Overview
- After a two‑day leadership retreat, Friedrich Merz labeled the AfD the CDU’s main opponent and ruled out any cooperation under his leadership.
- Merz refused to retract his "cityscape" remark about migration and public safety, telling reporters to "ask your daughters," drawing criticism from Greens, the Left, and Berlin’s mayor, as intra‑party dissent over strategy persists.
- Berlin police and prosecutors upgraded the Rebecca Reusch case to a homicide probe and searched a property in Tauche with about 115 officers using drones, ground radar and heavy equipment; the brother‑in‑law remains a focus, with the presumption of innocence noted.
- French authorities are investigating a Louvre heist in which thieves stole reported Napoleonic jewels; Culture Minister Rachida Dati said there were no injuries and police are pursuing leads after the museum closed for the day.
- Israel said it reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing for humanitarian shipments into Gaza in line with the ceasefire terms, while the Rafah crossing remains closed according to officials.