After far-right AfD win, Germany’s embattled chancellor faces more election tests

🔮 Chancellor Friedrich Merz braces for potential double election blow this weekend as pressure mounts on his leadership Two German state elections Sunday could deal a double blow to embattled Chancellor Friedrich Merz, two weeks after his party suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of the far-right AfD.

🔮 US House holds billionaire Leon Black in contempt over Epstein probe Lawmakers refer billionaire investor to Justice Department as his lawyers call contempt move ‘outrageous’ The US House of Representatives held billionaire investor Leon Black in contempt of Congress on Wednesday for defying subpoenas issued in its investigation into notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The resolution was adopted by unanimous consent, without a recorded vote, a day after the House Oversight Committee unanimously recommended the action. The matter will now be referred to the Justice Department, which will decide whether to pursue criminal charges. “No one is above the law.

🔮 “If they do that, if I think it’s at all a hostile act, I will put very serious tariffs or stop trading with Europe, on many things.”

🔮 Trump says Kennedy Centre to close after judge bars name change The president says the venue’s board voted to shut the centre down for renovations, but it will not reopen unless the judgment is overruled US

🔮 Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in a concurring opinion with the majority, said Trump’s plan may ultimately be legal in the long run, but “state and local election officials do not have sufficient time to reasonably implement the rule before the elections”.

🔮 Newsom won’t run for US president in 2028 if Harris does California governor says both he and former vice-president Kamala Harris campaigning would be a ‘gift’ to Republicans California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is widely considered a contender for the 2028 presidential election, will not enter the race if former US vice-president Kamala Harris runs again, he told CNN in a clip shared on Monday.

🔮 EU to propose curbing social media, online games for under 15s The European Commission has come under pressure from some EU member states to take bloc-wide measures to protect children The European Union is set to propose curbing access to social media, video-sharing platforms, chatbots and online games to children under the age of 15, according to a draft legal document seen by AFP.

🔮 The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on artificial intelligence next week amid growing international concern over the threat from the fast-moving technology, a French diplomatic source said on Monday.

🔮 “Canada will always be with you,” Carney assured Zelenskyy.

🔮 The Kim dynasty is now in its third generation ruling the closed-off nation, and the current leader’s children would be potentially poised to take over one day.