Sep 22, 2026, 12:30 AM UTC

Naval clashes between the United States and Iran near the Strait of Hormuz have escalated following a series of military actions. US Central Command reported destroying five vessels belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after repelling an attack on American warships.

In response, Iranian state media stated that Tehran launched 20 missiles targeting American military positions in Jordan and struck six vessels, including three tankers and an aircraft carrier. American intelligence agencies warned that Iranian forces might further intensify the conflict. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump stated that Tehran is in "great difficulty" and maintained that the shipping lane remains open after emergency crews managed to extinguish a shipboard fire.

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

German authorities have identified two suspects linked to explosive devices at Leipzig airport as a Russian citizen with Latvian documentation and a Belarusian holding Russian papers. European security alerts escalated further after Danish intelligence warned of potential Russian sabotage targeting local industrial facilities. Addressing rising hybrid threats across the continent, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that the bloc "will not tolerate attacks on EU soil."

Meanwhile, Russian forces initiated a renewed offensive targeting Ukraine's energy grid, while Ukrainian drones conducted retaliatory strikes against Russian oil refineries and fuel depots.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, La Repubblica.

A new study by the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation reveals that women held just 15 percent of ministerial positions in Portugal over the past 50 years, often requiring higher technical credentials than men to attain cabinet roles. Concurrently, domestic violence continues to pose a major societal challenge, with authorities logging over 14,000 complaints, representing an average of 82 cases per day.

In social news, eight Afghan women fleeing Taliban restrictions marked one year of refuge in Portugal. Meanwhile, International Organization for Migration data indicates a 78 percent drop in irregular arrivals via the West African Atlantic route to Spain during early 2026 due to heightened enforcement in Senegal and Mauritania, though monitors note maritime journeys have grown increasingly hazardous.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Exit polls in Saxony-Anhalt indicate a historic election victory for the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD), which secured approximately 44 percent of the vote. The result doubles the party's previous vote share, leaving open the possibility of an absolute majority required to govern the eastern German state independently.

Meanwhile, the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a major decline, obtaining between 18.5 and 23 percent. An outright victory for AfD would mark the first time a far-right party leads a German state government since World War II.

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed dismay over the results during an appearance in Cologne, describing the outcome as "simply shocking" and "a real turning point in history." She added that the defeat was particularly painful for her as a CDU member.

Sources: Avaz, HRT Vijesti, Index, Klix, Poslovni dnevnik