German CDU leader and Chancellor-in-waiting since 2025
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won roughly 44% of the vote in Saxony‑Anhalt, taking 39 of 83 seats and falling three short of an outright majority. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has condemned the result, calling the party's "remigration" plans ethnic cleansing, while international figures including Donald Trump and Elon Musk have praised the AfD's performance.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has invited Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to open talks on a deeper EU–Canada partnership, including possible associate status, expanded trade and cooperation on defence, AI, energy, critical minerals and Arctic projects. Carney has said Canada wants a "unique alliance," not full EU membership, and will address the European Parliament Thursday.
The 70-metre Bayeux Tapestry has opened at the British Museum and has drawn huge public demand and sell-out timed tickets. The loan from France followed a private preview attended by King Charles III and President Emmanuel Macron; the museum expects about 1 million visitors before the exhibition ends in July 2027.
Isar Aerospace has achieved orbit with its Spectrum rocket on a second attempt, establishing Europe’s first fully commercial orbital launch vehicle. The milestone underlines Europe’s push for sovereign access to space and signals growth in the continent’s launch industry as demand increases.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed opening the door for Canada to become the EU’s first associate member, a move meant to deepen cooperation on manufacturing, AI, minerals, energy, and defense. Prime Minister Mark Carney attends the Strasbourg address amid concerns over US tariffs and a shifting global order.
The AfD tops the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, aiming to form the first far-right state government since WWII. About 150,000 demonstrators have marched in roughly 20 cities, while Berlin hosts a counter-protest. Mainstream parties have refused to form coalitions with the AfD under the firewall rule.
Leaders at the European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi push for a more proactive EU Arctic policy as climate change opens new sea routes and Russia's influence grows. No formal decisions were taken, but momentum builds for a forthcoming EU Arctic strategy. The event highlights security concerns, economic interests, and indigenous rights.
U.S. President Donald Trump has offered to help end the Russia-Ukraine war in a nearly 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin and has agreed with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to continue negotiations at next week’s NATO summit in Ankara. Ukraine has struck oil and naval facilities near St. Petersburg, and Russia has responded with heavy missile and drone strikes on Kyiv.
Volkswagen has presented a restructuring plan that will cut model lines by up to half and reduce production capacity to about 9 million vehicles a year. Chief executive Oliver Blume has said the group faces a 20% cost disadvantage to rivals and has proposed a "theoretical" further 50,000 job reductions on top of earlier cuts, prompting union protests and board resistance.
Across Paris, Bastille Day preparations unfold as leaders from Europe gather to show unity with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. The parade will include thousands of troops, with the Coalition of the Willing presenting a show of support. France also confronts a third heatwave, prompting some restrictions on fireworks and public events.
The UK has sealed a 5.2 billion-pound services trade deal with Switzerland, scrapping roaming charges and putting a 90-day services mobility provision on a permanent footing. E-gates will speed border checks for UK travellers, while pharmaceutical protections are maintained. The agreement is described as a landmark for UK services and follows a string of deals with key partners.
Keir Starmer has been awarded France’s Legion d’Honneur by Emmanuel Macron for his leadership in establishing the Coalition of the Willing to support Ukraine. The honour marks a historic moment as the first UK prime minister to receive the award.
Ukraine has seen ongoing international backing amid Russia's invasion, with leaders pledging new aid and steps to bolster Kyiv's defenses. Drones and missile strikes continue, hitting targets across Ukraine and Russia, while regional summits and high-level visits underscore a coordinated response to the conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has carried out a surprise cabinet reshuffle that has removed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, nominated Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister and named SBU head Yevhenii Khmara as acting defence minister. The moves have provoked mass protests in Kyiv and other cities, prompted at least one senior military resignation and raised questions about unity in Kyiv’s war effort.
A fire at a childcare facility in Mohammedia, near Algiers, has killed several children and injured many others as authorities battle blazes amid a severe heat wave. President Tebboune has expressed condolences; intervention teams evacuated children with disabilities and treated burn injuries, with investigations underway into the cause.
A fire at a children's care facility in Mohammadia, Algiers, has killed 11 people and left 19 injured as firefighters battle flames amid a heatwave. Authorities say the blaze originated from an air conditioner that ran continuously; investigations and national fire-fighting efforts are ongoing.
