The German journalists' union dju has documented more than 30 incidents affecting at least 43 journalists, TV teams, and political influencers during the Saxony-Anhalt election campaign since May. Incidents range from verbal defamation and obstruction of work to stalking and physical attacks, with five cases involving physical assault. Tensions are particularly high around events organized by the AfD party, highlighting growing risks to press freedom in regional election contexts.

A new Infratest dimap poll in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania shows the SPD gaining three points to 32% ahead of the September 20 state election, while the AfD dropped one point to 35%. The current SPD-Left coalition would lose its majority, but a three-party coalition with the Greens (at 5%) could be possible. CDU stands at 8%. In a direct election for minister-president, 60% would choose incumbent Manuela Schwesig (SPD) over AfD challenger Leif-Erik Holm.

A German opinion piece calls on the state to improve protection of critical infrastructure against hybrid warfare, including sabotage and disinformation. It argues that freedom and security are not contradictory, advocating for targeted surveillance and information sharing to deter adversaries while respecting privacy. The piece emphasizes that resilience begins at home and in businesses, but the state must fulfill its protective duty by closing vulnerabilities and signaling that attacks are not worth the cost. The article further stresses the need for deterrence, targeted surveillance (e.g., video monitoring) at vulnerable sites, and sharing threat knowledge with businesses and citizens without compromising sensitive data. It frames resilience as a shared responsibility but insists the state cannot hide from its protective duty.

Volkswagen has revived a plan to convert its Osnabruck plant to military production in partnership with Israel's Rafael, after reports that the state of Lower Saxony could invest at least €200 million to form a joint venture. The project would manufacture components for Israel's Iron Dome system, but faces strong opposition from the Left Party, peace groups, and local activists who argue against using public funds for arms production and cite human rights concerns related to the Gaza war. The debate is particularly sensitive in Osnabruck, a city that promotes itself as a 'City of Peace' due to its role in the Peace of Westphalia. Volkswagen's supervisory board is set to meet on September 4 to discuss the proposal.

At a Weimar Triangle meeting in Weimar, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski expressed support for Germany's course against Russia following the drone incident in Leipzig. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized that Russia's leadership is the problem, not the Russian people. The ministers reaffirmed continued support for Ukraine but announced no new concrete measures. The meeting comes amid Russia's closure of Goethe-Institutes in response to Germany's actions against Russian diplomatic and cultural institutions.

Czech President Petr Pavel warned that Russia is employing sabotage, disinformation, and other hybrid tactics to undermine trust in European institutions and divide EU member states, as Moscow cannot launch an open military attack on NATO. His remarks came as Czech authorities prepared tighter measures to monitor Russian diplomats' movements following Germany's accusation that Russia was behind an attempted explosive-drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Czech officials described the German findings as alarming and pledged cooperation with allies.

Germany's economy grew by 0.3% in Q2 2026, its best quarterly performance since 2022, with full-year growth forecasts upgraded to 1.3% or more by leading institutes. The upturn is driven by exports and industrial orders, partly benefiting from the Strait of Hormuz closure that redirected orders from Asia to Europe. Government stimulus, including a €500 billion infrastructure fund and increased defense spending, supports the recovery. However, analysts warn that structural issues such as Chinese competition and weak domestic demand persist, and the recovery may be short-lived without deeper reforms.

On September 1, 2026, German shipbuilder TKMS announced the delivery of INS Drakon, the third and final Dolphin-class AIP submarine, to the Israeli Navy. The vessel departed Kiel, Germany, and is now in transit to Israel. INS Drakon is notable for its unusually large sail, believed to house vertical launch tubes for a new missile system, potentially submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which would give Israel a more survivable sea-based strategic strike capability. The exact configuration remains classified. TKMS is also building the next-generation DAKAR-class submarines for Israel, continuing a decades-long defense partnership between Germany and Israel.

