abroad, a state-backed "doxxing" effort Trouw ↗
• Netherlands continues to slide in global gender equality ranking NOS ↗
• 18.09.Netanyahu threatens "tough measures" against makers of Gaza documentary. AD ↗
  • What else Dutch media are writing →

🌍 Other countries

• Burnham pledged "unwavering" support for NATO amid Russian warning The Mirror ↗
• British soldier died in accident in Ukraine, defense ministry released the name of Major Paul Wilks The Mirror ↗
• China is building the world's first underwater drone "mothership", satellite images reveal The Sun ↗
• Piddington asylum camp case continues, protected newt could block the plan The Sun ↗
  • What else British media are writing →

• Vučić revealed what he considers a "secret mechanism" of the Hague court in the case of UÇK commanders Kurir ↗
• World leaders reacted to the verdict against Thaçi and other UÇK commanders Danas ↗

• Tera Portföy investment funds collapsed, chairman blamed "Erdoğan and speculators" Cumhuriyet ↗
• Oil price crossed historic 100-lira threshold Cumhuriyet ↗
• İmamoğlu's "criminal organization" trial continued with 82nd hearing Milliyet ↗
• Prosecutor recommended expropriation of Akbelen forest "in the public interest" Cumhuriyet ↗
• Sharp stock market drop forced emergency meeting of Financial Stability Committee, convened by Finance Minister Şimşek Cumhuriyet ↗

• 18.09.Consultations at Cotroceni began, PSD's delegation was led by Sorin Grindeanu and negotiated with President Nicușor Dan, PSD is proposing the central bank's first deputy governor for prime minister. Digi24 ↗ · Adevărul ↗
• Mureșan warns that Grindeanu as prime minister would endanger EU funds Adevărul ↗
• PSD is protecting participants in the private jet flight to Mykonos, among them a Constitutional Court judge Libertatea ↗
• Houthis claim to have shot down a Saudi Arabian F-15 fighter jet Pro TV Stirile ↗
• After violence at farmers' protest on Piața Victoriei, organizer ended up in custody Digi24 ↗

• Croatia summoned Russian ambassador for a talk, after Moscow accused Zagreb of "sucking up to the Kyiv regime" N1 Croatia ↗
• Lithuania confirmed that the explosive-laden drone from Belarus was Russian Index.hr ↗
• Pregnant woman died in Texas after abortion was denied, family suing the state Index.hr ↗

• Israeli strike killed two people in southern Lebanon Naftemporiki ↗
• Two polls show ruling ND rising above 30% after Thessaloniki fair, Tsipras stable, PASOK third Protothema ↗
• Frontex drone spotted boat with 71 migrants near Crete Protothema ↗

• Green MEP Ohisalo says she was harassed in the European Parliament by participants of an anti-abortion exhibition Helsingin Sanomat ↗
• According to Axios, the US is ready to negotiate with China on artificial intelligence Yle ↗

• Replenishing stocks of anti-drone missiles takes years, warns Deputy Minister Jeglinskas LRT ↗
• President Nausėda: Russia must feel the consequences of the war in Ukraine "in every respect" Lietuvos Rytas ↗
• Heating prices will rise by at least a fifth this year, residents are already demanding compensation LRT ↗

• Sweden Democrats accuse AI startup Lovable of influencing elections Svenska Dagbladet ↗
• Left Party V discusses its strategy in the suburbs ahead of new government talks Expressen ↗
• Overseas voting heading for a record, turnout surged sharply in several countries Dagens Nyheter ↗

• In the "Petrohan" case, defense demands replacement of experts Dnevnik ↗
• President Radev, under opposition pressure, proposed help with fuel prices at record levels from 2022 24 Chasa ↗
• Critics responded to Radev's demand to return a textbook to schools by saying he "copies Putin's Russia" Dnevnik ↗
• 43 countries called for an end to "suffocating" restrictions on Afghan women 24 Chasa ↗

• In the affair surrounding Minister Bobnar, court to soon question PM Golob Siol ↗
• Protests in Ljubljana against amendment to the foreigners law RTV Slovenija ↗
• Defense ministry to receive nearly 300 million euros extra in budget rebalancing RTV Slovenija ↗
• Russians admitted a major Ukrainian success, speaking of a "debacle" and an alarming situation Siol ↗

• Turn in the murder case of Satko Kekić in Slovenia, key evidence against suspects collapsed Klix.ba ↗
• Putin addressed the nation and linked upcoming elections with the war: "no one can divide or intimidate us" N1 Bosna ↗
• Dodik visited Tel Aviv with representatives of Banja Luka, aiming to link Israeli know-how with the potential of Republika Srpska Klix.ba ↗
• 18.09.Srebrenica Memorial Center filed a formal complaint with UEFA against the Serbian football association. N1 Bosna ↗

