Sep 12, 2026, 03:30 AM UTC

The Serbian parliament continued extraordinary deliberations over a proposed 2026 budget rebalancing amid sharp disagreements between ruling and opposition lawmakers. Representatives from the governing coalition maintained that increased state revenues will fund essential social welfare programs and infrastructure projects. Conversely, opposition members argued that expanded spending relies excessively on public debt intended to influence voters ahead of upcoming elections. Among proposed amendments, opposition deputy Radomir Lazović requested reallocating funds from the National Stadium project toward student welfare, regional infrastructure, and flood defense.

Concurrently, Prime Minister Đuro Macut submitted a formal proposal to dissolve the legislature following cabinet approval. President Aleksandar Vučić has 72 hours to accept the request and officially call snap parliamentary elections.

Sources: Tanjug, Danas, N1, Beta, Vijesti

Students in Fagersta returned to school on Monday following Friday's fatal sword attack at Brinellskolan, which left a 17-year-old girl dead and two teenage boys severely injured. An 18-year-old suspect remains in custody while police conduct forensic scene examinations and witness interviews.

High school students gathered at a crisis center rather than attending regular classes, while pupils at the neighboring Risbroskolan dressed in black to show solidarity. Returning students expressed shock, with some remarking that "it no longer feels safe at school."

Prosecutor Ann-Sofie Trossing stated that "the investigation is already extensive" and confirmed it "will take time" to complete. Local officials emphasized that current priority remains on offering psychological support to students and staff.

Sources: Dagens Nyheter, SVT, Svenska Dagbladet, Sweden Herald, Sydsvenskan

Political science scholar Alpo Rusi has published an analysis detailing Soviet intelligence operations targeting Finnish political figures in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Writing for Iltalehti, Rusi highlighted the pressures faced by former Prime Minister and National Conciliator Keijo Liinamaa prior to his death in 1980. The commentary examines how Moscow's security services engaged in psychological warfare and political maneuvering to sway Finnish domestic policy during a critical transition period. Rusi's account underscores the extent of covert foreign intervention in Finland's political landscape during the Cold War era.

Sources: Iltalehti

Italian Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has dispatched ministry inspectors to a Turin court following widespread political outrage over the release of a suspect in a sexual assault case involving a 13-year-old girl. A preliminary investigative judge granted conditional release to the 42-year-old man after he expressed regret, drawing sharp condemnation from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and lawmakers across the political spectrum.

The case has reignited a broader national debate on justice and public safety in Italy. Despite public anxiety, recent statistical analyses show that serious criminal offenses in major Italian cities have generally decreased, remaining lower than in many comparable Western metropolises. Additionally, separate economic data showed consumer scams, particularly involving fake call centers and utility bills, dropped by nearly 27% over the past three years.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, Il Sole 24 Ore, La Repubblica.

Tensions across the Middle East continue to escalate following a second wave of US airstrikes against Iranian positions within 48 hours, responding to friction in the Strait of Hormuz. In Tehran, officials appointed a hardline figure to lead the Supreme National Security Council.

In Yemen, heavy fighting erupted as Houthi forces targeted the port of Moca, killing 18 people in two days and prompting government retaliatory artillery fire in Marib province.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Taliban rule has established relative physical security across the country, though citizens endure severe economic hardship, poverty, and strict social prohibitions, including bans on public music.

Sources: Canarias7, El Mundo, La Provincia, La Vanguardia