Stories from Berlin · Germany

BRICS nations, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, appear divided on military intervention in Iran. Germany's Deutschlandfunk reported that Iran has no strategy, and Trump sharply attacked Merz.

The AfD's youth organization has been warned by state leaders for allegedly operating as a front for the Identitarian Movement. This group is incompatible with the AfD's platform.

A World War II plan, dubbed Operation Vegetarian, aimed to infect German cattle with anthrax. This historical plot was revealed in a question about noises like 'ow'. Cleanup operations are underway on an island in the UK.

Palantir CEO Alex Karp has criticized Berlin officials for signaling they will not award the company military contracts. Karp referred to Germany's preference for local alternatives as 'witchcraft,' arguing it hinders technological advancement.

A 49-year-old German national, identified as Owe Martin Andresen, has been accused by the US of operating the now-defunct Dream dark web marketplace. Andresen was arrested in Germany last week. Dream Market was launched in 2013.

German journalists in exile are discussing the Taliban's presence and their integration into society. The Taliban are described as more than just a political group, following a specific ideology. An Afghan journalist living in exile in Germany is being influenced by the Taliban.

Multiple European radio stations report that the Taliban are asserting control in Afghanistan. The Taliban are actively engaged in youth recruitment efforts, a practice described as a ticking time bomb.

A German court ruling has put on hold a lower court decision that would have barred deliveries of the abortion drug Mifepristone. Ukraine's emergency services reported Russian actions. The court's decision is not a final ruling on the medication's availability. Conservative Justices Thomas and Alito dissented from the decision. The case is likely to take many months to resolve. The NASDAQ finished up 233 points and the S&P 500 finished up 57 points. This decision permits access while a legal challenge to the drug's approval plays out.

The opposition party in Germany supports the government on central initiatives, including the disarmament of Hezbollah.

German politician Friedrich Merz has faced criticism for remarks described as calling people 'extremists' and 'other things.' Multiple German radio stations reported on the controversy surrounding his statements.