Activist investor Elliott Management has built a stake in Deutsche Telekom and is opposing the proposed merger between T-Mobile US and Sprint. This development introduces a new obstacle to the deal, as Elliott is known for aggressive campaigns to influence corporate strategy and governance. The opposition could impact the merger's approval process and Deutsche Telekom's strategic direction. The move signals potential corporate governance and strategic conflicts, as Elliott typically pushes for changes to enhance shareholder value. The stake size and specific demands have not been disclosed, but the opposition adds a new hurdle to the merger, which already faces regulatory scrutiny.

Background: EU foreign ministers previously discussed potential trade restrictions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, based on a European Commission paper outlining options including an import licensing system, prohibitive tariffs, or a ban, but failed to reach consensus. Today: At an informal meeting in Wicklow, Ireland and Spain, with support from Belgium and the Netherlands, led calls for EU-wide restrictions on goods from illegal Israeli settlements, while Germany, Austria, Czechia, and Hungary opposed such measures. Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee urged the bloc to move collectively in upholding international law, and Ireland pushed for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas did not address trade sanctions in her press conference. The EU remains Israel's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $50bn last year. Debate continues on whether trade restrictions require unanimity.

Germany is expected to award Marine Alutech a contract for up to 15 Watercat M18 AMC multi-purpose combat boats for the German Navy's Sea Battalion, beating Saab's CB90 design. The boats will support amphibious, evacuation, escort, patrol, and harbor protection missions. The first ten boats are planned, with five more expected, and initial deliveries are anticipated from 2029. The procurement follows a lengthy analysis phase and uses Bundeswehr special fund financing.

Terminal 1 at Berlin Brandenburg Airport was evacuated and later reopened after a woman reported having a dangerous substance in her luggage. Police gave the all-clear, confirming no danger, but operations were disrupted with delays and some cancellations. The incident caused temporary disruptions to train services as well.

Germany formally attributed the August 4 attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport to Russia, citing police investigations and intelligence findings. In response, Berlin ordered the closure of Russia's consulate in Bonn and the Russian House cultural center, tightened entry controls, and pushed for EU-wide sanctions. Russia retaliated by announcing the closure of Goethe-Institut branches in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg, and summoned Germany's charge d'affaires. The EU and NATO expressed solidarity, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling the attack 'state-sponsored terrorism' and discussing new sanctions against 1,600 Russian entities. The incident has heightened tensions and raised concerns about Russian hybrid warfare in Europe.

Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, a leading AfD lawmaker in Saxony-Anhalt, is positioned to gain significant influence over education and cultural policy if the far-right party performs well in the upcoming state election. He advocates shifting Germany's memory culture away from its focus on Nazi crimes, promoting a more positive national identity. The AfD is currently leading in polls, potentially putting Tillschneider in a position to implement his ideas.

Background: German farmers have been suffering from drought-related harvest losses, with the agriculture minister previously promising aid once official data was available. Today, Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer presented the official harvest report, declaring the situation a 'crisis of national importance' and announcing a comprehensive aid package including low-interest loans, increased emergency funds, tax relief, and EU fertilizer aid. However, he stopped short of declaring a 'national damage event', which would unlock further federal assistance. The farmers' association criticized the measures as insufficient, demanding more immediate liquidity support. Harvest figures confirm significant losses across grain, rapeseed, and maize. In the official harvest report, Minister Rainer announced concrete aid measures: two liquidity programs with low-interest loans, an increase of the emergency fund by 300 million euros to 500 million euros, tax relief, and EU fertilizer aid of 60 million euros. He also announced a one-time increase in direct payments to 700 million euros next year. The farmers' association criticized the measures as insufficient, demanding immediate liquidity before autumn and an increase in fertilizer aid to 180 million euros. Harvest figures show grain production down 7.3% to 37.4 million tons, winter wheat down 10.4%, rapeseed down 11.5%, and maize yields down 24.2%.

European military leaders are increasingly questioning the term 'hybrid war' to describe Russian actions, arguing it downplays the severity of threats. This follows Germany's accusation of a Russian plot to attack Leipzig airport and Estonia's intelligence chief labeling Moscow's actions as 'state terrorism'. The debate signals a shift in how Europe frames and responds to Russian aggression, with implications for military strategy and deterrence.