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Articles by Luca Steinmann
Liechtenstein’s Prince vetoes abortion reform, overruling parliament’s narrow majority
Liechtenstein’s Hereditary Prince Alois has blocked legislation to decriminalise abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The decision, announced on October 20, came after the 25-member Landtag, Liechtenstein’s national parliament, approved the reform by 13 votes to 12 on September 2. The bill would have decriminalised abortion during the first trimester, eased restrictions on information about abortion services and allowed health insurance to cover the procedure.
Salvini wins League leadership vote and demands: ‘Stop arming Kyiv’
Matteo Salvini has been re-elected leader of Italy’s League (Lega), pledging to challenge the government’s continued support for Kyiv and raising fresh questions about Italy’s position on Ukraine. The deputy prime minister secured 465 votes at the party’s extraordinary congress in Milan on October 25, against 146 for challenger Massimo Garavaglia.
Italy detains alleged mastermind of online network behind Milan riots
Italian police have detained Youssef Siher, a 30-year-old Italian citizen of Moroccan origin, freelance journalist and academic, over his alleged role in coordinating an online network suspected of organising street unrest following the violent clashes in Milan on October 17 and 18.
Volkswagen workers threaten strikes as carmaker scraps labour deals
Industrial unrest has threatened to spread across Germany’s automotive heartland after the influential industrial union IG Metall issued an ultimatum to Volkswagen, demanding the carmaker retract its unilateral termination of key collective agreements by the end of October or face full-scale strikes once the industrial peace obligation lapses at the turn of the year.
Moroccan asylum seekers in Ceuta increasingly invoke sexual orientation
About 70 per cent of recent asylum applicants among migrants who entered the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta in late July have claimed persecution in their countries of origin because of their sexual orientation, according to Spanish media reports citing police sources. The figures were reported by Spanish newspaper ABC on October 16 and subsequently covered by El Faro de Ceuta and international media.
Crosetto says most Italians oppose Ukraine aid as Rome prepares new military package
Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto has acknowledged that most Italians oppose military aid to Ukraine, highlighting the domestic political challenges facing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government as Rome prepares to continue supporting Kyiv. “The majority of public opinion is against aid,” Crosetto said in an interview with the BBC broadcast in full on October 18, 2026. He added that a government could not give way to public opinion when it was convinced that opinion was wrong.
SPD and Greens halt Berlin coalition talks over anti-Semitism safeguards
Coalition negotiations in the German state of Berlin have been thrown into uncertainty after the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens suspended exploratory talks with Die Linke on Tuesday, 13 October, over concerns that commitments to combat anti-Semitism may no longer be upheld. The immediate trigger was Die Linke’s decision to admit Vanessa Emde, a lawmaker known for her pro-Palestinian activism who has faced accusations of antisemitism over her positions on Israel, to its parliamentary group.
Meloni warns Trump’s Russian diesel deal risks legitimising Moscow
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly challenged US President Donald Trump over his agreement on Russian diesel supplies, warning that the deal could undermine Western efforts to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
Europe’s mass-market carmakers face ‘enormous pressure’, Volkswagen chief warns
Europe’s mass-market carmakers are under “enormous pressure” from Chinese competition and a shifting market, Volkswagen chief executive Oliver Blume has said, renewing calls for more flexible regulation and incentives to support local manufacturing. Speaking on October 13 at an industry event alongside the Paris motor show, Blume noted that Volkswagen, Stellantis and Renault together account for more than 60 per cent of European car production.
Gentiloni warns Italy against defying Brussels: ‘Ask Orbán how that worked out for him’
Former Italian prime minister and former European commissioner for the economy Paolo Gentiloni has warned of the political costs of defying the European Union’s direction, invoking former Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán as a cautionary example of the pressures that can arise when a national government challenges Brussels.
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Netanyahu calls for criminal investigation into sources behind Gaza documentary NAZA
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a criminal investigation into the 24 anonymous Israeli military and intelligence sources interviewed in NAZA, a documentary accusing the Israeli military of war crimes and the deliberate mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
EU plans new military mission in Lebanon as UNIFIL withdraws
The European Union has been preparing a new military mission in Lebanon as the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) prepares to withdraw. The initiative is part of Brussels’ broader effort to maintain a European role in Lebanon after the UN force’s departure. The proposed mission is already facing a leadership contest between France and Italy, both seeking to take command of the operation. The competition was reported by Rapporteur in an exclusive article published on October 8, 2026.
Former German spy chief arrested over alleged Azerbaijani link
Former German foreign intelligence chief August Hanning has been arrested amid allegations that he smuggled classified information out of Germany’s intelligence service and used it to prepare material for an Azerbaijani intelligence contact. German prosecutors accuse him of espionage-related offences, including treasonous espionage and attempted treason, as well as spying out State secrets and intelligence agent activity.
Germany arrests former BND president over alleged purchase of 2,000 classified files
Germany’s former Federal Intelligence Service (BND) president August Hanning has been arrested on suspicion of treasonous espionage, spying out state secrets, attempted treason and intelligence-agent activity.
AfD backs away from Dexit pledge, calls for radical EU and euro reforms
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has moved away from an immediate German exit from the euro and the European Union — often referred to as “Dexit” — proposing instead a radical restructuring of both the EU and the single currency. If those reforms fail, Germans would ultimately be asked to decide in a referendum on the country’s “future European and monetary path”, according to a new internal AfD strategy paper.
Brussels moves closer to possible ban on ESN party
The Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) has moved a step closer to losing its access to EU funding and potentially its registration as a European political party as Brussels moves ahead with a procedure examining whether the party has breached the bloc’s fundamental values.
EU officials dismiss ‘absolute sh*t’ alternative to Microsoft Teams imposed by Brussels
European Commission officials have dismissed a newly imposed alternative to Microsoft Teams, with one describing the tool as “absolute shit” on an internal message board, according to exchanges seen by Politico. The Commission introduced Element Pro over the summer as a “sovereign back-up to Teams”, an internal staff memo says. The software is built on Matrix, an open communications protocol already used by several European governments. Teams remains the institution’s main communications system.
Kazakh President Tokayev calls Putin ‘most acceptable’ political figure for Europe and the world
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has described Russian President Vladimir Putin as an “outstanding statesman” and “the most acceptable political figure” for Central Asia, Europe and the world during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on September 29. The comments came during Tokayev’s official visit to Germany, where he met Merz at the Chancellery for talks on bilateral relations, energy, trade and international affairs.
Ulrich Siegmund sets December date for bid to lead first AfD state government
Alternative for Germany (AfD) Saxony-Anhalt leader Ulrich Siegmund has announced plans to form Germany’s first AfD-led state government in Saxony-Anhalt in December, saying he expects to be elected Minister-President with a “notable majority” in the first ballot.
Swiss voters reject neutrality initiative, keeping sanctions on Russia in place
Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to enshrine a stricter definition of neutrality in the constitution, which would have opened the way for Switzerland to withdraw from sanctions against Russia and made closer cooperation with the European Union more difficult. The initiative was defeated in the federal referendum held on September 27, with 70.15 per cent voting against and 29.85 per cent in favour.
Alawitische Frauen in Syrien: Entführungen nehmen zu
Reportage «Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden 25.09.2026, 05.00 Uhr Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. Exklusiv für Abonnenten Copyright © Luzerner Zeitung. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Alawitische Frauen in Syrien: Entführungen nehmen zu
Reportage «Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden 25.09.2026, 05.00 Uhr Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. Exklusiv für Abonnenten Copyright © Zofinger Tagblatt. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Alawitische Frauen in Syrien: Entführungen nehmen zu
Reportage «Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden 25.09.2026, 05.00 Uhr Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. Exklusiv für Abonnenten Copyright © Nidwaldner Zeitung. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Alawitische Frauen in Syrien: Entführungen nehmen zu
Reportage «Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden 25.09.2026, 05.00 Uhr Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. Exklusiv für Abonnenten Copyright © Grenchner Tagblatt. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Alawitische Frauen in Syrien: Entführungen nehmen zu
Reportage «Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden 25.09.2026, 05.00 Uhr Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. Exklusiv für Abonnenten Copyright © Thurgauer Zeitung. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
«Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden
Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. 25. September 2026, 05:00 Uhr 25. September 2026, 05:00 Uhr Lama aus einem kleinen Dorf nahe Latakia – gezeichnet von einer AK-47-Kugel. Während Rana an einem versteckten Ort sitzt und erzählt, was sie erlebt hat, lässt ihr Gesicht kaum erkennen, was in ihr vorgeht.
Alawitische Frauen in Syrien: Entführungen nehmen zu
Reportage «Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden 25.09.2026, 05.00 Uhr Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. Exklusiv für Abonnenten Copyright © St. Galler Tagblatt. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Alawitische Frauen in Syrien: Entführungen nehmen zu
Reportage «Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden 25.09.2026, 05.00 Uhr Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. Exklusiv für Abonnenten Copyright © bz Basel. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Alawitische Frauen in Syrien: Entführungen nehmen zu
Reportage «Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden 25.09.2026, 05.00 Uhr Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. Exklusiv für Abonnenten Copyright © Zuger Zeitung. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
«Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden
Reportage Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. Lama aus einem kleinen Dorf nahe Latakia – gezeichnet von einer AK-47-Kugel. Foto: Alessandro Cimma Während Rana an einem versteckten Ort sitzt und erzählt, was sie erlebt hat, lässt ihr Gesicht kaum erkennen, was in ihr vorgeht.
Alawitische Frauen in Syrien: Entführungen nehmen zu
Reportage «Du dreckige Alawitin»: Wie Frauen in Syrien entführt und zu Sexsklavinnen gemacht werden 25.09.2026, 05.00 Uhr Massaker, Verschleppungen, sexuelle Gewalt: Seit dem Sturz von Diktator Assad gehen regierungsnahe Milizen brutal gegen die religiöse Minderheit der Alawiten vor. Besonders betroffen sind Frauen. Exklusiv für Abonnenten Copyright © Appenzeller Zeitung. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
EU trademark office clears way for challenge to Vannacci’s party name
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has declared admissible an opposition against the trademark of Futuro Nazionale (National Future), the party founded by Italian MEP Roberto Vannacci. The move opens the way for a legal battle that could ultimately force him to change his party’s name or symbol. The decision was made public on September 22.
Italy weighs pulling Red Sea warships from EU command as Rome hits out at Brussels bureaucracy
Italy has begun preparing to use its naval assets already deployed in the Red Sea under the EU’s Aspides mission to escort Italian merchant vessels through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with Rome considering placing them under national command rather than waiting for the EU operation to decide when and how to act.
Meloni announces foreign student cap and burqa ban in Italian schools
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced plans to limit the number of foreign students in individual classrooms and ban the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools, placing language acquisition and integration at the centre of her government’s approach to education. Speaking on September 20 at Fenix, the national festival of Gioventù Nazionale, the youth wing of her Brothers of Italy party, in Rome, Meloni said a government measure would soon be presented to the Council of Ministers.
Moody’s downgrades Poland’s credit rating as rearmament-fired debt mounts
Poland has had its credit rating cut amid mounting debts driven by high defence and welfare spending at a time when the country is facing heightened security threats. Fears of imminent armed conflict are on the rise, while the country is hampered by political gridlock between a government and President engaged in an uneasy cohabitation. Rating agency Moody’s has cut Poland’s long-term credit rating by one notch to A3 from A2 in a decision announced late on September 18.
Zelensky’s former press secretary barred from European Parliament after criticism of his policies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s former press secretary Iuliia Mendel has been denied entry to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, on September 16, shortly before she was due to speak at a conference on Ukraine and peace. The incident came three days after Zelensky imposed sanctions on Mendel, following a series of increasingly outspoken public criticisms of her former boss and his policies.
Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi sentenced to 25 years for war crimes
Former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi has been sentenced to 25 years in prison on September 16 for war crimes committed during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war. The sentence was handed down by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague, a Kosovo-established court based in the Netherlands and staffed by international judges and prosecutors, created specifically to prosecute crimes allegedly committed during and after the Kosovo conflict.
Azerbaijani President Aliyev brands European Parliament ‘a den of corrupt officials’
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has described the European Parliament as “a den of corrupt officials”, escalating his criticism of European institutions over their positions on Azerbaijan, Karabakh and the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process.
Meloni rules out alliance with parties opposed to Ukraine support
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has ruled out an alliance with political forces that oppose Italy’s support for Ukraine, drawing a clear red line for the future of the Italian Right ahead of the 2027 general election. In an interview with Il Foglio editor Claudio Cerasa, published on September 12, Meloni said she was not prepared to change her position on Ukraine for political or electoral convenience.
Brussels warns Swiss neutrality vote could strain ties over Russia
The European Union has stepped up its warnings over Switzerland’s Neutrality Initiative, an upcoming referendum on a stricter neutrality policy that could make it harder for Bern to continue following the EU’s approach to sanctions on Moscow.
BSW ready to back AfD candidate in Saxony-Anhalt as Germany’s political firewall cracks
Germany’s political firewall against Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been put to a major new test after the left-wing Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) signalled that it is prepared to support an AfD candidate for president of the Saxony-Anhalt state parliament. The announcement came on September 8, when BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht told German magazine Stern that her party regarded the AfD, as the strongest parliamentary group, as entitled to the presidency of the state parliament.
EU enlargement commissioner warns EU candidates: Cut ties with MAGA
EU candidate countries should cut ties with the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement and, more broadly, avoid strategic dependencies on political movements and figures that Brussels considers incompatible with its interests, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has warned.
German state premier Wüst breaks CDU ranks over AfD ban
Senior Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician Hendrik Wüst has called for the first concrete step towards examining a possible ban of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), following the party’s historic election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, eastern Germany. Wüst, the premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, is one of the CDU’s most prominent figures and is widely regarded as a potential future challenger to Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Italy’s governing coalition splits over AfD victory
The Alternative for Germany’s (AfD) landslide victory in Saxony-Anhalt has exposed a growing divide within Italy’s governing coalition, with the three parties forming Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government taking sharply different positions on the rise of Germany’s Right, and revealing competing strategies for responding to the growing strength of right-wing parties across Europe.
Italian military prosecutor examines soldiers in Vannacci’s party
Italy’s military prosecutor has opened preliminary inquiries into serving military personnel linked to Roberto Vannacci’s Futuro Nazionale party, following a complaint filed by the Sindacato dei Militari, a trade union representing members of Italy’s armed forces. The complaint, filed on September 2, asks prosecutors to examine whether active-duty personnel holding organisational or political roles within the party have breached rules requiring military neutrality and political impartiality.
Ukraine’s ex-defence minister Fedorov becomes Italy’s defence adviser
Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s former defence minister and one of Kyiv’s most prominent advocates of technology-driven warfare, has agreed to advise Italy’s Defence Ministry on defence innovation. The appointment was announced on August 28 by Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, following a meeting with Fedorov in Rome. Fedorov confirmed the role the same day in a post on X.
CPAC arrives in Italy as Rome emerges as potential MAGA hub in Europe
The Conservative Political Action Conference, better known as CPAC, is beginning its first activities in Italy this weekend, marking the country as a potential European hub for the MAGA movement. A flagship gathering of the US conservative movement, CPAC brings together politicians, activists, donors, influencers and policy organisations, serving as an international platform connecting the American right with conservative forces abroad.
Matteo Salvini’s League heads towards a showdown over its leadership
Matteo Salvini’s League has moved towards a showdown over its leadership, as a revolt by the party’s Northern wing raises the prospect of a change at the top and possibly a split. Pressure on Salvini to change the League’s political direction, and to give up at least part of his grip on its leadership, has been building for months.
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