Threads
Stories that unfold over weeks: where things stand, what has changed and what comes next.
Latest changes
Sunday 13 September
Germany reports sharp drop in asylum applications with higher approval rate in H1 2026
Germany's first-time asylum applications fell to 39,646 in the first half of 2026 from 72,818 a year earlier, while the approval rate rose to 47.4%. Family-linked claims drove many positive decisions, Deutsche Welle reported on 13 September.
Carney explores 'associate member' status with EU beyond CETA
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is discussing an undefined "associate member" status with European leaders including Macron, going beyond CETA to include freer movement of goods, services, and workers in strategic sectors.
Trump pressed Zelensky to halt Ukrainian refinery strikes in phone call
Trump pressed Zelensky in a mid-September phone call to halt Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on Russian oil refineries, Reuters reported, citing Financial Times sources. Trump cited concern that the strikes could worsen global diesel shortages and drive up fuel prices.
DW nationwide poll gives AfD 29% vs 20% for CDU/CSU bloc
A DW poll published 13 September puts AfD at 29% nationwide against 20% for the CDU/CSU bloc, the party's widest national lead. The survey intensifies pressure on Chancellor Merz's cordon sanitaire ahead of state votes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin.
Canada pledges third of future drone output to Ukraine
Canada pledged a third of its future output of certain drone types to Ukraine following a defence cooperation declaration and a Ukrainian drone presentation in Ottawa. The commitment adds a non-European supplier to Kyiv's drone pipeline alongside EU-funded purchases.
Trump dismisses Gulf-Iran maritime security talks in Oman
Trump said "I don't care" and "It's up to them" when asked about the 14 September Oman meeting between Iran and Gulf states on Strait of Hormuz maritime security, signalling US disengagement from multilateral regional diplomacy while sanctions on Iran intensify.
First all-drone naval battle recorded in Black Sea
A Ukrainian Sargan-3000 uncrewed boat detected, engaged, and sank a Russian naval drone in the Black Sea, in what reports describe as the first naval battle fought entirely by uncrewed vessels. The engagement marks a new threshold in drone warfare at sea.
Trump links Iran to Saudi pipeline strikes and confirms US-Houthi contacts
Trump told journalists in Ireland on 13 September he believes Iran is probably behind drone strikes on Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline and confirmed US officials have held discussions with the Houthis, who told Washington they are letting most ships through Bab el-Mandeb.
Söder backs Merz, rejects internal moves to replace chancellor after AfD breakthrough
CSU leader Markus Söder publicly backed Chancellor Merz on 13 September, rejecting internal moves to replace him after the CDU/CSU setback in Saxony-Anhalt. Söder framed conservative unity as essential to resist AfD's pressure and avoid further centre-right fragmentation.
Saudi airstrikes target Houthi-held Mokha airport
Saudi airstrikes hit Mokha airport after Houthi forces captured the Red Sea port city, marking the first Saudi retaliation against Houthi coastal gains. The strikes target a facility within 80 km of Bab el-Mandeb.
Radio France staff strike over conservative commentator appointment
Trade unions at Radio France launched a two-day strike on 13 September over the appointment of conservative weekly Valeurs actuelles commentator Louis de Sapin to a regular public-radio slot.
Lithuania closes Vilnius airport, NATO scrambles jets over suspected drone incursion
Lithuanian authorities temporarily halted flights at Vilnius International Airport and NATO scrambled Italian fighter jets from Šiauliai after an unidentified unmanned craft traversed southern airspace toward Kaliningrad.
Ukraine strikes Novatek gas plants in Yamalo-Nenets, deepest operation of the war
Ukraine's Special Operations Forces said they targeted the Purovsky and Novy Urengoy gas processing plants in Yamalo-Nenets, over 3,000 km from the front line, using FP-1 long-range drones.
Iranian commercial vessel struck near Qeshm Island in Strait of Hormuz
An Iranian commercial vessel was struck by a projectile near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on 13 September, killing one crew member and wounding three.
Saturday 12 September
Polish defence ministry warns of AI-generated fake mobilization cards
Poland's defence ministry warned on 12 September that AI-generated fake mobilization cards were circulating, clarifying that routine Military Recruitment Centre card distribution is a peacetime procedure.
German authorities link failed Leipzig airport drone attack to Russian military intelligence
German authorities identified suspects behind a failed drone attack on Leipzig airport in August 2026, including an individual believed affiliated with Russian military intelligence, German media reported 12 September.
Ukrainian drone forces kill Russian General Grunis in Donetsk
Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces killed Russian General Grunis in a nocturnal drone strike in Russian-held Donetsk region on 12 September, a drone commander said.
CDU concedes government mandate to AfD in Saxony-Anhalt
Regional CDU leader Sven Schulze announced on 12 September that CDU will move into opposition, conceding that the "government mandate" lies with AfD rather than seeking to assemble an anti-AfD majority.
Peskov signals Moscow expects trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine meeting
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on 12 September that Moscow expects a trilateral meeting with the US and Ukraine "in the near future" to continue settlement dialogue, claiming Russia remains open to talks without preconditions. No date or agenda has been announced.
French sovereign-bank yield inversion signals credit market stress
Bloomberg's Credit Weekly reported on 12 September that collateralised French bank bonds are trading at lower yields than French government debt, indicating investors see some bank paper as safer than the sovereign amid higher rates and fiscal concerns.
