Two eastern German states are voting today in elections that could see the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party score its first wins at the regional level and a separate new populist force on the left establish a firm foothold. Results from 6pm CEST

German far-right party AfD poised for state election victory in east theguardian.com/world/article/…

Anti-immigration leftists have potential to upend German political scene theguardian.com/world/article/…

Looking forward to some downtime from Germany’s current political reality with this Miss Marple-inspired latest in the series ‘A Miss Merkel Mystery’ by David Safier, translated into English by Jamie Bulloch and sent to me from Old Street Publishing courtesy of Ben Yarde-Buller

Czech street named after Nicholas Winton, the London stockbroker, who saved hundreds of Jewish children from the Nazis theguardian.com/world/article/…

Munich police kill man who opened fire on officers near Israeli consulate theguardian.com/world/article/…

An ‘earthquake’ at Volkswagen – and a crisis for Germany? theguardian.com/business/artic…

‘Zaungast’ (ticketless spectator on the periphery) at Hamburg band #Meuthe’s concert in Potsdam this evening, watching from the car park rooftop

Friedrich Merz looks likely to be Germany’s next leader but how will he defuse the AfD? theguardian.com/world/article/…

Historian James Hawes writes “eastern Germany no longer has the muscle to wreck everything; its politics will no more spread to the Rhineland than New York will adopt West Virginia gun laws, thanks to the biggest firewall of all, the East-West divide” theguardian.com/world/article/…

Lack of Zukunftssicherheit - as one could say in Germany? VW is in big trouble in Germany, but is it a crisis that runs deeper than what meets the eye? - by Kate Connolly : theguardian.com/business/artic…

Praise goes to Deborah Cole

Potsdam’s local paper PNN held a debate today at the city’s main stage hansottotheater to which all lead candidates in Brandenburg’s state election on 22/9 were invited. The @afd candidate Hans-Christoph Berndt walked out after 45 minutes leaving a gaping hole betw the SPD & CDU

‘Incredible energy’: how Paris crowds lifted French paralympians (“We’re not superheroes, we’re athletes”) - to medal glory by ⁦Angelique Chrisafis⁩ theguardian.com/sport/article/…

RIP German installation artist Rebecca Horn, one of the greats, who has died aged 80 theguardian.com/artanddesign/a…

Why the far-right AfD has been so successful in Germany – video explainer theguardian.com/world/video/20…

Germany steps up controls at borders in response to ‘irregular migration’ theguardian.com/world/article/…

‘The end of Schengen’: Germany’s new border controls put EU unity at risk writes ⁦jon henley⁩ theguardian.com/world/article/…

Very interesting profile by Kate Connolly on the Russia-friendly party of Sahra Wagenknecht Antidote to the new Germany Far Right... or enabler ? theguardian.com/world/2024/sep…

Far-right AfD looking to make German history in #Brandenburg state election. Photographer Christian Jungeblodt & I report from #Cottbus theguardian.com/world/2024/sep…