Capital of Germany, a city-state and EU hub
Security services have responded to a wave of hoax bomb threats that has affected at least seven European flights and an Israel-bound cruise ship on Nov. 2–3, 2026. Aircraft from Ryanair, Wizz Air, LOT and SAS have been inspected after diversion or escort; searches have found no explosives and operations have resumed at affected airports.
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.
Winners have been named in medicine, physics and chemistry, with a total prize pool of 12 million Swedish kronor. Medicine highlights optogenetics; physics advances neutrino research; chemistry recognizes work on mirror-image molecules. The literature prize and economics prize will be awarded later this week and next week respectively.
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.
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.
Germany’s ruling coalition is pursuing reforms to pensions, long-term care, and an income-tax cut as leaders from the CDU and SPD meet in Berlin after constructive talks at the chancellery.
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.
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.
Germany’s intelligence chief has warned parliament that Russia is escalating its push in Europe, citing an attempted attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane and Moscow’s war in Ukraine as it enters a dangerous phase amid domestic pressure on Putin.
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.
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.
Since Sunday, President Donald Trump has announced an "energy ceasefire" between Ukraine and Russia and a related US-Russia diesel deal; Kyiv has pushed back, saying Russian strikes continued and that Ukraine will resume or pause strikes on Russian energy targets only if Moscow stops hitting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Attacks have damaged Ukrainian power plants, shut Russian data centres and injured civilians; European leaders have voiced cautious support for a truce.
UK prime minister has publicly acknowledged that Russia interfered in the 2016 referendum. He also discusses Russia’s role with European leaders and signals a push for closer EU ties while considering options for a post-Brexit relationship.
Across Ukraine and Russia, drone and missile attacks have escalated, killing civilians and damaging infrastructure. Crimea reports restrictions on electricity and water after a drone incident; multiple regional strikes in Bryansk and Kharkiv kill and wound people. NATO training exercises show allied readiness to defend against drone-enabled warfare. Starlink remains contested amid a broader information and security backdrop.
Recent findings show white dwarfs can display vibrant colors beyond their expected white glow, with a green WD reflecting light altered by atmospheric elements. A second-generation planet around a dying star is also a possibility under investigation, prompting questions about planetary formation around white dwarfs.
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.
Amref Health Africa has called for stronger domestic financing and primary healthcare, warning that declines in external aid risk weakening health systems. The Berlin World Health Summit is used to push reforms and outline plans for Africa Health Agenda International Conference 2027 in Kigali.
Rights groups warn of imminent executions in Saudi Arabia for offences alleged to have occurred when defendants were minors, as authorities maintain the death penalty in terrorism cases amid a surge in executions.
France has held a third consecutive weekend of large protests over education and the cost of living, drawing roughly 320,000 people on 31 October according to the interior ministry. Marches in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse have been largely peaceful but have turned violent at their edges, with masked rioters setting fires, hurling projectiles and prompting police to use tear gas, water cannon and stun grenades.
Bayern Munich has delivered a commanding display to surge to the Bundesliga summit, with Luis Diaz spearheading a multi-goal performance that stifles Leipzig. Kane and Pavlovic contribute key assists as Kompany oversees a ruthless showing ahead of a packed schedule.
The Leipzig airport fence intrusion is under investigation after a vehicle reportedly breached the fence on Saturday, with authorities saying initial evidence points to a vehicle driving through a public-access road. Officials note this follows an August drone attack that Germany links to Russia, a claim Moscow denies.
Germany has convicted two men for planning assassinations and arson against Jewish and Israeli targets, linking the plot to Iran. Berlin has summoned Iran’s ambassador and pledged legal consequences as officials stress Germany’s openness and safety for Jewish life.
Two suspects, aged 20 and 32, have turned themselves in after a car plowed through a fence at Leipzig Airport. The younger man claims he lost control and left the scene; the 32-year-old says he owned the vehicle. Police have seized the car as investigations continue. A prior drone attack at the airport has been linked by authorities to Russia, an assertion Moscow denies.
Germany is accelerating its adoption of artificial intelligence in manufacturing and industry, with Nvidia investments and German startup backing spanning robotics, healthcare, satellites and manufacturing software. Leaders say AI will augment, not replace, existing capability, and data/ manufacturing know-how are Germany’s natural resources to leverage.
Nvidia’s founder-CEO has been touring Europe to accelerate the company’s global AI ecosystem. He is backing startups in Europe, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, India, Malaysia and Africa, while urging sovereign AI models and infrastructure. Investors are watching whether government-backed demand can sustain chip demand amid funding challenges for neoclouds.
