Sep 13, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have denied media reports alleging that depleted US ammunition stockpiles led to a pause in strikes against Iran. Following reports by US media outlets such as CNN and The Washington Post claiming that interceptor missile inventories had fallen to critically low levels, Trump stated on Truth Social that the US military holds "massive amounts of 'munitions'" and noted that domestic production is accelerating.

Trump also warned that individuals leaking unauthorized military data face severe prison sentences. Reports indicated Trump confronted Hegseth over the inventory claims, though Pentagon officials maintained that current supplies remain sufficient for ongoing military operations.

Sources: Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called on the country's parliament to establish a legal framework for national elections to take place once fighting with Russia ceases. Fedorov, who was dismissed from his cabinet post by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, stressed that legislative preparation is critical to ensure a democratic transition when martial law is eventually lifted.

Under current Ukrainian law, holding elections during a state of war is prohibited. President Zelensky has consistently maintained that ongoing security threats and logistical hurdles render voting impossible while active hostilities persist. However, Fedorov's public appeal highlights a growing debate among Ukrainian political figures regarding post-war governance plans and legislative readiness.

Sources: Le Monde

Educational authorities and teachers across Europe and the United States are scaling back artificial intelligence in classrooms to preserve academic integrity and critical thinking.

In Denmark, upper secondary students must now orally defend written coursework and complete more assignments under direct supervision to curb AI-assisted cheating. Similarly, New York City has introduced a one-year moratorium on instructional AI for nearly 600,000 public school students aged seven to 14, prioritizing human-led teaching while permitting educators to use AI tools for lesson preparation.

In Germany, teachers are increasingly turning to analog instructional methods to ensure genuine skill development. Meanwhile, experts warn against relying on technological fixes to address AI risks for young people, criticizing proposals to use automated systems to safeguard youth online.

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

Ahead of upcoming regional elections in eastern Germany, debate over education, political identity, and historical memory is intensifying. Educational staff in the region report an increasing visibility of far-right symbols and extremist songs in classrooms, raising concerns over growing political radicalization among students.

To address historical knowledge gaps, federal SED victims commissioner Evelyn Zupke advocated making student visits to East German memorial sites mandatory. Meanwhile, identity debates continue to dominate campaigning. In Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany party proposed stripping public funding from cultural programs and institutions deemed "anti-German," a move critics argue threatens Holocaust memorial projects, local theaters, and the Bauhaus movement.

Separately, administrative challenges persist in Berlin's school system, where government figures show nearly 400 teachers have remained on sick leave for more than a year.

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

Firefighters across southern France have made progress containing several blazes, though rugged terrain continues to hamper operations in certain areas. In the Aude department, emergency teams stabilized a 100-hectare fire near Montséret, while a 225-hectare blaze in Puilaurens remains active as remote hotspots impede ground crews. Meanwhile, officials confirmed that fires in the Var region have been extinguished and blazes in Drôme and Gironde are no longer advancing. Authorities have restricted forest access in high-risk zones as nationwide burned land reached 115,000 hectares this year. Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu will visit Gironde on 17 August to oversee reconstruction in damaged communities.

Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde, Le Soir, Libération, RTBF Info