• Turkey warned Greece to refrain from further provocations in the Aegean Sea MKD.mk ↗
• Russian satellites flew over a US base two days before the Iranian attack on it MKD.mk ↗
• NATO chief: Europe long assumed the US would always pay the bills MKD.mk ↗

• Russian attacks hit residential building in Odesa, explosions also shook Kyiv VG ↗
• French fishermen blocked an oil terminal and are protesting: "we're dying of hunger" VG ↗
• More malaria cases recorded near Frankfurt airport VG ↗
• Two Swedish citizens suspected of espionage in Finland NRK ↗

• Aircraft mechanics' strike could cost Icelandair hundreds of millions of krona daily RÚV ↗
• ASÍ union confederation sided with Wolt couriers in dispute over working conditions RÚV ↗

• Restructuring of Latvian airline airBaltic continues under US Chapter 11 bankruptcy regime LSM ↗
• Belarus released some political prisoners, US simultaneously eases sanctions LSM ↗
• 18.09.Security service VDD detained a person in connection with a threatening statement by a pro-Kremlin group against Latvian companies. Diena ↗

• Estonian scientists call for slowing development of the most powerful AI systems Äripäev ↗
• Experts say energy truce between Ukraine and Russia will not lower oil price ERR ↗
• 18.09.Brussels demands China limit exports of hybrid cars. Äripäev ↗

• Coast Guard and FBI boarded oil tankers suspected of Iranian hacking attack CBS News ↗
• Congressional investigative committee on the Epstein case sanctioned billionaire Leon Black for contempt of Congress NPR ↗

• Sweden expelled an Iranian diplomat for "security-threatening activity" DR ↗
• Number of people missing after floods in Nepal exceeded 6,000 DR ↗

• Ruling URA party pushed through a package of higher pensions and wages with lower food and fuel prices ahead of elections Vijesti ↗
• US House of Representatives voted against war with Iran for the third time, three more Republicans joined Vijesti ↗

• European Commission chief promises Moldova a concrete roadmap for EU accession Newsmaker ↗
• Ion Crianga, accused of treason, remains under judicial supervision for another 60 days Newsmaker ↗

• „Justice has not yet been done" — solidarity with the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia, a commemorative demonstration years after the journalist's murder keeps the case politically alive Newsbook ↗
• Debate over Malta's image: calls against the country's label as a land of drugs, sex and alcohol Newsbook ↗

• 18.09.110th anti-government protest against Prime Minister Rama, in the afternoon demonstrators moved from in front of parliament to the Government Office. Balkanweb ↗
• Former cadastre officials arrested in Palase and Fieri for forging property documents Gazeta Shqiptare ↗

🔁 Cross-country topics

• EU preparing to ban social media for children under 13 — 🇫🇷 FR · 🇲🇩 MD · 🇲🇰 MK · 🇱🇺 LU · 🇸🇪 SE · 🇫🇮 FI
• Devastating floods and landslides in Nepal, number of missing exceeds 6,000 — 🇩🇪 DE · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇳🇱 NL · 🇩🇰 DK · 🇭🇺 HU
• Gold mine collapse in Sudan, dozens dead — 🇱🇹 LT · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇨🇭 CH · 🇧🇦 BA
• Saudi Arabia escalates attacks on Houthis in Yemen, drone allegedly aimed at Mecca — 🇬🇷 GR · 🇩🇪 DE · 🇫🇷 FR · 🇹🇷 TR · 🇬🇧 UK · 🇧🇬 BG
• Russian strike destroyed warehouse of the Zelensky family's foundation/media company — 🇺🇦 UA · 🇦🇹 AT · 🇧🇦 BA · 🇲🇩 MD · 🇱🇺 LU
• Russia reportedly provided Iran with intelligence data ahead of the attack on the US base in Saudi Arabia, according to media — 🇧🇪 BE · 🇲🇰 MK · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇱🇻 LV

Foreign-lens candidates

• Carlos Ghosn unsuccessfully tried from Lebanon to stop his corruption trial linked to French minister Rachida Dati. The former head of Nissan and Renault continues to influence French politics remotely, even though he did not attend the trial in person — SK/CZ mainstream media are not covering the case. La Libre ↗
• Former Nice mayor Christian Estrosi faces an investigation for embezzlement of public funds following a complaint by Eric Ciotti — it illustrates the disintegration of the French right ahead of the presidential elections, a topic SK/CZ media are not covering. Le Monde ↗