Lebanese President Aoun visits southern Lebanon near Ali al-Taher ridge
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun made an unannounced visit to southern Lebanon on 12 September, visiting a city near the Ali al-Taher ridge where Israel had destroyed Hezbollah tunnel infrastructure the same day.
Anthropic reports Russian developers used Claude for autonomous attack drone software
Anthropic reported on 12 September that Russian developers used Claude to build software for first-person-view attack drones, including terminal guidance and target selection.
Meloni projects ~1% Italian growth for 2026 as budget preparations begin under tighter rates
On 12 September, Meloni projected Italian growth of about 1% for 2026, roughly matching euro area averages, as Rome prepares its budget under tighter ECB rates and EU fiscal rules.
Israel-Lebanon border talks postponed to October
US-mediated Israel-Lebanon negotiations, planned for mid-September in Rome, have been pushed to October. The talks aim to implement the June framework: Lebanese army deployment in southern zones Israel evacuates, conditional on Hezbollah disarmament.
Putin warns European troop deployment to Ukraine means direct war with Russia
Speaking at the BRICS summit in New Delhi on 12 September, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that any deployment of European troops to Ukraine would result in direct war with Russia, while dismissing claims that Moscow threatens Europe.
Ukrainian drones hit Tolyatti chemical plant and Taganrog airfield
Ukrainian long-range drones struck a chemical plant in Tolyatti and an airfield in Taganrog overnight on 11-12 September, with Russian authorities confirming a "massive aerial attack" and fires.
Senior Ukrainian official says Kyiv preparing for October trilateral talks
Kyrylo Budanov, described as Zelenskyy's chief of staff, told Ukrainian media on 12 September that Kyiv is preparing for trilateral Russia-US-Ukraine talks to resume in October. The statement gives a concrete month to what Peskov had framed only as a meeting "in the near future."
BRICS New Delhi declaration omits any reference to Russia-Ukraine war
BRICS leaders adopted a joint declaration in New Delhi on 12 September that made no specific reference to the Russia-Ukraine war, a departure from the 2025 declaration's mention of national positions and mediation initiatives.
BRICS declaration condemns unilateral tariffs
BRICS members agreed a joint declaration on 12 September condemning "unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures" distorting trade, while Xi called for the bloc to play a peacemaking role in the Middle East.
Russia strikes Odesa with 129 drones and missiles on 12 September
Russian forces struck Odesa and surrounding region on 12 September with 129 drones plus sea-launched cruise and ballistic missiles, killing at least three civilians across Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, and Kryvyi Rih. Ukraine reported intercepting or suppressing 110 aerial targets.
150,000 protest across German cities against AfD state government bid
Around 150,000 people demonstrated in multiple German cities on 12 September against AfD's attempt to form a state government in Saxony-Anhalt, in what agencies termed the largest civil-society mobilisation against the far right in post-war Germany.
Polish FM Sikorski visits Kyiv amid Russian strikes, prepares €50M aid
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski arrived in Kyiv on 12 September as Russian air strikes killed two people, reaffirming military support with a planned 50 million euro aid package.
UK government rejects statutory AI "kill switch"
The UK Cabinet Office rejected proposals for a statutory "kill switch" to compel deactivation of rogue AI systems in emergencies, stating such a mechanism is neither technically nor legally workable.
Swiss Federal Council backs employer levy on EU hires
Switzerland's Federal Council endorsed a levy of at least CHF 4,000 per hire on employers recruiting from the EU, triggered when immigration exceeds agreed thresholds under Switzerland's new EU package.
Iran's Pezeshkian signals conditional openness to US talks and Oman-mediated Hormuz reopening
Iranian President Pezeshkian stated on 12 September that Tehran is ready for dialogue with the US if Washington ends sanctions and "aggression," and disclosed negotiations with Oman on a maritime framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia announces economic forum with AfD participation after Saxony-Anhalt win
Russian official Kirill Dmitriev announced on 12 September that Moscow will propose an economic forum including AfD participation, following the party's 43.8% result in Saxony-Anhalt.
Houthis complete takeover of Hanish islands and full Yemeni Red Sea coastline
Houthi forces completed their seizure of the Greater and Lesser Hanish islands on 12 September, finalizing control of Yemen's entire Red Sea shoreline and the Yemeni side of Bab el-Mandeb.
Anthropic prepares up to $100B IPO as Nvidia discusses $10B anchor stake
Anthropic is preparing a New York initial public offering to raise up to $100 billion at a roughly $2 trillion valuation, with Nvidia discussing a $10 billion anchor stake ahead of November US elections.
Zelenskyy proposes energy-and-grain ceasefire, offers to meet Putin at G20
In a DW interview published 12 September, President Zelenskyy said he discussed an energy-and-grain ceasefire with US envoys Witkoff and Kushner and offered to meet Putin at the G20 summit in Miami in December. The Kremlin has not responded.
OpenAI retracts Millennium Prize claim after mathematicians reject work
OpenAI withdrew its claim on 12 September that GPT-Astra solved a Clay Mathematics Institute Millennium Prize Problem after mathematicians dismissed the work as flawed and "immature playground boasting."