State elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are testing Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s weakened CDU after a recent AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt. Polls show the CDU at risk of losing power in Berlin and barely clearing the parliamentary threshold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
News Mash
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile fired at Riyadh, the first attempted strike on the capital since the latest escalation began. The Houthis claimed attacks on “sensitive” sites and Aramco facilities, while fighting also intensified inside Yemen.
Russian officials said at least two people were killed in a large Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region, while Ukraine reported eight deaths from Russian strikes in the Kyiv and Sumy regions. The attacks hit residential areas, disrupted Moscow airports and damaged a facility at the Moscow Oil Refinery.
Ed Sheeran addressed the Gaza war and the removal of Macklemore from his tour during a solo concert in Philadelphia. Protesters gathered outside Lincoln Financial Field as several supporting acts withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore.
Iran-backed Houthis said they attacked Riyadh and Aramco facilities in Yanbu with missiles and drones, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at the capital. The strikes disrupted flights and raised new concerns over regional energy routes amid the U.S.-Iran war.
Denmark and Greenland cautiously welcomed a U.S. security agreement on Greenland, while stressing that sovereignty would be protected. The deal is expected to be signed in New York but still requires Danish and Greenlandic parliamentary action.
President Trump said he will create an “AI Force” and appoint a new AI czar, rejecting calls to slow artificial intelligence development. The announcement comes as researchers, lawmakers and state officials renew warnings about the technology’s risks.
Patrick Clancy and his wife, Dr. Rachel Danis, are speaking publicly after Lindsay Clancy’s murder trial ended in a mistrial. Prosecutors are expected to decide whether to retry the Massachusetts case later this month.