Sep 12, 2026, 05:30 PM UTC

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have dismissed media reports alleging that critical ammunition shortages forced a pause in American strikes against Iran. Media outlets, including CNN, had reported that low missile inventories threatened military operations.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump stated that the US military possesses "massive amounts of 'munitions'" and noted that domestic defense production is rapidly scaling up to meet demand. Alongside the denial, Trump issued stern warnings to individuals leaking defense details to the press, threatening unauthorized sources with long prison sentences. Reports further indicate that Trump confronted Hegseth over ongoing leaks within the administration regarding Pentagon readiness and military stockpiles.

Sources: Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF

Concerns over rising far-right influences in classrooms and shifting regional identities are driving political discussions in eastern Germany ahead of state elections. Educators in eastern schools report an increase in far-right behavior among students, including the display of banned symbols and songs. In response to gaps in historical awareness, Evelyn Zupke, the federal commissioner for victims of the communist SED dictatorship, called for compulsory student visits to East German memorial sites.

Concurrently, cultural policy has become a central campaign theme. In Saxony-Anhalt, where the Alternative for Germany (AfD) leads in opinion polls, the party's proposal to defund "anti-German" projects has raised concern among cultural institutions and Holocaust memorial initiatives. Meanwhile, Berlin faces administrative strain in its education sector, with nearly 400 teachers absent on sick leave for over a year.

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

Educational authorities and child protection experts across Europe and North America are tightening controls on artificial intelligence in schools to address cheating and developmental concerns.

In Denmark, new regulations for the upcoming school year require upper secondary students to orally defend select written assignments and complete more coursework under direct supervision. Meanwhile, New York City has instituted a one-year moratorium on instructional AI for nearly 600,000 public school pupils aged seven to 14, prioritizing human-led teaching while retaining automated planning tools for educators.

In Germany, educators and government advisors are raising alarms over digital overreliance, with some teachers reintroducing analog classroom methods and experts warning that technology cannot resolve underlying youth safety risks.

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

Ahead of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, official fact-checkers have debunked viral online claims alleging widespread voting irregularities and plans to block the vote. Reports confirmed there is no evidence supporting claims that Minister-President Sven Schulze planned to stop the election or exclude opposition candidates, nor is there proof of mail-in ballot manipulation.

The campaign has been defined by sharp political divides and external policy influences. CDU candidate Schulze framed the contest as a direct choice between "Sven Schulze or the AfD" to prevent the far-right party from entering government. Meanwhile, figures from Alternative for Germany have repeatedly questioned mail-in vote integrity, particularly in care homes, urging supporters to monitor polling stations. Additionally, political analysts noted that parties echoing pro-Russian foreign policy stances hold substantial combined backing among voters in the state.

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

Czech officials are managing several diplomatic, security, and domestic policy developments concerning Ukraine. Barbora Urbanová, Deputy Speaker of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, traveled to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian parliamentary leadership, following an initial rejection of her travel request by the parliamentary organizational committee. Meanwhile, Chief of General Staff Miroslav Hlaváč awaits authorization from the Ministry of Defence to attend an upcoming military summit in Ukraine.

Concurrently, new European Union regulations extending temporary protection for displaced Ukrainians until March 2028 have come into effect, conditioning eligibility on compliance with military duties. Domestically, Czech authorities are addressing labor market fraud through "Kobra 26," an initiative targeting illegal agency employment structures and tax evasion.

Sources: Ekonomický deník, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy.