What Europe is writing about: Kennedy Center closed, drone over Lithuania carried explosives, Hegseth faces removal

🔁 What's moving Europe today

• A court once again refused to give Trump's name to Washington's Kennedy Center, and its leadership immediately closed it anyway. The president is threatening that he will not reopen the center without his name on it. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇦🇹 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇵🇹 ↗ · 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗ · 🇮🇸 ↗ · 🇧🇬 ↗
• Far-right figure Bannon and socialist Sanders have joined forces in a call to slow down the development of artificial intelligence, just as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google are jointly preparing a proposal for a global AI regulator — a project currently stalled by political disputes in the US. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇸🇪 ↗ · 🇧🇪 ↗ · 🇱🇹 ↗
• After the attack on Ceuta, the EU is tightening its external borders, and Italy and Spain have extended their mutual border checks. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇪🇸 ↗ · 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇭🇷 ↗ · 🇱🇹 ↗ · 🇷🇸 ↗
• An investigation confirmed that the drone shot down over Lithuania was carrying explosives, and the Polish minister admitted that the drone found in Poland did not carry a warhead — we have written about both the Lithuanian incident and the flares near a Danish frigate. Our article → 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇺🇦 ↗
• A Republican congressman has launched impeachment proceedings against US Defense Secretary Hegseth, who is facing growing political pressure over his admitted shortage of ammunition in the war with Iran. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇦🇹 ↗ · 🇳🇴 ↗ · 🇩🇰 ↗ · 🇸🇪 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗ · 🇷🇸 ↗
• The US military has for the first time admitted to an ammunition shortage; the war with Iran has so far cost the US approximately $38 billion. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇦🇹 ↗ · 🇹🇷 ↗ · 🇷🇴 ↗ · 🇩🇰 ↗ · 🇦🇱 ↗ · 🇷🇸 ↗
• The US Supreme Court has blocked Trump's ban on mail-in voting; according to Slovenian press, the president's response called Republicans "just a shell of themselves." 🇮🇹 ↗ · 🇨🇭 ↗ · 🇸🇮 ↗ · 🇱🇻 ↗
• Zelensky claims that Russia has twice attempted to target his aircraft in recent weeks. 🇵🇱 ↗ · 🇱🇹 ↗ · 🇫🇮 ↗
• Record fuel prices are triggering political pressure across Europe. Germany's economy ministry has rejected a price cap, anger is growing across France, Spain is asking Brussels to restore aid, and questions are being raised about what the Portuguese government will do. 🇩🇪 ↗ · 🇫🇷 ↗ · 🇪🇸 ↗ · 🇵🇹 ↗
• The cabin ceiling collapsed on passengers mid-flight — terrifying footage of the emergency moments went around the world. 🇳🇱 ↗ · 🇹🇷 ↗ · 🇧🇦 ↗

Tier A — geopolitical relevance for SK

• The Israeli army killed a senior Hamas commander in airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. n-tv ↗
• German Greens propose paying households an energy flat rate of up to €250 per head due to rising prices. Welt ↗
• The government is negotiating with state-owned firms SEFE and Uniper over gas storage facilities ahead of winter. Die Zeit ↗
• Germany and the US signed an arms agreement — Pistorius and Hegseth agreed on deeper cooperation in the defense industry. n-tv ↗
• Chancellor Merz confirmed his determination to push through the coalition's reform package. Die Zeit ↗
• A TV debate among the main parties was held ahead of the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Tagesschau ↗
• US bond yields continue to rise, with investors still under pressure from the oil shock. n-tv ↗

• France is holding up the decision to reimburse Poland €400 million for weapons supplied to Ukraine. Rzeczpospolita ↗
• The state budget deficit reached 151 billion zlotys after August — more than half of the annual limit. Rzeczpospolita ↗
• Polish Defense Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz will meet with America's Hegseth. Wirtualna Polska ↗
• The head of Orlen warns of a coal shortage this winter: "we'll be scraping the bottom of the barrel." Do Rzeczy ↗
• Hołownia lost the battle for leadership of the Poland 2050 club — MPs rejected his candidacy. Rzeczpospolita ↗

• Zoltán Balog explained in detail why he recommended an award for the director of the Bicske children's home implicated in an abuse scandal. Telex ↗
• A European Parliament report on the protection of democracy also recalled the espionage case of the former Hungarian government against the EU. Telex ↗
• Opposition leader Péter Magyar will be received by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican next week. Népszava ↗
• Russian drone attacks on trains are spreading fear in the West and causing damage to Ukraine. Telex ↗
• Oil prices in Europe are rising sharply and approaching record levels. Portfolio ↗

• The parliamentary inquiry committee into the Pilnacek affair is back at work after the summer break. Kurier ↗
• Six years after the explosion at the port of Beirut, calls are being made to indict Lebanese President Aoun. Der Standard ↗
• Zelensky praised railway workers and ordered increased protection for them against Russian attacks. Kleine Zeitung ↗
• Russian paramilitaries reportedly killed civilians in Mali. Der Standard ↗
• The EU wants to introduce a digital wallet and common standards to make it easier to work abroad. Die Presse ↗

• After a Rada vote, Zelensky dismissed Prosecutor General Kravchenko; on the same day, the electronic tag was also removed from Andriy Yermak. Kyiv Post ↗
• The US House of Representatives advanced the bill on so-called "hellish sanctions" against Russia. Ukrayinska Pravda ↗
• The US Department of Justice charged Russian intelligence agents with preparing murders and financing terrorism. Ukrayinska Pravda ↗
• A secret unit within the German defense ministry is speeding up the purchase of key weapons for Ukraine, the FT writes. Censor.NET ↗
• EU foreign policy chief Kallas is calling for a visa ban on former Russian fighters. Kyiv Post ↗

Tier B — EU heavyweights

• Measles in the US have already claimed four lives and over 3,000 cases, the worst toll since 1991. Le Monde ↗
• François Hollande admits he may run in 2027, and will decide only after the Socialist Party's December primary. BFM TV ↗
• Six candidates are competing in the left-wing presidential primary for 2027. Le Monde ↗
• Families of the victims of the October 7 attack gathered in Tel Aviv and recalled Prime Minister Netanyahu's responsibility. RFI ↗
• The French government has launched proceedings to dissolve the far-right group RED from Angers. Ouest-France ↗
• A 79-year-old French former rally driver and his wife were murdered in their home in Portugal, with their own caretaker the suspect. Le Figaro ↗
• Zelensky plans to meet Macron soon at the UN in New York. 20 Minutes ↗
• According to a France 24 investigation, Russia is also recruiting African fighters for the war against Ukraine. France 24 ↗

• The Italian government is considering tying the vote on the new electoral law to a confidence motion. AGI ↗
• Wildfires have struck the Amalfi Coast, with mayors speaking of deliberate arson. La Repubblica ↗
• The "Naza" case in Israel has opened a public debate on the IDF's responsibility for war crimes. La Repubblica ↗
• Four years after Mahsa Amini's death, Iranian activist Sepideh Qolian says resistance in the country continues, albeit quietly. La Repubblica ↗
• An Atlantic Council analyst warns that attacks on oil pipelines represent the most dangerous phase of the war in Ukraine. La Repubblica ↗
• Germany's far-right AfD is deliberately cultivating a young neo-Nazi base in Mecklenburg municipalities ahead of the elections. La Repubblica ↗
• Hospitals in the Gaza Strip are running out of fuel, and the death toll continues to rise. Il Manifesto ↗

Tier C — alternative perspectives

• Geneva's Social Democrats have broken with their own national party and reject raising VAT to fund the 13th AHV pension. Tages-Anzeiger ↗
• In the canton of Graubünden, citizen Berta Caminada is publicly campaigning to preserve cash payments. SRF ↗

• Luxembourg's planned individual taxation reform raises questions about its impact on families and the budget. Luxemburger Wort ↗
• Dutch King Willem-Alexander opened the new parliamentary year, accompanied by protests. Luxemburger Wort ↗

• The CNI intelligence service is furious after documents about the Ceuta crisis were declassified, with officers saying the government "exposed and sank" them. El Mundo ↗
• Podemos has announced its return to the scene from Cibeles square, splitting the Spanish left into five parties. ABC ↗
• PISA results show that educational disparities in Spain are widening. ABC ↗
• Syrian Druze Muslims want to obtain Israeli citizenship. ABC ↗
• The Houthis have seized control of a key oil corridor in Yemen in a lightning offensive. El Mundo ↗
• According to analysts, slowing AI development would benefit Musk and Meta, but would hurt Nvidia. El Mundo ↗
• Marine Le Pen is winning favor among French millionaires ahead of 2027. El Mundo ↗

Tier D — weaker news cycle

• Energy prices are surging again before winter, and De Standaard asks the government what it will do about it. De Standaard ↗
• Commentary: Germany's AfD has "a date with history" — a parallel to the rise of extremism in the 1930s. De Standaard ↗

• The parliamentary inquiry committee into the national exam correction scandal is now just one Socialist vote short. RTP ↗
• Portugal's poor results in the 2025 PISA test have sparked a wave of commentary about the education system. Observador ↗
• Forest fires near Alvito da Beira, Portel and Mirandela required the deployment of over 1,100 firefighters. CM Jornal ↗
• Democratic senators accuse the FBI director of intimidating journalists. CM Jornal ↗

