Sep 18, 2026, 06:30 AM UTC

The United States Supreme Court has issued an administrative order allowing construction to resume on President Donald Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom. In a narrow 5–4 decision, the conservative majority paused a lower court injunction that had halted work on the project.

The temporary stay gives the justices time to evaluate the federal government's appeal against a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In its order, Chief Justice John Roberts noted that this procedural step does not constitute a final judgment on the legality of the construction project. However, lifting the halt allows developers to advance structural work, potentially completing the shell before the legal challenge is resolved.

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

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have rejected media reports alleging that American military stockpiles are dangerously depleted following operations against Iran. CNN and other outlets previously reported that missile shortfalls influenced targeting decisions and led to high-level discussions within the Pentagon. In a post on Truth Social, Trump insisted the military holds "huge amounts of 'ammunition'" while warning that individuals who leak information face lengthy prison sentences.

However, an internal Pentagon oversight report submitted to the US Congress directly contradicted these assertions. The document acknowledged "strategic inventory bottlenecks and supply constraints" resulting from sustained military engagements. While administration officials maintain that domestic defense production is rapidly expanding to replenish reserves, the watchdog report highlighted significant costs and hardware strain from the conflict.

Sources: Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.

Russian officials have intensified verbal attacks against Norway following recent NATO exercises and the seizure of a Russian vessel, with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing Oslo of "state terrorism." Simultaneously, security authorities across Europe warn of expanding Russian hybrid operations, pointing to foiled sabotage plots targeting Danish defense contractors and suspicious drone activity at Leipzig airport in Germany. Intelligence experts urge European governments to maintain composure despite the escalating provocations.

Concurrently, Ukrainian long-range strikes against key Russian targets, including strategic bombers, continue to impair Moscow's military capability and economic stability. While analysts acknowledge Russia retains sufficient resources to prolong the war in Ukraine, experts note its strategic maneuvers are increasingly constrained, leaving a Russian defeat central to long-term European security objectives.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, Dagens Næringsliv (DN), Finansavisen, TV 2 Nyheter

Ahead of upcoming regional elections in eastern Germany, concerns over far-right influence in education and cultural policy are escalating. Educators in eastern states report an increase in extremist symbols and right-wing rhetoric among students. To counter anti-democratic trends, Thuringia’s education ministry and the University of Jena are deploying "constitutional coaches" to assist schools in promoting democratic principles. Meanwhile, federal SED dictatorship victims' commissioner Evelyn Zupke called for mandatory student visits to East German memorial sites to strengthen historical understanding. Cultural policy has similarly become a political battleground; in Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party proposed stripping funds from programs labeled "anti-German," threatening support for Holocaust memorials, Bauhaus sites, and local arts venues amid ongoing East-West identity disputes.

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