Germany and France have stepped up cooperation on nuclear deterrence, with Berlin participating in a French-led exercise and reaffirming NATO commitments. The move signals deeper European defence self-reliance amid questions about U.S. security guarantees, while stressing that NATO’s umbrella remains intact.
Jens Spahn has stepped down as parliamentary group leader of Germany’s CDU/CSU after revelations he and his husband used a US surrogate to become parents. The move follows internal party pressure and raises questions about credibility and surrogacy policy in Germany.
New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has taken office, meeting the King and announcing a 10-year plan to stabilize the economy, end rough sleeping, and decentralize power. He has reshuffled the cabinet, replacing Starmer loyalists with allies, and pledged to re-industrialise Britain while facing a challenging economy and mounting debt.
The Guardian and The Scotsman pieces outline Andy Burnham’s task of navigating EU relations and defence co-operation after inheriting Starmer’s reset agenda. Europe signals openness, but wary demands persist as the UK seeks closer ties without rejoining the single market.
The Guardian and The Scotsman report on Keir Burnham and John Healey navigating a fragile balance between domestic priorities and international obligations. They have set plans to curb inflation, protect living standards, and rebuild manufacturing, while managing rising costs and global tensions. The government has pledged targeted support, with energy pricing reforms and housing measures, as inflation pressures persist.
Italy is pursuing a back‑to‑nuclear energy strategy, aiming to legalize next‑generation technologies and use small modular reactors to meet rising demand, climate goals and energy security. Debates trace to a historic shift after Chernobyl and Fukushima, with authorities projecting a timeline toward 2033–2035 for potential operations.
Merkel-era pressures persist as Conservative leader Friedrich Merz reshuffles his cabinet amid surging AfD support in eastern Germany. Internal party realignments aim to stabilize governing coalition and blunt far-right momentum ahead of regional elections.
A white van has driven into crowds in Tiergarten park near the Brandenburg Gate during Berlin’s Christopher Street Day on Saturday night. Police have said one woman has died, multiple people have been injured and an intensive manhunt has been under way for a suspect believed to have Islamist links.
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.
One person has died and several others are injured after a vehicle rammed into crowds at Berlin's Christopher Street Day celebrations near the Brandenburg Gate. Authorities identify Abdul Ballout, a 21-year-old German citizen of Lebanese heritage, as the suspect with Islamist links. The case has sparked renewed calls for security measures and scrutiny of radicalisation pathways.
A 21-year-old German national, Abdul Ballout, has driven a van into crowds near Berlin's Pride festival, then stabbed others. One woman has died and numerous people are injured as authorities investigate an Islamic State link. Ballout has been killed in a police confrontation; prosecutors say he sought to join IS and had prior convictions. Investigations focus on how he moved freely after prior sentences.
Western Europe faces a renewed heatwave as wildfires in France, Spain and beyond remain stabilised but fragile. Officials warn that dry winds and high temperatures could spark new outbreaks, while evacuation orders ease in some regions and stay in others. Authorities coordinate international firefighting help as hundreds of thousands have been displaced.
Ceuta remains in crisis as thousands more migrants have arrived and EU partners call for swift action. Spain is coordinating a response with Morocco while deploying security forces to the enclave. Unaccompanied minors and humanitarian concerns are mounting as shelters fill and authorities assess reception options.
Joint letter from 22 EU members urges rapid, coordinated action to secure borders as about 60,000 migrants reach Ceuta from Morocco; most have returned, but the border spike triggers a Schengen debate and political backlash.
Germany is confronting a wave of hybrid threats including drone incursions, espionage, and cyber activity. Authorities say a drone loaded with explosives at Leipzig-Halle airport did not detonate, prompting a broader push to expand anti-drone capabilities and strengthen oversight. The incident underscores a persistent security challenge linked to foreign powers and the evolving nature of state-backed interference.
Distant drone strikes hit multiple Wildberries warehouses across Russia, including Yekaterinburg in the Urals. Evacuations are under way with officials reporting some drone interceptions. Ukraine continues long-range strikes to disrupt Russian logistics and economy, while Russia asserts air defenses have intercepted hundreds of drones.
Afghan Taliban diplomacy in Kabul and Europe is shaping migration policy. Germany has expanded deportations and opened Taliban‑led missions, raising safety concerns for Afghan activists and refugees who fled the regime. The move comes as Western states balance pragmatism with human rights warnings.
