Sep 12, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC

Tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate near the Strait of Hormuz following a brief truce established under a 14-point memorandum in June. Recent American military operations targeted Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels, with United States Central Command stating it destroyed five ships to prevent mine-laying operations. Iranian military officials rejected the claim regarding mine deployment as "pura fantasia".

Iranian forces responded by launching 20 missiles at American bases in Jordan and claiming strikes on six maritime vessels, including an aircraft carrier where a shipboard fire was subsequently contained. United States President Donald Trump insisted the maritime corridor remains open and asserted that Iranian leadership faces severe difficulties. Meanwhile, American intelligence agencies warned that Revolutionary Guard forces may seek further military escalation.

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

Russian forces launched widespread overnight air strikes using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones across several Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv, Odesa, and Chernihiv. The bombardments left at least 13 people dead and 40 wounded in the capital area, while a separate strike on a Kryvyi Rih shopping center killed 15 people and injured 130. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas stated the attack shows "the depravity of Russia," while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the United Nations to intervene.

In response, Ukrainian drones hit a major Lukoil oil refinery in Russia. Meanwhile, Moscow announced ongoing talks regarding a potential prisoner exchange, despite issuing warnings over British approval for joint French-Ukrainian production of Scalp cruise missiles. Concurrently, Italy confirmed it will not participate in upcoming multinational military maneuvers or deploy troops to Ukraine.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

Political and educational debates are intensifying across eastern Germany ahead of upcoming state elections. Teachers in eastern schools report a surge in far-right behavior among students, including the use of banned Nazi symbols and songs. To address gaps in historical awareness, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for victims of the communist SED dictatorship, has called for mandatory student visits to East German memorial sites.

Concurrently, cultural funding has become a major campaign issue in Saxony-Anhalt, where the Alternative for Germany leads in polls. The party's proposal to cut funding for cultural programs deemed "anti-German" has raised concerns about support for institutions like the Bauhaus and Holocaust memorial projects. Meanwhile, Berlin public schools face administrative pressure as nearly 400 teachers remain on long-term sick leave for over a year.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, Tagesschau

Hungary’s government has ordered a comprehensive audit into its financial, contractual, and ownership relations with technology conglomerate 4iG and its subsidiaries. Published in the official gazette, the decree also instructs public officials to refrain from making public statements regarding the firm.

The review coincides with a shift in national space and telecommunications strategy. Science and Technology Minister Zoltán Tanács announced a €500 million commitment to the European Union’s IRIS² satellite constellation, signaling that upcoming major state orders may bypass 4iG.

Responding to the review, 4iG stated that it continues to view the Hungarian state as a "partner."

Sources: 444, HVG, Telex.

The US Supreme Court has granted a temporary stay allowing construction on President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project to proceed while legal challenges continue. In a 5–4 decision led by its conservative majority, the court lifted a lower court injunction, giving justices time to evaluate the administration’s emergency appeal against a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

While the court emphasized that the procedural ruling does not constitute a final decision on the project's legality, it noted that the administration demonstrated a strong likelihood of having the preservationists' lawsuit dismissed. The temporary clearance means structural work on the White House grounds can advance during the ongoing legal review, potentially allowing basic construction to be completed before a final judicial determination is reached.

Sources: Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau