Two German Eurofighter jets were scrambled due to a Russian Il-20 military reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft did not respond to attempts to establish contact.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not run in Germany's 2027 presidential election, focusing instead on her current duties. In an interview, she also discussed the situation in Gaza and Israel's actions.
The 190th Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, has started in Munich, the capital of Bavaria. Thousands of people stormed the tents, hoping for a new record in beer consumption.
The pro-Russian party "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) has for the first time become the most popular political force in the country, overtaking German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party by 1%. Support for the AfD stood at 26% of voters, while the CDU/CSU was supported by 25%.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accepted credentials from the newly appointed ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Norway, and Germany. This is considered the official start of their diplomatic mission in Ukraine.
World Cleanup Day, celebrated on the third Saturday of September, has united up to 5% of the world's population, or about 400 million people, to clean up litter. In Kyiv, a city-wide cleanup will take place on September 20 in all districts of the capital.
A high-ranking French military-space official has reported an increase in hostile activity in space, particularly from Russia, reflecting conflicts on Earth. Western countries note the rapid development of China's space programs and the increasing number of anti-satellite weapons in orbit.
The number of refugees in Germany decreased by 50,000 people in the first half of 2025, reaching 3. 495 million. The reasons for the reduction were deportations, voluntary departures, and naturalization, including over 83,000 Syrians who received citizenship.
Lithuanian law enforcement agencies have uncovered a criminal group that planned terrorist attacks across Europe using postal services. The criminals sent homemade incendiary devices disguised as massage pillows and cosmetics.
Ukraine has accumulated over 80% of the necessary gas volume, which is about 11-12 billion cubic meters. To achieve the target indicators and ensure a stable heating season, it is necessary to purchase gas for $1 billion due to the risks of Russian attacks.
European governments and G7 allies are seeking to expand the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. This comes amid pressure from Donald Trump and a change in Germany's position, which now supports maximizing the profitability of the funds.
The European Commission is developing plans to use frozen Russian assets to provide €170 billion in reparations loans to Ukraine. These plans involve transferring Russian cash to Ukraine without formally seizing the assets.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Europe not to let Russia dictate the terms of a peace agreement in Ukraine, warning of further aggressive actions by Putin. He emphasized that Germany is strengthening its resilience and defense capabilities to prevent the destabilization of society.
Japanese automaker Toyota is recalling 591,000 vehicles in the US, including Lexus models, due to a potential malfunction of the 12. 3-inch digital instrument panels. The defect could lead to incorrect speedometer readings and the absence of warning signals, creating dangerous conditions on the roads.
Donald Trump sent a personal letter to Polish President Karol Nawrocki through the Polish embassy in Washington. The text of the document has not been disclosed, but the letter has already reached Poland through diplomatic channels.
This summer, climate change caused 16,500 deaths in European cities, more than three times the projected statistics. The study covered 854 urban areas where temperatures were 3.6°C higher.
The German Foreign Ministry confirmed the tightening of visa rules for Russians, increasing the fee to 80 euros and extending the processing time. Germany insists on uniform restrictions for Russians throughout the Schengen area, despite the lack of a unified position in the EU.
A poll showed that 54% of Ukrainians aged 18 and over who are not serving in the military are ready to join the Defence Forces. This readiness is also high among women, which indicates significant patriotism.
In Pavlohrad, a 101-year-old woman applied to the Migration Service to obtain a foreign passport. She plans to go to Germany to visit her relatives, and her neighbors helped her with the process.
Ford announced up to 1,000 job cuts at its Cologne plant due to significantly lower-than-forecast demand for electric vehicles in Europe. From January 2026, production at the plant will switch to a single-shift operation.
Spain has joined the countries threatening to boycott Eurovision-2026 if Israel is allowed to participate. This is the first country from the "Big Five" to put forward such a condition, which could influence the organizers' decision.
The European Union has postponed the official introduction of another package of sanctions against Russia after US President Donald Trump demanded stricter European measures as a condition for the US to proceed with its own sanctions.
The defense of a Ukrainian man suspected of coordinating attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines in 2022 plans to appeal. The man, identified as Serhiy K., was arrested in Italy on a European warrant.
New Polish President Karol Nawrocki, during a visit to Berlin on September 16, will again demand that Germany pay reparations for World War II. This demand could negatively affect relations between Warsaw and Berlin, while European countries need unity in the face of the threat from Russia.
China has entered the top 10 of the UN's annual innovation ranking for the first time, taking 10th place. This was due to significant investments in research and development, while Germany dropped to 11th place.
An Italian court has ruled to extradite to Germany a suspect in the case of the Nord Stream explosions in September 2022. The suspect denies the charges, and the Ukrainian's lawyer plans to appeal the decision.
Greece, Italy, France, Hungary, and Spain blocked the EU decision to restrict visas for Russian citizens. Greece vetoed this decision for the first time since 2022, citing economic benefits from Russian tourists.
On September 16, the first round of the 2025/2026 Champions League begins, where for the first time since the 2005/2006 season there are no Ukrainian clubs. However, Ukrainian footballers will play as part of European teams, including Trubin, Sudakov, Lunin, and Zabarnyi.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine showed the "filling" of the Russian drone and spoke about the foreign components used in it.
Great Britain is sending Typhoon fighters to Poland in response to the violation of its airspace by Russian drones. This step is part of a NATO mission to strengthen the defense of the eastern flank.
