Sep 23, 2026, 08:00 AM UTC

Five major American television networks—ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC—have jointly suspended their shared White House pool coverage following President Donald Trump’s decision to exclude CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from executive grounds. In a collective statement, the broadcasters asserted, "No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting."

The boycott coincided with a joint lawsuit filed by the three banned outlets in a Washington federal court, where they argue the exclusion constitutes a direct constitutional violation. Legal experts cited in reports noted that targeting specific outlets over unfavorable coverage likely breaches constitutional protections against government viewpoint discrimination. President Trump maintained his stance, claiming the banned media organizations regularly publish "fiction or lies."

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, Sweden Herald, The Guardian

Military friction across the Middle East continues to escalate as United States forces conducted a second round of airstrikes on Iranian positions within 48 hours. The operation follows heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and recent attacks on American bases. In response to growing external pressure, Tehran has appointed a hardline official to lead its Supreme National Security Council. Meanwhile, internal civil defiance persists in Iran, where women increasingly defy mandatory hijab laws four years after Mahsa Amini's death.

Concurrently, violence has flared in Yemen as Houthi strikes on the port of Moca killed 18 people, prompting military retaliations in Marib province. Farther east, Afghanistan experiences a period of relative security under Taliban rule, though strict social bans and widespread poverty remain severe challenges across the country.

Sources: Canarias7, El Día, El Mundo, La Provincia, La Vanguardia

Ahead of state elections in eastern Germany, concerns over political extremism and civic education have taken center stage. Teachers in the region report an increase in far-right symbols and rhetoric among students, including swastikas and Nazi salutes. In response, Thuringia's education ministry announced plans to deploy "constitutional coaches" in partnership with the University of Jena to assist schools in countering anti-democratic tendencies.

Concurrently, federal victims' commissioner Evelyn Zupke advocated for mandatory student visits to East German memorial sites to deepen understanding of the country's authoritarian history. Meanwhile, legal discussions have surfaced regarding constitutional safeguards, such as federal coercion mechanisms, should extreme right-wing parties attain state-level power. Political figures continue to debate East-West identity and regional political dynamics.

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

Six months after joint military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iranian targets, international analysts report that the ongoing conflict continues to disrupt global energy markets and maritime trade routes. Despite sustaining major military damage, Tehran maintains strategic leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign policy experts, alongside diplomatic figures such as Albanian Ambassador Zef Mazi, indicate that the conflict's next phase will depend on sanction duration, diplomatic willingness, and broader geopolitical rivalries involving Washington, Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran. Concurrently, regional observers note that localized disputes, such as discussions surrounding Kosovo's Ibër River, reflect wider realignments within international security frameworks as global power structures undergo shifting dynamics.

Sources: BalkanWeb, Gazeta Tema, Koha

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš confirmed intelligence reports of escalating Russian hybrid threats against nations supporting Ukraine, echoing recent warnings from Poland.

Diplomatically, Czech Deputy Speaker Barbora Urbanová visited Kyiv to confer with Ukrainian official Olena Kondratiuk, following an earlier rejection of the trip by a parliamentary panel. Meanwhile, Czech Chief of General Staff Miroslav Hlaváč awaits defense ministry authorization to join a European military summit in Ukraine.

Domestically, Czech authorities established a specialized police squad, Kobra 26, to address fraudulent labor agencies that allegedly drain billions from public coffers. Concurrently, updated European Union regulations extend temporary protection for displaced Ukrainians through March 2028, while conditioning eligibility on meeting military service duties.

Sources: Deník N, Ekonomický deník, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy