A quick, factual profile of the organisation
Prosecutors have charged a Ukrainian former officer identified as Serhii K. with directing an attack on the Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. The suspect has denied involvement. The indictment accuses him of leading a team that planted explosives to permanently halt gas deliveries to Germany. The case ties Kyiv to the sabotage under international sanctions and energy security concerns.
Thousands of protesters have mobilised in Erfurt as the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has held its national congress to re‑elect co‑leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla. Police have deployed large numbers to clear blockades; most delegates have reached the conference and voting has gone ahead as planned.
Authorities have identified 21-year-old Abdul Ballout as the suspect who has driven a van into a crowd near Berlin’s Christopher Street Day closing party, then stabbed people; one woman has died and about 29–31 people have been injured. Police have shot and killed Ballout after a manhunt, and investigators have found a video and other material referencing Islamic State on devices linked to him.
Germany is coordinating a response to the Leipzig airport drone attack, with officials linking multiple drones and traces of hexogen to a potential Russia-linked action. Berlin promises further details and sanctions in alignment with EU partners as investigations continue.
The Dutch central bank has shifted a portion of its gold reserves from New York and Ottawa to London to improve tradability and crisis readiness. The move, affecting about 86 tonnes, increases London’s share of Dutch gold to 32.1%, while New York and Ottawa each hold 18.5%. Central bank officials say the relocation strengthens resilience though they do not expect to deploy the gold.
The AfD has surged in Saxony-Anhalt, threatening to win an outright majority in the state election. CDU trails and coalition dynamics loom as parties weigh their options in the wake of a results shock that could reshape Germany’s political landscape.
Regional elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin show the CDU losing ground to the AfD, with Merz under pressure as coalition dynamics shift and economic frustration grows. The AfD leads inMecklenburg-Vorpommern and gains momentum nationwide, while Berlin hints at coalition recalibration.
Voters in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have delivered a severe setback for the CDU and boosted the AfD, while Berlin’s ballot shows Die Linke gaining ground. Merz vows to push ahead with reforms as the far-right gains momentum across Germany.
The CDU has suffered a stinging setback in two regional elections, with Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern shifting away from Chancellor Merz’s leadership. Merz vows to press ahead with reforms as coalition partners question details and support remains precarious ahead of next year’s state elections.