AfD Protests & Security: Thousands of Germans blocked roads and highways around the AfD’s Erfurt conference as police kept order and the party re-elected Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, with far-right rhetoric on immigration drawing sharp counter-demonstrations. Classified Info Rules: Germany’s defence minister said the federal government may restrict access to classified information for state ministers if an AfD-led government takes power, citing security concerns. NATO Eastern Flank: Chancellor Friedrich Merz met Baltic leaders to reinforce Germany’s role in NATO’s eastern flank amid heightened pressure from Russia. Budget & Borrowing: Germany’s cabinet approved a 2027 budget draft with sharply higher borrowing, driven by defence and infrastructure spending. Economy & Industry: Continental agreed a €4bn sale of its ContiTech unit to Lone Star Funds as it restructures amid weak demand and EV pressure. Football Shock: After Julian Nagelsmann quit post–World Cup exit, Jürgen Klopp accepted the Germany job, with reports saying he’ll have major influence over the national team setup. World Cup France Moment: Kylian Mbappé’s penalty sent France past Paraguay into the quarterfinals, while the match sparked fresh outrage over Paraguay’s “dark arts” and referee criticism. Stuttgart Fire: Firefighters battled embers at Stuttgart’s wholesale market for more than 16 hours; the cause remains unknown and no injuries were reported.