• Ireland's central bank has raised its economic growth forecast to 3.8%. RTÉ ↗
• The cost of Dublin's MetroLink will be significantly higher than originally estimated. RTÉ ↗
• A climate coalition is calling on the government to finally act and cut greenhouse gas emissions. RTÉ ↗

• A new wave of sabotage on the Dutch railway — a suspected attack between Apeldoorn and Deventer. NRC ↗
• Farmers detained for arson near the A2 highway have been released, though the minister has filed a criminal complaint against them regardless. NU.nl ↗
• A seventh dead woman has been found near Johannesburg, with police warning of a possible serial killer. NOS ↗

🌍 Other countries

• British advertising watchdog ASA has banned ads for AI apps over "objectifying women". BBC News ↗
• BBC investigation uncovers over 28,000 offences committed by a small group of repeat thieves. BBC News ↗
• First day of the balaclava ban in Nottingham: masked men still on the streets, police lack the capacity to enforce the ban. Daily Mail ↗
• Government advisers demand that Heathrow's third runway only go ahead if airlines pay for cleaner transport. BBC News ↗
• Labour government reaches "shameful" milestone: over 4 million people now claim the PIP disability benefit. Daily Mail ↗
• A thirteenth Met Police officer has been dismissed following a BBC Panorama investigation into the Charing Cross case. The Independent ↗
• Complaints about water companies in Britain rose 84% year-on-year. The Mirror ↗

• CDU has called a crisis meeting over mounting pressure on Chancellor Merz. Politika ↗
• Appeals court rejects amnesty for exiled Catalan politician Puigdemont, arrest warrant remains in force. Politika ↗
• Analyst Marijani claims Brussels is turning a blind eye to Nazism in Ukraine while destabilizing Serbia. Politika ↗
• Canadian PM Carney announces Canada's alliance with the EU. Politika ↗
• Leader of the Greek far right walks out of prison and announces entry into the election race. Politika ↗

• Russia issues threatening warning to Poland: "We will wipe you off the face of the earth". 24sata ↗
• Warsaw airport evacuated, bomb disposal experts check abandoned luggage. Index.hr ↗
• EU prepares a €1,730 billion budget package, PM Plenković hopes "something will be found for Croatia too". 24sata ↗
• Croatian Foreign Minister Grlić Radman denies claims of an agreement to bring in Pakistani workers. HRT ↗

• Israel bans seven Palestinians from entering the al-Aqsa mosque for six months. TRT Haber ↗
• Security operation "My Family Is Safe" in Mersin ends with 28 detentions. Habertürk ↗
• A long-sought leader of a criminal organization detained in the Pülümür valley. Hürriyet ↗
• Turkish police seize 11.5 kilograms of drugs in a raid in Çatalca. Habertürk ↗

• Sheep farmers' protest in Bucharest turns violent: 47 detained, 10 gendarmes injured. Pro TV Stirile ↗
• MEP Benea admits a government with the far-right AUR "wouldn't be a drama". Libertatea ↗
• Brussels wants to shorten recognition of doctors' and architects' diplomas across the EU from 14 months to five weeks. Libertatea ↗
• Ukraine attempts to develop its own ballistic missiles, which could further escalate the war. Adevărul ↗
• European Parliament votes to strip a Polish MEP of immunity over Holocaust denial. HotNews ↗

• Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro and Health Secretary RFK Kennedy clash sharply after four people have already died from measles in the state. Protothema ↗
• Houthis continue to threaten shipping through the Bab al-Mandab strait, Greece calls for a tougher response at the UN. Protothema ↗
• Wall Street falls again, ten-year bond yield exceeds 5%. Naftemporiki ↗

• Head of Israel's nuclear energy agency declares Israel will strike Iran again if necessary. Klix.ba ↗
• Kremlin backs Trump's proposal for an energy truce with Ukraine, but conditions it on the lifting of sanctions. Klix.ba ↗
• Paris initiative around Russian oligarch Usmanov has, according to Klix, opened a "Pandora's box" and could undermine EU unity on sanctions policy. Klix.ba ↗
• US court blocks Trump's rule restricting visas for foreign students and journalists. Klix.ba ↗

• European Parliament tackles hybrid threats, seeking a way to assess and respond to them. LRT ↗
• In Germany, an unidentified drone crashes just a kilometer from a Bundeswehr base. LRT ↗
• Politician Šimkus proposes that the state borrow directly from citizens. LRT ↗
• Study: energy costs are a key factor in investment decisions in the Baltic states. LRT ↗

• Poll: support for the populist Finns Party (Perussuomalaiset) closes in on the strongest party, Kokoomus. Yle ↗
• Musicians boycott Ed Sheeran's tour in support of rapper Macklemore, excluded over his support for Palestine — we've also covered this story. Our article → Yle ↗
• Finnish intelligence warns of "dark times" ahead for the country's security. Helsingin Sanomat ↗
• After the Swedish elections, a small party seeking to push both extremes out of politics is gaining ground. Helsingin Sanomat ↗

• The Centre Party (Centerpartiet) loses power after 41 years — its own politicians speak of an electoral catastrophe. Expressen ↗
• The Sweden Democrats (SD) sharply lose support among the youngest voters. SVT ↗
• FBI director's congressional hearing spirals out of control. Expressen ↗
• Former Defence Minister Hultqvist sharply criticizes the Sweden Democrats. Aftonbladet ↗

• MP Tonin: European Parliament's vote confirmed that the KNOVS affair was political persecution. Siol ↗
• National Council for Culture demands that the RTV licence fee be preserved. RTV Slovenija ↗
• Petition signature collection ends, initiator Brejc announces the target has been met. Delo ↗

• Ukraine confirms it is running a counteroffensive codenamed "Vivaldi" in the Donetsk region. Dnevnik ↗
• Unknown perpetrators set off an explosive device near a bank branch and two ATMs in Sofia. Dnevnik ↗
• FBI reveals new information about the attacker who tried to kill Trump in Pennsylvania. 24 Chasa ↗
• Dozens of state facilities to be put under concession, only 4 highways and 9 railway lines remain exempt. 24 Chasa ↗
• 24 Chasa examines the family background of the perpetrator in the "Kalushev" case, which also involves serious abuse of a minor child. 24 Chasa ↗

• Russia announces an attack on two Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Libertas ↗
• Britain returns 1,400 migrants to France, with each return costing the state €65,400. Slobodenpečat ↗
• New testimony from a mother from Ohrid: the hospital director refused to examine her and sent her home, three weeks later she ended up in emergency C-section surgery. Libertas ↗
• "Elections" held in occupied Donetsk under the watch of armed soldiers. Slobodenpečat ↗

• Israeli whistleblowers describe attacks in Gaza as a "killing factory". VG ↗
• Police respond to a threat in Trondheim, one person suffers minor injuries. NRK ↗

• Iceland hit by its largest measles outbreak in decades. Morgunblaðið ↗
• Scandal around a technical school: party member received millions. RÚV ↗

• Russian NHL player says he was asked by his club to appear in a Putin propaganda video. Berlingske ↗
• OpenAI chief warns the world has reason to fear artificial intelligence. Berlingske ↗

• New photos reveal extensive damage to US positions after Iranian strikes. CBS News ↗
• Zelensky claims Putin is "of course" lying to Trump's officials. CBS News ↗
• US Air Force commander confirmed Washington has deployed weapons in space. The Hill ↗

• Kim Jong Un pledged to strengthen ties with Russia and backed "victory in the holy war". Vijesti ↗
• Albanian Forum MPs confirmed participation in the vote to remove parliament speaker Mandić. Vijesti ↗
• Montenegro sees room for a stronger energy partnership with Sweden. Vijesti ↗

• Zelensky is planning tough decisions to reduce Ukraine's budget deficit, Postimees writes in its war diary. Postimees ↗
• Analysis: support for the governing Reform Party continues to grow. Postimees ↗
• NATO reconnaissance ships and aircraft are monitoring the situation from Murmansk to Kaliningrad. Postimees ↗

• 108th anti-government protest in Tirana calls on PM Rama to resign. Balkanweb ↗
• The Hague tribunal is set to deliver a verdict on former KLA commanders Thaçi, Veseli, Krasniqi and Selimi. Balkanweb ↗
• Saudi Arabia has halted oil supplies to Europe, raising concerns about global supply. Gazeta Shqiptare ↗

• US Congress votes on a decisive sanctions law against Russia, with a congressman warning that "Putin is watching us". LSM ↗
• airBaltic begins restructuring its financial obligations, approved by a US bankruptcy court. LSM ↗

• A Central Election Commission for regional elections has been set up in Gagauzia, to have 15 members. Ziarul de Gardă ↗
• Moldova's Constitutional Court ruled that a gap in the law illegally prevented victims of political repression from having their sentences overturned. Newsmaker ↗

• Opposition PN claims wages of Maltese workers continue to fall. Newsbook ↗
• The European Parliament backed an initiative by Maltese MEP Thomas Bajada for tougher penalties on illegal fishing. Lovin Malta ↗

🔁 Cross-country themes

• US tightens visa rules for some South African citizens — 🇫🇷 FR · 🇵🇹 PT · 🇷🇸 RS · 🇫🇮 FI
• US wants to sell Israel $2.8 billion worth of weapons — 🇷🇸 RS · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇵🇹 PT
• German Chancellor Merz cancels trip to the UN General Assembly under pressure within his own party — 🇷🇸 RS · 🇭🇷 HR · 🇹🇷 TR · 🇧🇬 BG

🌐 Foreign-lens candidates