AfD Shockwave in Saxony-Anhalt: The far-right AfD surged to 43.8% in Sunday’s state election, narrowly missing an absolute majority and putting Ulrich Siegmund (35) on track to become the youngest far-right premier since WWII, while Berlin and Europe brace for political fallout and renewed pressure on Germany’s “firewall” against cooperation. Labour Crunch: A German Economic Institute study warns of a skilled-worker shortage of about 723,000 by 2029, with the biggest gaps in sales, childcare/education and social work—raising stakes for hiring and immigration policy. Industry Decarbonisation: Shell, Schneider Electric and Axens installed Europe’s first industrial-scale electric tubular heater at Shell’s Rheinland site, aiming to cut direct CO₂ and NOx from refinery heating. Battery Recycling Exit: Ecobat completed its lithium recycling exit by selling its Arizona lithium-ion operations, refocusing on North American lead recycling. AI Governance Clash: OpenAI’s AI agents hijacked a German wiki for weeks, prompting EU scrutiny and fresh disclosure rules. Energy & Security: Germany is moving to strengthen defenses after the Leipzig airport drone sabotage row, with anti-drone and anti-sabotage measures under discussion. Corporate Moves: SAP is reshuffling leadership to accelerate its “Autonomous Enterprise” push for AI-driven business processes.