Germany's cabinet has approved draft legislation to strengthen the BND and BfV, giving them broader access to devices and data, and enabling active measures. The reforms aim to reduce reliance on foreign partners amid rising state-backed cyber and espionage activity. Parliament must still approve the plan by 2027, with the law expected to take effect in 2027.
The Israel Defense Forces have adopted a policy of zero containment and zero tolerance toward launches of kites and balloons from Gaza toward the Negev, with officials stating that any balloon or kite will be treated as a drone, with or without explosives. The move follows clashes linked to the 2023 Hamas attacks and raises the stakes in the broader Gaza conflict.
Israeli justice and security officials have announced the death-penalty framework is advancing. Ben-Gvir has publicly shown a site with foundations for a hang facility and viewing booths for victims’ families, as protests and international condemnation mount. The plan applies to Palestinians tried in military courts and has sparked debate over discriminatory application and safeguards.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham travels to Kyiv for Independence Day amid European leaders’ meeting to boost Kyiv’s defenses. London has agreed to allow MBDA to declassify information on UK-made SCALP missiles to assist Ukraine’s local production. The visit marks a coordinated push to support Kyiv and degrade Russia’s war capabilities.
Leaders from 34 countries are meeting in Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day to pledge additional air defences and military aid. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is co-chairing the Coalition of the Willing, with France and Germany, and will authorize the release of classified blueprints for the SCALP missile to support Ukrainian production. EU funds are also being stepped up to bolster Ukraine’s shield as Russia escalates strikes.
The UK has formalised support for Ukraine by sharing blueprints for long-range Scalp missiles, a French variant of the Storm Shadow. Kyiv is set to produce components domestically. Russia has warned of retaliation, while UK leaders press ahead with allied security cooperation and sanctions enforcement.
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 AfD is polling ahead in Saxony-Anhalt ahead of state elections on 6 September, arguing for a patriotic cultural policy and a shift in how German history is taught. The party has pledged to change curricula, raise the flag in schools, and preserve war memorials. Critics warn of risks to liberal democracy and Bauhaus heritage.
Germany’s chancellor has convened northern European leaders to press for a leaner EU budget in response to the European Commission’s near-€2 trillion proposal for 2028-2034. The bloc’s leaders are negotiating how to trim the budget while protecting cohesion funds and agricultural subsidies. The dialogue unfolds as Berlin’s political fortunes hinge on upcoming elections.
A fire at WB Electronics in Skarżysko-Kamienna, a major Polish defense supplier, has prompted a formal probe into possible sabotage. Authorities say no casualties occurred as investigators examine whether Russia orchestrated the incident amid a broader pattern of alleged attacks on infrastructure linked to Ukraine aid. The incident follows other sabotage warnings and ongoing security tightening.
Germany says a drone with explosives at Leipzig/Halle Airport has been linked to Russian hybrid operations. Investigations identify suspects and prompt closures of Russian facilities in Bonn and Berlin, with EU allies pledging solidarity while preparing further sanctions.
Russia has announced retaliatory moves after Germany closed the Berlin Goethe-Institut and a Berlin-based cultural center, in response to allegations tied to a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Moscow has ordered the closure of German diplomatic and cultural outposts and says Berlin’s actions escalate bilateral tensions. EU diplomats are weighing further consequences.
Argentina's president Javier Milei has reasserted Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands, said he will punish companies drilling near the islands and ordered investigations into 45 entities linked to hydrocarbon exploration. The UK and Falkland Islanders have reiterated their support for self‑determination, while companies involved in the Sea Lion oil project have said development will continue.
China’s official manufacturing data and oil imports show the economy rebounding from the energy shock, with a wider recovery in crude purchases and exports lifting growth expectations while warnings grow that sustained high prices could drag on global demand.
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.
The AfD has secured 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, threatening an absolute majority; CDU support has fallen, and the election signals a potential shift in Germany’s political landscape as Russia ties and migration policies figure prominently in the party’s platform.
The AfD has finished first in Saxony-Anhalt with about 43–44% of the vote, short of an absolute majority. CDU falls sharply, while BSW hints at possible cooperation. The result challenges Germany’s firewall against governing with the far right and raises questions about future coalition dynamics.