AfD Under Pressure: Thousands of opponents blocked roads and gathered in Erfurt as Germany’s far-right AfD held its annual conference ahead of key state elections, with police deploying reinforcements and estimates of about 15,000 protesters in and around the city. Sick Leave Crackdown: Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government is pushing a reform package that would require a doctor’s certificate from day one, ending the current practice of calling in sick without immediate medical proof. Industrial Power Move: Infineon has commissioned its Smart Power Fab in Dresden, a €5bn project that doubles capacity and is set to create around 1,000 direct jobs, reinforcing Germany’s semiconductor push. Fire at Stuttgart Wholesale Market: A major blaze at Stuttgart’s wholesale market remained out of control hours after it began, with large-scale firefighting and no initial reports of injuries. World Cup Shockwaves: Germany’s World Cup exit continues to dominate coverage as the Round of 16 is set, with Germany already out after a penalty defeat to Paraguay.