Capital and largest city of Germany; a state in its own right.
Three years after Hamas’s October 7 assault, Israelis mark memorials at Nova festival and other sites. Bereaved families and survivors recall loss as elections loom, while calls for accountability and investigations into security failures persist amid ongoing Gaza fighting and international reactions.
Russian forces have carried out large missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian energy and communications infrastructure, causing power outages in Kyiv and deaths in several regions. President Zelenskyy has said Ukraine detected missiles only as they neared the capital and accused Russia of deliberately targeting energy sites. Western leaders have expressed cautious support for a US-proposed energy ceasefire announced earlier this week.
Demonstrations across London and European cities commemorate three years since Gaza’s crisis began. Protesters call for an immediate arms embargo on Israel and stronger sanctions, while police enforce a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime amid counter-demonstrations. The protests come as sanctions and international pressure continue to shape the political response to the conflict.
British Prime Minister has expressed openness to Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) during talks with German Chancellor Merz in Berlin. The GCAP group, currently comprising the UK, Italy and Japan, may welcome Canada as an observer. Leaders discuss security ties, hybrid threats, and Ukraine support, with a Kensington Treaty ratification also on the agenda.
Venice Film Festival winners have spotlighted gender disparity in cinema. May el-Toukhy’s Woman Unknown has won Golden Lion; Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love takes Silver Lion; Ilya Khrzhanovsky’s DAU wins best director. Gaza documentary NAZA earns a special jury prize. The festival continues to face questions about female representation in major competitions.
AfD has won about 44% in Saxony-Anhalt, raising the possibility it could form Germany’s first far-right state government since World War II. Minority communities fear renewed hostility as elections also loom in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Parties across Germany assess the implications for democracy and policy.
The government has given English regional mayors the power to charge an overnight visitor levy as a percentage of accommodation costs with no statutory upper limit. Industry groups and major hotel chains have warned the uncapped power will raise prices, reduce demand and cost jobs; mayors say revenue will fund local services and infrastructure from 2028.
Russian presidential decrees have placed the Russian operations of several Western retailers and food companies under temporary administration, transferring control to newly registered or Kremlin‑linked firms. The moves follow earlier 2023 seizures and are taking place as Moscow and Berlin exchange diplomatic and security accusations, putting German firms such as Metro and Globus at risk.
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.
Preliminary results have shown President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia has secured about 57–58% of the party vote and is set to take roughly 355 of 450 State Duma seats after three days of voting. Turnout has been reported near 57–60%. Voting included polling in Crimea and four Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow; Western governments have denounced the ballot as uncompetitive and illegal in occupied territories.
Berlin’s state election has put Elif Eralp of Die Linke on track to become the city’s governing mayor. Her victory signals a potential historic shift and faces coalition hurdles as pro-poor housing plans meet resistance from other parties.
Germany faces a shift in regional politics as left-leaning coalitions gain ground in Berlin and Saxony-Anhalt, while the CDU suffers its worst state-level result. The developments reflect broader European trends and prompt questions about future governance.
Die Linke faces intensified scrutiny as Berlin coalition talks continue, amid accusations of antisemitism within the party’s Berlin branch and related protests. Elif Eralp’s bid to become Berlin mayor is complicated by the controversy, with leaders calling for accountability and clearer distancing from antisemitic positions.
The EU and Canada have signalled a closer partnership in defense, tech and resources, with talk of an “associate member” status. Brussels argues the move would deepen strategic cohesion; critics warn there is no treaty basis for such a status and that the idea risks creating confusion about EU membership.
The crash near Spangdahlem Air Base has prompted an emergency response; four F-16s were involved in a training exercise. One pilot has been injured, and an investigation is underway as authorities gather details about the incident.
Heidenau’s town council has halted new Stolpersteine plaques, shifting memorials to a cemetery site amid pressure from AfD and CDU allies. The move has drawn international criticism and intensifies debates over how Germany remembers Holocaust victims. The decision comes as AfD gains polling momentum and mainstream parties wrestle with their approach to remembrance in the east.
Germany has announced Munich as the Olympic candidate city, with Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne out of the race. The DOSB will engage in continuous dialogue with the IOC ahead of a 2027 shortlisting, aiming for a bid decision by mid-2029. Munich’s bid centers on the Olympic Park and follows a 2025 referendum showing broad local support.
The CDU has suffered a crushing setback in two regional elections, with the AfD leading in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, prompting questions about Chancellor Merz's future as pressure mounts for reform and coalition strategy.
France faces a sharpened political clash as social protests and parliamentary hurdles test the government’s budgeting push and rival leaders seek to shape the trajectory of the 2027 election cycle. The spat involves Lecornu, Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen’s camp, with student protests intensifying the national conversation.
Russia's foreign minister has met Germany's foreign minister in New York during the U.N. General Assembly. Sergey Lavrov has dismissed the visit as reiterating Berlin's condemnation of Moscow. The meeting has occurred as Russia and Ukraine have continued heavy strikes across multiple regions, causing civilian deaths and damage to critical infrastructure.
Nobel Prizes across medicine, physics, and chemistry have been announced, with the Medicine prize going to researchers mapping brain activity with light, the Physics prize advancing neutrino research, and Chemistry recognizing work on mirror-image molecules. The prize money remains 12 million Swedish kronor, with the Literature prize to be announced later this week and the Economics prize next week.
Three scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering light-gated ion channels and advancing optogenetics. Deisseroth, Hegemann, and Nagel share the prize, reflecting a cross-disciplinary breakthrough that enables precise control of neural activity with light.
The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet has awarded the 2026 Physiology or Medicine prize to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for discoveries that turned light-sensitive proteins from algae into tools that switch nerve cells on and off. The three researchers will share 12 million Swedish kronor; the prize is opening Nobel week.
Germany has arrested former BND president August Hanning on suspicion of treasonous espionage after prosecutors say he obtained roughly 2,000 mostly classified documents from a former chief of staff, identified as Manfred D., and used them in private consulting, including at least one analysis prepared for an officer of a foreign intelligence service.
The AfD has won power in Saxony-Anhalt and the broader German political landscape is facing a realignment as multiple parties confront the far right's gains. Bundestag calculations, Berlin’s shifting Left/Green dynamics, and CDU vulnerability are in focus as coalition options and firewall politics are tested.
Baerbel Bas has resigned, citing family tragedy and relentless public attacks. The SPD warns the coalition is under strain as Merz’s CDU presses reforms. The move highlights tensions over pensions, living costs, and Germany’s post-election political balance.
The reports describe a complex deal overseeing Lukoil assets that could span oil fields, refineries and gas stations worldwide. The White House and Kremlin must approve, and figures linked to Kushner and Boehly are involved, signaling a high-stakes balance between diplomacy and energy interests.
European nations are strengthening support for Ukraine amid ongoing Russian aggression. Kyiv remains the focal point of Moscow’s strategy, with Western states coordinating military and economic aid. Germany's role is central, while public and political voices assess Russian aims and the risk of wider conflict.
Eliud Kipchoge has crossed Melbourne’s finish line in 2:09:10, breaking the race record by two seconds. The 41-year-old is on a World Tour to raise funds for education, environment and health, aiming to complete a marathon on all seven continents, including Antarctica.
Police have cordoned off Nuremberg airport following reports of a possible drone sighting. A commercial plane from Corfu later landed safely and authorities issued an all-clear. Six flights were delayed and two inbound flights diverted as a precaution. European surveillance of skies has intensified amid a surge in drone incidents and allegations of Russian mischief connected to the Ukraine conflict.
Leaders push for stronger domestic funding as Africa faces fiscal strain and a shift toward locally led health systems. Amref calls for predictable aid and primacy of primary care to protect services amid climate shocks, conflict and disease in 2026.