Aug 12, 2026, 09:30 PM UTC

Moritz Schularick, president of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, has criticized German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius over the country's military procurement strategy. Schularick argued that defense funding projected through 2030 remains heavily focused on legacy hardware, including conventional tanks and frigates, rather than next-generation defense technologies.

The critique arrives as debates intensify over modernizing the Bundeswehr to address contemporary security threats. While defense officials continue executing current procurement programs, economists and security analysts advocate shifting resources toward advanced defense systems to ensure long-term readiness.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau

US President Donald Trump has confirmed he secretly switched aircraft when departing a NATO summit in Turkey last month following a security threat from Iran. Press corps members and certain staff remained on Air Force One, unaware they were acting as decoys, while Trump was transferred via a catering truck to a secondary military transport bound for the United Kingdom. Addressing criticism regarding the safety of journalists left on the original flight, Trump maintained that his security team directed the move and asserted the military plane he ultimately boarded faced a "greater risk." The operation was first reported after documentation and official accounts detailed the departure to RAF Mildenhall.

Sources: BBC News, France24, Sweden Herald, The Guardian, UK Defence Journal

Russia’s Supreme Court has officially excluded the liberal opposition party Yabloko from participating in September's parliamentary elections, upholding a lawsuit filed by the pro-Kremlin nationalist party Rodina. Yabloko stands as the only legally registered political organization in Russia openly criticizing the war in Ukraine.

The court's decision endorsed Rodina's allegations, which accused the party of statutory campaign violations, copyright infringement, and extremism. Outside the Moscow courthouse, demonstrations erupted following the announcement, with mostly young protesters gathering to voice opposition to the verdict. Party leadership confirmed plans to appeal the disqualification, though political observers consider a reversal unlikely ahead of the vote.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, France24, La Vanguardia, Tagesschau.

US President Donald Trump claimed the United States maintains complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that American sanctions and naval blockades have left Iran in severe financial distress. Despite Tehran citing a navigation agreement with Oman, financial markets responded positively after administration officials hinted at a potential deal to reopen the waterway, causing oil prices to drop and stock indexes to rise.

In domestic policy, Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve, sparking debate over central bank independence following the president's frequent criticism of outgoing chairman Jerome Powell. Concurrently, German energy firm RWE agreed with the US Department of the Interior to cancel its planned offshore wind projects, redirecting capital elsewhere amid sustained opposition to wind infrastructure from the administration.

Sources: Český rozhlas Plus, Ekonomický deník, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy.

Record-breaking temperatures have continued across Austria, with a national peak of 41.2 °C registered in Lower Austria following consecutive days exceeding 40 °C. The heatwave has led to historical nighttime highs of 28.5 °C in Burgenland and prolonged drought conditions that Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig called unprecedented.

The extreme weather is testing public infrastructure and sparking debate over adaptation measures. In Vienna, public transit vehicles registered interior temperatures exceeding 30 °C despite operational cooling systems. In response to classroom conditions, Vienna City Councillor for Education Bettina Emmerling proposed shifting summer holidays earlier to resume school in August, a measure scheduled for discussion among regional education officials in September. However, educators and parents have expressed concerns that proposed federal classroom mitigation strategies remain inadequate.

Sources: Der Standard, Die Presse, ORF, Profil