Sep 12, 2026, 11:30 PM UTC

Ahead of upcoming state elections, political and educational debates are intensifying across eastern Germany. Educators in eastern schools report rising far-right behavior among students, including the use of illegal symbols. In response to gaps in historical knowledge, federal commissioner for SED victims Evelyn Zupke proposed making student visits to East German memorial sites compulsory.

Cultural policy has also become a major campaign issue. In Saxony-Anhalt, where the Alternative for Germany (AfD) leads in polls, the party's proposal to defund "anti-German" projects has raised concerns among cultural institutions and Holocaust memorials. Meanwhile, in Berlin, public education faces administrative challenges as nearly 400 teachers have remained on sick leave for more than a year.

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

Educational authorities and teachers across Europe and the United States are introducing new restrictions on artificial intelligence in classrooms to combat academic dishonesty and safeguard youth development.

In Denmark, upper secondary schools are implementing rules requiring students to orally defend written coursework and perform more tasks under direct supervision. Meanwhile, New York City has introduced a one-year pause on instructional AI for nearly 600,000 public school students aged seven to 14, emphasizing human-led teaching while permitting educators to use AI for lesson planning.

In Germany, some teachers are returning to analog methods to ensure genuine learning, as advisors warn against relying on technological solutions for protecting children's well-being.

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

Disinformation and intense political rivalries have shaped the state election campaign in Saxony-Anhalt. Fact-checking organizations, including Correctiv and Tagesschau, debunked viral claims alleging voter fraud and false assertions that Minister-President Sven Schulze planned to suspend the vote.

Meanwhile, Christian Democratic Union candidate Schulze framed the election as a direct contest, stating "Sven Schulze or the AfD," to prevent the far-right party from entering government. Representatives from Alternative for Germany have publicly questioned the integrity of mail-in voting in care homes and urged supporters to monitor polling stations. Additionally, commentators noted that parties aligning with pro-Russian foreign policy narratives command significant combined support among voters.

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

Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service shows global ocean temperatures outside polar zones averaged approximately 21 degrees Celsius in July, marking an unprecedented high for the period. Experts warn that sustained marine warming risks severe long-term ecological consequences.

The environmental milestone coincides with historical reflections on political and media responses to climate change. Thirty years after a Dutch parliamentary inquiry urged immediate action on global warming, early policy implementation remained slow due to lingering skepticism. Meanwhile, veteran climate journalists note that media coverage of environmental threats has transformed rapidly over the past quarter-century to match the accelerating pace of the crisis.

Sources: NOS, NRC, NU.

Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and MEP Roberto Vannacci engaged in a sharp debate over European policy and political ideology during the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio.

Vannacci, the founder of Futuro Nazionale, argued against expanding military budgets, criticized the European Green Deal, and asserted that Russia presents no military threat to continental Europe. Monti rejected these views, arguing that Vannacci's rhetoric channeled "the spirit of fascism." Vannacci dismissed Monti's assertion as "ridiculous," insisting his goal is simply to reform European governance structure.

The forum also addressed broader European affairs, featuring discussions on EU expansion by European Council President António Costa and speeches by Rassemblement National leader Jordan Bardella.

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