Rising rents, energy prices, and borrowing costs have sparked protests across France, Italy, Spain and beyond. Governments are deploying security measures as living costs drive unrest and challenge the social contract ahead of elections. Farmers, students and workers are rallying, with violence reported in some cities as authorities struggle to contain the fallout.
Riot-driven unrest in France is fueling political rhetoric in the United States, with conservatives drawing links between French protests and domestic debates on immigration, security, and governance. European leaders are grappling with how to restore order while voters weigh future policy directions.
Germany has arrested Vadym Y. on suspicion of spying for Russia, gathering military intelligence including armoured vehicles, ammunition and explosives. Authorities say he acted in contact with a Russian service since at least July 2025. Chancellor Merz calls the case a success but warns espionage remains high.
The far-right AfD is pushing to install Germany’s first far-right state premier since World War II in Saxony-Anhalt as national polls show the party leading. The move follows a leak of emails suggesting cordial ties with the U.S. administration after 2016, highlighting the party’s controversial rise.
The Kehlsteinhaus, Adolf Hitler's Eagle's Nest retreat above Berchtesgaden, has burned almost completely after a fire on Friday night. Emergency services have fought the blaze into Saturday morning in difficult Alpine terrain. Police have detained a suspect and investigators are treating the scene as under criminal inquiry; no injuries have been reported.
Ukrainian Vadym Y. is accused of gathering military intelligence for Russia, including weapons production and NATO eastern flank facilities. He has been in contact with a Russian service through an intermediary since 2025. Several arrests this year point to a broader pattern of Russian espionage in Germany, with officials warning the threat remains high.
France faces a third weekend of protests over cost of living and education with thousands of police deployed nationwide. Demonstrations plan to press demands on school funding and Parcoursup reforms, while authorities warn of a high risk of disorder and deploy measures to limit violence.
US intelligence agencies have concluded that Alice Huang (also known as Huang Le), a former Megaspeed executive, has been acting as a Chinese intelligence asset and developed a close relationship with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, the New York Times reports. China has rejected the allegations as "groundless speculation". Nvidia says meetings were routine and that diversion and smuggling claims were previously investigated and debunked.
German-born actress Elke Sommer has died at age 85 in Bel Air, Los Angeles. Her Hollywood breakthrough came with The Prize, and she later starred in The Pink Panther sequel A Shot in the Dark. Sommer also pursued painting and endured a famous defamation case with Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Hyrox world champion Joanna Wietrzyk has apologised for continuing to race in Beijing after falling ill, and organisers have updated rules to allow removal of athletes for contamination risks. She is preparing to return to competition in Hamburg amid ongoing backlash and calls for accountability.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ordered the International Ice Hockey Federation to reinstate Russian teams for the 2026‑27 season. Several national federations — including Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Czech Republic — have announced they will refuse to play Russia; sponsors and host organisers are reassessing participation, security and logistics.
Israel has signaled it will push for a withdrawal from southern Lebanon while urging disarmament of Hezbollah. US-mediated talks on a framework to end fighting have stalled, with Lebanon and Israel trading warnings over possible renewed hostilities. The situation remains tense as both sides press for security guarantees and regional stability.
Protests led by youth groups in Germany and France have escalated amid rising living costs and concerns over education, housing, and public services. Authorities are mobilising security and preparing to manage large demonstrations across several major cities this weekend.
France faces a third weekend of protests linked to cost of living and education, with security forces deployed as authorities ban central Paris marches and warn of a high risk of unrest after dark on Halloween. Demonstrations are planned across major cities in Europe as youth, unions and Yellow Vests mobilise.
Protests led by Gen Z regelt have intensified this weekend, with thousands taking to streets in Germany, France and beyond. Authorities report injuries and arrests as demonstrations challenge living costs and policy, while some cities faced clashes after dark.
Youth-led protests organised by Gen Z regelt! have swept across Germany, with tens of thousands protesting underfunded schools, living costs, and changes to military service. Violence has erupted in Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne at night, while daytime demonstrations remain largely peaceful. Police have arrested dozens and confiscated weapons; several shops have boarded up as a precaution.
Hundreds of thousands have protested across France this weekend over the cost of living. Clashes in Paris and other cities have produced a widely shared video showing a homemade incendiary device igniting a gendarme's leg; prosecutors have opened an attempted murder investigation and police have made more than 770 arrests nationwide.
Greenland’s lawmakers have ratified a trilateral deal with the United States and Denmark. The accord expands the U.S. military presence in Greenland with two bases while keeping Greenland under Danish sovereignty and maintaining a path to possible future independence. Ratification clears the way for the pact to take effect after parliamentary approvals, with Denmark and Greenland set to proceed on their side.